Bandai Macross Frontier toys thread

[warpaint22]

My greater concern is over the quality of the model kits. It's pretty hard to compete with the quality level of Hasegawa.

I,ve said it before and I'll say it again Hasegawa have very nice macross models but they are far from perfect, granted that they are much better than the older Bandai offerings. If you really put a Hasegawa macross kit up against a Bandai gundam kit 1/100 MG you will start to see the flaws that hasegawa have in there models. Lets take the Hasegawa VF-0S model kit, and line it up against a MG gundam and the list of flaws begins. The gundam model has no sink holes, no injector pin marks, seems fit togeater well with minor to no gaps (and thats snap fit), multi-gate srues and inner frame detail and the list goes on. The VF-0S has fit issues with the leg halves, poor fit of cockpit to mainbody, a ton of injector pin marks, sink holes on the top of the fusealarge, quite a lot of flashing on some parts. The biggest p1ss off is all the injector pin marks all over the models that takes ages to clean off and if you don't the kits look as bad as a revell kit. I would say from the older kits that I used to build to a lot of the newer ones from Hasegawa that they are going down in quality and not up. Up against the latest HG, MG kits from Bandai the Hasegawa kits don't have the build quality and the fit of parts gets worse and worse as the moulds get older. It's no good making really nicely detailed model kits if you have to sand most of the detail away to hide a seem line. I'm hoping for Bandai MG type models now and I've been a supporter of Hasegawa for about 22 years, but I do beleave that Bandai has far better production facilities that produce much cleaner sprues. The real issue is if Bandai will do MG models and not just feed us the macross 7 type of model that really is crap, but Bandai have the capability to out produce most offering in the market place. The question is will they use all they have for macross or will we be pushed aside for gundam, time will tell.

[Mr March]

HAHAHAHA! Bloody brilliant

[eriku]

I don't understand all the statements that Bandai didn't make Macross toys for the last ten years because they chose to make Gundam toys instead. It's not like Bandai was sitting there facing the decision of "Should we make Gundam toys or Macross toys?". Bandai has always made TONS of non-Gundam toys alongside their Gundams. Just because Gundam is their flagship brand doesn't mean it's the only thing they make or even the only thing they put any effort into. Some of the best toys in my collection are made by Bandai and they aren't Gundams, and they were made over the last ten years.

I would guess the reason Bandai didn't make much of anything for Macross over the last 10 years is because for whatever reasons they just didn't see enough of a market for it. They could have noticed a market while they were making their 1/55 reissues, which were welcomed and praised by Macross fans at the time, but it was also at that time that Yamato was starting to focus on NEW high-end Macross toys so perhaps Bandai didn't want to compete or maybe felt that they couldn't compete. Who knows?

All in all, it's hard to imagine a better time to be a fan of Macross when we now have THREE of the best toy companies making toys for us (Yamato, Bandai, Kaiyodo). I welcome them all and I think there is plenty of room for all of them to coexist.

[Vostok 7]

Ahhh, it's nice to see that BoB is still in top form. All hail Turn A Kawamori!

I don't have a problem with Bandai handling Macross. It'll be interesting to see how they do it. As long as Yamato can continue making the Crackross toys we've all come to know, love and horde, I see no problems.

Vostok 7

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

I would guess the reason Bandai didn't make much of anything for Macross over the last 10 years is because for whatever reasons they just didn't see enough of a market for it.

But that's all fine and dandy for them, but as a fan, wouldn't you rather have the vf-22 now regardless of whether there is a big show on or whether there are mainstream/casual buyers interested in it? That's where the smaller company can get its respect by catering to those who (long after the show is dead) will pay good money to get a detailed PT toy of the thing.

Why can't bandai have just made a 1/60 VF-17S toy or something in I dunno, 2001 or something? Why not a VF-22? VF-11? Something during the times when the show is long over with like they do with gundam?

Because big companies would rather go for the big $, which is why certain brands companies (let's um Electronic Arts or something to use a videogame example) can get a license for a movie or something and still not do as good a job as a previous smaller company that had put all its heart and soul into their games for that license. (take all the james bond first person shooters they made that weren't as good as the ones made by Rare when GoldenEye first person shooter came out)

Now just because someone has more money to throw around doesn't necessarily mean they will always put as much effort or necessarily do as good a job as the offerring by previous license holders. It just means that there is greater potential for a better thing, but (if the company is jaded and unenthusiastic about it rather than being passionate and focused) a good chance that the potential is never used. (example are the half-assed attempts by hollywood to make sequels to movies that don't really need a sequel to, and which often turn out worse than the originals, just so they can cash in on the name of the first movie or the market that they've identified now exists after looking at sales from people who bought the dvd or saw the first movie - it's commercialism)

Now I'm not saying that's what's going to happen with Mac F, (they only put the minimum amount of effort required) but that IF they take a half-assed approach again (no new macross 7 toys for ages for instance) the diehard macross fans (not casual ones or little kids) will suffer due to that "we don't care about the small fanbase for a mecha from an old show" attitude that a bigger company will have; where they might reason that the same effort put into an old show could be better utilised on making toys for mecha from a newer show to bring in the $ quickly, since it's exposed and easier to sell to more people. Businesses want to make money, but fans understandably don't like the long-ass waits.

Bandai may go down the path of macross 7 (release something but never revisit it, only re-release older toys) or they could do what yamato has done and keep improving and making better toys of the same thing. (which we've seen happen with 1/72 -> 1/60 toys for macross plus. 1/60 vf-1 -> 1/48 -> 1/60 again for SDF:M)

Why didn't bandai do this with macross 7 by remaking a better VF-17? Releasing a VF-22? In the same way Yamato went back to the VF-1 and kept improving it, or releasing better macross plus toys to outdo the old ones they already did? Because it goes back to my belief that when a big company doesn't see a huge market, they'll say: "screw those fans, not worth my time" since there are other shows they can make more money off of, whereas a smaller company might put that much more heart into the toy and focus harder despite being limited compared to the bigger company. A bigger company might get complacent and only put a fraction of its ability into something by only making it good enough for the casual fan/kid. And please don't use examples of robot toys from other shows, we are talking about macross specifically: no one is doubting the skills/quality they can put into the toys from all those other shows, just that we worry about the possibility that they'll take the half-assed attitude in the long term towards the show compared to yamato. "But but but but, what about the toys from the 80s?? What about aqaurion??" Nope, lets limit the examples to macross since lack of new stuff is the reason we had the whole "drought of toys" problem in the first place (due to it being hard to find good toys as companies ignore it) which made us go and buy the yamatos to begin with. (lack of choice)

But to me: Re-releasing old toys to please the casuals < newer versions of the toy which gradually improve on older ones to please the hardcore, and that's one thing I see happening if the big guy sits on something for ages without doing anything new, which then hurts the diehard fan who wishes to see mecha toys from the show but won't ever due to big companies focusing on 50 different other things from other shows to care about that one particular mecha from macross which hasn't been updated in ages. (because it's not a high priority to please a small niche market.) Yes it's great news now that things are changing and they've seen the $ to be made, but long term you know that if they spread their attention too thinly it can mean less regular updates and improvements and longer waits for the fan. (who would rather a slightly-flawed toy of a mecha like the vf-17 from yamato over no new toy at all from bandai or just a re-release of an old toy they already had)

Edited March 3, 2008 by 1/1 LowViz Lurker

[miriya]

I look forward to the time when this thread has more photos of the toys.

[Vostok 7]

I look forward to the time when this thread has more photos of the toys.

I concur! Less words, more pictures!

Vostok 7

[Vifam7]

**Cough** Macross 7.... **cough** Macross II **cough**

Bandai had plenty enough licenses to compete with Yamato in the 1/60 scale sandbox, but chose not to play. They stuck with their bread and butter Gundam merch.

Yeah, um, how popular was Macross II?

And Macross 7? I didn't really see Yamato pushing lots of Mac7 toys either.

After seeing how much Yammie was making with their 1/60, 1/72 and 1/48 Valks, I'm sure they stood up and took notice that the Macross fan market actually had the money to afford higher end collectible toys.

If anything Bandai, Yamato, CMs, Megahouse, etc they all came to the realization that the kids of yesterday have grown up and now have money to spend.

[Sumdumgai]

Yeah, um, how popular was Macross II?

And Macross 7? I didn't really see Yamato pushing lots of Mac7 toys either.

If anything Bandai, Yamato, CMs, Megahouse, etc they all came to the realization that the kids of yesterday have grown up and now have money to spend.

Bandai has the Macross 7 license and has had it sewn up tighter than a fly's ass (meaning bend over if you want to get the license). That's why Yamato never made Macross 7 toys.

[biggooftoybox]

YEah I look forward to the time to see more toy pictures. I haven't read the thread in a while and saw the good news about the toys and then right after that there became so much text comparing Bandai and Yamato. So long as some decent/good toys are produced I am happy. While I wouldn't want the VF25 to be overly simplistic, so long as they are better than the M7 stuff that'll be great. Of course back in the day the M7 stuff was good when I was at that age. Now that I'm older I'd want something more detailed so it isn't a fair comparison.

[badboy00z]

It does seem kinda odd that's all. (in a geeky sense)

The real question is, would anyone have made a fuss if their company uniform was themed after another series that they made toys for. My guess is that no one would've cared or noticed.

[Vifam7]

Nevermind

Edited March 4, 2008 by Vifam7

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

The real question is, would anyone have made a fuss if their company uniform was themed after another series that they made toys for. My guess is that no one would've cared or noticed.

My first thoughts were that shouldn't professionals dress neatly to impress the client? I would have equally thought it strange if they wore star wars storm trooper outfits or macross space suits. I didn't really care at first until it was pointed out that they were gundam uniforms. So maybe they've decided: "we'll plug our other products while we have the chance."

I think they should get a cute girl into the photos dressed as minmay (DYRL shower scene costume?) kissing kawamori's feet to make up for this. This has made me sooooo angry.... not. Life's too short to worry about such small stuff.

Edited March 4, 2008 by 1/1 LowViz Lurker

[badboy00z]

My first thoughts were that shouldn't professionals dress neatly to impress the client? I would have equally thought it strange if they wore star wars storm trooper outfits or macross space suits. I didn't really care at first until it was pointed out that they were gundam uniforms. So maybe they've decided: "we'll plug our other products while we have the chance."

I think they should get a cute girl into the photos dressed as minmay (DYRL shower scene costume?) kissing kawamori's feet to make up for this. This has made me sooooo angry.... not. Life's too short to worry about such small stuff.

Did you expect them to wear business suits? Because I don't. They're not lawyers or reps of some marketing firm. They make toys. Who's the client in this case? Kawamori? I don't think so. The fans are the clients. It's not a plug at all IMO. It's just what they wear. They'll be wearing the same thing regardless of what series they're making toys for.

[Vegas]

WTH? i thought were talking macross toys here...not uniforms

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

WTH? i thought were talking macross toys here...not uniforms

Blame graham for calling them all dicks. That's what sparked the anger. I bet yamato spies and bandai spies are secretly fighting each other in stealth over that comment. Like the two groups in "Big Trouble in Little China" and we are all caught in the middle of the war wondering WTH is going on. Well not really but that's what I am reminded of since I watch too many john carpenter movies..

Edited March 4, 2008 by 1/1 LowViz Lurker

[wolfx]

So much msgs to sift through and its mostly hate or fanboy crap.

The fact of the matter is Bandai has yet to prove their mantle in this. They haven't been making quality non-gundam toys sponsored by them in the past and the most recent examples of these are Eureka Seven and Code Geass. The fact that they are releasing the VF-25 in the Chogokin DX line (please note that DX is not the same as the mainstay chogokin line)is a bit of good news though not convincing enough as the Aquarion left much to be desired.

So Bandai haters keep your pants on....and Bandai lovers, don't count your chicks before they hatch.

[Zinjo]

Yeah, um, how popular was Macross II?

Somewhat less popular than Macross Plus or Macross Zero (lately), to Japanese audiences, if you want to be honest. Mac 7 was the big success with Japanese fans back in the day.

And Macross 7? I didn't really see Yamato pushing lots of Mac7 toys either.

As already stated, they can't. That's Bandai's property.

If anything Bandai, Yamato, CMs, Megahouse, etc they all came to the realization that the kids of yesterday have grown up and now have money to spend.

This we agree on. What they do with that realization is what this discussion is about.

[vanpang]

Wish Yamato had the Macross F toys license as well, then we could see a competition between Yamato and Bandai. More competition, better toys for us all !!!

[warpaint22]

Wish Yamato had the Macross F toys license as well, then we could see a competition between Yamato and Bandai. More competition, better toys for us all !!!

Now that would be ideal, add in a couple more companies and we'll have macross toys out the wazoo. Now that would be compitition.

[Fort Max]

WTH? i thought were talking macross toys here...not uniforms

Yes, but Bandai are involved so the knives are out.

So much msgs to sift through and its mostly hate or fanboy crap.

The fact of the matter is Bandai has yet to prove their mantle in this. They haven't been making quality non-gundam toys sponsored by them in the past and the most recent examples of these are Eureka Seven and Code Geass. The fact that they are releasing the VF-25 in the Chogokin DX line (please note that DX is not the same as the mainstay chogokin line)is a bit of good news though not convincing enough as the Aquarion left much to be desired.

So Bandai haters keep your pants on....and Bandai lovers, don't count your chicks before they hatch.

Most of Aquarion's problems are inherrent in it's design. As bold as it was of Kawamori to try and mahe a Getter Robo type toy that worked it was never the best design decision in the world to have 1/3 of it's weight on it's back in each robot form.

[Graham]

If Bandai's 1/100 line turns out to be HCM-Pro type toys and they make the VF-171 with all the markings Tampo printed on, I will be as happy as a pig in crap.

For their 1/60 DX line, as long as they keep the die-cast metal parts to only where needed for strength (i.e. swing bars), make the rest of the toy out of ABS, have nice tight joints, parts that fit and lock together well and have at least a similar level of detail as Yamato's 1/60 toys, I will be happy. I'm just preying they stay away from unecessary painted die-cast metal exterior parts. IMO, die-cast and transforming toys just don't mix.

Graham

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

Also I don't like the extra weight it brings. I want to be able to pose toys so that when wearing FAST packs or whatever, it doesn't feel like it will fall over backwards or make the hips go floppy. Make it feel "solid" to the touch with nice strong plastic, just not heavy. Back heavy mecha like the Qrau for example already have problems just due to the design of them.

[Fort Max]

If Bandai's 1/100 line turns out to be HCM-Pro type toys and they make the VF-171 with all the markings Tampo printed on, I will be as happy as a pig in poo.

For their 1/60 DX line, as long as they keep the die-cast metal parts to only where needed for strength (i.e. swing bars), make the rest of the toy out of ABS, have nice tight joints, parts that fit and lock together well and have at least a similar level of detail as Yamato's 1/60 toys, I will be happy. I'm just preying they stay away from unecessary painted die-cast metal exterior parts. IMO, die-cast and transforming toys just don't mix.

Graham

This is what people keep trying to tell you, Bandai are about the one company that can make painted metal transforming toys work.

[Zinjo]

This is what people keep trying to tell you, Bandai are about the one company that can make painted metal transforming toys work.

But, the question is... Will they do that for a Macross line??

Historically Bandai has treated Macross like the red headed bastard son...

[Fort Max]

But, the question is... Will they do that for a Macross line??

Historically Bandai has treated Macross like the red headed bastard son...

They just announced a DX perfect transform Chogokin, it doesn't get more metaly and transformering then that.

[Shaggydog]

Here's a few rhetorical hand grenades to add to the fun. Enjoy!

1. To the people who say that Bandai has not made quality non-gundam toys: just saying something like that doesn't make it true. Try actually buying a few of Bandai's non-gundam toys. Here's a short list of recent high quality Bandai non-gundam toys that pop to mind:

* SOC Voltes V

* Soul Spec Layzner

* Saint Seiya Myth Cloth Wyvern R.

* DX Senpuujin (Hurricaneger)

* Chogokin Mechagodzilla

just to name a few. The truth is, Bandai is practically a byword for quality. Have they ever produced crummy items? Of course! Is it possible their Macross F items will suck? Yeah, I guess so. But at their peak, Bandai has achieved quality the likes of which Yamato can only dream about. The only Yamato toy that competes at that level is the 1/48 VF-1. If you're betting on whether a new high-end Bandai line will turn out good, the smart money is on 'yes'.

2. As far as I can tell, the belief in the supposed 'mistreatment' of the Macross license by Bandai (which is absurd on the face of it, Bandai is motivated simply by money, not hatred for certain licenses) is based on the Macross 7 toys they produced in the mid-90's. (I guess Bandai doesn't get credit for the excellent Takatoku reissues?) Firstly, remember that those Mac 7 toys were produced BEFORE the big toy-collectible boom of the late 90's. Therefore, they were actually intended to be real TOYS, not ultra-accurate fanboy wankoff fodder that shatters with a look. And as such, they succeeded! They were fun, and I've yet to hear of any breakage issues, unlike practically every Yamato toy ever churned out. Secondly, for better or for worse, Bandai has subsequently fully embraced the modern toy-collectible movement, and has produced a ton of fantastic toy collectibles in other lines (see above). There is no logical reason other than knee-jerk Yamato-worship to think that they can't do the same with Macross.

Whew. I'm out.

[Ginrai]

Remember that the Kahen Senshi Zeta Gundam, the transforming Zeta toy was almost entirely plastic despite being Chogokin branded.

[Sumdumgai]

Saint Seiya is a big license that jump started the doujinshi industry into the momentum of being what it is today, not to mention is popular the world over (excluding the US since it was picked up like two decades too late). They created the Myth Cloth line due to the anime series being brought back and continued, and that there would be adult collectors who weren't satisfied with their old chunky monkies. The Myth Cloth line is pure awesome. Although don't expect to put them in dynamic poses, that die cast armor is heavy! And they've progressed to the point that it's almost all die cast.

Dunno the other licenses you mentioned, except Godzilla who is the baddest giant monster ever.

Forgot my point already here. I'll just make it that Saint Seiya is awesome.

Well, even as Yamato was busy proving that Macross was a license that could make some money, Bandai did jack. Over the years Bandai could have put out a VF-17 and a VF-22 (certain sellers). The VF-17 they have pretty much exclusive rights to, since it's in Macross 7, and Yamato is having issues with the VFX2 license.

Re-issuing isn't the same as bringing something new to the table. At least for me. So they don't get credit for reissuing the classic chunky monkey.

Though Bandai can do fantastic things with die cast, I too worry about weight issues, and problems with paint after repeated transformations. I do NOT want a 1/60 scale VF-25 doing a flip off my desk with 99% die cast content in battroid mode

[Graham]

This is what people keep trying to tell you, Bandai are about the one company that can make painted metal transforming toys work.

I've owened many Bandai toys over the years, including several of the SOC line (Various Mazingers, Getter, Combatler V, Grendizer). Also, more recently the SPEC Dragonar, which is an amazing toy.

But I still don't want to see painted diecast in a Bandai Macross Frontier toy for the following reasons: -

1) Die-cast metal toys will suffer from paint chips sooner or later, no matter how careful you are, especially transforming or combining toys.

2) It's never possible to match the color of die cast cast painted parts and ABS parts exactly.

3) Weight may not be such an issue with non-transforming toys, but too much weight can cause serious issues with parts locking on transforming toys.

Bandai hasn't proved themselves to me that they can make high die-cast content transforming toys. Toys like Voltes V, don't really count IMO, as they are combiners, not transformers, with relatively simple combining function. The only really complex die-cast transforming toy I can think of from Bandai with complexity on par with VFs is the SOC Gunbuster, but I don't own that personally, so can't really comment.

Graham

[Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0]

Historically Bandai has treated Macross like the red headed bastard son...

Yeah years ago. Yamato caught them with their pants down with the VF-1. The reissues did not do well, because the 1/60 came out, then the 1/48. Same reason the new heads that were tooled for the reissues never made it to the production toys.

You can say that Macross 7 was left in the dust and tied up just to piss Yamato off, but whats more popular in japan, the Fire valkyrie or VF-1? What was selling more at the time of the Bandai reissues, the Yamato Macross Plus toys or the 1/60 VF-1? What was so damn popular in Macross that Yamato even pushed it up to a bigger scale, and back again now? The VF-1. Maybe Bandai felt they wouldn't sell as much new mold Macross 7 stuff with similar products that Yamato was pushing at the time(1/72 Macross Plus). What is more popular? Plus or 7? YF-19 or Fire Valkyrie? YF-21 or VF-22? Oh and Macross II? If Kawamori gets upset about Macross II, maybe its possible Bandai may not want to drive him away from helping in the development of their product. Hell if people defend why Yamato won't do Macross II...

There is no logical reason other than knee-jerk Yamato-worship to think that they can't do the same with Macross.

Agreed. They worship upon a shrine of 1st edition broken VF-0S/A arms, incense, a picture of Kawamori smiling, photoshopped with a jpeg taken from google images of random japanese dudes and photoshopped text layed overtop saying "Yamato employees".

Over the years Bandai could have put out a VF-17 and a VF-22 (certain sellers).

Certain sellers to us, not necessarily the japanese market. See if Yamato was able to sell Macross stuff in the US, there is no doubt a lot of the stuff people keep saying Bandai or Yamato neglect, may be given a chance here.

So they don't get credit for reissuing the classic chunky monkey.

They do for me, I wanted a damn chunky monkey for years.

I do NOT want a 1/60 scale VF-25 doing a flip off my desk with 99% die cast content in battroid mode

They didn't even do that with a Mazinger or the SOC Dancougar, who is fairly heavy. They had substantial metal on Gunbuster and it seems everyone here loves it. Bandai knows how to handle diecast better than Yamato. Bigger company=more experience. In fact, the all metal Gundam they made was a one-off, and I don't think they would make an all metal valkyrie like that, they haven't done anything else like that in years.

My first thoughts were that shouldn't professionals dress neatly to impress the client?

Except for the fact that each worker in their factory is required to dress like that. Not to mention they may have not even been in a formal meeting, it looked like they were in an exhibition hall while a con was going on. If you want to talk about formal, Kawamori presents his designs with F^Y&8&88***n legos. LEGOS. If the Yamato professionals went to him at wonderfest dressed in votoms gear, I don't think he would care.

Everyone here can agree that they want good Macross F toys. I want good Macross F toys, at the end of the toy I could care less who the hell makes them, so long as they are good. I was even hoping Takara would give Macross a chance.

Edited March 4, 2008 by Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0

[F-ZeroOne]

Bandai hasn't proved themselves to me that they can make high die-cast content transforming toys. Toys like Voltes V, don't really count IMO, as they are combiners, not transformers, with relatively simple combining function. The only really complex die-cast transforming toy I can think of from Bandai with complexity on par with VFs is the SOC Gunbuster, but I don't own that personally, so can't really comment.

Graham

Actually, the Gunbuster might be quite a good example of Bandais engineering - it has the most amazing transforming feet ever.

[wolfx]

Here's a few rhetorical hand grenades to add to the fun. Enjoy!

1. To the people who say that Bandai has not made quality non-gundam toys: just saying something like that doesn't make it true. Try actually buying a few of Bandai's non-gundam toys. Here's a short list of recent high quality Bandai non-gundam toys that pop to mind:

* SOC Voltes V

* Soul Spec Layzner

* Saint Seiya Myth Cloth Wyvern R.

* DX Senpuujin (Hurricaneger)

* Chogokin Mechagodzilla

just to name a few. The truth is, Bandai is practically a byword for quality. Have they ever produced crummy items? Of course! Is it possible their Macross F items will suck? Yeah, I guess so. But at their peak, Bandai has achieved quality the likes of which Yamato can only dream about. The only Yamato toy that competes at that level is the 1/48 VF-1. If you're betting on whether a new high-end Bandai line will turn out good, the smart money is on 'yes'.

I forgot to mention that I didn't include SOC and SPEC into the mix simply because they didn't sponsor the series that the designs came from. The SOC and SPEC line are based on mecha designs from old series they don't own. Since they paid a premium on the license, its only natural they have to do a good job on them (which should also be part of the agreements with the licensors) whereas series where they are directly sponsoring seem to be misused or taken for granted.

2. As far as I can tell, the belief in the supposed 'mistreatment' of the Macross license by Bandai (which is absurd on the face of it, Bandai is motivated simply by money, not hatred for certain licenses) is based on the Macross 7 toys they produced in the mid-90's. (I guess Bandai doesn't get credit for the excellent Takatoku reissues?) Firstly, remember that those Mac 7 toys were produced BEFORE the big toy-collectible boom of the late 90's. Therefore, they were actually intended to be real TOYS, not ultra-accurate fanboy wankoff fodder that shatters with a look. And as such, they succeeded! They were fun, and I've yet to hear of any breakage issues, unlike practically every Yamato toy ever churned out. Secondly, for better or for worse, Bandai has subsequently fully embraced the modern toy-collectible movement, and has produced a ton of fantastic toy collectibles in other lines (see above). There is no logical reason other than knee-jerk Yamato-worship to think that they can't do the same with Macross.

Then why do you think they are priced at about the same price as the Yamatos at the time? Hardly the most affordable toy to buy for the little one don't you think? I really doubt your argument that the Macross 7 toys were meant as real TOYS. The way I see it, Bandai really wanted to cash in on the market that Yamato started.....but did badly.

YF-19 1/72 = 6800 yen

http://www.hlj.com/product/YMTMC-01 (wow its yamato's 1s product on hlj! )

Fire Valkyrie = 6800 yen

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN900136 (reissue version)

[CF18]

Well the M7 valks was 4980 yen in 1995. And I really doubt that toy sold well - on top of the poor look, it is a singing robot! Even around here the concept is not appealing to everyone.

[UN_MARINE]

here's another thought-provoking question:

why aren't there any Bandai Macross Plus toys from 1994-95 ?

kinda reinforces the "Bandai no like Macross 'til Yamato showed up" debate. at least for me.

hell, i was hoping Bandai would do MG Macross kits when they started doing the MG's

then the "15th" came around & all we got was even more high-end Gundam & reissue Macross.

boo i say.

they probably wouldn't have cared about it at all if Yamato hadn't saturated the market with their stuff.