Bandai DX Chogokin 1/48 VF-1

[Chronocidal]

13 hours ago, Californium said:

I like the metal gear as is.  I see it as a nice little callback to its chunky monkey predecessor.  

I guess I get it, but nostalgia is a very confusing drug that way.

Having bare metal landing gear on a high quality scale model feels like someone refusing to upscale a blocky 8-bit texture from an old video game when it gets an HD re-master.  

For the moment, I just want them to get around to a VT-1.

Edited October 9 by Chronocidal

[Californium]

8 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

Having bare metal landing gear on a high quality scale model...

Ah.  High quality, sure.  But for me, these things are toys, not scale models.  Besides which, white is way too light a color for VF-1 gear.  It's more like silver or light grey or even medium grey.  

 

 

8 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

For the moment, I just want them to get around to a VT-1.

Agreed.  

[sh9000]

20 minutes ago, Californium said:

Ah.  High quality, sure.  But for me, these things are toys, not scale models.  Besides which, white is way too light a color for VF-1 gear.  It's more like silver or light grey or even medium grey.  

Agreed.  I hardly use the landing gear but they never looked white.

[Chronocidal]

11 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Agreed.  I hardly use the landing gear but they never looked white.

To be fair to the animators, they're usually in the shadow of the plane.  I think the only time we've ever seen any clearly non-white gear in Macross was the VF-19P hangar scene, where they're clearly a medium gray, with minty-green bays.

Going to spoiler this part to avoid looking too ranty, because honestly, the metal gear itself bothers me less than Bandai's general attitude about things like this.

Spoiler

Much like most of the rest of animation, like all of the markings that aren't in every frame, all the functional details of aircraft that they never bother to draw, white gear is one of those things that may not be on the screen, but should exist, because it's standard practice, both now, and for the generation of aircraft Kawamori was referencing when designing the VF-1.  Older aircraft in the WWII/Korea era often had bare gear, but somewhere along the way, the military standardized white gear as an aid to maintenance for spotting fluid leaks.  I think the Navy adopted it before the Air Force, since I recall early F-106s having silver gear, while I believe most WWII-era Naval aircraft already had white struts.

This isn't one of those things that you should be looking to the animation for reference material, because regardless of what's animated, the gear should be assumed to be white.  They don't animate the ejection warnings either, but everyone agrees they should be there, because they're a standard US marking, and the VF-1 was designed using mid-80s US Navy markings and practices as the standard.  That includes the gear.

I'm not saying people aren't allowed to like metal gear, like I said, nostalgia's a helluva drug.    But I firmly believe that is the only "acceptable" reason for Bandai not to paint them.  I don't believe there should ever be any question as to what color they're supposed to be.

In my case, I think it comes off looking cheap and lazy, because they put so much other real-life detail into their Macross releases, while leaving the gear bare because they just seem to like it better.  Much like their fiasco with the backwards numbers on the DYRL releases, just because they like it better that way doesn't do a damn thing to change the fact that it is unquestionably wrong.

Anywho, long story short, I wish Bandai would stop clinging to nostalgia (or any other misguided preference for oddball inaccuracies) as an argument against making something correctly.  Remember how long they still put the incorrect 1/55-style chest stripes on all of their VF-1Js?  Like, seriously, even Toynami got that right before they did.  

During the whole backwards number thing, I kept wishing someone would go and spray paint Bandai's corporate logo backwards on the back-facing side of their headquarters, just to exemplify how stupid their "symmetry" argument was.

Edited October 9 by Chronocidal

[treatment]

27 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

To be fair to the animators, they're usually in the shadow of the plane.  I think the only time we've ever seen any clearly non-white gear in Macross was the VF-19P hangar scene, where they're clearly a medium gray, with minty-green bays.

Going to spoiler this part to avoid looking too ranty, because honestly, the metal gear itself bothers me less than Bandai's general attitude about things like this.

  Reveal hidden contents

Much like most of the rest of animation, like all of the markings that aren't in every frame, all the functional details of aircraft that they never bother to draw, white gear is one of those things that may not be on the screen, but should exist, because it's standard practice, both now, and for the generation of aircraft Kawamori was referencing when designing the VF-1.  Older aircraft in the WWII/Korea era often had bare gear, but somewhere along the way, the military standardized white gear as an aid to maintenance for spotting fluid leaks.  I think the Navy adopted it before the Air Force, since I recall early F-106s having silver gear, while I believe most WWII-era Naval aircraft already had white struts.

This isn't one of those things that you should be looking to the animation for reference material, because regardless of what's animated, the gear should be assumed to be white.  They don't animate the ejection warnings either, but everyone agrees they should be there, because they're a standard US marking, and the VF-1 was designed using mid-80s US Navy markings and practices as the standard.  That includes the gear.

I'm not saying people aren't allowed to like metal gear, like I said, nostalgia's a helluva drug.    But I firmly believe that is the only "acceptable" reason for Bandai not to paint them.  I don't believe there should ever be any question as to what color they're supposed to be.

In my case, I think it comes off looking cheap and lazy, because they put so much other real-life detail into their Macross releases, while leaving the gear bare because they just seem to like it better.  Much like their fiasco with the backwards numbers on the DYRL releases, just because they like it better that way doesn't do a damn thing to change the fact that it is unquestionably wrong.

Anywho, long story short, I wish Bandai would stop clinging to nostalgia (or any other misguided preference for oddball inaccuracies) as an argument against making something correctly.  Remember how long they still put the incorrect 1/55-style chest stripes on all of their VF-1Js?  Like, seriously, even Toynami got that right before they did.  

During the whole backwards number thing, I kept wishing someone would go and spray paint Bandai's corporate logo backwards on the back-facing side of their headquarters, just to exemplify how stupid their "symmetry" argument was.

 

Thought navy jets like the F-14 always have white landing gears. 

 

[sqidd]

3 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

During the whole backwards number thing, I kept wishing someone would go and spray paint Bandai's corporate logo backwards on the back-facing side of their headquarters, just to exemplify how stupid their "symmetry" argument was.

[rsvictor1976]

Quick questions... 

Were there any issues with the VF-1S Hikaru Movie Valkyrie or Strike Parts set?

[eggy99]

Finally had a good long inspection of my VF-1S Focker and tried on the TV Super packs, and wow it's so gorgeous. I'm looking forward to when I can get another detolf to display my DX VF-1 series.

Only 1 issue on my VF-1S, which was the left thigh have a very loose swivel, but it was still pretty stable in all modes when standing, but wouldn't be able to hold the left leg in an airborne pose. Since I have a 2nd VF-1S Focker on the way, this 1st one will be relegated to fighter mode, where I don't have to worry tight swivel, and hopefully the 2nd one has tight thigh swivels, but it probably won't be an issue either as I think I won't be putting it in an airborne pose anyway.

Now it and the TV Super Pack is back in the box. 😅

Edited October 10 by eggy99

[Californium]

13 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

while I believe most WWII-era Naval aircraft already had white struts.

Some had silver, apple green, black, or dark grey.  Largely depends on the factory they were made in.  Some had 2 or three of those colors (See F4F Wildcats).  But most were the same color as the aircraft's underside: light grey (Grumman grey) or dark sea blue or insignia white.  (White would have been more common in late 1943 through early 1944, then not again until the late fifties.)

    

13 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

They don't animate the ejection warnings either,

Eh?  They were in almost every close-up. 

 

14 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

That includes the gear.

That's an assumption I wouldn't make.    But hey, whatever floats your carrier.  

[sqidd]

10 hours ago, rsvictor1976 said:

Quick questions... 

Were there any issues with the VF-1S Hikaru Movie Valkyrie or Strike Parts set?

Define issue.

-Are you asking if it has widespread issues that were common? The answer is no.

-Are you asking if there were the same random QC issues you will get with just about any product the answer is yes. 

Your chances of getting one with a QC issue are the same as with any/every other toy.

 

[seti88]

14 hours ago, rsvictor1976 said:

Quick questions... 

Were there any issues with the VF-1S Hikaru Movie Valkyrie or Strike Parts set?

It has the most beautiful right tail amongst all the DX valks. 100 percent bandai perfection. Some say is so perfect they were thinking of knocking 001 percent off its tail score.

[Gabe Q]

Whoa! What is this thing being hoisted above the Valk? I've never seen something like that. 

[sqidd]

1 hour ago, Gabe Q said:

Whoa! What is this thing being hoisted above the Valk? I've never seen something like that. 

Fan racer?

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Did someone mention F-14 landing gear? 

BTW,  I have these in uncompressed form if anyone wants them..

 

My best part of the summer was getting to familiarize myself and get flght rated on several WW2 planes.    For American aircraft white is the predominant color for undercarriage,  best guess on my part is to make any leaks or other issues readily apparent during  visual inspection. 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

More varied pictures for strictly landing gear research reference... 😁

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

I almost forgot the WW2 images.. again strictly for landing gear research purposes only!  😆

I pulled a sampling this time,  but most were white.  

 

 

Ok back to your regularly scheduled programming..

Edited October 11 by Stampeed Valkyrie

[treatment]

I think USAF and US-Marines uses different colors on their jets' landing gears.

I think the "White" gears was specific to USN jets, and possibly just with the F8, F4 Phantom-II (navy), F-18, and of course, the F14.

[sqidd]

1 hour ago, Stampeed Valkyrie said:

Did someone mention F-14 landing gear? 

BTW,  I have these in uncompressed form if anyone wants them..

 

My best part of the summer was getting to familiarize myself and get flght rated on several WW2 planes.    For American aircraft white is the predominant color for undercarriage,  best guess on my part is to make any leaks or other issues readily apparent during  visual inspection. 

And cracks. It used to be standard to paint interiors/roll cages in race cars white for the same reason.

[rsvictor1976]

I broke one of the hands on my VF-1J Trainer. The ball joint was too tight and when I tried to twist it, it ripped off. Is there anyone selling replacements? Maybe 3D printed replicas?

 

 

[tekering]

On 10/12/2021 at 9:34 AM, rsvictor1976 said:

Is there anyone selling replacements? Maybe 3D printed replicas?

No, you'd never get an exact color match to the original fists.  I think repair is your best (if not your only) option here...

Drill a hole through the center of the ball-joint, at least far enough in to provide the leverage you need to pop it out of the forearm.  Drill a matching hole through the fist; there's a clear circle there where the joint snapped off, so you can center your hole in that circle to assure a proper alignment.  The holes should be identical in circumference to whatever metal pin you use to secure them together, and a decent CA glue should help weld everything together.

I demonstrated the approach in my last YouTube video, where I made custom ball-joints for a resin kit:

It's at 14:30 (if your browser doesn't automatically take you to that point in the video).

[seti88]

 

[Duymon]

I found a use for the extra Hikaru pilot figs I had after getting some GBP sets (and yes you have to slightly trim the backseat pilot legs to fit)

Edited October 15 by Duymon

[Kakizaki2021]

On 3/21/2020 at 6:17 AM, valar said:

Another point I don't like in the shape of the canopy... very different from the line art...

 

On 3/21/2020 at 2:16 PM, nightmareB4macross said:

I am in total agreement with on this. There are just way too many inconsistencies with the DX. What makes it worse is when a comparison using the hybrid stylized lineart of the Macross File books or Hasegawa mode sheets is used. Those just make everyone forget how they should actually be shaped.

Here are some raw pictures of what the leading edge of the TV VF-1 canopies should be.

Good evening everyone,

 

I have browsing these threads for countless hours trying to decide which Valk I should pull the trigger on, as I am only getting ONE or two at best. This decision is up to me of course. But throughout my journey, I have come to envelope a true sympathy for all of you in the sense of how much anguish and stress that has ensued in trying to get these stateside. Also, coupled with the other factors of inflated prices and some minor qc issues. Lastly, which has prompted this post is the acute recognition of the canopy design discrepancy from the line art. Unbelievable. I am truly amazed. I am not too picky but astonished that I missed this and wow what an epiphany. I hope I didn’t rattle too many cages, forgive me…I’ve had a few drinks tonight and felt compelled to comment. I love your company all! I've been learning quite a bit and having fun. Cheers.

[ValkAddict]

53 minutes ago, Kakizaki2021 said:

I have browsing these threads for countless hours trying to decide which Valk I should pull the trigger on, as I am only getting ONE or two at best.

^ Famous last words. LOL. Once you get one, you'll get sucked into the valkyrie collecting vortex ....

[seti88]

7 hours ago, Kakizaki2021 said:

 

Good evening everyone,

 

I have browsing these threads for countless hours trying to decide which Valk I should pull the trigger on, as I am only getting ONE or two at best. This decision is up to me of course. But throughout my journey, I have come to envelope a true sympathy for all of you in the sense of how much anguish and stress that has ensued in trying to get these stateside. Also, coupled with the other factors of inflated prices and some minor qc issues. Lastly, which has prompted this post is the acute recognition of the canopy design discrepancy from the line art. Unbelievable. I am truly amazed. I am not too picky but astonished that I missed this and wow what an epiphany. I hope I didn’t rattle too many cages, forgive me…I’ve had a few drinks tonight and felt compelled to comment. I love your company all! I've been learning quite a bit and having fun. Cheers.

Just 1 or 2....oh the memories of an innocent time....🤧

[KFDzero]

13 hours ago, Kakizaki2021 said:

as I am only getting ONE or two at best. 

I also remember those innocent days... These 1/60 yamatos are so good, yeah you have to remove the legs but the scale is perfect. I will never need another valk again.... A few 1/60v1 later... These Yamato 1/48, outside of the chicken hands, are so perfect, I will never buy another valk again... After also grabbing quite a few I did manage to escape the entire 1/60v2 range... but I then said i don't need the the DX valks after their teasers... Happy with my yammies... But nooooo, not only do they fix the Yamato chicken hands, the level of detail is so good, I've now got a few too... I wonder what improvement will get me to upgrade the entire line again after i complete vermilion squad and call it complete... Again.....

Oh, did I mention I also ended up collecting some of the HMR line too.... Was never going to get that either except the scale is more suited to take to friends places and play with toy planes and robots... And they look so good too....

I should stop now... 😅

Edited Thursday at 01:51 PM by KFDzero

[Paco Grande]

Yeah I once said I only want one DX valk and I now own five.

[lavinrac]

5 hours ago, seti88 said:

Just 1 or 2....oh the memories of an innocent time....🤧

Same.. i intended to be very selective. But max is arriving tomorrow which means I’ll have all but kakizaki dyrl

 

it does help the wallet that the releases seem like 6 months apart   

[sqidd]

30 minutes ago, Paco Grande said:

Yeah I once said I only want one DX valk and I now own five.

I only wanted 3. I have 19! Or is it 20?

[rocketblast]

I love how Yamato’s yellow and/or have broken shoulder joints.

[levzloi]

45 minutes ago, sqidd said:

I only wanted 3. I have 19! Or is it 20?

or 30?....    I might have a problem......

[sqidd]

1 hour ago, levzloi said:

or 30?....    I might have a problem......

I just counted. Only 19 DX VF-1's. Not a problem!

[Sanity is Optional]

19 minutes ago, sqidd said:

I just counted. Only 19 DX VF-1's. Not a problem!

I only have 10! ...YF/VF-19 figures...in 1/60 scale...

I think I have 15 DX Vf-1?

[f-valk]

If I promise not to plug up the toilet, can I come over to play with just 1 of those dx vf1?

[sqidd]

9 minutes ago, Sanity is Optional said:

I only have 10! ...YF/VF-19 figures...in 1/60 scale...

 

Ten 19's!!!!

I've only got 14 non VF-1 DX's.

4 minutes ago, f-valk said:

If I promise not to plug up the toilet, can I come over to play with just 1 of those dx vf1?

Sure!

Edited Thursday at 05:03 PM by sqidd