Bandai 1/60 DX Chogokin Macross 7 Fire Valkyrie

[Mommar]

Without thinking I cancelled my order at Amazon Japan, though I think I had to pay up front.  At any rate, it shipped via DHL and they credited me the difference in the lower price.  However, I was not charged shipping nor was I charged for tariffs.

Edited yesterday at 01:25 AM by Mommar

[Mommar]

Mini-Review.  It's largely a Yamcadia VF-19.  It has several of the upgrade/gimmicks you'd expect from Bandai and it also has missing/worse features because Bandai can never just do something correct the first time.  For instance, upgraded ankles have better range/articulation, but not as much as the YF-19.  However, for some reason the joint at the intake doesn't have the same range of motion as the YF-19.  It has the more limited range of the Yamcadia.  So it poses slightly better in Gerwalk than the previous VF-19... but only slightly so, and the older Bandai YF-19 poses infinitely better.

It's also a hell of a lot more finicky than the Yamcadia.  The whole section behind the cockpit is a bitch to keep together.  And the gunpod extension mechanic is a good idea executed poorly.  

Edited yesterday at 04:02 AM by Mommar

[Shawn]

Wonder if this will drive up the prices of the Yamato Emerald series valks...sort of like when the DX YF-19 was out, the Yamato YF-21s were in the market for $500+ (obviously not any more!)

https://anymoon.com/blog/?p=4769

[Chronocidal]

I'm much more interested in those than the Fire Valk.. so we'll see if Bandai actually bothers to follow through on completing the rest of the main valks.

I guess it's fortunate that the VF-19P can just use the same mold, since that's probably the one I'm most interested in overall, but I really want to see how Bandai's overall shape compares with the Blazers.  So far from what I'm seeing, I'm liking what the different nose and intake profile are doing for the fighter mode.  

[MKT]

On 10/27/2025 at 8:34 AM, nightmareB4macross said:

Is it just me or does it seem like this step was either missed, or if the gunpod inadvertently unlocked itself from the boomerang position it’s supposed to be in when in fighter mode.

 

When I look at this illustration again, it seems to work quite differently than the DX YF-19. In the YF-19, the barrel ahead of the grip is the one that bends to give it a straighter position.

Here though, it's saying to bend the butt instead, behind the grip after sliding the grip forward. So instead of the barrel pointing straighter, it's the butt that tucks in tighter upwards at the rear.

Or am I just confusing myself?  

 

 

 

[PointBlankSniper]

3 hours ago, MKT said:

Here though, it's saying to bend the butt instead, behind the grip after sliding the grip forward. So instead of the barrel pointing straighter, it's the butt that tucks in tighter upwards at the rear.

Or am I just confusing myself?  

It's as you say, but then there's a third mechanism where the grip also pivots out of the gun at at the front of the trigger guard, making the former two mechanisms excessive. If I'm not mistaken, the trigger might even be able to slide back after pivoting out, so it can rest against the crooked butt and have the barrel fin stay clear of the back pack humps if those really were an issue.

But so far, nobody has confirmed using all 3 and explaining why none of it works.

[MKT]

30 minutes ago, PointBlankSniper said:

It's as you say, but then there's a third mechanism where the grip also pivots out of the gun at at the front of the trigger guard, making the former two mechanisms excessive. If I'm not mistaken, the trigger might even be able to slide back after pivoting out, so it can rest against the crooked butt and have the barrel fin stay clear of the back pack humps if those really were an issue.

But so far, nobody has confirmed using all 3 and explaining why none of it works.

The grip pivoting out does look like it may change that gun issue completely. Hopefully we have more firsthand accounts of it soon.  

[RIBFIR]

Received my copy today. First impressions, the shade of red is really pretty, and Bandai did it right going with a matte finish. Also like the blue'ish clear tint used for the canopy vs the gold on my Arcadia. Fighter mode rocks so far, but haven't had time to check out the other modes.

Also of note, I used Fedex Priority to here in the states. It took 2 days shipped and there was supposed to be a tariff's subcharge but I lucked out somehow and didn't get dinged.  I did ask for the package to be marked as a gift, so maybe that?  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Actar]

Regarding the gunpod, the pivoting grip really doesn't do much as there's really no room for the gunpod to angle on that pivot...

[MKT]

56 minutes ago, Actar said:

Regarding the gunpod, the pivoting grip really doesn't do much as there's really no room for the gunpod to angle on that pivot...

Thanks for checking. Can the pivot work if the grip is slid rearwards, towards the butt? It looks like the barrel fin might just clear that black hump if so.  

[Actar]

1 hour ago, MKT said:

Thanks for checking. Can the pivot work if the grip is slid rearwards, towards the butt? It looks like the barrel fin might just clear that black hump if so.  

This is the best I can get it in both positions! Looks like the barrel sight bumps into the crotch piece when brought forward.

 

[Sokeijon]

Luckily I did not pre-order from AmiAmi, the reduction price now is good to get one.

[Chronocidal]

Boy I can't wait to see how terrible the VF-19 normal gunpod looks mounted there.  

[Mommar]

8 hours ago, Actar said:

Regarding the gunpod, the pivoting grip really doesn't do much as there's really no room for the gunpod to angle on that pivot...

That is not true, the whole handle slides backwards (or the body slides foward depending how you look at it) in addition to the handle pivoting out.  You should be able to get the gunpod to point directly forward.

[Chronocidal]

Pity that DHL tried to drop this off today while I was at work, or I'd be able to mess with it right now to experiment.  

Fortunately was able to call and (theoretically) schedule them to drop off after I get home on Monday, so we'll see if that works.  Had to run-around their phone menu half an hour before I got to talk to someone, but at least it offered me more than the website, which just flat out refused to recognize the tracking number.  

[PointBlankSniper]

6 hours ago, Actar said:

This is the best I can get it in both positions! Looks like the barrel sight bumps into the crotch piece when brought forward.

I'm guessing best position will have to be somewhere in the middle, where the fin is between the backpack bulge and the crotch cover.