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 Thursday 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 Thursday 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.

[ArchieNov]

Personally I think the gunpod pointing down is a very minor issue. Now I'd be pissed if it points left or right, that's the kind of thing that really triggers my OCD. I have a very big tolerance when it comes to vertical symmetry, but for horizontal symmetry I demand perfection.

[dur]

16 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.

 

Maybe I'm just really immature... but this needs to be labeled NSFW.  "Is that your gunpod or are you just excited to see me?"

[MKT]

Thanks for the update @Actar, appreciate it. 

@Mommar good to know that the gun can be level after all.

Truth be told, as long as gun's slant more or less no worse than the current DX YF-19, I'm not so bothered by it either. Unless it's a big ass gun like the 29 or the 30, which will make them stick out more lol. It was just more of a growing curiosity since we are comparing closely what are improvements & changes that are being brought to this mold vs the DX YF-19 & Yamcadia's Kai. 

[rsvictor1976]

I appreciate Mark H.’s transformation guide in his video.

[Sokeijon]

Just ordered one from Mandarake at 25K yen yesterday and another new listing today with Sapporo. I also saw Arcadia with Sound Booster listings at between 25k yen to 30K Yen! Oh my!

[jenius]

2 minutes ago, Sokeijon said:

Just ordered one from Mandarake at 25K yen yesterday and another new listing today with Sapporo. I also saw Arcadia with Sound Booster listings at between 25k yen to 30K Yen! Oh my!

Depending on where they're shipping to, it's the shipping costs and tariffs that are making things less fun

[treatment]

3 hours ago, MKT said:

Thanks for the update @Actar, appreciate it. 

@Mommar good to know that the gun can be level after all.

Truth be told, as long as gun's slant more or less no worse than the current DX YF-19, I'm not so bothered by it either. Unless it's a big ass gun like the 29 or the 30, which will make them stick out more lol. It was just more of a growing curiosity since we are comparing closely what are improvements & changes that are being brought to this mold vs the DX YF-19 & Yamcadia's Kai. 

 

Bandai toys just have issues with gravity...

 

 

[Actar]

One thing I noticed is that the head fin and crest actually rest in a cavity when in fighter mode. When extending the body from fighter mode, make sure to raise the head first. Otherwise, the head can get scraped/chipped/dented. I think this is also why the neck cover has a gap in Gerwalk mode. Because the main body is slightly extended and pulled away, the head can't sit properly in its cavity, causing the neck cover to split.

[Chronocidal]

Ugh.. apparently I missed getting my delivery for the second time from DHL.. after specifically scheduling the delivery for monday after I get home from work...

I don't know what even is happening with this service, but I honestly feel like the customer support rep was trying to gaslight me into believing they're actually paying attention.

I got two email notifications today.  One that my package was out for delivery, and a second that the delivery attempt failed.  He just insisted repeatedly that it was never actually attempted.  Sooo... I just don't know what to think.

I'm just not trusting them, so I'm going to be home at the time they keep attempting the deliveries to see if they ignore my scheduled delivery time again.

ANYWAY... about the actual Fire Valk, yeah.  That's annoying to see they've got that issue with the head, but it doesn't surprise me in the slightest.  Leave it to Bandai to fill the inside of the backplate with details that will rub the plastic.  

[Mommar]

1 hour ago, Chronocidal said:

Ugh.. apparently I missed getting my delivery for the second time from DHL.. after specifically scheduling the delivery for monday after I get home from work...

I don't know what even is happening with this service, but I honestly feel like the customer support rep was trying to gaslight me into believing they're actually paying attention.

I got two email notifications today.  One that my package was out for delivery, and a second that the delivery attempt failed.  He just insisted repeatedly that it was never actually attempted.  Sooo... I just don't know what to think.

I'm just not trusting them, so I'm going to be home at the time they keep attempting the deliveries to see if they ignore my scheduled delivery time again.

ANYWAY... about the actual Fire Valk, yeah.  That's annoying to see they've got that issue with the head, but it doesn't surprise me in the slightest.  Leave it to Bandai to fill the inside of the backplate with details that will rub the plastic.  

I assume you aren't in a position to just ask them to leave the package?

DHL works well for me, but I have the benefit of living on a cul-de-sac set back in a difficult to navigate neighborhood with a large, imposing fence so anything left is well hidden and the location does not accommodate an easy getaway.

...I do also pay $50k a year for someone to watch my disabled Mother so there's little time when a package would be left alone as well.

[PointBlankSniper]

Seems like couriers all do the same dirty tricks these days. My family was all home looking out for a package during delivery hours recently. Then UPS said we missed a delivery a couple hours later... and scheduled another one for the next day, only to tell us we missed tomorrow's delivery within minutes of scheduling it. All the clown show just to tell us to pick it up ourselves because they are cutting corners on delivery lmao.

The part before that was even funnier. The package cleared customs, reached local distro, inexplicably returned to country of origin and retreated halfway across that country for days, and then was suddenly out for that imaginary first delivery rofl.

I have infinitely more faith in uninsured and untracked months long surface parcel and the regular postman, than these so called worldwide premium express courier conglomerates.

Anyway, I'm guess it's the screw thats digging into the head fin.

[Actar]

6 hours ago, PointBlankSniper said:

Anyway, I'm guess it's the screw thats digging into the head fin.

From my investigation, the head fits snugly in the cavity in fighter mode. However, extending the torso causes the cavity to move as it's on a slider separate from the head. If the torso gets extended while the head is in that cavity, it gets misaligned and scrapes the sharp points on the head like the tip of the red fin or black head crest and maybe the face. So, when extending the torso from fighter mode, it's best to raise the head first. That's also why the neck cover splits when in Gerwalk mode. The head can't sit properly in the cavity and puts pressure on the neck cover.

[Chronocidal]

11 hours ago, Mommar said:

I assume you aren't in a position to just ask them to leave the package?

That's the thing.. I've tried.

I signed up for every DHL online tracking account I possibly could, I registered my address, phone, email, and any other info I could with them, and nothing works.  I established that account, signed the "please deliver when I'm not here" waiver, and then none of my packages show up as valid, if they even show up at all.  It's like nothing going to my address is actually inside their main system.  When I tried to manage my delivery through the website for this package, the tracking number threw an error saying it wasn't even valid.

I really have no clue what is wrong with DHL in my area, but it is absolutely incomprehensible how absolutely nothing works about their website.  I'm just at a complete loss.  This is why I avoid using them if there is any other option.

Edited 23 minutes ago by Chronocidal