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Post by tuck2197 on May 1, 2008 12:11:53 GMT -5
Just looking for some info on the history of some of the 1/55 Valks, dates, quality, general prices. I have seen the following companies related to the 1/55 scale Valks: Takatoku, Joon and Bandai. I can't seem to find much info on Joon, but have seen a few pop up on E-bay. I am looking to include some of these Valks in my photo project so if anyonecan point me to a good history lesson, or would be willing to give me a brief lesson I would appreciate it. To get me started I would like to know who came first and what years they produced Valks, basic flaws and issues to look out for, which companies releases fast pack or super or armored versions. A very basic guide of prices I can expect (not looking for mint, but in generally good condition with most of the accessorires. Thanks for any help! Andrew www.greenstphotography.com |
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Post by 00silvergt on May 1, 2008 13:44:46 GMT -5
Takatokus are the first, the vintage. Takatoku valkyries are essentially the tv show versions. Takatoku also came out with the SDF-1, which Matchbox released in the US 85-86. They also had the destroids. They also came out with the Armor for the Valkyrie. Takatoku went belly up and Bandai bought their Valkyrie molds and with some retooling reissued them as the movie version for the Summer of '84: Do You Remember Love? movie. These are also worth a lot of money right now with the Strike Valkyrie at around $1200 or so.
Joons is the knock-off Valks that came out in the late 90's. They had similar packaging as the old Takatoku and featured a Red, White and Blue one. They were selling for about $30 each, but I've seen them on eBay for as much as $200. Save for some stickers on the wrong place and some QC issues, they are pretty identical to the Takatoku. Their are minute differences, that the fan boys can elaborate on.
Bandai in 2003 reissued the molds once again for the 20th anniversary of Macross. They released versions of both the TV Valkyries, and one of the Movie VF-1A.
Sorry, kind of went on with my rant! lol
Who came first? Takatoku 1983-1984
Then Bandai 1984-1986, Joons 1995...Oh, I forgot Bandai Jetfire(Transformers) 1985
Flaws: The Bandai's and the Tak's have a flaw in which where the nose of the valkyrie attaches to the fuselage in Battroid form. They utilized a weak, insufficient hook design that did not snap on very tight and with prolonged use, becomes worn and ineffective. Bandai redesigned this, along with the rounding off of the nose cone for the Transformer release.
Takatoku was the only one that sold the fast packs separately for the 1/55 or Chunky Monkeys. Bandai sold different fast packs with different Valkyries. e.g. Strike Valkyrie had the usual fast pack with the exception of a large cannon on the right side. There was also the Elintseeker which had a large dish, or the Cat's Eye in Robotech. The Super Strich or Super Ostrich, which had the orange fast pack with large round boosters. When Bandai reissued in 2003 they only had one, the Super Valkyrie that had the original gray fastpack.
Joons, to my knowledge, never released a fastpack.
Takatoku was the only company to release the super armor, Blue and Red one with missiles and missiles!
The SDF-1, save for the Matchbox release was never reissued as it is.
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Post by clchieng on May 1, 2008 17:00:31 GMT -5
Good info, but just a few notes:
The past few 1/55 Strikes that sold on eBay went for around $500-$600, MIB. Prices of the old 1/55s aren't what they used to be (except for the Super O/Elint).
The "Cat's Eye," from what I remember, was a non-transformable plane in the Macross show. The Elint-Seeker is fully transformable like the other valks.
I don't think Takatoku sold separate fast packs. The GBP armor was offered separately, but the fast packs were only sold with the Super VF-1S giftsets.
For the original poster, if you're just looking for some valks to play with, why not wait for the Bandai reissues this summer? The DYRL Hikaru and Max types are being released with fast packs. The TV Hikaru 1J and Roy 1S are also being reissued.
You should only go for the old toys if you're a vintage nerd (like me). The new reissues are more solid and, well, new.
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Post by 00silvergt on May 1, 2008 17:24:53 GMT -5
In the movie, The Elintseeker did not appear at all in the show. Elint Seeker was a DYRL exclusive. Yes, your right, the Cat's Eye did not transform, but the DYRL version, the Elintseeker, did. ;D
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Post by 00silvergt on May 1, 2008 17:26:05 GMT -5
Really? Bandai is re-releasing the 1/55? Great!
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Post by clchieng on May 1, 2008 17:29:39 GMT -5
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Post by 00silvergt on May 1, 2008 17:33:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the link! BTW, do you know if they will release a Strike Valk?
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Post by tuck2197 on May 1, 2008 17:34:40 GMT -5
Awesome info! Exactly what I was looking for, great tip on the up-coming re-release. I will definately keep my eye out as that would be a much cheaper way to get a few for my photo project. Though I was definately intorduced to Japaneese Anime via Robotech...comics not the TV shows. So I will keep my eye out for a vintage piece or two, plus I am finding that some used and or older toys photograph better even though they aren't as poseable. I have seen a few Takatoku valks going for around $100-$150 on E-bay recently is that about right? (obviously no fast packs or armor). Am I also correct in seeing that Max versions go for much much more as do Millia versions? Is there a supply issue there or are those just fan favs?
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Post by clchieng on May 2, 2008 1:24:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the link! BTW, do you know if they will release a Strike Valk? At the moment, nothing's been stated. The door's open, but Bandai would have to work with a slight new mold (for the strike cannon), and these reissues haven't exactly been money-makers for the company, despite the (small) rabid fanbase. |
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Post by 00silvergt on May 2, 2008 12:24:36 GMT -5
Awesome info! Exactly what I was looking for, great tip on the up-coming re-release. I will definately keep my eye out as that would be a much cheaper way to get a few for my photo project. Though I was definately intorduced to Japaneese Anime via Robotech...comics not the TV shows. So I will keep my eye out for a vintage piece or two, plus I am finding that some used and or older toys photograph better even though they aren't as poseable. I have seen a few Takatoku valks going for around $100-$150 on E-bay recently is that about right? (obviously no fast packs or armor). Am I also correct in seeing that Max versions go for much much more as do Millia versions? Is there a supply issue there or are those just fan favs? Millia, from my understanding amongst the vintage, would be the rarest, so it should have naturally driven a higher sale. (I think this was because Millia was a chick.) Anyway, I think Max would be the next one that would be pretty expensive. The Bandai re-issues of both of these are selling pretty high as well. At least last time I checked. I think the two would on average about $300 to $600 each for the Takatoku, with Millia costing a bit more, usually...but if you have been observing that Max is selling for more, then maybe because, yes Max is a fan favorite, many liked Max even over Hikaru or Roy...then there's the "Blue" thing...LOL |
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Post by gingaio on May 2, 2008 23:28:50 GMT -5
I just got a MIB Takatoku Max for about $200, and I wasn't even looking that hard. Personally, I wouldn't blow more than $300 on a Max or Millia, especially given that these have already been reissued once and might be reissued again. You're right in that the Millia might be harder to find, but I wouldn't spend big money on the vintage valks right now.
Again, valk prices are not what they used to be.
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Post by 00silvergt on May 4, 2008 4:20:43 GMT -5
Thanks to eBay and Bandai's reissue. The nice thing is that the SDF-1 is still what it use to be. With the Matchbox selling for $300 and upwards to $400 for the Takatoku, of course like most things YMMV. ;D
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Post by clchieng on May 4, 2008 13:49:55 GMT -5
I'm curious. Is it important to you that these vintage toys continue to skyrocket in price? The 1/55 valks to me were the epitome of toy design and engineering from that era, or are in any era, for that matter. I tend to think that if such things are more accessible to people who want them (especially fans), then that's all good.
Not to veer this thread into the old "Do you buy toys as investments?" angle, but it really doesn't matter to me how much my old valks are worth on the market.
I guess the people who shelled out the insane amounts of money at the height of the valkyrie craze (in the 90s) are hurting, but I'm not that worried about them.
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Post by 00silvergt on May 22, 2008 3:34:30 GMT -5
Toys in general are not good investments, if you are trying to invest, look to a Financial adviser and you will be happier. It is one of those things, if you bought in the 80's, kept it mint for some insane reason, something relights the passion for it and then people will pay a premium for it. But if you bought something that has been released in the recent years, unless you got some truly limited figure and someone else paid for it, you truly won't see a great ROI, yet.
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Post by clchieng on May 24, 2008 22:13:06 GMT -5
Toys in general are not good investments, if you are trying to invest, look to a Financial adviser and you will be happier. I wasn't asking hypothetically about investing in toys. I was asking specifically whether toy "value" was important (to you) because you seemed very disappointed (in your posts above) that the old Macross toys have declined in value. For example, you wrote: "Thanks to eBay and Bandai's reissue [prices on vintage valks have dropped]. The nice thing is that the SDF-1 is still what it use to be." Anyway, no biggie. I was just wondering. |
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Post by 00silvergt on May 27, 2008 12:57:49 GMT -5
Not really disappointed, per se, but I've cut back a little, even though, now would be the best time to pick up some of these. LOL
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