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Post by Chen on Apr 23, 2010 19:09:04 GMT -5
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Post by Chen on Apr 27, 2010 15:48:38 GMT -5
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Post by quinjester on Apr 27, 2010 15:53:40 GMT -5
Proportions do look mighty good. That's not to say the 1/60 is any slouch in the looks department, and it's got it beat for size, but the Hi-Metal still holds its own fairly well.
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Post by Chen on Apr 27, 2010 16:00:38 GMT -5
I just hope it's more solid than the Yamato's! I tried to transform my 1/60 VF-1J for the first time and the damn arm fell off cuz of those accursed pins/cracked hinges. Yamato's are beautiful but there about as sturdy as a model kit.
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Apr 27, 2010 21:33:00 GMT -5
Please please please let the actual shipping product look as nice as the photos. I know I raved about the look of the VF-19kai, but even I have to admit to being slightly disappointed it wasn't a gloss-paint finish. But let's go with the undeniable fact that this 1/100 scale toy looks much less kids-toy-like than Toynami's recent attempt at a 1/100 VF-1. Glad I passed on those because this baby looks awesome!
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Post by tanrover on Apr 28, 2010 8:38:42 GMT -5
i'm glad I kept my 1/48 VF-1. when all the 1/60 hoopla came.
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Post by xTIMMYxCOREx on Apr 28, 2010 12:04:22 GMT -5
These are kind of nice, I may pick up some of them for my desk at work.
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Post by zeomare on Apr 29, 2010 1:44:26 GMT -5
these look great i am so picking them up. i know we will see the rest of the classic VF series and even the fastpacks at some point, i wonder if we will see a GPB armor as well.
chris
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Post by mojacko on Apr 29, 2010 8:20:37 GMT -5
a GBP armor for the 1/100s....that will surely look cool......and fast packs as well
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Post by goldorak on May 2, 2010 13:10:02 GMT -5
maybe as Tamashii Web exclusives....
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Post by delta7890 on May 4, 2010 9:43:30 GMT -5
Definitely picking up the 1J. I've been wary of Yamato's due to all the hubbub with the shoulders, but this should be a fine addition to the collection.
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Post by Ben-Ohki on May 5, 2010 7:39:01 GMT -5
I decided this week to pre-order the VF-1J as well. Not my favourite paint scheme, but it'll do (my all-time favourite is the VF-1A in Hikaru colours - I like red on white but I feel the TV version doesn't have enough black on it).
Speaking of the web exclusives... anybody have a lead on the Fire Valkyrie Sound Booster yet for us international gaijin fans? Tokyo Hunter posted it several months ago around the same time the rest of us heard about it. But there was no information (he wasn't taking orders at his blog) and there hasn't been an update since either. Toy-Wave offers Tamashii service but Sound Booster is not listed (at least, I can't find it!).
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Post by vifam7 on May 5, 2010 9:51:14 GMT -5
Speaking of the web exclusives... anybody have a lead on the Fire Valkyrie Sound Booster yet for us international gaijin fans? Tokyo Hunter posted it several months ago around the same time the rest of us heard about it. But there was no information (he wasn't taking orders at his blog) and there hasn't been an update since either. Toy-Wave offers Tamashii service but Sound Booster is not listed (at least, I can't find it!). Anime Export has the Sound Booster set listed on their site but it costs more than double than if one were to buy in Japan. It might be cheaper if you were to use a deputy buying service like Celga or Crescent Shop. |
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Post by Ben-Ohki on May 5, 2010 21:58:05 GMT -5
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Post by ancer on Jun 1, 2010 22:11:39 GMT -5
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Post by chuckdawg1999 on Jun 10, 2010 21:51:57 GMT -5
Has the VF-1J been released yet? Anyone have it and how is it? I had it pre-ordered at BBTS but as we all know they can't carry Macross items anymore.
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Jun 11, 2010 7:08:26 GMT -5
Nope, still no news. I have it pre-order (but not from BBTS) so when I get the shipping notification, I'll post here.
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Post by ancer on Jun 30, 2010 4:07:05 GMT -5
Well amiami is shipping the vf-1j now .
I hope i get mine quickly.
anybody get there's already ?
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Jun 30, 2010 7:30:29 GMT -5
I'm expecting mine to arrive today, actually. I got me shipping notification over the weekend... If it doesn't arrive then I will be annoyed sincd it's a holiday tomorrow and I'm away on Friday... bleach.
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Post by eriku on Jun 30, 2010 10:52:39 GMT -5
Got mine yesterday.
Short version: SEXAY LOVE
Long version:
Package: This has some of the best box art for a Macross toy that I’ve seen in quite some time. Images of all three modes of the toy mixed in with a big gorgeous painting of the VF-1J in battroid, TV Hikaru and Minmay. It harkens back to box art from the 80’s (although still isn’t as aesthetically perfect as a Takatoku box). There is a box flap that is held shut with magnets and a window underneath that is die-cut around the shape of the valk so you can’t actually see the accessories at all. I like this effect since a wide array of accessories is usually kind of ugly. The inside of the flap and the back of the box are standard and show various photos of the toy listing its different points of interest.
Fighter: I really like the feel of this straight out of the box. While the Toynami 1/100 VF-1 felt a bit flimsy, fragile and frobbly to me (although still a good toy in its own right – and cheaper) this one has a nice heft for something of its size and nothing frobbles – it’s tight as a drum just like a Yamato V2. Neither wing is loose on mine, either. The plastic isn’t quite as bright white as a Yamato TV V2 toy, having a more off-white tint. One thing that I find particularly striking is how far the head tucks in. Instead of the battroid head jutting out like most other VF-1 toys, this one is tucked in so flush with the underside that its not even visible from the side. Heads sticking out has never bothered me, but once I saw this I realized how much more streamlined it makes fighter mode.
Landing Gear: Not much to say, really. They’re separate pieces that plug in. They hold tight, they look great and they do their job well, they’re not microscopically tiny. The wheels don’t roll, but that’s probably a good thing for this scale. I’m not one for lots of extra parts, but I almost like these removable gear better than retractable. They seem easier to deal with to me.
Wings: Wings clip out and in easily and all four have a tight connection. The hardpoints hold each of the missile clusters tightly with a simple round peg/round hole attachment. Not much else to say.
Cockpit/Canopy: The canopy comes off rather than opening on a hinge. While that is a bummer for those who like to have an open-canopy display, it’s probably for the best with this size as a hinge could be really easy to break. The canopy is a slightly smokey blue/grey with neatly painted black trim. It attaches securely with two pegs that are diagonally across from each other. The cockpit is painted a glossy gunmetal and there are no instrument panel details (naturally). The pilot is incredibly small, yet removable and painted. I’m surprised they painted as many details on him as they did because it’s so tiny. It’s clearly Hikaru in his TV flight suit.
Transformation to Battroid (my method, I haven’t checked the instructions): Unpeg legs from tailfin/backpack/arms (they are secured tightly in three different areas). Next fold the (metal) swingbar and legs to the back. Unpeg chestplate and swing it up and over the canopy...fold arms out to sides on double hinges (no sliding over humps here, they fold straight out)...Fold over the nose piece and peg into metal swing bar...remove canopy and replace with heatshield (heatshield is panel-lined!)...clip chestplate into heatshield...flip up the head...fold up the backpack (held with friction, but is tight)...fold out the hands (open a panel and flip them out)...pull out the feet...done. Most of it is pretty standard, but the little differences are NICE, like the way the swing bar attaches to the back of the nose and the way the arms fold out to the sides on double hinges. Everything is very intuitive and nothing is fiddly or aggravating. It’s almost as quick and simple as transforming a 1/55 chunky.
Battroid: If you’ve handled Robot:Damashii figures then you’ll have an idea of the overall feel of this. It’s small, but it has a tight and durable feel to it. The plastic has a nice rich finish and doesn’t feel as cheap as the Toynami 1/100. The joints are all have the perfect tension on mine. None are worringly tight and none are annoyingly loose. They’re all friction joints except for the knees, which ratchet. The feet have an amazing range and can pull out a lot further than you might expect to allow for some very wide stances. One thing that I don’t recall being mentioned is that you DO NOT have to swap hands for the gunpod. The right hand that folds into the arm has a square hole in it that holds the handle of the gunpod perfectly. I don’t think I’ll even use all of the extra hands that it comes with (both robotic and cartoony).
Proportions are fantastic. It looks to me like they took the Yamato V2 design and made it better. The hips probably stick out further than some would like, but to me they look nicely proportioned with the rest of battroid. Articulation is, pardon my language, d**n AMAZING. The Yamato V2 is really fun to pose but this one beats it. The legs have the most range I’ve ever seen on a VF-1. This thing can almost do Yoga!
Random thoughts: One thing I was worried about was that the head lazers would be limp and gummy, but they’re actually pretty rigid and very straight. Not only that but you get a second set in the box which is brilliant. The intakes and hands are easy to swap and hold securely.
Overall I can safely say this is easily my favorite VF-1 toy yet – or at least tied with my previous favorite the Joke Machine. It’s got everything I want: Durability, fun and easy transformation, superposability, an excellent sculpt, and a size that wont hog my shelves and will encourage me to break my “one sculpt only” rule. I don’t think I’ll get the exclusive Max 1J, but if they do TV versions of the 1As, the 1S, 1D, Elint and Ostrich, I’ll be all over them. I’ll also get the super/strike packs when they are released (which they will be, there are connection points for them). I’m also really, really hoping they do a GBP armor set for this because if it was made with the same care and cleverness as the 1J it would be phenomenal.
I wanted to have some photos to go with this, but right as I started taking them my camera died...and then early this morning the power went out in my neighborhood (and is still out). >__<
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