|
|
Post by xTIMMYxCOREx on Jul 1, 2012 18:11:33 GMT -5
Found one at CDjapan for $204 shipped SAL. Since I'm no in a rush because I really want to display this with the Fast Packs which release in December, the cheaper SAL shipping made this reasonable. Anyone seen a better deal than $100 for the fast pack set?
|
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Jul 1, 2012 19:28:00 GMT -5
Found one at CDjapan for $204 shipped SAL. Since I'm no in a rush because I really want to display this with the Fast Packs which release in December, the cheaper SAL shipping made this reasonable. Anyone seen a better deal than $100 for the fast pack set? Nippon Yasan has them for 88 bucks shipped. Non airmail SAL Registered though. |
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Jul 1, 2012 19:32:42 GMT -5
Found one at CDjapan for $204 shipped SAL. Since I'm no in a rush because I really want to display this with the Fast Packs which release in December, the cheaper SAL shipping made this reasonable. Anyone seen a better deal than $100 for the fast pack set? BTW, awesome deal on the VF 171EX. Mine was a late birthday present so I got the fastest shipping possible. Hehe! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by xTIMMYxCOREx on Jul 1, 2012 20:43:38 GMT -5
$85 with no tracking, which is fine by me. total for both pieces now is $290. I am happy
|
|
|
|
Post by mecha-mania on Jul 2, 2012 3:22:27 GMT -5
the super pack does make the valk looks nicer, but only in jet mode. wonder if its tamashii or regular release. AFAIK, all super/armor parts for the new figures are tamashii web exclusives. okie, thanks. that narrows down the local retail shops i can approach. |
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Jul 2, 2012 12:19:14 GMT -5
Just received mine from Nippon-Yasan  |
|
|
|
Post by mpchi on Jul 5, 2012 13:04:49 GMT -5
Was very surprised that CD Japan actually had them in stock for quite a few days. Guess most people didn't think of them as a source for toys, or they just got scared of their high SAL shipping cost. I ordered it on 7/3, and was worried they won't be able to full my order. But very glad to get a shipping notice email today. Yay!
But not so fortunate for others that relied on HK sellers. Heard that almost all of them didn't get any stock and end up cancelling all the preorders.
|
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Jul 5, 2012 20:41:38 GMT -5
I think the best way to go is with a Japan based retailer when it comes to the Bandai Macross products since these were made primarily for the Japanese consumer.
|
|
|
|
Post by pinoy78 on Jul 5, 2012 21:02:11 GMT -5
Enjoy my VF-171 review. Please subscribe.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
|
Post by edge on Jul 6, 2012 11:27:47 GMT -5
Man! that thing is so cool. Why does Bandai release so little quantities of these when they damn well know they sell like hot cakes.... life is cruel sometimes.
|
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Jul 6, 2012 22:27:37 GMT -5
Enjoy my VF-171 review. Please subscribe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Nice review pinoy78! Mabuhay ka! You are UN Spacy on the MW forums right? |
|
|
|
Post by pinoy78 on Jul 9, 2012 13:24:44 GMT -5
Yup. That's me at MW....formerly pinoy78 on YT.
I reviewed the VF-17 and VF-171.
|
|
|
|
Post by GC8 Monkey on Jul 9, 2012 21:27:53 GMT -5
Just recieved mine from HLJ. After a quick check, it looks good with no major QC problems. Just a couple small scratches in the black paint here and there. Overall I am quite happy with this one. Thankfully all the tampo printing on mine was executed well with no smudges.
Should be fun the first time I transform it ;D .
Some great reviews pinoy78. They have given me a better idea of how this bird transforms.
|
|
|
|
Post by locidm on Jul 13, 2012 17:11:24 GMT -5
mine finally arrived via SAL SP. Only took 12 days!!
Can't wait to open it tonight.
|
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Jul 14, 2012 1:09:47 GMT -5
mine finally arrived via SAL SP. Only took 12 days!! Can't wait to open it tonight. Nice! I find the VF 171 a lot more enjoyable to transform than the YF-29. Damn head/neck area and the shoulder pads. |
|
|
|
Post by Lejam on Jul 14, 2012 9:53:24 GMT -5
Yup. That's me at MW....formerly pinoy78 on YT. I reviewed the VF-17 and VF-171. This dual review/comparison is cool. You tempt me to get this Yamato... But maybe getting only the VF-17D With Super Pack is enough, what do you think ? |
|
|
|
Post by mpchi on Aug 13, 2012 3:50:45 GMT -5
Took my sweet time to finally open the VF-171EX. After all the fiasco on acquiring one (no discount and hefty shipping price), I am not so sure if this one lives up to all the hype. Very impressed by the slim profile of the fighter mode, though the tampo printed decals made it kind of hard to find a good spot to hold the valk without worrying scratching some off (learned my lesson on how easy they chip from VF-25 ver.1). Transformed to Gerwalk mode, and immediately found a loose thigh swivel and a looser ankle ball joint. Don't think I can take these apart to fix, but they are not too bad. But then when I transform it to Battroid mode, it really got me scratching my head. The transformation is not that complicated, but they made the hip balljoint so tight that I thought it couldn't rotate enough to make the battroid mode stand (until I verified with some youtube videos). Then the torso locks (the cockpit, as well as the metal hip bar click) keeps popping out of its locked position whenever I try to adjust the torso or rotate the super tight hips. Finding myself popping and fixing those locks 15-20 times for a single transformation into a generic standing pose. Not sure how much I wear out those plastic already... The torso, while lined up as instructed, don't really lock up solidly. It doesn't flop like the Yamato YF-19, but it has enough give to get it misaligned if you grab the wrong part. The articulated hand, while can hold the gunpod just fine, cannot get the peg in the hand to slot into the handle hole. It is very odd...unless I move the thumb out of the way so the hand is not gripping the gun, but looks like it is holding the gun magically with an open palm.
In the end, these flaws are much smaller than what was on VF-25 ver.1, but I am still surprised to see these regardless, after so many iterations they have learned from from previous releases. But I got to say, once it has been frustratingly transformed, it is a very pretty looking valk. Even sexier with the upcoming armor parts. But it is just not something I feel very good picking up and transform back and forth. It is not the complexity that urks me. It is the wear and tear it has to suffer everytime I attempt to transform it, and will loosen some already looser joints, while there are some super tight joints (hip ball, metal shoulder hinge, backpack hinge...etc.) that make other parts failed to lock whenever you try to pose it, cause you to fix, adjust, realigning, and popping some loosen lock back into place...repeatedly. Not very fun. I like it still, but it fell short of my expectation in terms of playability. Kind of feel like not transforming it anymore, before I ruin its torso locking mechanisms. Glad to see more diecast used, but not so glad when it is those same areas that are too loose/tight and can't be fixed. Fortunately, I don't have the wings popping issue I heard some people have with theirs.
I just received my YF-29 today. I wonder if it will suffer the same fate being a pretty valk to look at, but frustrating to play with.
|
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Aug 13, 2012 7:31:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by mpchi on Aug 13, 2012 12:50:25 GMT -5
It is just tough to be a Macross toy collector sometimes. Suffered years of Yamato QC (being 'Yamatoed' so to speak, but they are yet so beautiful to look at), got suckered with the VF-25 ver.1 (turn out to be quite playable, but the torso is a mess and many design afterthoughts and weird Fast Pack attachments). With the new designs, I thought the dawn would finally come with some pretty yet playable valks. Then we have to go through the mess of finding one. Now, the latest greatest 171, turned out being a let down with all those build up.
I have yet open the YF-29, and possibly get at least a VF-25 Alto Renewal in the future. Hopefully those do better than the VF-171EX. Its not a terrible toy, but it is just something decent (again, fun to look at, but not fun to transform, and not even that fun to pose). But I was expecting something great. Oh well.
|
|
|
|
Post by OzmaLee on Aug 13, 2012 13:29:54 GMT -5
Well the disappointment may continue after you open the YF-29. Although I find it more intuitive to transform compared to the VF-171, there are a few problems that bug me. One is the head/neck area which seemed to be too tight on mine. Another, and i know everyone on the Macrossworld forums has, is the shoulder pauldrons that keep popping off during transformation. Then you have the loose or overly tight joints that you experienced yourself. These toys are all marvels of engineering but I feel that there is room for improvement.
|
|
