Post by jedimasterthrash on Feb 24, 2017 7:59:31 GMT -5
I grew up with Jetfire. I remember receiving him new as a present when we were moving in 1985.
I watched Robotech along with Voltron growing up. Though I honestly can't say I specifically remember associating Jetfire with Robotech as a kid.
So I put myself in a unique position in Valkyrie lovers. I love the Valkyrie, not the Macross. I like heavy metal jets that transform into heavy metal robots. And I love armor and weapons.
Having grown up with Jetfire instead of Macross, I give little regard to Gerwalk mode. It's a fun little aside. A half way point between the jet and robot modes I care about. I enjoy creating gerwalk modes out of robots that aren't supposed to have them.
And in sharing my views of transformers and machine robo, it's all about the toys, not the cartoons.
The consensus across the internet is clear, Yamato 1/60 is the defacto greatest Valkyrie even until today. Yamato is the gold standard, though their V1's tended to have 3rd party level QC issues.
My opinion couldn't be more opposite. Sure the Yamato 1/60 probably has the most accurate to line-art proportions in all three modes, best gerwalk mode, blah blah blah. But the plastic is dull and matte and looks cheap. Transforming it feels like the plastic will break off in your hands, and it feels light and lacks mass. In the Voltron scale of Toynami to Bandai, Yamato definitely feels like it's on the Toynami side of look and feel. I also find them to be completely boring without the fastpack. i don't know why they even sell valkyries without a fast pack. The fast pack is what makes a valkyrie a valkyrie (or a jetfire a jetfire).
The Yamato 1/48 is definitely the Toynami Masterpiece of valkyries. The plastic feels like dollar store bootleg transformers. Two panels on the legs inexplicably cracked during transformation, and the rest of the plastic feels three times cheaper than the 1/60. Stuf is loose, and the missile attachment points suck and can barely hold missiles on. The nosecone and tips of the jet pack are constantly popping off.
In stark contrast, the Bandai valkyries are engineering marvels and aesthetic pieces of art. The modern Bandai hi-metal uses the same heavy plastic that feels like aircraft grade steel from the SOC line. It shines and glows and the color apps are impeccable. It's heavy and beautiful. The Yamato feels like Revoltech in comparison. The only downside is the metal ball joints for arms and legs. Mine are impossible to stand by themselves with the heavy backpack of wings, and the arms don't want to stay up holding the gun out. But they all come with a high quality display stand which I use to make them stand up.
All and all, out of all the valkyries spanning 30 years, there is no contest. The original 1980's Jetfire is still the king. It still looks the be best in jet mode and robot mode (and I mean "best', not "show or line-art accurate"). The proportions are impeccable, especially in robot mode. None of the more accurate ones get that hulky chest and body done right like Jetfire. They all end up with tiny little bodies with silly long legs.
And playability. The clickety ratched joints and straightforward transformation on the Jetfire mold is top notch. You can actually play with it. You can swoosh it around the room and have battles. The far more poseable modern valkyries lack clickety hip and arm ratchets, and feel parts will pop off if you swoosh them too much. They are display pieces, not toys.
Even the 1980's SDF-1 just feels right with all the clickety-ness and quality sticker applications, and quality plastic and metal. Even though it's capable of about two total poses.
I just ordered a Bandai Hi-Metal R VF-1 so I'll see what that looks like compared to the Yamato.
In order left to right,
1/55 Gakken Mospeada ALpha Legioss
1/48 Yamato Maximilian
1/55 Bandai Jetfire
1/3000 Bandai SDF-1
Bandai Joke Machine
1/60 Yamato GBP
1/72 RVF-25 Bandai Messia Luca Custom
1/72 Bandai Ghost
1/72 RVF-27 Bandai Lucifer
I watched Robotech along with Voltron growing up. Though I honestly can't say I specifically remember associating Jetfire with Robotech as a kid.
So I put myself in a unique position in Valkyrie lovers. I love the Valkyrie, not the Macross. I like heavy metal jets that transform into heavy metal robots. And I love armor and weapons.
Having grown up with Jetfire instead of Macross, I give little regard to Gerwalk mode. It's a fun little aside. A half way point between the jet and robot modes I care about. I enjoy creating gerwalk modes out of robots that aren't supposed to have them.
And in sharing my views of transformers and machine robo, it's all about the toys, not the cartoons.
The consensus across the internet is clear, Yamato 1/60 is the defacto greatest Valkyrie even until today. Yamato is the gold standard, though their V1's tended to have 3rd party level QC issues.
My opinion couldn't be more opposite. Sure the Yamato 1/60 probably has the most accurate to line-art proportions in all three modes, best gerwalk mode, blah blah blah. But the plastic is dull and matte and looks cheap. Transforming it feels like the plastic will break off in your hands, and it feels light and lacks mass. In the Voltron scale of Toynami to Bandai, Yamato definitely feels like it's on the Toynami side of look and feel. I also find them to be completely boring without the fastpack. i don't know why they even sell valkyries without a fast pack. The fast pack is what makes a valkyrie a valkyrie (or a jetfire a jetfire).
The Yamato 1/48 is definitely the Toynami Masterpiece of valkyries. The plastic feels like dollar store bootleg transformers. Two panels on the legs inexplicably cracked during transformation, and the rest of the plastic feels three times cheaper than the 1/60. Stuf is loose, and the missile attachment points suck and can barely hold missiles on. The nosecone and tips of the jet pack are constantly popping off.
In stark contrast, the Bandai valkyries are engineering marvels and aesthetic pieces of art. The modern Bandai hi-metal uses the same heavy plastic that feels like aircraft grade steel from the SOC line. It shines and glows and the color apps are impeccable. It's heavy and beautiful. The Yamato feels like Revoltech in comparison. The only downside is the metal ball joints for arms and legs. Mine are impossible to stand by themselves with the heavy backpack of wings, and the arms don't want to stay up holding the gun out. But they all come with a high quality display stand which I use to make them stand up.
All and all, out of all the valkyries spanning 30 years, there is no contest. The original 1980's Jetfire is still the king. It still looks the be best in jet mode and robot mode (and I mean "best', not "show or line-art accurate"). The proportions are impeccable, especially in robot mode. None of the more accurate ones get that hulky chest and body done right like Jetfire. They all end up with tiny little bodies with silly long legs.
And playability. The clickety ratched joints and straightforward transformation on the Jetfire mold is top notch. You can actually play with it. You can swoosh it around the room and have battles. The far more poseable modern valkyries lack clickety hip and arm ratchets, and feel parts will pop off if you swoosh them too much. They are display pieces, not toys.
Even the 1980's SDF-1 just feels right with all the clickety-ness and quality sticker applications, and quality plastic and metal. Even though it's capable of about two total poses.
I just ordered a Bandai Hi-Metal R VF-1 so I'll see what that looks like compared to the Yamato.
In order left to right,
1/55 Gakken Mospeada ALpha Legioss
1/48 Yamato Maximilian
1/55 Bandai Jetfire
1/3000 Bandai SDF-1
Bandai Joke Machine
1/60 Yamato GBP
1/72 RVF-25 Bandai Messia Luca Custom
1/72 Bandai Ghost
1/72 RVF-27 Bandai Lucifer
I truly respect and admire your point of view. 
should give credit where it's due, and Takatoku certainly deserves it.
