VF-19 Advanced!

Got this delivered finally haha, box was bigger than expected! Prob cos of the FAST packs. This version of the VF-19 appeared in the second Macross Frontier movie... for all of 2 secconds. Well, that's Bandai for you! :p First impressions hmmm.. the color is nicer than the Arcadia version i feel, it has a matte surface and whereas the plastic for the Arcadia version is slightly lighter in tone.

Out of the box, fighter mode looks great, especially with all the tampo printing! The arcadia one has very very little, so booooo for that. However, the fighter mode is a bit ''gappy" compared to the Arcadia version. Proportions seems ok to me for both though!

Transformation is moderately difficult, cos of some tight joints and lots of little flaps here and there, but not impossible, and the instructions were pretty clear. One thing that bugged me though was the neck flap that was a swappable part.... wonder why it couldn't be integrated into the design, since it's part of the shield?

In Gerwalk and bot modes, there are tabs to lock everything in place, so no floppiness! Also, tight joints! So it's a double edged sword haha.

Amazing how far we've come from the first YF-19 released by Yamato in 2000... 15 years ago... wow. :p Since then we've had many versions and variants by Bandai, Yamato/Arcadia, but i think they've finally perfected the design. :)

DX Chogokin Konig Monster

Bandai's reissuing the Konig Monster, difference being a slightly darker color and markings on the nosecone? Still, it's cool how they took an originally non-transformable gun platform, and gave it another 2 forms! :p

I like how they marked out the different nosecone art! ;) Top most is from the TV series, the middle is from the first movie, and the 3rd is from the final movie.

New Macross Stuff Pt 2!

Here's the other upcoming releases, the YF-29B Percival and the VF-27b Mass Production and Custom versions! :p

Tamashii Nations 2014 Macross

Oh man, 2015 looks like it's gonna be another expensive year! Lessee... There's going to be a new line of macross figures under the "Hi-Metal R" line ( i do love how they name these :p), there's a new VF-19 coming out, and FOUR more bots under their existing DX line!

Ouch, my wallet screams for mercy. ;)

Bandai DX Chogokin YF-30 Chronos

This came in the mail this week! Bandai's latest in their Macross DX range. It's a design from the Macross 30 game on the PS3, and a brand new toy compared to the variants of Y/VF-25's that have been released so far.

It's really sweet, the proportions, paint job and joints are all done very well, there's even an integrated waist swivel for the Chronos, so it can have even more dynamic poses now. Theres a good heft to it this time, more gokin incorporated this time hehe.

Overall, a great release!

TGIF! - Bandai DX Chogokin YF-25 Prophecy

Oh man, Friday is here again! I still say weekends should be at least 3 days. Well, time to wind down and chill out woohoo!

In other news, Bandai is milki... uh releasing a new figure, the prototype for the VF-25 Messiah, the YF-25 Prophecy. (See the religious connection?) Looks cool albeit with garish colors!

 

Hasegawa VF-25F/S

Another sweet model kit, though kudos to Bandai for making their die-cast version's pretty darned detailed! Of course, the plastic kit is more realistic in terms of the detail and finishing, then again, you'll probably need a good few days to do a proper build!

 

Macross VF-27 Lucifer

Another toy that i took out recently to fiddle around with recently; it's sitting now along with the others in the cabinet! This is the renewal version, but as pointed out online, there are only slight improvements over the first release.

This version comes with the super packs, slightly readjusted legs and some different markings to name a few differences. Transformations not as clean as the vf-25, but still acceptable. Also, the price has actually dropped online a bit, so nows a good time as any to pick one up. :)

Macross Frontier VF-25G

Found some time to open this up and transform it to the various modes, pretty much the same but the color scheme is sweet. This is the Sniper variant, so it come with a big-ass rifle which I didn't take out, and also with a different head unit. Armor parts should be out next month!

 

Arcadia VF-1J 30th Anniversary

This came in the post last week, but only managed to open it yesterday! It's the former producer of valks, now called Arcadia's first Macross product! First thing you'll notice is how small the box is now, it also comes in a nice slipcase, and back is the flap panel to allow you to have a look into the windowed box! Hopefully they can carry on this level of quality for the packaging and products. :)

The decals have to applied manually though! Gosh darn! :p

Hasegawa 1/72 VF-25 Messiah

Hase's gonna release a 1/72 model kit of the VF-25, and it can be painted in the S or F models. Quality's gonna be better than the Bandai one for sure!

Macross RVF-25

Day 2 of holidays, and man, time passes fast when you're having fun! Saw a couple of F-15's fly by a few times, otherwise, nothing interesting! :p

 

The RVF-25 came out before the VF-25F was released, other than the mint green color, it's pretty sweet; "RVF-25: Electronic Warfare variant, with a dorsally-mounted rotodome and featuring a different head design. This fighter can be used to control AIF-7S Ghost drone fighters"

 

Said ghost drones will be sold separately with the Super Packs and are coming out later this year! :)

 

 

Macross Frontier - VF-25F Reissue

This shipped over just this week finally! It's the re-issue of course, the original 25F was release about a year and a half to 2 years ago? There was a crazy clamour for it online, especially since Bandai didn't actually make many to go around. Thankfully subsequent versions has sufficient numbers to go around.... so too bad scalpers!

The VF-25F is pretty much a GRRREEATTT improvement over the first version that Bandai released. The toy now pretty much follows the lineart, and the transformation is well thought out and designed... no crazy frustrations over misfitting joints etc!

Also looks great in all 3 modes! Well, Bandai's definitely milking the mould for all it's worth, wonder when they'll release the Super and Armored packs for this again! :)

 

Macross F - DX Chogokin VF-25A

Noooooo Bandai why? You're probably making it difficult to get again anyway... :(

Macross Frontier - VF-171 Nightmare

This was released about 2 weeks ago in Japan? As usual, not many local sources were bringing it in due to "uncertain" supply, so online was the only was to go to get this.

Outta the box, it feels light compared to the VF-25. The details are good on the though, and Fighter mode is sleek and keeping within the proportions of the line are; amazing what engineers can do nowadays with toys.

The transformation though, is killer. Had to look on the web for some instructions before knowing where so parts go and how they fit together. It's definately a bit too complicated for casual play, it's not something you can transform under 3 minutes without some practice!

There seems to be less diecast for this toy? The critical joints are metal though. Gerwalk mode balances pretty well. Battroid mode is the most complicated to get right though; lots of joints to fit together so the body doesn't fall apart, but at least the instruction manual does sort of make it a bit easier.

Not too shabby overall, there's armor parts coming out in the 3rd quarter of this year that will add more weapons and bulk it up!



VF-171 Nightmare Plus

Arrived today woohoo! :)

YF-29 30th Anniversary Valk Part Deux!

Gloomy weekend! Weather was crazy humid till Saturday night till it suddenly poured in the night! Drizzled throughout Sunday too.. such good weather to sleep in.... Zzzzz..

Got some time to snap some shots of the YF-29 before i put it on display. Sweet piece, quality is good (for Bandai) and the paint job is immaculate.

Transformation is much like the VF-25 series, since it's mainly derived from there; only the backpack/wings differ slightly in transformation.

Parts are die-cast where they should be thankfully, Yamato's tend to have plastic parts in the most unfortunate key areas! Generally all 3 modes look great, and rather poseable too! :)

YF-29 30th Anniversary valk

Picked this up this week, this is the 2nd release, nothing changed from the first one! It's actually a recolor of the YF-29 Durandal valk for the 30th Anniversary of the Macross series (has it been that long?) This version is repainted to be in the skull squadron colors, specifically the VF-1S.

Better pics later! :p

DX Chogokin - Macross Frontier VF-25S Renewal ver.

Picked this up a coupla days ago, a big improvement over the first release! (Hence the renewal part of the name). At least they got the proportions pretty close to the lineart this time! At least Bandai's not only good for Gundam stuff!

Transformations not too complicated, parts are pretty sturdy with the key joints in die cast. The model has a hefty feel, although you can see not that many parts are metal anyway.

Gerwalk mode is a big improvement over the previous version, and at least now Battroid mode has a neck! :p

Macross Frontier - Final Battle

Hard to believe this series is almost 4 years old? It's been a while since there's been a new series too!

MacF had great music, cool designs and awesome battle scenes! Not to mention homages to past Macross shows too!

I love the last episode, esp the part where they combine the songs and sync it to the battle! Clip below woot! Sorry the subs in espanol! :p

Still find the TV series better than the movie version!