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GameHED
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Post by GameHED »

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http://movies.yahoo.com/summer-movies/T ... ers/31/180
^
new tf movie trailer.

The overly "busy" designs maybe not to my taste but the transformations look smooth and dramatic.
Last edited by GameHED on 11 Jan 2008 06:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ben
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Post by Ben »

GameHED wrote:That's cool that you got the two pack classics... (to save wall of text quote I'm quoting this post :))
I wouldn't mind the classics Hot Rod, but already having the MP Starscream I kind of feel I don't need another, and the twin pack (which is with SS) would probably be the only way I would buy Hot Rod as I'm not desperate for him.

Is Grimlock in a 2 pack though?! I've only ever seen him as a single, and only once too, TF toys are so scant here in WA, at least all the stores I've visited only tend to have a tiny selection of TF toys :( it's a real shame considering the amount of space they used to occupy. But yeah, if a store does have a big amount (surprisingly Myer had a lot) it'll only have a small variety of them.

I only just found out about the Classics Ultra Magnus today when I was browsing the US Hasbro site, saw he got coupled in a two pack with someone (I forget who the other was, but I think another recolour, Skywarp coloured from Starscream maybe?). It doesn't look all that bad to be honest - white and blue go together quite nicely, but I'm not really in the habit of buying recolours. Though I think I'll make an exception when I finally get a hold of MP Optimus/Convoy, as I had no idea about the MP line before I saw Ultra Magnus in Target for cheap, and you've just got to have the iconic Autobot leader as a toy, don't you?

But yeah, I agree it does seem a bit weird regarding the grille, but I can understand why they did it, to give him a bit sleeker appearance, and to be fair even the MP Prime/UltraMagnus don't use the same grille across both robot and vehicle forms.. but then they are probably the exact same proportions and it's probably just owing to the way they made him transform.

I like move Jazz's bot form, but I'm not a fan of his vehicle mode so much.. it's such a pity that not very many of them are coming across looking all that crash hot. All looking a bit awkward, but I guess because they are based off of such specific robot and vehicle forms the toy makers mightn't have had that much wiggle room. At least with Alternators for example the car mode is set, but the toy makers could choose how the robot mode would look.

Talking about alternators I really wish I'd picked up a few more of them than I did. Grimlock, Wheeljack, Ravage and Rumble all look quite cool IMO. But they aren't so easy to find. I only ever see the occasional Optimus prime floating around, and I already have him (bit of an optimus fanboy, but who isn't eh?). But at least there are enough other avenues to find them, albeit probably slightly more than retail.

I'm surprised you're a fan of the classics Mirage though! He looks so bizarre in robot mode hehe! Mind you I quite like Alternators Optimus and I don't think you were so fond of him, it's all subjective :)

Also! I snapped some pics of my collection! It's building ever so slowly again and I'm still yet to relegate some of my older ones that I've found back up to the top shelf but I'll get there eventually.

Image
The Masterpiece ones that I own, and my Optimuses (I have no idea how you are supposed to put plural of optimus..)

Image
with added Beast War Rampage, and my classics Astrotrain.

Image
my bottom shelf stuff I need to have a play with again, I think there's Transmetal Tarantulas, a G1 Truck/Trailer whose name eludes me, Inferno (the G1 fire engine), Inferno (the Beast Wars fire ant), Transmetal Terrorsaur (I think?), a worm Beast War that was never in the show.. I forget the rest. I think there are some old G1 really small ones like Seaspray, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper in there too.
Image
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GameHED
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Alt primes got the same problem movie jazz has with the "empty space" thing.

Why do I like Classic Mirage? Although skinny he looks like a unique character who doesn't have the bulky armored look. As if the agility of being like that makes up for it. As a spy who can turn invisible he probably won't be doing as much fighting and more likely would take an indirect route to get to something. He's quite the acrobat in the g1 toon in an early episode where he is holding on to a ledge by his fingers and casually flips himself up.

And as a f1 car (some kind of fictional futuristic one) you would think his lightweight body is only going to help with the speed he wants.

Also as a character he is supposed to be a sharpshooter and be highly skilled from his practice using hunting rifle. (no rifle in this toy though, only the electro distruptor gun. I wish he had it and that you could store it on his back)
Above all: not short and squat but exactly the opposite of the others. Great posability, and no empty spaces on his body. Also he still retains the solid 80s "blocky limbs" look, which is what the g1 characters are known for. Not as many weird angles or custom-made stylised armor pieces. (think of the robots in gundam wing for example - each one being a luxury or sports model with specific extras that show some kind of uniqueness from other robots) Has a mass produced look to them as if the transforming alt mode and disguise was the important thing.

At first I actually didn't like him but it sort of grew on me. Bumblebee is the short and squat dwarf who accelerates around corners quickly and fits into tight spaces, while Mirage is the sneaky one who diverts the attention with tricks and can run very fast. (unneeded bulky armor only weighing him down and getting in the way of sneakiness, possibly only added to noise when he steps around invisibly)

Shame they didn't get to hound. He is the hologram guy. I liked his alternator. In the toon he and mirage combine their powers to sneak around and creates a diversion to get past the guards.

One thing I found while playing around with some of them:

-you can sort of use bumblebee's backpack as a turret gun in car mode like hotrod if you find creative ways to nudge the wave crusher onto the spoiler and transform the halves into a 'pointing claws' form. Ok so it's a bullshit mode I made up, but it beats having it trail behind him.

-ultra magnus: for his truck mode I tend to transform the big thing on the top of the roof into the gun and have the gun become a gun turret on his roof. (take off the smoke stacks and lay them down at the back of the truck) Unlike my half-arse bumblebee turret gun, this one actually looks like it was supposed to be that way. Sort of help to shoot down the deception seekers as an anti-air weapon or other robots in alt mode.

The warriors have all the best firepower, while the other autobots fill other roles but can also fight despite not being specialists. (which is why I wish they just gave BB a small pistol like what alt hound has) In g1 I remember it was actually the autobots who had first come up with the idea of transformation as a form of stealth to get an edge on the decepticons who had superior firepower. It was only later the decepticons copied the idea and could transform themselves, taking advantage of the idea of stealth and this allowed them to win on cybertron again.

The two lines of robots made by the quintessons before the civil war were:
1. military hardware (decepticons - they like to destroy things and conquer and believe that is how it should be)
2. consumer products (most of this is just cars and the characters are civilians not soldiers - usually pacificsts against war, fight for peace)

Although prime was just a civilian called Orion Pax who worked loading supplies of energon in a warehouse as a harmless and gentle person who had no interest in war (this is detailed in five faces of darkness) his body after being destroyed by megatron was remade by Alpha Trion into a tougher battle-ready robot to help fight for freedom.
One thing unique to the autobots is how they don't have the best weapons (not early on) and the cars don't look threatening so would blend in easier with the city.

I like to think that the consumer products (car robots) style of fighting is different to the decepticons in that they have to rely alot more on prime's guidance than sheer brute force. If the decepticons have the better firepower because they are military machines, the autobots would have to win from faith in whatever ideas prime had to defeat the leader. The cars would be better suited to urban situations not calling attention. While the military machines would be more destructive in alt mode by nature of being for 'defense' purposes.

One of the problems I have with the movie is the way the autobots look a little threatening in robot mode even though they are good guys. (you know lots of sharp angular shapes and agressive lines) They need to have a non-threatening friendly character that little kids won't get scared of the way bumblebee was in g1. I think the whole idea is to scare and frighten and make us think this is a movie about a disaster (alien invasion) and so they chose to make the autobots look kinda fugly on purpose. heh Jazz is one of the few movie designs where his face actually looks like something from g1. So that's why I pointed him out. He could easily pass as a classics toy because he doesn't look too "busy" with lots of lines and parts everywhere, but still retains the "mass produced" look of the g1 toon where the robots had to try to disguise themselves as objects in the city to not attract attention.

24-5-07
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A little update on the megahouse ride armor. Only 13cm tall.
scan here

Will be interesting to see hwo it compares to the toynami robotech ones.

upadted images of the Aoshima legioss toys (based on the toynami's masterpiece collection Robotech:new generation design but with improvements and changed):
lots of images in these links:
1
2

Colors looks to be changed, plastics on hands different and the extra missiles added. Hips improved a little. Whether this figure looks like it can do an A stance isn't clear. (doesn't look like it)
Looks to be a wait and see thing for me. Wasn't confident in the durability of the toynami robotech transforming alpha fighters.
Unlike the CM design the aoshim/toynami one is more blocky and less streamlined with a more hard edge shape to it. It's going to come down to "how good are the joints on these things?" If in robot mode it can barely hold the gunpod in the hand and remain up, due to loose shoulder or elbows it will lose point to the CMs which I guess will be using clicky joints.

CMs advantage is that although it looks skinny there is confidence it will be able to stay together if handled adn transformed. Toynami robotech alpha fighters on the other hand were delicate. (and overpriced)

Also scroll down below and you can see images of the Aoshima Beta Fighter/Tread. Not sure how this will lock together with the alpha/legioss when the two combine. But good to see there is one. Unlike the CMs ones though, you have to buy the alpha/legioss and beta/tread seperately and not in a single package.

Image
the aoshima Beta/tread in its battroid mode (looks to have very little articulation, like an 80s toy robot)

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25-5-07
---------
Some new info regarding the yamato yf19 with fold booster pack here

Many complaints and criticisms of the first release of yf-19 (standalone with no booster) seem to be addressed in the new yf-19 + fold booster release. Good thing I chose to wait a bit longer. Being an import toy, there is not as much support for overseas people for any kind of fragile breakage pieces if the early release has signs of those problems. (other series like megazone 23 are ok since yamato usa can send you stronger, enhanced, replacement parts for areas prone to breakage from a design flaw or due to the material used just not being tough enough.

VF-0 ghost booster (think of it as the first ever FAST pack for macross) pic showing it mounted as booster on the back of the fighter and as a standalone drone:
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4259/013bku0.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://211.10.28.43/ami/images/product/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 061_08.jpg (pic of standalone ghost mounted)
http://www.yamato-toys.com/prg_data/PH1165297649.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (bigger pic of stand-alone drone not mounted)
http://www.1999.co.jp/image/10053519p/10/1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (box image)
in the flesh
hands on review/impressions

There will be a combo pack for the booster with the Shin release where you get the vf-0 with the ghost drone booster. (fixes to early problems that plagued the standalone Roy VF-0S and VF-0A have been applied in this combo release, which, depending on reviews will determine whether I get it since I skipped the earlier two. Only the most robust version for me)

updated:
more [url=http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s=&showtopic=20565&view=findpost&p=491514]mwb members posted images of shin + ghost drone out of the box

1-6-07
-------
news emerges of the anime coloured masterpiece starscream. Plus a confirmation of a US release of this.
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=135630" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I suppose this is good news for people who were not a fan of the realistic coloured SS. Looks like a fan's custom painted toy in the pic..

27-6-07
--------
update on newer issued vf0s:
the replacement shoulders (unlike the megazone garland) are breaking and not holding up to whatever test (if any) yamato puts on these things. Very disapointing. Buyer beware for any future vf-0 release. Wait for reviews and impressions.

new japanese hobby magazine scans have been unleashed for the internet masses:
pic
small scan
larger scan

Looks really good in launch mode and the telescoping head gimmick is also included just as in the anime. Durability hopefully won't be so problematic though. (this will determine whether I get one. Way too expensive to be worth the risk unless there is confirmation these things can withstand some handling)

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16-07-07
----------

Beautiful pics of the yf-19 + fold booster + FAST pack covers. (extra fuel)

-fighter mode with fold booster attached on the posable stand

-GERWALK mode .5 (no arms. then with arms doing dramatic A-stance)

-Battroid mode (various poses wearing the *FAST Pack covers. At the bottom is images of the official lineart for the yf-19 from the Macross Design Works book which you can buy here. This contains all the mecha design lineart, and detailed transformation steps involved in each mecha for macross right up until macross 7 but not macross zero and beyond.)

-shows the changes made since the older initial fucked up release and the newer corrected release (landing gears and gunpod are a bit crooked on the first release, which is a major pain in the arse for those who bought the early release)

Unlike the stand-alone yf-19 release this one has a few fixes as shown by the author in the post.

Hopefully this time there are no fragile areas which are prone to breakages anymore for future releases. (similar to what happened with the 1/72 scale macross plus toys released years earlier where the hips and shoulders had to be redesigned to be stronger)

Now if you get one of these from an import store or from japan yourself, it may be wise to loosen a few screws to lessen tension just to be safe. Unlike fairly price masterpiece transformers, yamato macross toys are way more expensive than what they should be worth (despite being beautiful pieces of plastic) and due to the Harmony Gold issue, support is not there for replacement parts due to breakages for Non-Japan customers as yamato don't legally have to honor having to help you in any way being that they should even be selling to US/international customers in the first place. (but this doesn't apply to other Yamato toys just anything to do with macross. You can easily get free replacement shoulders for the Megazone garland from yamato USA for example.) To be safe treat these things like more as a display piece (model with thick plastic?) than something you can constantly handle. You never know if roughly transforming them stresses something like a hinge, or gradually loosens a joint to make it hard to keep a pose.

*FAST packs are tiny by 2040AD in the macross universe. As the power of the engines allows for fast speed, there is little need for the external old school chunky boosters that you see on the VF-1 era valkyries. Valkyries with FP are thus able to retain the slim and sexy appearance as atmospheric and space fighter jets, although they miss out on the extra firepower that was there from the old Strike Cannon that came with the "Stike" upgrade of VF-1. "Strike valkyrie" includes 1 micro-missile launcher on one side and a strike cannon on the other side, while the "Super Valkyrie" includes two micromissile launchers. With the "FAST Pack" upgrade on yf-19; due to the small size, many feel it should have been included with the yf-19 as standed and not with the fold booster. Reason being that given the VF-1 FAST packs are so chunky you actually feel the money is worth it for it to be a seperate purchase to upgrade. Not so with the "leg covers and shoulder covers" yf-19 FAST pack.

Not much macross related news for now..
Last edited by GameHED on 11 Jan 2008 06:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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GameHED
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21-07-07
-----------
Revoltech macross valkyries are being done:
images in various dynamic poses:

1
2
3
4
5

accessories

Too bad these don't transform though. Being super posable action figures, the revoltechs have them stuck in battroid mode forever. But I suppose that's what the *Toynami 1/100 macross vf-1 are for. (uglier battroid mode with oversized shoulders but so far it is still the best small-sized and cheap macross valkyrie that transforms to date.)

some images of spacefold booster lit up on the new 1/60 yf-19. Looks like a great gimmick but it isn't attached firmly enough that it can stay clipped to the fighter if you held it upside down in a barrel roll position (another criticism I have of the toy in general when in battroid mode due to the chestplate not having locking mechanism to hold it together)

SV-51:
mid-transformation images of the upcoming toy here
Good to look at, complex in transformation, but how will it hold? Looks fucking evil.

*here is a link to anime expo showing the newer ones:
toynami news (scroll to midway, and you can see the wave 3 VF-1S (four head lasers) standing near the vf1-a (single head laser) "brownie" cannon fodder wave 1 release. Wave 2 are all vf1-J (two head lasers) which so far has good reviews and stiffer joints than the first wave, with wave 3 vf-1S being next along with the FAST pack boosters and reaction weapons) more images here showing off its posability which compares pretty well to a revoltech, but isn't stuck in one mode.

27-7-07
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Jananese hobby mags finally reveal news on the Yamato 1/60 scale YF-21 perfect transformation toy from the macross plus. Most people guessed this would happen due to the release of the YF-19 but it's now official.
Pic of the CAD drawing of the toy viewed from above here.

top view comparison of the CAD drawing with the official lineart here showing the accuracy of the toys sculpt (no major compromises for fighter mode):
1
2
Image

28-7-07
---------
worthy of notice:
Somebody has opened up the yf-19 to mode it so it can store the gunpod to its arm like the vf-1. The power of magnets. pics of the mode here.
It would have been good had the original toy just had some kind of locking mechanism to do that though..

More pics of the Toynami wave 3 Macross 1/100 perfect transforming figs from the san diego comic con:
http://photos.actionfigs.com/showgallery.php?cat=2506" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

9-9-07
-------
Big update for Yamato 1/60 SV-51 Perfect Transformable toy which just came out:
(this list of links will help to avoid sifting through 90-odd pages of posts in the thread to get to the relevant stuff; rounding up the best info so far and saving time)

pics:
pics of the boxart:
click

pics of the toy:
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mfigure/007181/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

what it looks like out of the box:
click

next to 1/60 VF-0:
click

pics of pilot and cockpit:
click

display stand: (comes with the toy)
click

pics in gerwalk mode:
click

pics of the extendable head turret:
click

gerwalk mode pic:
Image

Pics in battroid mode:
click

battroid mode pic with 1/60 yf-19, 1/60 VF-0A (cannon fodder paintscheme):
Image
pic lining up all the 1/60 scale toys for size comparison:
click
(left to right: 1/60 VF-1A, 1/60 VF-0S, 1/60 yf-19, 1/60 SV-51)
Pics in fighter modes comparing sizes of different 1/60 scale yamato toys showing how big the SV-51 is compared to the UN Spacy "VF" series. No 1/60 VF-1 shown though:
click

more pics in battroid:
click
click
impressions from graham:
click
Seems to have a solid locking together like the 1/48 VF-1 toys..


this pic shows some slight wing droop due to the weight of the missiles when added on (may concern those worried about looseness over time):
Image

complaints/problems/impressions/comments (some of these problems are not universal):
click
impressions:
click
click

[url=http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s=&showtopic=21339&view=findpost&p=512258]click

click (criticises engineering, loves the design)
click
(nitpicks the loose missile problem, which was not an issue for past yamato designs)
click
(good overall, with some disapointments with the hands and the grip)
click
(stress/cracking somewhere in the face)
click[/url
(looseness with missile attachment)

fixes:
pic showing some problems some customers have had with 2 right hinges (and the fix you would apply if you get this problem):
[url=http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s=&showtopic=21339&view=findpost&p=510785]click


for those who want to tighten up the wing hinges a bit:
click

more on wing fix problem with a pic showing the difference between the fixed wing and the loose one:
click
(bottom pic shows results of both wing hinges tightened up to support the fully loaded SV-51 - very handy for those worried about looseness over time when leaving the plane display with all the stuff sitting on the wing. The point is to increase the thickness and allow a little bit more friction to get in the hinge)

Still awaiting more reviews before I jump in..
------------

Other macross mecha goodness:

revoltech vf-1J pics showing dynamic poses
mag scan

*hopes they manage to do revoltech destroids and the non-transforming zentradi enemy mecha*
(being nontransformable in the show means the mecha would suit being hyper poseable and not need to sacrifice anything with regards to body proportions)

Macross 25th anniversary paintschemes for the yamato VF-1S and YF-19:
click
click

News on 1/60 yf-21:
CAD for the battroid mode of the upcoming yf-21 here. (front)
Cad for the fighter mode here. (top)

A good detailed review for the yf-19 + fold booster and FAST pack parts set: here


24-9-07
---------

Here is a bunch of images from various angles that you can see of the sv-51 and other macross toys using quicktime to rotate the image and see the toy from all sides.
Link to thread

1. click on the image and wait for it to load.
2. once loaded put the cursor on the image and when you see it turn into an arrow, hold down the left mouse button and it will rotate to get a full 360 degree view of the object. Need QTVR to view.
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GameHED
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Post by GameHED »

11-01-08
----------
Macross Toys:
----------------
Lots of toy news I've rounded up in a big batch from the MWB:
pics of the upcoming yamato 1/60 perfect transformable yf-21
click

list of impovements/features of the new yamato 1/60 line of VF-1:
click
(this is going to be the focus of all future yamato macross toys. We won't be seeing new 1/48 scale releases)

mag scans of the new 1/60 VF-1:
click
This new smaller scale VF-1 is going to be yamato's attempt to create a toy that has the gimmicks in the newer 1/60 toys that were recently releeased (like the yf-19, vf-0, sv-51 etc) but still crammed with detail that was once exclusively enjoyed in the old 1/48 VF-1 toys. (the current 1/48 scale toys you see had phased out the old 1/60 scale vf-1 yamato toys due to the older 1/60 vf-1 toys not being perfect transformables ie the legs needed detaching) This line WILL have the two-seater valkyries in it like the VF-1D, Elint, the big orange valk hikaru used in DYRL to drive minmay around on a date etc. Expect things like double-jointed elbows and knees, better hands, a perfect transformable heatshield just like the 1/48 Vf-1, ...and most important: a cheaper price. Many casuals can't afford these larger collectors items and even if they can "get all of them" wouldn't have the space to display it all. These will be great: think of them as being like what the binaltech and alternator transformers are (in terms of details for their size) to the masterpiece collection toys for transformers. (designed for fans of specific characters who want uber details, but due to cost not a big range of characters is covered by this line). 1/60s are the "alts" (smaller crammed with realistic detail), while 1/48 could be thought of as MP. (larger heavier, more expensive) Judging by the pics, the battroid mode of the yamato 1/60 VF-1 actually look better than the 1/48. :up: The 1/60 seems to have the best balance in proportions between fighter mode, battroid mode and gerwalk, so that it looks good in all 3 modes. Whereas the 1/48 was designed to look best in fighter mode it seems. (skinny arms, small hands, thinner and taller in robot mode to maintain a skinny profile. This seems to be the trend for the upcoming yf-21 with a super skinny profile and anorexic legs so that it looks super sleek in fighter jet mode)

new line of high detail non-transforming macross figure from yamato, similar to revoltech but claims of better quality details and materials compared to the RevolTech line:
click

Interesting comments from graham: nora SV-51 release trouble free on it's first release?..:
click
(this is very important news to me: I have been whinging for ages that yamato needs to be double careful on first release toys. Finally (judging by the positive reviews of the release of the nora SV-51) the QC issues will be addressed. (see my older posts for complaints) I don't preorder, but for those that do, you might not feel like you are a guinea pig to test for flaws anymore as they've got a new QC guy working there. :D

review of aoshima version of the toynami Alpha fighter! *barfs* worse than the toynami:
click
My hopes weren't very high to be honest.

CMs version of the legioss+tread (alpha and Beta fighter for the robotechers) will probably be better in terms of quality materials, but so far I've heard it doen't have good lineart accuracy and is very expensive for the size of the toy, along with looking very plain and lacking much detail. Best to wait for the price drop or hope another competitor enters the market to offer a better transformable toys of the Legioss and Tread. Toynami have failed in QC, but succeeded in sculpt, where CMs have an good reputation for the quality, (not easy to break) but seemed to have screwed with the mechs proportions and accuracy to the lineart. :(

20-01-08
Mospeada toys:
------------------
Comparisons of the mospeada ride armor(cyclone from RT) toys (megahouse, toynami, CMs releases) can be seen here. There is a total of 4 toy companyies releasing their own ride armor. Good to see so much choice there. If only the same could be said for the transforming bike/powerloader robot from bubblegum crisis. :(
I would wait for reviews of the toynami one though: if only these guys made durable toys I would have bought multiples of their Alpha fighters already even IF the toy was overpriced. So frustrating to see to date there isn't a accurate Legios/tread yet + has durability to withstand handling for a regular transformation. (without fear of breaking something off)
CMs version shown:
Image
Image
Image

ImageImage
ImageImage
Image
Megahouse version pics here:
http://www.megahobby.jp/variable_action/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (click on the thumbnail to see the images of stick and rey)
Stick:
ImageImage
ImageImage
ImageImage
Rey:
ImageImage
ImageImage
ImageImage

CMs seems to compare well given its smaller size (1/18 scale which is about the size of a gi-joe. 120mm) The pricetag from all CMs is always way overpriced but at least unlike the toynami stuff it won't crumble in your hands. The milia figures that you can buy for the 1/60 Qrau for example, that I bought are very high for what they are. No posability, but good sculpt and detail.

The archilles heel of the megahouse is how the bike looks small. It seems they made it to look good for armor mode.

CMs vs Megahouse
Image
a size comparison between Megahouse and CMs can be found here on MWB.

show your love for CMs. :D hobbylink japan preorder page:
Stick:
http://www.hlj.com/product/CMS65185" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Rei:
http://www.hlj.com/product/CMS65135" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What about the Beagle mospeada?
not much is known. Will be 1/10 scale?

News on CMs Legioss + Tread pack:
------------------------------------------
There are some new pics of this linked up to the tread:
Image
Image
Image
MWB thread
Not so great, but it's a start. Had the toynami masterpiece collection alpha not been so prone to breakage, people wouldn't consider the CMs. -1 for HG/toynami there, where better materials and more suitable placement of diecast would have given them the "Best Legioss on the market" award amongst collectors and fans of mospeada.

MegaZone 23 toys:
----------------------
ProtoGarland is the next toy release from yamato. Haven't kept up to date on this due to all the new macross releases.

The brown military garland as seen in the original movie is confirmed to have the shoulder problem fixed so it is safe to get this over the red garland. For those of you who bought the red Garland, all you have to do is email Yamato USA for replacement shoulders and they will send you the new fixed ones right away. :up: (this kind of "replacement parts" service isn't going to happen for yamato macross toys though since technically it would be illegal for them to deal with US/international customers due to the HG rights issue. :( )

WTF is a ProtoGarland ?
It's the newer one that appeared in the "Megazone 23 part II" movie:
Lineart for the protogarland. (click "GR-00X Prototype Garland" in the list of mecha appearances to get the specs)

Image
Image
HLJ page:
http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT34538" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (currently at low stock)

Other interesting stuff:
--------------------------
The god of transformation shows us through lego how the transformation of the vf-25 is supposed to work and then compares the lineart with the lego model. (Just like the aquarion lego model)
link to newtype magazine scan closeup of vf-25: 1 2

-----------
22-01-08
-----------
some more 1/60 VF-1 pics (in high quality) have emerged. (WARNING PICS ARE LARGE)

This allows us to see them in much greater detail and apreciate the vast improvement over the old 1/60 vf-1 that yamato brought out before the 1/48 ha taken over. Now that they've packed the goodness of the 1/48 into the new 1/60 everything they've release (like the yf-19, vf-0, sv-51, 1/60 Qaedlunn Rau) will now be to scale with each other. Everything about the old vf-1 line release years ago makes them as obsolete now as the old 1/72 macross plus toys are against the new 1/60 macross plus toy today..
Better sell those old 1/60s if you have a big collection before the value plummets. hehe

Added ToynToys to the list of shops you can get all this stuff from back on page 1 of this thread. Based in singapore they are like HLJ. I have not had any experience purchasing from them so if you've dealt with them before let others know what they are like.
Link: http://shop.toyntoys.com/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Actually haven't added that many new stores to that list since I have a habit of using the same ones but if anyone knows better ones with cheaper prices, good reliability and feedback, which can deliver the packages unpopened and in good condition, feel free to add them too. If there are bad ones, list those so others get a warning about dodgey ones to avoid.
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Post by GameHED »

-----------
25-01-08
-----------
Finally info on the Beagle Ride Armor:
1/10 scale, so it's good for those put off by the tiny size of the CMs.

More pics for the Megahouse Ride Armor have also been shown.

Toysdaily pics of the box plus lineart:
http://www.toysdaily.com/discuz/thread-51849-1-1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
Image

more pics here (shows the actual toy in various poses)
http://www.megahobby.jp/special/scoop2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully each results in a price war between the toynami, megahouse, cms, beagle for mospeada goodness so that these imported things start coming down to reasonable price, but I doubt it since it's not widely popular. (this is what prevented me from buying the atler sai bubblegum crisis figures - beautiful and accurate sculpt with awesome freedom in the figure's ability to pose them just like in the anime, but not worth the asking price :( )

Also another pic of the non-transforming yamato macross plus figures. (the yamato equivalent of the toynami superposables?)

1/60 FP pics scanned from the march issue of Hobby Japan and Dengeki Japan magazines here.

Megazone 23:
More ProtoGarland pics (for those curious about the transformation)
Last edited by GameHED on 25 Jan 2008 06:45 pm, edited 8 times in total.
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Post by GreyWizzard »

Hey Ben, nice Rocklord you have there :P Mighty Machine Men sucked balls ahahahahahaha.

That Inferno doesn't look too bad, what is he like in Bot form? I've always wanted a model of him as he was my favourite Beast Wars character "Yes my Queen!"
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Post by GameHED »

The video in the megahobby link shows them *transforming the ridearmor: I'm not too happy about the part-swapping element to the transforming but I have to admit it looks very good in armor mode.

Since I'm a perfect transformation nazi I think I'll go with CMs. If only these little guys have more details though. :(

*robotic transforming sound effects not included :D
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Post by GameHED »

----------
26-01-08
----------
Larger scans from 2008 march issue of dengeki hobby japan for the yamato 1/60 YF-21:

click
^
shows the underside of the 1/60 and how the gunpod now slots into the leg armor (samurai skirt) plate. In the old 1/72 yf-21, the dual gunpods had no place to attach to these plates and you needed the FAST pack armor to have them fit there, but if you didn't use that, you weren't able to have the gunpods stored underneath in fighter mode. Look like a big improvement over the older 1/72 toy from years back. :up: The anime does show the yf-21 using the dual gunpod without the Leg armor/FAST pack so this is closer to the actual plane as it was intended to be.

Also note the landing gear storage which is another big improvement. The older toy required that you remove the landing gear as if it were a separate part of the plane if you wanted to have the fighter in a flying display on a stand.

And last but not least: the rotatable seat gimmick. The pilot now rotates upwards for when he transforms into battroid mode. All the lessons learned from previous toys seem to be applied here on their latest releases which is good to see. (a bit hard to appreciate though, given you can't really see the pilot in battroid mode anyway)

Anyway once this comes out the old yamato 1/72 will be obsolete. (best sell those to others on ebay who still don't know about the upcoming release if you want to make back the money before the value drops if you still have any :D)

..No new news on the vf-11 yet, but it's a pretty good bet this will be unveiled after either this (yf-21) or after some new Macross Zero release. (some speculate the 1/60 VF0-D) VF-11 is one of my fave cannon fodder pilot space fighters.

Mospeada Ride Armor update:
large scans from march issues of Dengeki Hobby Magazine and Hobby Japan Magazine:
click

CMs Legios+Tread update:
scans from march issues of Dengeki Hobby Magazine and Hobby Japan Magazine:
click
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Post by GameHED »

----------
31-01-08
----------
MWB update on non-transformable macross plus figures with big pictures of prototypes: click

Won't post the images in this thread. Too big and too many. Looks like they are going for a chunky munky appearance with these non-transformables. Bulky, muscular, with more curved lines.

Mospeada update: seems the CMs ride armor are already out now:
http://www.toysdaily.com/discuz/thread-52433-1-1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
Image
gallery here:
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/elljay-bestt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... e?mid=8567

The finish looks really cheap, but the quality of the toy..might be another story. The lack of detail hurts it when compared with the megahouse which looks more closer to a high-detail model suitable for a display, than a kid's toy.

MWB images of the toy here.

other:
Also I've added a few more store to the list of places to get stuff from: (see my post on the first page of this thread for the list of stores)

Lost And Found Toys
http://www.laftoys.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Seen it mentioned a lot by Squid on MWB as a reliable place where he has had no problems. Great for all the toys from old school anime series.

HoHo Toys (ebay)
http://stores.ebay.com/HoHoToys-com-Gre" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ys-for-You
Ships from New York and has high prices but good amount of stock.

Crazy Toys Paradise (ebay)
http://stores.ebay.com/Crazy-Toys-Paradise-store" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hong Kong based store. If you want to get your toys early and cheaper than from anywhere else it's best to buy direct from hong kong store imo.
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Post by Pariah »

keep up the good work gamehed..love reading these posts
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Post by GameHED »

And I love updating! So long as there is some news worthy to put in it. Problem is the hobby magazines release it in small tiny chunks and want to tease. It's never just one big chunk of info. (so news overlaps and you end up posting multiple times on the one thing heh)

What's of interest to me is the reviews of the toys from people who've bought them. You can never tell how good something is until you handled it. (toynami robotech toys for eg look beautiful in pictures but when viewed up close and handled they are really bad - I've saved a lot of money listening to advice from others on what to purchase/avoid)

I hope that if anyone themselves buys the expensive import stuff, they are least are able to be informed before buying something. (and know what to do if they get a breakage and if they can get support for spare replacement parts from the company which fix those old problems free)
That's what the thread is for.

Also for some series (macross in particular) news is not easy to come by because of the HG licensing issues, (they won't let you talk about it on robotech.com forums) preventing fans outside of japan to gather info on import toys. The lack of official american site for macross-related toys means people are forced to import. (this isn't applicable for other series like Votoms or megazone 23 where there is the official US site to go for info and to buy it locally) With imports the company can't legally offer any kind of support outisde the territory, (if anything happens like a breakage) so that's why reading reviews is important before jumping in. ("breakages and fragility" reports, "how-to-fix" guides, transformation guides, and sticker guides all come in handy.)

05-02-08
----------
more cms ride armor galleries popping up
Upclose shots expose how the ugly screw holes stand out a lot.
more here and here

14-02-08
----------
Review of CMs mospeada ride armor highlighting problems and strengths:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=560355

Could the bad glue be the cause of the fragile windscreen: (similar to the chemical reaction of the materials in earlier releases of the Yamato vf-0 toys?)
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=560400

more pics of the cheaper non-transforming macross plus line of toys here. Look to be they have gone for a shape more close to the battroid mode lineart (thicker legs for the 19 for example) than to treat them as actual planes that need to transform from one mode to another. (like the transforming toys which have to compromise proportions of the robot body parts for faithfulness to the particular mode it is aiming for - ie fighter, GERWALK or battroid)

20-02-08
-----------
http://toyfair08.asmzine.com/gallery/to" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... G_0027.jpg
Pic above shows Toynami unveiling the GBP armour for their 1/100 line of valkyries.
Though no info on release. (they showed the FAST packs ages ago and still nothing on that)

For those interested in buying the CMs Mospeada transformable Ride Armor toy, there's a review out: click


Semi-toy related info:
Mr March on MWB has a website update for his Macross Mecha Manual (M3) website withe more high quality lineart from the various macross series, ova and movies for those who've want to see images from the books with the lineart in them but couldn't. This is useful for comparing the lineart accuracy of the various toys to the original designs by the mecha designers. (ie size, proportions, transformation accuracy, detail level, shape etc..compared to the toy sculpt. Some lineart isa bit misleading on some mecha designs due to "anime magic" which can cheat on the shape of a mecha when it transforms to different modes, so often a toy must compromise between lineart accuracy in all modes for balance. for eg the uniboob of the yf-19 being pointy on the toy vs short and stubby on the lineart in robot mode)
Here is the address:
http://www.new-un-spacy.com/m3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unlike many other website with images, the specs can't be trusted because they have been made up for the RPG game they were designed for. The information on M3 combines the canon info and specs and history from official sites with the lineart and images from the various books, that fans may not be able to easily find due to not owning the books. So far the database isn't 100% complete but it will grow as more images are added.
eg Konig monster specs and lineart:
http://www.new-un-spacy.com/macrossga/vb-6-konig.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You can scroll down for more views to see it at different angles and close up at various parts.

22-02-08
----------
interesting news on the toynami and beagle ride armor. Toynami is in negotiations to bring over the beagle ride armour so we don't have to import it (may mean you can get it for cheaper than usual):
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=563740

Revoltechs:
looks like kaiyodo will be branching out to new macross mecha other than the VFs and be doing the Regult from SDFM. Along wit hthe yf-19 and YF-21. This looks to be a direct challange to yamato's larger non-transformable 21 and 19. Super poseable macross plus figures vs HCM style "completed models". Who's going to win the fan's dollar more?
pic from toysdaily forum here:
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... g_top1.jpg

...

Other stuff I forgot about but that I think might interest fans of anime series bubblegum crisis:

images of the yamato transforming Motoslave have been released:

Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

updated images for this line including other characters:
Image Image Image Image

These will be available from yamato usa. (no need to import from japan like with the macross toys so the price should be less painful for this line, just like with the us version of scopedog which was cheaper than the japanese one. No Harmony Gold interference. :up: )
page for this on the official website:
http://www.yamatotoysusa.com/page.cfm/497" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

25-02-08
----------
Yellow type cyclone/ride armor have been revealed in pics:
Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

They seemed to have enlarged the tyres for yellow's ride armour after criticism of the bike looking small in relation to the character. Will be interesting to see if this affects sales as that was a big negative for people who wanted a ride armor that doesn't compromise one mode's look too much in favour of another mode.

Update on the new 1/60 yamato vf-1 line some new pics here
closeup images of the yamato 1/60 yf-21 here:
1
2
Very nice glossy finish just like the original yf-21 toy years ago.

Heaps of new pics at at wonderfest for the new revoltech macross figures from kaiyodo:
http://www.ota-suke.jp/event/review/11294" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (yummy mai figure! :D!

for lazy people who only want to get to the relevant images from the above link relating to the revoltechs click here
Image Image Image
'Bout time we got the regult in superposable form! Such an iconic mecha from robotech and macross. It's a shame that the zentradi or UNS no longer uses chicken-legged mecha in the future timeline of the story, because these stand out amongst all the transforming fighters. The revoltech yf-21 and yf-19 don't look too bad either. (they look kinda like they been working out at the gym - the thigh and calf muscles on that 19 seem hella exaggerated)
Hurry with the Revoltech Qrau so I can have a classic "Max vs Miriya" fight display!
Last edited by GameHED on 25 Feb 2008 07:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by GameHED »

Macross F Bandai Toy news:
--------------------------------
Looks like the scale of the bandai Macross F toys will be 1/60 scale just like the yamato macross valkyries (which are now their standard scale as the 1/48 is eventually phased out in favour of the new 1/60 vf-1, probably due to advances they've made that allow them to cram more detail at a smaller size and aim for the mass market at a lower price point rather than just the diehard collector?).

So expect to see VF-25 DX Chogokin by bandai!
Cross fingers they don't disappoint. (although I can't think of a reason they should given the history of bandai's flood of gazillion different gundam models and toys they churn out)

The MWB thread discussion for this all is here for those who want to track latest news and update on this. Very exciting for fans of this mecha. (although I can't say the battroid mode is as 'cool' as the yf-19 personally. It does however allow full armor (not the super pack, the "fat suit") to be used in all modes which is a first for valkyries in the mac universe.
Will be interesting to see if this means that bandai will challenge yamato and do a better version of the VB-6 Konig Monster. (I always felt that this was one toy that yamato could have improved upon and it seems to lack some features like the ability to have the weapons opened out in bomber mode or the ability to have the rail guns folded forwards in battroid (or is that destroid?) mode.

Not interested in the bandai models though, since I'm a perfect transformation toy guy..No time for painting and building. But anyway this is great news, because the chogokin line is the high quality, high end, collector's toy aimed at the fan, and people were worried they wouldn't devote much effort to the macross franchise due to bandai neglecting the license in the past compared to their main cash cow Gundam. (all they've really done are the primitive-but-sturdy chunky munky toys which don't compare well to model kits in terms of accurate shape/realism as jets)

04-03-08
----------
Macross Destroid tomahawk gets some love at 1/60 scale:
new news (shows the CAD drawing)
Also there s going to be a 1/200 scale minitures of various macross valkyries by yamato. Seems like a flood of stuff all coming at once.
-non-TF line of yamato macross plus battroid mode toys
-1/200 scale minitures of macross vabiable mecha
-new entries into the perfect transforming 1/60 line
-revoltechs
-re-release of the wave transforming SDF-1 (old version shown. new version now in more realistic colours)
-bandai vf-25 chogokin plus 1/72 model kits
-1/60 destroid tomahawk
-toynami's 1/100 line of transforming vf-1 toys getting GBP armor packs (although these guys never commit to release dates so maybe it shouldn't count :D)

9-03-08
---------
great CMs Ride Armor review from collection DX:
This may be very useful for those who might have trouble figuring out the steps to transform the bike to armor. This doesn't sound like the toy is very fun to play with but its faithfulness to being a perfect transforming toy and the accurate proportions despite its cheap appearance (for high cost) is what makes it still worth considering if you only intend to put these display. Given the small size, and lack of space for your fat hands to manipulate the various pieces to transform them, this loses points for not holding together well and being frsutrating to try to put convert to the modes. (you'll find yourself prefferring to leave it in one mode rather than transform it back and forth due to this problem) Since I don't play with my toys this is not a problem for me, but I can see others being bothered by it. Hopefully in the future they take th superior proportions adn perfect transformation of the CMs toy and combine those good things with the great detail and better finish of the non-perfect transforming Megahouse. That would be the perfect ride armor toy.

20-4-08
---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M65sYo_QY_4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; review of megahouse + transformation vid
http://anymoon.com/blog/2008/04/04/mega" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... de-armors/ written review

My thoughts: I would wait for beagle first to see what that version of the ride armor is like before commiting to any. Looks to be the best but is rumoured to be the most costly. (and not mainly due to quality reasons but due to "limited number" reasons for the rich people)


macross revoltech pics <--more love for the reguld showing various poses
..and from From Hobby Japan May 2008

more pics of beagle ride armor

yet more pics of beagle ride armor

pricing speculation on upcoming beagle sez: yamato could be distributor for japan, Toynami for the US, rumoured price about 60k yen. !?!? Must be extremely limited number? Not good news despite the impressive pictures so far.

This may interest vintage toy collectors: For all those of you who missed out on the chunky monkeys a while ago, bandai will be reissuing these again for 25th anniversary. I'm over them personally. It's about time bandia just bloody updated their SDF:M toy lines to something for today's audience.

Here is a CMs ride armor mod for those having problems with rey type blaster in bike mode:
click


NEWS OF THE CMS LEGIOSS + TREAD COMBO PACK (finally released after delays!)
some box images with toy packaged inside.

pics from toysdaily of the toy in the flesh:
1
2
3

blog with review + pics:
Legioss:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/damien_sancho/53529363.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Tread:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/damien_sancho/53544876.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


What's it like? If you only intend to pick one?
Comparison with the Toynami Masterpiece Alpha:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=577015
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=577025
pics showing them docked:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=577171

Personally I think it looks kinda cheap, but we aren't exactly spoiled for choice here on mospeada toys. (not that this means we should accept bad quality just because.. but be aware the price is high more due to CMs than because that's what everyone is comfortable paying for it)


link to some impressions


good summary of the good points and bad points (something this pricey deserves analyis like that.. :P)

review part 1
review part 2

...so the consensis is that seems like this is more a display piece with the lack of locking mechanisms. :( Legioss is worse than the Tread. Reviews are mixed. Tread part of the toy is good, but the Legioss suffers from gaps, a bit of looseness, and the squashed, tall look of the robot mode. (people have fond memories of squat boxy looking mecha from the 80s which this seems to have avoided by trying to modernise it) Price definitely seems to be the main issue here. Limtied quantities or not, there are some things people can't get over. (link up not being what they expected for example) People just wanted a non-sucky Toynami Alpha fighter. (all of the detail and scult of that without the breakage problems.)

Bad things about the Toynami Masterpiece Robotech Alpha - quality problems breaks easily.
Bad things about the CMs Legioss - not accurate enough to the lineart. (very surprising for this company since they have succeeded with the Ride Armor sculpt in terms of overall proportions compared to the competition from megahouse)

Anyway if you do plan on buying one, http://www.over-drive-inc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; seems to be the best place to get it. Best price you will ever find.

And for those who get one but are not happy with the half-arsed link up. There may be hope in the form of a mod you can apply. I just hope that if enough people show interest in a mospeada mech like this that there may be better attempts at a lineart accurate but handle-friendly toy.

NEWS ON BEAGLE RIDE ARMOR
One image:
Image
Looking much better than both CMS and MegaHouse.

Onto other anime series..
MegaZone 23 Toy Review:

Collection DX review of the ProtoGarland:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=m_Hju2xSNyM[/youtube]

I think it was funny how they purposely torture the poor thing just to show how improved the shoulders are. :D Oh and YamatoUSA sells this so no need to worry about japanese import price or having no support if some part breaks like with macross toys. (which are blocked to outside fans due to HG) It's safe if you buy the original garland (red paintscheme) and email yamatousa for replacement shoulders (which fix the problem of the first issues of garland) but it's still a bit of a pain in the arse for some people to do that so hopefully yamato just reissue fixed original garlands rather than expect us to buy the military brown garland. (which already comes with the shoulder fix)

Will update when more info on the Beagle Ride armor comes out. I have been holding off buying a mospeada ride armor from CMs and Megahouse until I see what this Beagle company can offer. Looks to be the best so far! But the price..
---------
30-4-08
---------
Update: Newer VF-1 1/60 high res pics:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=578955

The 1/60 line is now the standard. Note how much detail they managed to cram into the new 1/60 vf-1 toy from the 1/48 line? Removable leg armor covers, with individual micromissiles, double jointed shoulders, the promise of two-seater VF-1 (like the VF-1D trainer VF you see hikaru use at the start of macross) in future. Although the VF-1 has been done to death I'm excited about this line as it is in scale with all the other 1/60 valkyries (all the macross Zero, macros plus, SDF:M (destroids) and DYRL yamato toys. (the 1/60 QRau for example)

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=578955

1/48 scale will probably be discontinued (too big for most valkyries and too expensive at this size for most?) later like the 1/72 scale (too small?) was from years ago.
Those who like the 1/48 still might be a little dispointed though since it will probably mean no VF-1D for this size/price range. :( (was not designed with two seater in mind)
If you still like the 1/48 I say keep it, if you like the fighter's nose better. That's the one thing it does better than the 1/60: doesn't compromise the fighter mode as much by making it chubbier/shorter.


finally some confirmation of the rumours of detaching limbs for the yamato 1/60 yf-21:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=578142

Release date for yf-21 is end of april, early may release.
comparison between yamato and D-Stance yf-21

tv ad:
[youtube]http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uAuFI09A4fE[/youtube]

Graham mentions trying to persuade yamato to go the macross 7 route and finally give us all the valks that appeared in the macross 7 tv series, ova, movie etc:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=578816
(because the yf-21 is so similar to vf-22 (unlike variants of the 19 family of VF which have changes in the body shape) it would be easy to convert this 1/60 yf-21 toy to vf-22 later on and then sell the vf-22 (complete with canon colour schemes) which is what the fans would like to have alongside the yf-21 release. But if they get the macross 7 license to make toys from that series, we might see stuff like vf-17 (which would be much better detailed than the bandai chunky munky one) and vf-11c with full armor.

We can all thank graham for that if we can see the vf-22 black gamlin painmtscheme (with 22 head unit) in the upcoming future along with red and blue miria and max schemes. So long as enough people want it, they will be attracted to the $$$ they can get from collectors/rich kid/immature adult willing to pay the higher price to get it made. (but actually it looks like bandai have muscled into this market with their upcoming macross frontier line forcing yamato to not want to abuse the high price they've been charging for these things so much..:D Something they've been able to get away with due to the idea of being small and having to make limited numbers of things to be able to justify it. Hopefully this competition translates into them making the more rare VFs that have never been seen in toy form before to cater to the niche, while bandai provides the mass produced easy-to-get, high-quality-but-good-value stuff.)

New pics of the yf-19 and yf-21 revoltech toys:
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mgangu/009713/index.html#01" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

video review of the Wave SDF-1 Macross (version shown is the first release, there is a second release of this which is more grey)
This is a very detailed toy for its size, and I plan on getting one. For those who are wondering about the twp carriers: these are the SDF-1 "arms" (act as the space carriers for the mecha - ARMD01 and ARMD02) that you see in DYRL (movie version of SDF:M) where the ship already has the carriers docked to the ship instead of like in the tv series where the SDF-1 was forced to take the aircraft carriers on earth (daedalus and prometheus) and join those to the SDF-1 after the space fold which was executed close to the earth's atmosphere and accidentally brought chunks of the macross island with the ship to space. :D So that is why the appearance is a little different to the SDF-1 in tv series as the events were retold for the movie.
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Post by GreyWizzard »

this might interest some people

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-8x-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... -2nuh.html
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Post by GameHED »

I intend to get that, along with the revoltech yf-21 and yf-19. I'm a big fan of the reguld and zentradi mecha used in space war I. You never see them in later shows so they are the nostalgiac equivalent to getting a G1 prime toy for transformers. :D

I have been eagerly anticipating these little guys because there is just something really cool about smaller toys that you can hold in your hand and play with. I have the banpresto transforming VF-1 on top of my computer monitor for that (cheap and nasty but can hold together well if you have some blutack to make the joints hold) but these revoltech destroy that for 1 mode.

Hopefully if these sell well they give me the Qrau I have been dying to see. That is the one macross mecha that needs the high posability in Revoltech form.

Oh yeah: for those interested in the old school macross tv show and want toys of it: look out for the 1/60 Destroids from yamato. Very detailed and accurate to the lineart. The toys Yamato make go through an approval process by shoji kawamori for accuracy to the design, so the toys have very good proportions. In the past, this wasn't a big deal (because the toys were aimed at the mainstream who didn't care about that) but these days; with a majority of toy buyers being the aging population of adult japanese science fiction nerds more than kids, the actual accuracy of sculpt is one of the big draws to buying an expensive toy over a smaller, and more-rough toy that takes liberties over the relative size of body parts and aircraft parts in relation to each other as well as their over shape.

My last yamato toy was the sv-51 and to be honest, I think it is the most beautiful transforming jet I have ever bought, if a little bit delicate compared to a typical hasbro toy. But looks-wise, you can't complain. The stand that comes with it and how you can park it just like it appears in the underwater submarine carrier with wings folded like some kinda of evil vampire bat in the anime is what makes it so cool.

There are so many toys to look forward to:

-1/60 Destroids
-upcoming 1/60 yf-21
-upcoming 1/60 vf-1 (this replaces the 1/48 as the main scale - all the two-seaters will appear in this as they've been designed to support the extra space needed for two-seater cockpits)
-bandai 1/60 VF-25 (holy shit do the models already look bloody good! Can't wait for the chogokin toys!)
-bubble gum crisis toys (although some reckon the sculpt for the midsection of the motoslave looks off)
-megazone 23 toys (still got to catch up here)
-any future macross revoltechs
-whatever new "advanced" valkyrie appears later on in the macross F tv show that bandai is probably already making a toy of.
-mospeada ride armor from beagle.

Ah...so much shit to get and so little time.
All this money spent is going to eat into my game purchasing... :D
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Post by GameHED »

Here is a review from collection DX of the revoltech regult (zentradi battle pods to robotech fans):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ilr8lLzZnU&feature=user[/youtube]

Not sure how 'to scale' the toy is with the revoltech vf-1 but I wouldn't trust revoltechs to be in scale with another. But still looks cool as a standalone figure even if it isn't.

Next I hope they do the Destroids and female Zentradi Power armor (Queadlunn Rau) and male power armor so you can have them in a superposable fight with each other. Even if they don't I would recommend those figures anyway.

EDIT: I think they should also do the reguld scout type which looks different from the others as well as the small missile launcher type, and of course the Glaug which the high ranking officers use.

And while on the topic of macross revoltechs it's worth watching this review of the vf1a revy to get an indication of what the revoltech figures are capable of (it doesn't seem like the reviewer plays with the posability of the figure much on the reguld review):
Mospeada Legios and Tread Combo from CMS
Toy combo consists of the Legioss (alpha fighter to RT fans) and the Tread (Beta Fighter to RT fans) which you must buy together.

Review of the toy by collection dx:

EDIT: If you are having problems playing this video, try clicking the link to go to youtube and play it from the site instead. (I couldn't get this to play for some reason viewing from here)
pt1
pt2
pt3
^
Lots of people didn't like this toy due to the high cost. We all wish something like this could be done cheaply by a big well known toy company. I don't think I can get it, and hope other toy companies decide to attempt to make this cool mecha from our childhoods at a more affordable price.
Last edited by GameHED on 25 May 2008 11:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by GameHED »

Here are some links for the reguld lineart for comparison:

regular

light missile type

heavy missile type

scout type

description:
Simple, efficient and reliable, the Esbeliben Reguld is the standard mass production mecha of the Zentradi Army. Produced in staggering numbers to fill the need for an all-purpose mecha, this battle pod accommodates a single Zentradi soldier in a compact cockpit and is capable of operating in space or on a planet's surface. In space, the Reguld makes use of two booster engines and numerous vernier thrusters to propel itself at very high speeds, capable of engaging and maintaining pace with the UN Spacy's VF-1 variable fighter. Within an atmosphere, the Reguld is largely limited to ground combat but retains high speed and maneuverability. Armed with a variety of direct-fire energy weapons and anti-personnel/anti-aircraft guns, the Reguld is capable of engaging both air and ground units. The Reguld is also capable of high, thruster-assisted leaping that allows the pod to cover long distances and engage low flying aircraft. On land, the Reguld is surprisingly fast, capable of closing with the VF-1 variable fighter in GERWALK flight (though likely unable to maintain pace at full GERWALK velocity).

The Reguld saw much use during Space War I in repeated engagements against the forces of the UN Spacy, but its lack of versatility against superior mecha often resulted in average effectiveness. Several variants were seen in the war, typically with additional equipment to mount missile launchers or modified with electronic warfare equipment for ECM and reconnaissance roles. Possessing minimal defensive features, the Reguld is a simple weapon that performs best in large numbers and when supported by other mecha such as Fighter Pods.
These were the workhorse grunt mecha. As a group, these weaker guys would be led by this guy who gets better firepower:
Glaug
Description and History

The Glaug is a larger and more heavily armed tactical pod used by unit commanders in the mecha forces of the Zentradi Army. Increasing the firepower beyond the standard Reguld Battle Pod, the Glaug is built with two arm units each holding one large-bore and one small-bore impact cannons and the Glaug also is equipped with a rare long range top-mounted, electron beam cannon. Along with the standard two anti-personnel cannons on the front ventral side of the fuselage, the Glaug can operate in nearly any capacity. To handle the increased power demands, the Glaug has a much more powerful single fusion reactor. Like the Reguld, the Glaug is ground based within a planetary atmosphere but uses numerous vernier thrusters and powerful dual engines for space flight.

The Glaug was customarily used much more frequently in the Zentradi mecha forces but has become somewhat of a rarity in the modern age of Space War One. Roughly 280,000 cycles before the present era, the Supervision Army succeeded in an all-front attack upon the Roiquonmi fully automated weapons factory, thus seriously reducing the Zentradi's supply of Glaug mecha. The rarity of the Glaug remained so since until roughly 3,700 cycles before the present era, a supply of nearly new Glaug units was recovered from an opened weapons storage facility leading to somewhat of a small renaissance for the Glaug. Kamjin Kravshera repeatedly made use of a Glaug during his campaigns in Space War One and possessed a supply of the mecha to replace damaged units.
..this thing also docks with a Glaug booster for space. (it's like the equivalent to a FAST Pack for a valk actually)

The high ranking female zentradi use different mecha.

QRau
In "Do You Remember Love" (a fictional in-universe movie adaptation of the Space War I Event seen in the tv series "SDF:Macross" and made for entertainment for future generations to be inspired by minmay within the story - ie People about Basara's age) the women giants use the red (ace) and purple (grunt) QRau which is slightly differnet in look to the green (grunt for SDF:Macross tv series) Qrau.
Anyway this is what the reviewer is referring to when he says he hopes to see revoltech "Qrau" figures.

Male giants had crappy suits compared to the women for some reason:
Zentradi male power armor

.....posted all that just so non-macross fans know what I am referring to when I use various science fiction mecha terms that don't make sense to others and also to help you know what the reviewers are saying. :D This is why Mr March (from the MacrossWorld boards) made that site so noobs have a picture reference rather than just the plain old text from the macross compendium which is official information, (not made-up fan crap) but not easy on the eyeballs. :up: It's such an old series that you aren't likely to find many sites that good. And ones that are good end up being out of date or no longer maintained.

A lot of this lineart can be found in the "Macross Design Works" book which you buy here:
http://www.hlj.com/product/MOV028" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (it's discontinued currently but I link to it so you can see what it looks like)

And for SDF-1 and destroid lineart:
http://www.hlj.com/product/MOV01629" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Post by GameHED »

Big Regult gallery:
http://gamu-toys.info/sonota/kaiyo/revo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 1/051.html

pics of revoltech VF-1 max (tv series paintscheme) here

yf-21 vs yf-19 .......1/60 destroid tomohawk:
Image Image

+ pics of Destroid Defender prototype:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=590506
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=590617 (cockpit detail)


Lineart/specs/history for:
Destroid THawk
- open cockpit
- hull insignia
- anti-aircraft missile option pack
- rear view
- open weapon bay with close-in rockets
- Tomahawk ready to fire
- Tomahawk firing

Destroid Defender
- aft view
- cockpit entrance/egress hatch
- vertical tracking main sensor detail
- ammunition drum detail (with enlarged capacity drums shown)
- internal ammunition feed detail
- foot tread detail
- soldier shown to scale
----
macross F news:
more info pics of the bandai vf-25:

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=596238
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=597030
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=599315

1/72 transformable model:
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mreport/009935/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

comparison to cg model:
Image

Early stages yet so try not to judge too harshly.
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Post by GameHED »

-----------
24-05-08
-----------
newer pics of the yamato 1/60 vf-1 line from:
http://www.amiami.com/shop?vgForm=Produ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... eview.html
ImageImage Image ImageImage
Image Image Image Image

The new 1/60 vf-1 line looks to be superior to the older 1/48 VF-1 line in 'most areas' due to the improvements yamato has made since they first brought the original 1/48 out years ago (which at the time was the best vf-1 toy ever made). This newer smaller sized toy has more emphasis on trying to acheive a balance in shape for all three variable fighter modes (ie GERWALK, Fighter, Battroid) instead of only trying to look good in one mode like the 1/48 scaled toy. The old 1/48 toy emphasised the Fighter mode the most but then this had resulted in a "skinny arm" look for robot mode which people felt was a sacrifice made to the battroid/robot mode so that the fighter mode could look good. In fact the biggest criticism is the tiny hands which looked like rat claws in proportion to the rest of the body.

By the time the GBP armor was released which fattened the body up even more in battroid mode, the hands were ridiculously small so they had to make seperate GBP massive hands made to go with the GBP armor to beef up the robot hands in proportion to the body. Fighter mode fanatics didn't care that much though since they like the fighter mode. But for the rest of us who wanted a nice balance for all three modes this wasn't good.

..So with this newer 1/60 release, (this is the line that will make all vf-1 toys from yamato to scale with every other 1/60 toy they will release) robot mode doesn't suffer so much from the girl's arms look or the tiny hands that plagued the old 1/48. It is the toy the casual buyer or hardcore collector is going to both like since it satisfies more people by not being loyal to only one mode.

Other improvements advantages over the old 1/48:

-cheaper price with about the same detail (see pic of the FAST pack booster with the tiny micromissiles loaded inside it)
-no seam on the face
-no arms hanging down too low in fighter mode (big criticism of the fighter mode on 1/48 was how the arms stick down a centimetre below when it should be between the legs)
-more tampo printed details
-arms have double joints in elbows
-improved knees
- lower legs are thinner and accurate to the lineart
- fins which collapse on the legs, (GBP armor in future)
-chest is not so wide in bot mode
-backpack lock is more secure (but some say its also more visible)
-the nosecone doesn't hang so low in bot mode (now it's higher up which is close to the lineart)
-there will be the two-seaters like the VF-1D which never came out in 1/48 due to the way the 1/48 line of toys was designed at the start)
-leg thrusters are properly designed with the circular piece not splitting in half like the 1/48 which is just fake-looking. (one of my biggest criticisms actually) It's got the improvments seen in the VF-0 where it stays as one piece while the outside parts of the feet are transformed.
-maintains the right scale in a display to the vf-0 so if you collect these you can see the two stand side by side and get better idea of the size difference between the variable fighters from one show to another show. (VF-0 is much larger than VF-1 when compared at the same scale)
-head turret laser barrels are hollow (not solid)
-being smaller mean less shipping cost for us importers. :D
-rectangular type foot thruster design (not seen from 1/48 scale)
Image

Basically it has all the good things from the larger and more-expensive 1/48 VF-1, and improvements from that which appeared on the 1/60 VF-0...all in the new 1/60 size for a cheaper price than the 1/48 VF-1 line, plus the promise of a more complete release list of different mecha that appeared in the tv series and Do You Remember Love movie. (ie we can get the non-fighting VFs as well as the two seater VF-1D "trainer" VF that Hikaru used in the beginning of the show.)

Probably the only thing the 1/48 has over it is the gimmicks like removable nosecone, movable wingflaps, airbrake, and sheer size. Maybe a bit more detail for the cockpit interior.

----
Yamato GNU line of non-transforming macross toys (ie yamato's attempt to cash in on revoltech macross sales :D)
pics from amiami:

VF-11:
http://www.amiami.com/shop/ProductInfo/product_id/91988" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (general pic)
posing (scroll down to see more action poses)

YF-19:
http://www.amiami.com/shop/ProductInfo/product_id/91986" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (general pics)
posing (scroll down to see more action poses)

YF-21:
http://www.amiami.com/shop/ProductInfo/product_id/91987" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (general pics)
poses:
http://www.amiami.com/shop?vgForm=Produ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... eview.html

Newer magazine scan of the GNU here: (Dengeki)
Image

..Showing the internal skeleton used inside the toy.

The emphasis on these toys unlike the revoltech toys is on lineart accurate body proportions more than super posability. But the posability of these is better than your typical transforming toy. The idea is the cheaper price but good detail and accurate proportion is what is offerred over the stylised proportions from revoltech or the stiff poses you tend to get from the transforming stuff. This stuff tries to be close to what the robot mode would be without the problem of having to balance out the shape of its body amongst the three modes. (eg making a robot bulky would make the fighter look out of shape, making the fighter look realistic, might make the robot appear less lineart close etc ..non transforming toy just has to worry about being close the robot mode only for fans of that mode)

Personally I think yamato should have just spent time making other things than trying to take on the revoltech line with these. Most people are interested in the perfect transforming stuff.
Last edited by GameHED on 25 May 2008 11:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by GameHED »

This news might be a bit old but relevent to fans of the vintage robotech macross toys:

from anime news network:
North America's Toynami announced that it will distribute Valkyrie robot toys that the Japanese company Bandai had based on Takatoku's classic Macross toy line. The defunct Takatoku company developed the first transformable toys for Studio Nue's Super Dimension Fortress Macross space war series (1982-1983). Takatoku's 1/55-scale VF-1 Valkyrie fighter toy were eventually remolded and recolored as the Jetfire toy for The Transformers line.

Toynami will start its Valkyrie toy release with the VF-1S (pictured above) and VF-1J (pictured below) variants this summer, and continue with the VF-1A variant with detachable Super packs this fall. These first releases will be sold under The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? name. Macross: Do You Remember Love? was the 1984 theatrical film adaptation of the first Macross series.

Toynami plans to release more toys from the first Macross series under the Robotech brand in 2009. The North American distributor Harmony Gold USA partially released the first Macross series on home video in 1984, before rewriting and editing the series with two other series to compile the Robotech project in 1985.

Toynami was founded in 2000 after Harmony Gold USA asked for compensation on the toy imports for the animated Macross Plus sequel by Toynami's predecessor, Toycom. The issue grew into a larger dispute with two lawsuits and led to the recent impasse in Macross releases outside Japan. Before importing the upcoming Valkyrie toy line, Toynami produced its own line of 1/55-scale toys as well as lower-priced 1/100-scale toys. Both of these in-house Toynami designs had less die-cast metal than the Takatoku toys.

Yamato Toys, the former Japanese partner of Toycom, produced a recent 1/48-scale line of VF-1 Valkyrie toys. This June, it will start a 1/60-scale line (pictured at right) that matches the scale of the toys from the other Macross projects in Japan. Both Yamato toy lines use less die-cast metal than Takatoku's toys of the 1980s, but are more faithful to the original mechanical designs.

Bandai is reissuing the Macross toys in Japan to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first Macross series and the 2008 launch of the Macross Frontier television series.
These releases of the classic 1/55 chunky munky into the US is good news for all those people who wanted to have the jetfire/vf-1 as a little kid but couldn't.

If there is one good thing about this, is that it means people don't have to put up with the poor quality of the toynami 1/55 when they can now officially get a robotech/macross VF-1 toy that is solidly built (if a little out of date compared to the toys of today) from bandai. No more worry about the thing falling apart in your hands since the chunky munky is the most solid vf-1 toy ever. And for once a good toy is now able to be bought without you the fan having ti import yourself. This is quite a significant event when you consider the poor robotech fans had nothing of good enough quality to buy for so long due to Harmony Gold limiting themselves to collector pieces. (their Toynami "masterpiece collection" line of toys is just too delicate to be a real toy)

Why is this news important to international fans of macross again? Because its an official macross toy that can be bought at the local price without the legal problems of HG interference which used to be the pain for us collectors wanting to buy anything from japan to do with macross. This way its all easier and 'legit'.
discussion about this here:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=590623

As I say it's old news now but relevant news. (we've come a long way since the days of the mid 90s of having to hunt this shit down from ebay and pay huge prices due to the rareness of these toys. Things are a hell of a lot easier these days.) Think back to the days when you were a little kid and you first saw robotech or macross for the first time and wanted that transforming jet, but knew you couldn't have one because there was no proper toy of the transforming VF-1 Valkyrie in the local toystore, and the only thing was the character in transformers known as Jetfire? ..Now after over 20 years of waiting you can officially get the toy from your region without importing one. :D Took long enough.. No more vintage prices to get the thing. Most people can't say they trust toynami to make decent quality toys. But they can about bandai, so having these brought over mean happiness for all. (no bullshit with the toy breaking just from looking at it wrongly)
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Post by GameHED »

1/60 yf-21:
Finally it's come out! :up: (in japan at least):

Image Image

pics here
http://hima-toy.cocolog-nifty.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HLJ have them in stock.

Now just got to wait for the reviews.

Two main things it features that we didn't expect:

1. The "ejected limbs" *mode (some people incorrectly refer to this as delimiter mode for some reason when it has nothing to do with the limbs detaching)

2. head can now turn. (the old 1/72 had no poseable head turret)

Glad to see yamato listened to the fans on that feature.

Stuff that it compromised for a good slim fighter mode:

-looks like the feet are tiny. Good luck posing it in battroid mode so that it won't fall easily. This is due to lack of space inside to store the feet.

-legs are overall a bit skinny rather than muscular (ie like the revoltech figure which goes for a more stylised appearance)

The two above points were criticisms by fans of the lineart of the yf-21 who liked the proportions of a 'tough', slightly-deformed robot mode over a skinny but fast looking robot. But expectations like that is unrealistic when taking the lineart alone into account due to the way the lineart is drawn such that it enlarges or shrinks certain body parts to look more appealing and impressive. (this is the "anime magic" issue people refer to for some mech designs. A mech design with "anime magic" means parts can look slightly out-of-proportion and change shape depending on which mode of the lineart you are looking at, so are impossible to be one size when making a perfect transforming (no parts swapping) toy of the design. Often the problem is solved by just focusing on one mode more than another mode, or just having swapping parts. Or if that doesn't work, make a balanced mode which looks ok in all modes instead of great in only 1 mode.

Anyway it looks bloody awesome in fighter mode so people who were pissed at the older 1/72 scale toys from almost a decade ago can now rest easy as these are super slim. (I've heard that is because the original sculpter didn't know much about fighter planes when making those old toys but was more of a robot guy)

I won't bother listing why this destroys the original 1/72 yf-21 because the pics in the link really speak for themselves.


But that's enough talk about that..

Now for yamato to give us the 1/60 vf-11 which is the most underappreciated cannon fodder valkyrie in macross 7 because it looks so cool but gets destroyed so easily and often in that series and isn't a focus in Macross Plus. (sort of like the brown vf-1 in the first macross tv series which is just there to act as background death) But it's also for that reason that it's a personal fave of mine due to the simplicity of the transformation and non-heroic, non-flashy, non-shiny, mass-produced look to it. (no attempt is made to make it necessarily look superior and more sophisticated to other mecha and it's that very basic-ness which suits a look for a "starter mech for noobs" in the shows it appears in.

It will be interesting what size it will be next to the other two. (yf-19 and yf-21) since it is supposed to be smaller at the same scale. But they might cheat the scale like they did with the 1/72 version of this mech so it has a slightly bigger size than it really should at the scale it is at just to retain the details. (fine by me)

Image
^image of the turning head. It's wasn't certain whether this feature was included. I think it is a good idea to have it personally even if it was not meant to actually turn. The Qeaudluun Rau the miria uses in SDF:M and DYRL, obviously never show much head movement and given this is like transforming version of a QRau, you shouldn't really expect much head movement from a hooded robot if the orignal didn't rely on it having to turn all that much. (ie due to cameras all over the body of it or whatever)

*this is a mode Guld used to increase his speed to kill the Ghost X-9 in the movie edition of macross plus. In the OVA version it just shows him die in an explosion, but in the movie edition, he uses the pinpoint barrier shields to absorb the attacks of the ghost, flies into a dark hole to hide himself, ejects the 4 limbs of the robot to fake his death, and then kamikaze attacks the ghost after removing the speed limiter on the yf-21. (put there for the safety of the pilot) Of course it ends up killing him but the ghost dies along in the attack too. The toy allows you to detach this and have a fighter mode with no limbs. Since the yf-21 doesn't have the engines in the feet, unlike the vf-1-style valkyries, this means the yf-21 can fight with no legs. (similar to how the vf-1 can still fly with no arms in fighter)
--------
7-6-08
--------
Been reading the MWboards for impressions of the 1/60 yf-21 now that it's out.
Here is a list of posts with hands on info:

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=603247
^
1/60 yf-21 review

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=604215

^
about locking mechanisms (for people like me pissed at yamato who didn't lock the 19's chest to something)

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=604215
^
locks and tightness compared to sv-51 and yf-19

http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=604599
^
some impressions of the toy from graham. talks more about locking together in battroid mode. So far so good. Detailed review here contains lots of nice pics.

more pics here from gogdog:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gogdog/set" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 442676161/
pics from GA graphic of the attached fold booster (guld uses this to pursue dyson in ep4)
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mgangu/010144/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After drooling at all of swoosh pics: TOY OF THE FUCKING YEAR.

This and the sv-51 are two of the best looking birds in fighter mode appearance so far.

Image
Image

Oh forgot to mention: good to see the "Automorph" gimmick from the Transformers movie toys has made it into the world of macross toys! :D Great idea hasbro/takara. I can see that working in macross for things like the rotating seat which has to rotate flat so it sits down in fighter mode. Makes it much easier than opening the thing up and then manually flipping it back down.

Also it might be a good idea to wait for someone to post a detailed transformation video on youtube if you are having problems transforming this thing, if the manual is too complicated for you. It seems this is one mech that is quite complex compared to other macross variable fighters, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Especially if it is the first time you transform a toy and don't know which parts are connected to which locking tabs or are unaware of special locking mechanism (for example the ankle lock which prevents the ankles from collapsing down in battroid mode due to the weighto f the toy) because you are unfamiliar with the yf-21.
This is what I had to do with the koenig monster when I first had it. But after seeing how everything was connected and fit together I could do it again no probs.

But always look at the manual to study the pictures properly and pay attention to how many clicks that some limbs/ankles can be extended/collapsed. (for tall robots in macross like yf-21 and sv-51, there are 3 levels of 'click' to make them longer or shorter depending on what mode it is in) Also remember that the disnengaging limbs (two arms and two legs) is normal since the mech can do that in the anime :D.... That is actually a gimmick of the toy so it can replicate the last scene in movie edition of macross plus where guld ejects the damaged parts to kill the ghost X-9 drone. You can detach and reattach the limbs again.

Some incorrectly refer to this as the "delimter mode", but Guld overriding the speed limiting software has nothing to do with his ejecting the damaged limbs. Detaching limbs on yf-21 is allowed because the engines are not located in the legs. It is similar to when hikaru detaches the arms of the vf-1 in SDF:M when he goes to rescue misa after the episode where the zentradi have bombarded earth with lasers of death and alost destroyed everything.) Once it is damaged, the option to eject them is there and shed some weight. The arms are not required for flight in fighter mode in the case of the vf-1. And similarly the yf-21 can have ALL limbs deatched and still fly in fighter mode which is a unique feature of the yf-21.

Summary of things to watch for, for those unsure:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=608490

Keep in mind that the original 1/72 toy that came out years ago was also a bitch to transform and that there aren't other yf-21 on the market so be very analytical of the pictures in the manual and slow down. Some people have taken up to 1 and a half hours just to transform it. :D But for perfect transformation toys this is where your money is going - getting an accurate transformation + a good appealing appearance to the lineart and anime. Otherwise, go buy the non-transforming kits. Much less stress and cheaper as well as less risky for doing custom paintschemes on.
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GameHED
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Post by GameHED »

Updated pics of the 1/60 vf-1 from toysdaily:
http://www.toysdaily.com/discuz/thread-65383-1-2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
^looks like they are attempting to get a rainbow colour effect off the windshield.

Also the secret gimmick of the new 1/60 vf-1 is revealed:

ImageImageImage

When Roy rescues Minmay and Hikaru in the tv series as they lie helpless in the two seater vf-1D he was shown able to detach the cockpit from the rest of the fighter and attach it under his arm. I suppose this is what that is for.

Nice little feature. :up: ....but I'm still keeping my old 1/48s.

On the official site are shown the main differences between the older 1/48 and newer 1/60:
http://www.yamato-toys.com/dev/cont_049/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.yamato-toys.com/dev/cont_049/index_2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.yamato-toys.com/dev/cont_049/index_3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I won't list all the differences but one of the big ones is the double jointed arms so it can do an arm curl. :up: The old 1/48 could only bend it halfway. The other thing is the hands are now much better in proportion to the rest of the robot mode's body. Many complainers of the 1/48 say the hands are too small and girly and delicate when they should be larger and beefier. (like the fixed-pose rubber hands that come with the tv valkyries)
This 1/60 fixes that problem by making them the roughly the same size as the 1/48 hands but on a 1/60 body. :D

Image
pics of them in battroid mode standing side by side. Note the hand size of the 1/60 is about the same as the 1/48.

ImageImage
showing the elbow poseability.

Mon-23-June-08
--------------
Updated pics of the Bandai SOC 1/60 VF-25 toys from Macross Frontier tv series:
Source:
http://blog.hobbystock.jp/report/2008/06/hm0003.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More pics:
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mreport/010310/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImage

pics of the Bandai 1/72 VF-25 transformable model (note you must build it):
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mreport/010308/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thur-26-June-08
-------------------
updated news for the Beagle 1/10 Ride Armor from Mospeada:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b302/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... eada-1.jpg

more pics:
ImageImageImageImageImage
Nov release.
Price could be around the 20,000yen range. !
Out of the megahouse, CMS and Toynami ride armors, this Beagle one looks to be the best one. The size of the feet look a bit small in proportion with the other parts but overall I think this is better in both modes to the MegaHouse and far superior to the CMs in details. Good to see some news on this finally. Very expensive but maybe if you had skipped the other cheaper toys you could afford this instead of those.

Update on megahouse Lancer Rider Armor:
http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=615712

Not a big fan of their strange body shapes but they ARE more easy to handle than the CMs at least. Robotech.com sells the MH.

Update on Bandai VF-25:
pic of prototype from HLJ:
Image
Coming along nicely. It has the patented chunky shape to it we've all come to know from Bandai macross toys..

more pics again of the yamato 1/60 vf-1 (without the Fast packs)
ImageImageImageImage

Yamato 1/60 Destroid update:
The upcoming 1/60 destroid tomahawk can be viewed through the site's photozoomer:
http://www.yamato-toys.com/items/detail.php?gid=1184" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
^check the detail of the cockpit. You can see the pilot inside. Awesome little detail. The best tomahawk ever made so far. You get little figures with it too.
Image

With stickers applied:
ImageImageImage

News on other yamato 1/60 destroids that will be coming:
http://www.yamato-toys.com/dev/cont_051/index_2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Reviews of the Yamato 1/60 YF-21 are starting to pop up. Overall there is nothing wrong with the first run like there was with the VF-0 that people had reported. So it looks like the new QC guy thye hired is doing his job. :D
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GameHED
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Post by GameHED »

Here is something I think worthy of a thread boot:

Revoltech macross posing vs Yamato GNU posing competition:
revy yf-19:
http://www.geocities.jp/hetare_d_max/ga" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... YF-19.html
revy yf-21:
http://www.geocities.jp/hetare_d_max/ga" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... YF-21.html

GNU 19:
http://www.geocities.jp/hetare_d_max/ga" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... YF-19.html

Looks like revoltechs are more dynamic but lose in robot sculpt accuracy. I wanted to show this to highlight the difference between an action figure stylised for looks vs a toy model strictly made to keep within the boundary of the mecha it is based on. (ones for looking 'cool' the other is trying to be accurate to lineart.

They both have their good points but it is safe to say that the revoltechs capture the anime's action a lot better despite being made of shitty PVC, where the GNU gives you detail. But given these guys don't transform they just seem to be a distraction from the bigger transforming toys which serve a more important purpose, which would be to make the fighter mode look beautiful and convincing (no chunky undercarriage like you'll get on every transformer) whilst having something that resembles the robot mode from the anime without silly part swapping.

Here is a review of the revoltech yfs from CDX:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=sVVT2PQmusM[/youtube]

...

Anyway it looks like the next 1/60 perfect transforming variable fighter from macross plus Yamato will be doing will be the VF-11. It's been said that shoji kawamori is going to change the size of this because when he originally set the specs he thinks he made it too small. So when it appears in 1/60 scale standing side by side to the yf-19 and yf-21 don't be surprised if it stands almost shoulder to shoulder with them instead of the 1/60 vf-1. (which is significantly shorter than later VF in the macross universe)

Really looking forward to this as I am a big fan of the vf-11's fighter mode and own the old yamato 1/72 version of it that was released a long time ago.

VF-11 lineart/specs/info:
http://www.new-un-spacy.com/macrossplus/vf-11b.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(scroll to bottom for more specific lineart images)

This is the standard variable fighter in use by 2040AD in macross. At the start of the OVA (there is a "movie edition" which came out later that cut this cool scene out) Dyson is seen fighting rogue zentradi (in some variation of the male power armour) with a team of noobs and hogging all the kills. It looks cool but is outshined by the yf-21 and yf-19 later. Yet it is a fan fave because it is so basic looking and reminds people of the vf-1 when in bot mode. (and super packs are similar to the vf-1 as well) Loads of them get blown away in macross 7 as cannon fodder like the red shirts in star trek.

The previous VF to the VF-11, was the VF-4 which was a lot closer in blockiness to the vf-1. This is also very popular in fighter mode. It appears in the "macross flashback 2012" which is a music clip done to tie up all the events after the tv series for fans who wanted to know "what happened to hikaru, misa, minmay after the war"...which was that they all went into a giant colony ship, "Megaroad", which was to head towards the centre of the galaxy. But contact was lost. (ie possibly dead!) Anyway in that clip it shows the VF-4, but you don't actually get to see the VF-4 in robot mode.

There hasn't been a transformable toy of this made as yet, but I think there is a strong chance that Yamato could actually make this because fans have wanted this for a long time. Because they can't do anything with Macross Frontier (Bandai has the license) it has been a bit of a blessing in disguise because now they have to look at the more unpopular designs to do. (unseen by masses, therefore probably harder to sell due to les exposure) Maybe the masses of casual fans won't care that it was never done, but for the collector market this has been a long time in coming.
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GameHED
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Post by GameHED »

Here are some more Bandai 1/60 VF-25 magazine scans (better pics than the ones in the previous post):
ImageImageImage

from:
http://macrossf.fc.yahoo.co.jp/index.php?itemid=26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
DX super alloy VF-25F messiah (alto)
Price: 12,600 Yen (estimate value)
Release Date : 2008 November

Image
DX super alloy VF-25S messiah (Ozma)
Price: 12,600 Yen (estimate value)
Release Date : 2008 November

..colored protypes so it might look different later..

The price being so cheap in relation to Yamato 1/60 transforming valkyries is going to make us macross collectors very happy. :up: Good thing Bandai has the license for MacF toys..

12,600 yen = 123 AUD. That's more like a normal price for a collectors toy of this quality. Yamato toys of this scale are usually much higher in price than that for the same thing. (taking advantage of the hardcore fan's desperation and by making limited runs of each thing released) But to Yamato's credit they were there during the drought years when nothing new was coming out.

And for those who hate toys and prefer model kits (accuracy is better with models) here are pics of the Bandai 1/72 scale VF-25 model, from the new July issues of Hobby Japan magazine and Dengeki Hobby magazine:
(large images)
Image Image
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mreport/009935/images/11.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (back)

earlier coloured prototype:
Image
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mreport/009935/14.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (fighter)
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mreport/009935/16.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (side)

Pics from more-recent July Model Graphix issue:
Image Image

Tokyo Toy Show rapid prototype:
ImageImageImage
..these are perfect transformable model kits by the way..no part swapping. So if you are too poor to buy the transforming DX toy, :redface: or want to build something these are a good alternative. However don't expect the realism (ie no gaps hinges exposed bits that the realistic aircraft modeler hates in these transforming models) you've get from a non-transforming macross Hasegawa kit.

MF Blog:
ImageImage
If there is a downside to bandai: is that they make their plane mde chunky and fat looking to make the robot mode look tough and sturdy. Whereas yamato make their plane mode thin and sleek for fans of aircraft. If you like fighter modes Yamato does them better and closer to the lineart. The fighter's nose is traditionally more pointy and long (that's changing for the vf-1 1/60 though) where bandai make theirs short and stubby spoiling the look of fighter mode.

release info:
Plastic model 1/72 VF-25F messiah (Alto)
Price: 4,200 Yen (estimate value)
Release Date : 2008 September

4,200 yen = about 40 AUD which is much easier on the pocket.

Other links of interest:
HLJ podcast (this covers shows for all the upcoming toys from the various companies releasing new things)
http://www.hlj.com/podcasts.html#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thur -3rd-July-08
--------------------
Update in Beagle Mospeada Transformable Ridearmor (more detailed pics):
http://ga.sbcr.jp/mgangu/010419/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImage

:shock: :up:
Completely destroys all the others. Great proportions in both modes with accurate sculpt, plus detail..
estimated price: will be about 20,000 yen so it's going to be huge hole in the pocket just for one. (looks like they are going the yamato route of expensive-as-hell toys at otaku-only price) Don't even think about it until reviews are out at least. Could be dud in durability or some other important thing.

Other news:
HLJ have a big sale on megazone 23 Garland (the transforming bike seen in the first megazone 23 movie trilogy)

Red Garland
Army Colour (Brown) Garland
Factory Colour (metallic) Garland (I bought this one from HLJ recently: very happy with it)

Proto Garland (still full price though, but might interest those who liked the garland in the second movie more. Can't comment on this since I don't own one, but reviews are all positive)

If you have to choose I would go with the Factory or army colour. The older red garlands have problems with the fragile shoulders. But if you insist on having the red garland you can email yamato USA at their official site for replacement (permanent fixed shoulders) for the fragile(easily broken shoulders) for free and they will send you out the fixed shoulders.
But to avoid that hassle I would just get the metallic or army issue Garland.

One thing to be careful of is the figure can only just barely fit into the cockpit of the robot mode. Looks like a very cramped robot mode cockpit. But it's better than most transformers designs which would crush you to death if it tried to transform while the rider was still inside in Alt mode. :D
And it makes logical sense: no shell of a vehicle as a mere disguise that is worn as a covering. The machine parts function normally in both modes. (more realistic, less 'magical') Shinji Aramaki is one of my fave mecha designers.

---------
7-20-08
---------
-Graham's in-depth review of the Yamato 1/60 vf-1 which is out now.
-overdrive review
-MWB pics. (scroll down to Swoosh's posts)
-High Res pics of the transformation
Comparison of new yamato 1/60 vf-1 to old yamato 1/60 vf-1:
Image

-more vf-25 prototype pic goodness (still not final):
ImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImage

-yet more Beagle RA pics: http://ga.sbcr.jp/mgangu/010419/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
20,000 yen is the price for it. So if you can only get one and only want the best you can find on the market looks like you will be paying for it. Considering how dead the mospeada show is in terms of fanbase for it (nothing like a gundam or macross) and limited numbers that will be made you could reason that price must be kept high for a small brandname to profit. Ah if only bandai or some other company made these. :( But it looks so damn good. (maybe the paint app isn't as good as the megahouse but the sculpt is certainly better.

-more news on CMs ride armors(from summer wonderfest):
http://www.cmscorp.jp/news/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (lancer or yellow dancer character is shown.)

-Appleseed CG movie toys: (not really a mech show but scifi related)
1/6 Hot Toys Appleseed figures: (I actually haven't seen the second CG movie yet but I thought these figures look awesome)
http://www.cornerstorecomics.com/af_appleseed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
pics

closeup pics

comparison pics with the takara version.

some reviews:
http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... tcount=154
http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_012308b.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
figures.com
^beware of the tear
1/10 Wave releases:
http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVEX-03" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.hlj.com/product/WAVEX-01" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1/20 Hot Toys snap fit kit (groups of character + powered armor)
http://www.hlj.com/product/HTT17192" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Post by General Chaos »

As mentioned in the Robotech Movie thread (which we shouldn't derail with Toy stuff). I have ordered a 25th Anniversary Yamoto 1/48 VF-1S.

I have some questions for Mr Gamehed.

I placed the order through Toy-Wave and they tell me not to pay until they confirm shipping which is cool then I get an email with order details: unit cost and insurance but no shipping cost with a paypal link. What's the go? Did you get a second email with the shipping costs included?

Also while I am in the mood I wouldn't mind a VF0-S (1/60) and see there is a restock coming in. I noticed you said there were problems with them originally. Off the top of your head are they resolved?

Then I have the problem of wanting a VF1-S with Strike Packs etc but could probably pass since I have a mint Jetfire

And finally I am itching for a VF25 when they are released.

Damn this shit can get addictive.


EDIT:
:lol: Oh man I didn't even last half a day. "VF-1S with Super & Strike parts 1/60" -Get!
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