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1/60 VF-1S with SUPER and STRIKE Parts (Hikaru Ichijo)
I get all of my Macross product from Angolz.com because their prices are great and their Customer Service rocks. That and they advertise with us… :) 
So when I say in these reviews if you don’t like this color scheme, wait and I’m sure Yamato will do one you like I wasn’t kidding. Yamato has announced no less than 6 more paint styles due before the month of May is over and I am sure they're not done. So while I am happy it looks like my fanboy dream of building an army of Valkyries is coming true, coming up with clever things to say about the same toy with a different paint scheme is getting difficult. 
This is Hikaru Ichijo’s VF-1S at it appears at the end of the film version of Macross, Macross: Do You Remember Love? 
Yamato packs a ton of accessories into the box. Included with the transformable fighter are Super and Strike armor parts, 6 x RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles, 4 x 12 x AMM-1 hybrid guided multipurpose missiles (clustered in 3’s), 4 x UUM-7 micro-missile pods, 1 x Howard GU-11 55 mm three-barrel Gatling gun pod, a pair of “anime” hands, 2 x stand clips (to attach to aftermarket stands), 1 x escape pod clip (this allows you to attach another Valkyrie nosecone to the arm of the Battleoid or Gerwalk mode), 1 x Hikaru Ichijo Pilot. 
Yamato took all they learned engineering the older and larger 1/48th scale and applied it to the 1/60 scale while improving the fit and finish along the way. These newer Valkyries are not only super sharp looking with all of their painted detail but way fun to handle. You’ll be picking it up and flying it around without even realizing your doing it. They're that good. 
The 1/60 2.0 Valkyrie looks perfect in all three modes. Traditionally manufacturers had to cheat or short change one mode to get the other two to look correct. Well, welcome to the 21st Century, Yamato finally mastered the design and manufacturing process in this slightly smaller yet far more manageable scale. 
Not only does it look flawless it’s built tough and fun to play with. That’s right there is no need to fear transforming your Valkyrie because it was built to play with. Everything is tight (but not to much so) and straightforward to transform. The piece is tight and playable in all three modes and doesn’t disappoint. 
Of course the supplied Super and Strike armor parts are included with the set I picked up. Yamato does sell the Super Strike parts separately for those on a budget but for about 20.00 more you can get it all bundled together. 
Perfect transformation without parts swapping, tight fit and finish, solid and stable in all three modes. Yeah the line in general is a real winner. If you’re a Macross fan you NEED one of these in your collection. Save your pennies and get a paint scheme you like you won’t be disappointed. 
I just hope Yamato has enough sense to break up releasing Valkyries and starts slipping some Zentran mecha into the mix. While getting the upcoming Ben and Max TV style schemes is high on my priority list I will hit burn out quick if they don’t mix it up. 
Want your 1/60 (2.0) Valkyrie? You can get yours at Angolz.com Submitted by Atom on 12 February, 2009 - 15:16. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge
 Oh, that reminds me... I'm doing some research for some of my own Macross reviews. Could someone please point me towards links to downloadable MPG versions of the opening song to the TV series and opening score for DYRL? Not video clips, mind you, just the musical scores. I'd really appreciate it... and I'd give you a shout-out!  I can point you to the 3-disc Macross TV+ DYRL Ultimate OST, if you need. Just give me a mail :) Geez, this is my best choice for a 1/60 VF-1. Too bad this costs some money and the Dollar is very strong in my country now, so it's pointless to buy now. I had the same problem when Angolz made a sale on VF-0A with Ghost Booster...  I know that this color scheme was used for the regular pilots' valkyries in the Macross saga (VF-1As) but why not the VF-1Ss? Is it really just because of the obvious reason that tan color was only for the regular pilots and not the ranked or officer pilots? Just a thought.........  I am of the opinion that the 1S is an officer only scheme. I do know we have seen the 1J and 1A as tan cannon fodder. Yamato just announced a Cannon Fodder VF-1J for later this year. ________________________________________ As I understand it, the -1A's tan/white and -1J's white/red are roll-out colors only. Max Genius was able to use white/blue on his -1A, and both he and Milia used blue/red and white for their dual custom -1Js. Here's how the Valkyrie chain-of-command works:
The VF-1S started as Roy Focker's exclusive/one-of-a-kind customized model, and then after his death it became more numerous/widespread for senior commanders who had only the -1J available to them before. ------------------------------  Actually, the VF-1J isn't a trainer; it's just a two seat variant (thanks, Andrew...corroborated by Macross Compendium). It's not related to the VT-1. So, I think it remains outside the "rank heirarchy", along with the VE-1 and other variants. -- If memory serves me right I think I saw a tan VF-1J from the TV episodes. The only thing with that is it might be a coloring mistake by the animators of the show. That was very common with animation shows in the 80's.  The brown VF-1J shows up in episode two, the episode where Hikaru is seen training for the military, and the one where Hikaru uses the Destroid Spartan. I'm pretty sure the Macross Chronicle has a listing of the brown one as a legit variant. It's sorta like how they make toys of the Angel Birds variant. -Andrew  There's a bit of barrel-scraping happening when they go to "yeah this showed up in the background of one episode for two seconds and it might have been a coloring mistake but we'll make a 9500-yen toy out of it anyway because we know people will buy anything with "MACROSS" scribbled on it, we could make a 'special MACROSS-edition canteloupe' and people would buy the things, especially if we made a limited-edition 'honeydew' version."  The VF-1S is a special ace pilot version, sort of an upgraded Officer valk (1J) and as such, only exists in limited quantities IIRC.  I'll go with a variant that had screen time against the numerous low-viz and stealth nonsense any time. I won't be buying one - just like I didn't buy those - but at least it's not as big a cash-in. Low-viz, stealth and alt versions are for customs, that's where I would expect it, not when the most common custom was Max's TV VF-1A. At least Yamato seems to have taken the hint. The Destroid variants are all from the old artwork and toys as well, and given the whole Hard SF idea behind them, alternate schemes would be more appropriate anyway. Interestingly enough the Toynami Masterpiece of Ben's 1A was the worst selling of the lot, even though it was the first time it had ever been done. It will be interesting to see how the Yamato fares. |
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(Ichijyo aims at Bodolza ugly fat head- ALPHA STRIKE!)
*toygasm*
Ooh- I want one of these. Badly!
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CollectionDX Staff