YF-19 Valkyrie
Review by JoshB
The YF-19 Valkyrie is the first release in Yamato's GNU-DOU line of poseable super robots. The GNU-DOU line is characterized by hard plastic and an internal frame. these can be thought of as Yamato's answer to Kaiyodo's Revoltech line, but these are larger with better quality material.
This is one of my favorite Valkyrie designs, and it comes from one of my favorite anime - 1994's Macross Plus. In the series, the YF-19 is a prototype Valkyrie in the running to be selected as the new fighter for UN Spacy. Piloted by hotshot Isamu Dyson, The YF-19 represents the next generation of fighter (at the time).
The GNU-DOU comes in at 13cm tall, just a bit taller than a Revoltech. The YF-19 is constructed out of high-quality ABS and POM, so the figure is durable and the detail is machine sharp. The joints are solid and provide a wide range of motion. There is motion in unexpected places - the head antenna, the flaps on the shoulders, and the large wings on the hips. There's a lot to this figure.
One thing I found interesting about these figures are their modular design. there are no visible screw holes on these figures, as Yamato has found a way to assemble each figure carefully, almost as if they were some kind of puzzle. for example, you can pull the sides of the chest off and see how they use tabs in that part to anchor the shoulder parts in. The arms and legs are snapped together with tight tolerances and hold the jointwork in place. Contrary to popular belief - there is no internal skeleton with the GNU-DOU series, but the jointwork does extend a good amount into the sections.
Accessories include a few variant hands, a gun, and a shield. That's it. I suppose you don't need a lot of accessories for a non-transforming toy, but even the Revoltech toys manage to include a stand.
yep - the GNU-DOU does not come with a stand.
The GNU boxes are decidedly simple - A window box with the toy packed in a clear plastic tray.
The big question is - are they worth it? The GNU-DOU average about 1,000 yen (about $10) more than a Revoltech. Honestly - I think they are. They are made out of a better material, are sturdier, and are a little larger. For a non-transforming toy, the engineering is pretty complex, and the toy for the most part feels very sturdy.
For the most part.
The only issue I had with the toy was with one of the small fins on the legs. I hit one of the fins the wrong way and it came right off. Fortunately, it looked as if there wasn't enough glue holding it on, so a bit of super glue made it all better.
Comments
19 comments postedSo we finally see a figure in the other other GNU line.
I'm glad to see that it looks good. Here's hoping further figures match up.
About what I expected.
I could see picking one up of something I'd want in this form. I'm more interested in the older stuff they're doing, like Baxinger and GoShogun, but non-transforming toys of transforming robots is pretty low on my list.
It just doesn't really catch my interest, though it seems really nice. I'm a sucker for uniformity, I suppose you could say, so I tend to gravitate towards Revoltech so that my figures will match.
The legs look really fat, and the proportions seem way off. The Revoltech looks lean and mean, plus it's got optional parts in spite of the non transforming nature.
Now granted, the Revoltech is almost assuredly more stacked with features to make this look like even less a value, but frankly, if you're a stickler for a good sculpt this is amateurish.
I'm not even a fan of the design but it just looks bad to me.
The GNU's definitely have the more accurate sculpt. Plus no big holes in the back of the calves, or ball-shaped joints.
Even though the GNU's have more accurate sculpts I just can like its appearance. The GNU looks sorta...dead.
Now the revoltech? The exaggerated proportions have character and personality. IMO the revoltechs would have MUCH more shelf presence, especially if you have the YF-19 and YF-20 involved in pin-point barrier fisticuffs while on there standard stand.
The only GNU I see myself getting so far is the VF-11 and that's only because I love VF-11's so much.
I really can't get this thing. I am gonna get the rev. Yf-19 for three reasons.
The stand
For flying mecha like these a stand is needed to recreate some of the coller poses. Also Valkyries fly and hover, they don't run.
Fast Pack
No explanation needed.
Pin Point Barrier
PIN POINT BARRIER PAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNCCCCCHHHHHHH!
They can't really fly in straight up Battroid mode though.
True, but they do PLENTY of hovering and even a few nice jumps. Without a stand many hovering and space combat poses are impossible.
I'd best describe battroid mode movement as 'super Dom style' or something.
Let see other offerings from Yamato. To be honest, I'm not very comfortable with non transforming Valkyes. Maybe a super robot releases will sedates me to buy the series.
no video makes me sad
I shot a video with all three GNU-DOU, and will post it with the last one.
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CollectionDX Admin
You know,Revelotechs are allready pricey IMO for the size that they are.
10 bucks more for something a little bit bigger is out of the question for me. Espescially since my favorite part of Revoltechs is the cool flight poses you can make with the stand.
Ditto with what Berserk said..
This seems more to my liking than Revoltechs. The price is right enough, I suppose, but the thing about most Revoltechs I have, there's always at least one or two revoltech joints that are pretty loose (either the joint, itself, or one of the pegs that connects to the figure). As such, I don't give Revoltech figures much credit in the "robust" category. These Yamato figs seem a little bit nicer.
What would make me actually pick one up would be if they released matching non-transformable figures of the fighter and GERWALK modes. Is that too much to ask? I mean, they're toys of transforming characters...if you're gonna make non-transforming figures of them, at least make one for every mode they show up in in the show!
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Sanjeev
Would you pay $90 for three different toys in the various modes or $90 for one that transformed? For that amount I'd expect a transforming toy in that scale with comparable build quality. The old 1/72 toys of these were less than that and diecast.
As for RT looseness, I seem to remember you mentioning older releases like the Shin Getter stuff when you talk RT issues. While it's no excuse that those weren't as good as other releases, they were among the more problematic of them. They've come quite a ways since then and we all know a little epoxy can silence most woes. coff Raiking coff.
The line has promise, the old stuff they've shown is what most are interested in from what I've seen here and elsewhere.
Valks are a dime-a-dozen, but Susuraigar, Baxinger, Braiger, GoShogun, Dancouga, and Baldios in a nice, affordable action figure format are not.
Some of the Revoltech joints may occasionally be a little loose,but it isn't like they're falling apart. Besides,it's not like I still take all my guys out in the yard and act out cool battles with them.
I hardly ever do that any more. :)
what did GNU-DOU released so far? is goshogun out yet?