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VF-27β Grace O'Connor/Normal Type

Comments

8 comments posted
I love the design but hate

I love the design but hate those colors.
I'd love to see any the vf27 in more common valk colors, some white, gray, blue, black would be glorious.

saga_gx's picture
Posted by saga_gx on 7 July, 2010 - 10:17
I love the colors on this

I love the colors on this thing. It's unfortunate that this of all things is a web exclusive considering having a squad of three or four of them would be down right intimidating.

Dkun's picture
Posted by Dkun on 7 July, 2010 - 12:19
I like the new re-paint ,

I like the new re-paint , but ive already purchased the Brera Sterne version, and the price of the green version is a bit much really even though it's web exclusive, maybe if it comes down in price i might purchase it.

Red Comet's picture
Posted by Red Comet on 7 July, 2010 - 18:33
I wish...

Bandai would think of non-hardcore collectors. I miss the days of the Takatou reissues, durable, cheap, and simplified TOYS. Why settle for a non-custom paint scheme at the custom price? The only reason I'd consider this figure is because it SHOULD be cheaper than the original. Oh well, at least I have Transformers.

minsok's picture
Posted by minsok on 8 July, 2010 - 04:50
"I miss the days of the

"I miss the days of the Takatou reissues, durable, cheap, and simplified TOYS. "

That was like two years ago. They re-issue those Takatoku toys a lot. Also "cheap" is kind of a relative term. Consider that the Takatoku VF-1 cost 3980 yen back in 1983 and jumped to 7800 yen 2008. Is that really a cheap toy or just more affordable?

And as far as being a toy goes, I did state in the review that the VF-27 is a durable toy. Watch the video to get a better idea of it. As far as simplification, well it is a VF-27 is not a VF-1. I think the VF-27 has a fairly simple transformation and this toy is about as simple as it can be done. I'd like to think my video that I demonstrated the transformation as cleanly as I could. I apologize if this did not come across clearly in the video. However in my defense, it is difficult to simultaneously handle and describe a toy while holding it in my outstretched arms and peering through a camera :3

"Why settle for a non-custom paint scheme at the custom price?"

Both versions have the same MSRP in Japan. Sadly the aftermarket prices aren't up to Bandai to determine. And I am a little confused by your statement that one paint scheme is non-custom while the other one is as simply changing the color the toy is made in does not affect the overall construction of the toy. One toy is no more or less complicated or "customized" than the other, regardless of what the character information claims.

"The only reason I'd consider this figure is because it SHOULD be cheaper than the original."

Why should it? Again the same physical product made in a different color isn't any more or less time-consuming in terms of manufacturing. And I disagree quite strongly with the notion that it SHOULD be cheaper. Yes it is inconvenient that the one version that is kind of made for "army-builder" is harder to acquire, but in terms of screen time, popularity, and character exposure, the Brera Sterne type is a much better fit for mass consumption.

VF5SS's picture
Posted by VF5SS on 8 July, 2010 - 05:33
I think you follow most of

I think you follow most of what I mean. Takatoku had fairly durable construction and a simplistic transformation. There wasn't as much emphasis to being screen accurate, and that's what I like. Watching your review, the macross frontier valks look fiddly, ESPECIALLY that tiny post that connects the shoulder to the torso (I don't care for metal content, but I hope the bulk of the shoulder joints are metal). You say, "Unless you were a totally cool and unique badguy like a Zaku or Stormtrooper(Boba Fett you mean?), kids were hesitant to buy the cannon fodder." Less demand should = less cost in the aftermarket. A simplified version of this that has as few parts as the Takatoku vf-1 would please me greatly. Fact is the materials here aren't so space age that they warrant a 3x price tag of a Takatoku, that's just what the niche market is willing to pay. Transformers of comparable size retail $40. Cheapen it up and mass produce and I'd be willing to eat the shipping and import profit. $80 would be good for the non-career collector. Good pics, btw.

minsok's picture
Posted by minsok on 8 July, 2010 - 21:37
Collector vs. Player

I think that the issue is you're coming at this from a viewpoint of "these are toys first and foremost, and toys are meant for play, and if the design restricts play then it's a bad design". Which is not an incorrect attitude to hold, but it also means that toys like the Yamato Valkyries really aren't intended for you.

Also, "less demand should = less cost" isn't really correct when you look at the way these are produced. It's more like less demand means there'll be less sales, but it still costs the same amount to run the production line, so each unit has to sell for more. (It's the same thing as how deciding to buy fewer F-35 jets means that the ones you do buy cost more.)

There's also a toy-history thing; see the old Jumbo Machinder bad-guy figures, who were unpopular at first but now command inheritance-level sums.

--
"All the dogs in this sector have turned into red monsters!...don't tell me that it's impossible!"

RobotBastard's picture
Posted by RobotBastard on 9 July, 2010 - 13:32
Yeah, I like my toys a

Yeah, I like my toys a little more simplistic, that's why I don't collect anything outside of transformers and I used to follow sentai until the horrible lines that followed Daiboken. And yeah, granted rarity always comes into play foremost in economics which is why they do limited runs of less liked color swaps. Good business model.

minsok's picture
Posted by minsok on 3 August, 2010 - 20:12