The Yamato 1/48 VF-1s (Jetfire look alikes) are totally worth it... actually, all the large scale Yamato Valks are worth it. The costs are so high mainly due to them being small production runs as well as VERY expensive to create (took them several years to get the recent YF-19 right). When you're dealing with smaller toy companies like Yamato, a lot of the time the customer is paying a larger chunk for the mold creating, tweaking, and design as well as the material. This is true for all toy companies actually, but more so with smaller companies since, as I said before, they do smaller production runs, therefore have to recoup as much as they can with less product.

 

They're nowhere as solid as real Transformers though. Thinner plastic, smaller parts prone to breakage. But if handled properly, they're amazing.

 

eh, if ppl wanna blow a whole lotta money on these things in comparison to cheaper TFs more power to em.

that said, if MP screamer is any indication of the quality on these things, i have to say id care even less for em.

 

That would suck, but that's why everyone should have a MISB VF-1S too  .
Unless you have a 1st production run on the VF-1S, you would have to try to break it, like drop it or something. Granted the VF-0S seemed like a step backwards in quality, but as a whole they are super solid. I have knocked over my VF-1S and my VF-1J Stealth has been knocked over many times, no break.

The quality is NOT like MP-03 where it breaks with normal transformation. And the 1/48s are not way undersized with crappy parts fit (excluding the VF-0S). The 1/48's BP-8 backpack joint is the closest thing to MP-03's faulty wing joint design. But even that one you must break it by forcing it, it won't break from normal use.

Also the articulation on these is far superior to Jetfire, the 1/60 VF-1 versions and the likes of MP-03 or say Great Exkizer. I have 4 of them and none have cracked or broke in any way. Out of everything I own I have played with and transformed my VF-1S the most out of anything by far. Partly because it was one of the first big items I bought after MP-01.

There are few items in my collection at the same size with the same detail that are equal or better. MP-01 $120 because its a rock, Gunbuster $180, Dancouga $170, and Great Exkizer $220, but they are more expensive. The price seems right on to me.


Edit:

Oh come on now, that's like saying MP-01 is no more fun than Revoltech Convoy.

 

The productions runs on Macross figures are barely even a small fraction of the runs done on takara's transformers, that is one of the reasons for the high cost. Not to mention while takara has been in the business for decades and is pretty much huge(2nd only to bandai), yamato is a lot smaller and a hell of a lot younger.

If you want a durable macross toy, for a good price and can deal with the age of the mold it is based on, by a bandai reissue. Those are reissues of the old takatokus, are a lot cheaper, and near indestructible, and hell I myself love the look. Reminds me of what I wanted so much during childhood. Hell its a piece of history too, takatoku's 1/55 valkyrie VF-1 design broke ground and changed the transforming mecha toy industry. As a child, most of you do remember why jetfire stood out a lot amongst other g1 transformers, and that is the reason; it was based on the VF-1 1/55 mold which in itself changed a ton of things in the industry by breaking a lot of ground. Some say most transformations were half assed till that came out. I can't say for sure but I'm leaning on the side of agreeing with them.

Now with that said, the bandai 1/55 appealed to collectors back then in the 80s with ads for customization and encouragement to do so. But let us make no mistake, it was a kids toy.

With the yamato releases, none of the toys are meant for children. Sure a 10 year old who is very careful might be trusted, but ideally you should only give these toys to teens through adults. When you buy a yamato 1/48 you are buying a grown ass man's toys. It is not meant to be thrown across the room or sucker punching your diecast DX chogokins from the 80's. Its meant to be transformed, played with, and handled with care. This is not to say you should pull out nylon gloves and pray 3 hail mary's every time you play with it, but that this toy should not be handled like lets say a beast wars figure, or cybertron transformers(which themselves were made for kids). Your also getting the most detailed valkyrie on the market ever. You won't get any better unless you get a model kit but model kits can't be handled like toys at all.

So your paying for the rarity and for the awesome aesthetics involved. People will argue to death whether the 1/55 bandai/takatokus are better than the 1/48 but the truth is both were made for different groups of people, one was made to appeal to kids and survive them, one was made for adults who knew to handle it with care. And to be honest, the 1/48 is not fragile. A model kit is fragile, the 1/48 is not. Trust me on that, all my model kits have broken, my 1/48 is still in one piece.

The toynami 1/100 is a great deal for the value and wave 2 is almost too tight. Be careful when turning the neck. Its a great deal compared to the revoltechs and very very poseable, the 1/48 is the only thing that tops its articulation. Its best mode and probably most emphasized surprisingly is the battroid mode, but the toynami 1/100 succeeds well in the battroid mode. When you look at a 1/100, expect a $20 toy.

For you jetfire lovers, remember its based on the bandai 1/55 mold, so if you want jetfire love, buy those. Buy a 1/48 if you know what your getting into, be careful with the backpack, and know that it will take longer to transform than the 1/55. Oh yea and that its more durable and easier to transform than your alternator. I kid you not.

And have fun, the 1/48 is awesome, I only have 1 because they do cost a lot.

 

I picked up the 1/60 jets last weekend. And they are fun and awesome. I love the Bandai 1/55s, but it seems like there is not much love for them these days.
I have two, and put autobot logos on them! Woo hoo. To me, the Bandais are awesome, and fun.
I made the mistake of buying one masterpiece (of poop) from Toynami, The jet modes are nice, but the bot modes suck. They got long skinny legs, and short little arms. The prices those things go for are not worth what you get. Though, I wouldn't mind having Jack Archers version.
The two Yamatos I bought are perfect, I cannot say anything bad about them at all. I picked up the Super VF-1J and the VF-1A. these things are perfect like I said.
I needs to get more now.
I noticed there is a VF-1A they sell with that armor, and then they sell it separately, now if I buy just the armor will it attach to the VF-1A, or should I just shell out and get the VF-1A with the armor?

 

The armor will attach to any VF-1, assuming its the same scale.
I won't knock you for putting Autobot symbols on them, just don't post it at Macrossworld, shit they flip out on Robotech, lol.
Dude, if you already have 2 1/60s, its time to get a 1/48. You'll be surprised how much better they are.

For example:

 

Lol.
Bah, I paid for em, I can put whatever I want on em.
The 1/60s are as big as I am going to get. I'm sure the bigger ones are awesome, but I do not have the space for thems, plus all my other toys would be jealous.
The prices on the 1/60s are crazy though. The Super VF-1J was 125, and the VF-1A was 45.

 

Ok, besides ebay, what is the best place to buy 1/48s? I am ready to drop down for the Super Stealth set RIGHT NOW. Help me before the bug goes away! Ebay doesn't have the Super set for a reasonable price right now. If need be, I'll just get the super parts alter, although that would cost more.

 

I love how so many people are dissing the macross VF-1's if there was no macross you would never have had Jetfire in the first place. Why don't you guys understand that?

 

Wow, not to be rude, but that was random.

What does this thread have to do with your above comment?

Anyways, is there a stealth or low viz 1/60 or are the really cool jets reserved for the super sized ones?

I'd love to go for the bigger ones, but like I said, not enough room for thems.

 

No low viz or stealth in 1/60.

Really you should make some room for a 1/48. If you don't want to start buying large items I can understand, I bought one and then they start to multiply now I never have any money. But it sounds inevitable to get what you really want.
2 1/60s is enough. Only 2 1/60s I have, Milla's Q-Rau and Max's VF-1A.

Not sure on prices for the Stealth, the Super is a big item I bought it when it came out. Prices seem to increase a lot on 1/48s. I'm still trying to get a 1/48 VF-1J Max, last one I saw went for over $400 . Now that's fuckin overpriced.

 

Well, I went ahead and got one on ebay for $150 shipped, no parts. BBTS has the parts for like $70, which is the best Ive sen lately. I'll just get them later. My first Valk! I'm excited.

 

Actually, the 1/48 VF1s are smaller in jet mode than the recent 1/60 releases, but slightly taller in robot mode.

I can't wait for them to release VF0 Shin's version in May...that's my first valk waiting for me!

 

no, because revoltech convoy is not transformable, the 1/100scale guys are, what i am saying is, voyager classics prime is more fun then mp convoy. because he is way faster to transform, and he has more buddies to be displayed with too.

 

dolza dude wtf.

youre not comparing apple to apple here.

youre comparing of a premium format toy with generic wide release toy is confounding to say the least. why would you compare ferraris to pintos?

haha i just compared TFs to pintos.

 

i'm sorry i just think a $120 some plus toy needs something to fight! or something. anything. battle pods! or something. something to make me want to buy a valkery to display it with.

it's not just the 1/48th, it's all of them. all they do is make the same valkeries over and over and over again, doesn't matter how possible it is, how much more detailed it is.

it would be like if transformers was comprized of entirely just optimus prime. no megatrons, just different optimus primes, now that would be no fun, now would it?

 

Looks like Yamato's 1/60 SV-51 was just placed on Hobby Link Japan's early bird list for 20,710 yen (around $175 USD).

http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT00063

WOWZERS!

 

Well, there's not really lots of designs to choose from. There are various other mechas in the series such as the quadrum raus [already released] and koening monsters, but they didn't work well in execution, especially the latter. The prime mecha of the series ARE the valkyries [VF1 in Robotech, VF0 in Macross Zero] and that's it. Come to think of it, there's a grand total of 4 different mechas in Macross Zero, 2 easily forgetable, and two of them are already released or will be in the coming months.

 

Ouch. Well next time you want a 1/48 I would check out the for sale section at MacrossWorld. There are plenty of people there that are selling their collection all the time.

When did you buy these 1/60s? If you're in the US you got ripped off. If you're not in the US then depending on shipping....well you still may have gotten ripped off.

Regarding your first paragraph, you have a different mindset than a lot of people then. Sure a lot of people want enemy mecha for their valkyries to fight but it's not going to stop people from buying really detailed well built toys. It just sounds like you have a different collecting goal.

Again, you're not comparing apples to apples. All the VF-1s look the same because the cartoon is based on military units that are issued to pilots. Of course they are all going to be the same basic mech. Transformers are sentient robots with personalities so they are going to be different.