I am not sure if that is completely correct. I am not disputing that the macross market is comparatively small, but the matter is if production is adequate given the demand. Yamato, for example, at one point was clearly overproducing and VFs were easily available for really good price and for a quite amount of years (as a consumer, I miss those times...). Most Bandai's models, on the other hand, seems to disappear in seconds during pre-sale. And that end frustrating consumers who end up leaving the market, resulting in even smaller market for macross. For example, in two 1/48 vfs release opportunities I was willing to pay more than the retail price but the product had disappear in seconds in the primary market. That's underproducing (underestimating the market or purposely trying to drive value perception up). In my case, I just gave up after that and haven't pay much attention anymore.
Correct. But what I’m saying is even when they make more (which is a assumption) when it comes to one like Roy’s VF-1S, it ends up being available at around retail or there are so many on the secondary market that the price stays pretty low for a while. When we say Yamato overproduced…we don’t know what the numbers were but as a small company for a niche market, it probably wasn’t huge numbers to begin with and that put them out of business. So basically what I’m saying is it is a very touchy and clearly not lucrative market worth taking risks on. One of the biggest toy companies in the world like Bandai has no incentive to make anything but the minimum for Macross products because they can divert those resources to items they know will sell out relatively quickly like the SOC GoLion you originally mentioned.
Yeah. Roy’s 1S, which you’d think would be one of the more popular models, had preorders that sold out in seconds. Not enough, right? but then on release it was available at stores for months afterwards with only a very slight markup (I remember posting about Okini Land having them in stock long after the release). Even the VF-1D was readily available after release, and there was supposedly a lot of pent-up demand for that one. the preorder madness is not the best indication of whether or not there’s adequate supply.
KitzConcept just added subtitles to the videos of their VF-1J they uploaded yesterday: Log into Facebook | Facebook
The thing we need are ko's, 100 dollar ko's better than the originals. I'd buy 1 in a heartbeat. Fuck Bandai, I have no loyalty to them.
Fan entitlement about KOs aside, I am genuinely surprised that Valkyrie Factory hasn't KOed the Arcadia YF-19. I can understand them generally staying away from the extremely litigious Bandai molds (just ask the Gundam community), but that seems like a safe choice. Granted Valkyrie Factory stuff isn't exactly $100 or less KOs
Long time ago I was really into model making...fortunately a lot of local shops had a lot of variety at the right time when Robotech aired... Saved most of the boxtops because of the art...
Haha, yeah. I personally don't care about who makes my toys or what license they own but it seems like the KO's that do exist for the high end Macross stuff like Arcadia or Bandai DX are not quite as good as the originals, let alone better. Then, considering they aren't much cheaper all tells me that these things aren't that easy or cheap to make well. Macross fans have it good as far as the product we have been getting in that they are some of the best toys out, at least imo. The market is extremely niche but the fans they have are mostly very dedicated so anyone involved is producing very complicated products for a small, yet demanding crowd. Any thoughts of getting these high end toys for low prices is an unrealistic dream at this point.
Flat out disclaimer: Jungle has revamped their website, raised the prices a notch and your previous account that you made has to be redone as it's a newer format/server. Go to the old category section and select Macross = You get a mis-mash of listings that is all over the place and not sorted out properly so you have to go and look at each page carefully and select what you want and hope that it's still there. Some of the valks that are listed up for grabs is sold out when you click on it, so why in the world Jungle still has it still listed I have no clue. 1/60 Yammie Fire Valk (Rank A) 17.3k yen Yamato Macross 7 Completely deformed 1/60 VF-19 re-firer Valkilly Sound Booster to go with that valk (Rank A) for 13.8k yen Yamato, 1/60 VF-19: Break-up, and the Sound Booster
I wish I could still pick up the Arcadia giftset version of the VF-19 + soundbooster with the metallic gold paint replacing the bright yellow. Alas when it does pop up its way out of the price range.
Must be strong and not buy it... Aw heck, at least it will be easy to buy. Edit: Speaking of the pre-order. Big Bad Toy Store has their page up. Macross VF-1A Max Sterling's Veritech Fighter 1/72 Scale Figure $159.99
I'm waiting to see how it goes with the other 1/72 Valks before I buy any more of them. As mentioned, these should be easy to get anytime.
lol first Bandai an now KC. They really just don't want Ben/Kanzaki on store shelves 1/72 VF-1A Ben Dixon
98 pieces in their store and more stock at other surely. I can't see this being profitable with that as the total amount.
I’m wondering if 3Z is “taking over” for the 1/72 and that’s why these limited runs are so small. Anyone have inside info? granted we don’t know how many of the first 1S they made, but even the limited run repaints of that were 200 pieces.
I think the decision might be influenced by lack of demand compared to Japanese VF-1 toys, especially in light of price increases on the KitzConcept side. Initially their 1/72 line seemed like it might be a better buy than a HI METAL R VF-1, but after the price increases, some find it hard it hard to justify when they can pony up a bit more money and wait for a Bandai DX VF-1 or Arcadia 1/60 VF-1. The latter 2 are bigger and already known as the best modern VF-1 toys whereas KitzConcept has potential but the price increase has diminished their appeal. If I’m going to spend around $200 for a Super Valkyrie set before shipping, I’d rather put that towards an Arcadia. Yea my DX VF-1J had a preorder discount but being that I got mine at $140+ before shipping and the much smaller KitzConcept 1/72 VF-1J is $140(from their site, other sites have it for $160) before shipping, even with the looser drawer joint on my DX, I find it hard to justify the same price for the KitzConcept VF-1. I paid close to $200 before shipping for my DX VF-1S but even then I think the price is justified more than what KitzConcept is offering. Limited production would definitely make sense to factor into the higher cost but KitzConcept’s VF-1J and VF-1As are all $140 from their site before shipping. So maybe they don’t expect the VF-1As to sell or their line just hasn’t sold much in light of the Japanese VF-1 toys already available and already known to be better in most areas(articulation is where the KitzConcept 1/72 VF-1 starting with their VF-1J shows promise as it has more articulation in some areas).
I think this is just another example of how small the market for Macross really is. KC had those limited black VF-1s that lasted for over a year. We should just take pride that Macross collectors are a rare but feisty breed.
Fixed that for ya. But seriously, these production numbers are quite odd. Wonder if they'll even make it to US Retailers at those numbers. Edit: Well Ben's is up on Big Bad Toy Store. Macross VF-1A Ben Dixon's Veritech Fighter 1/72 Scale Figure
