The VF-1J Valkyrie is a variable fighter featured in the Super Dimension Fortress Macross television series, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? and Macross Plus Movie Edition movies, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 and Macross Plus OVAs. It was famously piloted by Hikaru Ichijyo during Space War I.
Shinnakasu Heavy Industry's VF-1J (the "J" speculated as a prideful designation of the fighter's region of origin) is an upgraded version of the standard VF-1, typically assigned to the senior officer of an air team or to a squadron leader.
Unlike Stonewell/Bellcom's VF-1D, the VF-1J remains a single seat fighter but shares the slightly increased firepower of that variant. The new head unit of the VF-1J (developed by Kyuusei Industry) features two Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannons in a slightly improved configuration. Naturally, when the Shinnakasu-designed GBP-1S "Armored" system was given first operational deployment, it was installed on a VF-1J.
This is a fully articulated - non-transformable - figure released by Kaiyodo under it's Revoltech series and this particular piece is Series No.034. It is made with vinyl plastic materials entirely and it just cost a mere S$27 a piece back when it was released in 2007. No official scale is published (or has it?). It is in between 1/144 and 1/100. If it is a must, 1/120, about there.
All articulate points are joints connected via a spoke-to-hole system where 2 halfs of the spokes are joint in the middle - giving an up down articulations - while spokes goes into the holes on the upper and lower section of the limps - to give rotational articulations. However, these plastic spokes are quite fragile and breaks easily. Good thing Kaiyodo do sell such joints separately. Not specifically for Revoltech but it fits perfectly. The down side is that those are not commonly available. Local hobby shops should have them but it is a case of when you want it, will there be stock. There is also compromise in colour selection. A white ones may be needed but there is only blacks.
All articulate points are joints connected via a spoke-to-hole system where 2 halfs of the spokes are joint in the middle - giving an up down articulations - while spokes goes into the holes on the upper and lower section of the limps - to give rotational articulations. However, these plastic spokes are quite fragile and breaks easily. Good thing Kaiyodo do sell such joints separately. Not specifically for Revoltech but it fits perfectly. The down side is that those are not commonly available. Local hobby shops should have them but it is a case of when you want it, will there be stock. There is also compromise in colour selection. A white ones may be needed but there is only blacks.
I pre-ordered this and got it when released back in 2007. It has stayed in this pose for the longest of time I can't even remember. Vinyl materials are not tolerant to our hot and humid weather in Singapore and at one time, this figure has turned into a sticky, yellow chemical leaky mess. I kept it in display telling myself never to touch it. Dust started to settle on the sticky stuff and it become even more messy. Collecting friends told me there is no remedy and the only way is to the trash.
Not about to give up, I search the internet for possible remedy. Some recommend vinyl cleaning solution - used for dashboards and parts inside a car. I got one and put it to test. It works! cleaned up the mess and put a couple to 3 coats of satin finishing, in the hope to prevent future "chemical leaks". A year later or so later today, it stays in good conditions as these picture shows. But the rear booster seems to have started its sticky process. Will probably repeat the cleaning process in near future.
Not about to give up, I search the internet for possible remedy. Some recommend vinyl cleaning solution - used for dashboards and parts inside a car. I got one and put it to test. It works! cleaned up the mess and put a couple to 3 coats of satin finishing, in the hope to prevent future "chemical leaks". A year later or so later today, it stays in good conditions as these picture shows. But the rear booster seems to have started its sticky process. Will probably repeat the cleaning process in near future.
I have a small toy collecting wish is to eventually own a good size, good quality Hikaru's VF-1J. This wish probably will not come true as the price for Macross toys are ever going up, up and up. Maybe one day I'd pull the trigger but honestly, I haven't seen that day coming anytime soon. It's not too bad to stick to this little guy for now.
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