Toy Review : Perfect Transformation Valkyrie VF-1S, Skull Leader

Hello faithful followers, today is a great day for another review! This time round, I will be doing a toy review on the toy VF-1S, 1/100 Scale, from Bandai's Macross Valkyrie toyline. This model came out in 2002, and is the world's smallest perfect transformation valkyrie. The toy can be considered as an 'antique' in the world of macross valkyrie toys, due to its transformation frame and joints. In the anime, this plane is also known as the 'Skull Leader' and is piloted by ace pilot 'Roy Focker'.

The above image shows the product itself, still in its box, unopened. =D

The package straight out of the box. Say...the extra amount of space...either is they are too lazy to come up with a mold for this version, and just take it straight from the version with the super parts, or they just want to get more sales. =D Was quite disappointed with that amount of space though. This toy is too old to track if it was really meant for the super parts version or just there. =D

These are all the contents in the box. Not much though, I would frankly say. Two other inter-changeable heads, the standard issue 'UN SPACY' beam rifle, and two other swappable hands (One for holding pistol, one for posing) for good measure. =D

Heres the beam rifle. =D It feels soft and light, like cheap plastic somehow. = 0 But overall, I love the design! Especially the trademark upside down 'UN SPACY' letters (For plane mode).

Another cool thing that I like about this rifle is, its ability to extend (Only when its stored in plane mode is it capable of being extended =D). It gives a 'classic' fuel cell feel to it.

Not much to say here, just that the rifle feels very loose on the hand (Don't forget that at the time of the production, its the year 2002! Considered early for such an advanced toy that time! =D) when attached to the battroid.

Swappable head part no.1. Design of Max Sterling's Valkyrie, only painted in yellow.

With the twin vulcan cannons down. =D Looks rather cool, I must admit. =D Though I needed to loosen it with a penknife first. I simply love the details given to such a small thing! =D

Heres a size comparison with a Gundam Marker, just to show you how small the head really is.

Heres swappable head part 2. Rick Hunter styled head, custom painted yellow. Rick Hunter is the main protagonist of the Macross story, and pilots a red macross fighter, as everyone knows. My job of panel-lining the head failed, as you can see. The lines are too small, and the plastic is the very old type where the paint isn't erasable. =(

More boasting on how great the head looks in vulcan cannon shooting mode. XD You guys know my lines lol.

Panel-lining on hand - failed as well. Too small!

To prove to you how small it really is, it is standing beside an unpainted 1/100 figure from MG Gundam Aile Strike. For those of you who owns gundams, you can make a comparison yourself and see how small the hand really is.

Here are all the armaments, with a comparison to 1/100 Kira Yamato. =D

Finally! The long awaited review, on the figure! The above is an overall shot of the figure, straight out of the box, no coloring! =D

Overall comments at first sight :

- Scrawny stick vegetable figure

- Doesn't look good proportionately

- Loose joints

- Nice paint job

- Nice emblems 

- =D

Bad things first, lol. Numerous amount of seams that I can't even remove, due to the fact that its made of soft plastic, seriously pisses me off. =D

Close-up on the body - Quite detailed, I would say, for such a small figure and from 2002. Must have been worth a lot then. The paint work looks alright. 

When the wings are fully closed, this is what it looks like from the side. The vents (Storing the tail stabilizers) will protrude out. 

You can also opt to open it at an angle, to let the vent be placed flat against the body. This is what it looks like with everything flat lol. =D

This is one of the most attractive parts of the figure. The classic leg and fuel tank combination, with the 'UN SPACY' markings! You can even see the fuel cap, when its gonna be refueled in the anime show. =D I simply love the amazing paint job here!

Back profile shot - I love the 'Skull Squadron' decals on the tail stabilizers! =D

Mr Carrots Sticks compared to HGUC Gogg! XD Gogg looks like it can crush the figure flat by just throwing Mr Sticks his shoe! Lol

Gundam 0080, 'War In The Pocket' detailed review

Gundam 0080 War In The Pocket is a very old show produced in 1989. It is a side story focusing on the experiences of a ten year old boy during the 'One Year War'. It also serves to commemorate Gundam's tenth anniversary.

The Characters :

Alfred 'Aru' Izuruha

The main character of the story is a young boy named Alfred Izuruha. He is the typical kid who teases the girls in his class occasionally, enjoys playing video games, playing with his friends in the park etc. He also gets mediocre grades in school and misbehaves occasionally.

Christina Mackenzie

Christina is Al's neighbour, and she has just returned from Earth on a top secret mission. Little does Al knows that she is a Gundam pilot for the Earth Federation Space Force, the opposition force of Zeon. In the show, Christina is a test pilot for the newly developed prototype mecha for Zeon, the RX-78 NT-1 ALEX.

Bernard ' Bernie' Wiseman

Petty 2nd Class Officer Bernard "Bernie" Wiseman is rookie soldier for the Principality of Zeon, who befriends Al after his Zaku 2 F2 is shot down within Libot. He is later reassigned to the elite Cyclops Team as they embark on a top secret mission to destroy the newly-developed prototype mecha, the RX-78 NT-1 Alex.

Supporting characters :

Alfred's father

Al (short for alfred) has a distant relationship with his father, his father in the space colony's space port, under the Earth Federation Space Force.

Mikhael 'Mischa' Kaminasky

Ensign 'Mischa' Kaminasky is a long time war veteran who drinks a lot on and off the battlefield. He is also a talented but rough pilot. He has quick thinking when in a battle situation such as what weapons to use to have an upper hand in battle. After being assigned to the top secret Cyclops team, whose main objective was to either capture or destroy the prototype mecha NT-1 ALEX, he was assigned to pilot the extraordinarily strong prototype mecha developed by the Germans with a wide variety of weapons, the 'Kampfer', which is also german for 'fighter'.

The Main Mechas :

1. Gundam RX - 78, NT - 1 ALEX

The NT - 1 ALEX is a newly-developed prototype mecha by the Earth Federation Space Force. Gundams are supposedly rumoured to be the fastest and strongest mechas. The RX-78 series introduced the Minovsky particle weaponry to mobile suits, developing and deploying the first succesful Beam Saber and Beam Rifle which would form the primary component of the mobile suits weaponry for a long time to come.

Offensively, the Alex sports large triple-barreled rotating cannons concealed beneath the blue pods on either arm in addition to a pair of 75mm Vulcan guns mounted on the head, the ubiquitous backpack-stored beam sabers in addition to its powerful thrusters. It was also to be equipped with a beam rifle and shield, but they were not completed by time Zeon launched an attack on Alex.

The Alex could be outfitted with a Chobham Armour shell that offered it extra protection, and would only give way under heavy bombing. Its data would be used for the GM Custom.

What many people do not know is that ALEX is actually the codename or acronym for Armored Layered Examination.

Weapons system :

• 75mm twin Head Vulcan
• Double triple-barreled rotating cannons, each pod (three cannons) is equipped with 500 bullets.
• Two powerful thrusters equipped on its back pack
• Two Minovsky particle Beam Sabers
• Four additional powerful thrusters for maneuvering in the air (two thrusters on a leg)
• A giant shield enhanced to block powerful attacks (under development)
• An enhanced machine gun (under development)
• Full body Chobham Armor

Biodata :

Model number: RX-78NT-1 (RX-78NT-1FA for full armor type)
Code name: Gundam "Alex"
Unit type: prototype Newtype use mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: December UC 0079
First deployment: December UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 18.5 meters; head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 40.0 metric tons (standard), 50.0 metric tons (full armor); max gross 72.5 metric tons (standard), 90.0 metric tons (full armor)
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1420 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 35000 kg, 6 x 8000 kg, 2 x 7000 kg (additional 6 x 7000 kg for full armor type); vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 19 (standard), 13 (full armor)
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 1.82 G (standard), 1.83 G (full armor); 180-degree turn time 0.8 seconds; maximum ground running speed 192 km/h
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 5900 meters; magnetic coated joints; optional ejectable external chobham armor
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x 90mm Gatling gun, mounted in forearms; 2 x Blash·XB-B-09 beam saber, stored in recharge racks in backpack, hand-carried in use
Optional fixed armaments: RX·C-Sh-05 UBC/S-0003 shield, mounted on either forearm
Optional hand armaments: BOWA·Norfolk XBR-L Type-3 beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap

MS-06F2 Zaku 2 F2 (Zeon) :

MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai

The Zaku 2 F2 is piloted by Bernard Wiseman in the show. It is also a relatively strong mecha. It is heavily-armed with a wide variety of missiles, grenades and cannons.

Biodata :

Model number: MS-06F2

Code name: Zaku II Type F2
Unit type: mass production general purpose multi-class mobile suit
Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon Granada Base
Operator: Principality of Zeon (Delaz Fleet); Earth Federation Forces
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.5 meters
Weight: empty 49.9 metric tons; max gross 70.3 metric tons
Armor materials: super-hard steel alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 986 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 20500 kg, 4 x 3100 kg; option for 2 x solid rocket boosters, mounted on backpack
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.76 G; 180-degree turn time 1.7 seconds
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 3200 meters
Fixed armaments: none
Optional fixed armaments: 2 x 3-tube missile pod, mounted on legs
Optional hand armaments:

• MMP-78 120mm machine gun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum, spare drums can be stored on waist armor storage racks;
• MMP-80/90mm Ver.8 machine gun, clip-fed, 32 rounds per clip, spare clips can be stored on waist armor storage racks;
• 280mm Zaku bazooka, cartridge-fed, 4 rounds per cartridge, spare cartridges can be stored on waist armor storage racks;
• heat hawk, battery powered, can be stored on hip armor storage racks;
• sturm faust, rocket-propelled warhead, can be stored on waist armor storage racks
• four optional minovsky particle grenade, can create a large explosion when thrown, can be stored on waist armor storage racks.

MS-18E Kampfer :

MS-18E Kämpfer

The Kampfer is piloted by Mihael 'Mischa' Kaminasky. The 'Hit and Run' concept made the Kampfer a very powerful, fast and deadly mobile suit.

Biodata :

Model number: MS-18E
Code name: Kämpfer
Unit type: prototype heavy assault mobile suit
Manufacturer: Zeonic Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.7 meters; overall height 18.2 meters
Weight: empty 43.5 metric tons; max gross 78.5 metric tons
Armor materials: titanium/ceramic composite
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1550 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 28500 kg, 2 x 27000 kg, 4 x 12000 kg; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 16
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 2.03 G; 180-degree turn time 1.2 seconds; maximum ground running speed 215 km/h
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6100 meters
Fixed armaments:

• 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head;
• 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks in hip armor, hand-carried in use

Optional hand armaments:

• 2 x ZUX-197 Jagdgewehr shotgun, pump-action magazine and breech, 9 round magazine, can be stored on backpack storage racks;
• 2 x 360mm giant bazooka, clip-fed, 5 rounds per clip, can be stored on backpack storage racks;
• 2 x panzer faust, rocket-propelled warhead, can be stored in racks on legs;
• chain mine

Supporting Mechas :

Z'gok E :

MSM-07E Z'Gok-E

General and Technical Data

Model number: MSM-07E
Code name: Z'Gok-E
Unit type: mass production amphibious mobile suit
Manufacturer: MIP Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.4 meters
Weight: empty 69.5 metric tons; max gross 88.9 metric tons
Armor materials: titanium/ceramic composite
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 2570 kW
Propulsion: rocket/hydrojet thrusters: 4 x 20000 kg, 2 x 16000 kg; optional hydrojet booster packs: 2; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 9
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 1.26 G; maximum water speed 118 knots
Fixed armaments: 2 x beam cannon, mounted in hands; 6 x torpedo launcher, mounted in head; 2 x iron nail, mounted on arms

GM Cold Climate :

RGM-79D GM Cold Climate Type

General and Technical Data

Model number: RGM-79D
Code name: GM Cold Climate Type
Unit type: mass production cold climate combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 44.7 tons; max gross 58.7 tons
Armor materials: titanium/ceramic composite
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1250 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 4 x 15000 kg; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 5
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration: 1.02 G; 180-degree turn time: 1.6 seconds; maximum ground running speed 116 km/h
Equipment and design features: head-mounted sensors, range 5790 meters
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; beam saber, power rated at 0.39 MW, stored in recharge racks on backpack, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: 90 mm machine gun w/grenade launcher

Watch out for the next post! I will be covering the story plot!