VF-1A Valkyrie Max Jenius
Toynami has decided to try a new approach with their Macross/Robotech license by switching to a smaller 1/100th scale transformable fighter. There has been lots of controversy in fan circles over these toys since they have come out. Are they awesome, or are they junk? Read on to find out.
The figure stands at 5.5 inches tall with thirty points of articulation and fully transforms between all three modes seen in the movie and series; Fighter, Gerwalk and Battroid. If your more of a Robotech nerd that would be; Fighter, Guardian and Battleloid. That is impressive considering how small this guy really is.
It is made completely out of ABS plastic with no metal; so the toy is very light giving it a fragile feel when you first handle it. Yet despite feeling fragile this is a very durable, very possible little toy. All the limbs actually pop off instead of break if too much pressure is applied.
This particular paint scheme is of Max Jenuis’s VF-1A from the film version of Macross: Do You Remember Love. Most details are painted on with a few stickers to apply.
The blast shield over the cockpit comes with a preprinted skull logo that is actually slightly raised which some collectors seem to hate. Personally I think it makes the logo “pop” a little bit more when on display and posed on the shelf so it is not a point of contention for me.
The packaging is nice but not so nice that I feel I was overcharged to cover the costs; a window box with opening flap to view the figure and all the accessories. The toy and parts are in the traditional Toynami tray so you can slide the tray out, take the toy and accessories out, play with it, display it, and then put it all back in the package and still keep that “new in box” look for storage or display.
It comes with a nice assortment of accessories; landing gear, cockpit canopy, heat shield, gun, missile pods, five hand configurations, and a display stand.
The display stand comes with three different adapters allowing you to display the figure in all three modes; allowing for some extreme action poses not available just standing on the desk or shelf.
The stand comes with a ball socket that adapters plug in too. Early pressings of these figures included a ball socket made from a softer plastic that would tear after a few swaps of the adapters. Toynami was quick to correct this so newer shipments of Series One as well as all Series Two have the stronger socket included. If you have one of the defective sockets you can contact Toynami at CustomerService@toynami.com and tell them how many new ones you need. They got me my replacement sockets within a few days.
I must say that overall I am very happy with this toy and I do plan on picking up the rest of the series. I think it is fantastic that Toynami is trying this smaller scale series and I only hope this leads to more mecha from the series that we do not see a lot; such as Zentradi mecha or Destroids. The low price point is fantastic and finally I have a decent looking Valkyrie/Veritech that I can transform and pose without fear of breaking a $150 – $200 collectible.
That is not to say this toy is without flaws. The limbs get a bit loose after transformation a few times. This appears to have been corrected with the series two figures and repressing of the series one.