VF-1A (Hayao Kakizaki TV type)

I have wanted a complete Vermillion Squad since I first saw Robotech back in the ’80s. Vermillion squad was the main character Rick Hunter’s first fighter squad before taking over Skull Squadron. All I could ever find was the standard cannon fodder brown and not the primarily white with khaki trim machine that the character Ben Dixon flew in the show. For years I dreamed I’d find a Max and Ben to go with my Rick VF-1J.

After all these years we get a proper Ben Dixon/Hayao Kakizaki paint scheme from Yamato. Hayao Kakizaki is the name of the character in the original series, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross. Ben Dixon is the name given to the character in Robotech.

The VF-1A is packed in fighter mode in the usual Yamato window box. One vacuum-formed tray holds the fighter and all of its bits and bobs snugly in place. Included in the box is the standard and plentiful assortment of accessories we have come to expect from Yamato and their 1/60 scale Macross Valkyrie:

• VF-1A
• Hayao Kakizaki Pilot
• 4 x 12 x AMM-1 Hybrid Guided Multi-purpose Missiles (clustered in threes)
• 4 x UUM-7 Micro-Missile Pods
• 1 x Howard GU-11 55mm three-barrel Gatling Gun Pod
• 1x Pair of “anime” hands
• 2 x Stand clips (to attach to aftermarket Yamato stand)
• 1 x Escape Pod Clip (this piece allows you to attach another Valkyrie nose-cone to the arm of the Battroid or Gerwalk mode)

At this point, you have heard all about Yamato’s 1/60 scale Macross Valkyries; fantastic sculpt detail, flawless paint applications, precision engineering and fantastic play value. Honestly, it’s just more of the same, but this time in Ben Dixon colors!

In fighter mode the Valkyrie is sleek and sexy, perfectly capturing the original line art of the design. Everything sits nice and tight, allowing you to barrel roll the fighter without fear of floppy tail fin syndrome or a gun pod falling off.

The included Hayao Kakizaki figure is very well detailed, and the paint application is very good. Many times when you get accessories this small, it seems manufacturers cheap out a bit and you usually end up with a pretty sloppy paint job upon close inspection; not so with these newer 2.0 releases.

Gerwalk mode is also impressive. With the aid of one of Yamato’s aftermarket stands, you can really get some iconic and dramatic poses with these guys.

Don’t have a stand? That’s ok. Tight, clicky joints will hold it up just fine.

Battroid mode is fantastic as well. In robot mode, the toy shines. The figure is highly posable and the contrasting snow-white against the tan looks very good.

You may notice in the photos that the tan on the legs seems to be a bit off-color from the other tan parts. In-person, the painted legs look the same as the molded tan color, but in photos seem a bit off.

Honestly, I’m out of clever things to say about this fantastic toy. If you haven’t bought a 1/60 2.0 Valkyrie, you should. They are well-made toys, and any Macross fan will love them. Just pick some color schemes you like, and go for it.