VF-19 Custom Fire Valkyrie

Macross 7 is an awesome show about awesome space rock in space. It features a ton of Variable Fighters, none of which is more recognizable than the Fire Valkyrie. Nekki Basara is a crazy singer with equally crazy hair and a voice filled with passion. He pilots the VF-19 Kai Fire Valkyrie into the heat of battle to try and get everyone to listen to his song.

I was very excited when Yamato started to branch their Macross toys into the realm of Macross 7. While it started out with a few easy repaints and remolds, the best was yet to come. I was happy with their YF-19 toys and was especially eager to see how they would transform the prototype design of the YF-19 into the refined VF-19s from Macross 7. The result is Yamato’s best Valkyrie toy to date.

First and foremost the Fire Valkyrie is very shiny. The red plastic has a gloss finish to it which fits in perfectly with the outrageous nature of this Valkyrie. The overall design is incredibly sleek and powerful looking.

In Fighter mode, the Fire Valkyrie is roughly the same size as its predecessor the YF-19. Despite the outward similarities, the two toys share none of the same parts.

For Fighter and Gerwalk mode there is an optional cover piece for anime accuracy. This piece is not required for the transformation and personally I think the Fire Valkyrie looks fine without it.

Transforming the Fire Valkyrie to Gerwalk mode involves unlocking lots of little tabs in the wings and legs but is otherwise pretty straightforward. This mode employs all the signature ratcheting joints as found on other Valkyries with the addition of ball jointed ankles. Also, unlike the YF-19, the Fire Valkyrie has a locking mechanism to keep the torso pegged in at the appropriate angle.

Battroid mode is amazingly well executed on this figure. While the transformation is fundamentally similar to the YF-19, the process has many additional touches to achieve a very solid Battroid mode.

It is worth noting that unlike its brethren, the Fire Valkyrie has a significant chunk of diecast use in its construction. The entire rear “spine” is metal.

The head is beautifully sculpted and proportioned.

By pulling off the black forehead piece you can replace the face of the Fire Valkyrie to show the mouth-guard closed.

True to the anime, there is a working cockpit access hatch.

Each shoulder pad can be opened to reveal speakers.

The Fire Valkyrie comes with two arm shields. The first is squared off and is used for the transformation.

For Gerwalk and Battroid mode there is a more angular anime accurate shield.

For aesthetics, the Fire Valkyrie has a pair of fill in piece for the thighs. The left thigh is filled in and the right thigh is normal.

The Fire Valkyrie is very well articulated and can kneel with no problems.

It is also stable enough to stand on one leg.

I can’t say enough good things about this toy. All the modes look great and lock together solidly, the colors are perfect, and every accessory is well executed. This really is the best Valkyrie toy Yamato has made to date.