1/55 VF-1A DYRL Hikaru Ichijo (Reissued)

A revisit to 1/55 Hikaru DYRL Skull VF-1A that was reissued by in 2001. Bandai had redesigned the packaging. Simple artwork with the toy is presented in plane (Fighter) mode whereas the vintage 1/55 VF-1A H Ichijo in robot (batteroid) mode. Can't be sure that the plastic quality of the reissued is more inferior as the white region on the chest had started yellowing. A common scene on many 1/55 scale. Nevertheless, the joints are very tight no stress mark whenever transforming it.

Sticker sheet comes with many extra. It's weird to saw 'Pilot Roy Focker' on it as the valkyrie is manned for Hikaru. I especially like the Minmay insignia. Think it will look awesome on the toy. I didn't apply additional stickers cos the imprints already had made the toy sufficiently nice.

Based on the 80s design, the toy is still at limited posing however sufficient for basic stances and stability. Landing gears made entirely of metal, giving it a solid foundation and increases durability of the toy. Mechanism of land gears are spring action and of you not careful, it can hit you real hard. As for the accessories, 2 heat-shield were included, one for plane cockpit cover and the other for robot mode with Skull Squadron insignia. Cool clip that allows the rifle to be clamped to the arm.

One thing that I feel Bandai can improve on is the packaging. The clear plastic insert tray could be replaced with styrofoam. I personally preferred the styrofoam insert cos plastic seems more inferior and is likely to turn yellowing with time. On the other hand, using styrofoam insert may appear to be less environmentally friendly.

1/55 VF-1D 'Customized'

I'm filled with excitement when I came across the video clip of San Diego Comic-Con 2008 featuring Toynami hinting to produce 1/55 scale VF1D @ that time. According to the video clip featured below, a prototype of VF1D was made and exhibited. Toynami would be using Bandai 1/55 mould and replacing the head with newly sculpted ones. This is just the beginning, Toynami had also sculpted new heads for VF1S, VF1J and VF1A and they are considering making TV version VF1A Ben Dixon & Max Sterling. HOWEVER, the bubble burst to know that in reality these so-call revolutionary 1/55 scale Macross mecha from the 80's have not been released till today.

Fortunately, my dream of having 1/55 scale VF1D was realized when I bought this customized VF1D made from JOONS valkyrie on Ebay for around USD $80/-. Maybe, the U.S seller thought Toynami was really going to release new 1/55 valkyrie then and decided getting rid of his customized valkyrie. Whatever it is, I love this valkyrie and it's worth paying for the innovation and workmanship.

1/55 Customised Ben Dixon VF-1A TV Version

A random pick from my display shelf is this 1/55 Customised Ben Dixon VF-1A which I had bought on eBay sometime back together with 1/55 customised Max VF-1A in order to complete my skull squadron. Due to yellowing, the toy looks very much cream in colour now. Fortunately, the colour change is homogenous and good thing it was customised to look weathered from the start. Quite a gem to me for a 1/55 valkyrie unique to factory produced ones. I really appreciated the previous owner for repainting this vintage toy. The decals were neatly pasted and finest mod was giving a longer & sleeker antenna to the VF-1A head.

1/55 VF-1A Max TV version

I have been waiting and still waiting ever since Toynami showcase their prototype 1/55 scale valkyries in my previous posting in 2008. There had never been any 1/55 scale TV series valkyries of Max VF-1A, Kakizaki or VF-1D been released so far and it was intriguing when I last heard that Toynami would modify the old 1/55 Takatoku mold with new sculpt head.

Nevertheless, it still comforting that I managed to get this customized battle damaged 1/55 scale TV version Max VF-1A, which till now it still one of its kind. The purity of white when viewing from on top seeing the valkyrie is in its fighter (plane) mode is priceless. Even though custom painted, the paint still stay strong after transformation.