Low Vis ... ...

is what Ris Low should have done to avoid all the unnecessary attention just like Yamato's 1/60 VF-1S. This is the Low Vis (low visibility) color edition of Roy Focker's VF-1S from "Do You Remember Love" (DYRL)

Here is a little review of the product.

Packaging 2/5

Well, I may have been spoilt by the classic packaging where there is a front flap which opens to offer a sneak peek of what's inside. Even the Super Ostrich released previously had that.

The artwork on the packaging is plain and simple. It sort of follows the design of VF-0A from Macross Zero. Yamato is most probably keeping to a standard form of artwork based on the scale of the toy.

The back of the packaging is the standard display what the three modes are and some specs on the plane.

The sides of the box are even more boring. However, who really bothers what is on the box. What is in the box is more important. So, let's yank the inside out!

Inside the box - Storage Tray

Standard Yamato packaging.

Standard issues are 

Missiles pods

Anti Ground Missiles

Gun Pod

Pilot - Roy Focker

Additional stuff beginning with 1/60 scale

Display Stand adapters; one for fighter and gerwalk mode and 1 for battleroid mode

2 DYRL hands; one to hold the gun and one open hand

1 adapter to hold the nose of the plane (something like this) courtesy of CollectionDX

On the underside are the instructional manual (which season macross collectors can skip referring) and sticker sheets which I do not recommend applying. They do not stay put unless you apply some coating and keep the toy away from dust.

The Toy - 5/5
Yamato is still tops when it comes to making a really good valkyrie from Macross.  They thrive in areas where Bandai fails. That is the Gerwalk mode. Bandai failed miserably the last time I tried to display the VF-25 in Gerwalk mode and the sentiments are shared by many.

A perfectly display gerwalk mode which in my opinion is the trademark of a Macross Valkyrie.

Another shot of the same pose with the exposure of the camera @ -1.

Here we have Roy on the open hand and the valk is without the display stand.

The full Gerwalk. A number of poses are possible with the generous amount of articulation provided in the leg and feet area.

A shot to see through the cockpit.

Battleroid mode and on the stand. The DYRL hands sure comes in handy to display this properly.

The VF-1 series has the feature of 'clipping' the gunpod on the arm when not in use.

The standard scrawny hands are not too bad themselves when it comes to holding the weapon and for photoshoot.

Love the fact that some of the markings on the toy are pre-painted. The toy generally is smaller than the 1/48 scale but better quality as mentioned in the last review for the Super Ostrich. 

It is also much lighter than VF-25 from Bandai as it contains much lesser metal content.

Overall Review

This piece is a winner, especially when it's labelled Low Vis which Yamato once had VF-1A Low Vis which is much sort after even until today. So, get it while you can and before you have to pay a premium price for it.

The next level ... ...

of toy collecting as I mentioned before is modification which I have been doing lately. However, this is the biggest project yet. 

In the picture below is a Bandai's GQ (Gundam Quality) Blast Impulse like the predecessor, Metal Material Model (MMM) from Gundam Seed Destiny which was aired in 2004.  It is around the scale of 1/100, however, the joints are all metal, which explains the name of this product. 

I left this displaying in a shelf and over the years, the plastic turned yellow and so I decided to do a little modification to give it a make over.

Poor Blast Impulse, looking discoloured and sad. Noticed some parts are still white? Those are actually painted and so it did not turn yellow. Well, this piece was $80 and thus, explained the inferior material used.

Some WIP pictures, tools needed

1. 2B pencil

2. Pilot Twin Marker

3. Gundam Marker

4. Screw driver

5. A glass of water

A closer shot of what was done. Shield and head completed and working on the upper torso. 

Upper torso done and working on the hips and legs next. The only part I did not paint is the Core Splendor (the plane). 

The completed product. I'm calling this Commando Blast Impulse, suitable for jungle warfare. Decided to paint over the white parts as well as it did not go well with the camouflage scheme.

A close up and you can see that the paint was not applied very professionally. Well, considering I've spent about 7 hours on this, I'm quite pleased with myself.

Back view. Almost every exposed part is painted and I did try to manage the colour combination if it is obvious to anyone.

Oops, I did not paint the back of the shield because I do not think that it is necessary. Looks like I am getting the hang of doing this level of modification and perhaps will invest in better or more sophisticated equipment like an airbrush to really do this properly.

Strike before Bandai ... ...

pull a fast one on us collectors just like what Yamato is doing. That is coming out of a Weathered version of VF-25F. Actually, my intention is just to panel line it but the Gundam Marker I used when wiped off with a cotton bud gives a weathering effect.

In Batteroid mode and the camera does not do justice to my effort. Only the panel lining can be seen.

A full body shot to compensate the one I took some months ago which I did not extend the feet.

Another shot to 'show off' my panel lining work. It's now that I realised that I have the flash on and so the weathering is wash off when the flash is activated.

Ok, just one more standing shot before transforming it back to Fighter mode.

I had forgotten about the shield! It's missing from all the above shot except this one. Took a few hits on it.

Still, without the flash off, the weathering is still not so evident. Maybe, the Gundam Markers are not as good as pencil which I used for Roy's VF-1S.

Now, the weathering is really evident when compared to the picture taken in the earlier post when I first opened it.

Just having a little fun with a nose art.

This shot made me realised this is not as anime accurate as I thought it to be!! Notice it only when I was flipping through the Macross Archive Magazine. The difference is at the exhaust area (the legs). The 1/72 model kit is more accurate where the SMS 007 wordings can be seen in Fighter mode.

While the SMS 007 wordings is obviously missing in the 1/60 DX version. Missing here means it is hidden as the legs here can't be adjusted any further unlike the 1/72 modet kit.

Well, it was still fun panel lining the VF-25F. Will do it for the rest of the Messiahs, provided time permits.

VF-25F Armored Parts Alto Custom Color... ...

is the latest purchase of the Macross Frontier line of toys. This is simply the add on to the VF-25F Messiah valkyrie piloted by Alto Saotome. With this, I have completed everything that is of Alto

1. VF-25F
2. VF-25F Super Parts
3. Alto's Ex-Gear
4. VF-25F Armored Parts

Now I'm glad I have 2 VF-25F; so I can display one with super parts while the other with armored parts.

Let's move on to the review on the Armored Parts for VF-25F Messiah (Alto Custom Color)

I like the box art in particular; it is the same color combination as with the super parts. The simple red graphics and text on white background. Gives it a clean yet sophisticated look. Choice of red is most probably that's Alto's custom color. Actually, it's more of Henry Gilliam's custom color as he is the original pilot who got killed.

Henry Gilliam (ヘンリー・ギリアム)
A tough pilot in the S.M.S. Skull Team and Ozma Lee's second in command. He lost his life in Episode 01 while defending the Macross Frontier fleet in the first Vajra attack of 2059.


The rest of the box art shows all three modes.

The box is surprising large, pardon for not providing dimension. It's like 4 boxes of the VF-25F stacked together.

The inside comes with 4 plastic trays with all the armored parts neatly packed.

The good thing about Bandai is that they pack their stuff systematically, in sequence from head to toe and directionally from left to right as well. This is helpful as one can tell the left from the right easily and you can work on the parts in the right order.

The trays above and below contain parts mainly for limps

Actually, there are certain parts that I did not use in any of the modes and the instruction manual is in Japanese, so it's 'wakarimasen' for me.

The last tray is the display stand and the SMS in yellow is customised by me. I'm puzzled why Bandai did not have it painted.

The instructional manual is the same one from Ozma's Armored VF-25S. Talk about being lazy! One part is missing here that was in Ozma's; the extension for the neck. However, Alto's VF-25F does not really need that extension.

One issue I have with this is the landing gear. Yes, Shoji Kawamori is smart to include the landing gear in the leg armor but Bandai is sure lazy enough not to paint it to look less plastic.

Fighter mode with the armor parts on. Heavy but the display stand distributed the weight very well.

I personally prefer this color scheme over the Ozma one.

A picture from the back. Great engineering here to make everything fit in well.

It was a nightmare getting Gerwalk mode right. The bulk on the leg sure makes things very difficult and after 30 minutes, I gave up the idea of displaying it on the stand. It basically self destruct the moment I let go and the attachment provided serves no purpose.

However, the consolation about this is that the figure stands well with or without the stand.

All pictures are taken with the figure standing on a couch so, I give it a 10 for being steady.

An elevated shot....can't get enough of shooting it to justify the time spent to get this mode right.

Ok, the best looking mode, Battleroid with the armor parts, It is paying homage to the GBP armor for VF type valkyries.

Heavily packed with tons of payload to take down any enemy.

Alto did use Mikhail's SSL-9B Dragunov Anti-Armor Sniper Rifle in the series and it's a pity Bandai did not include that. So, it will just have to make do with it's standard issue.

The missiles pods on the chest do have the same problem as the Ozma's one. Everything is in a single color. It will definitely looked better if they have 2 separate color as in the leg.

All missiles away!!

Well, the armored parts sure makes the plain looking VF-25F more menacing. However, it did not come cheap. Other than the price, the quality is as good as the Ozma's custom (of course it is because they are from the same mould).

In a nutshell,

Pros

Great color scheme

Good design in terms of moveable parts and details

Cons

Expensive

No improvement since Ozma custom

Let me conclude by saying, get this if you want to beef up your VF-25F and cannot wait. If not, patience will surely see a complete set in due time.