25 years of Macross......

since the series debuted in 1982. I was an instant fan since the first time I caught it on TV and as mentioned before I never did own any variable fighters or valkyries and definitely not the super fortress SDF-1 (I would still like to own one).

After the review on VT-1 Super Ostrich from the 1982 series; here we have the newest variable fighter and the most highly spec model belonging to the Skull Squadron Leader, Ozma Lee. He is parallel to Roy Focker of the original Macross series. That explains the yellow and black color scheme.

A little history on Macross. The first series setting is in the year 2009 (it is 2009 now and I don't see any fighter jets transforming) and 50 years have passed into the year 2059.

The insignia, Skull Squadron which is basically shouting out loud to the enemies "Shoot me, I'm the commander". However, Ozma's skill is so good in the series, I do not believe he ever got shot down. Did I also mentioned that all the system on his valk is enhanced?


The fighter mode of the VF-25S compared to the VF-25F has no distinct difference except for colour scheme and the insignia.


Let's slap the aromor on which took me some time. This unit comes with a full armor which is a vast improvement since 2009. This armor allows the valk to have it on in all three modes; fighter, gerwalk and battleroid.

Side view with the armor on - The valk is basically covered after the cockpit onwards, which I wonder why is the most important part of the valk not protected? The full spec about the armor can be found here. In short, it is like Rambo in the space.

Top view - nicely protected and heavily fitted with twin-exhaust thruster pods, hundreds of Missiles and also a sensor antenna.

Missiles pods opened and missiles are hot and target locked. There is not hiding once that happens.

I skipped the gerwalk mode with the armor on simply because it just look like the fighter mode with the legs hanging. So, let's move on to the batteroid mode.

This is the best looking mode and if not for space, I would leave it as it is. Not to mentioned it took me a really a loooong time to get this right. The price paid for this is definitely worth the detailing and engineering that went into it.

Surprising for the heft that is on the back, the figure is able to stand on its own (not shown here as it looks better suspended). The diecast content in the legs must have attributed to the great center of gravity.

With this addition, I have completed the Macross Frontier's Skull Squadron. It took me about 1 year to get all and I have not open the other two; VF25G and RVF-25 . I wonder when?

FIRE!!

one more with the flash on

"I feel so naked"

VT-1 Super Ostrich......

is an unarmed training variable fighter. It is UN Spacy's first dedicated training Valkyrie. The Ostrich is a two-seater variant of the standard VF-1 variable fighter with a smaller, simplified head unit and the capability to mount a customized Fast Pack system for use in space. The Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NP-BP-T1 FAST Pack space booster system offers the VT-1 the increased range and improved thrust typical of the unit. The Ostrich Fast Packs include oversized dorsal propellant tanks, an additional antenna on the starboard booster pod, a wide-nozzle booster mounted on the tail section and swaps two low-thrust verniers for two additional high-maneuverability vernier thrusters.

This is my first 1/60 scale for the VF series valks. The rest of my collection is in the 1/48 scale. Yamato has made some improvements which is quite visible on this piece. There are more catch that allows easier snap-on of the parts. I like the coating on the cockpit that gives it a multi-coloured kind of finish.


The most preferred mode in my opinion would be the figher mode. The colour scheme of orange and beige worked pretty well and the combination of the Fast Packs makes it looks really good.
Another improvement is the number of pre painted markings has increased on this compared to the 1/48 or even the 1/60 Macross Zero valks.

Gerwalk or Guardian mode; another mode of the Ostrich that I like, the additional hands give it more realism and it comes in handy to achieve certain poses.

Gerwalk with open hand

The mode that I do not prefer to display this piece in is the Batteroid mode. Firstly, it's the ugly head unit and secondly it does not come with any firearm.

1 GU-11 55mm Gatling Gun Pod to go please.

Close up of Hikaru and Minmay

A couple of shots in the fighter mode

Tired of waiting......

for the stocks of clone troopers to hit the shelves. Even if they do, I'm not one of those people whose work is probably to camp outside the toy's department.

Bought a set of markers and decided to experiment on some of the regular clone troopers and turn them into those that appeared in the series.

Here's Waxer, one of the 212th Attack Battalion under Commander Cody. I like the helmet's kill marks.

This is Boil, another clone under the 212th Attack Battalion

Both serves under the command of Obi-wan in the Battle of Ryloth.

Denal, serving under the elite 501st Legion under Captain Rex and fought alongside Anakin Skywalker.

Denal wore a custom helmet marked with the blue color scheme of the 501st Legion.

I did not exactly do a fantastic as the strokes were smudgy and I did not managed to draw some of the helmet marking well enough.

OMG......

was the exact reaction I had when I saw the box (of course I did not say it out loud). To think that I actually wanted to lug this back from Hong Kong!!

Finally, after months or a year of waiting, it has landed into my house; THE TUMBLER. Batman's first Batmobile as in 'Batman Begin' and 'The Dark Knight'. I would label this as the Batman Begin version although the box indicated 'The Dark Knight' simply because there is no batpod inside (I've check).


To illustrate the size of this mammoth, see the tiny AA size battery on the right of the box?


Out of the carton box, the box art is decently attractive and the same AA battery is there for reference.


Hot Toys did a good job in the packaging making sure it is well protected with foam and bubble wrap.


The Tumbler's rear wheel with reference to the AA battery. The detail on this piece is simply amazing!!

Out of the styrofoam packaging but I shall leave it as it is; meaning I'm not assembling the spoilers or removing any wraps. I did not have the intention to open it as it is too massive for display. I did so having read a review by Michael Crawford which made me felt uneasy when one of the 10 led lights fail to light up.

Lucky for me, all 10 are working fine. Oh, did I not mention there's light? This is one of the selling point about the product that made me buy it. I did skip the batpod though.

Ok, back to the box it went and under the kitchen table. It shall have to wait until it sees daylight again.

Let there be LIGHT!

Getting the hang of.......

customisation. Had bought some clone troopers at a sale and decided that since I did such a 'good' job with 'Commander Wolf', I might try something else.

The basic trooper figure comes with a bazooka so I created the 1st Tactical Bazooka Squadron with a commander and two bazooka specialists.

The Commander with the squadron insignia on the chest and helmet

The men has a slightly different insignia on the chest and different colour coded uniform

1st Tactical Bazooka Squadron

Make one if you can't find......

Commander Fox from The Clone Wars. Well, technically speaking, I do have it. Just that I was kind enough to give it to my son. Thinking, I can get another one easily. However, the search for Commander Fox was futile as it would cost me $69.90.

So, what do I do? I took my son's Commander Fox and painted one of the troopers.

Commander Fox (the brown one)

Well, my first attempt at customisation is not that fantastic, but I'm proud of my insistence.

Presenting Commander Wolf

How do you know if you have too many toys......

is when you desperately hunt for a toy which you already have!

That's what happened to me when I thought I do not have the VF-25F, Alto Saotome Custom from Macross Frontier. I went on search for it and found one on Ebay. Naturally, I bid for it and bought it.

Then, as I was storing the new purchase, I realised I already had one!!! So, I decided to open one up and take some pictures.

This version is under the license of Bandai and all my other Macross Valks are from Yamato. Actually, the very first Macross was produced by Bandai but I was not one of those lucky kids who got to own one.

The main difference between Yamato and Bandai would be that Bandai focus on durability while Yamato's on detailing. In other words, you can break a Yamato if you are not gentle.

The batteroid mode and the poseability is similar to Yamato but distinctive difference is the number of metal used in Bandai is much more thus, giving it more heft.

Trying various poses to 'stretch' its limits. Not too bad though and anyway, I will be displaying it with a stand.

The centre of gravity of this guy is pretty decent as it can stand on its own despite the weight.

The major flaw here is Bandai did not consider the fact that collectors would like their collections to be anime correct. The exposed cockpit at the butt is certainly not anime correct.

The three modes again. Battleroid

Gerwalk - this mode will definitely look better on a stand.

Fighter mode, which looks really good even without the super parts. That will have to wait as I did not snap them on while taking picture this time.

Here's the pilot, Alto Saotome, the accidental protagonist (as with most animes)

VF-25F