BANDAI VF100s 1/100 Scale Hi Metal VF-19Kai Fire Valkyrie

Latest Valkyrie in the collection: BANDAI VF100s 1/100 Scale Hi Metal VF-19Kai Fire Valkyrie, galaxy-romping rock star Basara Nekki’s guitar-controlled custom Variable Fighter from the Macross anime, Macross 7.

Here’s the introductory text about the mecha printed on the toy’s box:

“The VF-19 Kai Excalibur Basara Nekki Special (Common Name: Fire Valkyrie) is a modified version of the VF-19 Excalibur that was used prior to the VF-19’s employment by the Macross 7 Fleet.  This fighter is flown by Basara Nekki, the vocalist of ‘Fire Bomber’, a popular rock ban in the Macross 7 Fleet.

In addition to cutting-edge performance the fighter’s design has a ‘musical’ emphasis, and serves a test model for the use of musical energy.

Secretly employed by the UN Spacey, the fighter was initially seen to be a potential disturbance to the Diamond Force elite squadron, as well as regular fighter divisions, and squadron attachment was left unclear.  However, as Basara’s song perservered through battle, Basara and the Fire Valkyrie were soon to become acknowledged by the entire fleet for their central role in the battle against the enemy Protodeviln.”

I spent an hour and a half at Greattoys Greenhills yesterday just to wait for Sir Malvin’s (GT’s owner and CEO) email regarding the price for the Valkyrie. The Valk just arrived in yesterday evening’s shipment, so Sir Malvin wasn’t finished with the pricing for the new items when I got to GT. I was choosing either the Valk or a Tamashii Nation Energy Illumination Finish Side KMF Lancelot Albion, but being more of a Macross fan rather than a Code Geass one, I chose this one instead.

No time to transform it to Gerwalk or Battroid, and given my notorious laziness for tinkering with new toys, it’ll be awhile till I do. No time for reviewing the Valkyrie yet, but I’m more or less pleased with it for now.

Hope you liked the Fire Valkyrie! 🙂

Anime Toys & Collectibles Collectors Survey From HTVF

I’m curious as to how a lot of us here approach collecting anime toys and collectibles, so I made this simple survey for us to participate and answer as best as we can:

1. Do you prefer to purchase your toys and collectibles mint sealed in box or is it ok for you that they are a loose item?
2. When you buy a MISB item, how long does it take you to open the box and play/display/build the item, thus making it loose?
3. Are you the type of collector to buy two (2) pieces of the same item? If yes, please explain why.
4. If you buy loose items, are you particular about the condition of the toy or collectible?
5. Do you exclusively buy authentic anime toys and collectibles from refutable and established companies, or is it ok for you to buy stuff that are, well, “pirated”.
6. What is you favorite anime toy or collectible company?
7. What anime toy or collectible line do you usually collect? Please name your top 3 favorite anime toys or collectible line.
8. Do you prefer to buy anime toys or collectibles because of the anime it came from or because you are more interested in the kind of toy line?
9. Do you think you spend more now on anime toys and collectibles than a year ago?
10. What is your dream anime toy or collectible that you want to own, regardless of price?
11. When you buy anime toys and collectibles, do you prefer purchasing them with cash or credit?
12. Do you mostly buy your anime toys and collectibles online or do you personally go to the stores to purchase them?

I intentionally didn’t add questions concerning selling of collectibles, and concentrated more on the purchasing/collecting aspect.

OK let me begin:

1. Do you prefer to purchase your toys and collectibles mint sealed in box or is it ok for you that they are a loose item?
A: Mixed answer here. I try to buy MISB/MSOC stuff as much as I can and always as a first choice, but I buy loose items as well.

2. When you buy a MISB item, how long does it take you to open the box and play/display/build the item, thus making it loose?
A: Depends. If it were a chogokin or an action figure, sometimes I open them as soon as I get home. But I’ve been known to procrastinate from building a model kit, like Gunpla, for months at end.

3. Are you the type of collector to buy two (2) pieces of the same item? If yes, please explain why.
A: Nope. I don’t remember a time when I intentionally bought two same items for any purpose whatsoever.

4. If you buy loose items, are you particular about the condition of the toy or collectible?
A: If it was only minor dents or scratches, I still would get them as long they are almost perfect. But I avoid getting them if the damage is major, even if its a hard to find toy.

5. Do you exclusively buy authentic anime toys and collectibles from refutable and established companies, or is it ok for you to buy stuff that are, well, “pirated”.
A: No. I’ve learned my lesson well when in college a long time ago I tried buying pirated Gundams (BENDI) from Divisoria. Useless waste of money. So I buy only anime toys and collectibles from refutable and established companies.

6. What is you favorite anime toy or collectible company?
A: BANDAI definitely. I collect mostly stuff from anime titles they carry, and frankly I find BANDAI’s quality’s still very good, regardless of what critics say. BANDAI’s not perfect, but they’re not bad either.

7. What anime toy or collectible line do you usually collect? Please name your top 3 favorite anime toys or collectible line.
A: I usually collect Gundams (Gunpla), Macross toys (chogokin Valkyries), and now starting on Figmas/Nendroids.

8. Do you prefer to buy anime toys or collectibles because of the anime it came from or because you are more interested in the kind of toy line?
A: I guess I buy toys coming from anime I like and follow, like those from the Gundam shows and Macross saga, or anything connected to them.

9. Do you think you spend more now on anime toys and collectibles than a year ago?
A: No I don’t. Although lately some of the stuff I buy are more expensive, I don’t buy at the frequency I used to a year ago. I think I only bought 4-5 pieces of toys during the past year – way low than I used too. And my real-life priorities has drastically changed that toy collecting has taken a second or third fiddle in importance.

10. What is your dream anime toy or collectible that you want to own, regardless of price?
A: An authentic display sakabato, or reversed-edged sword, like the one Kenshin Himura carries in the anime Ruruoni Kenshin. I’d like to make it the center of my display in my work room at home.

11. When you buy anime toys and collectibles, do you prefer purchasing them with cash or credit?
A: I always buy my anime toys with cash. I’m the type of person who budgets stuff like these with expendable income only, and not use my credit line. I learned my lesson well in the past regarding credit card management, thanks to problems I encountered with credit card companies when I had a business with other people, so I only use them for necessities and business. I never use them for luxuries, including toys and collectible.s

12. Do you mostly buy your anime toys and collectibles online or do you personally go to the stores to purchase them?
A: I usually get them personally from the store, and when I do order online its very rare and I still pay in cash at the store COD.

Note:

This post was originally posted on the Anime Toys and Collectibles Subforum of HERO TV Forums.

BANDAI 1/60 DX-Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah from Macross Frontier

My major Christmas toy haul:

BANDAI 1/60 DX-Chogokin VF-25F Super Messiah from Macross Frontier

I haven’t opened the plastic casing for the Super Pack armor parts and the display stand since I’ve been busy of late. I’ll do that when I find the chance.

More pics of this wonderful toy to come!