Growing up watching Macross and subsequently, the American version Robotech anime series, I am naturally excited and at the same time, frustrated with this new collectible from the anime series. It is a 1/24 scale Macross VF-1 Valkyrie, the fighter mecha with an abundance of details. That’s the exciting part.
The frustrating part is, it is only available in the Land of the Rising Sun. Arghhh. I so want this little guy. Normally, if its a collectible toy, we could just seek out “buy for me” services, or the various online shops. But the Macross VF-1 Valkyrie Fighter Model Scale Model is not any collectible.
It is a kit. And it is not just any kit. It comes in parts in a weekly issue magazine called Super Dimension Fortress Macross VF-1 Valkyrie Fighter Mode Die-cast Model. It measures an enormous 60 centimeters (about 24 inches) long and features a host of details, including all manners of light and sound, and it comes with a dedicate remote.
Unfortunately, it can’t fly. It is a static model, but with the remote, you can retract/deploy the landing gear, make the wing sweep forward and back, open the cockpit, and more. In short, it is the wet dream of any Macross fan.
As a boon, it comes with a literature, a magazine that lays out the assembly guide of the model, detail of the VF-1 and Macross technology with awesome cutaway graphics, article on real fighter jet compared to the VF-1, information on the key characters from anime, Macross episode guide, and more.
Subscription is 1,817 Yen tax included (around US$16.90) per issue. Subscriber will receive a welcome gift pack that includes a patch, a special parts box, two Roy Focker (of Super Dimension Fortress Macross series), and a VF-1 specification plaque.
There’s a premium sub too. For an additional 250 yen tax included (about U$2.30) per issue, you will receive an original display case with the final issue. I guess it is time for fans outside of Japan start reaching to your friends in Japan. But before you do that, you have to know this thing was released in February. Which means there have been several issues since. Not sure if they do back orders?
Images: Hachette Collections Japan Co., Ltd..
