Yamato 1/60 Macross Figure Guessing Game

Found this image in a Yamato blog post. Decided to have some fun with it. The picture above has a number of Macross Figures in them. Try to guess which one is which. You can click on the image to get a larger picture if you find the one above too small.

My answers are below.

Macross Flight Jacket

Somehow I'm not surprised that Yamato Toys decided to start selling Macross Flight Jackets. Considering that they already started selling Macross Flight Helmets, so it would be the logical thing to do to start selling these things. Sadly, I don't like the design however. Despite it being modeled after Hikaru Ichijo, with his colors, name tag and Skull Squadron insignia.

Macross Ace Frontier for the PlayStation Portable

I was looking at game play videos of the Macross Ace Frontier game for the PlayStation Portable(PSP) and was blown away with all the action. Sadly though I have no PSP. So no platform to play Macross Ace Frontier on, I think you can Download a PSP emulator but its unsure if that game will actually play on an emulator. The most popular Play Station Portable Emulator seems to be the Potemkin. But if I decide to buy just the game, I still have to worry about how to transfer the game to the PC. It still seems like a gamble. The other option is to befriend somebody with a PSP, hahaha... user! Then again, I think I'm too old already to be playing video games. Game can be bought here, even if you aren't in Japan.

DX Chogokin 1/60 VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie Ghost and Weapons Set

Along with the announcement of Tamashii that there is a Galia 4 kit for the VF-25 Messiah (and with the bad news that they're out of stock of Alto's VF-25 1/60 scale Armored Pack), was the announcement of a Ghost Fighter and Weapons set for Luca Angeloni's Messiah VF-25 (1/60 Scale). The bad news is that it is exclusive for Tamashii club members, the good news is that it is available at overdrive, the bad news is that order has already stopped...

1/60 DX Chogokin Galia 4 Messiah Valkyrie Fold Set for VF-25

Update: The bad news is that it is exclusive for Tamashii club members, the good news is that it is available at overdrive, the bad news is that order taking has already stopped...the good news is that it looks like a waste of money anyway...hehehe

Announced yesterday on the Tamashii site that pre-orders are being taken of the Galia 4 Messiah Valkyrie Fold Set for Michael Braun's VF-25. The kit will cost about Y5,250 Yen. Order taking started yesterday and will end on May 20 (3PM, Japan time I think). Expected release date is on July 2009. And you have to keep in mind that Michael Braun's VF-25 is not included in the kit.

Macross Frontier Fans will remember this as having appeared in the episode titled "Fastest Delivery". Where Alto Saotome, Sherly Nome and Grace O'Conner are hostaged in Galia 4 by some Zentraedi Battalion. The Zentraedi were demanding entertainment, so Sherly was requested to perform. But since Sheryl wasn't able to perform because she was sick the Zentraedi used this as an excuse to go berserk on their commanders. Michael and Ranka borrow an experimental fold booster to get there on time and fly in to save the day.

Included in the set are:

Wall of Pioneers in Macross Plus

I was watching Macross Plus OVA during the weekend and noticed this panel of photos in Col. Millard's office. I saw this in Episode 3, the time when Col. Millard was informing Isamu, Yang and Guld that Project Nova had been cancelled. At first glance it meant nothing to me and I hardly noticed it because it was only shown for a few seconds. Thanks to the powers of the DVD player I was able to freeze the frame and get a better look at it.

Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada DVD

Even before Robotech came out I was already a fan of Macross. So I got surprised when somebody told me that the US version was different from the original series. And that the entire Robotech Franchise was just 3 Japanese cartoon series that had no relation to one another and was joined to create it.

Yamato 1/60 Hikaru Ichijo Fan Racer Model Kit

Update: 01/24/2010: HLJ announced a tie up with Yamato Toys which allows them to sell exclusive items such as this. This is selling for 2857 yen at HLJ.

Yamato announced yesterday the release of the 1/60 scale Hikaru Ichijo Fan Racer model kit. The Fan Racer is limited to 1000 copies only for their club members. Since it's a model kit it has to be assembled and painted. It will be sold for Y3000.



Macross fan's will remember that this was the winged chariot that introduced Hikaru Ichijo to us. He was flying this when he arrived for the inauguration of Macross SDF-1 (hey that happened February 2009. This year!) upon an invitation from his Senpai, Roy Fokker.

Replica Macross Helmets 1:1 Scale from Yamato

Update: 01/24/2010: HLJ announced a tie up with Yamato Toys which allows them to sell exclusive items such as this. This is selling for 39800 yen at HLJ.

Update (10/31/2009) :Box shots of the Macross Replica helmets were updated recently, you can view it here.

Update (9/22/2009) : Yamato toys just posted in their blog some Macross Themed racing helmets.

Update (9/19/2009) : Over Drive Inc informed via email blast that Yamato is expecting this to be available by Late October.

Update: Oops, just found out from Hobby Link Japan that this can't be worn and is actually just a display item.

Yamato Toys announced a couple of weeks back that they're releasing some Macross replica Valkyrie Pilot helmets. The design's offered are similar to the ones used by Hikaru Ichijo, Roy Focker and Maximillian Jenius. Based from my understanding of the literature, this is a re-issue and that the Hikaru Ichijo version will be a limited edition only available to club members. Is there an Official Macross Club out there somewhere?, or I guess they're referring to the Yamato club members. Prepare to hold your breath though as it costs about Y41,790.

Roy Focker Version:

Yamato 1/60 VF-22S Sturmvogel II Gamlin Kizaki Edition

Update: Yamato toys just announced the release of some 1/60 scale VF-22S Sturmvogel II in the colors of Max and Milia Jenius.



Yamato Toys just announced that they're set to release Gamlin Kizaki's VF-22S as a 1/60 transformable figure. This was originally seen from the Macross 7 Dynamite Series. This toy is going to be released around June 2009 and will retail for about Y18,800 but because of Japanese sales tax, the final price will be Y19,740. Right now it can be pre-ordered at hlj or over-drive-inc and comes with an early bird discount.

Macross Frontier Limited Edition Zippo Lighter

One of the more obscure products to come out of the Macross Frontier Marketing Machine is the limited edition Macross Frontier Lighter series with Ranka Lee and Sherly Nome. It retails about Y10,500 and can be ordered here.

This was announced today in the Macross Frontier website.

Macross Frontier DVD #9 (Japan Version)

My Japanese is a bit off but thanks to Google Toolbar's Translate function, I can understand it more easily and improve my Japanese while I'm at it.

According to the official Macross Frontier Blog, the 9th DVD of Macross Frontier will be released on April 24th in Japan. The DVD will have a special message from Shoji Kawamori (series creator). A long with that, some of the cast members have provided audio commentary for the last episode of the series. The last episode is #25 and its titled "Anata no Oto" or "The sound of you" in English.

Arihiro Hase in Macross 7

Arihiro Hase, who voiced main character Hikaru Ichijo, in Super Dimensional Fortress - Macross. Lent his voice to the Macross 7 sequel. In Macross 7 he played the voice of Actor Bobby Lacoste. Bobby was introduced as the actor who replaced Basara Nekki in playing Hikaru Ichijo in the Lynn Minmei Movie. This was because Basara didn't feel like doing the movie.

Macross Figures and Toys on Sale

Update (11/12/2009): You can also check out Amiami's website, they offer Macross toys usually at higher discounted prices than most shops.

Update (10/18/2009): You can also check Over Drive Inc, which has some 1/60 Yamato VF-1's that has been on sale for the longest time already.

One site I like to visit a lot is Hobby Link Japan. Run by an American living in Japan. They specialize in selling Japanese Toys and Figures via the internet. Perfect for the hardcore Otaku and the just "wetting their feet" in the hobby. And the great thing about it is that the site is in English.

I personally like to visit to check what Macross toys they have on sale. Items on sale can have as much as 50% knocked off from their price. Very good considering that the cost of shipping will sometimes cost as much as the item you are buying.

Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee Premium Figures

Just saw this in the Macross Frontier Blog. A special lottery for a two for one figure collection of Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee. Basically its just the two of them together wearing the usual dresses they wear but in the color white. Not sure if this is just a special limited release edition or something that will go full production eventually.



Sheryl Nome is sporting a white and red trim version of her episode 25 attire while Ranka wears the same old thing that she usually wears in concert and during the Ms. Macross Frontier Contest but in a white and blue trim. I personally prefer the original colors of the original figure. Not to mention that the base has the SMS logo prominently displayed.

Macross 7 Lucky Charm cameo in Macross Frontier

While watching Macross 7 I noticed another homage from Macross Frontier to the Macross 7 Series. In episode 6 of Macross Frontier, Sheryl Nome gives protagonist Alto Saotome one half of her earrings to use as a lucky charm during their first battle with the Vajra. He hangs it in the windshield of his VF-25 Messiah.

Guld Goa Bowman Cameo

Not sure if my eyes are failing me, but did YF-21 test pilot, Guld Goa Bowman just make a cameo in Macross 7?