Most obvious difference lies in the fact that the VE-1 Elint Seeker is a two seater variant. Fans will be delighted with getting two pilot figures instead of just one. Then there is the bulbous radome that sits like one of those large racing hats worn by ladies watching horse races. And like a purse worn by the said ladies, it has a camera and communications antenna on its arms. Because of all this surveillance and communications gear, sadly the VE-1 does not come with any weapons. Also because of this, the Back pack boosters are also different because of the lack of micro missiles.
I'm thinking that there was a lot of leeway given to Yamato to make this type of Valkyrie because the actual unit was only shown in fighter mode for a few seconds in the movie. Bandai also came out with a 1/55 version of this in the early eighties as part of the merchandising when the DYRL movie first came out.
Accessories that come along with VE-1 Valkyrie are: the radar radome, boosters, Propellant tanks, Back pack joint parts, antenna communications relay at the arm, arm camera part, 2 pilot figures, two types of Macross Stand attachments, Marking stickers and instruction manual
Check out more info about the Elint Seeker from Yamato's website
New locking mechanism for the hip was made after receiving numerous complaints from fans on the previous Valkyrie design
Propellant tank design is different than of the regular Super and Strike parts design.
New locking mechanism design for the back thruster, lock actually connects to the wing of the tail fin.
Is that a giant eye on the insignia?