Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Yamato 1/60 VF-1A No Paint Kit with Bonus Option Parts
Update: Decided to build a fictional VF-1A Miria Fallyna Jenius version with this kit.
Got this from HobbyLink Japan, a 1/60 No Paint Kit of the VF-1A made by Yamato Toys. It's basically an unassembled 1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1 that the hobbyist can build and color up according to his preference. It comes with all the parts you could find your normal perfect transformation VF-1A, except that it also has an assembly manual (along with the transformation manual) and decals. Translated Construction Manual for this can be found here.
This was the kit that was released in time for the 30th Anniversary of the Super Dimension Fortress Macross by Yamato Toys so it comes with the bonus option parts. The Bonus option parts consist of the side covers for the chest, a back neckplate cover and a pilot seat for the head during Battroid mode.
I am actually quite giddy in getting this kit because I'm such a fanboy of the 1/60 Perfect Transformation Macross line that Yamato Toys released. So this is fair warning that this review will have a biased slant as it is made through the eyes of a Macross fanatic. As I've stated here before, the 1/60 Perfect Transformation line of Macross Toys are display toys and are not meant for actual playing, so this toy will be no different after it is assembled.
One glaring problem of this kit is the lack of part numbers on the runners. Building this will be a tad bit difficult when matching the parts to the assembly manual, so this isn't for the faint of heart. Prepare for some cussing and screaming while building this kit. This isn't an entirely snapfit kit, in order to build this kit you will need to fasten it together with the screws that come with the product. As indicated in the manual, some parts of this kit will have to be glued together. Painting is optional but as a model kit builder, you'll know that the only way to get the most out of a model kit is to paint it, otherwise it's not logical to buy this kit for yourself.
To help with your build I'd recommend having a "+" precision screwdriver as the included screws have really small heads.
Also its convenient to the build to have a metric ruler at hand to measure the metal shaft's length and diameter so that you get the correct shaft into the right hole.
Looking forward so much to building this kit, hopefully if my schedule clears up and if the Good Lord Blesses me with good weather I'll be able to build this kit.
More of the review can be read in the succeeding pages.
The first thing that struck me was the box, no plastic wrapping and hardly any literature on the side, just your ordinary garden variety box. I like the size and shape of the box as it's small size will mean lower costs in shipping. Here are shots of the box next to a 6 inch ruler for comparison.
Opening up the box you will see the contents inside are wrapped in a sheet of bubble packaging.
First thing you'll see is the clear plastic bag where the manuals and decals are placed.
Here's the shot of the clear plastic bag next to a 6 inch ruler for comparison.
This is the assembly manual. English translation of this manual can be found here.
This is the transformation manual. Haven't gone around to translating it yet as the contents of which are the same as with your average garden variety VF-1A. Which you can find here.
There is also a single sheet guide sheet for use when sticking on the markings of the VF-1S and VF-1J. Translation of this sheet can also be found here.
This is the other side of that sheet
This is the decal sheet.
Next are pictures of the runners with the parts on them. I noticed that the parts can easily fall off the runners, hence the reason I didn't bother opening up the plastic bag and taking a picture of them for fear of losing the parts. Something to keep in mind when building this kit. These are the leg parts
Missile pods and missiles of the VF-1A
Here are the clear parts that come with this kit. It consists of the canopy, the visor of the head as well as the different landing lights around fuselage of the VF-1A
This is the runner of the option parts, which consist of the side part covers and the parts needed to build the pilot seat in Battroid mode.
Here's the back of the neck plate cover during Battroid part that is part of the Bonus parts of this model kit.
Runner for the head parts of the VF-1A
Parts to build the Gunpod
Optional hands as well as the parts to build the pilot figure
Predominantly, the thruster parts and intake covers.
Crotch joint cover, becareful of not losing this since its just packaged by its lonesome and not on runner that can make tracking of it much easier.
Mostly the wing parts and fuselage
Some parts of the nose fuselage
This is the bag where the screws, shafts and springs are placed. The screws are used to hold most of the VF-1A together, the shafts are for the hinges while the springs are for the ratched joint parts.
Here's the diecast parts of the VF-1A
This is where the stand attachments are placed and some other parts used to build the VF-1A. Notice that they aren't placed on runners, so becareful to not lose these.
The blast cover of the canopy during Battroid mode. Like the crotch joint cover, becareful to not lose track of this part during the build as it is singly packed.
Rubber tires of the VF-1A for the rear and front landing gears.
Some more pictures of the included runners