01.17.07

Toynami 1/55 Masterpiece YF-1R

Posted in 1/55, Macross/Robotech TMS, Toynami, VF-1, VT, VE Valkyrie at 3:40 am by micronian

Observations & Gallery: Jack Archer of Battlecry “fame”

 

There really isn’t a material enough difference between this MPC YF-1R and the Volume 1-5 VF-1 MPCs to warrant a separate review.  As such, I’ve truncated my original review and am presenting it now as a simple summary.  To know how this toy actually fares as a toy in most respects simply read the article on the first five volumes.  The only things that have changed here are the paint, the head, the number produced, and the artwork on the box.  You still get the same book-style box with all the quality extras. 

 

True Macross collectors will likely scorn the YF-1R as an artificial contrivance derived from poor animation.  Robotech fans probably won’t care about that but they won’t necessarily care for Jack Archer or the veritech “shown” in the TV series for only a very brief flash.  Fans of the video game Robotech Battlecry who also enjoy collectibles will eat this thing up.  So, from the get go there is clearly a reduced audience for this toy but there is also a greatly reduced number available.  Only 5K YF-1R toys are being produced.  For some reason I can’t help but think that this toy will someday become pretty scarce and develop quite a bit of allure to diehard Robotech collectors.  Also, 3000 (supposedly) are available from Robotech.com featuring a mock animation cell with Jack’s likeness and the background for all the mock animation cells included with the first five MPCs.  Those mock cells look to be on their way to developing into their own collectibles. 

 

As far as paint is concerned, there’s no great differences here from the original.  This version has quite an interesting hue to the paint job that definitely makes it stand apart from the cannon fodders of the world.  The head sculpt is new, and I think it looks surprisingly good (although the fit at the chin could be better on mine… which I hadn’t even noticed until taking these super close-ups). 

 

There seems to be a preponderence of these toys that have difficulty not only looking to the side but keeping their head straight in the first place.  Apparently the shape of this new head must cause some binding with the wiring of the light up visor.  Otherwise, this toy has the exact same strengths and weaknesses as its predecessors. 

 

I love variants from the norm.  I especially like variants that are limited in production.  With only 5,000 of these circulating throughout the world it says a lot that they’re not sold out everywhere.  However, more are sold every day and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day they are coveted pieces… although that day may be far from now.

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