01.12.09
Yamato Gnu VF-11B (Mac Plus and VF-X Editions)
Review: With a gun like that you know it’s over-compensating
Packaging & Extras: (2/5)
The current generations come with lame extras. You get the requisite guns and a few extra hands and that’s it. There is no stand, there are no fast packs, and there are no other extras to excite you or convince you to go for new dynamic poses. Word is that Yamato will be reissuing these toys in the future with more to them but also at a significantly steeper price which is really just a shame. Even the boxes are pretty lame and seem over-sized in comparison to Revoltech toys (especially with their abundance of extras). The more lively box art on the VF-X release was definitely an improvement.
Charm & Collectabilty: (2.5/5)
From what I can gather, the Gnus haven’t sold particularly well. Of the first three Macross related releases the VF-11 did seem to do the best but that’s likely attributable to the fact that this was the one mech that Kaiyodo wasn’t also doing in their Revoltech line. The looming threat of upgraded releases may diminish some of the collectability of the first releases but the added price of those next releases may leave these a popular alternative (Overdrive still has both the standard and VF-X2 releases available). Outside factors aside, the Gnus are made from quality materials but they don’t contain diecast and they don’t transform so these are really toys that are meant to be played with regardless of whether or not they ever live up to the “collectable action figure” as Yamato bills them. Rumor has it that the VF-X2 paint scheme is a limited edition.
Sculpt, Detail, & Paint: (8/10)
While a bit on the plain side the Gnus are pretty nice representations of the battroids they represent. The gun seems outlandishly large, it drags on the ground if not being held upright. The one downside I’ve found is that the heads of the toys are made from a different plastic than the bodies and so they have a shiny painted look whereas the bodies have a matte finish.
Design: (8/10)
One unique plus of the VF-11B over the other Macross Plus Gnu toys released is that it also features wings on the back that can be opened. Of course this release retains the ability to be disassembled for easy modification, a large selling point for the customizers of the world left frustrated by Kaiyodo’s PVC-laden efforts.
Durability & Build: (9/10)
Speaking of PVC, it doesn’t seem like there’s much of it in the VF-11Bs if any at all. The toys feel sturdy and handle well. Paint application was excellent on both. After having handled the CMs 1/18 Ride Armor it was nice to pose a toy that felt this solid. One word of warning, these toys can be a little stiff fresh from the box so you may want to gently free the joints up a bit on your first time through.
Articulation: (8.5/10)
Of all the Mac Plus Gnu toys this felt like the most poseable to me (by just a hair). It seems to have a bit more twist in the legs although it still hinders the Gnu skeleton inside with its plastic exoskeleton. The overly large gun may actually prove to be a difficulty when coming up with poses but you may also feel the comic affect makes some poses look that much more cool.
Total Score: (38/50)
Like the other Gnu toys, these are quality products so the big question for you is going to be whether or not they’re worth the cost. If you’re a huge fan of the VF-11B then that should be a simple matter and this toy will likely look very good with the 1/60 VF-11B due out in Q109 (if you’re not a stickler for your display items all being the same scale). Speaking of scale, these Gnu toys don’t really follow any particular scale with all three releases thus far being about the same size. See pic above for a shot with the 1/100 Toynami VF-1.
Scorched Earth Toys » Yamato GNU VF-11B Upgrade Parts said,
January 5, 2010 at 4:46 am
[...] you’re a huge 11B fan then you should check out my review of the stand alone toy which I did enjoy quite a bit. Sadly, I thought the first toy was too expensive so I find it really [...]