03.01.10
Yamato 1/60 (V2.1) VT-1 SuperOstrich
Review: Misa, we need to start repopulating the Earth!
Packaging & Extras: (4.5/5)
The packaging is small, well decorated, features a collector’s style flip-top lid, and the toy comes with everything you would expect a VT-1 to come with. Well, maybe not… maybe you’re that guy who is wondering where the training gun is that Hikaru tried to fire in DYRL. Edit – thank you Shiro for pointing out that he never really had a gun he tried to fire, if anyone else is having a hard time remembering the scene, click here to watch it on Youtube! Maybe you’re that guy who wants the pilot figure in the backseat to actually resemble either Minmay or Misa (or heck, maybe it should come with figures for both). Well, it’s for you that I’ve scored this toy a fraction below perfect here. There are no missiles or gun as this is a training vehicle but the toy does oddly come with fixed-pose hands that would hold a gun… or you can just make your VT-1 point at other toys like it’s angry. If you do have an extra gun or missiles from other toys they will work fine with the VT-1.
Charm & Collectability: (4/5)
The DYRL-specific themes aren’t as popular internationally as the tv-specific themes since Do You Remember Love never managed a true international release. Still, the VT-1 has an immense amount of charm for all those who know it and wished to get their hands on the original Banai toy. This toy isn’t cheap but it’s world’s cheaper than that Bandai classic and it’s a better toy in just about every respect. Will this toy be highly sought after years from now? I’m guessing it was produced in fairly limited quantities and I doubt there will be a reissue any time soon so yes, this toy has all the hallmarks of a hot collector’s item. If you’re still looking for one, it appears Overdrive still has some in stock.
Sculpt, Detail, & Paint: (9/10)
The high score indicates there’s an awful lot here where Yamato absolutely nailed it. Let’s focus on what’s wrong since there’s so little to discuss. In the most nit-picky form, the backseat passenger looks strange at best but almost no one will notice that since that figure will be tucked away in the beautifully detailed cockpit. The one real standout let down I had was the lack of tampo printing on the fast packs. While the VT-1 toy is beautifully detailed the fast packs look plain. The chest plate is also orange plastic with some painted beige area and the painted beige in some lights doesn’t appear to be a perfect match with the beige plastic. On a personal note, I wish the color scheme used wasn’t exactly the same as the VF-1D toy released earlier this year although it makes perfect sense that it would be. As a benefit of using the exact same colors from the VF-1D you can do a head swap. I saw some pictures on Macrossworld of a VF-1D head on a VT-1 toy that looked pretty nice. Some positives to note are taht the fastpacks are unique to the VT-1 and do feature pop off armor panels revealing the unique detail below.
Design: (9/10)
If you’re familiar with Yamato’s V2 VF-1 toys then you should know the pros and cons you’re dealing with. As a quick summary, you get most the benefits of the 1/48 toy but you get a slightly odd head position in battroid mode. For more detail than that check out my previous write-ups. The VT-1 is unique in a couple big ways. First, the head can extend and retract to some degree (this is why it has the ostrich name, it can tuck its head). Second, the antenna on the head can rotate just about any way you could want and the sensors on the side of the head can be opened and closed… I prefer them closed as I think it looks like gills otherwise. Third, the tailfins can not fold down. Instead, Yamato has engineered into the toy tail fin holders that clip the backpack into proper position. It’s a very odd way of doing things and it appears to be a functionality many owners are afraid to use. I miss the tailfins being able to fold because I like the traditional GERWALK look. The big highlight here was that the VT-1 was the first Yamato V2.1 release. I discussed this in my LV VF-1S review but essentially it just means that Yamato integrated a hip connection more similar to the 1/48 toys which makes transformation a bit easier.
Durability & Build: (5.5/10)
Originally I wrote here “it looks like the shoulder worries are behind us” and then I learned that people started having shoulder problems all over again with this release. I did a comprehensive list of the shoulder problems when I did my Hikaru GBP review and I’ll re-post that list here in just a bit. First, I will stick to the unique qualities of this toy. Since this toy is the new 2.1 variety there should be less people snapping a piece off when fighting the hip connection area. The big area of concern for most new owners seems to be the tail fin connectors. Since the part being grabbed by those connectors is molded plastic and not painted there should be no concerns of paint chipping. The tail fins are being pinched slightly while in the clips but there didn’t seem to be enough strain there to adversely affect the durability. While it may seem awkward or unnatural at first I wouldn’t worry too much about using this feature. Now, back to those darn shoulders. Here’s the list I included with my Hikaru GBP gift-set review:
1) Focker VF-1S with Super Parts (V2) – Worst shoulders ever, avoid
2) Focker VF-1S stand alone (V2) – bad shoulders
3) VF-1A Hikaru with Super Parts (V2) – bad shoulders
4) VF-1A Hikaru stand alone (V2) – bad shoulders
5) VF-1J Hikaru with Super Parts (V2) – Potentially bad shoulders (far less frequency than the first four releases.. allegedly Yamato urged the factories to be more careful at this point… hell of a fix.
6) VF-1J Hikaru stand alone (V2) – potentially bad shoulders
7) VF-1S Hikaru with Super Parts (V2) – potentially bad shoulders
8′) VF-1D Trainer (V2) – I haven’t heard of a single broken one… rumor is that this release has smaller shoulder pins but I can’t substantiate that
9) VF-1S Max (V2) – Rumored to be safe (if you have any insight, please leave a comment)
10) VF-1A Max TV (V2) – Rumored to be safe
11) VF-1A Max DYRL (V2) – Rumored to be safe
12) VF-1A Hayao TV (V2) – Rumored to be safe
13) VF-1A Hayao DYRL (V2) – Rumored to be safe
14) VF-1J Cannon Fodder (V2) – Rumored to be safe
15) VF-1A Cannon Fodder (V2) – Rumored to be safe
16) VT-1 SuperOstrich (V2.1) – potentially bad shoulders (!)
17) VF-1S LowVis (V2.1) – Rumored to be safe
18) VE-1 Elintseeker (V2.1) – Rumored to be safe (review pending)
19) VF-1D Virgin Road (V2.1?) – Rumored to be safe (Let me know if you own one if it’s a V2 or V2.1)
20) VF-1J Miria (V2.1?) – Rumored to be safe but has some delicate paint
21) VF-1J Max (V2.1?) – Rumored to be safe but has some delicate paint
22) VF-1S Focker Anniversary (V2) – Rumored to be safe (review pending)
23) VF-1S Hikaru Anniversary (V2) – Rumored to be safe
24) VF-1J Hikaru with GBP (V2) – Reissue of stand alone with potentially bad shoulders
Articulation: (9.5/10)
No change here from the stellar V2 releases. As mentioned previously, the SuperOstrich does have a unique head and everything you could hope would move around on the head does.
Total Score: (41.5/50)
Before I edited this post after learning of the shoulder issue this toy received a 45/50 which is incredibly high as far as this site goes. As most of you know, the average toy gets a 35 and it’s nearly impossible to get a perfect 10 in any category. Now that I’ve reduced the score of the durability section down to a failing grade the toy still gets extremely high marks… making it one of the best toys I recommend you never buy. Just for irony’s sake, here’s all the words I wrote on my first impression that would remain true if Yamato learned how to build shoulders better: ”This toy is sweet. If you’re a fan of the SuperOstrich then you need to get yourself one of these. Further good news is that Yamato’s already good V2 line has gotten even better.” Yeah, I take all that back. The bummer here is there’s no telling if Yamato would ever re-issue a valk with such limited appeal. So, if you need a VT-1, buy this knowing that some day you may find yourself epoxying the shoulders together. If you don’t absolutely need a VT-1 then don’t buy this.
fifbeat said,
November 10, 2009 at 7:28 am
Great stuff! =)
shiro said,
November 11, 2009 at 8:35 am
Ha ha! I knew this would be sweet.
As to a couple of your nitpicks, in the first place (speaking as a consummate Macross:DYRL freak), the training gun Hikaru tried to fire WAS the head. The thumb button fires the “head” lasers on the underside of the fighter. The index trigger fires the Gunpod. Right after he tries to fire, the camera cuts to a 3/4 reverse view of the head on the underbelly of the fighter, showing there’s no weapon to fire, then he says that he “forgot” he was flying a trainer… And as far as the look of the passenger goes, that’s the exact outfit Minmay was wearing in DYRL, so that’s fine with me…
Awesome review, as always… I can’t wait to get this one!
micronian said,
November 12, 2009 at 2:20 am
Thank you Shiro, the post has been updated and I even included a Youtube link so people can see exactly the scene being discussed. You’re also right that the backseat pilot looks just like the DYRL flightsuit… but I would have preferred it at least be obviously female. For all we know that’s Minmay’s brother
.
micronian said,
December 7, 2009 at 6:40 am
Updated the post to include the picture of the head gimmicks. I’ll be updated the V1 and Bandai Super Ostrich posts over the next couple days.
micronian said,
March 2, 2010 at 4:52 am
Updated the post as my first impressions on durability, sadly, proved to be wrong. Shame on you Yamato… shame.