Bandai DX VF-1 Toys

Review: Seven deep and more in the pipeline

Packaging & Extras: (4/5) +0.5 for Flight Stand Versions, +1 for GBP Bundle
The Bandai DX toy measures 37.5×24.5x10cm (which is very similar in size to a DX VF-31 box). The original Yamato 1/48 toy came in a box that was roughly 36x37x14 cm. That’s a reduction in volume of nearly 50%! If you decide to ditch all your Yamato 1/48s, you’ll be able to fit twice as many Bandai toys in the same spot in your garage. Inside the box you’ll find the Valkyrie nestled in a plastic tray with the following accessories:
1) Pilot
2) GU-11 gun pod
3) Strap for gun pod
4) 3x (4x for TV releases) pairs of hands: a) mechanical-looking fists, gun gripping hands, splayed finger hands
4A) TV releases include a 4th pair of TV-style hands, R gun-grip and L splayed fingers
5) Intake fan covers
6) 2x GERWALK antennae
7) Display stand arm and battroid adapter
8) Leg removal tool (for waist gimmick)
9) 2x side cavity fillers

In a tray beneath you’ll find:
10) Display stand base and GERWALK and fighter adapters
The display stand base is the same generic base Bandai has been using since their first Macross Frontier NUNS toy… and it seriously needs a refresher. It really makes no sense that they didn’t go with a new UN Spacy kite display stand base. It’s not like they don’t know they’re going to make several variations of this toy and all of them, DYRL or TV versions, would be UN Spacy craft.
In a bag behind everything you’ll also get
11) Instructions (scans below)

The launch edition Hikaru VF-1J and first TV release Focker toys come packaged in an outer sleeve that holds a second box (and bumps the overall dimensions to 37.5×24.5×14.5, pretty much the same size as the DX YF-19 Full-set pack).

That second box contains a special, fighter mode only, display stand consisting of a base, an arm, and a toy connecting adapter. The benefit of this display stand is that it’s prettier and allows the plane to bank in fighter mode.

The special display stand included with the Focker toy added one more part, another adapter that allows two additional, less severe, banking positions.

In comparison to Yamato’s 1/48 VF-1 toy, you get a display stand, side cavity fillers, and more fixed posed hands but you don’t get missiles (the Yamato 1/48 came with both TV and DYRL style missiles and the DYRL missiles functioned as storage boxes for the intake fan covers). The articulated, integrated hands on this toy are marvelous so I think most people would rather have missiles than the base model display stand, cavity fillers, or fixed posed hands. Don’t worry, Bandai has you covered: exclusively through the Tamashii website (TWE) you can get your very own missiles for the low low price of just 3,996円! Were you hoping for FAST packs or Strike parts? Those are also available through the Tamashii website for 8,800円. So far Bandai has already reissued both the missiles and strike parts once so let’s hope they continue to make them available frequently as there are more releases. You can also get the GBP accessory (AKA Heavy Armor) from the Tamashii web store for 13,200円.

The first web exclusive DX toy was Hayao’s DYRL VF-1A. It was delivered in a brown shipper box and included all the standard contents of a DYRL release as well as:
12) waterslide decals (see scan below)

Bandai upped the stakes for their second Tamashii web exclusive release, the DX VF-1D in trainer colors. Delivered in the standard brown shipper box of Tamashii exclusives, the toy’s packaging retains its dimensions but manages to include several more extras. You still don’t get missiles but everything from the regular releases is included and:
12) Minmay figure
13) Extended pilot seats for battroid mode
14) Fan racer
15) Display stand (base and arm) for fan racer
16) TV style fists (in addition to the standard set of fixed posed hands)
17) Right hand meant for grasping the Minmay figure
Given the 3000¥ mark-up for this release, some have expressed frustration that there wasn’t MORE included. As an exclusive, there was no way for importers to avoid Japanese sales tax which made the mark up feel more like 5000¥ so it’s easy to see where some collectors had higher hopes. Obvious omissions are the lack of a dedicated pilot figure for the fan racer or a seated Minmay for riding with Hikaru in the fan racer. Would we have been better served with a regular release VF-1D with the standard equipment and then a separate exclusive upgrade kit that included the items above and more?

When Bandai announced they were making a TWE limited GBP accessory AND a regular release gift-set GBP+Hikaru VF-1J in the same month, I expected them to reuse the original Hikaru VF-1J box and sleeve it to the GBP box… but instead they went full deluxe on a special gift-set box that is definitely a stunner. There is a sleeve with gorgeous renditions of the fully decked out 1J and inside the sleeve is a beautifully decorated box that opens like a book. The left side of the book includes two trays that house the VF-1J and the display stand. Though the toy is in battroid mode this time around, the contents remain unchanged from the original box. The right side includes:
1) The armor
2) VF-1J Hikaru head with gray visor
3) Hikaru pilot with full helmet
4) 2 x pairs of fixed posed fists (jumbo huge and large)
5) Pilot’s seat to simulate pilot entering/exiting while in battroid mode
See my separate review of the GBP parts for a deeper dive into that accessory.

The TWE Exclusive Angelbirds release again comes in a brown shipper box that contains a full retail style box (37.5×24.5×14 cm) decorated by Bandai’s Angelbirds logo you may love or hate. The box has swollen a bit because this bird comes with all the contents from regular releases as well as:
12) 4x pairs of vertical stabilizers with different vehicle identifier numbers (2, 3, 4, or 5)
13) A blue version of the launch edition, fighter mode only, display stand consisting of a base, arm, angle adapter, and toy connector
The extra parts caused a slight bump in retail price making the toy 19,000¥.

Like the GBP release, Bandai went out of their way to make this toy’s packaging feel special. The TWE brown shipper box houses a full color retail box (37.5×24.5×14 cm) that is nicely tucked behind a retro decorate sleeve. There are three trays of goodness. The first tray includes all the regular contents except the prying tool and display stand arm migrate to the second tray to make room for:
12) A replacement vertical stabilizer that has the old “100” text on it that looks nicely symmetrical in battroid mode rather than the correct “001” that comes on the toy
The second tray includes all the display stand parts. The third tray adds:
13) Strike parts (with clear panels already applied)
14) Regular (dark blue) covers for the outside legs (x2) and tops of the boosters (x2)
Lacking are the colored circles for other toys so you won’t be getting these strike parts for your other toys.

The second release bundled with its super parts was the VT-1 Super Ostrich. Like the previous TWE offerings, the toy includes a full retail-style box (37.5×24.5×14.5 cm) within its brown shipper. The VT-1 does not include a gun, gun strap, or any additional weaponry as the vehicle is for training use only. The first tray of the toy includes the VT-1 as well as:
1) 4x Pilot figures: Hikaru in flight suit, Minmay in flight suit, Hikaru in uniform, Misa in uniform
2) 3x pairs of hands: mechanical-looking fists, gun holding hands, and hands with splayed fingers
3) Intake fan covers
4) 2x GERWALK antennae
5) Leg removal tool (for waist gimmick)
6) 2x side cavity fillers
The second tray contains:
7) 2x Sensor antennae
8) FAST Packs consisting of 2 boosters, a backpack cover, a backpack brace, two side leg covers, and two back of leg covers
The third and final tray includes:
9) Display stand consisting of a base, arm, and clear adapters for each mode
In a bag behind everything you’ll also get

10) Instructions (scans below). The instructions also include a template for creating a papercraft tent to simulate the scene of Hikaru and Misa on a ruined earth. Strangely, Bandai’s scan of the instructions (below) didn’t include the template but I got ya above!

In 1973, Bandai subsidiary Popy used the term to “chogokin” to market their mostly metal robot toys. To celebrate 50 years of metal toys, Bandai released a 50th annivesary paint scheme available exclusively through a lottery on the Tamashii website. Like the other Tamashii exclusives, the toy comes in a brown shipper box. The packaging retains the dimensions of the previously released standalone VF-1 toys. The box received a healthy amount of foil print. Inside, you received everything included with a DYRL VF-1, as well as:
12) A flight stand for use in fighter mode only
The base of the stand is taped beneath the second tray and the second tray is updated to include the additional adapters.

Charm & Collectability: (4.5/5)
It’s new high-water mark for the unquestionably most popular Macross design that features lots of metal, perfect transformation, and looks gorgeous. The metal is mostly relegated to internal mechanisms though the feet are huge chunks of metal which also ensures a very sturdy toy in GERWALK and battroid modes. At 492g, the DX VF-1 weighs almost as much as a Yamato 1/48 VF-1 and Arcadia/Yamato 1/60 V2 VF-1 COMBINED (510g)! It’s expensive but priced very reasonably in contrast to many other ‘premium’ Macross offerings. The only major thing this toy has working against it is scale. At 26.5cm tall in battroid, the toy is 1/48 scale. Collectors have been amassing huge armies of 1/60 scale Macross goods for over a decade now and will be turned off by the concept of buying a new scale. That said, most collectors will rationalize getting one or two to own the new ‘best VF-1 toy’ while also deciding to hold onto their Yamato/Arcadia products to keep their 1/60 universe alive. So far every release, even the web exclusive Hayao toy, have sold briskly (preorders last mere seconds for the regular releases). Expect to pay a premium to nab one but there should be plenty of optimism for future reissues (and hopefully repaints). The Hikaru VF-1S Clear Mechanic edition was initially available for attendees of the 2023 Tamashii Nations event with more made available through a web lottery. The 50th Anniversary paint scheme was available through only lottery via the Tamashii Website. See the info graphic above for a list of releases.

Sculpt, Detail, & Paint: (9.5/10)
Any transformable design inked before everything went CGI will have to make compromises to be captured in a 3D physical form. The paint on the toy is nothing short of phenomenal. There are paint applications on here that you wouldn’t expect and it’s very detailed without being overly busy. I had only three issues from a paint perspective:
A) No paint in the airbrake area
B) No paint in the cockpit (TV releases)
C) No ejection seat markings

Fighter mode is pure sexy. Painted detail work is over the top including the pilot name, rank and ship (should it have both SDF-1 and Prometheus badges simultaneously though?). The sculpt is also amazing with the only weakness being the notch that allows the shoulders to pop out. The gun is positively gargantuan and looks a little silly in this mode but looks fantastic in GERWALK and Battroid modes.

No toy has ever made GERWALK mode look so good. The included hands are a nice size though the fixed posed hands are slightly larger. If you’re not a fan of popping parts on, leave the antenna off and this thing still makes a very impressive display piece.

Since Yamato introduced their 1/60 scale (version 1) VF-1, toy manufacturers have placed the emphasis of their design work on a better fighter mode with more compromises made to battroid. This DX toy cuts a perfect balance between all modes. My biggest grievance with Yamato’s 1/60 version 2 toy was the head position. On that toy, the nosecone slides up during transformation moving the head upward and exposing the back of the nosecone beneath the neck. It’s not an awful look, moving the head-up makes the Valkyrie look more like an unclad person while placing the head lower makes the Valkyrie look more like a person wearing armor. The DX toy still exposes a bit of the nosecone but the head positioning is much closer to what we see in the show. A lot of line art for battroid mode also includes blocky shoulders that simply don’t work for a toy that needs a sleek fighter mode. The DX toy allows the shoulder armors to slide outward which increases articulation while making the shoulder armors appear larger. It’s not a perfect solution but it is a nice touch. Ultimately, Bandai has created the most attractive perfect-transformation battroid to date. Specific to the VF-1J head, Bandai added a lens effect just behind the eye that I think some will love and others will hate.

Bandai uses the same off white/light gray for all releases which differentiates them from the Arcadia’s brilliant white (Yamato also used brilliant white on TV releases). There is an extreme amount of painted on detail but it’s not entirely generic to each valk. Each toy comes with the pilot’s rank, name, and vehicle ID painted on the nosecone. Fine details continue to the head of the toy; the VF-1A features nice lens effects behind the translucent plastic eye.

As seen in the side profile shot above, Bandia goofed on the vertical stabilizer number as seen when the toy is pointing right. Hikaru’s or Roy’s 001 becomes 100 and Hayao 012 is flipped to 210. Bandia reasoned this wasn’t an error but an attempt to look better when the stabilizers were flipped over in GERWALK and battroid modes. For Hikaru’s 1S “Clear Mechanic Edition” reissue, Bandai installed a correct vertical stabilizer but threw in an extra “100” version just in case you like to be wrong. The underlying VF-1S Hikaru toy is otherwise unchanged from the original release. SEE MY REVIEW OF THE DX STRIKE PARTS FOR COMMENTS ON THE CLEAR MECHANIC VERSION.

Movie releases come with a pilot figure in the movie-accurate flight suit. Though the overall height of the pilot looks about the same, the suit has large gauntlets and boots that make it larger and give it a better presence in the cockpit. The control panel in the cockpit has also been updated to be movie accurate. The pilot controls are on either edge of the panel rather than on a central stick. In DYRL the HUD is projected onto the canopy so the movie style control panel lacks the HUD insert. All heads feature additional camera detail behind their green visors.

Focker’s TV VF-1S has a couple unique elements beyond the pilot badging. First, the pilot figure is a new, larger sculpt. This is likely done to capture that Focker was a very tall pilot in the show rather than a response to criticism about the other TV pilot figures being too small. In a slavish dedication to accuracy, Bandai also gave the TV VF-1S a slightly different head than the movie version. Cynics will insist that this is Bandai’s way of generating demand for a future 1S DYRL Focker… as plastering Focker’s name on this toy also leaves the door open for a future reissue with Hikaru’s name.

The VF-1D isn’t just a repaint and head swap of the VF-1, it has several unique elements that Bandai has captured (as expected since they nailed this on their HMR line as well). The 1D has a new canopy, nosecone, cockpit, chest, and hatch. The color is desaturated in comparison to the Yamato scheme which featured a neon orange bordering on red… in comparison, the Bandai color is quite tame. Bandai did give us a new canopy with the appropriate 1D specific features but it’s not extra long like we saw in the show. So far, no manufacturer has been able to pull that off, which isn’t terribly surprising given the complications it might cause.

The included fan racer looks great but there are a few issues. The most notable issue is how small the fan racer is, 10.6cm. That’s smaller than Yamato’s 1/60 Fan Racer kit. There’s room to argue that Yamato made their model a bit large, and I haven’t seen any published official measurements, but it’s hard not to conclude that Bandai’s take is small. I have a bit of slightly blurry paint in one spot but, even so, the paint is impressive. The sculpt does include nice molded detail in the cockpit and landing gear doors beneath the plane.

Bandai created a unique Angelbirds logo that they placed prominently on their rendition of this exhibition VF-1. I like it and continue to appreciate how far we’ve come from my childhood when it comes to the paint applications on toys.

Design: (9.5/10)
Before we dive into the design attributes of the Valkyrie, let’s discuss the display stands. First, the basic display stand bundled with all releases continues to be a cheap prop to elevate your toy in any mode and nothing more. There’s no real heft to it, there are no points of articulation, and there wasn’t an effort made to make it attractive. Bandai did give us clear display stand adapters and it does accommodate all modes, those are the positives.

The banking display stand included with the Launch Edition Hikaru 1J and Focker TV 1S has some nice heft to it. Mine fail to point the toy directly forward. There’s a minor twist left at some point; I’m not sure if that’s intentional or a build issue. This stand works only with fighter mode (though you can also do VTOL mode) and has only one pivot point that allows you to select from three options: A) flying straight, B) banking left, C) banking right. The Focker and Angelbirds toys come with an adapter part that allows you to achieve two more positions between straight and B&C above. The Focker and Angelbirds stands also have more structural bracing in the arm so if you bump your display shelf or move the toy, it will wobble less. You can not alter the angle of the nose, it’s locked in place with it’s nose elevated, similar to the basic stand. While more attractive, it’s not nearly the step up from the basic display stand one would hope it would be and, since it only works with fighter mode, many folks won’t use it at all.

Now let’s talk about the positive elements you have expected from a premium VF-1 since Yamato introduced their 1/48 Valkyrie back in 2002, all of which are present here:
1) Opening cockpit
2) Removable pilot figure
3) Removable intake fan covers
4) Integrated landing gear that lock into position with an articulated tow bar on the front gear
5) Perfect transformation including integrated heat shield
6) Ability to stow the gun in fighter mode while on the landing gear and on the arm in battroid mode
7) Gun with extending stock and trigger mechanisms

Then there are the super-premium elements Yamato also included on their 1/48 line which remain present here:
8) Articulated flaps on the wings
9) Articulated air brake
10) Side cavity fillers (Yamato introduced on their 1/48 GBP toys)
Not carried over from the Yamato toy was the integrated antenna for GERWALK mode. Yamato pulled this trick off by making the antenna small and curved. Bandai, instead, gives us a separate part that we can plug in if we desire but more closely resembles some of the more iconic VF-1 art. Bandai’s implementation of the side cavity fillers are a nice progression from Yamato’s 1/48 and then 1/60 V2 toys. The parts pop securely into place without fear of falling out during handling. The Yamato pieces were more finicky in comparison.

Then there are the new tricks that Bandai has introduced to the VF-1:
11) Rear landing gear that pivot outward
12) The ability to drop and pivot the head in GERWALK and fighter modes (this was present on Yamato’s 1/60 V2 toy).
13) Peg in connection for the gun strap
Like the Yamato 1/48, the gun also comes with a strap. Unlike the Yamato, which attached via tiny rings that had to be fed through tiny holes on the gun, the Bandai DX toy comes with pegs on either end of the strap. The pegs snap into the gun very quickly and securely making removal for fighter mode a breeze. The rear landing gear are a little tricky as the doors are very stiff. They should be extended away from the craft before being opened or they will bump into the fins on the legs. Notches in the metal of the gear should mate perfectly with the leg.
There are new transformation design elements that will take some getting used to. There’s a fold out peg that goes from the back plate to the chest that holds battroid together but doesn’t grab as authoritatively as say, the peg from the old Takatoku toys (before they inevitably broke). There are some negatives here:
1) The legs detach easily from their transformation mechanism. The housing that keeps the swing bar attached to the crossbar that leads to the hips was intended to be very difficult to remove, and Bandai even provided a tool to help you. As executed, it pops off too easily. Purists of perfect transformation will be frustrated by the toy’s propensity for becoming two separate halves. With some experience you’ll learn to hold the housing during transformation to keep the separation from happening.

2) On the launch version Hikaru VF-1J, the nosecone peg is insufficient for holding the nose in place (it flops down to accommodate the GBP accessory). Bandai subsequently added a lip to the peg in the nose so it’s no longer a problem..
3) The fins on the legs don’t lock into position so they can be bumped askew too easily (these are hinged to accommodate the GBP as well).
The benefit of the leg housing, and the ability to separate the legs, is that it enables a waist twist. It was good that Bandai was planning ahead to the GBP but unfortunate they goofed on the tolerances. All of the weaknesses could easily be resolved through minor tweaks to molds so I really hope Bandai continues to make improvements.
4) The arms under fighter mode can sag downward. Bandai used a vertical peg on the back plate that slides into a slot on the arm to hold it up but, since the peg is perfectly vertical without a lip, gravity can overcome it. This is more frustrating since the arms slide and numerous better mechanisms could have been used to lock the arms more firmly in position without adding complexity/expense.

The fan racer included with the DX toy comes with a basic display stand. The toy pegs into the display stand allowing it to pivot in any direction and up/down and left/right banking pivots to allow you to pose the vehicle in any sort of flight. Unfortunately, there are no landing gear so you’re definitely going to be using that display stand. The fan racer does have fans that spin in the shroud and the ability to pop off the rocket covers on the back though there’s no detail that makes it obvious that they are rockets other than “Danger rocket booster” text that only appears on two of the boosters. You also get an opening canopy and a cockpit that fits the VF-1 Hikaru pilot figure.

Durabilty & Build: (8/10)
Someone reading this review was looking at one of my close-ups (above) and spotted a crack! It’s tiny and occurred before I took ownership as it’s in the first photo I took of the toy. I haven’t spotted any other examples of this so it doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue.. Most complaints are limited to loose parts like the fins on the legs and the nosecone tip on the Hikaru VF-1J launch version (which was fixed on later releases). Fortunately, I haven’t seen any fatal issues like limbs breaking off. Complaints so far include:
1) Paint issues (scratches/wear/blur)
2) Leg fins popping off entirely. Everyone will experience some looseness as described in the design section, unfortunately, some people also seem to be encountering manufacturing issues where the leg falls off entirely or gets inadvertently knocked off which causes the nubs to sheer and the fin to never go on as tightly again.
3) Someone on MacrossWorld had a thigh that would separate as the knee swivel was engaged, probably from a bit of over-gluing within a joint or some plastic flash.

4) My VF-1A Max toy has an issue where the plate above the intake is being pulled down for some reason creating a gap.
I do have some minor quibbles regarding fit of a few pieces that I hope are resolved in future releases. Both the cockpit canopy and intake fan covers seem a hair too large. The natural resting position of my cockpit canopy is not flush with the nosecone, I need to press it down to get it to sit right and, when handling the toy, I often find that it has crept up a tiny bit again. Similarly, the intake fan shields plug into place and stay where they should but they don’t nest perfectly in their housing, it’s as if they’re a hair too large toward the top of the intake.

The display stand adapters broke (but not fatally) after a few attachments and detachments from my Hikaru VF-1S during various photo shoots. It grabs the toy very securely so try to use some caution when disconnecting.

Articulation: (9.5/10)
If this toy made no other improvements to the Yamato 1/48 VF-1 other than its increased articulation it would still be a worthy purchase. The head is a true ball joint, the shoulders spin around and are on a hinge so they can be rocked back (Bandai should have also let them be rocked forward farther on the hinge). The arm can pivot away from the body at the shoulder and there’s a twist above the bicep. The elbows allow you 180 degree range of movement. Ball joints at the wrist are fairly standard at this point but the full articulation of the integrated hands is very impressive. The toy features a waist with a decent amount of swivel. Ball-jointed hips allow the thighs to move or twist in/out and generate a fair amount of splay outward that can then be exaggerated by a hinge at the GERWALK joint that allows the toy to go deeper into the splits. Extending and swiveling knees allow the toy crazy lower leg mobility in GERWALK mode but only about 90 degrees of angle back for battroid. The feet extend and are on a ball joint allowing this toy to be far more dynamic than any predecessor though the shape of the housing around the foot may still inhibit some motion. The middle nozzle of the backpack is articulated also! The VF-1S head features four ball-jointed lasers which can lead to frustration when trying to get everything back to a symmetrical look.

Total Score: (45-46/50)
There you go folks, the highest score I’ve ever awarded a VF-1 toy (the VF-31 toys have the highest scores ever) so if you’re a fan of the VF-1 you should get one. That said, if you’ve invested heavily in 1/60 scale, then this toy is going to be awkwardly large. The Yamato 1/60 V2 is still a fantastic toy and it fits within the larger Macross universe of toys that both Yamato and Bandai (and even Evolution Toy) fostered to this point. So, in a vacuum this toy is amazing, but within the larger context of toy collecting, the strategy is perplexing. Bandai should have gone larger, like 1/35 scale, and shot for the perfect toy. They could have given us a heat shield we could close during fighter mode (hey, it happens once in the anime!), ports in the arms and plug-in parts for simulated manipulators (it happens in the anime at least once!), a pelvic thrust joint (happens all the time in the anime!), integrated side cavity fillers, and double jointed knees that could go a full 180degrees. At that scale, there could have even been some pop off parts to expose mechanical detail. Then, as Yamato 1/60 V2 toys became harder and harder to come by, they could have launched a 1/60 DX toy to conquer the mid-range. Instead, they’ve hit us with a “better than what you have” 1/48 toy, that is great, but doesn’t quite hit that holy grail status. Many 1/60 scale toy owners will likely see this toy and say “Yeah, it’s really good, but it’s not so incredibly better than the toys I already have that fit in with the rest of my collection, so I’ll pass.” That said, it’s hard to imagine anyone holding on to Yamato 1/48 toys much longer unless they’re real completists… this toy is materially better, priced similarly, and easier to store (comes in a smaller box).

Rant: Why did we get an Angelbirds toy? It makes 1000x more sense as a Hi-Metal R release where people would be tempted to buy multiples and set up dioramas. Then, Bandai could have also released a TWE Hikaru Fanjet with a trident display stand. Throw in smoke effect parts that plug into the fan jets hidden jets and it would have allowed people to create a display with Hikaru blasting through the formation flight. But in DX size? Who has the room to display five DX Angelbirds? Who has the money? And having five of the flight stands isn’t going to help you get the full effect you would want. Bandai would have been much better served picking one of the more common paint schemes.

Original Post: January 11, 2019
October 13, 2019, added VF-1A Max TV Custom content
January 12, 2020, added VF-1S Hikaru Movie Custom content
October 18, 2020, added VF-1A Hayao DYRL custom content
December 20,2020, added VF-1S TV Roy content
January 22, 2024, added VF-1S Hikaru Clear Mechanic Edition content and some info on other releases since Roy