Observations & Critique: Kind of a reissue of the original Hi-Metal Accessory
As a Tamashii web exclusive (TWE), this accessory comes in a brown shipper box. Inside is a red and white retail-style box which may be an homage to the original Hi-Metal (OHM) Sound Booster accessory which also came in a red and white box. As someone who needs to store a lot of toys in their boxes, I appreciate that the Sound Booster box is the same length and height as the VF-19 toy’s packaging. The cardboard used for the box is notably less robust than the cardboard for the Hi-Metal-R (HMR) VF-19 toys. The box for the HMR Sound Booster is significantly larger than the box for the OHM release because the OHM only came with an attachment part and instructions. The HMR includes the Sound Booster as well as:
1) The antenna which attaches for flying mode-only (comes install on the OHM release)
2) Fighter mode connector piece
3) Display stand consisting of a base, a plug/conversion piece for the center of the base, and a Tamashii Stage Act style arm
There is no battroid mode connector piece because that was packaged with the Hi-Metal R VF-19Kai toy.
Released for 6,000¥ in February 2025, the HMR Sound Booster is a significant increase in price for an accessory which debuted in August 2010 for less than 3,000¥. That said, the inclusion of the display stand base with some improvements enhances the value while being much more logical than the OHM release. While you might think that compatibility of the original with the HMR toys would dampen interest in this release but that hasn’t been the case. The impact of releasing the HMR VF-19Kai has caused demand for the sound booster to grow significantly and today the sound booster frequently demands a premium over the HMR VF-19Kai toy.
I was let down to discover the Hi-Metal R release of the sound booster has fewer paint applications than the original release. Whereas the original release has two toned interior details, the HMR has everything in the same silver. Whereas the original has black accents to make the thrusters look deeper, the HMR leaves them in blue. The blue is also paler; I prefer the darker blue of the original release. The only positive is the two additional black paint applications to the bottom of the booster, making the silver wing pivots black. The Hi-Metal R has a matte finish but it’s barely noticeable and you’ll have no problem using the original Hi-Metal release with your Hi-Metal R VF-19Kai.
There are some positives that carry over from the original release. I enjoy the bubblegum pink inserts on top of the sound booster arrays and the clear lens on the unit ‘head’. While there are two screw heads visible from below, care was taken to assemble the sound booster in a way that would reduce visible screws. I like that Bandai also painted the interior edge of the boosters, hidden when in flight mode, that could have been an easy place to overlook.
The OHM Sound Booster did not include a display stand. The HMR includes the display that was included with an accessory kit for the OHM VF-19Kai and this decision on its own is a big improvement. By including the display stand, the Sound Booster feels like a more complete package as you can now display it flying without needing the 19Kai or a sold separately stand. The base is also improved by the new matte finish and the gold embossed FIRE BOMBER text. My previous complaint, that the gun stowage compartment should have a cover, was not addressed. The gun stowage compartment on the base is vestigial for the HMR which can carry the gun in all modes, unlike the OHM that couldn’t carry the gun in fighter mode while using a stand. It may come in handy if you’re opting for a battroid pose without the gun in the hand, and you can also throw in the battle mask and the perfect transformation fists in the storage compartment, but you won’t be able to stow the shoulder covers or larger fixed posed hands because space is limited.
Functionality of the stand is improved from the OHM release where the arm plugged into the base at one of four 90 degree positions. On the HMR version, an adapter fits into the arm connection hole allowing any Tamashii Stage Act to be used which can then be positioned to your liking. The base retains seven other holes allowing for multiple Tamashii Stage Act arms to be connected. That’s right, you could put the whole Fire Bomber gang on one base… if you had really long arms and Bandai made the rest of the vehicles.
Since the display stand converts to Tamashii Stage Act arms, there is no need for special display stand adapters. This also means that the Tamashii Stage Act display stand is perfectly sufficient should you prefer its less conspicuous style.
Want to use the Sound Booster but don’t want to use any display stand? You can easily display the combined sound booster and VF-19Kai in fighter mode on the landing gear or standing/kneeling in battroid mode standing.
One of the larger improvements from the original release is the inclusion of the fighter mode adapter. In an ideal world we wouldn’t need big brackets to attach accessories but having the option to attach the sound booster in fighter is welcome. The bracket attaches firmly, as does the sound booster.
Do you hate the VF-19Kai but are, for some reason, drawn to the Sound Booster and want to put it on a different VF-19 toy? You might run into some issues. The battroid mode adapter is only included with the VF-19Kai. If you borrow that adapter, you should be able to use it on a future VF-19F or VF-19S in battroid mode. If those toys are made, will they include the holes in the shoulder covers to accommodate the sound booster in fighter mode? The VF-19P’s shoulder speakers will interfere in both fighter and battroid.
My only major durability concern were the hinges for the shoulder covers. These hinges are made of two thin pieces of plastic that don’t fit well and are very difficult to collapse back into the sound booster. These hinges move very smoothly on my original Hi-Metal release so I’m optimistic a few more uses will free them up to function properly.
With the HMR VF-19Kai being a huge improvement over the OHM, this Sound Booster accessory was an unpleasant letdown. Bandai did some really dumb things with the Original Hi-Metal VF-19 releases: they released the 19Kai with almost no accessories, they then released accessories like hands and the display stand as a separate kit, and they released the sound booster as yet another separate item. The HMR release of a VF-19Kai with a plethora of accessories and the Sound Booster with a special stand makes a lot more sense. Solving the inability for the original Sound Booster to connect in fighter mode via a special connector was another step in the right direction. Making the sound booster have fewer paint applications? Bizarre. If you have the old Sound Booster, use that in concert with the Tamashii Stage Act display that comes with the HMR VF-19Kai… unless you’re really wanting to display them together in fighter mode.