Bandai 1/60 DX (Original Release) VF-27

Review: Includes both Brera and Grace releases

Packaging & Extras: (3.5/5) + 0.5 for Grace
The original DX VF-27 toys came packaged in dark boxes adorned with product photography and accent trim that matched color of the scheme. The boxes are fairly large at 38 x 27 x8 and the cardboard stock is thin relying on the interior Styrofoam tray to give the package any rigidity. The thin cardboard is also prone to creasing and the dark colors show every scuff. You’ll receive the VF-27 as well as:
1) Instructions
2) 3x pair of fixed posed hands (fist, gun grip, open palm, the toy also has a set of knife-hand hands attached)
3) Brera pilot figure and Ranka passenger figure already in cockpit
4) Gun (with opening and scope gimmicks)
5) Fold booster attachment for DX VF-27
6) Fold booster (Grace only)

As a Tamashii Web Exclusive, Grace’s DX VF-27 was shipped to purchasers in a brown shipper box. Contents include everything shipped with Brera with the following changes and additions:
3) Anonymous green male pilot in cockpit, Brera pilot figure included in the accessory tray
6) Fold booster attachment parts for original DX VF-25 toys
7) Fold Booster
Grace includes the fold booster and a connector piece to attach it to the (original DX) VF-25 toys. If you’re not planning on buying Grace’s VF-27, you’ll have to purchase the “Gallia IV bonus parts” (see my review) to get a fold booster. This is an impressive amount of accessories though later renewal/revival releases benefit from a basic display stand.

Charm & Collectability: (3/5)
The VF-27 toys have failed to generate a fervor in any of their incarnations. Is it because neither Grace nor Brera resonated with fans or is it because the VF-27 toys have yet to deliver to the promise of the design? The scale works out to close enough to 1/60 with fighter being about 32 cm long and battroid being about 26.5 cm (depending on what spike you measure to). The figure has decent heft with some metal in the construction, mostly in the feet and joints and features perfect transformation.
In August 2013, Bandai launched the “renewal” version which included various improvements to the toy, additional paint applications, and added a display stand and super parts which drastically reduced collectability of the inferior original releases. The renewal VF-27 isn’t a completely new toy (like what we saw with the renewal VF-25) with most of its enhancements impacting battroid mode. If you’re a big GERWALK or fighter mode fan, then these original releases will still suit you perfectly fine. 
In July 2025 Bandai reissued the renewal Brera toy, this time with a matte finish, and called it a “revival” version that matched the “revival” reissues Bandai did for the VF-25.

Sculpt, Detail, & Paint: (8/10)
The painted details are very good and taken directly from existing line art, unlike the renewal version which adds more painted on detail of unknown origin. Fighter mode is pretty sexy but Bandai doesn’t go to quite the same lengths Yamato did on some of their V2 VF-1 toys.  The landing gear has been improved over the VF-25, now featuring a tow-bar.

The pilot figures are vast improvements over the molded in place VF-25 figure although not up to Yamato/Arcadia standards. The huge gun is nicely detailed but this mega beam rifle is too large looking in battroid mode, no doubt a concession to the proportion shifting that appears to happen as the gun looks very long in fighter mode. Maybe in the animation it mounts beneath fighter mode further forward than it does on the toy?

Unlike the original DX VF-25, which looks droopy and haphazard in GERWALK mode, the original DX VF-27 pulls it off as well as the other modes. This is largely due to the seating of the intakes which looks natural. The renewal toys improved the mode with re-worked legs which angle further forward for a more traditional and aggressive GERWALK.

Like the original DX VF-25, the original DX VF-27 figures are a bit thick (chunky), and the crotch area, largely retained from the VF-25 toy, doesn’t really pull off the angling or shape from the anime. The Lucifer line art has a pelvis that angles out but the DX toy barely manages an outward slope. Tip: place either an eraser or an unused fixed posed hand behind the crotch and it will prop it forward.   Note in the battroid line art comparison above that while the renewal version looks less chunky (a definite improvement) it’s not necessarily that much more line art accurate in the waist area. I’ve replaced the primitive video review that used to be in this post with my new HD comparison to the renewal toy.

The Grace release swaps the burgundy for green. The pilot figure looks like someone in pajamas. The fold booster is a good looking accessory with translucent plastic windows showing off interior detail front and back.

Design: (7.5/10)
In universe, the plans for the YF-24 were distributed to the emigration fleets with Frontier using them the basis of the VF-25 that they would put in production and the Galaxy group creating the VF-27. Since both designs share the YF-24 foundation, there are numerous similarities. From what I understand, the creation of this toy has a very different trajectory. After the amateurish launch of the original DX VF-25, I’m told that Bandai opted to consult a third-party design team that had experience working with Yamato to craft their DX VF-27 (and the later YF-29 that would lead to the renewal VF-25). Here’s the design highlights of the original DX VF-27:
1) The booster nozzles are articulated

2) The gun separates and features a hidden clip for attaching in fighter mode
3) There’s a clip built into the toy so the gun can attach without optional parts
4) The knees have a swivel (not present on original VF-25 toys)

5) Perfect transformation to each mode. The hips can stay attached in GERWALK mode making the mode more stable and enjoyable (not present on original VF-25 toys). Pegs within the shoulder mechanism help unify the arm and torso.
6) Opening canopy with removable pilots (pilots were affixed on original VF-25 toys)
8) Integrated landing gear with front tow bar

9) Integrated knife in the shield and articulated shield edge which collapses for battroid mode and allows the shield to suck in much tighter to the arm than the original VF-25
Since the original DX VF-25 toy was the first attempt at a deluxe VF-25 I didn’t realize how poorly it was done.  This toy came along and showed the world that big improvements could be made.  Bandai then made more big improvements when they introduced the YF-29.  Check out my HD video above to see the improvements that the renewal version added.  While there not as substantial as the improvements Bandai made between the original VF-25 and renewal VF-25 releases, the new GERWALK support goes a long way to making GERWALK more stable and the new shoulder block transformation mechanisms make battroid more fun to handle.

The fold drive included with the Grace/Cannon Fodder release connects firmly to the toy and can remain on the toy, even when in battroid mode.

Durability & Build: (7/10)
These toys are generally sturdy and there were few reports of early breakage. In handling the toy, the small front sensors on the nose in fighter mode need special attention to avoid accidental damage, particularly during transformation. Attention should also be paid to the paint, especially the paint on the nosecone which can be very easily scratched when transforming to/from battroid mode. All of the paint on the toy can be removed fairly easily it seems but that paint on the nose is pretty vital to the overall look of the toy and it’s in a position where only the slightest mis-transformation will cause plastic to drag across the top of it. The loose crotch to back connection that plagued the VF-25 toys seems to have been mitigated although the design looks essentially unchanged and may become looser and more problematic in time. I bought a used version and the joints are universally very loose so be aware that you might have to do some joint maintenance to tighten things up; out of the box things were nice and tight and the figure was fun to play with and pose even with that huge gun.

Articulation: (8/10)
I had a ton of fun posing this toy.  There seemed to be pretty frequent issues with balance and I often struggled with getting the feet just right but I had fun in every mode. The waist joint may prove a little loose if you’re planning on lots of twisting poses. This score is limited by the lack of a joint just below the shoulder that would allow the arm to extend away from the body, a joint later introduced on the VF-25 renewal toys.

Total Score: Brera (37/50), Grace (38/50)
This was my original conclusion statement:
There’s no question that this toy represents a significant improvement over the (original) VF-25 DX toy. Between the design upgrades and the attention to detail, I was extremely pleased with my purchases. I know the VF-25 design probably has a much larger fan base since it was the star of Macross Frontier, so it’s sad that Bandai wasn’t able to put something this nice together for that design. Hey, if decades of Macross toy production has proven anything it’s that Macross fans will buy the same design repeatedly if it shows improvement so maybe Bandai will visit the VF-25 again some day. In the meantime, if you’re a VF-27 there’s no good reason not to buy this toy… just be EXTREMELY careful with that nosecone paint. Heck, if you’re not planning on selling it you might want to go ahead and give the toy a light clear coat.”
Obviously, we did get a renewal VF-25 toy and that toy is easily superior to the original VF-27 toy and even the renewal VF-27 toy. The differences between the renewal VF-27 and the original version aren’t incredibly dramatic, particularly in fighter and GERWALK modes, so if you’re on a budget and you prefer fighter mode don’t rule these original releases out.

March 16, 2010: Original Brera review
June 13, 2010: Added pictures/content relating to the Grace/CF release
September 29, 2013: Added pictures/content relating to the renewal version and an HD video comparison
October 19, 2026: Updated to new WordPress format, added mention of revival release