{"id":245,"date":"2011-11-16T23:00:31","date_gmt":"2011-11-16T23:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/2006\/07\/09\/yamato-172-yf-21-omega-one\/"},"modified":"2014-08-26T00:31:54","modified_gmt":"2014-08-26T00:31:54","slug":"yamato-172-yf-21-omega-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/?p=245","title":{"rendered":"Yamato 1\/72 YF-21 Toys"},"content":{"rendered":"

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REVIEW(updated): Includes version 1 and version 2 with fast packs<\/p>\n

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Packaging & Extras: Version 1 (2\/5), Version 2 (3.5\/5)
\n<\/strong>The first version of the toy comes with no extras whatsoever.\u00a0\u00a0You\u00a0get\u00a0a somewhat large, flimsy\u00a0box with a large window\u00a0that can\u00a0be used as a display piece in box.\u00a0 You also get the toy, a few decals (precut, unlike the first edition YF-19), and instructions.\u00a0 That’s it.\u00a0 The lack of a gun was really depressing.\u00a0 The second version of\u00a0the toy was packaged in fighter mode in a thinner box with a lot of nice extras including:
\n1) Super Parts (2 leg bay covers, two fin pods)
\n2)\u00a02x\u00a0rear landing gears (required when the leg bay cover super parts are in use)
\n3)\u00a0Gould pilot figure
\n4)\u00a02x Guns
\n5) 2x Gun gripping fixed-pose hands
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Charm & Collectability (2.5\/5)<\/strong>
\nOf all Yamato’s 1\/72 Macross Plus first edition toys the YF-21 was the least plagued by build quality issues.\u00a0 The first edition toy was released in January 2001 and touted its similarity to the existing Studio Half Eye kit amongst its selling point.\u00a0 The toy had an MSRP of 6800 Yen.\u00a0 The second edition toy was released in April 2003 with an MSRP of 7800 Yen.\u00a0 The fast packs included in the second edition toy are not compatible with the first edition toy which, when weighed with the additional extras made the second edition toy seem a much better purchase.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the second edition toy adopted a more purple hue which many found to be a large turn off.\u00a0 When Yamato revisited the YF-21 with their 1\/60 release they also revisited a more true blue color.\u00a0 As one would expect, the release of the 1\/60 toy and its huge strides forward in all categories effectively crushed the secondary market for these 1\/72 figures.\u00a0 The 1\/72 offerings continue to enjoy the charm and collectability that comes from a fair amount of diecast content but anyone looking for the best representation of the YF-21 should quickly look past these now-classic toys.<\/p>\n

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Sculpt, Detail, & Paint: Version 1 (5.5\/10), Version 2 (6.5\/10)<\/strong>
\nAs you can see in the included line art comparison, the effort made by Yamato isn’t terrible but it’s still far from good by today’s standards.\u00a0 Improvements from version 1 to version 2 include additional tampo printed detail, redesigned leg bays where the legs rotate flat and allow a much sleeker fighter mode, and connecting points for the fast packs.\u00a0 The second version’s fighter mode does a fairly respectable job emulating the line art (for the era) although in both versions the fighter’s\u00a0neck is too short, the rear\u00a0fins too large, and the shoulders are awkwardly exposed.\u00a0 Battroid mode is a bit of a monstrosity no matter which version is being compared to the line art.\u00a0\u00a0The back of the toy is far too large, the knees look awkward, and the nose cone looks too large and prominent up front.
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Design (6\/10)<\/strong>
\nBack in the early 2000s when handling any of the Mac+ toys that Yamato had produced I got a “Wow, they actually pulled it off” feeling and this toy was no exception.\u00a0 Sure, most of those accolades would be better directed toward Studio Half Eye for their pioneering design-work for their resin models but back in that era I was pleased with these toys (which says a lot for the era and the huge strides that have come afterward).\u00a0 The YF-21 does not have a simple transformation but Yamato\u00a0managed to replicate it in a way that flows (although you may find the first few transformations rather frustrating).\u00a0 There doesn’t seem to be any needless complication in the process and Yamato\u00a0put tabs where they needed to be to keep the whole thing together well in any mode.\u00a0 Even back when I first reviewed this toy I did find a few reasons to complain.\u00a0 The locking mechanisms for the hips seemed too weak allowing the hips to slide upward into the chest too easily.\u00a0 Version 2 received a bit more praise for adding the guns that expanded and had articulated grip covers but it also received some criticism since the fast packs had to be removed to remove the guns from the bay covers and additional landing gears needed to be plugged into the past packs in fighter mode.\u00a0 In 2008, when Yamato dropped the 1\/60 version of the toy, our eyes were opened to a number of design improvements that forever shifted the score here downward.\u00a0 The 1\/60 toy added little things like articulated hands and removable intake covers but it also added bigger things like tabs to hold the bay doors in GERWALK mode and mobility for the head in battroid as well as gimmicks like the pilot seat that reclined to allow the pilot to be right-side up in battroid.<\/p>\n

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Durabilty & Build (6.5\/10)
\n<\/strong>Of all Yamato’s first editon 1\/72 Macross Plus toys the YF-21 was the least prone to absolute failure or breakage without handling.\u00a0 That said, it isn’t really hard to break this toy with improper handling.\u00a0 As you can imagine, the yellow fin near the cockpit in fighter mode doesn’t take a lot to snap off.\u00a0 I have had a few parts pop off during routine handling.\u00a0 I’ve accidentally removed one of the silver flaps that cover the rear of the jet as well as one of the tail fins (on the arm in battloid mode).\u00a0 Both of these pieces are simply snap-on though and it was a cynch to put them back on and I haven’t had to worry about them since.\u00a0 As you can imagine with any part that can easily pop off it can also be easily lost so it’s something to keep in mind.\u00a0 What really\u00a0reduces the score here for both the\u00a0first and second edition toys is how difficult it is to get the\u00a0intakes lined up properly with the back of the\u00a0fighter mode.\u00a0 Constant fit issues can lead the toy’s owner to get the toy into a position where\u00a0undue pressure is created on the chest area intakes and all the parts they effect.\u00a0 If you ever see a picture of one of these toys missing an arm it’s usually caused by these fit issues causing too much strain.
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