{"id":9281,"date":"2017-07-16T11:59:39","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T11:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/?p=9281"},"modified":"2017-07-17T04:09:58","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T04:09:58","slug":"bandai-dx-sv-262-draken-iii-toys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anymoon.com\/blog\/?p=9281","title":{"rendered":"Bandai DX SV-262 Draken III Toys"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bandai<\/a><\/p>\n

Review: Keith’s ride to begin, hopefully more to follow<\/p>\n

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\"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a><\/p>\n

Packaging & Extras:<\/strong> (4\/5)
\nBandai’s second Macross Delta DX release comes in the same excellent packaging as their first, Hayate’s VF-31J. You get the same thick box, same interior cover with the “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT” warning, and, once you’re through that, you’ll find a Styrofoam tray with a plastic clamshell over it. The accessories are hidden underneath a cover in the Styrofoam tray. The SV-262 comes with:
\n1) Gun
\n2) Vertical stabilizer\/shield
\n3) Clear canopy cover
\nUnder the accessories lid, you’ll find
\n5) Pilot
\n6) 3x fixed posed hands (Fists, gun grips, and open palms)
\nAnd beneath the Styrofoam tray, you’ll find another plastic tray that contains:
\n7) Display stand (Base and arm)
\n8) 3x clear display stand adapters (Fighter, GERWALK, and battroid modes)
\n9) Instructions
\nConsidering that the gun and vertical stabilizers are integral to the toy, this doesn’t feel like the same level of goodness the VF-31 toy came with. The fixed posed hands look large even before you put them on the toy. Whereas the VF-31 comes with SIX sets of fixed posed hands, the three included here seems a little light. I don’t remember there ever being a clear canopy on a Draken III in the show so I’m not sure what the inspiration is there. If the idea is that the clear canopy lets us see the pilot, like we could see the pilots in the show, then another pilot figure wearing plain clothes should have been. There are hard points on the wings but there’s nothing to put on them but that’s not terribly surprising since I don’t recall the Draken IIIs ever carrying missiles or bombs. The VF-31 toy also came with a pair of daggers but this toy doesn’t come with the sword that was seen toward the end of the series. You also won’t get the mini Drakens which were used frequently in the show. Finally, the vertical stabilizer splits open to reveal the forearm-mounted shield and has some ugly hinges screwing up the emblem; an optional fixed shield with crest unmarred should have been included. Bandai has announced that the sword, the shield and mini Drakens will be sold as a Tamashii exclusive set later in 2017.<\/p>\n

\"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a><\/p>\n

Charm & Collectability:<\/strong> (3.5\/5)
\nNot everyone loves bad guys so there will be less of an interest here. Not everyone loves Macross Delta so that may also slow some sales down. There’s very little metal so this toy won’t invoke much sentimentality. That said, this is an attractive toy, features perfect transformation, and is a unique design so some people are going to love it. Of all the Drakens, one would assume that the Keith variant will be the most desired as he was the greatest ace of Delta. Releases so far:
\nSV-262H, Keith Aero Custom, March 2017, 22000 Yen.<\/p>\n

\"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a><\/p>\n

Sculpt, Detail, & Paint:<\/strong> (9\/10)
\nThis toy doesn’t come together nearly as tightly as the VF-31 toy does in fighter mode. There are gaps and seams all over the body of fighter mode but this shouldn’t be surprising since the art on the front of the box is huge and not touched up to make things fit tighter together. I found the clear canopy generally unattractive. Some parts I expected to be translucent plastic are instead simply painted in a brilliant metallic red (which still looks attractive). The paint is phenomenal and truly makes this toy pop. GERWALK mode looks like the unloved bastard of a Glaug and an SV-51 which is pretty cool by me but many others will see it as awkward. Sometimes battroid mode looks to be all legs and neck but that’s faithful to the line art so, if it bugs you, blame Kawamori before Bandai.<\/p>\n

\"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a> \"Bandai<\/a><\/p>\n

Design:<\/strong> (8\/10)
\nThis isn’t a toy that transforms, it’s plastic origami. Transformation is complicated, not intuitive, and will have a learning curve. If you put in the time or love transformation puzzles you’ll get a lot more enjoyment out of it. The core of the toy locks together well in each mode but the back kibble\/wings don’t really lock into correct positions. The top lock in battroid could be more secure, particularly because all the joints are so stiff out of the box you really have to torque on them which can cause the lock to pop loose.
\nWhat you’ll like:
\nIntegrated diecast landing gear with rubber tires (and the rear ones fold into tiny bays)
\nArticulated tow bar on front landing gear
\nOpening cockpit canopy (with swap out feature for clear canopy)
\nSeparate pilot figure
\nPerfect (though complicated) transformation
\nThe integrated gun extends away from the body in fighter mode and angles\/pivots
\nThe gun features a folding fin to allow sufficient ground clearance
\nArticulated thruster within foot
\nPop out guns in right forearm
\nAiring of grievances:
\nThe rear landing gear don’t lock in place, either at the base or at the extension point
\nThe gun is missing a tiny peg at the front to lock it into the perfectly straight position in fighter mode
\nArticulated hands don’t do a good job grasping the gun.
\nThe shield doesn’t lock together securely
\nThe kneecap extension doesn’t lock in the extended position
\nThe included display stand is the standard Bandai DX fare with no articulation points
\nThe display stand adapter for GERWALK mode requires more effort than its worth
\nThe transformation instructions leave something to be desired
\nThe wings never tab into what would be a proper position and in GERWALK mode they conflict with the shoulders
\nThe guns housed inside the right forearm can’t pop up in fighter mode without some effort.<\/p>\n