Post by E_Wing on Apr 24, 2010 16:44:15 GMT 8
Kit: YF-25 Prophecy (Famima Mart Website Exclusive)
Scale: 1:72
Series: Gekijō-ban Macross Frontier ~Itsuwari no Utahime~ (Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress/Diva)
Pre-order and Release dates:
Pre-order: September 1-14; Release: October 8-12
Pre-order: September 15-October 5; Release: October 23-27
Pre-order: October 6-19; Release: November 5-9
Pre-order: October 20-November 2; Release: November 14-18
Price: ¥6,025 (inclusive of tax)
Number of Parts: 280 plastic parts (272 actual parts (174 Polystyrene (PS) + 106 Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) + 8 unneeded parts) + 5 metal rods + 1 sheet foil stickers + 1 sheet marking seal + 1 sheet replacement water-slide decals
Plastic Colors: Light Orange, White, Black, Gray, Dark Gray, Clear (parts unused), Clear Blue, Purple
Weapons and Accessories: Beam gatling gunpod x1, Knife x1, Shield x1, landing gears, Action Base 1 stand adapters
Kit Gimmicks: 3-mode Transformation (Fighter, GERWALK (Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-joint), Battroid), water-slide decals included in kit, MG-esque internal frame (common to all VF-25 kits), compatibility with all variants of Bandai's Action Base 1
HISTORY:
Kit/Mecha History:
The premiere date of Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress was first announced on September 25, 2008 during the first airing of Macross Frontier's last episode with the movie's release date not announced. It is planned to be released during the summer of 2009 but was later moved to the fall of 2009. The announcement of the fall release was done via an itasha mini-van outside the "Macross: The Super Dimension Space Launching Ceremony" event last February 22, 2009 but it is noted that the actual release date and the movie title is subjected to change. It is later known that the movie will premiere in Japan on November 21, 2009 with the preview trailer premiered in June 27, 2009, the same date that the ticket pre-sales began.
To commemorate the movie, Bandai (c/o Famima Mart) announced the limited release of the 1:72 YF-25 Prophecy model kit (early July 2009 as per Ngeekhiong's initial post) that can be only pre-ordered (together with the nationwide access movie ticket) at their website. The VF's design was done by Shoji Kawamori himself, as with the majority of all Macross designs. The kit can only be pre-ordered on four certain time periods, with the kit's release date approximately 25 days after each pre-order period. The first time that the kit was available for public viewing was at the Chara Hobby 2009 held in August 29-30, 2009 at the Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex (then later at the 49th All Japan PLAMODEL RADICON Show (PLAstic MODEL RADIoControl) held in the same venue last October 8-11, 2009). The kit was later covered in various Japanese modeling magazines, with a completed, painted, and detailed work featured in the Hobby Japan October 2009 release (the one with the XN Raiser kit).
The two-seater YF-25 Prophecy (produced by the Shinsei Industry/Macross Frontier Arsenal Original Development/L.A.I.) is the prototype (and therefore the direct predecessor) of the VF-25 Messiah series (VF-25A mass-production type (first seen in the production factory in episode 7 when Captain Jeffrey Wilder notifies the Quarter's crew for the transformation, and at the last episode when he called up arms against Galaxy (the gray/brown VF that was shown with the SMS logo close-up); only released as part of the 1:250 Macross Collection Volume 2 (2nd to the last pic)), VF-25F (junior officer type), VF-25S (commander type), VF-25G (sniper type), and the RVF-25 (reconnaissance type)) and the direct descendant of the delta-wing YF-24 Evolution (blueprint taken from the Galaxy Network; produced by Shinsei Industry/General Galaxy; another direct descendant is the Macross Galaxy Variable Fighter Development Arsenal (Guld Works)'s VF-27 Lucifer series). As the Messiah's prototype and testing machine, the Prophecy was only produced as several test units. Since it is a prototype, its main configuration/set-up is said to be unarmed, since the equipment, setting configurations, design, etc. is still being developed and might change during the test stages. It is also used simultaneously as an EX-Gear (EXtender-Gear) control test, and both of it's seats support EX-Gear. After all testing, equipment modifications and add-ons are completed, the VF-25 was produced from the test data obtained from the YF-25 and was leased to Macross Frontier's S.M.S. (Strategic Military Services) for actual combat field testing. The YF-25 was later converted into an EX-Gear training craft.
The main physical differences between the Prophecy and the Messiah are the head (which houses the multi-sensor unit: composed of more than two sensors and cameras for test data and image gathering, as well as the asymmetrical left and right antenna units) and the two-seater cockpit, aside from its light-orange and white color scheme and N.U.N.S (New United Nations Spacy) markings.
Personal History:
I first noticed the kit during one of Ngeekhiong's early news of the kit, and quickly shrugged it off because of my nearing Mechanical Engineering Board Exams, which fortunately I passed. A few months before the board exams I ordered the Hobby Japan 10/09 with the XN-Raiser conversion kit from one of the members here and saw the completed and custom-detailed (military aircraft kit-style) YF-25. Four months after the board exams (and 2 months after I migrated to Canada) I was bored up with my current WIP and I remembered about the YF-25 kit (besides I was itching to buy a new kit)). A quick eBay look-up and there was two sellers selling the kit (aside from the VF-25F Mechanical Clear version which was one of my options), sadly though I didn't have the money and therefore the ads was taken off.
A few weeks later I have it run through Google and found out that Yahoo! Japan is auctioning 5 of them (by different Japanese sellers) with the cheapest around ¥2,000. I bidded one item (¥5,100; through a 3rd-party online auction service in which I will not ever transact with them again; two days (Japan time) before the auction ends) which is neither bidded by someone else and being auctioned at a high price (7k or 9k I think) for ¥5,200, ¥100 higher (a little more than $1). Of course I won the auction To cut the long story short (and more than one month later, thanks to that @@!#^&%$%#@ auction service, together with the freak weather, not to mention the Easter holidays) I received my EMS package containing the kit from the postal office inside a 7-11 store (that was April 9), started to build it the next day, and finished a week later (together with the pictures).
PRELIMINARY REVIEW
Box art
Front:
Standard Bandai-style art, depicting the kit in the usual CG form like in other Gundam kits. The anime and Bandai's logo is as seen as usual, with the original production year and the studio's copyright at the lower left side of the box. The 3-mode variable kit logo is seen beside the title with the color of the logo the same as the mech's dominant color (as with all Macross F kits by Bandai). The size of the box is comparable to that of the MG Wing ver. Ka, while the thickness to that of HG 1:144 00-Raiser with GN Sword 3.
West/East Side:
The art for the west and east side of the box is the same: a simplified version of the front box art, but with the completed kit pictures.
North Side:
The north side highlights the specific kit parts as well its 3 main forms. The kit's contents and the completed kit is shown to the right just like the newer MG kits.
South Side:
The south side shows the 3 main forms together with front and rear views on each of the form of the completed kit. It also shows the VF's history, the synopsis of the movie, and the double-packaging art.
Double-Packaging art:
The double-packaging art is located at the very back of the box, featuring Sheryl Nome and was drawn by 3 people, 2 of which came from STUDIO G-1NEO. This is actually the first (of four kits) to feature a double-packaging art, and the only Sheryl one (the other was Ranka, on the VF-25F, VF-25F Mech. Clear, and the VF-27γ Lucifer). Actually this art (as well as Ranka's) are good enough to serve as a wall poster or as a large binder cover, but for me its too valuable for that.
Kit contents:
Sprues:
The kit contains a total of 280 parts crammed in 13 sprues (all labeled A-M in usual Bandai style). All of the sprues are basically the same with the VF-25F's except the sprue M, which contains the YF-specific parts. The number of parts are comparable with an average MG kit (in this case the MG Wing Ka with a total number of 288 parts).
YF-25's sprue M and sprue M marking at close-up
This kit also feature one of Bandai's latest molding techniques: the one that allows them to manufacture hollow cylindrical parts as a single piece rather than having them made as halves, thereby minimizing the risk of flattening out the part's surface.
(from left to right: flashes at the leg, feet, and the left antenna)
One of the problems of this kit are the numerous flashes present, notably the very visible flashes on the gray part on the leg, feet, and the left antenna. Other locations include the white shoulder armor, among others.
Manual, metal parts, and decals:
Manual front page:
The front page of the 32-page manual depicts the box art as with all VF-25 kits.
Parts list:
The manual's pages 2 and 3 has the usual Bandai's depiction of the kit's sprues, as well as a list of the other parts/accessories included at the end. The building notifications are noticeably absent.
Building tutorial:
At the page 4 of the manual, there is a general building tutorial of the kit, which is also applicable to other kits.
Sprue segregation:
First conceived on the MG RX-78 OYW ver., the manual shows the sprues needed for a specific part just before the manual instructs the builder to build that part. This is very helpful especially when building kits with a large number of parts.
Building notifications:
The building notifications (typically seen at the top of the sprue list) are located at the bottom of almost every page of the manual, probably as a “shortcut” for beginners who do not want to flip back to the parts list page for the definition of that notification.
Undergate part cutting tutorial:
This tutorial allows the building of parts made using the “undergate” process, which has the sprue connected under the part, not on the side as most parts do, thereby protecting the part against unnecessary marks and eliminates additional work. This process is usually done on chrome-coated and clear parts.
Manual “centerfold”:
This is the manual's “centerfold”, except there is no folded page at the center. These pages usually contain the synopsis, mech's info and (in the Macross F kits' case) the character info.
Transformation instructions:
Usual Bandai transformation instructions, but with an indication for which mode (Fighter to GERWALK, GERWALK to Battroid, for the reverse transformation just reverse the instructions). Like the main building manual, these instructions also come with the sprue segregation image if new parts are needed (in this case the Action Base 1 adapters).
Decal placement:
The decal placement instructions of the kit are located at the very back of the manual, similar to Bandai's MG kits. Since the marking seals and the waterslide decals have exactly the same markings, they have the same blue numbering. The red numberings, which are only present in this kit, act as notifications that the indicated decals (which are actually number decals) can be replaced with the included additional number decals to form custom unit numbering.
Leftover numbering decals (enclosed in blue) after the (separate) default numbering “001” is used.
Color guide:
The 21-color guide of the YF-25, with about an average of 3 colors per mix. As per a translated color chart taken from the internet, the last 4 colors are for the pilot figures. As with (about) all current Bandai kits, GSI Creos' Mr. Color series are used in the color chart.
Sticker/Decals:
The kit contains a small sheet of foil stickers (primarily for the black part on the crotch armor as well as for the sensors), marking seals (some of which are immediately applied as per building instructions), and its replacement waterslide decals.
Metal parts:
This kit also contains 5 metal rods (Ø22mm * 2mm x1, Ø11.5mm * 1.5mm x2, Ø20mm * 1.5mm x2) used for small (and very delicate if plastic is used) pivot joints of certain joints, specifically the one under the cockpit, on the wing roots, and the root of the upper/main Pelikan tail.
MAIN REVIEW
Body parts
(note: some marking seals are applied as per manual instructions)
Head:
The head of the YF-25 which contains its two main components: the asymmetrical side antennas and the main multi-sensor system. The white top cover and the two clear blue parts can be removed to expose the multi-sensor system. The top cover can be placed with either marking seal or decal or be painted for the blue band running at the top center of the fighter.
Multi-sensor unit and main camera exposed
Body/Fuselage (note: Fighter form pictured):
Since all Macross' variable fighters are mainly used in the fighter form, I have the main fuselage pictured. During transformation to Battroid mode, the fuselage becomes the main body of the Battroid, and the cockpit goes directly below the head. Aside from the main radar, the nose also houses about three vernier thrusters which are used to propel the fighter in absence of a traveling medium (either air or water; usually used when landing in space). The arm and wing assembly are located at the back of the fuselage. The black part at the side of the body is molded with detail but it will be relatively covered and unseen in all modes (even the cover also has that detail).
The (unseen) detail on the long black part and its cover.
The cockpit with the canopy assembled, which can be removed to show the two pilots. The canopy is made with clear blue plastic as opposed to the other Messiah kits which are made with clear plastic. The two gray pilot figures are made up of two parts each, with both of them are directly molded into the cockpit seat. Note that the hole underneath the cockpit is where the longest metal rod is attached.
Arm and wing assemblies attached at the back of the fuselage.
Arms:
The whole arm assembly is made up of an internal frame, and just the long lower arm is covered by an external armor (aside the shoulder). The lower arm's external armor is made up of three pieces: two long orange parts and one white wrist part. The orange parts form the halves of the armor and as such, a long seamline runs the entire length of the lower arm. As with the fuselage, one of the orange armor and the shoulder armor sports hidden details.
From left to right: arm internal frame assembly, seamline on the arm, hidden details on the arm and shoulder armor
The kit also includes 5 manipulators for this kit: two gripping hands, two open palm hands, and one conjoined open palm hand which serves as a restraint for the arms and as the “male peg” for the shield in fighter mode.
Wings:
(right wing top and bottom)
Since these mechs transform to fighter jets, they must have their own variable-sweep wing assemblies. A variable-sweep wing is used for aircrafts that function both in high-speed (dogfights, etc., where the wings are semi-retracted) and in low speed (bombing runs, etc., where the wings are fully extended). The wings can also fully retract for parking. The remaining metal rods are also located in these assemblies. The white stripe on the main wing is actually a marking seal/decal, and must be preferably painted since the orange color underneath bleeds to the white seal/decal above.
Legs:
(from left to right: Fighter form, Fighter form (side facing the fuselage), GERWALK form, Battroid form)
The legs form the outside portion of the fuselage and as such, houses the air intake ports on one end, and the mech's thermonuclear reaction turbine engines on the other. The feet act as the engine's variable exhaust propelling nozzle, which varies the fighter's speed. The feet also has the ability to thrust vector, providing additional maneuverability especially in fighter form. The feet is also used for braking and landing, by extending the feet to the front similar to its GERWALK form. In its GERWALK form the legs and feet are extended to the front, giving the mech's ability to hover and to turn sharp curves. In its Battroid form the feet serves as its main propulsion method, especially during flight, by redirecting the engine's thrust using the legs (depending on where it is angled), and therefore putting an increased stress of the knees.
Leg internal frame (from left to right: ankle (joints for the feet at the bottom), full leg internal frame, opened leg frame in fully retracted position, opened leg frame in fully extended position)
Weapon systems and included accessories:
The kit includes the three basic handheld weapons: a beam gatling gunpod, a knife, and a shield.
Beam gatling gunpod:
(from left to right: gunpod normal form, gunpod high output form, internal view, gunpod with mounts attached for fighter form)
The gunpod is constructed in purple and gray plastic, with the barrel in dark gray. The gunpod can be used in either its normal/compact form, and in its high-output form by opening the lower cover then extending the top part to the front. A green foil sticker is used to replicate its sensor. When transforming the mech to its Fighter form, the gunpod is attached to two mounts (wherein one of them is also attached to either the Action Base 1 stand or to an included support stand, can be removed if desired) that will go underneath the arms in fighter mode.
Gunpod in mech's Fighter mode attached to the Action Base 1 Black ver.
Knife:
The knife only consist of just one gray part. In Macross canon the knife can be reinforced with the mech's pinpoint barrier system for enhanced attack power.
Shield:
(from left to right: shield rear view, mounted on the left arm, knife in storage compartment)
The shield is an integral part of the mech, since the shield is used to cover the hands and to improve the aerodynamic profile of the fighter. The shield is also used to contain the knife with the compartment hatch at the tip of the shield. The shield is supposedly colored in white; only the top part is white and it comes from this kit's version of the sprue M (same shield as the other kits; the original orange top part (discarded as one of the eight extra/uneeded parts) is in sprue C).
Undercarriage/Landing gears:
This kit includes a set of landing gears, as with all aircraft kits, for use in the Fighter mode only. The landing gears are arranged in the tricycle configuration as with most fighter aircraft. The nose gear is made up of three parts: the main gear strut and its two wheels. Aside from the landing gears itself, this kit also includes a pair of alternate body undercarriage covers for depicting the fuselage undercarriages at the legs deployed (the nose gear cover just hinge to open).
(from left to right: nose gear bottom and side view, fuselage landing gear)
Aside from the landing gears, a small support base is included to prevent the model from tripping down (since it can barely support its weight without the stand). The support base is connected to one of the gunpod's mounts, the one that allows the kit to be displayed on the Action Base 1 stand.
Support base mounted
Action Base 1 stand adapters:
This kit also includes a set of stand adapters for use with Bandai's Action Base 1, as with all new Bandai kits which cannot fit the stand by itself. The first piece is the aforementioned gunpod mount for use in Fighter mode, the second piece is for connecting the first piece for use while in GERWALK mode, and the last is for use in Battroid mode. These parts connect underneath the model depending on which mode it is on.
Transformation:
Since this is a 3-mode variable fighter, it is common sense that this kit must transform. Compared to old Macross kits by Bandai, the kits from the Frontier series feature full transformation, with very minimal parts swapping (particularly the manipulators and the undercarriage covers). The latter part of the manual indicates the transformation procedure from Fighter to GERWALK (since the kit is first constructed in Fighter form), and then GERWALK to Battroid. To have it transform vice-versa, the directions are reversed. The (simplified) transformation procedure is as follows:
Fighter to GERWALK:
Stage 1:
1. Remove all landing gear and close all landing gear hatches
2. Pull the ankle
3. With the extended ankle as your rotation point, bend the leg down
Stage 2:
1. Open the orange leg cover
2. Lift the ankle latch
3. Pull the foot/ankle down
4. Bend the front sole to the front
5. Bend the heel to the rear
6. Fold the lower Pelikan fin inwards
7. Return the latch and the leg cover to its inital positions respectively
Stage 3:
1. Fold the upper Pelikan fin down
2. Fold the wing to the back
3. Fold the entire wing assembly inwards
4. Remove the gunpod and its two mount latches
5. Remove the shield and the conjoined manipulator
6. Bend the side skirt armor down
Stage 4:
1. Bend the lower fuselage to the front
2. Bend the arms down (to release from its latch) then to the front (with the exposed pivot joint near the "screwdriver" marking as the rotation point) at 180 degrees
Stage 5:
1. Pull the shoulder armor outwards
2. Bend the arms downward at 90 degrees
3. Return the lower fuselage to its initial position
4. Attach desired individual manipulator
GERWALK to Battroid:
Stage 6:
1. Repeat Steps 1-3 of Stage 3
2. Open the nose gear cover
3. Bend the lower fuselage to the front
4. Flip the part that connects the two legs together to the front
5. Straighten the legs down
Stage 7:
1. Pull forward then bend the nose to the nose gear hatch
2. Push the extended thigh back to its original compact form
3. Bend the aft fuselage plate down
Stage 8:
1. Bend the front fuselage down
2. Pull the head up
3. Push the rear side of the tab beside the head down
4. Rotate the head 180 degrees
5. Rotate the antennas to its position
Stage 9:
1. Bend the triangular parts beside the fuselage downward
2. Rotate the cockpit/fuselage and insert it beneath the head (with the nose joint located between the head and the cockpit, and with the nose behind the chest armor)
Stage 10:
1. Flip the black crotch part to the front while retaining the legs. Insert the fin under the fuselage to the slot now behind the crotch
2. Bend the rear fuselage plate to the cockpit to act as a cover
PROFILE PICTURES:
Fighter mode:
GERWALK mode:
Battroid mode:
Kabuki pose as per 1st preview video of Another Century's Episode: R.
CONCLUSION:
For me this kit is a satisfying build, not because this kit is an exclusive one and I waited more than a month to get it, but the kit itself is just beautiful (first noticed after just building the head). Aside from that the Battroid form is taller than the MG RX-78 ver. 2.0 by a few centimeters (based on Dalong's comparison of the MG with the 1:72 VF-25F kit). This kit can be said to be at the MG level due to its large box, number of parts, decals, kit detail, and internal frame (just like the old HG 1:100 kits compared to today's NG 1:100 kits). Only problems on this kit are certain decals (those parts are preferably painted for consistency), the use of all-plastic joints (which contribute to its stiff joints but may later result to loose and/or broken joints especially when repeatedly transformed), the sheer number of color mixes to paint this kit (as well as the VF-25S; some of which can be omitted), and the spare parts needed (if one of the kit-exclusive parts were broken and/or lost). Other than that the kit makes a great display even when in Fighter form only, and the excessive number of surplus number decals can be very useful in other kit projects. Since the kit doesn't posses a monochrome-like color scheme (like the VF-25F), the parts does not often require sealing (just like the MG Zplus A1, compared to the C1). Also, this kit is possibly compatible with the Super and Armored packs, since it is just basically a recolor of the VF-25F plus a few parts.
OVERALL RATING:
8.5 out of 10 stars
Scale: 1:72
Series: Gekijō-ban Macross Frontier ~Itsuwari no Utahime~ (Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress/Diva)
Pre-order and Release dates:
Pre-order: September 1-14; Release: October 8-12
Pre-order: September 15-October 5; Release: October 23-27
Pre-order: October 6-19; Release: November 5-9
Pre-order: October 20-November 2; Release: November 14-18
Price: ¥6,025 (inclusive of tax)
Number of Parts: 280 plastic parts (272 actual parts (174 Polystyrene (PS) + 106 Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) + 8 unneeded parts) + 5 metal rods + 1 sheet foil stickers + 1 sheet marking seal + 1 sheet replacement water-slide decals
Plastic Colors: Light Orange, White, Black, Gray, Dark Gray, Clear (parts unused), Clear Blue, Purple
Weapons and Accessories: Beam gatling gunpod x1, Knife x1, Shield x1, landing gears, Action Base 1 stand adapters
Kit Gimmicks: 3-mode Transformation (Fighter, GERWALK (Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-joint), Battroid), water-slide decals included in kit, MG-esque internal frame (common to all VF-25 kits), compatibility with all variants of Bandai's Action Base 1
HISTORY:
Kit/Mecha History:
The premiere date of Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress was first announced on September 25, 2008 during the first airing of Macross Frontier's last episode with the movie's release date not announced. It is planned to be released during the summer of 2009 but was later moved to the fall of 2009. The announcement of the fall release was done via an itasha mini-van outside the "Macross: The Super Dimension Space Launching Ceremony" event last February 22, 2009 but it is noted that the actual release date and the movie title is subjected to change. It is later known that the movie will premiere in Japan on November 21, 2009 with the preview trailer premiered in June 27, 2009, the same date that the ticket pre-sales began.
To commemorate the movie, Bandai (c/o Famima Mart) announced the limited release of the 1:72 YF-25 Prophecy model kit (early July 2009 as per Ngeekhiong's initial post) that can be only pre-ordered (together with the nationwide access movie ticket) at their website. The VF's design was done by Shoji Kawamori himself, as with the majority of all Macross designs. The kit can only be pre-ordered on four certain time periods, with the kit's release date approximately 25 days after each pre-order period. The first time that the kit was available for public viewing was at the Chara Hobby 2009 held in August 29-30, 2009 at the Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex (then later at the 49th All Japan PLAMODEL RADICON Show (PLAstic MODEL RADIoControl) held in the same venue last October 8-11, 2009). The kit was later covered in various Japanese modeling magazines, with a completed, painted, and detailed work featured in the Hobby Japan October 2009 release (the one with the XN Raiser kit).
The two-seater YF-25 Prophecy (produced by the Shinsei Industry/Macross Frontier Arsenal Original Development/L.A.I.) is the prototype (and therefore the direct predecessor) of the VF-25 Messiah series (VF-25A mass-production type (first seen in the production factory in episode 7 when Captain Jeffrey Wilder notifies the Quarter's crew for the transformation, and at the last episode when he called up arms against Galaxy (the gray/brown VF that was shown with the SMS logo close-up); only released as part of the 1:250 Macross Collection Volume 2 (2nd to the last pic)), VF-25F (junior officer type), VF-25S (commander type), VF-25G (sniper type), and the RVF-25 (reconnaissance type)) and the direct descendant of the delta-wing YF-24 Evolution (blueprint taken from the Galaxy Network; produced by Shinsei Industry/General Galaxy; another direct descendant is the Macross Galaxy Variable Fighter Development Arsenal (Guld Works)'s VF-27 Lucifer series). As the Messiah's prototype and testing machine, the Prophecy was only produced as several test units. Since it is a prototype, its main configuration/set-up is said to be unarmed, since the equipment, setting configurations, design, etc. is still being developed and might change during the test stages. It is also used simultaneously as an EX-Gear (EXtender-Gear) control test, and both of it's seats support EX-Gear. After all testing, equipment modifications and add-ons are completed, the VF-25 was produced from the test data obtained from the YF-25 and was leased to Macross Frontier's S.M.S. (Strategic Military Services) for actual combat field testing. The YF-25 was later converted into an EX-Gear training craft.
The main physical differences between the Prophecy and the Messiah are the head (which houses the multi-sensor unit: composed of more than two sensors and cameras for test data and image gathering, as well as the asymmetrical left and right antenna units) and the two-seater cockpit, aside from its light-orange and white color scheme and N.U.N.S (New United Nations Spacy) markings.
Personal History:
I first noticed the kit during one of Ngeekhiong's early news of the kit, and quickly shrugged it off because of my nearing Mechanical Engineering Board Exams, which fortunately I passed. A few months before the board exams I ordered the Hobby Japan 10/09 with the XN-Raiser conversion kit from one of the members here and saw the completed and custom-detailed (military aircraft kit-style) YF-25. Four months after the board exams (and 2 months after I migrated to Canada) I was bored up with my current WIP and I remembered about the YF-25 kit (besides I was itching to buy a new kit)). A quick eBay look-up and there was two sellers selling the kit (aside from the VF-25F Mechanical Clear version which was one of my options), sadly though I didn't have the money and therefore the ads was taken off.
A few weeks later I have it run through Google and found out that Yahoo! Japan is auctioning 5 of them (by different Japanese sellers) with the cheapest around ¥2,000. I bidded one item (¥5,100; through a 3rd-party online auction service in which I will not ever transact with them again; two days (Japan time) before the auction ends) which is neither bidded by someone else and being auctioned at a high price (7k or 9k I think) for ¥5,200, ¥100 higher (a little more than $1). Of course I won the auction To cut the long story short (and more than one month later, thanks to that @@!#^&%$%#@ auction service, together with the freak weather, not to mention the Easter holidays) I received my EMS package containing the kit from the postal office inside a 7-11 store (that was April 9), started to build it the next day, and finished a week later (together with the pictures).
PRELIMINARY REVIEW
Box art
Front:
Standard Bandai-style art, depicting the kit in the usual CG form like in other Gundam kits. The anime and Bandai's logo is as seen as usual, with the original production year and the studio's copyright at the lower left side of the box. The 3-mode variable kit logo is seen beside the title with the color of the logo the same as the mech's dominant color (as with all Macross F kits by Bandai). The size of the box is comparable to that of the MG Wing ver. Ka, while the thickness to that of HG 1:144 00-Raiser with GN Sword 3.
West/East Side:
The art for the west and east side of the box is the same: a simplified version of the front box art, but with the completed kit pictures.
North Side:
The north side highlights the specific kit parts as well its 3 main forms. The kit's contents and the completed kit is shown to the right just like the newer MG kits.
South Side:
The south side shows the 3 main forms together with front and rear views on each of the form of the completed kit. It also shows the VF's history, the synopsis of the movie, and the double-packaging art.
Double-Packaging art:
The double-packaging art is located at the very back of the box, featuring Sheryl Nome and was drawn by 3 people, 2 of which came from STUDIO G-1NEO. This is actually the first (of four kits) to feature a double-packaging art, and the only Sheryl one (the other was Ranka, on the VF-25F, VF-25F Mech. Clear, and the VF-27γ Lucifer). Actually this art (as well as Ranka's) are good enough to serve as a wall poster or as a large binder cover, but for me its too valuable for that.
Kit contents:
Sprues:
The kit contains a total of 280 parts crammed in 13 sprues (all labeled A-M in usual Bandai style). All of the sprues are basically the same with the VF-25F's except the sprue M, which contains the YF-specific parts. The number of parts are comparable with an average MG kit (in this case the MG Wing Ka with a total number of 288 parts).
YF-25's sprue M and sprue M marking at close-up
This kit also feature one of Bandai's latest molding techniques: the one that allows them to manufacture hollow cylindrical parts as a single piece rather than having them made as halves, thereby minimizing the risk of flattening out the part's surface.
(from left to right: flashes at the leg, feet, and the left antenna)
One of the problems of this kit are the numerous flashes present, notably the very visible flashes on the gray part on the leg, feet, and the left antenna. Other locations include the white shoulder armor, among others.
Manual, metal parts, and decals:
Manual front page:
The front page of the 32-page manual depicts the box art as with all VF-25 kits.
Parts list:
The manual's pages 2 and 3 has the usual Bandai's depiction of the kit's sprues, as well as a list of the other parts/accessories included at the end. The building notifications are noticeably absent.
Building tutorial:
At the page 4 of the manual, there is a general building tutorial of the kit, which is also applicable to other kits.
Sprue segregation:
First conceived on the MG RX-78 OYW ver., the manual shows the sprues needed for a specific part just before the manual instructs the builder to build that part. This is very helpful especially when building kits with a large number of parts.
Building notifications:
The building notifications (typically seen at the top of the sprue list) are located at the bottom of almost every page of the manual, probably as a “shortcut” for beginners who do not want to flip back to the parts list page for the definition of that notification.
Undergate part cutting tutorial:
This tutorial allows the building of parts made using the “undergate” process, which has the sprue connected under the part, not on the side as most parts do, thereby protecting the part against unnecessary marks and eliminates additional work. This process is usually done on chrome-coated and clear parts.
Manual “centerfold”:
This is the manual's “centerfold”, except there is no folded page at the center. These pages usually contain the synopsis, mech's info and (in the Macross F kits' case) the character info.
Transformation instructions:
Usual Bandai transformation instructions, but with an indication for which mode (Fighter to GERWALK, GERWALK to Battroid, for the reverse transformation just reverse the instructions). Like the main building manual, these instructions also come with the sprue segregation image if new parts are needed (in this case the Action Base 1 adapters).
Decal placement:
The decal placement instructions of the kit are located at the very back of the manual, similar to Bandai's MG kits. Since the marking seals and the waterslide decals have exactly the same markings, they have the same blue numbering. The red numberings, which are only present in this kit, act as notifications that the indicated decals (which are actually number decals) can be replaced with the included additional number decals to form custom unit numbering.
Leftover numbering decals (enclosed in blue) after the (separate) default numbering “001” is used.
Color guide:
The 21-color guide of the YF-25, with about an average of 3 colors per mix. As per a translated color chart taken from the internet, the last 4 colors are for the pilot figures. As with (about) all current Bandai kits, GSI Creos' Mr. Color series are used in the color chart.
Sticker/Decals:
The kit contains a small sheet of foil stickers (primarily for the black part on the crotch armor as well as for the sensors), marking seals (some of which are immediately applied as per building instructions), and its replacement waterslide decals.
Metal parts:
This kit also contains 5 metal rods (Ø22mm * 2mm x1, Ø11.5mm * 1.5mm x2, Ø20mm * 1.5mm x2) used for small (and very delicate if plastic is used) pivot joints of certain joints, specifically the one under the cockpit, on the wing roots, and the root of the upper/main Pelikan tail.
MAIN REVIEW
Body parts
(note: some marking seals are applied as per manual instructions)
Head:
The head of the YF-25 which contains its two main components: the asymmetrical side antennas and the main multi-sensor system. The white top cover and the two clear blue parts can be removed to expose the multi-sensor system. The top cover can be placed with either marking seal or decal or be painted for the blue band running at the top center of the fighter.
Multi-sensor unit and main camera exposed
Body/Fuselage (note: Fighter form pictured):
Since all Macross' variable fighters are mainly used in the fighter form, I have the main fuselage pictured. During transformation to Battroid mode, the fuselage becomes the main body of the Battroid, and the cockpit goes directly below the head. Aside from the main radar, the nose also houses about three vernier thrusters which are used to propel the fighter in absence of a traveling medium (either air or water; usually used when landing in space). The arm and wing assembly are located at the back of the fuselage. The black part at the side of the body is molded with detail but it will be relatively covered and unseen in all modes (even the cover also has that detail).
The (unseen) detail on the long black part and its cover.
The cockpit with the canopy assembled, which can be removed to show the two pilots. The canopy is made with clear blue plastic as opposed to the other Messiah kits which are made with clear plastic. The two gray pilot figures are made up of two parts each, with both of them are directly molded into the cockpit seat. Note that the hole underneath the cockpit is where the longest metal rod is attached.
Arm and wing assemblies attached at the back of the fuselage.
Arms:
The whole arm assembly is made up of an internal frame, and just the long lower arm is covered by an external armor (aside the shoulder). The lower arm's external armor is made up of three pieces: two long orange parts and one white wrist part. The orange parts form the halves of the armor and as such, a long seamline runs the entire length of the lower arm. As with the fuselage, one of the orange armor and the shoulder armor sports hidden details.
From left to right: arm internal frame assembly, seamline on the arm, hidden details on the arm and shoulder armor
The kit also includes 5 manipulators for this kit: two gripping hands, two open palm hands, and one conjoined open palm hand which serves as a restraint for the arms and as the “male peg” for the shield in fighter mode.
Wings:
(right wing top and bottom)
Since these mechs transform to fighter jets, they must have their own variable-sweep wing assemblies. A variable-sweep wing is used for aircrafts that function both in high-speed (dogfights, etc., where the wings are semi-retracted) and in low speed (bombing runs, etc., where the wings are fully extended). The wings can also fully retract for parking. The remaining metal rods are also located in these assemblies. The white stripe on the main wing is actually a marking seal/decal, and must be preferably painted since the orange color underneath bleeds to the white seal/decal above.
Legs:
(from left to right: Fighter form, Fighter form (side facing the fuselage), GERWALK form, Battroid form)
The legs form the outside portion of the fuselage and as such, houses the air intake ports on one end, and the mech's thermonuclear reaction turbine engines on the other. The feet act as the engine's variable exhaust propelling nozzle, which varies the fighter's speed. The feet also has the ability to thrust vector, providing additional maneuverability especially in fighter form. The feet is also used for braking and landing, by extending the feet to the front similar to its GERWALK form. In its GERWALK form the legs and feet are extended to the front, giving the mech's ability to hover and to turn sharp curves. In its Battroid form the feet serves as its main propulsion method, especially during flight, by redirecting the engine's thrust using the legs (depending on where it is angled), and therefore putting an increased stress of the knees.
Leg internal frame (from left to right: ankle (joints for the feet at the bottom), full leg internal frame, opened leg frame in fully retracted position, opened leg frame in fully extended position)
Weapon systems and included accessories:
The kit includes the three basic handheld weapons: a beam gatling gunpod, a knife, and a shield.
Beam gatling gunpod:
(from left to right: gunpod normal form, gunpod high output form, internal view, gunpod with mounts attached for fighter form)
The gunpod is constructed in purple and gray plastic, with the barrel in dark gray. The gunpod can be used in either its normal/compact form, and in its high-output form by opening the lower cover then extending the top part to the front. A green foil sticker is used to replicate its sensor. When transforming the mech to its Fighter form, the gunpod is attached to two mounts (wherein one of them is also attached to either the Action Base 1 stand or to an included support stand, can be removed if desired) that will go underneath the arms in fighter mode.
Gunpod in mech's Fighter mode attached to the Action Base 1 Black ver.
Knife:
The knife only consist of just one gray part. In Macross canon the knife can be reinforced with the mech's pinpoint barrier system for enhanced attack power.
Shield:
(from left to right: shield rear view, mounted on the left arm, knife in storage compartment)
The shield is an integral part of the mech, since the shield is used to cover the hands and to improve the aerodynamic profile of the fighter. The shield is also used to contain the knife with the compartment hatch at the tip of the shield. The shield is supposedly colored in white; only the top part is white and it comes from this kit's version of the sprue M (same shield as the other kits; the original orange top part (discarded as one of the eight extra/uneeded parts) is in sprue C).
Undercarriage/Landing gears:
This kit includes a set of landing gears, as with all aircraft kits, for use in the Fighter mode only. The landing gears are arranged in the tricycle configuration as with most fighter aircraft. The nose gear is made up of three parts: the main gear strut and its two wheels. Aside from the landing gears itself, this kit also includes a pair of alternate body undercarriage covers for depicting the fuselage undercarriages at the legs deployed (the nose gear cover just hinge to open).
(from left to right: nose gear bottom and side view, fuselage landing gear)
Aside from the landing gears, a small support base is included to prevent the model from tripping down (since it can barely support its weight without the stand). The support base is connected to one of the gunpod's mounts, the one that allows the kit to be displayed on the Action Base 1 stand.
Support base mounted
Action Base 1 stand adapters:
This kit also includes a set of stand adapters for use with Bandai's Action Base 1, as with all new Bandai kits which cannot fit the stand by itself. The first piece is the aforementioned gunpod mount for use in Fighter mode, the second piece is for connecting the first piece for use while in GERWALK mode, and the last is for use in Battroid mode. These parts connect underneath the model depending on which mode it is on.
Transformation:
Since this is a 3-mode variable fighter, it is common sense that this kit must transform. Compared to old Macross kits by Bandai, the kits from the Frontier series feature full transformation, with very minimal parts swapping (particularly the manipulators and the undercarriage covers). The latter part of the manual indicates the transformation procedure from Fighter to GERWALK (since the kit is first constructed in Fighter form), and then GERWALK to Battroid. To have it transform vice-versa, the directions are reversed. The (simplified) transformation procedure is as follows:
Fighter to GERWALK:
Stage 1:
1. Remove all landing gear and close all landing gear hatches
2. Pull the ankle
3. With the extended ankle as your rotation point, bend the leg down
Stage 2:
1. Open the orange leg cover
2. Lift the ankle latch
3. Pull the foot/ankle down
4. Bend the front sole to the front
5. Bend the heel to the rear
6. Fold the lower Pelikan fin inwards
7. Return the latch and the leg cover to its inital positions respectively
Stage 3:
1. Fold the upper Pelikan fin down
2. Fold the wing to the back
3. Fold the entire wing assembly inwards
4. Remove the gunpod and its two mount latches
5. Remove the shield and the conjoined manipulator
6. Bend the side skirt armor down
Stage 4:
1. Bend the lower fuselage to the front
2. Bend the arms down (to release from its latch) then to the front (with the exposed pivot joint near the "screwdriver" marking as the rotation point) at 180 degrees
Stage 5:
1. Pull the shoulder armor outwards
2. Bend the arms downward at 90 degrees
3. Return the lower fuselage to its initial position
4. Attach desired individual manipulator
GERWALK to Battroid:
Stage 6:
1. Repeat Steps 1-3 of Stage 3
2. Open the nose gear cover
3. Bend the lower fuselage to the front
4. Flip the part that connects the two legs together to the front
5. Straighten the legs down
Stage 7:
1. Pull forward then bend the nose to the nose gear hatch
2. Push the extended thigh back to its original compact form
3. Bend the aft fuselage plate down
Stage 8:
1. Bend the front fuselage down
2. Pull the head up
3. Push the rear side of the tab beside the head down
4. Rotate the head 180 degrees
5. Rotate the antennas to its position
Stage 9:
1. Bend the triangular parts beside the fuselage downward
2. Rotate the cockpit/fuselage and insert it beneath the head (with the nose joint located between the head and the cockpit, and with the nose behind the chest armor)
Stage 10:
1. Flip the black crotch part to the front while retaining the legs. Insert the fin under the fuselage to the slot now behind the crotch
2. Bend the rear fuselage plate to the cockpit to act as a cover
PROFILE PICTURES:
Fighter mode:
GERWALK mode:
Battroid mode:
Kabuki pose as per 1st preview video of Another Century's Episode: R.
CONCLUSION:
For me this kit is a satisfying build, not because this kit is an exclusive one and I waited more than a month to get it, but the kit itself is just beautiful (first noticed after just building the head). Aside from that the Battroid form is taller than the MG RX-78 ver. 2.0 by a few centimeters (based on Dalong's comparison of the MG with the 1:72 VF-25F kit). This kit can be said to be at the MG level due to its large box, number of parts, decals, kit detail, and internal frame (just like the old HG 1:100 kits compared to today's NG 1:100 kits). Only problems on this kit are certain decals (those parts are preferably painted for consistency), the use of all-plastic joints (which contribute to its stiff joints but may later result to loose and/or broken joints especially when repeatedly transformed), the sheer number of color mixes to paint this kit (as well as the VF-25S; some of which can be omitted), and the spare parts needed (if one of the kit-exclusive parts were broken and/or lost). Other than that the kit makes a great display even when in Fighter form only, and the excessive number of surplus number decals can be very useful in other kit projects. Since the kit doesn't posses a monochrome-like color scheme (like the VF-25F), the parts does not often require sealing (just like the MG Zplus A1, compared to the C1). Also, this kit is possibly compatible with the Super and Armored packs, since it is just basically a recolor of the VF-25F plus a few parts.
OVERALL RATING:
8.5 out of 10 stars
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 