Category: Macross

Here’s the VE-1 Elint (Electronic Intelligence) Seeker model from the “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie of 1985.  This model is designed to find and gather signals intelligence from the enemy. This robot had a limited release in Japan and they are relatively rare and really expensive!

As mentioned in the previous post, I purchased this from a small, mom and pop toy store in Kyoto Japan.  I really had a lot of fun on my trips because my parents gave me so much leeway to explore and do things on my own (most likely because Japan is so safe).  Anyway, I stumbled upon this little toy store and I saw this one, the VF-1T and the VF-1S Strike Valkyrie.  I purchased all three at the same time because I wasn’t sure if I would ever see them again and as well, I wasn’t sure if I might make it back to that toy store.

Macross VE-1 Elintseeker Hi-Metal Variable Electric DX 1/55 scale Bandai 1985 Super Real Model-S – Heavy Version Japan

VE-1J Elintseeker in action from “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie 1984

Below are the VT-1J Trainer (orange) and the VE-1J Elint Seeker from the “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie from 1985.  I vividly remember purchasing these from a small mom and pop toy store in Kyoto, Japan.  I hadn’t seen the movie (yet) but realized it was a new release as these were entirely different robots and color schemes. The VT-1J and VE-1J didn’t play big roles in the movies – you only see them in bit parts.  I included the cartoon stills as well.

I purchased these two as well as the VF-1S Strike Valkyrie from the same store.  I’m trying to remember what I paid but I think I paid about 40 dollars each. These are fairly rare as they were never released in the U.S.  I have seen the Strike Valkyrie in box go for a couple hundred to a thousand dollars in box. Sometimes, I wish I could have kept the box, but it just wasn’t possible since I easily purchased 15-20 robots a time on each trip and back then, suitcases weren’t that big. I ended up having to special freight my toys on JAL.

VT-1 Trainer and VE-1 ElintSeeker Macross 1985 Bandai 1-55 scale

Here are the anime stills of the Elintseeker and Super Ostrich. You better catch them quick or you might miss them. Both have very little screen time on the anime movie The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?.

I don’t have any of the Takatoku Valkyries, but I cherish this Bandai VF-1A as it is my only Valkyrie from the 80’s. This is the Hikaru Ichijo Bandai VF-1A from the movie “Macross: Do You Remember Love?” in 1984. Bandai made this Valkyrie just after they bought the molds from the remains of Takatoku Toys. I love the big 80’s Chogokins with die cast metal. While it is not the 1/55 scale I covet, I like having both the ST and DX versions of a robot. Hopefully I will add the larger one soon. I consider the 1/100 scale ST’s and 1/55 scale as DX versions. It seems that the 1/100 scale Valkyries are harder to find than the 1/55 scale robots on the auction sites though, so I am glad to have any of them.

Bandai made some really solid Valkyries during that time in the 1980’s, like the Elintseeker or VT Trainer. The Valkyries themselves hold a special place in my heart. I only have two Toynami Masterpiece 1/55 Valkyries and one Bandai Valkyrie from 2002, but I really hope to add the original Takatoku and Bandai robots from the 80’s. They were the first robots that were amazing as jets and just as amazing as robots. Even 30 years later the quality, design and beauty of these pieces still shine. These are the must have robots of the 80’s.

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1984 from movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1984 from the movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie instructions and stickers from the movie 超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか 1984

Bandai Variable Fighter VF-1A Valkyrie 1984 from the movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984

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