Category: Macross

Macross VF-1J ST 1/100 scale Hikaru Battroid Valkyrie by Takatoku Toys 1983 from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス)

The Takatoku 1/100 scale Valkyries as a whole are a lot harder to come by than the 1/55 scale version. Except for the Hikaru VF-1J ST. This appears to be the only one that keeps coming up on the sites I usually buy from. I hope to add a few more of these to my collection next year. This is actually my first Takatoku Valkyrie. I actually added the brown cannon fodder 1/55 scale this year as well from David’s trip to Japan. Before this I only had the 1984 Bandai VF-1A, so it is nice to have one of the original Takatoku toys that started it all. I consider the these the gold standard of  robots from the 1980’s.

The toy captures the robots from the anime in great detail. The VF-1J looks fantastic both as a robot and a plane! The toy is solid with a great design and fun to transform. Normally when the robot looks good the form suffers. But  this is definitely not in this case.  The Valkyries easily outclass any transforming robots from the 1980’s with their perfect transformations(kanzen henkei). Plus it helps that the anime was one of the better ones to watch in 80’s. I like this particular color scheme as I can imagine an actual combat jet with these colors.

Macross VF-1J ST 1/100 scale Ichijō Hikaru Battroid Valkyrie by Takatoku Toys 1983 from anime Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu( 超時空要塞マクロス)

Macross VF-1J ST 1/100 scale Hikaru Ichijyo Battroid Valkyrie by Takatoku Toys 1983 from anime Choujikuu Yousai Macross( 超時空要塞マクロス)

Jetfire Transformers Generation 1 Autobot Hasbro 1985

Here’s a picture of Jetfire – the Autobot air guardian.  He looks dramatically different from the cartoon.  He’s basically the same jet as the “Macross” series as they used the same mold. My cousin lent this one to me so that I could display it with the rest of the Macross collection.  I recall he had this as a kid but I don’t know if this is the original one – he may have re-purchased this one later on.

Jetfire Transformers Autobot from the Generation 1 cartoon

Macross VF-1S Armored Valkyrie with GBP-1S 1/55 scale Roy Fokker – Takatoku Toys 1983 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

This is the VF-1S Armored Valkyrie and I thought I got this as a set but looking at my old handwritten notes, I got the armor for 25 dollars in Japan in 1985 and the VF1S in Hong Kong in the same year. During my last trip Japan trip 2013, I saw this in a 2nd hand store for about 140-150 (I think) and I was thinking of getting this for my cousin but I noticed that the plastic was starting to yellow and I so, I ended up getting him the Orguss. In the Macross cartoon, you see the armor is on the VF-1J as showing in the cartoon still (and not the VF-1S as shown below).

Macross VF-1J Armored Valkyrie

Macross SDF-1 DX 1/3000 scale 12″ Battle Fortress- Takatoku Toys 1984 Storm Attacker Construction from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Here’s probably the holy grail of the Macross collection – the original Takatoku SDF-1.  Actually, I do not think they have re-issued this toy under the Bandai or Yamato line (unlike the various VF jets).  I bought this in Hong Kong in 1983 and I was very, very happy to have purchased him. When I look back at that trip to HK, I really remember there were more toy stores.  When I went again in 2011, I didn’t see anywhere near the volume that I recalled as a child.  I do remember though, that HK used to be a big maker of toys but not so much anymore and perhaps, that has something to do it.

SDF-1 in action from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Below are the two variants of the VF-1S – the “Strike Valkyrie” and the “Roy Fokker” model from the Macross series.  The Roy Fokker model skull and crossbones insignia is actually modeled from an actual U.S. Navy squadron – VFA-103 “The Jolly Rogers.” The VF-1S “Strike Valkyrie” is from Bandai while the VF-1S “Roy Fokker” is from Takatoku Toys.  I believe I purchased the “Roy Fokker” model in Hong Kong in 1983.  During my last trip to Hong Kong in 2011, I tried to look for toy stores in the malls but there just didn’t seem to be same amount of volume that I remembered.  It’s also possible that these stores are now for adults like me and maybe in less traveled/less touristy areas. Both VF-1S and the Strike Valkyrie, I purchased in Japan 1985 for 20 dollars each.

Variable Fighter VF-1S Valkyrie 1/55 scale – Strike Valkyrie Hi Metal Hikaru Type 1984 With Fast Pack Bandai & Roy Fokker Takatoku Toys 1983 from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

I got this as a present from my parents in 1983. This is the model that Hikaro Ichinose (Rick Hunter in the U.S. release) started out with.  He then went onto the J model which was white and red and finally the S model with the skull emblem when Rick Fokker died.  I vividly remember seeing this in Japantown and was shocked when they got it for me because it was almost a hundred dollars.  I have a picture from Christmas of me opening the box actually…This is the one that started it for me with Macross.

I now have all the original Takotoku and Bandai versions.  I finally managed to get the blue/red Valkyries in the early 2000’s when Bandai did a re-issue.  They’ve since done numerous re-issues of the various Macross generations but the first Macross is the one I grew up with.  The featured image is the box that this toy came in but I’ve long since gotten rid of the box.  I wish I had kept them because Takatoku was known for their great art work and the unique texture on their boxes.

Macross VF-1A Standard Type Battroid Valkyrie DX 1/55 scale Takatoku Toys 1983 Cannon Fodder Japan from anime Super Dimension Fortress Macross 1983-1984