Tag: 1/55

Macross VF-1J DX and ST, the DX 1/55 scale & ST 1/100 scale Takatoku Toys 1983

Here are two VF-1J’s “Hikaru Ichijyo” versions from the Macross series.  One is the Takatoku deluxe version, while the other is the smaller, ST version.  I cannot remember where I purchased the big one – I’m going to guess Japan, 1985.  The ST one, on the other hand, I vividly remember purchasing it at Longs Drugs in Burlingame (of all places). I remember when there was this big robot craze in the 80’s, you could find these toys in the most unlikely of places.  I think my cousin mentioned that he bought some Transformers from a carwash.

Anyway, the cartoon still is a picture of the VF-1J with the add-on armor. When has this armor, however, he cannot transform into a plane.

Macross VF-1J Armored Valkyrie

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

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyrie Max Jenius Sterling – 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

This one’s a Bandai re-issue of the blue VF-1J “Max” model from the Macross series.  I never could find the Takatoku versions as a child but I was able to find the Bandai re-issues from the early 2000’s. Bandai and Yamato has since made tons of re-issues.

Max’s VF-1J Valkyrie from Super Dimension Fortress Macross in action

Below are the “Max” and “Meria” VF-1J’s from the Macross series.  I vividly remember wanting to have these as a kid to complete the collection but I didn’t see them on my various trips to Japan.  I didn’t realize until later that the original maker (Takatoku) went out of business in the early 80’s and the molds were purchased by Bandai.  I’m going to guess that Bandai hadn’t yet gotten around to re-doing these two until later.  Anyway, these are Bandai re-issues that I purchased in the early 2000’s.  I’m glad I have them as I now have a complete Macross collection.

Variable Fighter VF-1J Valkyries Max & Miria Jenius – 1/55 scale 2002 Bandai from Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Here’s the Bandai VF-1S Strike Valkyrie as piloted by Hikaru Ichijyo in “Do You Remember Love?” Macross movie in 1984.  I purchased him in Kyoto, Japan 1985. You don’t see this one until the climatic ending of the movie.

VF-1S Strike Valkyrie 1/55 scale Bandai 1985 Hikaru Ichijyo from anime movie Do You Remember Love?

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

I’ve finally gotten around to my Macross box and I took a group picture.  Pictured is the entire collection from the Macross series (except for the few Destroid Defenders that I wasn’t particularly in to).  These are probably my most favorite of all my entire collection.  I don’t think I could ever part with these as these were such a big part of my child hood.  I grew up with the cartoons and I purchased the toys while on various trips to Japan.  I also received the brown VF-1A from my mom for Christmas in 1983.  I remember it was almost a hundred dollars back then and I was VERY surprised she went all the way to Japantown to get it for me.  I’ll never forget that.

Macross Collection includes the VF-1A, VF-1J, VF-1S, VT-1, VE-1, SDF-1, GBP-1S Fast Pack 1/55 Takatoku Toys and Bandai releases