1/100 YF-19 Valkyrie Perfect
Variable
by Studio HalfEye
Ah, the Perfect Variable YF-19, SHE's hi-tech resin masterpeice from Macross Plus. I've dreamed of getting my hands on one since it was released(but didnt want to pay its $200 price tag), and I finally had the chance to build one thanks to a fellow Transfan in need of a builder(I still don't own one of my own, but oh well).
Opening the box, I realized that this kit was going to be a completely different experience from the plastic Bandai's kits I'm used to, and it seemed some of my kitbashing skills came in handy as well. My biggest surprise came from the poor fit quality of the kit, I had to alter many parts in order for everything to go together correctly(the fuselage was a terrible offender here), and still there were a few parts which I couldn't fix 100%. Overlooking those problems, the Valkyrie did go together fairly straightforward, and in the end I was quite pleased with the results. The finished result it quite amazing, I'd say its definitely the best looking transformable 19 family Valkyrie out there(from Bandai's VF-19 models and toys, to the Yamato/Toycom YF-19 toy, and even SHE's own VF-19Fire and VF-19Blazer) in all modes!
Battroid Mode:
Front View Side View
Rear View
This is the mode its built as, so I'll start here, but first let me say that the front view pic looks a bit odd, the Battroid actually looks alot better in person(guess it just doesnt scan very good). I feel that this mode is where the SHE model really excels, the proportions are just the best I've seen. What can I say, its just...well awesome in this mode! I think what makes this Battroid just blow away all other 19 Battroids is the legs...yes the legs. Why? Well one, they are very nicely proportioned, versus the too long legs that 19 toys are afflicted with, and two their extra gimmicks. The knee itself is farily nifty, featuring sliding inner panel connected to a chain of small blocks, forming the knee's joint system which is just fun to play with. The other gimmick is part of its "perfect variablitly". Whereas most 19 Battroids have these large "chunks" seemingly missing from the Battroids legs(so that everything fits together in Fighter mode), almost half of the SHE YF-19's inner leg folds away inside the leg in order to provide the best look in Battroid mode and still allow a nice fit in Fighter mode. In Battroid, the Valkyrie isn't highly poseable(like Bandai kit for instance), it's legs do have a limited amount of movement, just due to the way it's built. Still, it can assume some really nice stances, and it's arms do have a full range of motion.
Transformation to Gerwalk:
Pretty simple really, the biggest challenge is getting the head
down right...and getting the thing balanced. Getting the hips
into the the correct position can somtimes be tricky as well.
Gerwalk:
Side View
Unfortunately the side view was really the only scan-able view for the Gerwalk, and I still had to fold the wings and left arm away. The 19 does look pretty good in this mode, but its also its most unstable mode. Nothing too terribly impressive about this mode...nothing really bad about it either, except its instability, it does look alot better than the Yamato version tho. I suppose it does LOOK alot more solid than other 19 Gerwalks, and if you manage to get it standing in the correct Gerwalk stance(wide leg stance, nose angled slightly down), it does look farily impressive...especially with its gunpod in place.
Transformation to Figther:
Not like you HAVE to go from Battroid to Gerwalk to Fighter to
transform it, but it pretty much goes into Gerwalk while
tranforming from Battroid to Fighter anyway. Well, this is where
all the complicated steps come in, and it can be midly
frustrating. Everything has to go just into the right place, or
it basicly fall out of fighter mode in your hand. Transformation
back to Battroid is similarily complicated, yet made a bit more
difficult due to the fact that you'll now have to extract all the
little flaps, etc that were stored/folded away in Fighter mode.
Fighter:
TopView Side View
Bottom View
The most solid looking of the modes(tho Battroid's still cooler), despite the fact that there are a few minor fit problems...and stability problems. Basicly, if you don't gently squeeze the legs/engines together, or hold it together at mid-fuselage, it might fall apart in your hands. But like the other modes, it LOOKS great! IMO, the fact that its the best LOOKING transformable 19 outways its minor stabiltiy problems. What I like best about this mode is that all the parts actaually fit together without having big gaps like Bandai's 19 kits, plus its more streamlined and compact(like in the anime)than the wide snub-nosed Yamato toy.. It needs landing gear tho...and an attachable Gunpod, but oh well.
All in all, its a wonderful kit...worth the $200,
I don't know, I'd probably pay half that easily however(sigh...if
only it were a more mass produced plastic kit versus the
expensive limited garage kit). I'd love to build more of SHE's
Valks, but I don't think I'll ever buy one...anyone out there
need one built? I'll do it for free....seriously...
