November 26, 2009

Bandai's 1/72 RVF-25 Messiah Valkyrie (Luca Custom) ~ In-box preview

Macross Frontier is an anime science fiction space drama that recently finished airing in Japan (last episode aired on September 25, 2008). It is the story of three young adults and the events that occur around them as a space colony fleet, trying to find a habitable planet near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, faces a crisis of alien origin.

The new show celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV series (1982 - 1983), and is chronologically subsequent to Macross 7 (1994 - 1996). This series introduces Earth's latest main variable fighter, the VF-25 Messiah and variants (VF-25F, VF-25G, VF-25S & RVF-25)..

Box Art

The RVF-25 Messiah is a variant of the single-seater, twin-engine VF-25, capable of both space and atmospheric flight and used mostly for reconnaissance. It has enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, equipped with a ELINT radome dish, and it's capable of controlling up to six AIF-7S Ghost fighters via fold wave communication.

In fighter mode, it's main weapon is a gatling gun gun pod, mounted underneath, between the fighter's two intakes. In addition to the external gun pod, built-in weapons include beam weaponry, head-mounted lasers and a large knife (for use in Gerwalk or Battroid modes) that can be enforced by the fighter's own pin-point barrier system.

External equipment like FAST Packs can be added on to improve craft capabilities, and unlike previous variable fighters, the FAST Packs do not need to be ejected before transformation into Gerwalk or Battroid.
 

What You Get

Parts	More parts	Instructions	Color guide	Decals	AIF-7S Ghost fighter

This snap-fit model depicts the RVF-25 Messiah Valkyrie that Lucas Angeloni uses in the anime, thus the "Luca Custom" name. Molded in color, it shows all its intricate mechanical parts, cockpit, and panel lines reproduced in sharp detail.

Like previous VF-25 Valkyrie releases, it includes stickers & water-slide decals and the model is fully transformable between its Fighter, Gerwalk, and Battroid modes, via the use of metal shafts in the wings and nose.  The quality of the parts and its fit is typical Bandai, and it comes with its signature gunpod and knife, as well as a movable sensor located on its head, and the left and right antennas on its large radome are operable.

Additionally, it also includes an unpainted "Luca" pilot figure for the cockpit, a base attachment that can be used in conjuction with Bandai Action Bases (sold separately) for an in-flight pose, and three Ghost fighters (which Lucas named 'Simon,' 'John' & 'Peter') with mini SMS display bases.

The Ghost fighters can also be displayed together with the RVF-25 in mid flight thanks additional holders included, for attaching each Ghost to the Action Base 01 Macross Frontier S.M.S Version (sold separately).

As usual, glue and paint will go a long way to increase the look of the finished model.

Scale: 1/72
Manufacturer: Bandai
What you get: 16 sprues of injection-molded styrene parts, 5 small metal rods, instructions, stickers & decal sheets
Price: ¥5,800 (about $62.95) plus overseas shipping, available from HLJ.com
Molding Quality: typical of Bandai models, no flash with crisp detail and excellent parts fit
Detail: 9 out of 10
Accuracy: looks dead-on to the anime version
Pros: excellent parts fit & detail, water-slide decals, transformable, includes 3 Ghost kits
Cons: price, available only (so far) from overseas hobby stores

Final comments: Excellent kit of the AWACS variant of the VF-25.  Two thumbs up!