Macross / Robotech Fighters

I've heard great things from people

But haveing not built them, I'm really no help....

The Hasegawa kits are excellant. They don't transform but the fit & detail are great.

Here's some reviews.

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/mecha/tm_vf1D.htm

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/mecha/rm_vf0s.htm

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/mecha/jl_valkweaps.htm

Might be a little late, but Hasegawa's Macross sure worth the money...~ Highly recommended...~ Nothing get as detail and fine as this..~

Here's review & bild-up on the Gamma Nora (SV-51)

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/mecha/rm_gamma.htm

Getting back to the original question, Bandai/Imai "originals" vs the newer Hasegawa offerings, if you're talking about "fighter mode" models - there is absolutely no comparison for one very good reason...

As far as "fighter mode" is concerned, in 1/72 the Hasegawa kits are the only game in town.

If I recall correctly, Bandai/Imai never made the "pure" fighters in 1/72. Excluding the transformable versions which had all sorts of comprimises for "working" parts, the closest they came to making the "fighter" version was the "Super" version with the booster pods and add-on "FAST packs". This kit was based on the single seat GERWALK configuration (I am using Macross terminology here - pfft to the dumbed down Robotech version) and though the surface detail was very nice (recessed panel ines way back in the early 80's) the nose was entirely the wrong profile, resembling a droopy F15 nose. It could be filed/sanded to almost the correct profile, but one of the more radical solutions I recall for this problem involved sawing the nose off and inverting it. (true - this was published in a Hobby Japan article)

Now, to the Hasegawa kit... I have three of these, though I haven't built any of them yet. These are comparable to any contemporary Hasegawa "modern jet" kit - surface detail is extremely fine and the mouldings are very clean and sharp. If you have read the reviews linked on the preceeding posts, you'll get the idea.

I would agree. Hasegawa's detailing is exquisite. I will only get a Bandai kit for kitbashing purposes. hehehe

My only complaint with the Hasegawa kits is their insistence on separating the pilot figures into four parts: body, head, and two arms. It's a pain in the rear to cement the figures together properly; why don't they just make one-piece pilots like everyone else?

Though the pilot for my YF-19 turned out beautifully in the end.

Does Hasegawa make kits for gerwalk and battleoid modes?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Martacus My only complaint with the Hasegawa kits is their insistence on separating the pilot figures into four parts: body, head, and two arms. It's a pain in the rear to cement the figures together properly; why don't they just make one-piece pilots like everyone else? Though the pilot for my YF-19 turned out beautifully in the end.

Not just that, but the tiny frellin' decals for the pilots. Little 1/16 Macross roundels for the shoulders, micro stripes for the helmet, just plane nuts.

QUOTE: Originally posted by andyfix Does Hasegawa make kits for gerwalk and battleoid modes?

No gerwalks but they did make the battleoids (battroids in Macrossese). They were in the basic form and also the super form (booster packs).

QUOTE: Originally posted by Aurora-7 No gerwalks but they did make the battleoids (battroids in Macrossese). They were in the basic form and also the super form (booster packs).

Hmm. Perhaps with parts from the battroid kit and the fighter kit one could kitbash a gerwalk model. Thanks for the info.

andyfix,

You can sometimes find the old Imaii kits in 1/72 that are either the transforming kits or the kits in battroid and gerwalk modes, on ebay. Sometimes you can find the transforming kits on ebay in the Revell packaging called ROBOTECH Changers.

Although a build combining a Hasegawa fighter and Battroid would make a better looking gerwalk than the old Imaii kits.

Just a quick question on painting the plane (YF-19 again): I tried going by the paint guide in the instructions, but with Model Master enamels. The instructions call for a 50/50 mix of white and "Radome". Do they mean radome tan? That's what I used, and wound up with a color nearly indistinguishable from the color of the sprues. I haven't finished the model yet, and am wondering if this is the right "official" color, or if I should strip it and try again with a lighter color, or just go with a white body. The box photos don't look that dark a tan, at any rate.

I went to AWA [anime weekend atlanta] this past week end and had an oportunity to purchase these Hasagawa kits and passed it up. They had them for around $15. I guess I missed out on a deal! But I bought plenty of other kits to last me till next year.lol

Actually, there is a very simple kitbash to create a gerwalk valkyrie from a hasegawa fighter and battloid. It basically involves using the battloid hip joints as shoulder joints, and using the rest of the battloid legs, attaching them to the intakes. Here's the link at MacrossWorld:

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=12019

This is yet another project on the drawing board for me at the moment.