Yamato Toys just posted on their site today the VF-1 Armored Valkyrie set for the 1/60 scale series of Perfect Transform Macross Toys. The Armored Valkyrie is designated as GBP-1S. The set is scheduled to go on sale by December of 2009 for about 7,140 円 after tax. The kit will only include the armored pack set and not the Valkyrie, you have to buy that separately. Check out HLJ or Over Drive Inc for Valkyrie's on sale, I know that I saw Hikaru Ichijo's VF-1J marked down at Over-Drive once, might be still there.
An additional gimmick of this Armored parts kit is a set of missiles depicted in post launch. Update (9/19/2009): Over Drive Inc said in an email blast that this gimmick is actually available if you buy your GBP-1S from Yamato's web store, but the good news is that the version sold by Over Drive Inc will have this.
Earlier Yamato Toys announced the release in November of a 1/60 Hikaru Ichijo VF-1J with GBP-1S armor. This version will retail for about 17,640 円.
Toys have come a long way when it comes to detail, I remember that the 1/55 GBP-1S didn't have any gimmicks like these, all the gimmick that the toy had was the opening and closing of the chest and should missile bays.
Then again the price for authenticity and accuracy has always been playability. I've said before that the 1/60 VF-1 series of Yamato is not something that you'd like to be touching and transforming all the time because of its inherent fragility and should therefore be left on the display case or box at all times.
The Armored Valkyrie came out in only one episode ("Miss Macross) of the original Macross series but it's design is quite iconic and memorable. It has surfaced in different Macross series such as the Armored VF-11B in Macross 7 , the armored VF-25 Messiah in Macross Frontier and the armored VF-0S of Roy Fokker in Macross Zero.
Most versions of the Armored Valkyrie however didn't allow the VF-1 to transform from Battloid mode. You had to eject the armor first in order to transform. It wasn't until till the VF-25 version of the Armored Valkyrie was it designed to be useable in either fighter or gerwalk mode.
Maybe one reason it is quite memorable and endearing to fans is because it could be considered the ultimate fan service for those who can't get enough of the Macross Missile Massacre.
Check out further details at their site.
