Scale: 1/72 - about 8.25"/19cm long assembled

Parts: 139 injection molded styrene (tinted transparent and clear)

Instructions: 16 step assembly guide, plus paint/markings; all Japanese

Decals: Waterslide, standard markings plus special sheet

Molding Quality: 10 - it doesn't get better than this

Detail: 9 - crisp, fine engraving (maybe too fine)

Accuracy: Not rated - see review

MSRP: 2000 JPY (~$16.60 USD as of 11/2001) available from HobbyLink Japan

Overall Rating: 9+ highly recommended for the decal options

Click on any image to see a larger version

Image: Sample sprue

The kit iteslef is exactly the same as reviewed previously here. What's different (besides the gimicky translucent plastic) is the decal options. The Japanese hobby magazine Model Graphix ran a special spread in their April 2001 issue on "Advanced Valkyrie in Action". It included color profiles of several Valkyries and their variants in paint schemes not seen in the TV series or movies. Hasegawa has included markings for these in the limited issue boxing.

The options include:

• VF-1S Strike Valkyrie of SVC-8 in grey and blue lozenge-style camoflauge
• VE-1 Valkyrie (to be released in December 2001) with white markings on off white paint scheme
• Two VF-1A Valkyries, one in a red and yellow striped test center scheme, the other in a grey-on-grey low-vis scheme
• Two VF-1J Valkyries, one in grey-on-grey low-vis and one in markings reminiscent of US Navy F-14s during the mid-1980's
• VF-1S Valkyrie in a garish paint scheme to commemorate the "2500th Valkyrie" produced, complete with subcontractor logos on the tail

Also included is the standard kit markings, so one gets all the necessary stencils and data placards.

The markings are unique and definitely a cool alternative to the regular kit. The only downside is that the one page fold-out shows only one side profile for each fighter. If you don't have access to the April 2001 Model Graphix, you'll have to wing it as far as filling in the rest of the paint scheme. Actually, that's somewhat of a blessing - because without that same magazine no one can prove your interpretation is wrong!

Conclusion

Unless you want to do a specific fighter seen in the Macross series, the clear red/green/blue versions of the Valkyrie are well worth the extra 400 JPY (just over $3.00 USD as I write this). Highly recommended!