The Energon Pub

Some of you may know Revoltech as the company that makes incredibly posable high-end action figures, who in the past have knocked out figures of Convoy, Megatron, Ultra Magnus, Hot Rodimus and Starscream, and also lent their famous joint system to the Robot Replicas figures. Well now they've turned their attention to transforming figures. While they're not making transforming figures of Transformers (I think another company already does that?) their first releases may well be of interest to Transfans.

One of the first two releases is the Macross VF-1S Roy Fokker Valkyrie, better known to Transfans as "that guy wot Jetfire was repainted from". I picked up this figure today.

What does this release mean to those who love Transformers but don't follow Mecha anime? Basically, it's a slightly-smaller-than-deluxe sized, highly-posable fully-transforming toy-accurate G1 Jetfire, albeit with different colours and lacking his armour pieces. An older, non-transforming Revoltech Valkyrie did come with the armour pieces, I dodn't yet know if they are compatible.

I don't know if anyone would be interested in this figure but if anyone wants I can put up more details and pictures.

Ah, yes, the full transformation type Revoltech Valkyries... I gotta admit when I saw those announced I was pretty stoked. A friend of mine got the non-transforming versions about a year or so ago, and when we heard they were doing transforming ones, you better believe he was all over that. I should remind him that they've been released...

So how full is the transformation? Is it full on, take one mode, move pieces, have other mode, or is there part swapping/adding involved?

- Sam

Samsonator wrote:Ah, yes, the full transformation type Revoltech Valkyries... I gotta admit when I saw those announced I was pretty stoked. A friend of mine got the non-transforming versions about a year or so ago, and when we heard they were doing transforming ones, you better believe he was all over that. I should remind him that they've been released...

So how full is the transformation? Is it full on, take one mode, move pieces, have other mode, or is there part swapping/adding involved?

- Sam

It's kinda 2/3 real transformation and 1/3 parts-forming. He comes with 6 "extra" hands..I say "extra" because the hands that are part of his transformation are weird and tiny and vestigal. To not have him look weird, you really need to use the extra hands instead of the default ones.

When he transforms from Fighter (jet) to Gerwalk there's no parts-forming (though if you want to have his gun mounted to his Fighter mode underside, then in his hand in Gerwalk mode you need to change a peg on it) except for the aforementioned hand issue. This transformation is pretty smooth, though he suffers a little from too many joints and not enough locking into place. Changing from Gerwalk to Battroid (robot) involves replacing his blue cockpit with the skull-and-crossbones cockpit cover. It's a very intricate transformation and involves an awkward combination of tiny, tiny pegs and incredibly tight joints. I know from experience that Revoltechs are easily breakable so it was a pretty nerve-wracking experience! After he is fully transformed he is...headless! The head comes seperately and is very veeeeeery carefully attached at this point. I've yet to test whether he can be transformed while the head is attached.

Aside from the six hands, one head, gun and spare cockpit his only extra parts are two mysterious little sticks. At first I was baffled by this but it's possible to badly screw up his arm transformation and leave a tiny peg stuck inside his wrist. The stick is a tool for retrieving the peg. Now that's consumer thoughtfulness.

As another note, his wings fall off if you so much as cough in the next room. It's easy to reattach them but a little annoying.

I'm interested in the Revoltech transformable Valkyrie action figures as I have some of the previous generation Revoltech figures including the VF-1J Super Valkyrie(non-transforming) figure. I don't mind the partsforming aspect when I consider the size of the figure. I'm not too keen on the looseness of the wings, though. I don't know about the later Revoltech figures but I know that the early figures have issues with ill fitting pegs/ports, which can cause peg breakages. So with that in mind, I hope Kaiyodo improved their molding of figures for better fitting peg/ports.

If you could post some photos at some point, I'd appreciate it, Diem.

Convotron wrote:I'm interested in the Revoltech transformable Valkyrie action figures as I have some of the previous generation Revoltech figures including the VF-1J Super Valkyrie(non-transforming) figure. I don't mind the partsforming aspect when I consider the size of the figure. I'm not too keen on the looseness of the wings, though. I don't know about the later Revoltech figures but I know that the early figures have issues with ill fitting pegs/ports, which can cause peg breakages. So with that in mind, I hope Kaiyodo improved their molding of figures for better fitting peg/ports.

If you could post some photos at some point, I'd appreciate it, Diem.

If you don't mind I'll put the pictures up tomorrow. It's gone midnight here and I have to get up at eight tomorrow. If you could tell me what kind of pictures you'd like to see, if you want him next to any other particular figures etc.

EDIT: Just to tide you over, here he is with ML Soundwave and Leader ROTF Prime:

No problem, Diem. you're the one doing us a favour, after all. Take your time and post them when you can.

The photo you uploaded is great. It gives me an indication of its size and also captures the details of the sculpt. I don't have any preference for the photos now that you've show the size and details of the figure. Just take whatever kinds of shots you'd like or perhaps if anyone else is interested, they could make requests in this thread.

The figure would be a nice stand-in for a mini Jetfire if it had red instead of yellow.

Convotron wrote:
The figure would be a nice stand-in for a mini Jetfire if it had red instead of yellow.

Well the other Revoltech Transforming, Hikaru's Valkyrie has red where this one has yellow, but with a different head sculpt. The heads are interchangable though...

Even though I already have a Yamato transforming Valkyrie, I'm interested in this, mainly because the Yamato stuff are too complicated and delicate to be playable.

Nujevad wrote:Even though I already have a Yamato transforming Valkyrie, I'm interested in this, mainly because the Yamato stuff are too complicated and delicate to be playable.

I don't have any experience of the Yamato figures, but this one ain't exactly a toy you can transform in three seconds and casually chuck into the toy box. I was worried that my big meathooks were going smash it as soon as I got it out of its packaging (and its wing fell off).

those are pretty spiffy, now only if they would license Mospeda so we can get those vehicles I would be happy, but as someone else has the cycle kits I'm guessing they get to do the planes as well.

OMG I so want the red one... I already have a couple of the non-transforming ones that I part-swapped to look pretty close to Jetfire, but a transforming one would be even better!

Hmm, would the head be swappable with the non-transforming versions? If so I could just buy the red transforming one and use the head I was using before.

kirbenvost wrote:OMG I so want the red one... I already have a couple of the non-transforming ones that I part-swapped to look pretty close to Jetfire, but a transforming one would be even better!

Hmm, would the head be swappable with the non-transforming versions? If so I could just buy the red transforming one and use the head I was using before.

I don't know, his head peg is really thin...I'm at work so I can't check 'til later but it's 2mm or less in diameter I think.

Can we have a jet pic please?

And what is the actual name of this so I can shop for it?

Woohoo! He transforms with his head attached!

Mykltron wrote:Can we have a jet pic please?

"Hey Thrust!"
"What?"
"Uh...nothing."



The joy of transforming:

The default fists:


"Hey Thrust, are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah, fine. Why?"
"....no reason."

And what is the actual name of this so I can shop for it?

For the one with yellow stripes and Jetfire's head:
REVOLTECH YAMAGUCHI Valkyrie VF-1S Roy Fokker Custom

For the one with red stripes and a non-Jetfire head:
REVOLTECH YAMAGUCHI Valkyrie VF-1A Hikaru Ichijyou version

For the one coming out Feburary 15th which has more Jetfire-accurate wings but a less accurate chest, and a different non-Jetfire head:
REVOLTECH YAMAGUCHI Valkyrie VF-1J (TV-edition) Hikaru Ichijyou version

Thanks for the photos, Diem.

Yeah, I think I'll be picking this action figure up in the future.

wow thanks for sharing i ddint know that wondeful news its shame im not g1 jetfire fan other wise i pick him up

@ Diem - Thanks for sharing! Does he really look that fragile? Or is it more durable than it looks?

olokin wrote:@ Diem - Thanks for sharing! Does he really look that fragile? Or is it more durable than it looks?

Certain parts are incredibly fragile- namely the teeny-tiny little pegs that you attach his hands and head to, and that hold his Battroid form together. The holes for these pegs are extremely tight, meaning you have to apply a lot of force to pegs no thicker than toothpicks. Apart from that I'd say he's more fragile than a typical Hasbro figure, but shouldn't break if you're careful.

Diem wrote:

kirbenvost wrote:OMG I so want the red one... I already have a couple of the non-transforming ones that I part-swapped to look pretty close to Jetfire, but a transforming one would be even better!

Hmm, would the head be swappable with the non-transforming versions? If so I could just buy the red transforming one and use the head I was using before.

I don't know, his head peg is really thin...I'm at work so I can't check 'til later but it's 2mm or less in diameter I think.

Did you find out? If I recall, the non-transforming ones had standard small revolver joints to attach the heads. If it's the same sort of arrangement, it should work.

Either way, I preordered the Valkyrie VF-1J (TV-edition) Hikaru Ichijyou version. I'll try a head swap and see how it goes.

Thanks for the pics!

Hmm, it seems there are no peg holes to attach the armor from the non-transforming ones, that's a slight drawback... maybe I could work out some other part swaps too...

Looks smaller than the Toynami versions...