PHOTO REVIEW: Toynami SDCC15 Robotech SD VF-1S Stealth Fighter Exclusive

[Malevolus]

Fun Addition To Super Deformed Lineup...

As I noted in our San Diego Comic-Con 2015 Team Survey, I was really happy with Toynami’s exclusive Robotech SD VF-1S Stealth Fighter toy. I’ve been a Robotech fan since the cartoon’s debut in 1985, and I’m always on the lookout for fun and interesting toys and collectibles of the awesome mecha... notably the Veritech Fighters. Toynami has been running with the Robotech license for a long time now, and recently reinvigorated the property with 30th anniversary products including 1/100 transforming Veritechs along with accessories and the blind box chibi figures released earlier this year. That set included three different Veritechs (Roy/Rick’s VF-1S, Miriya’s VF-1J, and Max’s VF-1S) in two styles (gunpod stowed on the arm or held) along with a Destroid, Zentraedi Battlepod, and two versions of a flightsuited Rick. Toynami actually debuted these figures first at San Diego Comic-Con last year with a pre-release variant of the VF-1S in gray, as opposed to the main set version in bright white. For Comic-Con 2015 they brought back the same mold, this time in a cool stealth paint scheme!

One of the cool things about Robotech was that all of the Veritechs were essentially the same, differing only in head styles and of course paint job. That became a huge boon for toy companies as it’s easy to repaint existing molds to create new units, and it’s perfectly accepted (and even demanded) by collectors. Aside from the different “hero” colorations one of the most popular Veritech variants sought after by fans is the “stealth” paint scheme, often achieved with black or dark gray. This year’s Super Deformed SDCC exclusive took the standard VF-1S mold and painted it mostly black with lighter gray sections on the limbs and bright contrasting details like gold lines, white lettering on the gunpod, a red dot on the Veritech’s “forehead,” and of course the really cool translucent green visor. It all looks great on this little guy, especially if you have the standard versions to pair with in their brighter white and muted gray.

The VF-1S Stealth Fighter was available at the Toynami booth for only $15, making it one of several great SDCC exclusives this year that were at steal at under $20. I think it was a perfect combo of price and character selection being an “expanded universe” design that looks cool but isn’t 100% necessary for every Robotech collector to have. In the same vein but a little more expensive was a second Robotech exclusive from Toynami, the first of the 1/100 scale “Heavy Armor GBP-1” series with the Stealth VF-1J (currently available from some online retailers). At the moment there isn’t a mainstream way to purchase the chibi Stealth VF-1S, but so far it’s staying at very reasonable third party prices.


Review and Photos by Scott Rubin

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