Post by CkRtech on May 19, 2005 0:33:18 GMT -5
Well most people here know what a G1 Jetfire is. A plane Transformer, right? Well, it is a plane. It Transforms. It is an amazing toy (especially for its time)....and it should have never BEEN a Transformer.
Hasbro acquired the mold from Bandai and slapped Autobot logos on it. This is basically what was done (although mostly with Takara) to create Transformers. The only thing is - the "Jetfire" mold already had a cartoon associated with it - the Japanese cartoon "Macross." Macross would eventually be translated and adapted to become part of the Robotech saga. (Robotech is actually made up of three Japanese cartoons which have been slightly rewritten and done in English, Spanish, and many other languages.)
The topic of the cartoon is an entire discussion itself, but this thread is for the new toy as well as a side by side comparison to the original Jetfire toy.
There are actually three modes to these toys. The middle mode was called guardian in Robotech (or "gerwalk" in the Japanese Macross). All three modes are compared here.
In order to understand the modes, you have to understand a few things - these are not robots. They are actually planes which transform ("Mecha" if you will). They change from fighter to guardian to battloid. Since they are not robots with personalities, they are craft which have pilots. The pilot of this particular model is Roy Fokker. VF-1S is the model of Valkyrie (or Veritech) which he flys. Jetfire is based off of his VF-1S & has a different color scheme.
The other thing to understand is why they transform into these modes. The very beginning of Robotech starts with a spaceship which crashes on earth in the year 1999. Over the next 10 years, the earth works together to restore the space battle fortress (calling it the SDF-1). They learn that the aliens who used to possess the ship were 50 feet tall & they pose a threat if they ever come to earth. The Valkyries are developed for human beings to engage in hand to hand combat with the aliens should (really....when) the need come. On the launch day of the SDF-1, the aliens show up looking for their battlefortress.......the show starts here.
Finally, on to the toys. It is amazing how close in design the Jetfire toy is to the Masterpiece Collection VF-1S (MPC). This isn't meant to only describe an "updated version" of an old toy, but rather how the two are pieced together with metal/plastic/joints and various other things. Very similar.
First - the robot or "Battloid" mode.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/both.jpg)
The joints have changed slightly on the arms. Jetfire is articulated at the shoulder and can "ratchet" into different positions. The MPC moves smoothly about the shoulder. The arms are also articulated at the elbow area. Jetfire has a turning point right at his elbow while MPC has a higher articulation point in the middle of his "bicep."
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfireshoulder.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirechest.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcarm.jpg)
There are two main pivot points on each of these toys. One of the pivot points is the shoulder section. Both toys throw away the look of the craft they represent in favor of the exposed joints of the shoulder tops. This area is used to pivot a large bulk of the plane up and around the head in order to go from fighter jet to battloid and back. You can see here how the shoulders are pretty much just exposed metal for each toy.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfireshoulders.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpgshoulders.jpg)
A second major pivot joint is the pair of metal supports for the legs which pivot the legs down for battloid mode and back (up) for fighter mode. These joints are severely exposed in all modes.
(again the jetfire pic from earlier):
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirechest.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcchest.jpg)
Finally, another note for battloid mode are the hands. Which one is better? Well - which do you prefer? Jetfire has hands which are in great scale and look solid....however they lack articulation.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirehand.jpg)
The MPC has ariculated hands which look very skeleton like.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpchand.jpg)
Guardian mode is used as a hybrid between Battloid and Fighter. It has the arms/ability to manipulate large alien-sized objets like a Battloid, but it still resembles a fighter and therefore handles like the plane.
This mode is essentially a "mid-transformation" mode (literally) between fighter and battloid. It is pictured at the end of the Jetfire instructions simply as "alternate transformation." (It isn't a midway point in the instructions, but rather an afterthough) Heck - Hasbro jacked the mold - why not document all the original modes?
Here are some pictures of Guardian (Gerwalk):
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfireguardian.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcguardian.jpg)
Finally there is the simple fighter mode. Looks like a normal fighter plane, but don't be fooled. These things are much more precise, handle beautifully, and can function in space.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirefull.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcfull.jpg)
You can see above that the MPC came with a pilot and a little ladder to climb up. Also included were missiles for the wings. Plus, the cockpit opens. Neat, huh?
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpccockpit.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcarmory.jpg)
The "seams" (where all the parts come together) & pivots of both fighters are exposed quite a bit when in this mode:
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfire2.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpc1.jpg)
Landing gear was cleaned up from Jetfire to MPC. Jetfire had switches you could pull which spring out the landing gear pieces (which can HURT if done wrong). The MPC just has little doors you open after which you simply "pull out" the landing gear.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirenose.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcnose.jpg)
One other thing I didn't mention in battloid mode for the MPC was the fact that there is a switch which makes the eyes light up.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpclights.jpg)
The MPC comes packaged in book form. The actual container slides out from the top of the book. Therefore, the toy can be removed and put back in without ever losing the MISB feel. (Since it was never sealed in the first place)
The spine of the book shows the pilot and the model Valkyrie (Veritech). The inside shows which limited number toy you have (this is also stamped on the toy itself), as well as some design drawings.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/spine.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/openbook.jpg)
EDIT - Note that the armor is not present on the MPC. Several armor packages were released for other MPC pilots, but not for Roy. These packages were also in books and were called "appendices." The spine art contains the same style artwork as the pilots on the side of the Veritechs, but they are wearing their helmet instead of holding it.
All in all, the MPC is a simple update of the original toy with a few added gimmicks. Jetfire could basically be called the original toy. There were other companies involved at the beginning other than Bandai...but the design is basically the same. The scale of these guys is about 1/55.
The simple conclusion is that the MPC has some neat updates here and there, but is disappointing in the fact that it didn't do a whole lot to hide some of the "here are my joints!" type areas of the toy. I would probably score the original toy a 9.5 (for its time) and the MPC a 8.0. The new toy is much better than the original, however the original was much more impressive in 1982 than the MPC is in 2003/2005.
Btw - This particular MPC - the VF-1S for Roy Fokker was actually released a little while back. (There are several pilots and different models of the Veritechs which have been released every so many months) The retail/ebay prices of these things range from $50-$70 as they come out. Fokker's Skull-One is the most highly sought after and nowadays (since it has been out like a year and a half or so) can run in upwards of $250 on ebay. (Not worth it at ALL in my opinion). I was fortunate to score this one a few weeks ago because a seller listed it with a buy it now of $60.![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
Hasbro acquired the mold from Bandai and slapped Autobot logos on it. This is basically what was done (although mostly with Takara) to create Transformers. The only thing is - the "Jetfire" mold already had a cartoon associated with it - the Japanese cartoon "Macross." Macross would eventually be translated and adapted to become part of the Robotech saga. (Robotech is actually made up of three Japanese cartoons which have been slightly rewritten and done in English, Spanish, and many other languages.)
The topic of the cartoon is an entire discussion itself, but this thread is for the new toy as well as a side by side comparison to the original Jetfire toy.
There are actually three modes to these toys. The middle mode was called guardian in Robotech (or "gerwalk" in the Japanese Macross). All three modes are compared here.
In order to understand the modes, you have to understand a few things - these are not robots. They are actually planes which transform ("Mecha" if you will). They change from fighter to guardian to battloid. Since they are not robots with personalities, they are craft which have pilots. The pilot of this particular model is Roy Fokker. VF-1S is the model of Valkyrie (or Veritech) which he flys. Jetfire is based off of his VF-1S & has a different color scheme.
The other thing to understand is why they transform into these modes. The very beginning of Robotech starts with a spaceship which crashes on earth in the year 1999. Over the next 10 years, the earth works together to restore the space battle fortress (calling it the SDF-1). They learn that the aliens who used to possess the ship were 50 feet tall & they pose a threat if they ever come to earth. The Valkyries are developed for human beings to engage in hand to hand combat with the aliens should (really....when) the need come. On the launch day of the SDF-1, the aliens show up looking for their battlefortress.......the show starts here.
Finally, on to the toys. It is amazing how close in design the Jetfire toy is to the Masterpiece Collection VF-1S (MPC). This isn't meant to only describe an "updated version" of an old toy, but rather how the two are pieced together with metal/plastic/joints and various other things. Very similar.
First - the robot or "Battloid" mode.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/both.jpg)
The joints have changed slightly on the arms. Jetfire is articulated at the shoulder and can "ratchet" into different positions. The MPC moves smoothly about the shoulder. The arms are also articulated at the elbow area. Jetfire has a turning point right at his elbow while MPC has a higher articulation point in the middle of his "bicep."
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfireshoulder.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirechest.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcarm.jpg)
There are two main pivot points on each of these toys. One of the pivot points is the shoulder section. Both toys throw away the look of the craft they represent in favor of the exposed joints of the shoulder tops. This area is used to pivot a large bulk of the plane up and around the head in order to go from fighter jet to battloid and back. You can see here how the shoulders are pretty much just exposed metal for each toy.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfireshoulders.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpgshoulders.jpg)
A second major pivot joint is the pair of metal supports for the legs which pivot the legs down for battloid mode and back (up) for fighter mode. These joints are severely exposed in all modes.
(again the jetfire pic from earlier):
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirechest.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcchest.jpg)
Finally, another note for battloid mode are the hands. Which one is better? Well - which do you prefer? Jetfire has hands which are in great scale and look solid....however they lack articulation.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirehand.jpg)
The MPC has ariculated hands which look very skeleton like.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpchand.jpg)
Guardian mode is used as a hybrid between Battloid and Fighter. It has the arms/ability to manipulate large alien-sized objets like a Battloid, but it still resembles a fighter and therefore handles like the plane.
This mode is essentially a "mid-transformation" mode (literally) between fighter and battloid. It is pictured at the end of the Jetfire instructions simply as "alternate transformation." (It isn't a midway point in the instructions, but rather an afterthough) Heck - Hasbro jacked the mold - why not document all the original modes?
Here are some pictures of Guardian (Gerwalk):
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfireguardian.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcguardian.jpg)
Finally there is the simple fighter mode. Looks like a normal fighter plane, but don't be fooled. These things are much more precise, handle beautifully, and can function in space.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirefull.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcfull.jpg)
You can see above that the MPC came with a pilot and a little ladder to climb up. Also included were missiles for the wings. Plus, the cockpit opens. Neat, huh?
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpccockpit.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcarmory.jpg)
The "seams" (where all the parts come together) & pivots of both fighters are exposed quite a bit when in this mode:
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfire2.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpc1.jpg)
Landing gear was cleaned up from Jetfire to MPC. Jetfire had switches you could pull which spring out the landing gear pieces (which can HURT if done wrong). The MPC just has little doors you open after which you simply "pull out" the landing gear.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/jetfirenose.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpcnose.jpg)
One other thing I didn't mention in battloid mode for the MPC was the fact that there is a switch which makes the eyes light up.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/mpclights.jpg)
The MPC comes packaged in book form. The actual container slides out from the top of the book. Therefore, the toy can be removed and put back in without ever losing the MISB feel. (Since it was never sealed in the first place)
The spine of the book shows the pilot and the model Valkyrie (Veritech). The inside shows which limited number toy you have (this is also stamped on the toy itself), as well as some design drawings.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/spine.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/valkreview/openbook.jpg)
EDIT - Note that the armor is not present on the MPC. Several armor packages were released for other MPC pilots, but not for Roy. These packages were also in books and were called "appendices." The spine art contains the same style artwork as the pilots on the side of the Veritechs, but they are wearing their helmet instead of holding it.
All in all, the MPC is a simple update of the original toy with a few added gimmicks. Jetfire could basically be called the original toy. There were other companies involved at the beginning other than Bandai...but the design is basically the same. The scale of these guys is about 1/55.
The simple conclusion is that the MPC has some neat updates here and there, but is disappointing in the fact that it didn't do a whole lot to hide some of the "here are my joints!" type areas of the toy. I would probably score the original toy a 9.5 (for its time) and the MPC a 8.0. The new toy is much better than the original, however the original was much more impressive in 1982 than the MPC is in 2003/2005.
Btw - This particular MPC - the VF-1S for Roy Fokker was actually released a little while back. (There are several pilots and different models of the Veritechs which have been released every so many months) The retail/ebay prices of these things range from $50-$70 as they come out. Fokker's Skull-One is the most highly sought after and nowadays (since it has been out like a year and a half or so) can run in upwards of $250 on ebay. (Not worth it at ALL in my opinion). I was fortunate to score this one a few weeks ago because a seller listed it with a buy it now of $60.
![:D](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)