Bandai Armor Parts for DX VF-171 Review

Scorched Earth Toys at anymoon.com and / anymoondotcom takes a deep dive into Bandai's four releases of armor parts for the DX VF-171 toys. This review covers the armor parts sold for Alto (original), Nightmare Plus, Maruyama, and Alto (revival). The VF-171EX and Nightmare Plus were featured prominently as the most common protagonist mecha in the hit TV show Macross Frontier and its supporting films: The False Songstress and Wings of Farewell. These parts are only intended for use on Bandai's DX VF-171 toys and were available either as a standalone option or included with a gift-set.

[@zlic81]

Just brought the Revival version from Japan. First of all it's under $200 in the official store and it's tax free for us foreigners. So nice saving there if you're already in Japan. Toy itself has pretty good build quality, had no issues transforming it into Gerwalk mode, parts are not filmsy and it holds the pose well. I'm very happy overall, it looks great!

[@macross25]

Dear Bandai, it's time for a VF-171 Nightmare Plus revival release... WITH the armor, big A$$ warheads & zero "Explodium Product."

[@d3bugged]

Its criminal that the 1/72 Variable model line died at the vf-31s and Drakens. There's so many VFs and even missiles that dont have any model kits.

[@kelvinchewjw]

plus an alternative "beige" delta nightmare plus

[@kelvinchewjw]

damn I actually liked the teal(frontier)/beige(delta) base VF-171, really hoping for a full revival with the armor pack set

[@PvtPrivate]

I guess the Nightmare Plus is just very anime accurate, it explodes with the slightest touch

[@dongomez3711]

Cannon fodder. Good one.

[@workingZen]

On a side note, I really wish the Macross series go back to its roots of fighting the Zentradi, maybe from a different story arc of following the 2 Space armor platforms and their defence of the inner solar system during the Zentradi saga when the SDF1 was out near Pluto (and if they could tone back on the freaking singing and focus on cool space battles, would be even better) Love this DX VF. Got to get myself one.

[@walawala-fo7ds]

Haha. Good luck. Macross and singing are like peanut butter and jelly. Maybe look into Gundam

[@workingZen]

@@walawala-fo7ds I didnt mind the singing in the original macross as it felt natural and was a weapon against the aliens. Think thats why Space Battleship Yamato is my go to :)

[@sidearmsalpha]

I wanna see a retelling that is longer with much better animation like what they did with Space Cruiser Yamato.

[@workingZen]

@@sidearmsalpha Ooh me too. I love the animation of that. Would look so good.

[@dephranque9883]

I just got the vf171 ex and it will come to me on Thursday. I really hope they will soon come out with the nightmare plus version of the vf171

[@mrstarfishh33]

How do you like it? I am thinking about getting this, don't have any other Macross figures.

[@sidearmsalpha]

Sucks that Bandai is not consistent with these toys. No missile detail sucks. I like this VF in Fighter and Battroid modes only. I don't like that the shoulders are big and stick up in front of the wings in Gerwalk mode. That's why I've always preferred the VF-1 with the shoulders being under the wings. No VF has a better Gerwalk mode than the VF-1 in my opinion.

[@jischneider]

My Nightmare Plus is still in good shape, only a small crack in one triangle and I still use the armor parts occasionally. But for the last 5 years it's stuck in fighter mode. A shame. A need one of the new ones.

[@dongomez3711]

Are the missle pods molded in two color plastic or is it just paint apps. They look like they could be modified to have open hatches. What is the point of creating armored parts if your not going to include open hatches with missle details inside. The pod mounted to the arm is ok I guess but the chest mounted bays should open.

[@ScorchedEarthToys]

Molded in two different plastics.

[@alexlam8430]

heres hoping that bandai would reissue the nightmare plus with armor parts bundled and the rvf-171 nightmare plus with the dome and two fold boosters. Teal 171 is the best 171 (luca's is my second favorite cause I love domes on planes lol) but yeah my nightmare plus' knee also exploded...

[@mrdriver2988]

Is it possible to connect the missiles onto the DX YF-29?

[@ScorchedEarthToys]

It would have been nice if Bandai had included hardpoints on the VF-25 and YF-29 revival toys but they did not so there is no way to add missiles to them.

[@mrdriver2988]

@ScorchedEarthToys that's a bummer I really wanted to put those missiles onto my VF-25G

[@deadlypedestrian]

@@mrdriver2988 to make it more frustrating, the 29 has fake pylon mounts molded in the wings lol dont have the 25 so not sure how it looks there

[@mrdriver2988]

@deadlypedestrian yea it is there I have the revival VF-25G and it has the fake molded mounts well it just seems not deep enough to hold anything at all.

[@texasbeast239]

TPS Teal Plastic Syndrome (Although that might be a dark gray knee joint)