Macross

The Valkyrie, Macross's transforming fighter design, takes its name from the real XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, a nod mecha designer Shoji Kawamori built into the original 1982 series. Rivals Corner stocks Bandai's official HG Macross line, snap-fit and glue-free, not the separate Hasegawa static-kit range that needs paint and cement. YF-19, YF-29 and VF-19 Fire Valkyrie variants make up the current range. Free tracked UK shipping applies on orders over £99.

The Valkyrie, Officially Licensed and Snap-Fit

Shoji Kawamori designed the original VF-1 Valkyrie between 1980 and 1982 at Studio Nue, naming it after the real-world XB-70 Valkyrie, an experimental American supersonic bomber. That transforming fighter concept still runs through every Bandai HG kit in this collection, YF-19, YF-29, VF-19, all built around the same jet-to-robot design philosophy that made Macross distinctive from day one.

Build the HG line here and snap-fit assembly does the work, no glue or paint required to finish a build, unlike Hasegawa's separate static Macross kits which do need both. Panel lines and transformation joints hold together properly once seated. Rush a joint and the transformation gimmick can feel stiff. Get it right and the Valkyrie moves between fighter and battroid mode the way the anime itself shows it.

Which kit's worth building first? 1/100 HG YF-19 (Macross) brings Macross Plus's lead fighter design to the shelf. 1/100 HG VF-19 Fire Valkyrie with Sound Booster adds genuine sound effects on top of the standard build. 1/100 HG YF-29 Durandal Valkyrie (Saotome Alto Machine) covers the Macross Frontier era specifically, the strongest single demand cluster in this collection, though currently sold out given how popular it is. Reddit's r/macross regularly debates which Valkyrie variant builds best, so you're picking from a well-discussed range.

New to Gunpla-adjacent kits generally? Gunpla [All] covers the wider Bandai model kit range. Curious about other Bandai crossover mecha? 30 Minute Missions [30MM] runs a similar build-your-own philosophy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Macross model kits need glue?

Depends which range. Bandai's HG Macross line (what Rivals Corner stocks) is snap-fit, no glue or paint required. Hasegawa's separate static-kit Macross range does need glue, paint and seam filling for a proper finish, worth knowing before buying if you want an easier build.

Who makes the official Macross model kits?

Multiple manufacturers hold licenses. Bandai produces the transforming HG line stocked here, while Hasegawa makes static display kits, and other companies like Arcadia and Max Factory produce separate figure and diecast lines. They're not interchangeable in build style or price point.

What's the difference between YF-19, YF-21 and YF-29?

They're variable fighters from different Macross eras. YF-19 and YF-21 both come from Macross Plus, rival prototype designs piloted by Isamu Dyson and Guld Goa Bowman respectively. YF-29 is a later Macross Frontier design, generally the most detailed and expensive of the three.

Is Macross related to Robotech?

Yes, indirectly. Robotech is the English-language adaptation that combined footage from Macross with two unrelated anime series for its US release in the 1980s. The VF-1 Valkyrie is called the VF-1 Veritech in Robotech specifically.

What scale are Bandai's HG Macross kits?

Mostly 1/100 scale, consistent across the current range (YF-19, YF-29, VF-19).