Yamato Toys has released high resolution, official images of their upcoming Yamato WebShop exclusive VF4G Lightning III. This 1/60 scale Variable Fighter is scheduled for release this coming December, a year after its initial announcement last year. While many fans were expecting the VF-4G to be released in Skull Team livery(as seen in Macross Flashback 2012), Yamato was unfortunately unable to obtain the license for Flashback 2012. The VF-4G was the last Variable Fighter that protagonist Hikaru Ichijo flew. However, the VF-4G also made an appearance years later in the Macross VFX game for the Playstation(in Japan), and Yamato was able to get a license for the VF-4 as it appears in VFX. Sure the VFX livery may not be as recognizable but this editor must admit, it does look rather sharp.
However this does come at a price. As stated earlier, this is a Yamato WebShop exclusive item. This means you have to get someone in Japan to obtain one on your behalf. In addition, it is a limited item. Now normally some of us have gotten used to doing this for Japanese collectibles, however, this item is not cheap. The price is ¥26,985 which currently equates to $340+. This is before shipping and before markup is taken into account, via proxy seller and/or middleman.
This is the 1st time that we have seen all 3 modes in full color, in official images. Check out the VF-4G Lightning III after the jump!
EDIT: Added an image by Type-R which high lights the VF-4G cockpit transformation gimmick from fighter to battroid. A hatch is shown open meaning the canopy may be able to open in battroid mode, meaning the pilot figure may be removed or put into the cockpit in either mode! This is reminiscent of the opening battroid hatch on Yamato’s VF-19 Excaliburs.
