Macross Frontier Characters Vol.2

Bandai currently has the license for Macross Frontier and has been turning out gashapons and trading figures from the series. Well I got my hands on the latest set in the HGIF series of Macross Frontier characters. This wave included Mikhail Blanc, Alto Saotome, and (what a surprise) Ranka Lee and Sheryl Nome.

The first thing unpacking everything I did notice was the "stands" are now flesh colored making them stand out on the shelf even more... Ugh. Luckily Mikhail and Alto don't need them to be displayed.

While there seems to be no discernible difference in fit, quality or finish between Bandai's HGIF “trading figure” releases and their general “Gashapon” releases. This set is sold in vending machines across Japan in random assortments. Luckily our advertiser, Angolz make these available in sets including the variant color versions for the affordable price of $22.00. For the set of 6 figures that 's $3.60 a figure. Not a bad price really for a figure that stands about as tall as a Star Wars figure. Granted there fixed pose but I think it's still an excellent price for the chance to get some Macross characters for your display.

Alto Saotome comes in his school uniform (...again.) Sculpt and paint detail is fine for a figure of this scale, but do we really need another Alto in the line up, this makes the third release of the character and the second in his school uniform. Granted he is sitting this time... whoppie! Bandai please do his flight suit. Two Alto's in school uniform is more than enough, seriously.

Mikhail Blanc is new to the lineup and also comes in his school uniform. I would have preferred him in his flight suit...

Sheryl Nome comes in what appears to be a school girl outfit in a nice and classy looking beige and white.

Ranka Lee is attired similar to Sheryl in beige and white school outfit. While Sheryl looks the part of a naughty role player, Ranka is appropriately cute and innocent.

Ranka comes packed with extra parts to swap on Sheryl and Ranka as well as a stand that is designed to hold them together. Swapping these parts displays the girls as they appeared on a recent cd single in Japan. It's a cute touch and a nice display.

Sheryl in her alternate color scheme is the school uniform in darker colors giving her an even more “naughty” vibe.

I really dig this variant.

Ranka is done in a matching color scheme to the alternate Sheryl and includes the alternate pieces needed to combine the girls for display.

Honestly I really don't think this color scheme suits Ranka and she honestly is already packed back up never to see the light of day again...

Like I said earlier there's just been a bit to much of the same characters being redone here so early in the line but the Sheryl and Ranka clones are getting a bit ridiculous...

Seriously Bandai, time to move on to some new characters now...

Overall it's another great set for the price and any fan of Macross Frontier should look into getting a set. If not this variation then another. I'm sure Bandai will be bestowing more and more waves on us as time goes on. Gashapon and “trading figure” releases tend to be limited and short runs so if you miss them when they first hit you risk paying much higher collector market prices for individual figures. So don't say I didn't give you all the heads up. You can get a full set like I did at Angolz.