Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body

New-style head for the Prophecy

The internal mechanics are nicely detailed too.

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Wing section (1/3)

Wing section

Leg section

Leftover parts. A few parts from the original normal-type VF-25 remain.

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Battroid mode action poses (1/4)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Battroid mode action poses (2/4)

Battroid mode action poses

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - GERWALK mode (1/6)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - GERWALK mode (2/6)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - GERWALK mode (3/6)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - GERWALK mode (4/6)

GERWALK mode

Fighter mode

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Nose section. The cockpit has been changed to a two-seater and the canopy is reproduced in light b

Nose section.
The cockpit has been changed to a two-seater, and the canopy is reproduced in light blue clear parts —
that's what sets it apart from the original VF-25.

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Detail shots of various sections (1/6)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Detail shots of various sections (2/6)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Detail shots of various sections (3/6)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Detail shots of various sections (4/6)

Detail shots of various sections

The clear section on the head is partially visible in Fighter mode too.

Underside

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base. (1/8)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base. (2/8)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base. (3/8)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base. (4/8)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base. (5/8)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy - Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base. (6/8)

Various angles on the Macross-dedicated Action Base.

Together with the VF-25 Alto custom.

The changed head design is the first thing that catches your eye.

GERWALK mode comparison

Fighter mode comparison

The overall color scheme and markings have been changed..

The single-seat cockpit becomes a two-seater..

And the changed head is what makes it the Prophecy.

That darn VF-25 just keeps on coming, doesn't it.. ^^;

Battroid mode straight build photos

GERWALK mode straight build photos

Fighter mode straight build photos

This kit is a limited release sold alongside advance movie tickets at FamilyMart in Japan to commemorate the Macross Frontier theatrical film. It goes by the name YF-25 Prophecy, and while it's technically a limited edition... the contents are pretty much on par with a full retail release. Completely new box art and manual, brand-new runners instead of a simple color variant, and newly designed seals to boot — it's almost too much effort for a limited item.

Compared to the original VF-25, the changes start with the overall molded color, which has been switched to a white and orange combination, along with entirely new seals and decals designed to match the Prophecy's look. For a limited edition, that alone would've been more than enough... but on top of that, one runner has been newly swapped out and added, changing the head and cockpit designs. You get a new round, clear head, plus a cockpit that's been changed from a two-seater to a single-seater, with a light blue clear canopy added in.

The overall quality is the same as the existing VF-25, so there's not much else to say on that front. Bottom line — for a limited edition, this kit is packed with effort and it's a satisfying build. No matter how I look at it, this seems like something that would've sold pretty well as a regular mass-release item, so it's a bit puzzling why they chose to put it out exclusively as a limited edition bundled with movie tickets. Were they worried about the film's box office performance?

Either way, it's an interesting development to see Bandai — who usually doesn't put much effort into limited releases — putting out what's essentially a new kit in limited-edition form, much like Kotobukiya tends to do. :-)

1/72 YF-25 Prophecy | 2009.9 | ¥6,050

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.