Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.

1. Battroid mode

Various angles

Detail shots

Two gunpods are included as weapons.

Separate gunpod parts for attaching to the body (left) are also included.

A total of 3 types of hands are included.

HG YF-21 - Effect parts in the same style as the YF-19 are also included, with only the direction of the spiral being di

Effect parts in the same style as the YF-19 are also included, with only the direction of the spiral being different.

When mounting on the stand, you'll need to swap out the crotch piece with the stand-use parts.

Transformation parts

2 leftover parts remain as well.

Excellent limb articulation

Forward/backward shoulder articulation

HG YF-21 - The nose section of the fuselage rotates, and the waist also has a rotation gimmick, so the body's articulati

The nose section of the fuselage rotates, and the waist also has a rotation gimmick, so
the body's articulation is more flexible than you'd expect.

The three nozzles move individually.

Gunpod action poses

HG YF-21 - Poses using the effect parts (1/4)

HG YF-21 - Poses using the effect parts (2/4)

Poses using the effect parts

2. Gerwalk mode

After disassembling the Battroid mode as shown above,

HG YF-21 - raise the back panel 90 degrees upward, and lower the head forward to align it horizontally with the back pan

raise the back panel 90 degrees upward, and lower the head forward to align it horizontally with the back panel.

Unfold the wings that were folded inward, and reattach the covers beside the nozzles.

Bend the legs forward as shown and plug them into the underside of the body

Plug in the separately included transformation nose piece and the transformation is complete

HG YF-21 - GERWALK mode. It locks together much more securely than the YF-19. (1/6)

HG YF-21 - GERWALK mode. It locks together much more securely than the YF-19. (2/6)

HG YF-21 - GERWALK mode. It locks together much more securely than the YF-19. (3/6)

HG YF-21 - GERWALK mode. It locks together much more securely than the YF-19. (4/6)

GERWALK mode.
It locks together much more securely than the YF-19.

Battroid-exclusive parts left over after transforming into GERWALK mode

HG YF-21 - GERWALK mode action poses (1/4)

HG YF-21 - GERWALK mode action poses (2/4)

GERWALK mode action poses

3. Fighter mode

After disassembling the GERWALK mode as shown above,

slide the nozzle section backward, then lower it down and lock it in place.

HG YF-21 - Locking it in this state gives you High Maneuver mode (limiter release mode). This is a mode where the speed

Locking it in this state gives you High Maneuver mode (limiter release mode).
This is a mode where the speed limiter is released by removing the arms and legs to reduce weight.

The underside ends up looking a bit bare, which is unavoidable.

High Maneuver mode on the stand

HG YF-21 - To complete Fighter mode, plug the arms into the separately included lower panel and position them at the ang

To complete Fighter mode, plug the arms into the separately included lower panel
and position them at the angle shown in the photo on the upper right.

Temporarily detach the nose section, remove the crotch piece, then reattach the nose section.

Attach the lower panel — which was joined with the arms — to the underside.

HG YF-21 - Plug the separately included covers into the holes where the arms were, and reattach the covers you set aside

Plug the separately included covers into the holes where the arms were,
and reattach the covers you set aside earlier next to the nozzles.

Attach the 2 mountable gunpods to the underside and the Fighter mode transformation itself is complete.

The separately included landing gear can be attached.

HG YF-21 - Landed configuration with landing gear attached. (1/3)

Landed configuration with landing gear attached.

The folding wings have a tendency to keep drooping downward.. -_-

Parts left over after transforming into Fighter mode.
The entire lower body ends up being set aside.

HG YF-21 - Fighter mode on the stand (1/6)

HG YF-21 - Fighter mode on the stand (2/6)

HG YF-21 - Fighter mode on the stand (3/6)

HG YF-21 - Fighter mode on the stand (4/6)

Fighter mode on the stand

Folding the main wings and tail fins slightly as shown gives you the high-speed flight configuration.

Displayed in high-speed flight configuration

Together with the HG YF-19.

Collab action poses with the HG YF-19. (You two, stop fighting..)

HG YF-21 - Straight builds by mode (1/6)

HG YF-21 - Straight builds by mode (2/6)

HG YF-21 - Straight builds by mode (3/6)

HG YF-21 - Straight builds by mode (4/6)

Straight builds by mode

Following the Macross Plus HG YF-19, the YF-21 has also been released as an HG kit. As expected, it offers the same setup as the YF-19 with two types of stickers and a swap-out transformation system. Overall, it shows a slightly more polished level of quality.

First off, the three-stage transformation gimmick of Battroid → GERWALK → Fighter mode feels a bit more streamlined than the YF-19, making the transformation process noticeably more comfortable. In particular, the leg locking in GERWALK mode is easier and more solid, allowing for more stable standing and posing than the YF-19. Fighter mode uses a method where the legs are removed entirely and a separate lower panel is substituted in, which also improves the stability as a fighter jet. On top of that, the High Maneuver mode — with the arms and legs removed — can also be recreated.

In Battroid mode, it shows excellent limb articulation along with flexible waist movement. Posing has become much easier, and the overall joint strength is solid throughout. Two gunpods are included as weapons, with the body-mounted gunpods provided as separate parts. Additionally, the same style of effect parts that came with the YF-19 are included here with just the spiral direction reversed, so you can pull off collab shots with the YF-19 as well.

One thing that's a bit disappointing is that the hinge section of the folding wings feels slightly flimsy. In my case, one wing in particular kept drooping downward in both GERWALK and Fighter mode, which got a little frustrating. Since it was already loose from the start even without much movement of the hinge, it seems like you really need to be careful when assembling the hinge section the first time around.

Aside from that wing hinge issue, this turned out to be a very satisfying HG Macross kit. With an easier transformation process and solid joint strength throughout, it shows a step up in quality compared to the HG YF-19. If you're a fan of the Macross series, this feels like a fantastic transforming kit that I'd recommend even more highly than the YF-19 or YF-29. :-)

HG YF-21 | 2024.1 | ¥4,300

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.