1:100 VR-1D Recce Valkyrie U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 (第501飛行隊), 2011 (Macross)

[Dizzyfugu]

1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
The VF-1 was developed by Stonewell/Bellcom/Shinnakasu for the U.N. Spacy by using alien Overtechnology obtained from the SDF-1 Macross alien spaceship. Its production was preceded by an aerodynamic proving version of its airframe, the VF-X. Unlike all later VF vehicles, the VF-X was strictly a jet aircraft, built to demonstrate that a jet fighter with the features necessary to convert to Battroid mode was aerodynamically feasible. After the VF-X's testing was finished, an advanced concept atmospheric-only prototype, the VF-0 Phoenix, was flight-tested from 2005 to 2007 and briefly served as an active-duty fighter from 2007 to the VF-1's rollout in late 2008, while the bugs were being worked out of the full-up VF-1 prototype (VF-X-1).

The space-capable VF-1's combat debut was on February 7, 2009, during the Battle of South Ataria Island - the first battle of Space War I - and remained the mainstay fighter of the U.N. Spacy for the entire conflict. Introduced in 2008, the VF-1 would be out of frontline service just five years later, though.

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1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The VF-1 proved to be an extremely capable craft, successfully combating a variety of Zentraedi mecha even in most sorties, which saw UN Spacy forces significantly outnumbered. The versatility of the Valkyrie design enabled the variable fighter to act as both large-scale infantry and as air/space superiority fighter.

The basic VF-1 fighter was deployed in four minor variants (designated A, D, J, and S) and its success was increased by continued development of various enhancements including the GBP-1S "Armored" Valkyrie, FAST Pack "Super" Valkyrie and the additional RÖ-X2 heavy cannon pack weapon system for the VF-1S for additional firepower.

From the basic fighter variant and the standard VF-1 airframe, several sub-versions were produced for specialized tasks, one of these being two dedicated reconnaissance variants of the Valkyrie. The respective VR-1A, the first variant to be fielded, was a one-man all-weather electronic warfare and reconnaissance version, more or less a direct conversion of the Standard VF-1A fighter with a defensive electronics suite and the capability to carry reconnaissance equipment in a ventral pod (instead of the GU-11 gun pod). The soon following VR-1D was based on the trainer two-seater, and a much more sophisticated design. Its biggest operational benefit was a dedicated systems operator on the back seat so that the pilot could focus on the task of reaching mission targets, mostly in low-level high speed flight, using terrain contours for a stealthy approach. As a consequence, the VR-1A was only manufactured in small numbers by Northrop during 2009 and 2010, while the more prolific, versatile and efficient VR-1D was manufactured by Rockwell Bell from early 2010 onwards until 2014.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In addition to the standard electronic warfare suit carried by all VF-1 Valkyrie fighters both reconnaissance types carried two multi-frequency radar warning receivers on the vertical stabilizers, making this detail the most obvious difference to the fighters. Many VR-1s carried, instead of the fighter's intercept radar, specialized sensor equipment in their noses, including cameras in different configurations, mapping radars or radiation and atmospheric sampling and analysis equipment. Despite the different nose and equipment configurations, the VR-1s normally did not receive a special designation, the crew number and the airframe ancestry being the only nomination factor.

Furthermore, a wide range of special equipment could be carried, the most common ordnance being a pair of optional conformal radar jamming pod pallets that could be mounted onto the leg/engine nacelles' flanks.

The VR-1s operated, except for the integral lasers in the standard A or D head units and IR-guided AMM-1 missiles for self-defense, generally unarmed and, if possible, in clean configuration, for maximum low level speed and agility. Instead of the fighter's standard GU-11 gun pod (which could be carried, though), both VR types typically carried various Tactical Aerial Camera System (TACS) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) pods under the fuselage. Furthermore, they could also carry a wide range of special ordnance like ECM and chaff/flare pods under the wings, as well as a pair of drop tanks to increase range and loiter time.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In order to retain some limited offensive combat capabilities against aerial and ground targets alike, many reconnaissance Valkyries received during their career and the standard fighters' MLU program (see below) an infrared search and track (IRST) system, mounted in front of the cockpit. Sometimes an infrared jamming system was added in a fairing to the bottom of the nose, too, when applicable. Alternatively, the same system could be carried externally as a pod on one of the outer pylons.

After the end of Space War I, the VF-1 continued to be manufactured both in the Sol system and throughout the UNG space colonies. Although the VF-1 would be replaced in 2020 as the primary Variable Fighter of the U.N. Spacy by the more capable, but also much bigger, VF-4 Lightning III, a long service record and continued production after the war proved the lasting worth of the design.

The versatile aircraft also underwent constant upgrade programs, leading to improved versions like the VF-1N and P. For instance, about a third of all VF-1 Valkyries were upgraded with Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems from 2016 onwards. Many Valkyries also received improved ECM and radar warning systems, with emitters/receivers, depending on the systems, mounted on the wing-tips, on the fins and/or on the LERXs.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The VF-1 was without doubt the most recognizable variable fighter of Space War I and was seen as a vibrant symbol of the U.N. Spacy even into the first year of the New Era 0001 in 2013. At the end of 2015 the final rollout of the VF-1 was celebrated at a special ceremony, commemorating this most famous of variable fighters. The VF-1 Valkryie was built from 2006 to 2013 with a total production of 5,459 VF-1 variable fighters in its multitude of variants.

However, the fighter remained active in many second line units and continued to show its worthiness years later, e. g. through Milia Jenius who would use her old VF-1 fighter in defense of the colonization fleet - 35 years after the type's service introduction!


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



General characteristics:
All-environment variable fighter and tactical combat Battroid,
used by U.N. Spacy, U.N. Navy, U.N. Space Air Force and U.N. Spacy Marines

Accommodation:
Single pilot in Marty & Beck Mk-7 zero/zero ejection seat

Dimensions:
Fighter Mode:
  Length 14.23 meters
  Wingspan 14.78 meters (at 20° minimum sweep)/8.30 meters (at 70° maximum sweep)
  Height 3.84 meters

Battroid Mode:
  Height 12.68 meters
  Width 7.3 meters
  Length 4.0 meters

Empty weight: 13.25 metric tons
Standard T-O mass: 18.5 metric tons
MTOW: 37.0 metric tons

Powerplant:
2x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001 thermonuclear reaction turbine engines, output 650 MW each, rated at 11,500 kg in standard or in overboost (225.63 kN x 2)

4x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters (1x counter reverse vernier thruster nozzle mounted on the side of each leg nacelle/air intake, 1x wing thruster roll control system on each wingtip)

18x P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles


Performance:
Battroid Mode: maximum walking speed 160 km/h
Fighter Mode: at 10,000 m Mach 2.71; at 30,000+ m Mach 3.87
g limit: in space +7
Thrust-to-weight ratio: empty 3.47; standard T-O 2.49; maximum T-O 1.24

Design Features:
3-mode variable transformation; variable geometry wing; vertical take-off and landing; control-configurable vehicle; single-axis thrust vectoring; three "magic hand" manipulators for maintenance use; retractable canopy shield for Battroid mode and atmospheric reentry; option of GBP-1S system, atmospheric-escape booster, or FAST Pack system

Transformation:
Standard time from Fighter to Battroid (automated): under 5 sec.
Min. time from Fighter to Battroid (manual): 0.9 sec.

Armament:
2x internal Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannon, firing 6,000 pulses per minute
1x Howard GU-11 55 mm three-barrel Gatling gun pod with 200 RPG, fired at 1,200 rds/min
4x underwing hard points for a wide variety of ordnance, including:
- 12x AMM-1 hybrid guided multipurpose missiles (3/point), or
- 12x MK-82 LDGB conventional bombs (3/point), or
- 6x RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles (2/outboard point, 1/inboard point), or
- 4x UUM-7 micro-missile pods (1/point) each carrying 15 x Bifors HMM-01 micro-missiles,
- or a combination of above load-outs


The kit and its assembly:
This build was inspired by a Macross source book find, but the build did not go without a personal twist, and therefore it is not 100% canonical. The VR-1D two seater recce Valkyrie as such is "real", though, and the basis for the build was a standard 1:100 VF-1D Arii kit. Beyond the standard improvements with extra blade antennae and two pilot figures for in-flight display, I did some other changes in order to get away from the standard VF-1D look.

One of these are the radar sensors on top of the fins - carved from 1.5mm styrene sheet and replacing the original fin tips. On the nose flanks I added flat SLAR antennae, which I extended downwards so that the familiar VF-1 nose would appear quite different (inspired by the Grumman F9F-8P's outlines). The panels are 0.5mm styrene sheet and blended into the fuselage with putty. In front of the cockpit an IRST sensor was added, actually a simple piece of sprue.

The conformal ECM fairings on the legs were originally drop tank halves (from a Matchbox Saab 29), reduced in depth so far that only shallow bulges remained.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Instead of the GU-11 gun pod under the fuselage I used a camera pod from an 1:72 Luftwaffe Tornado. This is a little massive for the slender 1:100 Valkyrie, but the camera ports and the overall shape and length were just too promising. I cut away the original attachment pylon, reversed the pod, cut off its rounded rear section and added an spherical, clear "eye ball" at the front end (which is actually a ball joint from a vintage Matchbox aircraft display ).
A vertical styrene tube was used to mount the pod under the Valkyrie, and it is at the same time an adapter for my standard wire display, so that the VR-1D can be presented in flight, with the landing gear tucked up.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
The paint scheme is based on the rather unique (if not surreal, but effective!) low-level camouflage carried by some of the JASDF's RF-4EJs, operated by the 501st Hikotai (beyond a maritime and a Europe One scheme), as well as the F-1. As far as I could find out, the upper tones are FS 34097, 34108 and 30372, and white from below, while the pattern itself is identical to the Phantom II's USAF SEA scheme.



The tones I used are Humbrol 168 (Hemp), a mix of 101 (Mid Green) and a little 76 Uniform Green, for a more bluish hue, and a mix of 108 (WWI Green) with some 252 (RLM 82). Instead of white, I rather used a very light grey (Humbrol 147, FS 36495) for the undersides.
Later, after a black ink washing, these basic colors were lightened through panel post-shading with slightly more pale mixes of these tones.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The cockpit was painted in canonical colors, with a medium grey interior, black ejection seats and red brown cushions. The air intakes became dark grey (Revell 77). Since the Valkyrie would be displayed in flight, with the thick and distorting canopy closed, only basic painting was done inside, including the two figures - they just received a basic Macross pilot suit look, but, as a personal twist, the crew received different jumpsuits in red and blue.


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Rockwell/Bell VR-1D "Valkyrie"; aircraft "(08-5)906" of the U.N. Spacy SVFR-501 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (第501飛行隊); Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture/Japan), 2011 (modified Arii kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The markings were mostly taken from the OOB sheet (with full color kite roundels, making this aircraft look even more JASDF-ish, plus some typical stencils), extras are the 501 Hikotai's famous woodpecker emblem from a Hasegawa 1:72 Phantom II kit and the USN style modex. The dielectric fairings on the nose were created with ivory decal sheet, other antenna covers were painted with Humbrol 7. The exhausts/feet were painted with Modelmaster Titanium Metallizer.
Finally, the kit received an overall coat with matt acrylic varnish (Italeri).



Another VF-1 for the collection, this time a kind of JASDF tribute build – and a mix between canonical and personal elements. However, an interesting result - the "real" JASDF paint scheme looks a little odd, but somehow the camouflage suits the VF-1 well?

[zenrat]

Ooh, I do like this one.  Well done.

[nighthunter]

I like all the VF-1s you do, Thomas, as Robotech/Macross was my introduction to anime