1:100 VF-1S "Strike Valkyrie", "398" of the SVF-406 "Red Dragons", 2008

Dizzyfugu · June 08, 2020, 03:40:26 AM

New pics form an old model! This is one of (in the meantime...) four major kit conversions - or better: kit-bashings - I did on the basis of 1:100 Bandai Gerwalk Valkyries and leftover pieces from other 1:100 scale Valkyries in Battroid mode, plus material from the junkyard. These "Super Valkyries" carry rocket boosters for non-atmospherical use, so-called FAST packages ("Fuel And Sensor Trays"). Parts for these packages were included in some Arii/Bandai kits of VF-1s in Battroid and Gerwalk mode. There's only one vintage 1:100 Imai kit of a Super Valkyries in Fighter Mode, but it is really crappy and calls for lots of improvements. Therefore I decided to build my own, better model(s) from scratch. At the time of making, I just had vague visuals as reference, so some details on this model (it is ~25years old, I guess, even the internet was just nerd stuff at that time!) are not 100% accurate

Legs were completely re-built through kitbashing, they are modified pieces from a Gerwalk Valkyrie combined with lower legs from a transformable 1:100 scale kit. The folded arms between the legs are completely improvised, too, made from two lower arm halves and tailored to fit the gap between the bulky new legs. The big RMS-1 missiles under the wings were made from scratch. These are modified 1.000 lbs. bombs in 1:72 scale from old Matchbox kits, their rear fin arrangement is a simple piece of flexible plastic straw that fits perfectly.

The color scheme was inspired by a VF-1 side profile drawing in the source book "This is animation, Special: MACROSS PLUS" - an overall deep blue machine, with a white radar nose and dark grey FAST packs. The look resembles US Navy fighters from the 50ies - and as simple as it is, it looks gorgeous on a VF-1! I just did not use the authentic blue (FS 15042), which was a bit too murky at the kit's small scale and too greenish for my personal taste. So I rather settled for Humbrol's 15 "Midnight Blue".
The FAST pieces were painted in Humbrol 184 ("Stock Freight Grey"), a very dark tone.
Markings came from the scrap box, the dragon emblem of the fictional SVF-406 fighter squadron (stationed on ARMD-03 in Earth orbit) are insignia of US Marines' VMA-324 attack fighter squadron, which flew A-4 Skyhawks.

Macross +++ 1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1S "Strike Valkyrie", aircraft "398" of SVF-406 "Red Dragons" on board of ARMD-3, 2008 (Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

silverwindblade · June 09, 2020, 11:04:33 AM

I do love all these VF-1's you've done - every time I see a new topic with one you've done, it's like a new treat to enjoy!
Not that I didn't n the first place, huge Macross fan that I am, but now I want to build some Macross models even more. Just got to get hold of them...!
Also, I thought that FAST stood for Fuel And Sensor: Tactical rather than trays, but I stand to be corrected!

Dizzyfugu · June 11, 2020, 01:43:47 AM

There are different "translations" for FAST, though, and in the end. does it matter?

Glad you like it, though, despite the model's age.

1:100 VF-1S "Strike Valkyrie", "398" of the SVF-406 "Red Dragons", 2008

Dizzyfugu

silverwindblade

Dizzyfugu