Macross VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demo team, 2018

[Dizzyfugu]

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) 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. It was preceded into production 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 was 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.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The VF-1 proved to be an extremely capable craft, successfully combating a variety of Zentradi 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 signature skills of U.N. Spacy ace pilot Maximilian Jenius exemplified the effectiveness of the variable systems as he near-constantly transformed the Valkyrie in battle to seize advantages of each mode as combat conditions changed from moment to moment. The basic VF-1 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 and FAST Pack "Super" Valkyrie weapon systems.
After the end of Space War I, the VF-1A continued to be manufactured both in the Sol system (notably on the Lunar facility Apollo Base) and throughout the UNG space colonies. Although the VF-1 would eventually be replaced as the primary VF of the UN Spacy by the more capable, but also much bigger, VF-4 Lightning III in 2020, a long service record and continued production after the war proved the lasting worth of the design.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) 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 with several variants (VF-1A = 5,093, VF-1D = 85, VF-1J = 49, VF-1S = 30, VF-1G = 12, VE-1 = 122, VT-1 = 68)

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 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Specifications:
Equipment Type: all-environment variable fighter and tactical combat battroid
Government: U.N. Spacy, U.N. Navy, U.N. Space Air Force

Accommodation: pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk-7 zero/zero ejection seat
Dimensions:
Fighter Mode:
Length 14.23 meters
Wingspan 14.78 meters (fully extended)
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

Power Plant:
    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
          (1 x counter reverse vernier thruster nozzle mounted on the side of each leg nacelle/air intake, 1 x 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:
1 x internal Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannon, firing 6,000 pulses per minute
1 x Howard GU-11 55 mm three-barrel Gatling gun pod with 200 rds fired at 1,200 rds/min
4 x 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

Optional Armament:
Shinnakasu Heavy Industry GBP-1S ground-combat protector weapon system, or
Shinnakasu Heavy Industry FAST Pack augmentative space weapon system



The kit and its assembly:
This is one more 1:100 Bandai VF-1, IMHO a design masterpiece created by Shoji Kawamori and one of my favorite mecha designs ever, because it was created as an late 70ies style jet fighter that could transform into a robot in a secondary role, a simple, purposeful military vehicle.
I've built more than a dozen of these kits over the last 25 years, so I know it pretty well, especially its weaknesses. But the small Valkyries, originally manufactured by IMAI and now still on sale through Bandai (they pop up every 5 years when another Macross anniversary occurs...) are simple and easy to modify, and to me a kind of clean canvas for weird and colorful ideas. The VF-1 carries a huge creative potential.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


This VF-1A was built almost OOB. I just made some minor mods, partly based on the design benchmark (see below). These include a pilot figure for the cockpit – actually a modified, HO (1:87) scale sitting soldier from Roco Minitanks; 1:100 pilot figures are hard to find, but I found that these squatted figures fill the cockpit and the relatively flat seat pretty well. A few characteristic blade antennae (four under the lower front fuselage and two behind the cockpit) were added.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Since this VF-1A was to be displayed in flight, the landing gear could be omitted and the covers mounted in closed position. The underwing ordnance was omitted and the pylons' attachment points faired over. The handgun, hanging under the fuselage in flight mode, was replaced by a smoke generator and an associate tank - actually a drop tank from an Airfix 1:72 Saab Viggen. It also holds an adapter for a scratch-built display, which is taller and less obvious than the OOB offering.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
This is where the actual work took place – and this Canadian VF-1 is a personal interpretation of a fictional custom Valkyrie profiles by CrazyCanuck, posted at macross.net in the fan art section (check http://www.macross2.net/m3/forfansonly/crazycanuck/layouts-snowbirds.jpg for reference).

There's hardly a livery that does not suit the elegant VF-1, and I found the Snowbirds scheme very pleasing. I also liked the idea that the VF-1 would be used all over the world, with national adaptations like a Royal Navy(!) variant backed by official publications and source books. So, why not a Canadian Valkyrie?

For easy painting the kit was built in separate section (cockpit, fuselage with wings and butterfly tail, legs, head and the smoke generator), and the use of white AND red –together with yellow IMHO the most challenging tone to work with on models – scared me.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Due to the kit's tininess I painted everything by brush with enamels. The basic tones are Humbrol 130 and 19, the latter turned out to be a very good representation of the Snowbirds' deep scarlet red tone.

The cheatline all long the VF-1, literally from nose to feet, was created with decals. Most come from an 1:72 Snowbirds CL-141 Tutor sheet from Victoria productions in Canada (excellent stuff!), part of the trim had to be improvised and extended with generic blue and white decal sheet.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In contrast to the CrazyCanuck illustration, I decided to add Macross insignia instead of Canadian roundels – keeping in line with similar "nationalized" VF-1s in official source books. Some Canadian symbols like the flags on the fins, the roundels in the round depressions at the ankles and the huge Canadian flag on the starboard wing (a personal addition, the maple leaf is a decal while the rest was done with paint) were adopted, though, and they suit the Valkyrie well.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


After basis painting was done I followed the engraved panel lines with a fine, very soft pencil. An experiment, because I just wanted a subtle emphasis esp. on the white surfaces, not the 2D/comic-style full black panel lines of former builds.


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


No other weathering was done, since this VF-1 was to look clean and bright. Finally, everything was sealed with a coat of gloss acrylic varnish, and the characteristic clear parts (visor on the head, position lights on the legs, laser muzzles, position lights) were laid out with acrylic silver and filled out with various shades of clear paint. Just small things, but they enhance the overall impression of the simple model kit a lot.




1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1A Valkyrie, "085/3" of the Canadian 'Snowbirds' demonstration team, 2018 (ARII kit, unofficial fan art version) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


After a long time it's a good feeling to build an VF-1 again, and creating a rather bright one was fun, even though the paint job was challenging. But patience and clever improvisation paid out: that Snowbird really stands out, the Snowbirds livery suits the VF-1 well! :-D

[Captain Canada]

Love it ! Looks great in those colours, and the changes you have made really work for me. Love the Canadian flag addition to the wing, the 'real' Snowbirds should do that !

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you. I knew you'd like it... 

[Old Wombat]

I have one of these (in chrome), given to me by a mate of buzzbomb's about 6 years ago, which I doubt I'll ever build but this makes it a touch more tempting.

[Dizzyfugu]

The chromed kits are horrible - give it a bath in oven cleaner and save the kit!

The VF-1 has a LOT of potential, almost anything goes, and even the authentic options (beyond the OOB versions) are vast and cover a wide range of whiffy schemes and markings.

[zenrat]

Cool.