#2 DONE +++ Macross 1:100 VF-1JS Super Valkyrie (fighter mode), "200" of SVF-124

[Dizzyfugu]

Still early, but the Jetfire nears completion and another idea/project is already becoming clear: an old kit GB would not be "complete" from my side without a Macross VF-1 in 1:100. I could not find hard data, but I know that the original moulds for the Macross kits in 1:100 and 1:72 were originally created around (or before) 1983, so this submission should be safe.

Kit will probably be built as a conversion/pimped OOB kit, and with an authentic benchmark for the livery, an unusual camouflage scheme I found in a source book.

Stay tuned, will take some time until things actually start moving here.

[Dizzyfugu]

Time to warm up this thread. This might become a little esoteric (it's anime and mecha, after all), but there's vintage material to tackle and major conversions ahead. 

Part of the building plan is THIS here...

Some inspiration for the next project. by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

(Updated visual)

[nighthunter]

*drools*

[Dizzyfugu]

*drools*

Righteously...  Work already started, but I am not certain if it makes sense to post WiP pics at all. It's work in a dozen single elements side-by-side, with lots of conversion and improvisation. If you are not familiar with these VF-1 kits (esp. the beefed-up Super Valkyrie) the whole thing might appear rather incoherent... Messy project, so far. 

[Dizzyfugu]

In order to keep the tension up, here's a look at the main ingredients: a pretty rare VF-1S kit - AFAIK the only Super Valkyrie in fighter mode ever offered, and a Super Gerwalk as well as some older sprues for some donation pieces...

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Dizzyfugu]

So, here's some WiP impressions - but it will take some time until the end result will become recognizable at all.

Let's start with the FAST booster - the diminuitive OOB parts (light green) vs. other parts that come with normal "Super" kits. Small difference, isn't it?

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Here are some other bits and pieces, just cleaned and with some paint on areas that will later hard to reach; the brown handgun here comes from another fighter kit, but then rejected in favor of the OOB gun - it has, effectively, better proportions and fits perfectly into another underbelly slot to hold it.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Alternatively, the OOB gun is corrected for the fighter mode (middle section cut out), and a different head (from a VF-1J instead of an S) will be mounted under the fuselage:

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


On the left: a special module that comes with this specific kit that simulates the folded arms of the Valkyrie under the fuselage, between the legs. The legs themselves have polycap joints and need some treatment. Esp. the feet need attention, since they are fully moveable, too (probably intended for a convertible kit?) and do not come as an open jet exhaust, some inner walls have to be cut away and some elements added (to come soon):

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Yes, this is esoteric, if not confusing. But stay tuned, this will, one day, rise as a cool LEO fighter! 

[PR19_Kit]

Yes, this is esoteric, if not confusing.

Very true, I'm baffled already...... 

[Dizzyfugu]

Understandably. Please be patient. 

[Dizzyfugu]

More impressions from the feet; front and rear end fit into each other, and polycaps finally hold everything in place:

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Later, the feet will be inserted into the lower legs, which also take the upper legs between the halves. The "J" head is also already assembled.
Note the additional black styrene piece on the upper, inner end of the complete foot on the right hand side. Dry-fitting revealed that, without these additions, an ugly gap will be visible:

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


More bits and pieces. The hand gun has been finished, and it received a styrene tube adapter for a later display (beauty pics, after all, the kit will have its landing gear down and theoretically stand on the ground like a normal aircraft).

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Another big complex: the separate cockpit and the fuselage with the VG wings, which actually work but will later be fixed in the forward position, due to the large underwing loads.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[nighthunter]

It's looking beautiful, Thomas

[Dizzyfugu]

It's looking beautiful, Thomas

Thank you, but it does not feel like that at all... it's really a shaggy, old kit. Anyway, more incoherent progress - for instance a belly view, with the "arm-thing" dry-fitted into its eventual place. On my former Super Valkyrie fighters I had to improvise this piece from arm elements. It's actually the only thing that makes buying this specific kit worthwhile, IMHO.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Then the legs, in a side view of the ex- and interior. On the flanks I added the steering vernier nozzles (They are simply missing in this kit!) made from 3.2mm styrene tube.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The cockpit section, mostly left OOB. Only additions are the characteristic blade aerials, and I will later add a bigger dashboard in the cockpit. Note the extended front wheel strut with the launch hook - another exclusive part from this kit.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


And finally: PSR has started. Even though there are not many visible seams, the overall fit of anything is utterly poor. Even engraved panel lines that run across a seams are not in line, horrible. 

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Nevertheless, progress is good, and nothing unexpected has happened so far - I have built too many of these to be scared! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Next steps. Work on the FAST boosters goes on - after all, four of these have to be built, and one pair (for the wings) needs some conversion and improvisation, since I lack the proper set of nozzles. All four come from other VF-1 kits and the respective extra sprues for a "Super" variant. This here is the dorsal pair, bult OOB, except for a styrene sheet inside of the rear as a heat shield (and also covering an ugly seam that is hard to sand away). BTW, these parts don't fit well, either...

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Dry-fitting of one of the legs - it is only attached to the fuselage behind the air intake - which I will leave "open". In space, the VF-1 closes the intakes with shutters, but I will leave things as is, also for the display on the ground.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The landing gear parts were added, including pairs ov covers which are simply missing in the kit. Unfortunately, there's also no well or any depression for the landing gear in the legs - I left it that way since the area is hard to see at all when the VF-1 stand on its own feet. The colorful PSR traces might tell how poor the fit of the leg parts is... 

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1JS Super Valkyrie; "200" of the U.N. Spacy SVF-124 'Moon Shooters' Fighter Squadron; Lunar 'Apollo' Base, 2012 (ARII kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[nighthunter]

Thomas, wonderful work so far! I loved building their 1/144 kits.

[Dizzyfugu]

Do you mean the Macross 1:100 kits, or the 1:144 Gundam kits? 

[nighthunter]

Do you mean the Macross 1:100 kits, or the 1:144 Gundam kits? 

Macross actually made 1/144 scale kits