DONE @ p.2 +++ 1:100 VF-1J+ Valkyrie with dazzle camouflage

Dizzyfugu · September 08, 2017, 11:18:13 AM

The VF-25 came to a close (beauty pics pending, though), and there's still a lot of time left for this GB, so I will tackle another project from the long idea list. Again, a mecha model, and this time a classic 1:100 VF-1 Valkyrie from the original Macross TV series.

The Valkyrie will be built mostly OOB, just with standard mods, and also with the landing gear tucked up for flight. However, I have been wanting to create one with a rather special paint scheme for a long time, quite experimental, and I use the occasion to take that plan to the hardware stage.

Stay tuned!

nighthunter · September 09, 2017, 01:49:42 PM

What? House Davion's Davion Guards?

Dizzyfugu · September 10, 2017, 02:14:22 AM

No, that's garish (rather looks like the PEPSI Guards?), not experimental...

I'll try to adapt/interpret a real-world concept, and it turns out to be more demanding than expected, because I will not copy something, but rather try to develop a personal solution. We'll see what becomes of it...

nighthunter · September 10, 2017, 07:58:42 PM

I'm talking the good version, not the Tricolor

Snowtrooper · September 11, 2017, 02:57:03 AM

"Ferris scheme" maybe?

Slightly related to the topic, of the very few kits I have actually completed over the years, two are actually ~~Macross mecha~~ 'Mechs - 1:100 Tomahawk Destroid built as Natasha Kerensky's Warhammer and 1:72 Glaug Battle Pod built as Grayson Carlyle's Marauder. For the latter, I interpreted its "grey camo" as four shades of grey with a random pattern (largish splotches slightly resembling the US "Woodland" pattern). I liked my creation enough that the camo will probably also end up on a whiffy aircraft build once I get around doing one...

Dizzyfugu · September 11, 2017, 03:26:56 AM

Goes into this direction, even though it's not an adaptation of the US Keith Ferris schemes, rather an interpretation of early dazzle schemes - almost fractal. I did not simply want to copy an existing scheme. Developing a concept for the scheme is a nice side-challenge, though: it is to be both disruptive and confusing, but also somewhat decorative - true camouflage was a secondary requirement, but welcome.

Creating such a scheme from scratch is not as easy as it sounds, because you have to avoid collisions of the same colors, and the scheme and its single shard shapes are to somewhat correspond with the Valkyrie's outlines. Since I did not dare to improvise this directly on the kit, and because I wanted to use more than three tones for the paint scheme, I actually created a 4-side view of a VF-1 on a sheet of paper and started... painting with colored pencils! I think that this extra step was worthwhile, and it makes application on the complex VF-1 with its separate legs and the VG wings a lot easier.

Pics to be posted, soon.

Dizzyfugu · September 13, 2017, 09:42:00 AM

Things started moving. This vintage ARII VF-1J fighter kit was built OOB, with the landing gear tucked up. This kit showed its age, though, the moulds seem to be well worn because the sprues showed considerable flash and other soft spots.
Anyway, the model received my usual additions of some blade antennae, a pilot figure and a custom display stand in/under the ventral cannon pod. The ordnance is standard, too, the full load of a dozen AAM-1 missiles is OOB. The only true additions are a small, scratched fairing for an IRST sensor under the nose, seen in a source book profile of an U.N.S.A.F. VF-1, and RHAWS antennae at the top of the fins.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "AZ 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "AZ 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Painting is the bigger part of the work, and a creative one, too. I did not simply want to copy an existing scheme, e .g. the Keith Ferris schemes that had been tested on some US aircraft. The scheme was to be disruptive, confusing and also decorative - true camouflage was rather a secondary requirement, but welcome. Creating such a scheme from scratch is not as easy as it sounds, because you have to avoid collisions of the same color, the overall look needs some balance, and the scheme and its single shard shapes were to somewhat correspond with the Valkyrie's outlines, too. Since I did not dare to improvise this directly on the kit, and because I wanted to use more than three tones for the paint scheme, I actually created a VF-1 4-side view on a sheet of paper and started painting it out with colored pencils!

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "AZ 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

And this is what I came up with (the blue tones are just for better visualisation):

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "AZ 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

zenrat · September 14, 2017, 02:21:27 AM

Promising.

Dizzyfugu · September 14, 2017, 09:21:53 AM

The scheme/profile was actually very helpful and I ended up with a four-tone scheme, rooted in pure black and white and somewhat inspired by pre-WWII dazzle schemes for ships. Consequently the tones are black (I used a tone called Tar Black, Revell 6, which is actually a very dark grey), a dark/medium grey (Humbrol 27), light grey (Humbrol 64) and white (again, not the pure tone, but rather a very light grey, mixed from 95% Humbrol 130 and 5% Humbrol 64).
The pattern consists of large color sections, geometrical shapes, wedges and a few stripes at some intersections. It (unintentionally) reminds of certain late Su-27 schemes in Russian services, as well as US aggressors that carry similar outfits, e. g. some F-18s of USN's VFC-12. But these are rather geometrical shapes added to a camouflage/grey background, and not as integral as my design.

The scheme was applied mostly free-handedly with brushes and a mix of enamels and acrylic paint. From certain angles it actually breaks up the VF-1's outlines well, esp. its silhouette, and at a quick glance it is actually hard to tell the Valkyrie's orientation or direction of flight. In order to add some more onlooker confusion, I also added a fake cockpit with a white pilot helmet (cut from decal sheet) on top of the fuselage.

All other markings are rather minimal and subdued. Lacking different contrasting color options, I used yellow decals for the "U.N. Spacy" tags on the legs and the upper starboard wing. The "kite" insignia in grey and white were printed at home, while the tactical code comes from a Tamiya 1:100 Thunderchief. The chequered stripe on top of the fin is a generic decal, and blank, beige decal sheet was used for the wings' and fins' leading edges. The rest came mostly from various OOB VF-1 sheets.

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "ZA 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

PR19_Kit · September 14, 2017, 11:58:42 AM

That scheme actually works, it's quite difficult to look at without your eyes going into overload!

Rheged · September 14, 2017, 02:14:23 PM

Dazzle painting worked well on WW1 ships, boggling U boat commanders; so why shouldn't it have the same effect on aviators (and on my eyes too)

Dizzyfugu · September 15, 2017, 03:23:04 AM

Assembly has been more or less finished, beauty pics next. I am actually curious how these turn out, when you have the VF-1 in action and in a desert environment.

zenrat · September 15, 2017, 04:33:36 AM

I'd like to see it in/over an urban environment.

Dizzyfugu · September 15, 2017, 05:40:59 AM

I have to agree with the urban environment idea for this one.

I have actually thought about building a Battroid in this scheme, too. I did a VF-1S in Battroid mode in an adapted USN wraparound scheme (three tones, rather bluish), and it looks pretty cool. But with this four-tone splinter scheme...?

There some leftover VF-1 Battroids in the basement, lacking ideas (so far). Would be a good occasion to reduce the pile.

Dizzyfugu · September 15, 2017, 08:34:22 AM

Finishing touches, details and the OOB ordnance:

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "ZA 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "ZA 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

...and finally, mounted on the display/gun pod (taken in very poor light, sorry!):

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "ZA 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1J+ (Block 4 Update) Valkyrie; "ZA 248" of the U.N.S. Air Force SVFT-685 "Gyrfalcons" aggressor squadron; New Edwards Air Base, Eden; 2027 (modified ARII kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Beauty pics next!