Hasegawa 1/48 VF-1S Strike Valkyrie with some photoetched parts
1January 16, 2024Sprues and box lid
2January 16, 2024Sprues
3January 16, 2024Box lid I matted & framed after having Shoji Kawamori (Valkyrie designer) & Hidetaka Tenjin (boxart artist) sign it at Otakon 2023 (Washington, DC)!
4January 16, 2024Managed to snag both the weapons set and the photo-etch parts from Plaza Japan! Even after shipping it would've cost me about the same amount to get 1 of them from eBay!
5January 16, 2024Red Flag #1: the photoetch cockpit side panels do NOT match up with the parts (methinks the etched are actually
6January 16, 2024Seriously? You have to glue in these tiny slivers of plastic inside the engine nozzles ("feet")?! And keep them aligned with about a millimeter high rid
7January 16, 2024
8January 16, 2024
9January 16, 2024
10January 16, 2024Initial parts assembly and 1st round (of 3!) TRYING to sand out seams :|
AKA Red Flag #2.
11January 16, 2024I thought this kind of thing only happened in kits made in the 1970s and 80s?? Bandai HG & RG kits have spoiled me!
12January 16, 2024Red flag #3: The instructions did not make it clear (at least to me) where the booster mount panel was to be glued... Guess what? It's not where you see it here. the top should be aligned not flush at that edge, but vertically along that ridge that tops out about 2/3 of the way to the rear...
13January 16, 2024Red flag #3 Exhibit A
14January 16, 2024Yes, I bought the etched set. but nose strakes are not flat sheets of metal. So I've sanded down the original rectangular plastic parts to mimic the actual shapes.
15January 16, 2024Yet more misaligned parts that I had to sand for days then realize it obliterated the panel lines...
16January 16, 2024A "win!"
At least the Mission Models Paint (Cold-Rolled Steel) looks good on the FAST pack thrusters!
In fact, as I began to spray, starting at the base of the thruster bells, I realized that the molded blue gave color through the misted paint at the bell's edge, giving the impression of super-heated metal. So I went with it!
17January 16, 2024Even the smaller thrusters turned out well!
18January 16, 2024I wish I could say the same when it came to hitting the fuselage, etc. with the Insignia White.
For some reason I was getting a reaction - just in spots - where the paint appeared to be reacting with the plastic creating these odd patterns and refusing to coat. :[
I mixed the paint, thinner and polyurethane per manufacturer's instructions, so I'm at a loss. Any ideas what happened here??
19January 16, 2024Another example.
20January 16, 2024Rather dramatic example.
21January 27, 2024Back to the VF-1S while I await delivery of my paint-on clearcoats for the Harryhausen's Rhedosaur.
Prepping/assembling some parts for a second coat of Insignia White... Here we go again with seams... Right in the middle of the top of the engine intake and while they offset the bottom of that, there are gaps and when the seam does return to center it isn't level. Ugh. I love the VF-1s and the Strike version in particular, but not. This. Kit.
22January 27, 2024Second coat applied. Debating whether to spray clearcoat on some of these once the paint cures to avoid chance of chipping. Test fitting the "feet" into the legs resulted in the ankle insert scratching and removing some of the metallic paint from the feet/engine nozzles.
23January 27, 2024Second attempt to assemble this photo-etch detail piece. Yes, that IS a shirt pin and my X-Acto knife!
I bought a tweezer set that includes angled versions that helped me place these 2 fins after I used the shirt pin to apply a fine line of CA glue to the back side of the mounting grill. There are times I wonder if this particular detail is worth the amount of time I have to spend holding my breath to place them. And thank goodness (once again) for my lit, gooseneck magnifying glass! LOL
24March 8, 2024Seams...
25March 8, 2024
26March 8, 2024Photo-etch vs kit-supplied parts for comparison.
27March 8, 2024Same photo-etched parts in place... And more assembly seams.
28March 8, 2024Fun with masking tape
29March 8, 2024Did okay, but I believe I need to get model/detailing tape LOL
30March 8, 2024More photo etch detail parts. Got to be careful when bending these into position.
31March 8, 2024Was finally happy with the eyeplate color!.. Then realized it will NEVER BE SEEN, because in fighter mode only the top of the head and the head guns are seen. DOH!
32March 8, 2024Finally have the feet and legs assembled. Have to be careful of that panel lying at the feet. It's not symetrical, so matching those parts to the correct leg is important.
I must say I'm not looking forward to trying to alter gear bay parts to be closed (ironically the box art shows the fighter in flight yet the kit only supplies parts for having it resting on the landing gear). But, for better or worse that's the way it's going to go! LOL
33April 7, 2024
34May 6, 2024Another realization: There are decals, some of which are quite tiny, that need to be applied BEFORE assembling some parts. The backpack and FAST pack boosters, and the folded vertical stabilizers for example. LOL Otherwise it will be near impossible to do afterward. And oh, the fun of the commander stripes! It broke as I was sliding it to the edge of the paper!! Happened to the Jolly Roger decals as well (next photo). I've fixed them as well as I can. Beginning to wonder if I should've just sprayed the commander yellow & black. Ah, well.
35May 6, 2024With SO many of these (check out the diagrams on the last 3 pages of the instruction booklet!), I've decided to apply them in batches. A few on this section, then set aside to dry. Some more for another section. This way I avoid accidentally messing with any that are already applied.
36May 6, 2024Stabilizers turned out pretty well considering they'll be folder over one another. LOL However, I am scratching my head as to why the Mr. Mark Softener didn't get the crossbones to sink into the panel lines.
37May 15, 2024LOL This instruction manually really does need an overhaul in my opinion. I've tried so hard (as a hobbyist who builds these to relax/meditate) to be aware of this kit's oddities... But, there really should be better instruction to avoid unnecessary work. Applying decals (especially those that like to break) that are just going to be covered up. 😛
38May 15, 2024Okay, so I've arrived at the phase that I've really dreaded (I know, I know - I've complained the whole way and I am disappointed by that): Closing the landing gear bays using the parts that were meant to have them open... Even though the box art displays Skull One _after_ launch, there are no part options to have the gear up?! *Le sigh*
39May 15, 2024
40May 15, 2024I've taken a piece of sprue that, pared down (i.e. carved and sanded) will provide a central beam upon which the long nose gear doors will rest. The forward door needed a divot carved into my support beam into which the light recess would fit.
41May 15, 2024Modifying the existing tabs to still help align and lock down the door positions.
42May 15, 2024Kept a bit of a gate nub as another alignment aid. Carved a notch in its counterpart to accept it.
43May 15, 2024The doors are also longer than they should be? Of course they are. LOL
44May 15, 2024Well...
45May 15, 2024Not wonderful, but acceptable. Gotta keep moving forward. 😉
46May 15, 2024Time to modify the leg gear doors...
47May 15, 2024Modifying door 1. Starting at the rearmost door in hopes of best alignment.
48May 15, 2024Modify 2
49May 15, 2024I'm saving some snipped off bits, because I may be able to reuse them. That little ledge on the left, under the door for example. That was a nipped piece from these doors. 🙂
The forward door needed to have a squared notch carved into its back support structure to fit atop the 2 ridges in the foreground... I thought I'd photographed it, but alas I missed that one - apologies!
50May 15, 2024Not surprisingly, the doors didn't exactly align on the legs either. Those bother me a bit, but not as much as the little gaps along the inside leg LOL
51May 15, 2024Both leg's gear doors sealed shut. I'll have to decide what to do about the gaps.
52May 19, 2024My first attempt at using "sprue goo" (snippings of kit sprue melted by adding drops of liquid cement) to help close the landing gear door gaps.
53May 19, 2024You can tell I'm fumbling my way with the 'goo', can't you? LOL This is definitely recommended to do BEFORE painting, since the goo stripped even top-coated paint! I'd use this method again on, say, fuselage gaps. May not have been the best option for this application, however. Live & learn!
54May 19, 2024Hmm... The tab is way wider than the slot designed.
55May 19, 2024How I'm keeping track (and know when I've completed a section) of applied decals. Fill in the dots or cross out those I have no intention of doing (since the assembled model will make it highly unlikely/impossible to see them).
56May 19, 2024How it's going: All of the body top decals, that will be visible, are applied (yes, even the infinitesimal ones).
Now deep breath for applying the long stripes for the inner legs and fuselage...
57June 12, 2024Tracking decals applied.
58June 12, 2024And determining IF I should even bother with some! LOL
59June 12, 2024
60June 12, 2024
61June 17, 2024LOL My ingenuity, of modifying the forward hatch to be closed yet secured for the leg/engine landing gear, "came back to bite me."
Had to carefully shave it down at the rear to the leg/armor sections to fully attach to the knee portion.
62June 17, 2024Sections assembly begins. May have to file off paint from the FAST pack's micro missile pod and dual beam cannon attachment pins. I could only get them on half way before the resistance became worrisome. :\
Beginning to paint the pilot, Focker, and the dashboard (I'm painting the simple buttons, but will cut up the decal for the main viewscreen and keypad sections - fingers crossed).
63June 23, 2024
64June 23, 2024
65June 23, 2024Dashboard installed
66June 23, 2024I struggled more than I expected with Roy... Not only getting his arms positioned correctly, but also with the paintjob. LOL
67June 23, 2024Since he's going to be permanently under the canopy, I'm going to call him good enough at this point.
68June 23, 2024Had to ease the canopy on. The hinge pins resisted, so I rested the forward section to the nose and alternated pressing gently but firmly down on each hinge pin.
69June 23, 2024
70July 17, 2024
71July 17, 2024
72July 17, 2024Mothra vs Godzilla (モスラ対ゴジラ) keep me company, via Pluto TV, while I start on the missile weapons I've selected to match the loadout on Roy's VF-1S at the beginning of the 1984 movie. It's difficult to not want to rush to the end, now that I'm so close to finally finishing this kit. LOL
73July 17, 2024I've opted to go with regular white for the missiles themselves instead of matching the FS17875 Insignia White I used for the fighter itself (and the weapon mounts). I did this with micro missiles from the fighter kit already, but I also saw this in several real-world F-14 photographs, as well as a variety of those where they matched and others where the projectiles were multi-colored, so I believe this will help to highlight the impressive size of the RMS-1 units as well as make the noses of the UUM-7 micro missiles 'pop' against the pod's Intermediate Blue.
74July 28, 2024"Large Anti-Ship Reaction Missiles" (RMS-1) and Micro-Missile Pod loadouts, to match Roy's initial appearance in the 1984 MACROSS film, are done!
75July 28, 2024They gave me some grief as well (I mean why should they change to tone of the build, right?? LOL). The mounts didn't want to fit on the wing pins all the way to make a flush fit, even with gentle twisting motions and slight pressure... So, off they need to come so I can trim around the pin openings. Well, of course, in the process two of the mounts decided to detach from the ordinance. 😛
Anyway - IT'S FINALLY COMPLETED!!!
76July 28, 2024My finished model against the backdrop of Tenjin's box art!
77July 28, 2024Decided to have some fun using Tenjin's artwork for the SDF-1 kit as a back drop...
78July 28, 2024And play with lighting. 🙂
79July 28, 2024I was having so much fun...
80July 28, 2024That I couldn't resist trying one more backdrop that was in the story and go for (what I believe is) some more realistic lighting. 😉
81July 28, 2024
82July 28, 2024
83July 28, 2024
84July 28, 2024
85July 28, 2024
86July 28, 2024Then into the display case it goes!
I really do like this Calibre Wings v.2 weighted display base, too! A little pricey with shipping (ordered direct), but VERY sturdy, so quite worth the expense!
Thanks for putting up with my ranting in this project - I am both relieved and proud to call this one done!
Now, which one from the stash is gonna be next?..
Komentarzy
3 December 2024, 23:19 -
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I was excited when I found this kit during a vacation. I was even more excited to get Shoji Kawamori (Valkyrie designer) & HidetakaTenjin (artist who painted the box art) to sign the box lid!!.. Then I was able to get the weapons set and the photo-etch parts for what it would have cost for just one or the other on ebay!
Unfortunately, after that the joy of actually assembling this really fell off.
This kit has been more of a headache than a joy to be sure. I say this, sadly, because I'm really a fan of the VF-1 Valkyrie's and Fokker's in particular. But, wow, Hasegawa. I have to say, after not building for years, then trying several Bandai kits, this kit gives me flashbacks to when I was about 10 years old and just starting to try to build kits (partly because my dad was good at it back in the 1970s and partly because I finally found some planes and the Enterprise from Star Trek that I wanted to put together). The plane kits always drove me crazy with misaligned fuselage halves and unclear instructions... This is what I'm finding here now, too. And why, why is this kit molded to bifurcate parts down the middle when a little more engineering could have hidden the joins in several cases (like the FAST pack booster housings??
If you love/enjoy filling gaps and sanding - this kit is for you.
I don't mind a bit of it, but this has been on a whole new level. I mean I've sanded A LOT. And just when I think I've got an even seam (at times this has mean obliterating some panel lines as well), I hit it with some primer and there the seam shows plain as day. After about 3 rounds of this on quite a few, I've opted to move and and accept this kit is not going to be the ultimate, perfect DYRL VF-1S I'd hoped it would...
