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Hasegawa Valkyrie VF-1A/J/S Model Kit 1/72

Comments

11 comments posted
Gorgeous!

Gorgeous!

north-exit's picture
Posted by north-exit on 22 July, 2010 - 03:31
Absolutely beautiful work! I

Absolutely beautiful work! I love the white with red trim for the Valkyries the best.

http://www.vzartanime.blogspot.com/

VZMK2's picture
Posted by VZMK2 on 22 July, 2010 - 06:57
One word... Stunning! I cant

One word... Stunning! I cant wait to see the built 1/20 Scopedog, hint,hint....LOL

-Dan
CollectionDX LLC
Vice President/Co-Owner

Shogundan's picture
Posted by Shogundan on 22 July, 2010 - 11:32
Don't make it seem like a

Don't make it seem like a joke. There will be consequences if this does not come to pass.

Mike's picture
Posted by Mike on 4 August, 2010 - 20:18
VF-1 kit vs VF-0

I'm building a VF-0 kit now, and it's actually interesting to see how Hasegawa improved the kit design even between the VF-1 and VF-0. For example, the VF-0 nose piece is split top/bottom, rather than left/right, so the seam follows a natural break point in the surface (and is therefore easier to clean up.)

*****

It's also kind of neat to compare the VF-1 size to real fighter aircraft; the VF-1 is tiny! It's barely bigger than an A-4 Skyhawk, which is notoriously small. (However, the VF-0 is a lot bigger--more on the scale of an F-18.)

*****

Any comments on the photoetch parts?

*****

I think that part of the problem with the VF-1 kit is that it was designed to be the basis for both the "regular" and "super/strike" models. The VF-0, by contrast, has the entire tail section molded as a piece with the fuselage top, which gives a much cleaner and more-solid build.

*****

One of the things that's unfortunate about Hasegawa going to the "combined" kit is the loss of the box art and decal options. (Hasegawa originally released the different types--VF-1A, VF-1J, VF-1S--as individual kits.) These kits came with decal sheets to do schemes like the "grunt" VF-1A or -1J or the Max/Milia type.

--
"All the dogs in this sector have turned into red monsters!...don't tell me that it's impossible!"

RobotBastard's picture
Posted by RobotBastard on 22 July, 2010 - 12:11
UN Spacy Thanks

Thanks for the great comments!

ShogunDan
The Scopedog is underway, I just need to go to the hobby shop and pick up some paint of those funky colors! Its a beautiful kit!

RB,

That tutorial should help you out with your build, I learned a lot from it and actually interested in building one myself especially a 1/72 VF-19 now that I'm watching Macross Plus.

The VF-1 is smaller that an F-14 for sure and if you have ever seen a F-14 in person its not that big of a plane. The F-14 is still one of my favorite aircrafts ever and its sad we no longer fly them anymore. Hasegawa released a limited edition 1/72 F-14 with Macross markings from Macross Zero but it is a pain in the arse to locate. I want it so bad as its the best of both worlds of Macross and F-14s and would fit quite nice here for a review and comparison between the two planes. I'm planning to buy the Academy F-14 and find some Jolly Roger markings to place next to my Valkyrie.

I'll go into detail about the photoetch parts at a later date in another review devoted to the sheet itself. But I personally feel some of these photoetch should have came with the kit on a small sprue as the modeler only uses a handful for the basic Valkyrie. It seems more geared towards the Super/Strike Valkyrie and the modeler will have extra parts afterwards. I do love the antenna on the top of the spine of the aircraft and I like the interior parts as well. But in general I have mixed emotions on parts they should have included and parts that really didn't need to be reproduced.

Yes, I agree the VF-1 is way over engineered and a lot of time is wasted in completing things that should just be a couple of parts. I'm ready for the Strike/Super Valkyrie now as I have a better idea how the basic airplane is constructed.

I believe one aspect of all of the Hasegawa Macross kits that are just great are the decal sheets. Put the limited edition markings and after market decal sets together, Macross modelers must have at least 50 marking schemes to use for their VF fighter series. So many cools sets and now you telling me about the individual sets come with even more markings...

Thanks!!!

Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau

Showapop's picture
Posted by Showapop on 22 July, 2010 - 13:43
I like the subtle level of weathering

I like the subtle level of weathering on your buildup. It really accentuates why not to paint your space robot fighter jet white in real life - every speck of dirt will show!

recognizer's picture
Posted by recognizer on 22 July, 2010 - 16:38
really great work, Leo. I

really great work, Leo. I for one would very much enjoy process pics to see all of the work that goes into creating such a tasty build. This is the best looking fighter-mode valk I've seen.

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 22 July, 2010 - 20:41
Camera Blew Up

Thanks Enthusiast!

My Camera of 5 years finally died on me while I was in the middle of building the kit. I usually 1) take pictures of the parts on the sprue and/or scan the instructions 2) Photograph all the major sub assemblies before paint 3) The parts after paint 4) the finished product. Sorry, my camera died in the paint phase of building the kit!

Thanks for the great comment, I'm very proud of this one!

Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau

Showapop's picture
Posted by Showapop on 22 July, 2010 - 23:35
I'd love to see you build

I'd love to see you build the Hagesawa VF-0B.

http://www.vzartanime.blogspot.com/

VZMK2's picture
Posted by VZMK2 on 22 July, 2010 - 22:01
Macross Zero

I plan to purchase Macross Zero series soon, I'm looking forward to building Roy's Skull version soon after.

Cheers!
LF

Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau

Showapop's picture
Posted by Showapop on 22 July, 2010 - 23:39