VF-1A Grunt

On 2/12/2019 at 2:35 PM, Bolt said:

This looked awesome too! Not sure on the details tho..

I’m a little late to this conversation, but do you know if this is a product announcement or someone’s custom model? I’ve always liked the original VF-2 Sonic Birds scheme that Hasegawa produced, and I would definitely buy a VF-4 in that scheme.

I believe that Hasegawa developed the scheme for the limited edition model, so I’d be surprised if Wave was able to use the same design on their model, but maybe someone else actually owns the design. Or someone used the Hawegawa VF-1 decals on a Wave VF-4.

I’d personally like to do a VF-4 in the same high viability scheme used on the Hasegawa model.

On 12/20/2018 at 10:03 AM, TMBounty_Hunter said:

As for the feet, Hasegawa always gives C28 Steel

Wave gives 80% C22 Dark Earth + 20% C42 Mahogany

Actually, the Hasegawa Battroid kit lists this mixture for the brown VF-1A feet:

50% mahogany (42) + 10% flat white (62) + 40% burnt iron (61)

Their ratios are a bit of a pain, so I’m going to mix up a large bottle of each color so I can use it for several kits. The old brown VF-1A scheme is my favorite (in case you couldn’t tell from my avatar, so I plan to paint a few of them, along with a brown J.

On 1/11/2019 at 10:02 AM, ivorysniper said:

They've been reissuing it (along with the VE-1) continuously in the last months. A good chance to get to build both versions: the one with the super parts on and the barebone trainer Valkyrie.

I have a couple each of the original VF-1D and the VT-1 kits. I hope to eventually build an airfield diorama representing a training squadron with an older VF-1D and a new VT-1 (in standard configuration) parked alongside each other. I think the identical training paint schemes on thebteo different aircraft would look good side by side.

On 1/11/2019 at 8:41 PM, joscasle said:

NO 1/48

I keep hoping we’ll see a 1/48 VF-1D from Hasegawa eventually.

On 11/30/2018 at 4:26 AM, Convectuoso said:

Don't let this people discourage you from building it. Those kits are fun to build!

I agree - I probably have a half dozen of those kits from the various Macross anniversary releases - VF-1S, Max and Milia’s VF-1Js, VF-1D, three VF-1As, and then several of the ones that were released by Revell (?) under the Robotech name. I really enjoyed building my first one, even though I didn’t know how to paint and left most of it in its original white plastic. I keep telling myself that I’ll build some more, both for fun and for additional painting practice.

They actually already released the 1/48 photo etched parts last month - I got my purchase notice for the VF-1 parts from HLJ on Sept 11. The VF-1 parts have already changed to Backordered status, so that batch seems to have gone quick. I’m waiting for the VF-1S/A model to arrive so I can have them shipped together, hopefully. It was due in October, so I’m not sure if they didn’t get enough to fill my order, or if they haven’t arrived yet.

Thanks for the info - I’m not too familiar with Macross outside of the main movie / shows. The schemes look a little better in the darker, shiny colors in the Mecha Manual. Maybe a bit washed out in the model photos. I’ll give them a chance.

Has Wave introduced a 1/72 weapons set for this model, or are those external missiles potentially some new sprues that are included with these releases? I’ve always thought the Hasegawa box launchers were too big, so I’d welcome a Wave set if it improves on those.

Those are some pretty bland paint schemes. Maybe based off of Milia’s red VF-17? Don’t have my VF-4 Master File handy and don’t recall if those schemes were depicted in it. I would have preferred something with more white in it like their VF-1Js. Could always do it myself, I guess...

I broke down and pre-ordered a 1/48 VF-1A/S (I mostly focus on 1/72). Good to see they’re following up with the etched parts to go with it.

Hi Brett, these look great! I’m getting ready to move cross country, so I don’t want to put in an order until I get settled at my new address. Do you expect to keep these around as a regular production item, or will you have to move on to other things eventually? Thanks!

I’ve got two in the warehouse at HLJ. I think one of them will end up in the Sonic Birds scheme. I’ll have to grab an extra Sonic Birds VF-1 for the decals.

Has the separate canopy frame ever been done on model aircraft before (at least in this small a scale)? I’m a little concerned that unless it’s done perfectly with the toughest possible tolerances, you’re going to see gaps between the frame and “glass” that will make it look like a snap-together kit.

Brett, I am definitely interested in the whole 1/72 VF-1 canopy line (including the VE/VT-1), the 1/48 VF-1, and the VF-0A if you can do that one eventually. Thanks for developing this much-needed product!

Yes, that’s the one, Slide, but now that I look at it again, NZEOD’s Italeri deck has much better detail and is larger as well. I’m not totally sure how closely the Starship kit matches the Prometheus deck SDFM either (which I assume is what it’s supposed to be). I’ll have to keep an eye out for the Italeri kit (it appears to be discontinued or at least out of stock everywhere).

On 1/2/2018 at 3:59 PM, NZEOD said:

The wings carry a Harpoon, AQL-99 High band pod and 3 self defence missiles each.

That looks fantastic! I know you’ve been working on that variant concept for a long time. Congrats on completing the project!

I think you meant to say a HARM above?

The carrier deck base looks good. I’ve been watching for the Macross Valkyrie flight deck to get restocked in the Starship Modeler Store (I should probably ask them about it). This looks like a great alternative.

I’ve been meaning to ask, how does this Bandai kit relate to the original variable kit that was first issued in the ‘80s? I have quite a few of them, mostly the ‘97 reissues:

Bandai 1997 VF-1A

Is the newer version the same basic parts with new joints and “hardware,” or did Bandai completely redo this kit from scratch?

I always thought the heads were way too big on these kits, but the overall proportions looked pretty good despite the challenges of making them variable.

That looks like a variation on, or maybe one interpretation of, the VF-1G electronic warfare variant that is mentioned in a few places and shows up briefly in the battle in Episode 27 of SDFM. It’s referred to as the VEFR-1 in the Mecha Manual, and the VF-1 Valkyrie background info from the Master File mentions that 12 VF-1Gs were produced.

The artwork in the April 2001 issue of Model Graphix also includes a VF-1G, but it lacks any unique external features aside from some narrow fins on the nose cone and a sort of elongated VF-1A head with some sensors mounted on the sides. This is depicted in model form in the accompanying article. The author appears to have modified a Hasegawa model to represent the variant.

I like the added details on the nose and wingtips of the one in this line art. Looks more interesting that the other examples I mentioned above.

I’m a little behind on this subject, but in reference to the Model Graphix Macross Archives book that was released earlier this year, I think some people may have been under the impression that it’s an all-inclusive collection of every article that Model Graphix has published on Macross modeling subjects. It turns out that it’s more of a “best of” collection of articles rather than a complete one. It’s still a beautiful book with tons of great modeling, but I think there have just been too many Model Graphix Macross projects to fit in one book. I just wanted to mention that for expectation management, in case someone is looking for a particular past article and orders the book expecting it to be included. On the flip side, the book also seems to include some new modeling that was not featured in the original issues, which I’ll explain below.

I had been looking for the April 2001 issue of Model Graphix for some time and just recently found it on eBay. It has about a dozen VF-1 modeling projects featured in it and includes the artwork for one of the sets of special edition decals that Model Graphix produced with Hasegawa. It features photos of builds for each of the schemes in the artwork. Out of all the excellent articles in this issue, only one of them is in the new Model Graphix book - the SVF-113 VF-1J in kind of a gray low viz camo scheme. In the original issue, this  VF-1J was depicted as a modified Hasegawa kit converted to Battroid mode (long before the Battroid kit was produced). The new Model Graphix book has a single photo of the original Battroid followed by a bunch of pictures of a STRIKE VF-1J fighter in the same paint scheme. It looks like the original modeler expanded on the subject by building the STRIKE fighter. Beautiful modeling, but also interesting to see how the new book introduced some new modeling content that was not included in the original issue.

I think the Model Graphix book is fantastic and well worth the cost (to me, at least). I just wanted to share what I discovered though, because if you’re looking for a particular old modeling article, you might need to keep searching for those original issues.

Happy holidays, everyone!

On 12/14/2017 at 9:42 AM, jvmacross said:

or...just buy this...and get all of the Model Graphix Macross builds collected in one book....

Yeah, about that... I have that book, and apparently it’s not as comprehensive a collection of Model Graphix builds as we might have expected. The April 2001 issue has about a dozen model projects featured in it. One of them is in the Model Graphix book - the SVF-113 VF-1J in kind of a gray low viz camo scheme. And the photos are different - the original issue shows it in plain Battroid form, while the book shows lots more photos of it with STRIKE package installed, and in multiple modes.

The original April 2001 issue includes some artwork for schemes that went with the special edition decals they produced with Hasegawa, and it also includes builds for each of those schemes. Some awesome modeling that unfortunately isn't included in the recent book.

I think there have just been too many Model Graphix Macross projects to fit in one book, so they created a “best of” collection rather than a complete one.

On 12/8/2017 at 6:20 AM, Convectuoso said:

I'd love some TV pilots

Shapeways does have a Hikaru figure that I plan to order to pass off as a generic TV pilot to man my VF-1s:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/K6CJHPCJ4/1-72-macross-pilot-hikaru?optionId=62980660

I’m going to try one out and the hopefully order more if it looks decent. I like that Hasegawa produced the TV pilot with the Gerwalk model, but I wish they would make it available separately or add it into either new production runs of the older VF-1 models or the weapons set. Not sure if you’re looking for standing pilots to pose with the aircraft on the ground, but hope this helps.

Found it! I set up an automatic search notification on eBay to keep an eye out for this issue, and it popped up this past week. Ended up being about $26 after postage, which was well worth it to me for a 16 year old issue. Lots of great models and artwork - I just wish I could read (and speak) Japanese. I’ll be spending a bit of time with Google Translate. The Sonic Birds scheme and model are interesting - it looks like the author may have come up with it before the Hasegawa version was introduced, because it’s kind of simplified (no squadron logo on the vertical stabilizers).

This magazine itself is used but in pretty good shape. The only real issue is the cover starting to tear away from the staples on the spine. I’d highly recommend this issue if you ever come across it.

On 8/8/2017 at 4:44 AM, ChristopherB said:

VF-1A Grunt, thanks for posting and I hope you're doing well.  I agree with you about the box saying "Strike", but page 2 of the instructions shows "Y x 2" and the FAST Pack Parts picture in that link shows (2) sets of HMMP-02 micro-missile launcher pod on the sprues.  However, the model comment section says only (1) set is included.  All of mine are built, so I don't have a new one in the box to check at this time.

Regardless, I'm going to make the edit.  It would be almost impossible to check/research the contents of each kit to see what variations could be made.  I'll be consistent where possible and use the name on the box.

You and Salamander are completely correct - my apologies! I dug out my unbuilt kit (which I should have done in the first place - it was just buried in the stash), and it does include the parts for two sets of launchers.  That makes sense because there are two sprues needed, which each have the parts for one complete FAST pack.  The Strike parts are a separate sprue.  It also makes sense because they would want to give modelers the option of doing the TV version of the Super VF-1S.

However, I would recommend still using the correct name from the kit, maybe with a caveat about the Super / Strike parts.  I think the important distinction is that the later VF-1 Super / Strike kit contains all both the A and S heads, but it doesn't appear to have the J head parts. I noticed while looking through these kits that the original VF-1A Super kit includes both the A and J heads (despite being labeled as a VF-1A), but it only has the DYRL decals, so you'd have to come up with your own decals or paint the markings if you wanted to do a Max / Millia Super VF-1J from SDFM.

EDIT: Whoops, I see you already noted the A/J parts in the original VF-1A Super kit, Christopher.  It's interesting how Hasegawa left the "J" out of the kit name.  It almost seems like they didn't want to acknowledge the SDFM TV series paint schemes in their model line, with the exception of the VF-1D and the Gerwalk, and the special Max / Millia kits.

I have the original issue Imai Max VF-1J kit, the one that Bandai later reissued under their brand. It has a really basic color list that doesn't seem to refer to any specific brand of paint, unless it's something I'm missing somewhere in the Japanese text. However, the numbers appear to match the Gunze Sangyo Mr. Color chart, but it simply lists the colors in multiple languages like this:

1 White

2 Black

3 Red

4 Yellow

5 Blue

6 Green

7 Brown

8 Silver

9 Gold

10 Copper

33 Mat black

42 Mahogany

46 Clear

47 Clear red

49 Clear orange

52 Mat white

The numbers match the Gunze Sangyo chart with the exception of the last one, "52 Mat white," which should be 62 Matt White. I assume all the additional colors like Brown and Mahogany are listed because this is a generic list for all the variants they offered (such as the VF-1A).

My Bandai 15th Anniversary Millia VF-1J doesn't seem to have any color reference chart that I can find, just the big folding instruction sheet that has color photos of the finished model. Again, maybe I'm missing something in the Japanese instructions, but even the parts I translated with Google Translate don't seem to make any references to paint colors. It's as if they're just showing you the colors on the finished model and leaving it up to you to match them.

Hope that helps a little!

Arbit and Salamander, great Nausicaa models! I really haven't followed much animation outside of Macross, but I loved that movie. Thanks for sharing!

On 9/19/2004 at 8:08 PM, ChristopherB said:

Hasegawa 1/72 VF-1(A/S) Super/Strike Fighter Valkyrie Version 1

(snip)

Hasegawa 1/72 VF-1(A/J/S) Battroid Valkyrie Upgrade Parts

Christopher, thanks for compiling all this information. I know that it's been many years since you originally posted this and that new products may have appeared since then, but it's still amazing to see all the models that I wasn't aware of that had been produced.

One recommended correction in the quote above: as far as I know (from the kits I have), the original Hasegawa VF-1 Valkyrie fighter kit listed above only includes the parts to build a VF-1S Strike Valkyrie and is labeled as such. See the kit description on the MW page below and the image of the box cover:

http://www.macrossworld.com/macross/models/hasegawa/hase_65705_vf1s_strike.htm

In reference to the second item, I've never come across this upgrade kit for the Hasegawa VF-1 Battoid. Can you describe what the kit includes? Does it have the improved Super Battroid joints to replace the ones in the basic Battroid kit?

Thanks!

I've never seen Ace Combat myself, but that's a good-looking fighter. I think it would be neat to decorate it with U.N AIR FORCE decals from the Hasegawa VF-1A Low Visibilty kit. The JASDF kit is reasonably priced on Amazon right now (around $32 with free shipping to the U.S.).  If I didn't already have so many kits on the shelf...