Sanity is Optional

Going by the art it wouldn't work too well, it's decidedly asymmetric and the launch is going towards the top of the tube rather than the front. I could try and work up another that mimics the VF-30 pod I suppose, though I'd rather do that after the beam cannon pod and alternate side-pod.

I don't think it could stay retracted in battroid anyway, though I can check tomorrow how much shorter it would need to be. (To match lineart it's ~6mm shorter). I did notice that I need to make the missile hatches more or less flush with the rest of the pod to make it stow properly in fighter mode, so I need to re-do the missile doors.

Here's today's WIP, added the midpoint protrusion, cutouts for the missiles, and the missile doors. It's pretty close to the lineart, with the exception that the rear set of missiles is 8 cells long rather than 7. I tried 7, but it actually looked further from the art, it seems the drawn pod is a bit shorter, which means it won't work as well in fighter mode underneath (big gap). So I decided to add an extra set of missiles.

That's a great idea, ought to be easy enough to design a part that'll slot over the gun and let it sit on one of the wing mounts. We'll see, since it's almost certainly going to be more complicated than just scaling everything. Hopefully it's just re-working the dimensions. I do have a 1/72 Bandai VF-31J I can work off of.

My Arcadia VF-1S Roy had the same issue with the flap on the tail/backpack section. After looking at it, the reason appears to be that the nubs were on the sides of the peg it rotates around, rather than the ends, and the nub wasn't cleaned off very well. Essentially a big chunk of extra plastic rotating around inside the peg hole. Cut it flush with a hobby knife before I glued the hinge back over the top and no more issues.

Unfortunately, by the lineart none of these alternate weapon pods have a place for the gunpod. After I'm done with the cannons and missile pod I think I'll work up an alternate side-pod to replace the drone charger, but to put it on you'll have to open up the middle section, which appears to be screwed and glued shut. At least the VF-31 still has the arm guns?

Spartan up there at the front like "I don't need no guns, I GOT MY STICK!"

Actually, if you look you could theoretically swap the drone charger in for one side of the cannon pod (they share the same mid-section), but it'd be pointing the wrong way.

Those are the ones I'm planning to do, other than the top-right, which is the "cluster missile missile", a missile that fires cluster missiles.

Mk3, if I'm going in, I'm going all the way. Then some day add on the multi-spool attachment.

Depending how long this takes to finish, and what I get for Christmas, I may have a Prusa I3 by the time I'm done modeling it up.

The only VF-31As I'm aware of are: 1/144 VF-31A fighter mode kit (pre-painted) by Tomytec (Released) 1/72 VF-31A fighter mode kit (unpainted) by Hasegawa (Released) 1/60 VF-31A transformable DX Chogokin by Bandai (Pre-orders up, Tamashii Web Exclusive)

Well, I'm going to try and match the illustrations the best I can while maintaining shape and function. In the case of the missile pod that means missile inserts and opening doors mainly, and a pretty simple exterior. Debating if I want to have the missiles be removable and complete as an option, or just do a 1-piece tray underneath with missile heads molded in.

Warning: the decals are absolute MURDER on the Delta valkyries. Huge number, and you need to trim the edges, plus they get scraped off super easy without a topcoat, which needs to be applied in all 3 forms and partway in-between to cover everything. Oh, you'll also need to transform it while applying decals.

Honestly, I find the legs on the HMR Defender to be way easier to pose than the Spartan's. Probably due to the improved foot/ankle range of motion which makes it much easier to get the feet flat in more extreme poses.

By the way, feel free to kibbitz on the design, I'm an engineer not a graphical designer here so I tend to make everything look like cubes as a default.

Missile Pod done: Shapeways 1:60 STL files 1:72 STL files Gunpod hardpoint clip done: Shapeways STL file Thanks @Xigfrid for sharing his DX hardpoint CAD info for the clip. @valhary has made a resin cast for those interested. Original message below: Xigfrid inspired me to make use of my CAD software, and so I'm working up alternate pods for the VF-31, since I don't want my 31a using a damn drone charger. First step, which is done, is to make a basic block-out of the outside of the pod in it's stowed shape. Up next I'm going to try and make the simpler of the alternate pods shown in the master file (p76-77): the cluster missile pod (as they don't need to bend apart in the middle). Unsure quite how I want to do the hinged missile doors, might call for a brass rod running down the side as a hinge. If that goes well, I'll try the beam cannon unit. Probably not going to do the projection unit, as I'm not a fan of the look, and honestly curves are a giant PITA to model up in my CAD software. Once I'm done I'll put the STPs and Parasolids up on a filesharing platform and upload the stuff to Shapeways as well.

I plan to get some yetistand wall mounts instead and display everything. Once my wallet recovers, which may take a month or two (what with VF-2SS and SDF-1).

You're making me want to take my vf-27 out of the box...but I have nowhere to display it.

I'm actually planning to work up a 3D printed replacement pod using the master file's missile pod as a guide, finally starting on it tomorrow. Unfortunately I don't have access to a 3D printer, so I'll have to rely on CAD work and hope it goes together well.

What can I say, something about the triangular visor just doesn't look good to me. I prefer the S by far, and the J is my least favorite.

I'd be all in for these, except I already have M&M in HMR, and I'm not a big fan of the J head.

Same, though I'm a lot more willing to use EMS when it's coming from HLJ, NY is slow as molasses regardless. Last thing I had shipped from them is still on the way via ferry because why bother with 2-3wk shipping when it takes 1-2weeks to even get out the door?

No kidding, I have a SAL package right now, last update was 8 days ago saying "dispatched from outward office of exchange". Bet it's been sitting in a crate waiting for space on a plane.