ron5864

I wonder how much the super packs and armor packs will cost? It better not be more than $25.

Sad thing is that I will get it anyways.

With the much anticipated Christmas break now being realized, I was able to crack open the Bandai 1/72 VF-25F box to begin work.

Here's what I got so far, Alto was painted in his school X-Gear color as seen when he first jumped into the VF-25 cockpit.

A few other pieces were also put together but nothing too really show for yet.

Yup those Max and Millia valks are at a good price. I am also waiting a bit to see whatelse goes on sale before deciding. I do wish some kind of sale on the Tomahawk destroids.

With no neck, the Ozma valk does look like someone smashed the head into the body. I wonder if Kamjin also did a head drop onto Ozma's Skull One, like to Roy's DYRL valk.

I thought there were a least a couple more members who have finished one of these kits. Maybe theirs are not as display worthy yet.

I agree the TV Max VF-1A should be made with a fitting Zentraedi uniform as an option.

But most of all, I want the VF-1D whenever it comes out.

The location of the hip joint seems high, like the 1/60 scale version.

Why can't they make it more like the 1/72 model hip location?

Well, at least there is some neck there for the head to stick out, unlike the 1/60. A good thing.

Hey wow! That's pretty good work at getting those tiny pilots sculpted.

Like most of you, I just got my first VF-25F from HLJ. It looks like there are a lot more parts that first thought. I will probably study the build instructions carefully and see what I can paint or what I can leave unpainted. I plan on working on this during my Christmas break, 2 weeks off.

I read most people used stickers instead of the water slide decals. Has anyone use the decals yet? Is it any good?

Update on the diorama.....SOLD!!!

It has been sold to one of our Macross World members. I am not going to say who, but this individual lives somewhere in Southern California.

I know I had promised to bring this diorama to the 2009 MacrossCon. But that is not up to me now. It is up to the new owner to see if he wants to display it next July.

On the bright side, I will build another diorama with a different Macross theme for the MacrossCon next year. I already know what it is going to be and am now just starting to get the materials. It will contain more awesomeness than the Macross Island set. (Hint: Diorama set takes place in the year 2059)

So stay tuned...

Yup! My VF-25F just got mailed off to me from HLJ. And I also got a payment notice from them for the VF-25S. The only problem is that 4500 Yen is costing me more now than 2 or 3 months ago. The American dollar seems a lot weaker against the Japanese yen in these rough economic times.

Then again, I loss money in my General Motors stocks and that hurt even more. I should have invested in more VF-25s.

Now this question I have to ask, is there going to be a brown cannon fodder VF-25 version?

I am also wondering if the Macross Frontier movie will have different color schemes for their valks, just like how the DYRL version is different than the TV show's.

Just saw Episode 4 of season two. It was great in a tragic way. Saji got a really check when he learned he was the cause of what happened to the Catalan base. In a way, he might begin to understand Setsuna's reason for fighting. Now we can expect him to be less innocent and impartial (like Luca in Mac F) and become a fighter.

So I had panel lined my VF-25 on the sprues with a gundam panel line pen. It looked good...

Then I used Testors Model Master laquer overcoat lusterless flat (dullcoat) over it to seal in the panel lines.

The result....

The panel lines bled and broke up becoming splotchy and fuzzy. Where they were solid, they became almost like sponged, and also feathered out.

On the bright side of this story is that it was a good learning experience. Most of us assembling models don't get it right all the time. It is mostly trial and error thing.

I did something even worse once. I had just finished painting and putting decals on a 1/48 VF-1A. I grab a can of what I thought was clear coat and sprayed it on to the valk. I knew something was wrong when the item turned white instead of the expected clear gloss. I had picked up a can of flat white instead of clear coat. So another lesson for me to read the label before using.

BTW as promised, here are some better photos of the finshed 1/72 scale Glaug. Also this ARII kit had some poorly aligned pieces, especially in the legs. It took lots of sanding and filling to make the gaps and seams go away. The way the arms joints were designed make it difficult to attach properly. I broke one joint that connect the right arm to the shoulder section of the pod. Another quick replacement with Yellow Submarine joints saved the day.

I placed a 1/72 scale Destroid Spartan for size comparison. The destroid looks almost useless in a fight against a glaug.

Next project...US naval ship.

So I have been traveling for work recently and it took a while to get this ARII 1/72 scale Tactical Pod Glaug completed. I modified the hip joint area by adding a couple of ball joints from a Yellow Submarine kit. This allows the legs to face different angles rather than just pointing straight ahead.

Here are a couple of early photos. The smaller Glaug is a Bandai 1/100 scale version added for comparison. The 1/72 scale version stands about 11.5 inches (29cm) tall. It's a big kit.

I will put up better photos with better lighting when I get a chance.

I don't see the figures that goes with this VF-1D. I hope it comes with Hikau (in orange flight suit) and Minmei as seen in previous photos.

Very nice VF-1D indeed!

Yamato totally missed the boat by not making a 1/48 VF-1D.

The dark green version looks like a better than the brighter colors. The military gray version on the front of the Imai model kits from the 80's looks good too. I do wish Yamato would have made the Tomahawk with a Catepillar yellow, similar to the Defender's.

But I will probably get one and paint it in cannon fodder color or a light brown color with weathering.

It is a WAVE SDF-1 custom with the Daedelus and Prometheus from an old Imai kit. Maybe WAVE will make a TV version later on.

Episode 3 packed lots of action.

Lockon 2.0 said he has never operated more than a forklift, but that was clearly not so once the shooting started.

And why is Marina-hime seems in a constant state of depression? She could of at least be joyful to see Setsuna again and alive.

Brilliant!! totally thought it was CG!

Hope one day you'll do up a Force mode SDF-1 half in the ocean with arms out. That would be cool. (easier than what you've already

accomplished!) Wave need to make you a TV 1/5000 SDF-1, you've got yourself a DYRL? one?

Hey ruskii,

I do have a WAVE TV 1/5000 SDF-1.

I was planning to build Macross City 2 around it with the lake surrounding the ship. It will be a project for next year.

I bought myself a can of Mr Top Coat and practiced spraying it on a sacrificial Wing Gundam before i try it on the VF-25F. It is Flat/Matte. I'm not sure if this is the best one to use. It definately makes plastic look abit frosty(?) making it lose its "plasticky toy" effect. Prettty nice after application. I'm just wondering if i should leave clear parts (the visor and canopy) from being top coated cuz it does seem to make transparents parts (as shown by Wing Gundam's core thing) become a bit frosty.

The clear parts will become dull when that is applied. Put some masking tape over these areas will prevent them from looking like frost on glass.

Overall, it is a very nice F-14A. 1/100 scale is tough to work with though.

So is the new Lockon Stratus (Jean 1) a double agent? Tieria seems to pick up on that while everyone else is less suspicious.

I am not really affected yet with my toy fund. I have been careful with my money during the economic boom times so to fill in for the down times.

Actually, this is a good time to get the toys that you always wanted on Ebay. This is because the bids will be lower and there will also be less people bidding for those items. Also, more people will be putting their things up for sale which will saturate the market. This will lower prices even more.

I would not invest in toys for financial reasons, but it is a good investment into ones happiness and well-being.