Gundamhead

It was mentioned cause it's in 1/72 and variable that's all. He was after 1/72 variable. Pretty limited choices. It might be converted to model status if you invest the time in some detailing and puttying and painting. I don't think you're gonna have too much luck getting one of the SHE or IHP kits unless you've got some serious money to burn, and know somebody willing to sell theirs. You should buy a 1/72 Imai/Bandai, and build it up fixing what's wrong with it. It's by far the cheapest option for you. The biggest problem is the the nose, but it'll give you a real good idea on how a VF in 1/72 transforms, and what you can do to make it better, and how to kitbash a Hasagawa. I'm one of those that feel a model should be stationary, so the whole variable thing is just 'neat', but not enough to make me want to invest in the money and effort. I'd rather have the 3 different modes as 3 separate kits.

I like the Imai/Bandai variable VF-1S Battroid more than the Hasagawa. It's got a more anime look to it. It's biggest fault would be the nose cone, but then you get a dieting stubby winged VF-1S from Hasagawa's Battroid. What it comes down to is personal preference. Unless you've got a few hundred bucks, for the IHP, and lotsa patience finding one, these are your three real choices for a 1/72 VF-1S variable. Imai/Bandai. Kitbash Hasagawas. Bandais HCM (Toy).

I haven't seen Shawn here, wouldn't he want one? Armor, you've gotta go to the 'For Sale' topic to get on the pre-order list.

Oh, and by the way, it can't be recast. This would be an original cast kit.

OK. I'm a little shocked at the hoopla over this little guy. So 'Glamor Spider Bug/Pod' is it's name? I like that better than Searcher SFV. It doesn't have any reconoitering or prospector look to it. Giant headlights and a light bar wouldn't make sense on something called 'Searcher' to me. It does have a 'Spider Pod' look to it though. And it does look like a maintenance/rescue machine. Thanks for the episode, I got to check it out. Those Robotech RPG colors are right, though I do not know about yellow headlights. I know the circle bars are reversed on mine. The ones you have linked (I have them) are far too large for the tiny side ones. I also thought it just seemed too flat and kinda blah. My big arm mount is also a little different. I didn't like the way it was attached in the line art. I did not plan to make this a kit. I didn't think there'd be too much interest in it. However after having dropped it and seeing all the parts scattered on the floor, it could be kitted now with some more clean up. (I never claimed to be graceful.) I'll let you know more details about that when I know more.

I got bored and decided to do a quick scratchbuild. I was in kind of a Macross mood, so I broke out the 'Perfect Memory' and thumbed through it. I found this thing, and built it in 1/72. The thing is I don't know what the thing's name is. I don't know what episode it is in either. Can anybody help out that speaks/reads Japanese? I figure that it's for 0-G hard vacuum maintenance or rescue. I'm pretty sure that's a light bar. I'd just like to know the colors if possible. Red for rescue, yellow for maintenance. The color of the numbers would be helpful. Even the overall color? (I figured white) Anybody happen to catch what episode this thing shows up in? http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p...12296&members=1

Man that's looking nice! Great work! I gotta start saving some pennies.

Those are all 1/144 and the Monster is the 1/144 YS.

Fans always seem to forget the VF-1 is a small bird.

Great work!

'Design Works' is abook full of line art from the animation. They are doing beautiful work!

BTW, Kakizaki (Ben) paint scheme is totally different than the mass produced scheme.

The Max you have pictured is from the Macross Movie Do You Remeber Love. In that movie Max is blue and Kakizaki (Ben Dixon in Robotech) is green. The schemes are identical, just substitute the blue with green. In the TV series Macross, Max and Kakizaki share the same exact scheme again, only Kakizaki (Ben) is tan. There are differences between the TV and DYRL schemes, so hunt around a little for which version you want to do. Look at the old VF-1A kits from Imai and Arii for the schemes. This site has both instruction and box art that lists both Max versions.

There's about a hundred possible reasons. It sounds like you may be using too much air pressure. If you have a regulator on your compressor, it shouldn't be higher than 30 PSI. (That's very high for airbrushing) The thinner the paint, the lower the pressure. The average is usually around 20 PSI. A scarey comment you made, is you only used it a few times so it should be clean. You do have to clean after every use. If you're not sure, clean it anyway. Have you ever dropped it? You could have damaged the nozzle or needle. Never snug it down too tight. It should all move smoothly. Is the tiny hole on the paint top of the bottle open? (The white cap) You will get poor results if the tiny hole is plugged. Are you using the fine nozzle and air tip trying to get fine results right? You can't get a very fine line if you're using the med or heavy tips. Are you familiar with using a double action brush? (That's what you've got pictured) The button controls both air and paint, the harder and the further back you depress the button, the more paint/air you get. (A big pattern) The lighter and closer forward you press the button, the finer the spray pattern. They take practice. However, that brush is a nice one, and they have great customer support if you need something. A great place for further help after you've tried this stuff out is Starship Modeler. http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-bin/php...wforum.php?f=16

Yup. Me and my brother made up a few kits a few years ago. We figured we needed a name, so we called ourselves Karakorum Creation. I figure SMT just went on ahead and used it again. (Besides, I think it sounds better than made by 'Gundamhead' or 'Joe'.) The 1/72 variable Valkyrie Super Armor was my own design before Hasagawa did any Macross Valkyries. I did use parts from the 1/72 Super Fighter, but they were all modified to fit the Variables so they could still transform. I scratchbuilt the rest. There was a company in Japan that made a similar kit around the same time, '3 Guys Hiding in a Cave' was their name or something like that. I forget. But mine was designed totally ignorant of theirs. I might have even been first, but I really don't know. As for SMT's buisness ethics, he's great, but a little slow. I was a customer before I offered up the Monster for him, and his kits were well cast. I don't have any worries about that. I can't say for sure how SMT will decide to cast the Monster, but I did sell a couple when I made mine. Mine were solid resin, and weighed a little over 5 pounds. It's insanely heavy for a kit. (It balanced perfect, a testament to the designer.) I really wish I had more info to tell you guys what SMT will do, but I honestly don't know until he does it. I don't know if SMT will cast it solid. The feet and legs should be solid at least. I haven't been asked for any pictures by SMT of mine, but here's a link to the pictures of the kits I did sell before SMT got the masters. The Monster birth and Karakorum stuff is here, (the first 'parts shot' is the prototype parts to help make the final master for the Monster, the parts shot at the bottom was one of the kits I sold.) http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zaku2ace/...u2ace/my_photos The Monster I made for myself is here, and gives you a idea of size. http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zaku2ace/...u2ace/my_photos I really hope SMT will include the 'historical' sheet along with the decals. I think I did pretty well on that research, and it fits nicely within the canon. I gave 5 noseart options, including 'Anxious Angel' and 'My Baby', which are considered canon and can be found in the Macross Model Book. 'Maiden Macross' was my own nose art, 'Quamzin's Worry' was a nod to my brother, while the last was a nod to Shawn (Owner) and Max (the moderator) of Macross World. It was 'TUNAHEAD' named from the roasting Tuna head that used to hang on the top of the pages here, and operated in Alaska. (Some old members may get the references) The instructions were hand drawn and written, so I figure I'll be fielding questions when SMT delivers them. However, if you study them, you really ought to be able to figure things out. I tried to keep the kit designed for beginers new to resin, and left options for advanced guys looking to do more with it.

After recieving a PM, from maporama decimal deg-min-sec latitude 41.9839 41° 59' 2" longitude -72.5547 -72° 33' 16" ENFIELD, CT 06082

I use baby powder and mix it with CA. (CA is crazy glue) You can get any 'thickness' you want this way, as in like water compared to silly putty. The advantage is it does not shrink and produces a pefectly filled seam. If you sand it moments after it cures, it is relatively easy. It becomes rock hard the longer you wait.

Someday I wanna go to one of those shows! That's cool! Thanks!

The proper term for modelers who build is 'glue sniffing paint spattered modelers'. Unless you use dope. Then your a 'paint sniffer'. Actually come to think of it, a good flat coat works too. And some putties. Glues though, that's the key to losing brain cells quickly. Then if ya get into resin, there's a whole new world of stinks.

That mobile launch platform isn't too difficult a design, and as far as I know that's the only picture of it's top so you'd get some creative liscense for the detail. I'd say do them both.

You'd probably be better off using the Super Valkyrie's legs, and maybe include the knee joint in resin so people could use the plain VFs. I'd try and do something hollow too. That'll be about $30.00 in just resin solid, and waht a waste if you miscast.

Darn it...I dont have the style sheets! But..in terms of scale...here is a resin 1/72 scale Legioss (just the body...unbuilt...a Valkyrie Legiss and Tread recast! ) Also, a 1/35 scale pilot, a 1/48 scale pilot and a 1/12 scale Ride Armor.... End result...I would agree with Captain...they are too large...but I would also agreee...I think they will look cool with my 1/72 battroid and Legioss and Tread...so Im okay with the scale issues....I would guess they are about 30% to large. (as an interesting aside the Reppu 1/48 Eager is about 50% bigger then the 1/72 Eager....so it would seem that is too large too ) Just to steal this picture to page 2. By the way is the Ligia about 2" tall? It looks to be and if so that's 1/72 also.

I dunno guys, they look very close to the line art in terms of scale. I'm thinking that people get thrown by the Ligia's hieght in that pose. The line art has it squating as it does in 1/2 the show. The Gurab is a better reference. My Legioss Battroid is about 4.5" tall to the top of the shoulders, and about 5" to the head antenaes. If the Gurab is aound 3" tall (which it appears to be) it's 1/72. The Gurab should be about as tall as the Legioss leg in Battroid, which is 3" long. That certainly looks right to me.

Geez. I thought Hasagawa's 19 was a huge Valkyrie... Cool.