Macross Valkyrie, Pt. 2

In today's post, we'll continue progress on the Macross Valkyrie from last post. 

We have completed the preliminary work, and will start on the white basecoat in the next post. For the Gerwalk mode, I will use the decal's to make Roy Fokker's signature Skull squadron paint scheme, and I may do the same for the fighter mode, depending if I have another set of the same decals laying around... Well see. 

Another fighter I had lying around will be an even funner project than the Gerwalk mode and Roy Fokker's Valkyrie combined as the me from a good eight years ago, when I was just starting out in modeling, decided to spray paint it (Very thickly!) and use a two color camo using Silly Putty as a mask. The silly putty stuck a little too well, and that's how we got here.  Most of this Silly Putty is still on the model, only harder than it once was. Not a big problem, as I've got plenty of spare time on my hands. 

That's all for now, if you want to keep up with this project as it progresses progressively, hit that subscribe button on the upper right of the page to stay up to date. It'd help me out alot. 

Stay safe out there. 

Shown above: The two legs to the Gerwalk, both puttied, sanded, primed, then sanded. 

Shown above: The torso for the Gerwalk. The torso was in two man peices that can together with a big seem line down the middle down the nose. It is primed and ready for the white base coat in the next post. 

Macross Valkyrie, Pt. 1

G'day folks, last post I mentioned that I would start a work in progress (WIP) series of posts, this will be the first one. I will be documenting the build process of one of the older Robotech 1/170 plastic models. 

The first step to take with a model like this is to assemble the model so that you can start on the next process, filling the mold lines. Because this is an old kit dating back to the mid '80s, this process will be delightfully tedious. Here is a before and after image, showing both the unglued and the filled and glued leg together. 

This process requires you to first put down a layer of putty on the offending area. In this case I am using Squadron's White Putty. It is cheap, and fairly decent for what it's worth. 

After waiting for this layer of paint to dry, the next part in the process is to file down the putty so that it is flush with the surface of the model. After this, I tippically rub the part with a damp cloth to remove any debris, then I spray it with a thin layer of grey spray primer. 

This layer will give you a good impression of what the model will look like with other layers of paint on it. 

If the surface looks uneven, file off the primer from the area, and then put another layer of putty down. 

I repeated this process for the rest of the kit, and it is ready for the first coats of paint. 

The fun will really start with the next post! 

The images above show the before and after on filing the fueselage. A major improvement! 

The next step will be to wash the model with water to remove any mold release agents still left on the model from it's original casting. 

Thanks for looking, and if you want to see this project come to fruition and help me out, hit that subscribe button to the right of this post. 

We'll see you in the next one, in the mean time, stay safe out there. We'll see you soon.

Something that got a kick out of me...

Two posts within a week!? A miracle!! Was doing my usual perusing through Ebay and I noticed an listing of a Battletech model kit. 

Upon clicking through the pictures,  I noticed something that really got a kick out of me. 

I first noticed that in the manual they had used the lineart for the original Macross/Robotech VF1 Valkyrie Gerwalk mode and variable fighter mode (The Battletech equivalent to the original unseen Stinger, and Stinger Land-air-'Mech.) in the instructions, and even went as far as to include one of the Zentraedi Battlepods on the front cover of the instruction manual. 

To further this, I remembered that I had some of the older Robotech model kits that Revell used to make back in '84 and the early '80s so I decided to compare the actual models to those seen in the pictures. 

To my suprise, both the runners, plastic model, and decals were the exact same as seen as the pictures below. I'd even be willing to bet that the runners from the Battletech plastic model series even had the very same Japanese Katakana(?) printed on them. 

Anyways, just goes to show how spread out the rights to Shoji Kowamori's original designs were. 

If you are not aware of Battletech and the infamous unseen fiasco fought between Fasa Corporation and Harmony Gold, (The bastards!) the owners of Macross/Robotech, check out this link over at Sarna.net if you've got the time; it is an interesting read and it'll walk you through the whole shabang. 

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Unseen

In the next post I'll be building one of the original Robotech model kits, so make sure to stick around for that. Building a kit of this age will be interesting to say the least. 

As always, thanks for looking and I ask that you please hit that email subscribe button at the top right of the screen, it'd help me out alot. Stay safe out their, and I'll see you in the next one.