This is the last post of my build documentation of the 1/60 VF-1 No Paint kit with Option Parts by Yamato Toys and converting it to a fictionalized VF-1A of Miria Fallyna Jenius. Part VI of this build can be found here. Next part of the build focuses on the assembly of the main wings.
These plastic plates go on the wing. The manual recommends to file down the ribs found on the underside of the plate so that it can fit in perfectly at its place in the wing.
Here's the ribbed lines filed out. The manual indicates that this part has to be secured with glue.
Clear parts for the wing to recreate the lights. Had to file it down a bit so that it could fit. Glue is also recommended to be used to secure that part at the wing.
Arms were secured to the fuselage by means of two flat screws.
At this point, the backpack was also secured onto the main fuselage by means of 3 flat screws at 3 different points.
Arms installed to the underside of the fuselage
Here's a shot of the arms already tucked into its location under the fuselage.
Connecting the head to the underside of the nose of the fuselage
Rubber tires were supposed to be installed during the rear landing gear assembly, only installed it at this late step of the build.
Installing the small wings on the legs. Was also supposed to be installed during the build of the leg, but in order to save time I proceeded to building other things while waiting for the paint on this to dry.
Base part of the small wings are secured on with glue.
Here's a shot of the small wings installed already.
Both legs fully assembled already and just waiting to be installed to the fuselage.
Installing the nose of the plane to the main fuselage. The nose part of the plane is just held on by friction. To adjust that friction is the purpose of these two flat screws. If its too loose the nose can fall of so easily, too tight and it can't go in.
Two spare flat screws in the bag were left over from the build
I already painted over the black parts of the canopy, but decided to install the decal instead
In order to make the installation of the decal manageable, I decided to cut it down into 4 different parts.
Here's a shot of the decal already installed onto the fuselage. I sprayed on pylox clear and the canopy came out slightly frosted instead of shiny...blehhh
Masking the edges of the wing to paint it with its respective red & white colors. Using just Tamiya Acrylic paint to do this.
For the vernier detailing of the fuselage, I decided to just use the decals included with the kit instead of coloring it with a Gundam Marker Fine.
At this point I'm going to apply a matte coat over the VF-1A, so I taped up using 3M painters tape the areas that I don't want to be coated with the matte paint. Specifically the clear parts and the silver painted parts of the intakes and backpack thrusters.
This next step is a supplemental build post of the Gunpod as I had already finished taking completed shots of this build when I assembled this.
Used McCormick Red Food Coloring mixed with Future Floor Wax to tint the clear parts of the gunpod and the shoulder parts. My mistake here however was that I dipped the clear parts 4 times. It came out too dark, 3 should have been enough as this was what I did when I tinted the clear parts of the head.
Putting the gunpod together. The clear parts is mounted near the tip of the barrel. I think this is the aiming camera of the gunpod. Not sure though.
Both halves of the Gunpod together already, they are supposed to be glued together.
Here's a shot of the Gunpod in its extended position.
Gunpod in its compact position for storage.
Next step was to install the "UN Spacy" decal on the Gunpod.
Comparing the UN Spacy designation, I realized that the size of the UN Spacy decal included with the VF-1A is actually larger than that of the Gunpods included with the Built up 1/60 VF-1 Macross Series of Yamato Toys.
Clear Parts of the shoulder were installed at this point.
And that's it. Really had fun building this model kit and would love building one again.
