Thank you for you letter Shawn. I have received many emails from all types of foreign countries. I can read them with the help of a dictionary, but unfortunately I cannot write back. I find when writing about Macross subjects, or modelling techniques it is very difficult to express myself in English. I am very happy that your tutor can translate my emails for you.
The model that you purchased is called the 1/48 Strike Valkyrie manufactured by Club-M. It is called a 'Garage kit'. The basic design is based on the Variable VF-1S Valkyrie from the Macross anime series. There is an X-Ray poster drawing in the Macross Movie Gold book of a VF-1S Strike Valkyrie. I used this as a my primary reference. I also used some other Macross books and watched the videos.
When we decided to make this kit we chose to break the kit into many small detailed parts, in order to recreate the poster image correctly. When I inititially designed it I chose to use a large 1/48 scale. In the prototype there were actually almost twice the amount of parts than the finished kit. To tell you the truth I am not completely satisfied with finished product. Due to lack of time and budget we could not make the best valkyrie possible. I am only about 70% satisfied with it. Because of these constraints I decided to make my own modeling company called 'Uncontemporary Modeling'. Club-M (as other companies) is experiencing a time of economic trouble and cannot sell the 1/48 VF-1S Valkyrie anymore. It is a shame because Macross is still very popular here.
Please write me back soon!
Tanmen