wm cheng

Panel line and clear coat all the parts so they're less shiny would be a good basic first step. I wouldn't panel line with the Gundam Markers though, a little too dark and wide - unless you're good at wiping away the excess with alcohol (I think there's a technique for that which I don't know). I'm not sure what you're referring to about not airbrushing, but I wouldn't know how to paint with a regular brush anymore since I almost mask and paint everything tiny thing with an airbrush nowadays. I never use spraycans as its too thick and doesn't afford me the level of control I need. Good luck!

So sorry to hear that Derex - but unfortunately I totally understand... "been there, done that!" My wife doesn't understand why I like to build models as all she hears about are the problems and a constant stream of swearing from the basement! It does seem like more goes wrong that goes right sometimes - maybe the mistakes are just bigger emotionally (at least for me!) but they're how I learned. That is fantastic weathering Myersjessee - beautifully finished as always!

That looks fantastic derex!! Love the eggcartons, they look so good in this use. Did you modify the kit to have 3 landing gears for ANH?

Yep, me too!

I've posted some shots of my workbench (currently the VF-25S Armored) this thread here... http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=35120&p=1022950

Have you read my thread here for the VF-25F? They're all pretty much the same basic construction, it'll give you a better idea (skip the modifications if you're a beginner or if you've got the Armored or Tornado version as the locking tabs on the fast packs solve the problems). http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=28142 Good luck!

Why don't they just charge a little more and make more. I think I would feel better if I paid the same, but the MSRP was closer to what I was paying - then I would never have known how much the prices have been jacked up in the first place!

Has anyone wrote the director about these concerns? He might not even be aware of Macross as its own separate entity. The e-mail may never get to him, but you never know unless you try?

Thanks so much for the heads up last night!! Got one at $183 (but would of paid what it was this morning too!). Now I can relax till June (peace of mind is worth $30 bucks too!). Now I just hope they'd re-issue the VF-25S & F.

Thank God that fix worked! ... I should of started out on a easier kit. I guess I'm just rusty. But yeah, that's 3 hinges I've broken in the last 2 months - argh! I'm too impatient. However, this is the best of the Bandai bunch (love the tabs that lock everything together) - although I haven't built the Tornado one yet which I hear is just as good. Might have to consider the RVF-25 next as I missed out on that pre-order as well... Well, 85hrs later... some quick shots at my workbench with a piece of black card to hide my mess... Only the gunpod and reaction missiles left... and a transformation into the Battroid mode to see what I have to repair.

Yeah, I pre-ordered from HLJ in September and it says my order is in processing now...

Wow, it seems like its going to work! It's working just friction fitted pins without glue so far. I'll crazy glue the pins in tonight and see what happens. Dinner break! How do people build this model?! I feel just too old...

DISASTER STRUCK! Argh... I must be gettin' too old for this... while I was transforming it (very carefully might I add) - I somehow broke the main wing hinge. Its pretty crazy for all this weight to be on those tiny plastic hinges, but they gave way and snapped! I was so close to being finished too. I'm so disheartened... I guess, I'll try to pin the hinge where it broke like a resin model with epoxy and see if I can salvage the hinge. Worst case I can glue it permanently in the aircraft mode - although I've been dying to see it in the battroid mode as well. THIS IS WHY I HATE TRANSFORMING MODELS!!!

What is YAJ?

Even YA is "not for sale" now at those inflated prices - now I'm thinking I should have grabbed one this 30mins ago (funny how you always want it even more when you miss out on it)

I know, I know... I'm not looking forward to it either. But it was originally intended to be in Battroid mode to show off all its missiles. It's only in this mode because this is the mode you finish off in following the instructions. However I do like it a lot. But I did scrape some paint off the head that I need to repair and I need to dry brush weather the armor packs which is easier in the Battroid mode. I take some pictures before I "REALLY" carefully transform it into the Battroid mode once to give it a chance before I decide which way it will stay. Hopefully the Hasegawa kit comes out soon to replace this in the aircraft mode (but I'm sure its years away, they will probably put out all the aircraft only full squadron first!)

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! Man, I love this community here. MacrossWorld has helped me so much over the years - what a wonderful online treasure.

Why isn't it anywhere else yet?

503 Service Temporarily Unavaliable... ;-(

Some masking of the guns... Booster packs (didn't realize that I should of dusted before taking the pictures!) The thin white decal stripe around the blue part of the front of the packs was such a pain - the decal had to sit on a tiny bevel all the way around, I might have masked it next time around (if there is one!). Generally all the decals are such a pain (they really wanted you to use the stickers!). I can't wait for Hasegawa's rendition of this! I didn't go the purple route - I ended up more blue (the fins and guns are supposed to be Tamiya Medium Blue) but ended up being a tad too close to the booster packs - oh well. 78hrs later... (almost a full week behind schedule!) I'm liking the aircraft mode more and more (even with the ridiculous overkill packs). Just the canopy, reaction missiles and a nice light coat of lighter dry-brushing weathering on the packs.

David - Yes, the decals really suck! I found that they do not react to MicroSET or MicroSOL, however they do work with Mr. Hobby SOL (almost a little too well) so that might help with adhesion before the gloss coat now. Transformation is always going to be a huge problem with any water-slide decals - that's why I hate transformable models in general. I usually only transform it 2 or 3 times in the model's lifetime. I take like 30mins to transform it with white gloves!! Hopefully when the Hasegawa's come out, I will only keep the Bandai in the Battroid mode forever and ever (unless I actually get my hands on a few more Renewals). That's kind of why I'm building the Bandais now - I know I won't have any patience left in the near future. I must of spent $40 in art supplies trying to find a decent tint for the canopy. I finally found an artist purple ink that I mixed with Future to dip just the outside of the canopy in which produced a satisfactory result. I am using a blue food colouring now mixed with future to blue tint the VF-25S canopy and it seems ok (maybe just a tad blue'green for my liking but it works). Jefuemon - Jefuemon TO THE RESCUE! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! What a wonderful MW community, I've received so much help and support from these forums.

Is there an inside cockpit 1st person view? Is it compatible with any flightsticks? (like the HORI: http://www.amazon.com/HORI-PlayStation-3-Flight-Stick/dp/B006IOAJHG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=8Z3PWMSAF4QC&coliid=I7S8TH256LOPL)

Hey MechTech - I think by the time I'm done with the rear fins, cylinder thingys, and the reaction missiles, I don't think I'd really see the seam that much. I think if I did something with it, it would draw more attention to it - a decal will still show the seam, you'd have to fill and sand it which is what I should have properly done in the first place (oh well!). Ok, I'm at 70hrs so far... not a quick little simple kit to power through in the end! At least I got to finally assemble it together! Hint: don't attach the canopy shield till the end - this is the 2nd time I've broke the tiny hinge on the chest piece that holds onto the tiny red hinge that attaches to the canopy shield - its so damn fragile! Somehow my head doesn't seem to tuck in properly - I can't seem to get it down under the forward fuselage - scrapped the hell out of the nicely finished metallic red light on the forehead though! Finally figured the retractable hinge on the shoulder missile pods (sneaky Bandai!) After lots of fiddling, I finally got the hip covers to go over the wing root. Love the tabs that lock everything in place on this model - but I've scrapped the hell out of the finish trying to get it all together without too many glaring gaps! I'll keep it in the fighter mode while I finish it off so I can weather it, then transform it into the battroid mode to keep (till Bandai renewals get re-issued and I can get my own VF-25S armored) which was its main purpose to hold me over from the "devastating loss" of missing out on that toy. But now that I have it in the fighter mode - its really growing on me! Off to the gun pod, fast pack guns, fins and engine nozzles tomorrow!

Great idea!

Gorgeous kit! Can't wait to see it built up around here!! Got mine in the private warehouse waiting for the VF-11B with booster restock. Maybe wait for Alpha 2 to come out and get both, one in flight and one folded up. Too bad they're Bandai - wished it were Hasegawa.