Skull-1

Someone pointed me to entry in the Compendium. You see, there's the process by which people ask questions when they can't find the answers. Usually, though not always, someone with the answer provides it in response to said question. I was merely pointing out what was shared with me.

Is the Bandai factory paint scheme bone white or tan?

Ah *HA*!! So this begs the question...which is anime accurate? I guess this helps as I was going to have to cannibalize a set of arm armor for my VT-1. Maybe that is what the Compendium meant when it said the VT-1 is "usually unarmed" instead of "always." Perhaps when training for Super Valkyrie missions they used the armor. But the line art does have the final say...

Well I was going to post it here originally because it involves a 1/55 I am building. And if I can't ask a question about models here where can I ask it? The mods have the right to lock a thread and I respect that. Perhaps my questions are too "model-based" to be appropriate in that particular section of the forums. So be it. Since the TV Series section is a hostile environment I'll just stay here where people know me and continue to frame all my questions in the context of building customs since that is my primary role on this site (1/55 Customs). Thanks for your answers. They help. Just wish I could find some line art that has the gray VT-1 scheme.

I'm just wondering why the arm armor units have missle ports in them. If they are unarmed any way...??? I guess maybe for sensors like the AIM-9 pod that F-16s and the like carry. Has a live seeker head but doesn't have a rocket motor.

Wish I could read Japanese believe me! Don't worry about it. Your speculation at least reinforces some of my thinking. I am probably going to build a pair of VT-1s. One will have a gray set of boosters and the other will be orange.

Certainly with limited resources and the monumental cost. I would think that an airplane you can use in a pinch to fight with would be preferable when it shares 99% commonality with the first line fighter of the day. What do you think the head unit is for? Is this airplane also an ELINT trainer?

I just saw an entry that states it "normally does not carry weapons." So "normally" doesn't preclude their use.

The answer to your queries would depend upon where the VT-1 actually operates. If we presume a hostile environment (space) where Zentraedi may be roaming I would think it should carry some weaponry. A dummy gunpod? That I can buy for training purposes. But if and when the defication hits the ventilation one would think having a combat capable trainer would be worth its weight in gold. It would be like assigning F-16s to take the place of T-38s only to say they can't be armed at all. Now you're stuck with the cost of and maintenance of an airplane that is not a purpose-designed dedicated trainer and can't be used as a fighter. EEEK. You know?

Yep. That sounds like the only plausible explanation. Hmmmmm...... VT-1 seems like a waste of time to me. "Kawamori's excuse to make another Valkyrie Variant."

" NP-AU-T1 arm units with no micro-missiles." - Why carry the arm units at all? "The VT-1 and VE-1 normally carry no armament." - Note NORMALLY. So I guess I could put a GU-11 in the VT-1's hand and not violate canonicity?

Do they have any non-trainer role? What in the world is the head sensor for?

So am I to presume a VT-1 cannot carry a gunpod and use it? Seems pretty stupid to have a completely unarmed Valk unless the lack of weaponry allows some other advantage--like additional fuel for example.

Well I got "The Heisman" in another section so I will try this again here as I am in the process of building my first VT-1 Custom (I want to get it right). The only sources I have are "Robotech-Based" (and the threads people point to are not specific enough for what I am trying to ask) so it would be a great help if anyone can shed light on the VF-1D and VT-1 for me. 1) Is the VT-1 COMPLETELY unarmed? IOW, is it completely incapable of carrying a GU-11 and does anyone think it makes sense to have a completely unarmed trainer? In that light, why does the VT-1 have the same forearm package as the Super Valk? (Again a question for my custom as perhaps I should modify the missle ports as thrusters or something instead.) 2) Does the VT-1 have any inherent advantages over the VF-1D? More fuel? More maneuverability? Anything? (Is this why the boosters are so fat? And am I required to mount them at an angle on the backpack or do they swivel in the animation?) 3) Where is the VT-1 actually based/operated? Non-combat areas? SDF-1? Earth orbit-only? Did SDF-1 ever actually deploy them or were they deployed on the ARMD platforms? (I need this info for decals.) 5) Are VT-1s *ONLY* painted Orange/Tan? (Do any sources in the animation show any other scheme but orange/tan?) 6) Do we see them in the Macross TV series even in the background? I only remember seeing VF-1Ds. I only recall the VT-1 in DYRL. Many thanks in advance.

That thread didn't get to the heart of what I need to know (no offense, but if you had actually read the thread in question before suggesting I go there you'd have seen that). Thanks for trying any way, though. =)

If the VT-1 is totally unarmed, what is contained in the forearm armor package? It looks identical to the Super and that contained missile armament I believe. Also, what does the head sensor actually do on the VT-1? In a pinch I am willing to guess the VT-1 could carry a gunpod, no?

The only sources I have are "Robotech-Based" so it would be a great help if anyone can shed light on the VF-1D and VT-1 for me. 1) Is the VT-1 in essence a trainer replacement for the VF-1D or do they have different missions? 2) Is the VT-1 unarmed? 3) Does the VT-1 have any inherent advantages over the VF-1D? 4) Where is the VT-1 actually based/operated? Non-combat areas? SDF-1? Earth orbit-only? 5) Are VT-1s *ONLY* painted Orange/Tan? Many thanks in advance.

I have a set without tabs. I can mount them at any angle I want. Was thinking of mounting them like the Strike's and not at the angle. Why are they mounted at an angle in the first place? Does Kawamori say anything about this? It seems unnecessary but I don't have the big picture. The only thing I can come up with is that they're fatter and thus need to be angle-mounted for clearance. They'd rub on the dorsal of the Valk if they were flat I think...

Would it be completely incorrect to mount the Super O boosters like the Super/Strike pack, i.e. parallel to the nose of the fighter? I can't understand for the life of me why they aren't both mounted the same way and I am thinking I will just mount my Super O just like the standard Super.

They are so gorgeous. Wish you would make some more...

Those are for the ages my friend. WOW!!! Does the Super O not have a GERWALK mode?

Not a repaint really. But one with all the mods that I (or anyone else for that matter) can reasonably incorporate into a 1/55. - Nose Blisters Lowered - Swivel Thighs - Trimmed Swing Bars - Custom Heads - Custom Feet - Custom Decals - Collapsing Gunpod - Custom Cockpits Nothing insane but something pretty any way. At some point I will run out of room for customs but not a love for them. So to build them and then sell them off to a good home would be worth my time. To build them and have to store them in a closet probably wouldn't. I have seen some awesome 1/48 customs but I can't imagine those guys could make much for their efforts. I could be wrong...

The question then must be asked... For example. a Max TV "A" is a highly sought after custom. But with the price of a re-issue Bandai at around fifty bucks, could a customizer even break even selling one on EBAY? Seems to me no, even with all the modifications.

It works great. My only problem is coming up with the best way to make the swing bars tighter. It is not as easy as it sounds and I haven't perfect a method to get it done easily... Very frustrating. Has anyone tried using the plastic bootleg swingbars on a Jetfire or is this a complete waste of time?

I'm with you Maximus. We're doing our best to bring them back. The gray one I am working on will have just about every mod I have ever done incorporated into the same package. This will be a first for me. Not as good as RoLo, KK, and Fulcy, but better than Jetfire. LOL