Yamato YF-19 modifications...

[ValkyrieFactory]

Great customizing job, Pat! Say, when you get a chance, could you please post a close-up of the new hip connection without the groin cover? I am curious to see how the new ball joints are connected to the YF-19 and whether or not you made use of any of the original hip pieces. Thanks.

[Pat S]

I was going to wait until I had the other one done (I had to order new parts because I broke one of the ball sockets). But, I can post the one I have done. I'm going to try and change this setup to get rid of the long post, so all of the parts between the hips will likely change before I'm done.

This is before cleanup mind you...

Edited September 30, 2004 by Pat S

[Pat S]

Unattatched you can see the metal rod better. Sorry about the blur.

Edited September 30, 2004 by Pat S

[Pat S]

Another pose shot, looks funny without the cod piece. The feet need more poseability to keep up with the hips now...

Edited September 30, 2004 by Pat S

[ValkyrieFactory]

Ah, so that's how it's done. Thank you much!

[Wabbit]

Wow, that's fast!

The leg looks much better now!

[HG Blows]

This is awesome, keep up the good work.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

I have a question though, what's a good filler to use for major mods like this?

I use two compound epoxy. The one you buy in a hobby store or a hardware store. It's very workable (although the one I use hardens like metal but I still manage to sand it pretty well).

[Pat S]

Thanks, that's what I used to seal the joint in. I filled the hollow hip section with Tamiya putty behind the joint, so it can't back out.

I'll play around with it, I think I need more putty to finish this thing

Thanks for the support fella's. Some of these mods are easy to do, like moving the shield, and head bar removal. If anyone tries them, let us know how it works, post pics too.

Edited October 1, 2004 by Pat S

[Pat S]

I played around with paint shop and overlayed the lineart ontop of a pic. Yamato did a decent job with the proportions, though it is a little fat. I don't think I can fix everything

[Pat S]

Here's another version, I moved the lineart up some. Looks a little better like this.

[Ido]

The wings should bend foward a little bit more to match the art.

About posability, the thing that i love in the 1/48 legs is the possibility of rotate completely the legs near the knee section its a little invisible thing but it is fantastic, besides the battroid posability it helps a lot to achieve a better gerwalk pose.

[Pat S]

Ido: I haven't been able to figure out a way to fix the legs so they are more poseable. I considered using a 1/60 leg as a skeleton for the YF-19, but the 1/60's don't bend any further forward than the YF-19. I'll keep thinking on this one, because I'd love to be able to get them to bend further forward, and also bend toe out. I've already sanded the knee area down to get them to go further forward, but it didn't help that much.

[Pat S]

Notice the tops of the shoulders, the raised black areas... It's in some of the line art, but the way it came out on the toy doesn't look good to me, so...

[Pat S]

I sanded those raised areas off.

[Pat S]

Also, from the front view, after the sort of triangle shoulder part that connects the arm to the body of the plane, the connected part is square in shape, not rounded like the triangle part. I hope that made sense, anyways, in this pic (and the one above), I've sanded down the one on the left to match the triangular part.

Edited October 1, 2004 by Pat S

[Pat S]

Here they are both done.

[Pat S]

Another thing that bothers me is how high the shoulder sits in fighter mode.

[Pat S]

The height of the shoulder makes this section from the rear really stand out. I want to close up this gap, and add some putty to the rear of the leg. Then, I may add some club-m fastpacks

[Pat S]

So, what I did, was sand down the part below the shoulder with a dremel and many different attatchments. The one on the left is original height, the one on the right is the modified height.

[Pat S]

Here's what the mod looks like.

[Pat S]

Looks a little better.

[Pat S]

A little bit of the leg will have to be sanded down as well.

See where it is touching the shoulder, raising it up on one side.

[Pat S]

But the gap is almost gone at the rear now.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

Guess I'll hate my VF-19A after seeing what you are doing with your YF-19, and how the mods are turning out

[Knight26]

Very interesting I hope you have two so that once you are done you can stand them side by side for comparison shots. Really the mods you are showing dont seem to affect the durability all that much and already the toy looks far better.

[AlphaHX]

So, what I did, was sand down the part below the shoulder with a dremel and many different attatchments. The one on the left is original height, the one on the right is the modified height.

As much as I love how this looks as far as the fighter mode goes (great job btw), doesnt this cause problems for gerwalk mode? I dont know other people, but I already have enough trouble tucking the wings under the shoulder as it is in gerwalk mode and if the shoulders are lowered, i would think it would make things worse.

[Pat S]

With a longer screw than the one Yamato used to hold the shoulder down, and a spring added, the shoulder raises up to the normal spot in gerwalk and battloid. The spring keeps the shoulder lowered in fighter, and provides tension so the arms aren't flopping around in the other modes. I need to find a place with small screws and springs though. I'll guess I'll try home depot.

Edit: No need for a longer screw for this mod to work like stock, but the spring is necessary, but I want the longer screw so that in gerwalk mode, the arms can raise up higher than normal, this will allow gerwalk to keep a sleek look without raising the whole body up.

Here's what I mean, the body is above the wings in gerwalk otherwise the arms can't rotate forward.

Edited October 1, 2004 by Pat S

[Pat S]

The line art shows the body stays connected at the front, but raises in the rear. I can't see an easy way to do that, so I hope that by raising the arms only with a longer screw I get most of the effect, and keep a sleek look.

[Axelay]

Wow! Awesome work with this project! I look forward to seeing what you'll do next!

[rocco_77]

I've been watching this progression for a bit now.... REALLY COOL!

Man that's a lot of work, but so far VERY worth the effort.... Great job!

Look forward to seeing the finished product.

[do not disturb]

soooo, when are you planning to sell this thing?

[Pat S]

soooo, when are you planning to sell this thing?

Haha, well, let's see if I can finish it first. I've always been good a taking things apart, not the best at putting them back together

I won't be selling it though (unless I reeeaaally need money), the YF-19 is my favorite mecha/aircraft design ever.

[Pat S]

No updates this week, I'm helping a member of my car club reinstall his transmission... given me time to get some good ideas for next week though

[Wabbit]

Very impressive! I wouldn't dare to dremel any part of the toy, but you did it and got it just right!