1/72 VF-2SS

[HWR MKII]

My wife decided to suprise me again and ordered the 1/72 VF-2SS kit from hobyfan. I know this is a recast but am still wondering about the quality. Is it good, bad or ok?

Edited September 17, 2006 by HWR MKII

[cokefiend]

My wife decided to suprise me again and ordered the 1/72 VF-2SS kit from hobyfan. I know this is a recast but am still wondering about the quality. Is it good, bad or ok?

I just paid for mine so it should be here in a few days, I'll post my opinion then.

[neptunesurvey]

I picked one up a couple of years ago and the quality was really good. No noticable bubbles and the panel lines where clean and crisp. I don't have any completed pics yet. Maybe I'll finish it this year.

[electric indigo]

My kit (not ordered from Hobbyfan) had a canopy casted in clear resin, which was pretty useless. I made a new vac-form one; I could send you the mold if you need it.

-i-

[HWR MKII]

My kit (not ordered from Hobbyfan) had a canopy casted in clear resin, which was pretty useless. I made a new vac-form one; I could send you the mold if you need it.

-i-

ill have to see what mine has when i get here. She just paid for it on saturday after about a year on the preorder list.

[big F]

Your Wife sounds awesome. I wish I could get someone to buy me all the stuff I need (want)

So how far dowwn the HWR model conveyerbelt is this one ?

[wm cheng]

What an awesome wife!!

Yep, mine was from Hobbyfan way back when and I got a useless foggy translucent canopy which I had vacformed. The kit is excellent though, very crisp line and great shape.

It takes a little work to get the fast packs removeable - but its definitely worth the effort (I just used paperclip pins)

Here are some shots of mine built 5 or 6 years ago - please excuse the way too heavy panel lining and post shading - but this is the model that got me back into Macross building!!

[HWR MKII]

Thanks WM i was searching for the pics of yours but couldnt find them. Mind if i copy them for use as a reference? I think the heavy panel lines and shading actually work for this subject.

Do you have any in progress shots or shots of the pin setup to make the backpacks removeable?

Edited September 18, 2006 by HWR MKII

[wm cheng]

Unfortunately I no longer have the write-up (it was lost with the old boards) but I do have a few of the in-progress pictures...

Unfortunately none of the beginning stages of the build.

Pretty boring though, just a lot of sanding, priming, epoxing pins (paperclips) to re-inforce some of the smaller contact points. I basically used a pin vise to drill a small hole for the paperclip pins, then applied some market to the ends and touched them to the other half to be joined - then the mark created I drilled out for the pin to seat into. I epoxy one end to the part and leave the other end a hole.

[Viceland]

This has been my desktop background for over a year now...

[HWR MKII]

Unfortunately I no longer have the write-up (it was lost with the old boards) but I do have a few of the in-progress pictures...

Unfortunately none of the beginning stages of the build.

Pretty boring though, just a lot of sanding, priming, epoxing pins (paperclips) to re-inforce some of the smaller contact points. I basically used a pin vise to drill a small hole for the paperclip pins, then applied some market to the ends and touched them to the other half to be joined - then the mark created I drilled out for the pin to seat into. I epoxy one end to the part and leave the other end a hole.

Where on the model did ypu place the pin holes? They look like regular details in the pics so its impossible to tell. Also does pin friction alone hold on the arm armor on?

Edited September 19, 2006 by HWR MKII

[Mechleader]

Hey can anyone make me a vac formed canopy. I'll pay. Thanks.

[wm cheng]

Yep, pin friction alone holds them in - but always have two (or more) pins to hold something in, its the "inaccuracies" in trying to get both pins to line up exactly that creates the friction for the piece to stay on (if you can get my poor discription of the process). The farther the pins are apart, the better the hold. Yes, I try to locate the pin holes so that they appear as detail instead of being too distracting. When you get your kit, you can compare and locate where my pin holes are.

I had my friend vac-form the canopy for me (he used to own a plastics shop) but no longer has that ability. Try some local hobby shops or contact your local chapter of IMPS - they will know who can do this for ya. Good luck.

[grapetang]

While I love the VF-2SS design, I always wondered about the front landing gear. Is it really supposed to be swept back like it is? It seems like the nose would just crush the gear & collapse to the ground.

Are there any real life jets that have this nose gear arrangement?

[Taiphun]

Dang, they're showing out of stock

[HWR MKII]

Dang, they're showing out of stock

There were alot of preorders. It took over a year for me to get my notification.

[HWR MKII]

Got the kit today. Does anyone know if maybe HF got the permission to release this kit or maybe got the masters. I have test fit a few parts and the fit is great also the parts are impossibly clean for a recast. No airbubbles and the resin does not smell. All the pour stubs are in easy ot access and easy to clean places. Detail is crisp too. I am also toying with the idea of polishing the canopy, my copy isnt too foggy. A polish and a thin coat of tamiya clear green would give it a nice look.

[cokefiend]

So far I have gotten 5 kits from HobbyFan and have been very happy with the quality each time. Good resin great casting, great service. I'll keep buying from them as long as they have stuff I lke.