Step-by-Step VF-1 Strike Valkyrie

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well time to work on another Valkyrie

I'm going to be building Hikaru's Strike Valkyrie from DYRL. So expect lots of pictures on my progress, if you have any suggestion please tell me. Plus I might ask for some ideas. My plan is to build it with the landing gears up and display on a wooden base so it looks like it's flying.

Well here goes nothing......

Here is what I'm going to be working with, one VF-1 Super/Strike Valkyrie, one VF-1 Weapon Set (using missile and pilot figure) and finally photo-etched detail set.

First, I cut away from the kit, then using a very sharp blade I start cutting the nub alittle at time, then I use a 320 grit sand paper to smooth out the edges don't worry if you cut to deep or sand to deep, you can always use putty to repair.

Next I dry fit the seat for the cockpit, to make sure they fit.

Here I dry fit the nose to the cockpit, again dry fit first.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Next I airbrush the whole seat and interior Tamiya Dark Grey, then using a paint brush, I paint the seat Dark Green and Tan. Of course you don't have to be perfect because the pilot is going to cover up the seat.

Next I airbrush the photo-etched piece Dark Grey and airbrush the contol panel black.

Dry fit the fuselage to see if it fits ok.

After the black paint dried I apply the decal with lots of Micro Set.

Well that's it for today, more on the way very soon!!!

[big F]

Looking good

Your instrament pannel is looking better than the shriveled up decal on my unfinished one

[cowie165]

Sweet!

Subscribed!

[misterryno]

VERY AWESOME!!! I'm going to need to do one of these also to add to my Strike Hikky Shrine. I am certain I will be looking to this topic to "copy" some of your work. You defintely seem to know what you're doing. I am not much of a modeler but I will get better in time.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Thanks everybody, so far it's a pretty fun kit to put together.

Well I finish Hikaru, plus I dry brush (white) the interior for detail. For Hikaru I use Red, Light Gray, Clear Green, Chrome Silver, and Black. For the helmet I use the Red then the lines I painted black, for the visor I used the Chrome Silver once that dried I used Clear Green over the Chrome Silver. Then finally I used Light Grey for the details on the chest and belt. Then I applyed the decals with lots of Micro Sol.

I glued the fuselage together, while waiting for that to dry, I started to work on the body.

As you can see that annoying space where the wing attaches, I used styrene to fill that gap in. Then use putty to fill in the lines and injection marks.

As you can see I primer the bottom to make sure I fill in all the gaps and holes.

Edited May 18, 2008 by DrunkenMaster2

[Rockhound]

Man, that bird is gonna look awesome. I wish I could get my pilots to look half as good as yours. How were you able to get details as fine as that? Definately a thread I'll be looking closely at. Nice work!

[DrunkenMaster2]

Man, that bird is gonna look awesome. I wish I could get my pilots to look half as good as yours. How were you able to get details as fine as that? Definately a thread I'll be looking closely at. Nice work!

To get that detail use a fine paint brush, plus you can use oil paints, make sure you thin it out with thinner, I use mineral spirits, then apply it to the pilot or panel lines and wait about an hour then wipe. If you take too much oil paint off then just repeat step.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Here's the wings, simple to put together only thing you have to do is fill in the gaps, easy to do with putty.

Plus I started to work on the landing gears, again I'm going have the landing gears up. As you can see I cut off the extra piece so I can fit it under the nose. Then I used styrene to tie it together for a good fit.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Ok, doing all the boring stuff, you know cutting, dry fitting, and oh yeah sanding. Here is the head (sorry for the pic, bad lighting). As you can see I drilled with a pin vise holes into the gun pods on the head.

Started working on the back engine/feet, again I'm using the photo-etched. The photo-etched is a nice touch to add the the kit.

Here I'm working on fitting the nose gear, need to make flush againts the nose.

Edited May 21, 2008 by DrunkenMaster2

[big F]

The PE parts really do add some depth to the kit IMO. The only bits I didnt use were a couple of the thruster/handle bits as I thought that the plastic was detailed enough and once the decal is on top they would stand too proud.

[jardann]

Looking pretty smooth DM! Keep up the great work!

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well more boring stuff, you know cutting and dry fitting. The fun stuff is around the corner, painting and weathering.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Started to putty the nose have to make sure it's perfect. As you can see I masked off the canopy so I can primer and paint without ruining my interior.

Next I started to glue the parts together. I'll putty and sand down after the glue drys.

[DrunkenMaster2]

As you can see I glued up so pieces and putty some injection marks, have to make sure it's flat, because the injection marks really stick out when you paint.

Again, thanks for sticking through the boring parts, I'll go in more detail as soon as I start to paint.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well I worked on some photo-etched for the grill, talk about a big pain, but it was worth it!!

As you can see, there is a HUGE difference.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well started to paint, I use Alclad paint, Steel and Jet Exhaust. If you never used this paint I high recommend it.

First I airbrush Alclad Steel for the base.

Next I airbrush Alclad Jet Exhaust for the burnt effect.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well started the leg, as you can see I painted the inside black, and I cut off the that extra piece so I can fit that landing gear in. Plus I glued the two landing gears together, that way it will be easier to fit into place.

Next I tape off engine with Tamiya tape, it's the best tape to use, because you can lay it over any painted surface without peeling off paint. I saw wm cheng do this so and it was a great idea, so I copy his technique.

Here with the grill painted I wanted to see what it will look like with the tail fines, I already primer the tail fines part, and it's ready for paint.

Edited June 27, 2008 by DrunkenMaster2

[Valkyrie addict]

uhh...nice to see you back on track, I thought you had forgotten about this, looking really good

[big F]

Yeah I was wondering where you'd gone.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Yup I haven't stopped working on this kit, just been very busy. Well finally finish with all the prep work, primer and ready to paint.

As you can see I took the time to make sure the landing gears turned out perfect, let me tell you, lots of sanding and lots of putty, but finally I'm done.

Here is all the parts ready to paint.

Now the fun part starts, I plan to weather this bird.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well I finally started to paint, here I'm using XF-2 flat white, I airbrush a thin layer for the under coat, next I'll preshade with XF-66 light grey, then finally over the light grey I'll use flat white to cover everthing.

Here I used a thin layer of flat white.

Next I use XF-66 light grey for the preshade, it looks rough but I'll cover the light grey with flat white to tone it down, I'm trying to give this bird a weather look.

Finally with the flat white over the light grey I get the look that I'm looking for, now for the panel lines!!

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well here I started to panel the lines. First you have to use semi-gloss to cover the whole plane, or it's not going to work, you need a smooth surface to lay panel lines down. I like to use Model Master Lacquer overcoat (#1959), once that dries I get ready to panel the lines. Here is what I use, black and white oil color to make grey, then I used mineral spirit to thin out the oil paint, now with the mineral spirits be careful because this will eat the alclad paint, it's a great thinner for alclad paint, so be careful, that's way I kept my yellow tape on.

Now once you have the oil paint thin out it should be like water dip your paint brush in the oil paint and dab onto the panel line, if you did it right the oil paint should run into the panel line like water. Now let that dry for about 30 to an hour then take a tissue paper and wipe away. If you take off the line repeat step, again use semi-gloss or any other overcoat, you need a smooth surface or it's not going to work.

Here you can see I wiped off the extra oil paint, had to go over some panel lines again because I wipe some off, oh here you can see I painted the visor I used x-11 chrome silver then let that dry, then over that chrome silver I used x-25 clear green, need to add another layer to cover the silver.

Now I have to do the decals, then the kit should look good!!!

[Valkyrie addict]

looking good dude!! I particularly admire just how clean you are, you make it look easy, thanks for the step by step

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well you can see I masked off the areas I didn't want to paint, then airbrush "steel" Alclad.

Airbrush the gunpod with Alclad "steel" and used "jet exhaust" for burnt marks for effected.

Finally took of the masked areas to see if I missed anything, so for it looks good!!

[mojacko]

nice pre shading......cant wait to see this finish!!!

[big F]

I think I will do mine that way as it looks better in the long run from my "normal" way although I would use more masking tape but never mind

[Valkyrie addict]

WOW!!, I really should try that Alclad stuff, looks amazing, and judging by your incredibly VF-1S battroid, I know this will end up nothing but great

[DrunkenMaster2]

Thanks for all the feedback everybody, so far it's a great kit to put together. Yeah that Alclad stuff is great don't need to thin it out, just put into your airbrush and go at it.

Here I decided to airbrush the tail, they come with a decals but it easier to paint, now I'm trying to decided to paint red on the edges or apply the decals. The decals for Hikaru plane is red but the trick is getting the right color for red, have to play around with the color and see. First I taped off all the areas that I didn't want to paint then airbrush Tamya Black X-1, after I let that dry overnight I peeled back the tape, came out pretty good, nice and clean.

[big F]

I agree those black decals are a PITA to get looking right. I for one will never put em on again and will just paint instead.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Well I'm back finally finish the decals, looks good so far, still need to do a few touch up, but other then that I'm happy how it came out.

As you can see I made sure that the landing gear is flush with the nose and legs, I'm very happy how that came out. The first picture is the PE for the grill on the leg, I decided to use the red decals for the fins. Now time to start the strike pack!!!

[PetarB]

Hey this looking great. I have a half built one of these, hopefully your great build up will motivate me to finish mine one of these days. Hurry up and assemble it!

[big F]

Hey this looking great. I have a half built one of these, hopefully your great build up will motivate me to finish mine one of these days. Hurry up and assemble it!

LOL

Me too.

Motivation is what we need

[DrunkenMaster2]

Back, sorry it took long, been busy, WOW Macross F was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Well back to my model. Here I started the strike pack, first I cut off the parts and dry fit.

Here you see I cut off this pieace so I can fit the booster after I paint it, makes it easier.

Here I mod this part looks pretty cool.

[DrunkenMaster2]

Here you can see I primer the parts and ready for paint.

Edited October 4, 2008 by DrunkenMaster2