Scratch-Built VF-171 EX

[leading edge]

Ever since Macross Frontier came out I've been trying to create a VF-171 EX. I feel it's one of the craft of the series that was given a bad rap. The Messiah though very well designed is cutting edge while the VF-171 Ex is a last minute custom modified craft. The fact that people expected it to be equal or better is a bit unfair so I've decided to give this mecha it's due with a fully transformable mode. I plan to use this as a basis for another project I will be presenting in the near future. This topic will be updated as often as significant progress is made. Here are some plans I've drawn up and would appreciate some feedback so I can perfect some of the more complex areas. Remember these are rough sketches so the refinements will be made as the project develops.

The black and white images are some sketches I've been working on and the other thumbnails are reference for the project please tell me what you thinks the criticism or ideas would be welcome.

Edited January 5, 2010 by leading edge

[Valkyrie Driver]

Hoo AH! I am very interested in seeing what you come up with. From what I can gather you have some good sketches to start with. Speaking from experience you have a daunting task, but I hope you don't give up like I did. I'm afraid I never got past the planning stage in my build. If it were me, I'd work up some detailed drawings on each individual part, and figure out how to make them work together. I sure you've got that in the works, but what sort of materials are you going to use? I liked the VF-171 so, I want to see what you come up with. Keep us posted.

[zanderwitaz]

I would use the bandai vf17 as a base for sure. If you want to include all the exact details and proportions and make it look like yamato made it, it could take years. I hope you're a master model maker if you plan on scratch building this. good luck!

[Chronocidal]

If you've got the ability to build a prototype in some sort of computer CAD or graphics program, I'd definitely recommend it. It's not impossible to do without it, but a computer model (depending on how it's built) will let you play with the transformation and mechanism to make sure everything fits together before you ever start building the parts.

[leading edge]

If you've got the ability to build a prototype in some sort of computer CAD or graphics program, I'd definitely recommend it. It's not impossible to do without it, but a computer model (depending on how it's built) will let you play with the transformation and mechanism to make sure everything fits together before you ever start building the parts.

these are the latest images of my progress. They are made of blue styrene foam terracotta talcum powder and acrylic paint. A mixture which Mech_Tech made me aware of. These are still just a work in progress I just started this week and have spent 8hrs getting the shape. With so little info I've tried to fill in the gaps. As always if anyone has any Ideas I'm open for discussion. I used a fish bone structure to make shaping easier placing terracotta in between the structure after ward taking a brush pasting a thick coat over the whole body of the nose cone. I carefully sanded and the surface to give it shape. The final step was to add gray paint treated with talcum powder a little clay to add a very defined look to the surface. I feel there 's good progress so I hope to have another update by next week.

Edited January 9, 2010 by leading edge

[Jasonc]

Will this be transformable? So far, just the fact that you have actually started the scratchbuild is awesome. Great work. Can't wait to see more.

[leading edge]

Will this be transformable? So far, just the fact that you have actually started the scratchbuild is awesome. Great work. Can't wait to see more.

Yes eventually it will the structure at this point is just for shape so I can either make a resin cast of this particular model. I plan to cast this twice once for so I can detail and work out the mechanics and the second to refine the internal structure so it can house possibly electronic lighting. Also I hope to try out a electronic auto transformation system on this model. I know I have high hopes but I would like to try as much as I can to make this a unique build. Thakns Jasonc for the interest hope to hear from you some more.

If you are wondering why I answered this first it was because I was going to edit my previous post sorry if only on question was answered?

Edited January 9, 2010 by leading edge

[Chronocidal]

Nice start Is it going to be in any particular scale? For a scratchbuild, I'd almost say go for 1/48, just to give yourself room for the internals. You could reduce it down later, but starting larger will give you a lot more room to work with when you start experimenting with the transformation mechanism.

[leading edge]

Nice start Is it going to be in any particular scale? For a scratchbuild, I'd almost say go for 1/48, just to give yourself room for the internals. You could reduce it down later, but starting larger will give you a lot more room to work with when you start experimenting with the transformation mechanism.

thanks dude. I was wondering if the size was too much but I guess it isn't. thanks for the input.

[Valkyrie Driver]

Wow. I'd actually say go bigger than 1/48, just to be safe, like Chronocidal said, you can always reduce the size later. I know we all like accuracy, but you can't go wrong by making it as big as needed. I didn't think about it earlier, but some sort of CAD program would be helpful to work out the mechanisms. Even just working with plastic you can prototype the mechanism. Very cool, the nose looks very good so keep at it.

[SchizophrenicMC]

That's, uh, wow. Godspeed, man.

[Chronocidal]

Actually, yeah, go for however big you can afford to make it, at least as long as you don't have to make it transform later. Size becomes an issue with internal mechanisms, but as long as the first version is just for sculpting purposes, bigger sizes should be awesome.

Btw, if you need reference pics, I just went and screencapped a good chunk of the available VF-171 shots in Frontier.

One thing I did notice tho.. are you going for Alto's armored EX, or just the plain EX model? I caught a lot of shots of both, and I'm not entirely sure the armored one is actually physically possible. It seems to shove the leg armor right into the arm area. Might drop the knees a bit I suppose.. but it's iffy.

Oh, I did attach a semi-side profile for reference, but don't change what you did so far.. I like the shape of your nose better.

Edit: Ya know.. after looking at those pics more, I think I see why Bandai hasn't tried making one yet.. unless things are sliding into spots I don't see, the wings are pulling some YF-19 style anime magic. If you look at shots of the underside, I think the wings are buried inside the legs in fighter mode.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Chronocidal

[shinagami]

i hope that u wud do this in 1/72 scale and mass produce this

[leading edge]

i hope that u wud do this in 1/72 scale and mass produce this

This is only a minor update which will show some reference of the model I'm working on. Right now working on a bottom schematic image for the VF-171EX. Also looking for images presently which show where the landing gear is. I have a few hanger screenshots and will be posted soon. here are a few VF-171images gathered around I'm planning to use them in refining the shape of the canopy and nose cone of the VF-171 EX. the VF-25 images have the same canopy except for the rear panel is a bit smaller otherwise it's identical to the VF-171 EX. I also included some screenshots from http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/S...171/VF171EX.htm and various screenshots collected or taken from my collection of Macross Frontier episodes. The VF-171 model was found with a google search and seems to be a scratch build as well.

Edited January 15, 2010 by leading edge

[SchizophrenicMC]

Edit: Ya know.. after looking at those pics more, I think I see why Bandai hasn't tried making one yet.. unless things are sliding into spots I don't see, the wings are pulling some YF-19 style anime magic. If you look at shots of the underside, I think the wings are buried inside the legs in fighter mode.

I blame Machida!

[leading edge]

I blame Machida!

Sorry for the delay of this post I needed to get some work done on the update but was delayed because I worked longer than I thought. I apologize and will have the latest on this model and it's updates. At the moment I'm working on the finish which I've made at least three derivatives of Mech Tech's acrylic solution. The first was made of 3 parts terracotta clay 2 parts talcum powder and I part acrylic. I use this to give a general shape over recently sanded and shaped styrafoam. Depending on the amount for making the surface smoothe you need to keep it in a container and kep it from being exposed to air. the second solution is one made of more acrylic which I use to give the sculpt definition it is made using all the same mixture above except once dry I add a watersoluble laquer on the surface and let dry for about 1hr.- 1hr. 1/2 this is what I like to call surface definer. The third and final coat of the acrylic solution is a thinned down laquer 1 part talcum powder very small and 1 part light body acrylic paint. Make sure the paint is light and not a heavy body because you need to apply it to hailine cracks then sand with a 900 grit sand paper. A soon as I'm able I will update this posting with some pictures.

here is a view thought of the transforming sequence of VF-171:

Edited January 18, 2010 by leading edge

[SchizophrenicMC]

here is a view thought of the transforming sequence of VF-171:

Exactly my point.

[leading edge]

Exactly my point.

Me Too. Here is an update sorry it took so long going to school and work just eat a lot of time away from my project. This time I tried a number of new things to me that my local hobby shop(Valuecraft )suggested. The nose cone is ade with a dense lighter styrafoam found to makeplanes and foam aircraft. It is essentially the same except it has smaller pores and the material holds up to sanding and can be cut precise enough with little effort. I used foam putty Subterrain it works well when filling in craks or making areas sharper. I made another nose cone and am currently working on the body. I'm up to about 25% of the plane part of theproject at present. Here are a few updated images.

[PetarB]

A solid start there - looking forwards to more.

[leading edge]

A solid start there - looking forwards to more.

Update been dividing time to get some work done. Sorry it's been a while the update is going to be quick I'll have to take some better pics later I need to smooth down the nose cone felt it was too fat and lacked dimension so I reworked the areas with some foam putty and reinforce the nose cone with a tooth pick to keep the point solid( foam is useful but too dentable sometimes. here are the updated pics still working on the body. Please and comments are welcome Edited April 5, 2010 by leading edge

[leading edge]

Deleted pics from last post needed a better body not flexible to detailed modification here are a few ideas and new techniques I have been using.

the first three are of the body which I'm adding more detail and shape to

the last ones are an improved nose cone decided the second one was too disproportional need one that also had a better accuracy blue styrafoam is just better.

Here are a few improved body and nose cone updated will proceed as soon as I have them.

sorry for the double post oops!

[JuanJovv]

Excellent Job, I be waiting for more

Regards

[leading edge]

z

Edited May 29, 2010 by leading edge

[leading edge]

z

Update: The recent developement on this project is going slower due to my funds being used up and poor finances at the moment I will continue to use everything at my disposal to make this craft. One Idea that is great is using industrial clay to model the body. I tried my latest attempt at making the plane mode of the VF-171 but wasn't able to get the detail I wanted also the time it takes to shape foam this way is very difficult. I 've decided to go a new direction templates which cut clay or foam quickly. there are three side that you generally use to make an object complete and that is to 1st the profile the top view and the front view. Having a template for each dimension ensures the completeness of shape and form. Sadly there is such little info on this model I have to either make it up or simulate it on my computer physically. I chose to make it up since although a cad program is great I want o focus on some info I can input at the moment and a clay model with a little detail will be good. Here as always are some site for reference.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/detail.php?id=828

http://masseydesign.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/industrial-clay-modelling-workshop/

http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/about/studios-clay.html

http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/shop/fimo_faberclay.htm

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2006/06/16-alfa-romeo-villa-d-este-design-story/ -I shows how they made a model of a concept car

examples: these are some methods I am considering for the VF-171 EX

[Temjin]

Ah, I don't know much about scratch-built things, it might be easier if you do a mock up 3D model first, then use that as an reference, and translate it to physical model. Paper craft is also an option. Just try to suggest something a bit more flexible than clay.

Look forward to your future progress