30 years of the VF-1 in 1/100...

[Shaorin]

oh, i thought i'd go ahead and show off this fairly rare-ish old nugget of 30 years ago, beside today's gold standard in variable VF-1 scale rectifications in 1/100.

this kit is just about as old as i am (B. date JAN.1982) and i've desired a copy since i saw it first in a JAN. 1998 issue of HOBBY JAPAN

commemorating the 15th anniversary. that HJ issue was my MACROSS "SEARS wish book" for many years

before i finally got net access.

anyway, i picked the kit up as a set off the BAY, along with a beat-up original edition of the 1990 BANDAI reissue of this same model, for $25shipped.

i intend to build it up less the SUPER/STRIKE packs, which requires that i bum the inner leg halves

from the 1990 BANDAI, and shave away the forearm SUPER/STRIKE pods. (which i've already just finished)

that done, the model will build up nicely as a standard 1S, and will be a nice addition to my growing VF-1 squadron in various scales.

i'll keep you posted on progress here on this thread...

[Hoptimus]

I had the Max and Milia version of that kit when I was about 13(1990..) Not too bad of a kit. I had fun building them. I was not very good then and wished I had saved them after I got better.

[Wiz13688]

I still have a couple of original kit from 1983 and then I bought some of the Bandai re-issue later on. I built a couple for display at my local hobby shop to help them sell Anime kits. I then went away from building models, I was building enough kits that I would really need a spray booth but couldn't justisfy spending at least $500 on one back then. Then life got in the way but I did not stop buying kits (then the varies Yamato transformalbes). I recently took a look at the collection of models that I have and decided that I better get to them before my eyesight at gone (already started) and my hand start shaking (fortunately not yet). So I went and bought a whole new compressor, airbrush, spray booth and tons of Mr Color paints and Started building.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Wiz13688

[Duymon]

I had the dyrl edition of max that came in that ugly, ugly minty color....omg the memories

[Graham]

I just remember those 1/100 kits breaking really easily back in the day. Last time I tried to build one was probably 1988.

I found the old variable 1/72 kits far more durable.

Graham

[Shaorin]

actually, there is a LOT of good ideas in this tiny model, IMHO, that would have better served the IMAI 1/72 and it's far better overall proportions.

for instance, the FIGHTER mode leg mounting lugs, and the separate chest/frontal fuselage half sliding mechanism

are both far more rugged than the 1/72's combined design. also, the metal back-pack swing bar is vastly more reassuring

than the 1/72's plastic equivalent.

counterbalancing those fantastic positives are the plug-in metal landing gear pretty much necessitated at this scale and vintage of design,

the lack of forearm rotational joints, making for truly awful arm poseability for GERWALK and BATTROID,

and generally awful overall proportions that make the 1/72 look like a Yammie 1/60v.II by direct comparison.

alas, this 1982/'83 ARII kit is in that awful mint-toned plastic "Duymon" there mentioned above, and the 1990 BANDAI reissue

i got alongside is molded in an odd lavender-gray, so the finished combined kitbash

is gonna look mighty goofy since i have no intention of doing a full paint job on a model clearly meant

as more of a toy than a pro modellers' display piece.

perhaps down the line i'll pick up a pair of BANDAI 15th or 25th reissues to replace this minty mess with,

or at least one, so i can slap a kit molded in proper colors into that 1982/'83 ARII box.

in the mean, i'll attempt to do my best on this Mint-Choc. Chip VF-1,

and post the results for us all to point and laugh at...

Edited July 31, 2013 by Shaorin

[Hikaru1234567890]

I see you got that Minmmy!

[Shaorin]

I see you got that Minmmy!

which one? 200? CM's GUTTO KURU 1/8 figure, or 1997 TAKARA/YELLOW SUB. 1/6 doll?

[Wiz13688]

Not a 1/100 but one of the original Imai 1/72 VF-1S that I just dug out of my closet

[Shaorin]

AWESOME stuff there, wish i had one of those myself. want to part with it?

Edited August 1, 2013 by Shaorin

[Wiz13688]

I'm going to keep mine for the memories. I did see one on ebay just now for $50 shipped in the U,S,

[Shaorin]

ah, thanks!!

[AcroRay]

Very nice!!!

I picked up some other things from the same seller. Been on a bit of a binge buying vintage 1/72 Variable kits lately, out of nostalgia and partly out of disgust for the proportioning on the new Bandai kit...

[MechTech]

Congrats! That's when they packaged models to look cool! Many now they just throw in a bag. I love the blister packs for special parts and the artwork that accompanies it.

Those are good kits. The proportions might be slightly off, but I do like them and built a couple myself. -MT