505thAirborne Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 5 hours ago, 20max20 said: Started to work on it, hope she will look better after the modifications I planned... Nice!! What kind of mods are you are going to make to this VF? Quote
20max20 Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 Well essentially I want it will look slimmer in fighter mode, with the leg sitting more under the wings (the plan at the moment is to make them attach directly to the wing...that's where the disposable flosser could help...maybe...). To achieve this there are a lot of small solutions that need to be found and implemented. I think I got almost all planned out, but I still have to come up with a good idea for hiding the metal bars connecting the leg to the body, would love to be able to do some cool 3D stuff :/ I already sanded down the wing base and gained some millimetres also sanding the shoulder joint. This, together with smaller shoulder (like the Bandai Hi Metal) should make the shoulder hang down 5-7 millimetres less than before... ...and of course, custom Roy colour scheme! Quote
jenius Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 (edited) I'm working on my Bandai Hi-Metal R review... I was flabbergasted when I realized that the fighter mode on that toy, which actually could pivot the leg to where it should go right beneath the wing, still doesn't do this! In order to get everything lined up you need to have the intake a little lower than the internal intake under the chest. What a bummer. Good luck in your effort to make the Evolution Toys VF-2SS pull it off! The leg lock on the Evolution Toys is so bad that whatever you do will probably hold more securely. Edit, I was looking at the world wrong in that post. It's not so much where the intakes are on the HMR but rather the wings. If the wings could have been just a bit higher than the intakes could have come up a bit higher and that would have made the world better for me Edited January 8, 2018 by jenius Quote
20max20 Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 Some new panel lines and shortened backpack: Quote
20max20 Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 Side view after sanding of the base of the wing and the pins...slowly getting slimmer Quote
20max20 Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 Thanks! Still need to close the mod on the shoulders to see how much sleeker it will look. For now, left thruster lowered down closer to the wing (just realized the ventral fin under the nosecone should also be moved a bit to the back...that will be a challenge, probably I’ll have to go down the “part removing” route...). Quote
20max20 Posted January 13, 2018 Posted January 13, 2018 Modified Arms and new smaller shoulders almost ready. The arms will not be sitting under in parallel position to the body, but angled up by an additional “click” at the shoulder. Quote
505thAirborne Posted January 13, 2018 Posted January 13, 2018 15 hours ago, 20max20 said: Modified Arms and new smaller shoulders almost ready. The arms will not be sitting under in parallel position to the body, but angled up by an additional “click” at the shoulder. This is looking interesting, are you thinking of doing any possible mods to the swing-bar system for the legs? I'm wondering if there's a way to mimic what Bandai did for their 2SS. Quote
Chronocidal Posted January 13, 2018 Posted January 13, 2018 (edited) I'd love to see someone try that, but I worry that the change would require almost an entirely new mold. The system on the HMR version is very similar in concept to the hip swingbar used in Yamato/Arcadia designs, but it's quite a bit differently shaped. It's more like the legs are attached to a swinging frame that makes up the entire underside of the valk. Edited January 13, 2018 by Chronocidal Quote
20max20 Posted January 15, 2018 Posted January 15, 2018 Hi, yes I´m planning to do "something" to the swing bar, but not as the Bandai. Indeed, i do not really like the big break they create in the underline of the valk. The idea for this project is to work on the L shaped plastic piece they are attached to and make it extendable/retractable. In this way, they would stay extended as they are now for battroid mode, but collapse for fighter and "hide" inside the giant hole there is currently right after the nosecone. Here is where the big challenge starts, as then I will have to create a "tunnel" (which can be accessed by open/close panels) in the body/air intake of the valk for the metal swing bar to make sure the legs sit in fighter mode high close to the wing :/ No idea how to do it...I need help! Anyway, I´m basically done with the first wave of mods. not 100% satisfied by the outcome but I have some ideas how to improve. I think I will let some days pass so that I will re-look at them with a fresh perspective. Recap: - new panel lines - check! - Dorsal booster lowered closer to the wing - check! - Backpack reworked and made smaller (in almost every direction), also the piece covering the head is shortened and shaped to match the head profile - check! - wings sanded down and relative pins to have the valk body thinner - check! - arms mod so they are sitting in fighter mode not parallel but angled up towards the body - check but maybe I will use ball joint later on! - new smaller shoulder - no check, do be re-done with new idea Now let´s move to the legs... some quick pics: Quote
505thAirborne Posted January 16, 2018 Posted January 16, 2018 I'm definitely enjoying these mods, can't wait to see what you come up with for the legs. Quote
505thAirborne Posted January 27, 2018 Posted January 27, 2018 https://hlj.com/product/evt57214/Act In case anybody wants to get one, it's now in the "Bargain Crate"!! Quote
20max20 Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 Tempted to buy another one, this project is quite fun! Maybe next time it goes back on sale. Working on the legs. I realized that the reason why they don´t stay parallel to the arms in fighter mode, but rather angled in a sort of A stance, is because the ball joint on the metal swing bar is blocked by the housing to reach a proper straight positioning of the legs. Problem solved by removing part of the plastic housing then! Surprisingly, also the actual hole in the leg needs to be widened a bit, and this results in having the housing for the ball joint able to "click" in and out, allowing extra extension for the joint. Lucky! I took some pictures to show before and after. Also, put together the pieces with sticky paste for a check (new panel line on the leg, shortened dorsal booster, new shoulder pieces). ..now fixing the ventral fin.. Quote
505thAirborne Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 (edited) From what I can see it's looking good! Anyway to post bigger pics? It's a bit hard to see these. P.S. I caved and ordered the Faerie Squadron 2SS, for $135.00 shipped, I can live with that. Edited February 1, 2018 by 505thAirborne Quote
20max20 Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 At concept stage for the ventral fin, this idea seems to work! Quote
jvmacross Posted February 1, 2018 Posted February 1, 2018 On 1/31/2018 at 1:15 AM, 20max20 said: maybe these are a bit better... The repositioning of the legs alone makes it look so much better...great work! Looking forward to the finished product...and finding out what your mod service fee will be.... Quote
kajnrig Posted February 1, 2018 Posted February 1, 2018 18 hours ago, Arkham said: Are you doing a RVF-2?? The VF-2 has a fin there, I think they're just modding it for... ease of transformation? It's not a "RVF" mod. Quote
20max20 Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 The fin is simply in the wrong place. I decided to move it "back" also to free the line of the profile of the nosecone that is contributing to give a slimmer look to the valk. At first I decided to have a polycaps inside the nosecone + pin attached to the fin to make it "parts-former", but then I realized "hey it it could rotate and go back in the original position for battroid", so why not? Also, I´m still planning to mod the L shaped plastic pieces connecting the metal swing bars of the leg to the body and make them collapsing/extendable, and I would like to close the hole in the fusalage with a panel. I combined the two ideas...let see if I can make it work 14 hours ago, jvmacross said: The repositioning of the legs alone makes it look so much better...great work! Looking forward to the finished product...and finding out what your mod service fee will be.... Ahah, thanks! still long way to go to see the final result. Mod service fee you say eh...mmm...I´m tempted to purchase another one as it is on sale at hlj...I have 2 colour schemes options in mind...I could use it as practice...I just need a third reason...(that it is on sale doesn´t count, right? ) Quote
20max20 Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 ...looks like I’ll have to do some work also on the sap... Quote
linitrofe Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 47 minutes ago, 20max20 said: ...looks like I’ll have to do some work also on the sap... Ouch! Quote
505thAirborne Posted February 6, 2018 Posted February 6, 2018 I was just curious of all the mods your making to your VF- 2SS, have you considered redesigning where the hands go so you can just use a Fixed-pose hand vs. the hands it came with? I did this to my Silvie 2SS, (not the best mod) yet it made the toy look much more appealing IMO. Quote
20max20 Posted February 6, 2018 Posted February 6, 2018 Not yet actually. My mods objective is fighter mode oriented, so I haven´t spent much time thinking about improving the look of battroid. Actually ,I think it will look "worse" in this mode after the mods, but I can live with that. I want to keep the "perfect transformation" aspect with this project, but on the new one I´ll start (yes, I pulled the trigger and another VF-2ss is on the way....) I´m seriously considering going the extra step "parts forming" to improve fighter mode look even more... Agree with you, that hand improves the look a lot! P.S.: quick update, the idea on how to integrate fin + cover for the L pieces does not work with the transformation Quote
505thAirborne Posted February 9, 2018 Posted February 9, 2018 Awesome, so you'll have two Faerie Squadron to work with. While a lot of people cringe at the idea of Parts-Forming the VF-2SS is one of those few exceptions I could easily live with... I mean in the time it takes to adjust everything just right with the Bandai HMR (which I really enjoy) I could just swap out the separate frames for each mode & be done in the same amount of time. As for the fin + cover, I take it that is strictly for fighter mode only at this point. Also, good luck on that SAP armor, just dawned on me that the pegs are on backwards. Keep up the great work!! Quote
20max20 Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 Yes, with the second one I´ll use lots of magnets (it is and ET after all ) so there will be more freedom to remove pieces ( -> shoulder/arm folding mechanism) and achieve a sleeker fighter mode. Should be a quicker mod that the one I´m currently doing and I wanted to check the concept during the weekend but I will have no time as I had a little unexpected issue I have to fix After days of sanding to make the hole body 2 mm less thick, I finally started working on the front chest plate to make it less curved/domed and more straight/flat, like the Bandai for example, so I took my hairdryer (not first time I do this process), gently started with the left side and immediately... but what plastic quality is used here? Rescue mode: on! (btw, if anyone has a VF-2ss waiting to go, or already in the bin...let me know ) Quote
no3Ljm Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, 20max20 said: but what plastic quality is used here? Ouch! Hope that plane is insured. Can't help but wonder now what dipping in hot water can do for this plastic. Edited February 14, 2018 by no3Ljm Quote
Lolicon Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 4 hours ago, 20max20 said: Yes, with the second one I´ll use lots of magnets (it is and ET after all ) so there will be more freedom to remove pieces ( -> shoulder/arm folding mechanism) and achieve a sleeker fighter mode. Should be a quicker mod that the one I´m currently doing and I wanted to check the concept during the weekend but I will have no time as I had a little unexpected issue I have to fix After days of sanding to make the hole body 2 mm less thick, I finally started working on the front chest plate to make it less curved/domed and more straight/flat, like the Bandai for example, so I took my hairdryer (not first time I do this process), gently started with the left side and immediately... but what plastic quality is used here? Rescue mode: on! (btw, if anyone has a VF-2ss waiting to go, or already in the bin...let me know ) Geez, did the MII UN Spacy source their heat shields from discarded Soviet spacecraft? Quote
Sildani Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 My guess is polystyrene suitable for plastic model kits. Quote
jenius Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 I'm on my phone and can't see the image well, is the plastic warped or did the paint just peel off? Quote
no3Ljm Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 11 minutes ago, jenius said: I'm on my phone and can't see the image well, is the plastic warped or did the paint just peel off? Warped plastic. Quote
kajnrig Posted February 14, 2018 Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) That's rough. Good luck fixing it. Polystyrene plus thinning by 2mm plus a too-direct heat source (such as a hair dryer at close distance) equals this sort of localized warping. Heating up the entire thing, very slowly, to a lower temperature MIGHT work better. I remember the old Bandai Evangelion kits had polystyrene arms that you could bend by putting it in hot water and then slowly bending to the desired bend. Edit: Maybe packing the back side with clay prior to heating will also help it maintain its shape. A thought. Edited February 14, 2018 by kajnrig Quote
Kelsain Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 Ah, you're making me think about picking up one if these from HLJ and trying something similar! Looks at stash & half-completed projects. Stop encouraging me! Quote
20max20 Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 A bit of hot water and lots of sanding later, main surface is saved. Just ordered some “blue stuff”, I will use it to make a mould of this part based on the other VF-2ss I have so I can re-cast the last imperfection with epoxy...gonna take time :/ Quote
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