1/60 Perfect Transform VF-4G Lightning reissue.

[Kurisama]

The VF-4 variants are now live; https://www.shapeways.com/shops/rpg?section=Modular+Aircraft+Upgrades&s=0

Have a look around

[Kurisama]

I should add, Shapeways has 25% off orders for a limited time, get on it!

I've also ordered the S and A type heads in FUD with the lasers in Black Hi-Def Acrylate, will post updates when items received.

[HardlyNever]

Bleh, I hesitated on the NY sale and it jumped up about 10k yen now. Any know the likelihood of it going back on sale anytime soon? It seems odd that they are basically doing a reverse black friday sale.

[no3Ljm]

Bleh, I hesitated on the NY sale and it jumped up about 10k yen now. Any know the likelihood of it going back on sale anytime soon? It seems odd that they are basically doing a reverse black friday sale.

Nobody knows. They just do it randomly. And it's been on sale for awhile. Too bad they removed it during Black Friday.

[Mommar]

I should add, Shapeways has 25% off orders for a limited time, get on it!

I've also ordered the S and A type heads in FUD with the lasers in Black Hi-Def Acrylate, will post updates when items received.

How can you order different parts in different material types or did you buy two of each head in the different materials?

[no3Ljm]

How can you order different parts in different material types or did you buy two of each head in the different materials?

Kurisama set up a laser only option for the heads. So I assumed he ordered the original head sets in FUD and ordered separate head lasers in Acrylate.

On a sidenote, I just misplaced one of the arm missiles on one of my VF-4G while transforming it the other day.

Edited November 26, 2016 by no3Ljm

[Kurisama]

Yes, that's exactly what I did.

[Mommar]

Yes, that's exactly what I did.

Is it 25% off of the $33 advertised on the website?

[Kurisama]

It is 25% off whatever your total order ends up being, regardless of material or quantity.

[aiorus_22]

Hello kurisama I just received my vf-4 and check what you said about the union points that would fit the fast pack would look good but I was thinking about the drivers that have in the queue and I think they are not necessary that you think?

[seti88]

Wish someone would release a true FB scheme...

[no3Ljm]

12 hours ago, seti88 said:

Wish someone would release a true FB scheme...

I hear yah. I'm with you on this one.  

 

[neko878]

22 hours ago, seti88 said:

Wish someone would release a true FB scheme...

Yup I agree!  Would be awesome if they did.  This custom look great btw.

[HardlyNever]

I was transforming this earlier today and noticed some stress marks and even minor bending near the hip joints.  Is this a pretty common occurrence with these?  I've only had mine a couple months, and this is the first I've noticed it.  I did get it second-hand, however, so it may have come to me like this.

Anything in particular I should be wary of in gerwalk/battroid mode that is putting extra stress in this area?  One of the knees is really loose on mine (it came like that), so maybe that is putting extra stress around the hips?

I've got it displayed in fighter mode now, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can do when I've got the legs out to mitigate this.  Maybe I'll just use the display stand for every mode now. (On a side note, does anyone know how to attach the display adapter in battroid mode?  I haven't messed with it much, but I couldn't seem to get it to line up).

 

[Mommar]

I'll have to check the three of mine when I get home but I can't say I've ever noticed it before.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

Checked the two I have and both have the same exact lines at the same place. Strange both of them have those lines just in the front plastic cups not on the rear ones????

 

[mickyg]

They almost look like mold parting lines from the manufacturing of the pieces.  They're in exactly the same place, at exactly the same angle.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

1 hour ago, mickyg said:

They almost look like mold parting lines from the manufacturing of the pieces.  They're in exactly the same place, at exactly the same angle.

Yes, I have two VF-4G's and both have the same lines. Both with stiff joints so as you said those must be parting lines.

[no3Ljm]

All 3 of mine have the same lines. That's a mix of Yamato and Arcadia releases.

As for the knee issue, I opened and fix mine before. But a little bit of warning on the thigh because you have to pry them open in order to get to the knee joint and tighten it up.

 

[HardlyNever]

Ok, thanks for the responses.  Looks like it is nothing to worry about, albeit an odd design choice from yamato.

I think I'll leave the knee as-is, it can still stand up, and if it isn't hurting anything, it isn't a problem for me.

[Xigfrid]

Ok! So the HMR VF-4 release got my Yamato all fired up for an elbow upgrade so he can also flex them and make some press-ups just like his incoming little brother.

When I dismantled the elbow, I discovered that there was already a rotation axis but with very tight amplitude of movement. So I sanded the diecast part to allow a much larger movement of the elbow in this rotation axis. 

I could gain 30’ degrees of movement doing that and now my Yamato can flex pretty well, compared to what he could do initially.

 

Edited October 26, 2018 by Xigfrid

[no3Ljm]

Alright! Nice mod, Xigfrid!    

 

[seti88]

[jenius]

I don't see what's happening? Is it just that the back of the forearms are not point down? If so, I didn't think that took a mod:

[HardlyNever]

4 minutes ago, jenius said:

I don't see what's happening? Is it just that the back of the forearms are not point down? If so, I didn't think that took a mod:

I'm kind of thinking the same thing.  Anytime I have the vf-4 in battroid, thats how I have the arms (with the cannons on the outside).  I haven't modded mine at all.

Maybe there is a larger range of movement at the elbows?  Once you have them in that position, there isn't really much more you can do with them, at least without modded them.

[Xigfrid]

The original range of movement is like +/- 10 degrees, by grinding on one side the flexing range is improved up to 45 degrees (photo 2 vs photo 3 of my previous post)

I am not really good at showing it with pictures though

Edited October 27, 2018 by Xigfrid

[wmkjr]

12 hours ago, jenius said:

I don't see what's happening? Is it just that the back of the forearms are not point down? If so, I didn't think that took a mod:

He grinded down one side of the trapezoid/semi circular part of the elbow to allow more range of motion in the elbow joint. Xigfrid's 2nd pic shows the standard range and the 3rd is the modded. Here is the area:

[HayateAltoHunter]

Thanks for sharing. I am liking your skull squadron decal and original VF-4 paint app. 

What decal shop did you use?

[Xigfrid]

I only applied the skull stickers made by @takatoys some time ago and a light panel lining. 

[VF-Zero]

Just ordered this babe from HLJ. I'm also thinking about getting some other mechas, because of that, i sent it to private warehouse.

[MKT]

VF-4G is among my earliest collection, just about outside the first handful of valks in the collecting journey. I got the Arcadia reissue when it was still very much available at retail, so it happened to have been the best time to get it especially when Yamato's first issue was going at about double the prices just prior.

These days the VFX VF-4G seems a bit overlooked, especially with the release of the FB2012 VF-4A normal & premium versions mixed in with the HMRs in the intervening years. I've had this sitting in my display for years, never taken out of Fighter and I don't think it will ever be.  So, just further appreciating it in Fighter mode for now..

It may look a bit drab in this colour & with minimal tampos, but in hand it just feels soooo good. The tactile feel of the plastic, the very fine panel lines & the weight makes it feel that it is very well put together. 

This valk has so many control surfaces - wings, fins, canards and stabilizers but they all come together nicely as a nice coherent whole. I actually like fiddling with the moving fins, because there is the nice stiffness & consistency to the whole range of motion from one end to other, again great tactile feel.

Favorite design element: the curvature of the nosecone..

As much as I like to think how all the panels come together mostly flush, this is actually the first time I notice the rear cowlings of the upper booster nozzles don't meet the bottom thruster housings nicely. The nozzle cowling seems to be a bit too wide and it shows on both sides. A minor annoyance but doesn't detract from overall how sleek the VF-4 design is.

 

More flight shots to come in future post..

Edited November 2, 2023 by MKT

[Chronocidal]

I didn't really mind the fact that the VF-4G was so plain.  I'm thrilled to finally have the Flashback 2012 version, because that's what I wanted all along, but I'm more than happy to have the original releases to repaint and decal up in other schemes.

One of these days, I want to get around to either a classic Wolfpack or Sundowners scheme.  

[Reïvaj]

4 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

Wow, I do love that scheme!

[MKT]

Blasting off straight and true..

 

As sure as an arrow shot from a bow..

 

From some angles, the engine housings look overly large. But once I realized that the housings each compose of individual turbine & rocket engines, I thought it was such a cool idea - a VF that combines Super / Fast packs into such a sleek hull. The semi-recessed missiles being part of the design is also a great touch.

 

Edited November 5, 2023 by MKT

[MKT]

Before heading back to the display cabinet..