Converting an Alto VF-171EX to a CF VF171-EX

[Duymon]

If you want a CF VF-171EX, you have two options.

1.) Get a Maruyama Custom and remove the itasha-print using a solvent

2.) Get an Alto Custom and convert the red stripes to Grey.

I'm a cheap bastard so I picked up a VF-171EX Alto used for about 12000 yen and an armored pack for 3500 yen off Mandarake.

Figure that 15500 yen + shipping is way better than paying the 20000 yen that the Maruyama custom commands....right?

Let's just say the next time around I will just get the maruyama and remove the itasha print lol.

Masking some of the lines on the VF-171EX are an absolute pain because it's really hard to line up light masking tape with the off-white color of the VF-171EX in order to go up right against the red.

You gotta get REALLY creative with the ankle guards in the front since there's only like .5 mm of white plastic for the masking tape to hold onto, and at an angle in the middle to boot :0

Painting commenced using Tamiya acrylic dark grey mixed with 50% acryl thinner.

Used Iwata Eclipse airbrush @ 20 PSI.

After everything dried I brush-painted on some future floor polish mixed with Tamiya flat-base to give the paint a little extra resistance.

After all painting was done, Just had to add a CF Pilot, of which I have many due to my CF-VF-171 collection.

And Voila, CF 171EX without the Itasha print.

This is how it stacks up vs the Maruyama Custom

Edited May 10, 2016 by Duymon

[Valkyrie Driver]

Sick work. I'd like to see what you could do for a weathered one...

[505thAirborne]

That is super cool Duymon! I think you officially now have the Ultimate VF-171 collection.

[spanner]

man that looks the bollocks! nice work!

[Alberich]

Pretty good work Duymon

[no3Ljm]

If only I could customize mine like that.

Hey Duymon, any chance on moving to the Bay Area?

[McFly!!]

That is spectacular work bro!

Do you think that removing the itasha from the maruyama would be easier?

[chyll2]

I think removing of itasha is easier. If by chance you removed the gray out black paint app along, masking and painting it back would be easier

[anime52k8]

That is spectacular work bro!

Do you think that removing the itasha from the maruyama would be easier?

Why would you want to do that though?

[Duymon]

Removing the Itasha would be 10x easier for sure but it's a little bit more expensive since the maruyama is still around 20,000 for the set, while I can source the alto and supers together for around 15500.

If I ever add more to the Fleet I'll prolly go the maruyama route since it's just a simple tampo removal and then painting just a backplate.

[anime52k8]

Or, you could swap the backplate from a maruyama with the backplate from an Alto 171. that way you'll have a completely plain CF and you don't ruin the tampo printing.

[McFly!!]

Why would you want to do that though?

I thought that was the op's original idea