Broken VF-19 Advance

[Lancestride01]

HELP!

Hinall, I’m new to this forum but have been collecting Macross toys forever.

my VF-advance (Bandai dx chogokin) has had a leg shear off at the thigh (the robots left leg) port side intake in plane mode.

dies anyone have a broken one for spares? Or make 3D printed or cast replacement parts? 

Thanks in advance.

[wmkjr]

That 2nd and 3rd pics are a bit blurry to see what's going on.

[Sanity is Optional]

It looks like the intake section around the metal hip piece broke?

[Lancestride01]

Sorry, the thigh piece that joins the leg to the hip has sheared off, 

[Lancestride01]

Yes that’s right. The intake holds the whole leg 

[jenius]

Is that a bunch of grease or residue in there of some sort? I think I've heard people complains about cracks in that region before.

[Lancestride01]

It’s resin residue from a failed attempt to fix it

[Lancestride01]

So can anyone help with spares or replacement parts? 

[Chronocidal]

36 minutes ago, Lancestride01 said:

Yes that’s right. The intake holds the whole leg 

This is true for just about 99% of all macross aircraft, but that particular hip always did scare me.

I don't know why it's so hard for people to keep designing simple workable hip joints..

Edited September 20, 2018 by Chronocidal

[Lancestride01]

I know! Desperately looking for a fix or replacement parts

[Chronocidal]

The problem with Bandai valks is basically figuring out how to disassemble the darn things.

You're not going to get replacement parts from Bandai, unless you live in Japan, and it'll take time for someone to make and test-fit a replacement with 3D-printing, if it's even possible. 

First thing I'd do is clean up the junk left from the first repair attempt, because you're not going to be able to repair in that shape, even if you did have factory replacements.

 

[Lancestride01]

Yeah I’ve done that this evening. Just not sure a strong enough repair is even possible . Was hoping someone else would have a broken one 

[Chronocidal]

Actually, now that I think about it, now might be a good time to see if you can't find a way to request parts from Bandai, via someone from Japan.  I know we have members there, and with the YF-19 just being released, it's probably the most likely time for them to have spare parts in their inventory.

Bandai does not have a good history with those kinds of requests though, and they tend to refuse replacing anything but the entire figure.

Certain 3D printed materials might be strong enough to replace that, but printing something with that precision and detail might not be easily done.

[Lancestride01]

That’s a good idea! Thanks.

lets hope the right people see the post 

[Sanity is Optional]

Looking at the design, this is something that probably should have more diecast running down the leg. A larger interface area would reduce stress on the front of the intake from the (relatively small) metal insert twisting.

If you do try and 3D print a replacement, I'd try for a left-right shell rather than top/bottom, it ought to hold up better to the forces involved in transformation and posing the legs. Definitely glue it together for some extra strength.

[Lancestride01]

Not something I could do