HARDCORE MODELING!: 80's Cartoon: Macross Robotech VF-1 Valk (yep another one)

#1

yeah I know there are already a few of these goin up in here but I’m trying something a little different (at least I think I am) If all goes well this one will actually transform. I know this is not really the “correct” way of going about this, but I felt it would be a fun challenge to try. I Found an excellent ref site as well for all those others that are making a VF-1 or nearly any other robotech model Macross Mecha Manual . This site has tons of ref pics of the VF-1 and many other mechs from the beloved series, rather than clog up this post with em all , hopefully that link will do.

I decided to make a little timelapse of my WIP so far (only blocking everything in at this point for transform tests)

vids of the preliminary transforms (only keyed at start and end points of the transforms so alot of the parts are moving the wrong directions) and the battloid mode needs some serious reworking in the shoulder area, got some parts that should be sliding downward but don’t yet . thats what these test shots are for anyway.

and finnaly stills of the 3 modes…so far



this one still has major issues lol

#2

ok…update havin alot of issues with transformation references. lol too bad this doesnt pay out cash for a win so I could justify blowin the 150bucks on a sweet toy for a ref. If anyone out there has any good transformation refs please letme know , or if any of you actually have one of the transforming models or toys I could really use some pics or what parts actually move and where they hinge. I have been able to make out some of the backpack/tail section issues from what refs i could find but im still kinda fuzzy on how they actually move, some show a triple joint config while most ref pics only show a single joint where the tail folds up over the back. the latter causes the whole tail section to sit waaaaay up high on the battloid mode. the undercarrige area where the arms (particularly the shoulders) rest while in fighter mode is another area im havin issues seeing clearly. lastly the heat shield area is something i have seen no refs for anywhere, all I see are 404 not found broken links everywhere I go. from what i can tell the dorsal plate behind the cockpit just slides forward, but i just saw something on you tube that looks like the whole nose/cockpit area folds slightly down and the heat shield extends from the gap between the dorsal plate and the cockpit. I was thinking originally that the dorsal plate moves up slightly then forward to cover the cockpit partially. sooo if anyone has any advice for me here I’d surely appreciate any input I can get.

Thanx in advance :wavey:

#3

yet another update… decided to completley rework the arms and legs today…

the legs…

and the arms…

still really confused about the transform mysteries from the previous post, been watchin robotech and digging thru the internet till my eyes are about to bleed…sooo finnaly I broke down and found a 1:100 transformable vf-1 for around 20 bucks, hopefully it will solve my problems , and if not it will look cool on my desk next to the 1:100 scale regult battlepod lol (still totally worth it imo)

#4

Hi lucerro, that valkirye is coming along nicely :slight_smile:

About the transformation sequence, is difficult to explain in words, but you can see it in slow motion in this clip from Macross Zero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atbdDXRen_o

That’s the transformation sequence for the VF-0, but it’s almost the same for the VF-1, only difference is on the way the legs swings forward to the nosecone.

Also look in this page for some images ‘explaining’ the transformation sequence: http://www.new-un-spacy.com/sdfmacross/vf-1s-valkyrie.htm

Look at MistaFraggadeliX entry for more resources.

The only crit on the modelling so far is the shape of the lower leg/engine nacelle, it has to be a little more bulbous on the sides, not so flat.

#5

little more progress , got the arms and legs crammed into place after much tweaking.

startin to take a little more shape now,

movin on to the dorsal sections now.

#6

Thanx Woz , my main resource so far has been the info at www.new-un-spacy.com, been watchin alot of the old cartoon too for inspiration as well. for thelegs I was kinda feelin the same , they do look a little wider on the outside , cant really see it in the pics but the outter part is a little thicker I had to slim down the inner side of them to make them all fit w/out intersecting the arm geometry. Hopefully once I get all the parts a little more “together” I will try to fatten those , as well as the arms,(still tryin to work out clearance issues for the transformations). been stuck in class all day so hopefully I can get some ore work done tonight on the nose cone area, I’m trying to hold off a little on the main transform parts until I get the toy I ordered in hand, and the model one of the other CGsociety members is sending me for ref.

#7

little more progress, working on the nose gear now …

still got a looong way to go , may not finish this one in time…

#8

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