Macross +++ 1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1SP "Big Wing Valkyrie"; aircraft "528" of the SVA-53 (Whif/modified Arii kit)
A pair of VF-1SPs in clean configuration, soaring among the clouds like albatross seabirds.
History:
The VF-1SP was a series of early VF-1A Block 2 Valkyries, modified for long range naval patrol, reconnaissance and manned guidance platform for land-started cruise missiles against large sea, ground and aerial targets during mid and final flight stage.
Taking the basic single seater hull, the VF-1SP received a much larger wingspan with extra weapon hardpoints (the inner pair most often dedicated to a pair of 500 gal. drop tanks) and additional internal fuel capacity. While agility and top speed was reduced, the new glide wing allowed a much longer loiter time on duty.
For the intended patrol and reconnaissance role, the sensor equipment was enhanced, too. This included an IR tracking system, a laser painter for guided precision weapons and a comlink for long range missile guidance.
The first SP ("Special Performance") Valkyrie prototype was built and flown in 2011, and after trails and approval a total of 50 serial machines followed in 2012 and 2013. The whole series was based on the Japanese homeland with SVF-52 and SVF-53, on Hokkaido and Okinawa, respectively.
The idea:
Inspired by my recent "Viggen"-Valkyrie in "Fields & Meadows" camouflage I found enough drive to work on another lookalike-Valykrie: emulating the not-so-well-known Mitsubishi F-2. The Japanese F-2 fighter is, more or less, a converted General Dynamics F-16 with larger wings, optimized for defense of the Japanese coast against sea attacks, and for close air support. The F-2 is also used for interception tasks as secondary role, and it is primarily replacing the F-1 and F-4EJ. Beyond looking quite elegant and being Japanese, the typical camouflage pattern of these machines (also found on late F-4EJ Phantom II's) is very appealing, too: medium blue overall with dark blue contrast fields from above, a light grey radome and bright red Hinomaru markings. These machines are VERY attractive - reason enough to dedicate a Valkyrie to these beauties ;)
Assembly:
The kit is, as usual, a vintage 1:100 scale VF-1 Valkyrie Fighter kit from ARII, in this case even a bash of two kits due to various modifications. Usual added details include a HUD, a pilot figure, seat belts and an ejection seat trigger in the cockpit. Externally, some typical Valkyrie antennae on the outside were added.
But this time, things went further: The whole airframe was enlarged, much like the F-2 compared to the original F-16! Each wing was elongated by ~1/2", with parts from another Valkyrie's wings, holding a third, outer weapon hardpoint now, too. In the intersection area between cockpit and main body, the fuselage was elongated by about 4mm in order to compensate for the considerably larger wing span, balancing proportions.
Another trick to stretch the Valkyrie was a thorough modification of its vertical fins: These parts received a leading edge extension at the root, additional 3mm in height and a rear extension which mimics the F-2's fin shape with its bulbous parachute container. Furthermore, the fins were placed about 4mm further back, shifting the visual "center of gravity" backwards. Additional F-2 features are several typical radar sensor bulbs all over the fuselage, and the small antennae (or spoilers?) in front of the cockpit.
With so many changes (and a VF-1D head under the hull), I deemed a new designation to be appropriate: the VF-1SP, reminiscent of the Boeing 747 SP ("Special Performance"), a heavily modified, long range version of the Jumbo Jet ;)
The underwing weapons are a mix from various sources. The two pairs of slender laser-guided bombs under the innermost pylons come from a Hasegawa weapon set (actually, these are Japanese weapons with an IR head and even authentic for an F-2!), the racks are scratch-built. The grey missiles are 1:72 AIM-4F Falcon, but at 1:100 scale they look like neat air-to-ground missiles like AGM-65 Mavericks. The outermost hardpoints finally hold standard AMM-1 missiles for self-defence - I just added two on each side, to create an asymmetrical look and to avoid a cramped impression.
Paint & decals:
The paint scheme is rather simple, and you find lots of very good reference pictures of the F-2. But finding a good match for the blue tones is another thing! I found some color reference in painting instructions (e .g. from Hasegawa), but I am not sold on the recommended tones at all. According to these sources, the "real" colors are FS35164 (Intermediate Blue) and FS15042 (Sea Blue) - actually two tones which were used on US Navy planes in WWII? Depending on light, film material and processing, F-2 pics offer no hard evidence, though: the tones appear in a very wide range from bright sky blue to a murky and dull blue-gray for the lighter blue, and the dark blue cannot be defined at all, it is just "very dark blue".
Since impression counts, I went for something brighter and settled on Humbrol 109 (WWI Blue, a very deep tone) for the lighter blue and Humbrol 104 (Oxford Blue, very dark and with a violet hue) for the dark tone. The radome was finished in Humbrol 28 (Camouflage Grey, FS36622, probably the authentic color), and the wings'/fins' leading edges were painted in grey (Humbrol 140) for some extra contrast. This color can also be found at some other details
Concerning markings, I tried to stick to the F-2 paradigm but could not resist to add some squadron markings on the fins: what looks like abstract kanji on the fins' outer sides are highly stylized "53"s - symbols of Japanese WWII 53rd Sentai. They come from an AeroMaster aftermarket decal sheet for Ki-45 Toryu fighters - and in red, they fit perfectly, and we have a plausible SVF-53 squadron ;)
After basic painting, the kit received a light wash with black ink and some fine liner treatment. Then, decals and finally a coat of matte varnish was appllied.
In the end I think the decision for the brighter colors paid out - we are doing anime here, after all, so something bright is IMHO not wrong at all! Looks pretty, methinks?
Macross +++ 1:100 Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1SP "Big Wing Valkyrie"; aircraft "528" of the SVA-53 (Whif/modified Arii kit)
A pair of VF-1SPs in clean configuration, soaring among the clouds like albatross seabirds.
History:
The VF-1SP was a series of early VF-1A Block 2 Valkyries, modified for long range naval patrol, reconnaissance and manned guidance platform for land-started cruise missiles against large sea, ground and aerial targets during mid and final flight stage.
Taking the basic single seater hull, the VF-1SP received a much larger wingspan with extra weapon hardpoints (the inner pair most often dedicated to a pair of 500 gal. drop tanks) and additional internal fuel capacity. While agility and top speed was reduced, the new glide wing allowed a much longer loiter time on duty.
For the intended patrol and reconnaissance role, the sensor equipment was enhanced, too. This included an IR tracking system, a laser painter for guided precision weapons and a comlink for long range missile guidance.
The first SP ("Special Performance") Valkyrie prototype was built and flown in 2011, and after trails and approval a total of 50 serial machines followed in 2012 and 2013. The whole series was based on the Japanese homeland with SVF-52 and SVF-53, on Hokkaido and Okinawa, respectively.
The idea:
Inspired by my recent "Viggen"-Valkyrie in "Fields & Meadows" camouflage I found enough drive to work on another lookalike-Valykrie: emulating the not-so-well-known Mitsubishi F-2. The Japanese F-2 fighter is, more or less, a converted General Dynamics F-16 with larger wings, optimized for defense of the Japanese coast against sea attacks, and for close air support. The F-2 is also used for interception tasks as secondary role, and it is primarily replacing the F-1 and F-4EJ. Beyond looking quite elegant and being Japanese, the typical camouflage pattern of these machines (also found on late F-4EJ Phantom II's) is very appealing, too: medium blue overall with dark blue contrast fields from above, a light grey radome and bright red Hinomaru markings. These machines are VERY attractive - reason enough to dedicate a Valkyrie to these beauties ;)
Assembly:
The kit is, as usual, a vintage 1:100 scale VF-1 Valkyrie Fighter kit from ARII, in this case even a bash of two kits due to various modifications. Usual added details include a HUD, a pilot figure, seat belts and an ejection seat trigger in the cockpit. Externally, some typical Valkyrie antennae on the outside were added.
But this time, things went further: The whole airframe was enlarged, much like the F-2 compared to the original F-16! Each wing was elongated by ~1/2", with parts from another Valkyrie's wings, holding a third, outer weapon hardpoint now, too. In the intersection area between cockpit and main body, the fuselage was elongated by about 4mm in order to compensate for the considerably larger wing span, balancing proportions.
Another trick to stretch the Valkyrie was a thorough modification of its vertical fins: These parts received a leading edge extension at the root, additional 3mm in height and a rear extension which mimics the F-2's fin shape with its bulbous parachute container. Furthermore, the fins were placed about 4mm further back, shifting the visual "center of gravity" backwards. Additional F-2 features are several typical radar sensor bulbs all over the fuselage, and the small antennae (or spoilers?) in front of the cockpit.
With so many changes (and a VF-1D head under the hull), I deemed a new designation to be appropriate: the VF-1SP, reminiscent of the Boeing 747 SP ("Special Performance"), a heavily modified, long range version of the Jumbo Jet ;)
The underwing weapons are a mix from various sources. The two pairs of slender laser-guided bombs under the innermost pylons come from a Hasegawa weapon set (actually, these are Japanese weapons with an IR head and even authentic for an F-2!), the racks are scratch-built. The grey missiles are 1:72 AIM-4F Falcon, but at 1:100 scale they look like neat air-to-ground missiles like AGM-65 Mavericks. The outermost hardpoints finally hold standard AMM-1 missiles for self-defence - I just added two on each side, to create an asymmetrical look and to avoid a cramped impression.
Paint & decals:
The paint scheme is rather simple, and you find lots of very good reference pictures of the F-2. But finding a good match for the blue tones is another thing! I found some color reference in painting instructions (e .g. from Hasegawa), but I am not sold on the recommended tones at all. According to these sources, the "real" colors are FS35164 (Intermediate Blue) and FS15042 (Sea Blue) - actually two tones which were used on US Navy planes in WWII? Depending on light, film material and processing, F-2 pics offer no hard evidence, though: the tones appear in a very wide range from bright sky blue to a murky and dull blue-gray for the lighter blue, and the dark blue cannot be defined at all, it is just "very dark blue".
Since impression counts, I went for something brighter and settled on Humbrol 109 (WWI Blue, a very deep tone) for the lighter blue and Humbrol 104 (Oxford Blue, very dark and with a violet hue) for the dark tone. The radome was finished in Humbrol 28 (Camouflage Grey, FS36622, probably the authentic color), and the wings'/fins' leading edges were painted in grey (Humbrol 140) for some extra contrast. This color can also be found at some other details
Concerning markings, I tried to stick to the F-2 paradigm but could not resist to add some squadron markings on the fins: what looks like abstract kanji on the fins' outer sides are highly stylized "53"s - symbols of Japanese WWII 53rd Sentai. They come from an AeroMaster aftermarket decal sheet for Ki-45 Toryu fighters - and in red, they fit perfectly, and we have a plausible SVF-53 squadron ;)
After basic painting, the kit received a light wash with black ink and some fine liner treatment. Then, decals and finally a coat of matte varnish was appllied.
In the end I think the decision for the brighter colors paid out - we are doing anime here, after all, so something bright is IMHO not wrong at all! Looks pretty, methinks?