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Gandalf is alive and well, finally healing after a cyst on his head was removed last week. He was hurting for a few days. We just found out that he's cancer free! Whew. Thanks for your concern guys, that means a lot to me. We're hoping his eye droop improves once the stitches and staple are out. He's still darn handsome though, heehee. ;-)
Great cat. My Number 1.
Handling tips for brand new polymer notes
Before counting a stack of new notes:
• separate the notes by fanning, tapping, shuffling or snapping them;
• we recommend you use your thumb to push the top bill into your other hand.
pastebin.com/raw.php?i=LBpSfLKD
As "requested" by Grunder. 20 minutes, not including time in Photoshop cropping and saving.
This was a contender for the cover of the Avmor Collection book. These are the handles of the front door of the Avmore collection building in Old Montreal. The cover ended up to be a painting of the same subject matter since most of the collection is made up of paintings. The image is in the collection as well as in the book.
To see more of my work, please go to sollang.com
"7 Days of Shooting" "Week #20" "Handles" "High Key or Low Key Friday"
114 Pictures in 2014. 62.Cup or Mug.
Taken at The Regency, Laguna Woods, California. © 2014 All Rights Reserved.
My images are not to be used, copied, edited, or blogged without my explicit permission.
Please!! NO Glittery Awards or Large Graphics...Buddy Icons are OK. Thank You!
My coffee cup at breakfast this morning. Closer look at the chip in the first comment box...
1949
Shows Airforce personnel on airfield, nose of an aircraft on right "Nyhuan" on side, (also known as Pathfinder, a long range navigation trainer), buildings in background with sign "Harmon Field".
Visit our catalogue to download a hi-res copy or find out more about this image:
handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/42204
Want to find more pictures from the State Library of Victoria's collections? guides.slv.vic.gov.au/pictures
Today's Posting ~ Door knobs, handle and door furniture are often missed features, show us how you took a closer look.. Post it then Tag it with #TP271
Nikon D7000
Nikon 35mm 1.8G
Exposure - 1/100
Aperture - f/5.6
Focal Length - 35 mm
ISO Speed - 100
Another test shot from this lens. I'm reasonably happy with it, not quite as sharp as I'd hoped it would be but still fairly decent. I normally don't do the ruler/focus tests to make sure the lens is focusing correctly but with this one, I might just do it having read so many reports on the sharpness of this lens.
All pictures in my photostream are copyright © 2001-2012 Howie Mudge all rights reserved.
They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my permission. If you'd like to use one of my images for any reason or interested in getting a print of one of my photos, please contact me at howiemudge@hotmail.co.uk
Handle for the fireplace insert. The original handle came off at one time and has never properly fit again. 82/366
This is the famous pose of Eternal Sailormoon at the beginning of the episode in Hotaru's dream.
I painted this myself few years ago. I'm not a good painter, but I'm low-budget collector so I have to do everything by myself, haha.
Note: I did not paint the wings because the resin is already off-white. And the handle of Moon Tial came from the Sabre of Gundam plastic kit I chopped off ^^"
Theses are 2 Stylish Solid Brass Handles designed and manufactured in house, side fix and top fix, they are hygienic and help reduce the spread of infections
I cuori non saranno mai una cosa pratica finché non ne inventeranno di infrangibili.
"Il mago di Oz"
We recommend viewing in full screen or on my FluidR
My Web-Space "personali Profondità di Campo"
© All rights reserved - © Tutti i diritti riservati
Nice solid D-handled socket spade with a broad arrow and date stamp. So I assume it was government issued.
This spade was made by the Stockton Heath Foundry, located just south of Warrington. They were also known as Caldwells, a name that still lives on in North Wales: www.gbtoolsltd.com/Home
Frame : *SURLY* straggler
Wheel :*PHILWOOD* center lock disc hub × *VELOCITY* blunt ss rim
Tire :*TERAVAIL* cannonball tire
Headset : *CHRIS KING* nothreadset
Handle : *SURLY* cheater bar
Stem : *THOMSON* elite x4 stem
Grip : *ERGON* GP1 ergo grips small
Brake lever : *PAUL* canti lever
Brake : *PAUL* klamper post mount disc calliper
Chainring:*WOLF TOOTH COMPONENTS* drop stop chainring
Saddle :*SELLE ANATOMICA* X1 leather saddle
Seatpost : *THOMSON* elite seatpost
Pedal : *MKS×CRUST* sylvan gordito peda
Frontrack:*NITTO* M-1B front rack
Basket:*WALD* 137 basket
Skewer:*PAUL* quick release skewer
When handling the airbag unit, you MUST place it on its back, with the padding facing up. I wrapped my unit in a thick towel, then stored it in my trunk while I worked on the ignition switch.
Measurements: 11" tall x 6" wide
Condition: Excellent condition. Near Mint. No cracks, chips, scratches, damage or repairs. Please refer to all photos for this great Antique Chinese Vase. Used only for private display.
***stand not included.
Manufactured: Jingdezhen China
Description: This is a beautifully hand crafted Antique Imperial Fine China Handled Dragon Gourd Vase with Qianlong Qing mark. Featuring an intricately detailed colorful design with many dragons and an iron red embossed base color. A double gourd shaped oviform body. Several depictions of five toed dragons. Historically, the dragon was the symbol of the Emperor of China. The 5-clawed dragon was assigned to the Son of Heaven.
With generous high relief design encompasing the vase, it has a splayed foot and is finely painted. The neck is flanked by a set of stylized dragon handles with a blossom curled mouth.
Centered on the unglazed base is the embossed raised zhuanshu mark (archaic seal script) of the Qianlong emperor, Hongli.
清代 Qing Dynasty, 乾隆 Qianlong
Qianlong reign marked vases of this highly complex and exquisitely composed design are in many important private and museum collections. For a similar vase from the Qing Court collection preseved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pl.85; also illustrated in Fire and Colour. Imperial Kiln Porcelain of Qing Dynasty from The Palace Museum Collection Vol.2, Macao, 2011, pl.93.
Made with the finest of white clay in Coucou ( kaolin ).
Perfect for any collector or for practical use.
***We will ship anywhere. Sizes are approximate.
It's the buyer's responsibility to pay customs fees, duties, import taxes, and related charges.
Note: Color of item might deviate slightly in comparison to the original article due to differences in computer monitors and different lighting conditions. Please read description of color. I personally inspect and clean each item before it posts on ebay. It will be well-packaged in bubble wrap and/or packing peanuts...etc., to withstand ordinary travel without damage.
International Buyers wait for an accurate invoice to be generated as eBay requires an estimated shipping quote to be included in all listings.
Payments must be made within 3 days. There are no returns on this item. Period make is estimated and not guaranteed.
Photos are taken to represent each item as clearly and thoroughly as possible. Please review each carefully and take into consideration all details as much as possible when purchasing.
Information:
Qianlong 1736-95
The Yongzheng emperor nominated his fourth son, Hongli, meaning ‘Great Successor’, as his heir and he ruled from 1736 to 1796 as the Qianlong or ‘eminent sovereign’ emperor. He had been a great favorite of his grandfather, the Kangxi emperor, with whom he would go hunting as a boy. Some say that the Kangxi emperor chose Yongzheng as his successor so that he would eventually be succeeded by his grandson, although that would seem a rather risky prospect, as the Yongzheng emperor had ten sons (though only four survived into adulthood).
When Qianlong was on the throne China was flourishing, but as he left the throne it was beginning to decline. The long reign of the Qianlong emperor (who retired in 1796, three years before his death) may be considered the height of the Qing. Though his Ten Great Campaigns were not all as successful as he claimed, he brought much of Central Asia under Qing rule, vastly increasing the size of his empire. The costs of his campaigns were met by an increase in cultivated land, with new crops, such as maize and peanuts, being grown and with firm controls on revenue collection. Well versed in Chinese culture, the Qianlong emperor is supposed to have written essays and as many as 42,000 poems. He developed the imperial collection, commissioning paintings and artefacts from Chinese and foreign artists, as well as collecting ancient Chinese objects and ordering the cataloguing of palace paintings and calligraphy.
Like his grandfather Kangxi, the Qianlong emperor made five great tours of inspection of southern China, reversing the tradition of the Ming emperors who only left the Forbidden City to visit the imperial altars but did not venture outside Peking. His daily routine was described in detail by the Jesuit priest Fr Benoist. He rose at six, ate alone at eight (his meal taking about 15 minutes) and then read reports and memorials, discussing them with his ministers. He held an audience for newly appointed officials and had another brief solitary meal at two. Then he would read, write verse or paint and perhaps take some 'light refreshment' before bed. Unlike the Chinese, the Qianlong emperor took milk in his tea, with special herds of dairy cows providing the Manchu imperial family with milk. A menu for one of his meals in 1754 included a dish of fat chicken, boiled duck and bean curd, swallows’ nests and shredded smoked duck, smoked chicken, shredded stewed chicken, Chinese cabbage, salted duck and pork, bamboo-shoot steamed dumplings, rice cakes with honey and side dishes of pickled aubergine, pickled cabbage and cucumbers in soy sauce
In the 60th year of his reign (1796), the Qianlong Emperor enthroned his son and became overlord for four years. In the 4th year of the Jiaqing reign (1799) the Qianlong Emperor died at age 89.
During this period the archaic zhuanshu seal mark is by far the most common, largely ousting the regular kaishu script. It is thought that the few genuine kaishu marks dates to the two first years of the reign before the official seal mark of the Qianlong period becomes standardized by an official decree. Seal marks are often written in iron-red but under glaze blue or gilt can occur as well as incised, stamped or molded in relief.
History of the Dragon Well:
The Dragon Well is located in the Fenghuang Mountain, the southwest of West lake. With green mountains, clear spring, verdant trees and quite environment, it is a natural scenic spot with wild flavor in the West Lake Tourist Zone.
The Dragon Well consists of Dragon well Village, Dragon Well Temple and Dragon Well Tea. Their names all originated from the Dragon Well Spring. The spring is one of the three famous springs. The spring comes from the rock and its water is clean and free from pollution. Legend said that the well was connected with the sea in which a dragon lived. Hence the well got its name.
Besides the sweet and clean water, the scenery of the Dragon Well is quiet and refined. Surrounded by the green mountains, the place is overflowing with vigor.
In 1761,the emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty visited here. Facing the beautiful scenery, he was really keen on it and wrote five characters "the best among mountain and river" at the spot. He visited all the Eight Scenes of Dragon Well and gave eight beautiful titles to them. They are respectively GuoxiTing, Dixinzhao, Yipianyun, Fenghuangling, Fangyuan'an, Longhongjian, Shenyunshi, Cuifengge. These names have been known from generation to generation. Even in the scenic spots, you can find the handwriting of Emperor QianLong.
Frame :*SURLY* cross-check CUSTOM PAINT by Cook Paint Works
Headset :*FAIRWEATHER* headset 1 1/8
Wheels :*SHIMANO* × *VELOCITY* A23 rim
Tire :*SIM WORKS* the homage tire
Crankset :*BLUELUG* RMC crank set
Brake :*DIA-COMPE* DC980 retro canti brake
Handle :*FAIRWEATHER* M174AA all road bar
Saddle :*GILLES BERTHOUD* aspin leather saddle
Front Rack :*MASH* front
Stem :*NITTO* mt-32 stem
Brake hanger:*FAIRWEATHER*
Pedal :Pedal:*MKS* XC-III pedal
Bar tape:*BLUE LUG* acrylic cloth bar tape
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on authentic facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The VF-1 was developed by Stonewell/Bellcom/Shinnakasu for the U.N. Spacy by using alien Overtechnology obtained from the SDF-1 Macross alien spaceship. Its production was preceded by an aerodynamic proving version of its airframe, the VF-X. Unlike all later VF vehicles, the VF-X was strictly a jet aircraft, built to demonstrate that a jet fighter with the features necessary to convert to Battroid mode was aerodynamically feasible. After the VF-X's testing was finished, an advanced concept atmospheric-only prototype, the VF-0 Phoenix, was flight-tested from 2005 to 2007 and briefly served as an active-duty fighter from 2007 to the VF-1's rollout in late 2008, while the bugs were being worked out of the full-up VF-1 prototype (VF-X-1).
The space-capable VF-1's combat debut was on February 7, 2009, during the Battle of South Ataria Island - the first battle of Space War I - and remained the mainstay fighter of the U.N. Spacy for the entire conflict. Introduced in 2008, the VF-1 would be out of frontline service just five years later, though.
The VF-1 proved to be an extremely capable craft, successfully combating a variety of Zentraedi mecha even in most sorties which saw UN Spacy forces significantly outnumbered. The versatility of the Valkyrie design enabled the variable fighter to act as both large-scale infantry and as air/space superiority fighter. The signature skills of U.N. Spacy ace pilot Maximilian Jenius exemplified the effectiveness of the variable systems as he near-constantly transformed the Valkyrie in battle to seize advantages of each mode as combat conditions changed from moment to moment.
The basic VF-1 was deployed in four minor variants (designated A, D, J, and S) and its success was increased by continued development of various enhancements including the GBP-1S "Armored" Valkyrie, FAST Pack "Super" Valkyrie and the additional RÖ-X2 heavy cannon pack weapon system for the VF-1S for additional firepower.
The FAST Pack system was designed to enhance the VF-1 Valkyrie variable fighter, and the initial V1.0 came in the form of conformal pallets that could be attached to the fighter’s leg flanks for additional fuel – primarily for Long Range Interdiction tasks in atmospheric environment. Later FAST Packs were designed for space operations.
The following FAST Pack 2.0 system featured two 120.000 kg class P&W+EF-2001 booster thrusters (mounted on the dorsal section of the VF-1) and two CTB-04 conformal propellant/coolant tanks (mounted on the leg/engines), since the VF-1's internal tanks could not carry enough propellant to achieve a stable orbit from Earth bases and needed the help of a booster pack to reach Low Earth Orbit. Anyway, the FAST Pack 2.0 wasn't adapted for atmospheric use, due to its impact on a Valkyrie's aerodynamics and its weight; as such, it needed to be discarded before atmospheric entry.
Included in the FAST Pack boosters and conformal tanks were six high-maneuverability vernier thrusters and two low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles in two dorsal-mounted NP-BP-01, as well as ten more high-maneuverability vernier thrusters and two low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles in the two leg/engine-mounted NP-FB-01 systems.
Granting the VF-1 a significantly increased weapons payload as well as greater fuel and thrust, Shinnakasu Heavy Industry's FAST Pack system 2.0 was in every way a major success in space combat. The first VF-1 equipped with FAST Packs was deployed in January 2010 for an interception mission.
Following first operational deployment and its effectiveness, the FAST Pack system was embraced enthusiastically by the U.N. Spacy and found wide use. By February 2010, there were already over 300+ so-called "Super Valkyries" stationed onboard the SDF-1 Macross alone.
The FAST Pack went through constant further development, including upgraded versions for late production and updated VF-1s (V3.0 and V4.0). Another addition to the early V2.0 variant of 2010 was the so-called “S-FAST Pack”. The S-FAST pack was originally developed at the Apollo lunar base, for the locally based VF-1 interceptor squadrons that were tasked with the defense of this important production and habitat site on the Moon, but it also found its way to other orbital stations and carriers.
Officially designated FAST Pack V2.1, the S-FAST Pack consisted of the standard pair of dorsal rocket boosters plus the pallets with additional maneuvering jets, sensors and weapons. The S-FAST pack added another pair of P&W+EF-2001 boosters under the inner wings, having the duty to give to fighter the power necessary to exit easily from the gravity of moons or little planets without atmosphere, and improve acceleration during combat situations. Range was also further extended, together with additional life support systems for prolonged deep space operations, or the case of emergency.
In order to accept the S-FAST pack and exploit its potential, the VF-1’s wings and inner wing attachment points had to be strengthened due to the additional load and propulsion. The use of the S-FAST pack also precluded the fighter from transforming into Battroid or Gerwalk mode – the underwing packs had to be jettisoned beforehand. The other standard FAST Pack 2.0 elements could still be carried, though.
The modfied Valkyries capable of accepting the S-FAST Pack received an additional “S” to their type designation – more than 100 VF-1s were converted or built in this deep space configuration until late 2011. Initial deployment of the S-FAST Pack was conducted through SVF-24 “Moon Shadows” in early 2010, a unit that was quickly disbanded, though, but re-formed as SVF-124 “Moon Shooters”, tasked with the defense of the lunar Apollo Base and several special missions.
After the end of Space War I, the VF-1 continued to be manufactured both in the Sol system and throughout the UNG space colonies. Although the VF-1 would eventually be replaced as the primary Variable Fighter of the U.N. Spacy by the more capable, but also much bigger, VF-4 Lightning III in 2020, a long service record and continued production after the war proved the lasting worth of the design.
The VF-1 was without doubt the most recognizable variable fighter of Space War I and was seen as a vibrant symbol of the U.N. Spacy even into the first year of the New Era 0001 in 2013. At the end of 2015 the final rollout of the VF-1 was celebrated at a special ceremony, commemorating this most famous of variable fighters. The VF-1 Valkryie was built from 2006 to 2013 with a total production of 5,459 VF-1 variable fighters with several variants (VF-1A = 5,093, VF-1D = 85, VF-1J = 49, VF-1S = 30, VF-1G = 12, VE-1 = 122, VT-1 = 68)
However, the fighter remained active in many second line units and continued to show its worthiness years later, e. g. through Milia Jenius who would use her old VF-1 fighter in defense of the colonization fleet - 35 years after the type's service introduction!
General characteristics:
All-environment variable fighter and tactical combat Battroid,
used by U.N. Spacy, U.N. Navy, U.N. Space Air Force
Accommodation:
Pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk-7 zero/zero ejection seat
Dimensions:
Fighter Mode:
Length 14.23 meters
Wingspan 14.78 meters (at 20° minimum sweep)
Height 3.84 meters
Battroid Mode:
Height 12.68 meters
Width 7.3 meters
Length 4.0 meters
Empty weight: 13.25 metric tons;
Standard T-O mass: 18.5 metric tons;
MTOW: 37.0 metric tons
Power Plant:
2x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001 thermonuclear reaction turbine engines, output 650 MW each, rated at 11,500 kg in standard or in overboost (225.63 kN x 2)
4 x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters (1 x counter reverse vernier thruster nozzle mounted on the side of each leg nacelle/air intake, 1 x wing thruster roll control system on each wingtip);
18 x P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles
The S-FAST Pack added 4x P&W+EF-2001 booster thrusters with 120.000 kg each, plus a total of 28x P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters
Performance:
Battroid Mode: maximum walking speed 160 km/h
Fighter Mode: at 10,000 m Mach 2.71; at 30,000+ m Mach 3.87
g limit: in space +7
Thrust-to-weight ratio: empty 3.47; standard T-O 2.49; maximum T-O 1.24
Design Features:
3-mode variable transformation; variable geometry wing; vertical take-off and landing; control-configurable vehicle; single-axis thrust vectoring; three "magic hand" manipulators for maintenance use; retractable canopy shield for Battroid mode and atmospheric reentry; option of GBP-1S system, atmospheric-escape booster, or FAST Pack system
Transformation:
Standard time from Fighter to Battroid (automated): under 5 sec.
Min. time from Fighter to Battroid (manual): 0.9 sec.
Armament:
2x internal Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannon, firing 6,000 pulses per minute
1x Howard GU-11 55 mm three-barrel Gatling gun pod with 200 RPG, fired at 1,200 rds/min
4x underwing hard points for a wide variety of ordnance, including
12x AMM-1 hybrid guided multipurpose missiles (3/point), or
12x MK-82 LDGB conventional bombs (3/point), or
6x RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles (2/outboard point, 1/inboard point), or
4x UUM-7 micro-missile pods (1/point) each carrying 15 x Bifors HMM-01 micro-missiles,
or a combination of above load-outs
The optional Shinnakasu Heavy Industry S-FAST Pack 2.1 augmentative space weapon system added:
6x micro-missiles in two NP-AR-01 micro-missile launcher pods (mounted rear-ward under center ventral section in Fighter mode or on lower arm sections in GERWALK/Battroid mode)
4x12 micro missiles in four HMMP-02 micro-missile launchers, one inside each booster pod
The kit and its assembly:
This VF-1 is another contribution to the “Old Kit” Group Build at whatifmodelers.com, running in late 2016. I am not certain about the moulds’ inception date, but since it is an ARII incarnation of this type of kit and even moulded in the early pastel green styrene, I’d think that it was produced in 1982 or 83.
Anyway, I love the Macross VF-1, IMHO a design masterpiece created by Shoji Kawamori and one of my favorite mecha designs ever, because it was created as a late 70ies style jet fighter that could transform into a robot in a secondary role. As a simple, purposeful military vehicle. And not like a flashy robot toy.
Effectively, this Super Valkyrie is a highly modified OOB kit with many donation parts, and this kit is a bit special, for several reasons. There are several 1:100 OOB kits with FAST Packs from ARII/Bandai available (and still around today), but these are normally only Battroids or Gerwalks with additional parts for the FAST kit conversion. The kit I used here is different: it is, after maybe 25 years of searching and building these kits, the #70 from the original production run. It is (so far!) the only Fighter mode kit with the additional FAST Pack parts! Must be rare, and I have never seen it in catalogues?
Until today, I converted my Super or Strike Valkyries from Gerwalk kits, a task that needs some improvisation esp. around the folded arms between the legs, and there’s no OOB option for an extended landing gear. The latter made this Fighter mode kit very attractive, even though the actual kit is pretty disappointing, and AFAIK this kit variant is only available as a VF-1S.
With the Super Valkyrie fighter kit you receive basically a Gerwalk with a standard fighter cockpit (which includes a front wheel well and an extended front wheel leg), plus extra parts. The leg/engine-mounted NP-FB-01 systems are less bulbous than the parts on the Gerwalk or Battroid kit, and the OOB dorsally mounted NP-BP-01 boosters are TINY, maybe 1:120 or even 1:144! WTF?
Further confusion: the kit includes a set of lower arm parts with integrated rocket launchers, but these are not necessary at all for the Fighter build?! As a kind of compensation there’s a new and exclusive element that simulates the folded arms under the ‘fuselage’ and which, as an added value, properly holds the hand gun under the fuselage. As a quirky flaw, though, the hand gun itself comes in the extended form for the Battroid/Gerwalk mode. For the fighter in flight mode, it has to be modified, but that’s easily done.
Anyway, with the potential option to build a Super Valkyrie with an extended landing gear, this was my route to go with this vintage kit. The Super Valkyrie already looks bulky with the FAST Pack added, but then I recently found the S-FAST Pack option with two more boosters under the wings – total overkill, but unique. And I had a spare pair of booster bulks in the stash (w/o their nozzles, though), as well as a complete pair of additional bigger standard FAST boosters that could replace the ridiculous OOB parts…
Building such a Super/Strike Valkyrie means building separate components, with a marriage of parts as one of the final steps. Consequently, cockpit, central fuselage with the wings and the air intakes, the folded stabilizer pack, the folded arms element with the handgun, the two legs and the four boosters plus other ordnance had to be built and painted separately.
Here and there, details were changed or added, e. g. a different head (a ‘J’ head for the flight leader’s aircraft with two instead of the rare, OOB ‘S’ variant with four laser cannon), covers for the main landing gear (the latter does not come with wells at all, but I did not scratch them since they are hardly recognizable when the kit is sitting on the ground), the typical blade aerials under the cockpit and the feet had to be modified internally to become truly ‘open’ jet exhausts.
The wing-mounted boosters received new nozzles and their front end was re-sculpted with 2C putty into a square shape, according to reference sketches. Not 100% exact, but the rest of the VF-1 isn’t either.
This VF-1 was also supposed to carry external ordnance and my first choice were four wing-mounted RMS-1 Anti-Ship Reaction Warheads, scratched from four 1.000 lb NATO bombs. But, once finished, I was not happy with them. So I looked for another option, and in a source book I found several laser-guided bombs and missiles, also for orbital use, and from this inspiration comes the final ordnance: four rocket-propelled kinetic impact projectiles. These are actually 1:72 JASDF LGB’s from a Hasegawa weapon set, sans aerodynamic steering surfaces and with rocket boosters added to the tail. Also not perfect, but their white color and sleek shape is a good counterpart to the FAST elements.
Experience from many former builds of this mecha kit family helped a lot, since the #70 kit is very basic and nothing really fits well. Even though there are not many major seams or large elements, PSR work was considerable. This is not a pleasant build, rather a fight with a lot of compromises and semi-accuracies.
Seriously, if you want a decent 1:100 VF-1, I’d rather recommend the much more modern WAVE kits (including more realistic proportions).
Painting and markings:
The paint scheme for this Super Valkyrie was settled upon before I considered the S-FAST Pack addition: U.N. Spacy’s SVF-124 is authentic, as well as its unique camouflage paint scheme.
The latter is a special scheme for the lunar environment where the unit was originally formed and based, with all-black undersides, a high, wavy waterline and a light grey upper surface, plus some medium grey trim and a few colorful US Navy style markings and codes.
My core reference is a ‘naked’ bread-and-butter VF-1A of SVF-124 in Fighter mode, depicted as a profile in a VF-1 source book from SoftBank Publishing. The colors for the FAST Pack elements are guesstimates and personal interpretations, though, since I could not find any reference for their look in this unit.
As a side note, another, later SVF-124 aircraft in a similar design is included as an option in a limited edition 1:72 VF-22S kit from Hasegawa, which is backed by CG pics in a VF-22 source book from Softbank, too.
Furthermore, SVF-124 finds mention in a Japanese modeler magazine, where the aforementioned VF-22S kit was presented in 2008. So there must be something behind the ‘Moon Shooters’ squadron.
According to the Hasegawa VF-22S’s painting instructions, the underside becomes black and the upper surfaces are to be painted with FS36270 (with some darker fields on the VF-22, though, similar to the USAF F-15 counter-shaded air superiority scheme, just a tad darker).
Due to the 1:100 scale tininess of my VF-1, I alternatively went for Revell 75 (RAL 7039), which is lighter and also has a brownish hue, so that the resulting aircraft would not look too cold and murky, and not resemble an USAF aircraft.
All FAST Pack elements were painted in a uniform dark grey (Humbrol 32), while some subtle decorative trim on the upper surfaces, e.g. the canopy frame, an anti-glare panel and a stripe behind the cockpit and decoration trim on the wings’ upper surfaces, was added with Revell 77 (RAL 7012). Overall, colors are rather dull, but IMHO very effective in the “landscape” this machine is supposed to operate, and the few colorful markings stand out even more!
The cockpit interior was painted in a bluish grey, with reddish brown seat cushions (late 70ies style!), and the landing gear became all white. For some added detail I painted the wings’ leading edges in a mustard tone (Humbrol 225, Mid Stone).
The kit received some weathering (black ink wash, drybrushing on panels) and extra treatment of the panel lines – even though the FAST Pack elements hide a lot of surface or obscure view.
More color and individuality came with the markings. The standard decals like stencils or the U.N. Spacy insignia come from the kit’s and some other VF-1s’ OOB sheets.
Based on the SVF-124 VF-1 profile and taking the basic design a bit further, I used dull red USAF 45° digits for the 2nd flight leader’s “200” modex and the Apollo Base’s code “MA” on the dorsal boosters. Some discreet red trim was also applied to the FAST Packs – but only a little.
Since all of SVF-124’s aircraft are rumored to carry personal markings, including nose art and similar decorations, I tried to give this VF-1JS a personal note: the pin-up badges on the dorsal boosters come from a Peddinghouse decal sheet for Allied WWII tanks, placed on a silver roundel base. Unfortunately (and not visible before I applied them) the pin-up decal was not printed on a white basis, so that the contrast on the silver is not very strong, but I left it that way. Additionally, the tagline “You’re a$$ next, Jerry” (which IS printed in opaque white…?) was added next to the artwork – but it’s so tiny that you have to get really close to decipher it at all…
Finally, after some soot stains around the exhausts and some vernier nozzels with graphite, the kit received a coat of matt acrylic varnish.
Building this vintage VF-1 kit took a while and a lot of effort, but I like the result: with the S-FAST Pack, the elegant VF-1 turned into a massive space fighter hulk! The normal Super Valkyries already look very compact and purposeful, but this here is truly menacing. Especially when standing on its own feet/landing gear, with its nose-down stance and the small, original wheels, this thing reminds of a Space Shuttle that had just landed.
Good that I recently built a simple VF-1 fighter as a warm-up session. ARII’s kit #70 is not a pleasant build, rather a fight with the elements and coupled with a lot of compromises – if you want a Super Valkyrie Fighter in 1:100, the much more modern WAVE kit is IMHO the better option (and actually not much more pricey than this vintage collector’s item). But for the vintage feeling, this exotic model kit was just the right ticket, and it turned, despite many weaknesses and rather corny details, into an impressive fighter. Esp. the lunar camouflage scheme looks odd, but very unique and purposeful.
Anyway, with so many inherent flaws of the ARII kit, my former method of converting a pure (and much more common) Gerwalk kit into a space-capable VF-1 fighter is not less challenging and complicated than trying to fix this OOB option into a decent model. :-/
Frame: *SURLY* cross check Painted by COOK PAINT WORKS
Wheel : *H PLUS SON* archetype rim × *VELO ORANGE* road hub
Tire: *TERAVAIL* cannnonball tire
Handle: *NITTO* m137 dirt drop bar
Stem: *THOMSON* elite x4 stem
Bar tape:*VELO ORANGE* rubbery handlebar tape
Saddle: *BROOKS* b17 narrow imperial
Pedal:*MKS* sylvan touring pedal
Headset:*FAIRWEATHER* headset 1 1/8
Brake:*DIA-COMPE* DC980 retro canti brake
Seat post:*BL SELECT* aero seatpost
Here are some details of the Stiletto AA14MC, one of the rarest production framing hammers. I am very lucky to have acquired one in perfect condition, as I did not purchase one during its production run. The handle is welded together from pressed parts, much in the same way as aluminium bike frames. My contacts tell me the connection between the head and handle were the downfall of this model. There were also other colors produced, even as I have never seen one. The next move for Stiletto was to produce to cast titanium head and handle together known as the TiBone. The framers that used this hammer really loved it. If you are wondering about value, one in perfect condition like this one could bring $200 to $300 from a interested buyer.
2013 update; A engineer out in California has brought the aluminium handled framing hammer back to life under the branding PowerStrike.
2016 update; It appears as if the PowerStrike hammer has met the same fate as its predecessor.
Bone handles from a late 18th/early 19th century prisoner of war camp in Cambridgeshire. Excavated by Time Team.
More information: www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/time-team/2011/04/18/time-team...