Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

[Jiloo]

My modem is dead, so I'm using my phone to write. Sorry about that I cannot add many photos.

A little bit tired lately, so I just want to make something that will be easy and fast. Decided to do this simple model from Wave.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

It will be simple OOB build, but I still want to learn something building this kit so I'll try preshading for the first time. I need some advice here.
Also there are few decals to finish the model and that will be a challenge for me to.

Model will be painted in off-white color, Gunze 311 (FS36622) to be precise.
1) What primer color do you sugest? Gray Surfacer 1200 will be ok, or should I use white surfacer for this one?
2) What color should I take for preshading? Since base color is rather light should I use some gray? I was thinking about Neutral Gray to do the job. Or should I use black to preshade?

What I did, I cut all the pieces and plan all the work. Not shure how to deal with two problems, but will post them with pictures later.
I'm starting with metallic parts. Since they all will be "inside" after assembling I want to finisz them first. There are only few of them. Then I'll build a model, mask them and paint whole thing.

Will post some pics after the weekend.

Looking forward for your advices.

[Jiloo]

Works are moving slowly, but there is some progress.

These are all parts cut off the sprue. As you can see not much of them for mecha.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Of course there were some parts that I had to put some putty on.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

And then sand them good.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Also had to remove some nasty seamlines.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Now all "dark" parts (all that will be metallics, cannon and base stand) are ready for painting.
Will prime them tonight and hopefully paint them tonight or tomorrow morning.

Also, as no one give me any advice about pre-shading, I will run some test with different primers and pre-shade colors.

[Hunter Rose]

Looks like your off to a good start Jiloo!

I've never made any macross stuff but have always been very tempted so will be following with interest! 

[Jiloo]

Thanks Hunter!
Looking at majority of posts in WIP and gallery I know well that I'm still modeling kindergarden so I do appreciate that!
Good to have some support and to know I'm not the only one looking at this thread.

Finaly got internet @ home so here is an update of what I have done last week.

Primed all "metallic" parts with Gaianotes black surfacer. I just love working with this primer. It flows in airbrush as paint.
It's quite different than Gunze Surfacer. It gives thinner layer and don't cover scratches as much so surface need to be well prepared.
So when I need a little more coverage I'm using one layer of Gunze and then Gaia Surfacer EVO.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Than I painted all parts with Gaianotes Gunmetal. Very pleased with the result.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Primed all the gray parts – base and gun.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Had some problems painting inside of the base. Paint was rough.
But already fix this with some sanding.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Base is wainting for another layer of primer, but I painted gun and base leg with dedicated color.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Also I gave my pre-shading skills a test ride.
Used Gaianotes White Surfacer EVO and two shades of gray for lines.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Than cover all with Gunze 311.
First – I don't like the color – too much egg shell for me. But it was taken out of instruction booklet.
I'll propably mix it with some white to create some off white.
Second – surprisingly darker and lighter lines look the same under paint so will propably stick to darker or even black paint.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Sorry for the spots on last pics.
My lens have some dust on it...

[Jiloo]

Some more progress.

Work some more on base leg.

Redy for some yellow pain work.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Result is a little messy, but I'll fix this later.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Prepared part to add some black stripes to yellow sufrace.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Visor will be painted with clear green on the inside.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Also work on some seamlines on main parts.
Some covered with putty and smoler ones with glue.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Have some trouble with this tiny corner seams.
It was too difficlut to sand them and I tried to remove it with some thinner

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Result is not satisfactory.
What I'll do is prime those parts and than try to cover seamlines with Gunze Surfacer in layers.
Putty makes to much mess on so small parts.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Now almost all main robot parts are sanded and ready for priming.
Some more soon.

[Will Vale]

Thanks for posting the excellent pictures. I have a few robots/suits in my stash but I don't really have a good idea about how to build them - order of assembly and painting is quite different to the more static kits, plus you have the inner/outer layers to contend with. It's always nice to see good examples of kits being built up.

I really like that yellow shade you picked too :)

Will

[Jiloo]

Thanx Vill.

I have the same as You, but i the oposite way. Never build anything other then the mecha.
But this is my third one, so what do I know about it. Still learning a lot

As for the frame – I think only Bandai Gundams has one – but I haven't built one, got two waiting on a shelf.
And this one is realy easy and small kit – hope to show this later in this build.

[The Magic Tuba Pixie]

Ooh, I've always wanted to try a Variable Fighter.
I'll be watching this with interest.  I, too, want to try pre-shading sometime, so I'll be paying attention to your results.

[Jiloo]

Thanks.
As You can see these are old models from original 82's anime. You can find many better done models, but they're also more expensive.
I bought mine for around ¥1,000 each. Besides the one I have also VF-1J in robot version and airplain version – planning to do it in Gerwalk mode later on :)

[Hunter Rose]

Still looking good Jiloo!

One tip I'd give you with putty thats helpful especially on small parts, is to thin it down.  I use squadron white putty and thin it down with acetone (nail varnish remover) to a thin paste, i find it much easier and more accurate to work with making it much less messier to work with. To fill join seams you can brush it over then wipe away the excess with more acetone, leaving putty only in the join seam not on the surface to save sanding.

Looking forward to seeing more paint! 

[Jiloo]

Thanks for the tip, Hunter. Will try that soon.

What I did lately, I used Gunze Surfacer on smaller parts. Looks ok.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Here are also parts that are painted in metallics, masked and put inside.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Will try to do some painting soon, but on weekend I'm going and vacation and than will move to new flat.
So unfortunately will have some downtime in my workshop.

[JohnLogan]

Can't wait to see more.

[mathai]

Nice post! I've got a VF 1J that's been the pipeline for a while. Your post has inspired me to get back to it. :)

[Jiloo]

Thanks.

Get back to yours and show us your progress :)

I can't wait to get my hands on mine too. But now I'm stuck with 1:1 modeling – mostly Ikea stuff
Hope will have some working space next month.

[Jiloo]

The new workspace in the new apartment is finally ready. I even found some free time to use it. So I go back to the workshop.

One of the parts demanded my attention. So I went back to sanding and filling.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Then again primed it and prepared the head. I had plans to paint it after gluing, but it turned out that it will be easier for me this way.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

I also painted base to base color. Imagine my surprise when I noticed that my memory had failed me, and I chose the wrong shade of gray from the drawer. Next time I have to check my notes and instructions, rather than trust my speculation ;-) Will fix that today.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Then I startet something that worried me mostly. As it turned out, with reason.
It was first time I did preshading, which in itself was stressful. The lines should be very thin, I don't know if I managed to achieve what I intended. All elements are painted and we will see what comes up after applying the base color.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Today I'm going to take care of color. It supposed to be white, but pure white does not suit me, and Gray FS36622 (from instruction) is too much an eggshel color. So i mixed up white with Gunze 311 in the proportion of 3:1.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

More soon.

[Hunter Rose]

Nice pre shading Jiloo! Looking forward to some paint 

[Jiloo]

Thanks man.

It took me a lot of nerves and a lot of patience too.
Not mentioning that my hand was all numb after painting.
Can't wait to see how it will turn out after painting so will get to it just after work :)

[Jiloo]

So... I'm still not sure if I nailed it or failed.
Effect is very subtle. But realy, it was my first time and I didn't know what to expect.
I hoped it will be a bit more visible, but with les white i didn't like that at all.
Will put some enamels at the end so, we will see.

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Macross 1:100 VF-1S Battroid

Next part, my favourite, the decals
Or maybe I'll finish some details....

Thanks for watching and comments.

[Sharkdog]

I actually really like the subtle effect of the pre-shading. I've seen some very heavily thick preshaded lines on models before, and always disliked it more :)

[Hunter Rose]

I agree with Shark, the subtle shading is nice