Time to kill 2 birds with one stone!
PROLOGUE
Few months ago, I started to tread uncharted waters by building a non Transformer using LEGO 31152, the Hulkbuster! (video below). It was a "crime" of opportunities since the set contains a dome piece which I wish to utilize in my alt creations .
To my pleasant surprise, the hulkbuster above ended up becoming one of my top favorites by the fans, and I sold many copies of the building instructions within a short period of time, too!
This is a strong sign that I should start focus more on pop culture themes in my builts.
ABOUT THIS CREATION
This creation was inspired by VF-1 Valkyrie fighter jet from Macross anime series. It has multiple names (like Variable fighter), many variants too.... VF-1A, VF-1S,VF-1D and the sorts. I'm not a fan of this anime so I'm totally clueless about them..
The mould for VF-1 toy also was used to become Jetfire, a character from G1 Transformers cartoon series back in the 1980s (below,left). The cartoon version of Jetfire (right) is vastly different , though.
This creation won over another potential candidate that I hope to build.... also from Macross anime.... the Super Dimensional Fortress aka SDF ! Perhaps, one fine day.
Despite its simplicity, designing the jet nosecone in all white is no easy reat. There are long white plates from the set for me to use .. but they overshot the intended length* by 1 stud! So I resorted to a bunch of shorter plates placed assymetrically to maintain the nosecone structural integrity .
*I can make use of that long plate , since a slightly longer nosecone is no big deal. Then again , since these long plates come in pairs, and I decided to apply them on the wings instead.
At the beginning of this project, I was worried about my ability to design the iconic black stripe on the cockpit, a prominent feature for this plane. I guess this concern was unfounded.
The arms and legs of the robot mode tabbed nicely to form the fighter jet mode.
Note the studs underneath the nosecone. It's a deliberate feature to allow prying out the hinged mechanism to form robot mode easier , especially by adult fingers.
SWING WING IN ACTION
I'm soooo relieved that the number of the reddish parts are just enough to build a decent , curved windshield. With this advantage, I will make it a point to build more flight mode transformers using set 31152!
CANNON MOUNTED
TRANSFORM TO GERWALK MODE!
There's a single pin piece on one elbow that helps to secure the arms in jet mode.
GERWALK!
About a day prior to wrapping this project up... I discovered that this mode was unstable. And I spent many, many hours improving the feet design to stabilize it.
TRANSFORM TO ROBOT MODE
Half circle black tiles helped to sculpt the U-shaped curve on the chest. There's only 3 of them from set 31152. Otherwise I could've use them to design a better looking feet too.
ROBOT AKA BATTROID MODE
Reverse Murphy's law strike again! There are many white tiles from the set for me to use in this project, but I need to utilize them wisely for best aesthetic outcomes. Initially I was forced to show one stud on the arm instead of fully tiled in. Then I noticed there's a round emblem on the official VF-1 mech arms.
The head is so iconic that it was built earlier on in this project, and for the head to tuck in nicely in vehicle mode , both his antennas must be hinged to be compacted .
Major difference compared to the original VF-1 toy are the feet design. For stability.... I need to build awider footprints.
The pin on the right elbow limits its range to just 100 degrees. The left elbow however... enjoyed a range of about 170 degrees.
WITH CANNON TURNED GUN
As always.... the gun/weapon is usually the last component I built for my Transformers. And I knew for this guy in particular..... he's simply cannot do without one. Macross mechas are never known for their hand-to-hand combat abilities... but laden with tons of weapons left , right and center.
And after building the gun.. I must redesign the shoulder / flank to strengthen them so he can point his gun forward without sagging.
"I'm done for the day"
VIDEO
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