P6 again: mostly painted pics! Yeah, gang. I'm still around. I'm still reading and checking out everyone's customs, and I thought I'd clock in and show one I've been working on. Remember the Veritech Fighter vehicle from Matchbox's Robotech line (or the Playmates Exo Squad reissue)? The thing was pretty cool except for one thing-it didn't transform. That is what I'm doing to this piece. In these pics, I held the pieces together with tape, just to get a dry run out of it. Upon seeing it, I needed pics. Again, not done, but I'm taking it slowly, since a replacement is rarely on ebay and when it is, it's usually for $50-$100+ BTW, I am missing the canopy, back wings, and rocket boosters for this, so if anyone here has any extra, please LMK. Enjoy. UPDATE 3-22 More WIP pics. Got hinges put on and hooked on arms. I did the arms 2 years ago, but will be reworking them with new tension pins and new plastic pieces covering the missing arm parts. Update: 4-29 Slow progress, but here's an update for those who wanted scale. Here's scale with a KO "Jetfire" and a Rick Hunter figure from the Matchbox line. Also, just got the chest plate put on Update: 8-12 Used extra parts from other jets onto my current custom. Which is why the colors are different. Been holding back on this figure due to my Rodimus Prime custom and trying to find a good enough cutters to separate the back panel without damaging either half of the back end. Haven't given up on him, tho. Update: 10-19 BACK FROM THE DEAD!!! Finally gotten back to working on this guy!!! Currently working on knee joints and shoulder parts 11-17 Update: Gerwalk mode Actually got the head put on and am going to fix the holes, blemishes, etc. As for painting, I'm going to have to wait until spring, being that my garage isn't heated. I'll keep you up to date.
Thanx. Since the pics, I have gotten various hinges attached to the figure. It's beginning to take a real cool shape Got the shoulder connectors fixed where it folds out. Still quite a bit of work to do, but it's giving me a real cool "customizer's high".
IfI ever get to do a second one, I might do that and turn it into a GI Joe scaled Jetfire, but since finding one is hard to do (even on ebay), I'm not ready yet to risk that yet.
Ahhh THIS brings back memories! When I was a wee lad I had one of these and also Jetfire. I knew siomehow that this robotech-thingy was connected to the flyng autobot, and was really surprised to see how much of the transforming toy's designed carried over to the static-form jet. I remember unscrewing the "legs" and also playing around with how they could be repositioned for robot mode etc., IIRC the would-be-arms are just a single solid "block" (and not very detailed either), right? That was the bit that made me give up on the project when I was a kid. SO fun to see someone in the adult radicon community now taking a whack at it! I may actually have mine floating around my storage unit...somewhere, if I bump into it, I'll look you up D/L
You guys know that Yamato's already taken care of this whole, transforming "veritech" toy problem, right . . .?
Robotech was a compilation of three unrelated anime. The first series, Macross, continued on as its own franchise in Japan, spawning several new series. The transforming mecha from the original Macross series was known as the VF-1 Valkyrie. Yamato is a Japanese company that produced several versions of this mecha. The first was a 1/60 scale version that transformed using detachable legs. The mold is great but it was an imperfect parts-forming transformation. They then released a 1/48 scale version of the VF-1 and its variants that transformed using an integrated swing bar that mounted between the legs and under the fuselage: Later, a second 1/60 version was released with a similar transformation but an even cleaner mold: Back in the day, Bandai, with the help of Takatoku, also produced a 1/55 scale version of the mold. Hasbro licensed this mold and recolored it to use as Jetfire. Thats why I think it's funny you're trying to make a transforming "veritech" out of the piece of crap mold that Harmony Gold used in its robotech line.
i may be mistaken, but the exo squad being used here is bigger than the 1/55 scale. so it makes sense to me, i havnt seen it done, and I'm glad to see it done. most people customize for the love of it, so in the end, that should only matter. This guy is taken a somewhat brick-plane, and re-engineering him into jetfire. That has my attention.
You are correct, sir. This figure is bigger than the ones pictured above. And the head (not attached as of yet) is different, kinda' resembling a Shockwave-type face. I think it's the VF-1J.
Yeah this sucker is nearly 1:18 scale (probably more like 1:20ish), which is HUGE compared to the official Transforming Valyks. Keep rolling man, this will be a thing of wonder when done! The progress is great!
Nice mod! I read an article somewhere that this Matchbox fighter was originally designed to transform in all 3 modes like Takatoku ones.
Not only is it larger scale, it's a Jetfire that can fit G.I. Joes! I need one... No, three, immediately! :-D
That is correct. They wanted to make them transformable, but couldn't make it work with the budget. that's why if you've ever seen one up close (and i've only seen one once) it's a bit over engineered in some places. This is a huge toy, much bigger than most people realize. i've always wanted to see this happen, so I'm glad you are taking on the task. Good luck! R!