VF-1D Valkyrie Trainer

[Getter 1]

Put all small parts not installed yet but built in a little bin. Always good to make another part while other things are drying. Stay moving and you get done with a quickness Hee hee while pix are uploading I'm building the large Fan Racer body :P

Now we finish up the mods of the nose section here. *Note int he 2nd shots you see me rolling the head guns on a plastic rod of the right diameter*

With the nose being dropped down a bit there will be a gap left between the lower cockpit section and the bottom of the lower deck. I used left over stuff fromt he Battroid page I got the head from (sux that the head was the only part needed from that sheet). Pretty simple, just follow the pix Note head was glued on at this point, it was jsut being test fitted in the last pic.

G1

[Getter 1]

Install nose and seats. Install pilot(s).

Paint brackets on HUD

Assemble guns. Attach guns to head.

G1

[Getter 1]

Install head.

Install the HUD and aerials. Note I don't cut out the aerials till they are about to be installed to prevent loss. Edge color the aerials after installation is best. I again used water colors on them.

Cut out GU-11 gunpod parts.

G1

[Getter 1]

Assemble GU-11. Nothing special on this section. I did make the tip different. Janx designed it for the triple barrel detail part to be an end cap to the barrel tip. I made a rear disk and glued the detail part to that instead and left the barrel open on the front end. I painted the inside and now it looks mo gooder

I cut the handel off a bit and see the 3rd pic for where to make the slot cuts for the GU-11's installation.

Now for the big finish. The canopy!!! :D

1st make canopy with tabs outside. *Note* I put a couple little srtips of tape across the canopy to keep it from bellowing out when filled. 2nd put tape around the bottom like a skirt. 3rd roll tape backwards and set on a piece of card.

G1

[Getter 1]

Canopy cont.

Place canopy mold on the reversed tape on the card. Now you're ready for filler :D

Fill the mold. I use epoxy. This was the 1st time I ever used a 1 minute epoxy with a self mixing disposable tip. It worked very well and so easy :D You can use a lot of types of fillers but for such small canopies I think Epoxy is the best.

When the filler dries remove tape and soak the mold in a cup o water. The card will soften and break up. Work the card off the mold.

G1

[Getter 1]

Canopy cont.

Sand down the mold to rid the hard breaks created by the paper seams. Smmoth and roll. I find an emery board to be the best for sanding molds with.

There will be a slight ridg where the paper part and the tape was. sand it to aminimum but not completly smoothed off. Along this ridge run a fine point ink pen.

Secure the mold to a stand of sorts. I use a peg game and the golf tee pegs for it as a canopy mold stand.

Heat a piece of clear plastic over a candle moving it about to heat fairly evenly.

G1

[Getter 1]

Canopy Cont.

When heated to a bit saggy quickly pull it over the mold and smooth down the sides. It will cool quickly so you have to move fast.

Cut the excess down on the sides to make it easier to handle.

Using the marks made of the outline mark the canopy to aid in trimming.

Cut along the drawn lines.

Test fit and trim as needed.

G1

[Getter 1]

Canopy cont.

Now the hard part, frames :P I printed off a sheet of reg. paper frames as card is too thick to use as frame material.

I cut out the outer frame and colored the edge with a pen. I laied the part down an drew along the side of the part and the ink bled to the edge and a bit to the back of the frame. I then used testors claer parts cement to attache each section. If you make any smears (and trust me you most likely will) use a toothpick to scrape the excess glue off the clear plastic.

Let dry and cut out the inner frames (laying in the tray lid in my pic).

Now glue the inner frames in. And you thought he outer one was fun!!! :P I didn't bother to color the inner frame edge.

Glue the canopy to the cockpit and if needed paint the outer frame.

I forgot to do something to make the canopy's installation easier on this build. I had the idea to leave 4 tabs (2 each side) along the bottom fore and aft tha extend below the frame a bit to go agianst the opening of the cockpit to make it easier to put the canopy on. I will try the idea on my next build. If anyone does it bofore I get achance let me know how it works I really wish I remembered to try it out as it took forever for the glue to set up an hold the canopy the way I did it :P

Well folks that's it. See I really did take a ton o pix, no foolin :P

G1

[zib]

Thanks for sharing this build.

fabrizio

[ThunderChild]

No foolin is right!
However, the more pics the better. 1000 words and all that.
I really have to commend this thread G1, methodical and truly helpful!