EganLoo

Oh yeah, in the movie edition version after Guld severs the limbs he starts firing at the Ghost with lasers. BUT... it's not possible because the laser weapons were housed in the arms of the YF-21 that had already been ejected from the body... He had one gunpod left, which fires the same thing, sort of. It's what he openned up with Isamu with. You'll note he only is firing from one side instead of both as usual. Unlike Isamu's shield which was clearly knocked away before the final missile swarm and apparently the gunpod given the view after of a clean bottom (where it was before), this isn't that big of a blooper. It sort of is as his leg storage bay covers weren't in evidence. Either his gun pod's firing blue tracers, with blue smoke, that seem to also function as the projectile of it's a energy gun. Personally I think it's a energy gun. Guld already lost his remaining gun pod when he ejected his arms, legs, and leg panels. (There's no other place to mount the gun pod in Fighter mode.) Fortunately, he still has his anti-aircraft laser gun. Isamu's shield was not knocked away by Guld in the city fight before the final missile swarm. Isamu loses one of his shoulder FAST Packs, not the shield, at the end of the city fight. That is why he still has the shield in the end when he uses it with the pin-point barrier to ram the Macross. The YF-21's gun pod is not an energy gun pod. That is why Shoji Kawamori specifically noted that it has a "stealth cover" for its muzzle (unlike its energy-based guns) and a "gas vent" in the rear. It just takes "case-less ammo," which is why is doesn't have an ejection port.

Fortunately, it doesn't stand still. Shoji Kawamori specifically calls the YF-21's head gun a "rear anti-aircraft laser gun." However, like the head guns on other fighters that he also calls "rear," he does make a design note that it can rotate as a turret even in Fighter mode.

F-117 VF-17 The faceting generation you're talking about is all flat angles, on the VF-17 the flat angles don't seem to have anything to do with the stealth, look at it's nose. The B-2 stealth generation allows it to be more smooth like the VF-17's nose in fact is. No dice. This is Animation Special Macross Plus p. 74 VF-17 Nightmare "Gaikei wa kyokutan na tamen tai suterusu kousei o totte ori," "Externally, it possesses an extremely multifaceted stealth structure" This is Animation Macross 7 TV Animation Materials p. 140 Interview with Kawamori Shoji "VF-17 wa Beigun no F-117 o be-su toshite, chokusen teki na rain de matomete arimasu." "As the VF-17 is based on the US Armed Forces' F-117, it is composed of straight lines."

Although YF-21 didn't win Project Supernova, it wasn't because of losing its lead designer or losing all its prototypes. Guld was one of the designers, but the head of the design team was actually General Galaxy's Algus Selzer. There were also two YF-21 prototypes for backup (just like in real-life design competitions).

Okay then why shouldn't the VF-19 advocates shut up about their FSW, canards, overflow units and how great they are seems as how canonically the VF-19F/S doesn't have them and the YF-19 that did was matched maneuver for maneuver throughout Macross Plus. Afterall other then projecting speculation onto it, how do you know? What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Since the FSW and canards were only mentioned twice to advocate the VF-19 series (as opposed to the VF-19F/S specifically) in this thread, I gather this is an ongoing dispute that extends beyond this thread. However, the active control units are on the VF-19S/P series. They and the added high-maneuver verniers are specifically cited as to why canards were replaced. In fact, in one instance, they are no longer called "airflow" control units and are used in atmosphere as well as in space.

If you actually look at the VF-17 you'll note it's no more faceted then a B-2. The VF-17 is more faceted than the more curved-surface B-2. That is why the VF-17 is specifically described as having a "extremely multi-faceted stealth structure" in This is Animation Special Macross Plus book. That is also why Shoji Kawamori notes the complete difference in external lines between the B-2 and the F-117 after describing how the F-117 influenced the VF-17 in his interview in the Shoji Kawamori Macross Design Works book. Another distortion in response to a comment about FAST packs not interfering the internal weapon bays, to which I commented if they did it'd be a fatal flawed as that's the only place it carries other missiles. I see what you mean in that the VF-19S was not fatally flawed in this regard then. You can chalk this up to miscommunication and not a deliberate distortion. If you are referring to the two misunderstanding of your words in this rather long discussion, you have my assurance that they were not malicious attacks. I do my best to be gentlemanly and yet have a sense of humor, so please point out where you think that hasn't been the case. In the creators' notes as to why the YF-19 won Project Supernova and the YF-21 became the VF-22S special operations fighter, the YF-19's speed and maneuverability and the VF-22S's mass are cited.

Please take everything below in good humor -- it's just a friendly discussion. That's right--coolness is a matter of opinion. And there's nothing wrong with that. Fans are free to like whatever mecha they choose. As long as this is a mecha equivalent of a beauty pageant, then technical specs should play as little a role as hip and waist measurements. The problem arises when technical specs are used to back up which mecha is "cooler." Then you have to be careful when these specs are either misquoted, taken out of context, or completely ignored just because a group of fans doesn't like them. After all, if someone says, "IMHO, this is what the specs should have been," what's to stop another fan from inventing his/her own specs to counter that? For example, some here say the VF-22S would be just as fast and maneuverable as the VF-19S "if only" it got VF-19S's engines and verniers. If that can happen, why can't the VF-19S be just as weapon-loaded as the VF-22S "if only" it got VF-22S's weapons? As noted above, the YF-19's shield is anti-projectile while the YF-21's shields aren't described as such--after all, they're repurposed stabilizers. The YF-19 also has two wing cannons which can be rotated freely about in Battroid mode. (Think of them as shoot-from-the-hip rifles.) The biggest problem with YF-21 "mowing down with gun pods" at close range is that any rapid ammo fire deflected by YF-19's anti-projectile shield (with or without the pin-point barrier) has a dangerous chance of ricocheting back at the YF-21. (In another words, you don't fire a machine gun at point-blank range against a steel plate. The what-if game goes two ways -- if the VF-22S can get an improved BCS and variable wing cross-section technology, what's to stop the VF-19S from getting them as well -- in other words, getting the "enhancements that the VF-22 got that the -19 series didn't"? Perhaps the best solution is not play this "what-if" game at all, and just stick with the established statistics. That way, we don't get this escalating cat-and-mouse game that has little to do with the actual Macross story. In short, once again, the VF-19S got the faster engine and more maneuverable verniers because it matched and earned the UN main fighter role, while the VF-22S got the more massive payload because it matched and earned the UN special ops fighter role. Neither is better in all areas than the other. Each has its own unique mission roles. Which is exactly the way different but complementary weapons are used in effective real-life militaries. This is not accurate. The FAST Pack was used only once in the TV series before it became standard issue for all pilots. Even then, it wasn't given to the best pilot (with Max around, Hikaru definitely isn't the best). In the very next two episodes, Hikaru fights without the FAST packs, like everyone else. In fact, the next time we see the FAST Packs, every regular pilot (300-odd Super Valkyries) has them. Let's see ... what would happen if a civilization in Macross engineered super soldiers to fight its proxy wars for it. They can use all the advanced technology like cloning, mind conditioning, and medical stimulus. They would be trained in situational tactics so they could respond better than AI. In fact, let's take the best stock and make them elite forces that can fold in and out at will. We just need a name for these super soldiers ... what's a good name ... how about Zentradi? And for the elite forces ... how about the Supervision Army? Now, what can possibly go wrong with this PROTOtypical CULTURE having an army of mind-controlled superhuman clones and elite forces?

Don't mind the empty post earlier--I was still composing this post. And who was talking about the VF-19 there especially given the VF-19 doesn’t have guns in the arms? Ah, "the messing with the arms" upgrade quote sounded like it meant "arms" in the weaponry sense, since the YF-19 had upgraded internal weaponry during development. (My earlier response referenced these YF-19 weaponry.) It's not said if the VF-22S's converging energy cannons is an upgrade on the YF-21's Mauler REB-22 laser beam guns, a downgrade (like the control system and wing structure) or a "side-grade." I made that claim and all you’ve done it brought up a technicality due to the wording. The spirit behind it still stands. Gun coverage on the VF-19 series is good only fore, and behind and above which doesn’t guard its six very well. VF-22S/YF-21 coverage is solid both fore and aft and the mini-missiles help deter anyone coming from any other direction. An enemy fighter will have a bigger problems approaching a VF-22/YF-21. The big difference is that the VF-22S has only one gun that can rotate in Fighter mode, whereas VF-19S has five guns that can be rotated and brought to bear in Fighter mode. That nicely balances out the issue of an attack (or attacks) from any direction (except for ventrally, but the VF-19S, like the VF-22S, also have missiles in the ventral area). Translation: it has a unit that only works in atmosphere helping it (better for the UNAF, but not the UNS) and the creators (Kawamori) held the VF-22S back from getting the new HMM-7 verniers in addition to improved engines. The VF-22 series still has the potential. Absolutely. But then again, don't all variable fighter designs have potential? One can say that the VF-19S was also "held" back from getting dorsal internal micro missiles and wing cannons that can fire rearward, but--like the VF-22S's lack of high-thrust engines, improved verniers, and active airflow control units--that's all speculation and what-ifs until the creators actually state otherwise. Who, in reality, determined who won Project Supernova sir? And if he had went the other way what would the VF-19 be doing? You broke SoD, so all I’m doing is pointing out the greater extent of the SoD consequences. We can speculate what would have happened to the YF-19 design if it hadn't won Project Supernova, but we can also speculate what would have happened if neither won and the Ghost trumped the entire project. In the end, it would be more speculations and what-ifs. Based on what? The readouts say air is used as coolant/propellant giving it nearly unlimited range, nothing about the power source itself. Just because it’s propellant is air says nothing about its use of fuel. The fusion reaction might be heating the air as it goes past in atmosphere, for example. This comes from the creators' description of thermonuclear reaction itself, which explains why it is such a revolutionary breakthrough not only for variable fighters, but for mankind in general. Sounds like a blatant maneuver to get something they shouldn’t exactly be able to get their paws on while avoiding a lot of red tape, instead of anything to do with development. Speculation about the reasons aside, it still comes down to more VF-19 units appear in service than VF-22 units, contrary to the original message that implied otherwise. Then again beyond the FAST pack those leg bays are all the VF-19 has missile wise. If they did the design would be fatally flawed. All you’ve got on the VF-22S is it’d block the internalized form of itself. Which amounts to having magazine 1 & 2 and of course having to unload one and then switch. My point was it only has one set of leg FAST points if it was using the one type of pack it couldn’t be carrying another one. If one thinks that the VF-19S is "fatally flawed" since it only has internal missile capacity in two sections, than one must also think that the original VF-1, VF-4, VF-11, and several other designs are "fatally flawed" since they only have internal missile capacity in two areas (or none at all). When these general-purpose variable fighters need more missiles, they simply mount on FAST Packs or external missiles. And when you look at the potential that comes more into question. Just dropping 210 kilograms had a major influence on the VF-22, but the VF-19 even with lower weight and higher thrust it’s not getting much. Kawamori tweaked stuff it would be balanced, but that doesn’t prevent the potential as well as the given from being looked at does it? Potential is another word for "if only I had created this story ..." There's nothing wrong with that. It's just that it's hard to discuss what-ifs without going into hypotheticals and have few (if any) ground rules--unlike discussing what actually is in the original story. The design notes do mention that the YF-21's gun pod is called "cartridge-less" because its ammo are caseless (hence no ejection port), not because it is an energy gun.

Nothing like nesting quotes to really make reply formatting fun. Interestingly, Gamlin's later VF-22S is "tweaked" upon the earlier two VF-22Ss even though its "production number is the same [as Max and Milia's VF-22Ss]," which were experimentally-licensed. The notes for Gamlin's unit also list "the head is a commander type," just like the VF-19S. It doesn't say one way or the other, just they're converging energy cannons. As messing with the arms isn't listed in the upgrades they should still be. The "messing with the arms" upgrade occurred in the YF-19's development stage. By the time the VF-19, they had settled on one type of weapon to install there. And?! That's like saying the VF-1S has four LASERs, sure but they're all smaller. Just because it has four smalls to a VF-1A's 1 big doesn't mean they're more powerful. You're getting 13MJ from the reactor over each pulse period either way so the VF-1A's would be doing what with the excess energy, just dumping it as waste heat? Personally don't buy it. For what it is worth, the VF-1S and VF-19S have different variants of engines than the VF-1A and the VF-19F, and the creators do not state that the VF-1S's lasers are smaller than the VF-1A's. (They are the same type of RÖV-20 guns.) In any case, this point was brought up because the claim was made that the VF-22S had "more guns pointed several which ways" when it doesn't. Seems as how the PPBs basically envelope them unlike the VF-19 series' shield do they need to be? Actually, Shoji Kawamori drew a design specifying that the VF-19's pin-point barrier can also envelop its entire shield. How strong a shield is without the barrier does matter since he also notes that using the pin-point barrier has to employ a significant portion of the engines' output in Battroid mode (sapping power from the other systems). Proof? Well, the creators say so. I can format the specifications to make that clearer. The VF-19’s oragami transformation equipment takes up so much room it’s internal weapon systems could only somehow be crammed into its lower legs, around the engine. Personally I can’t see 6 MRHMs being crammed in there. Even the ones fired in Macross Plus seemed kind of big to be storing in there. Fortunately, you don't have to imagine how they can--Shoji Kawamori drew a diagram of how the Little Rock missile system fits inside the leg pallets. Actually, someone else was making that statement. I did make the point about the engine pods' size though, since it was Shoji Kawamori made that point. He notes that unlike previous variable fighters, the engine pods of the YF-21 and VF-22S has to physically contract to transform between modes, so he had to design Venetian-blind-like slits (which also double as VTOL hovering nozzles) to accommodate. One can speculate and hypothesize that the VF-22S can eventually accommodate more powerful engines, but it would be just that--speculation. In any case, the engine output is not the only reason that the creators state that the '19 is more maneuverable. Other reasons include the active airflow control units and improved verniers. Breaking of SoD. I could say Kawamori had the YF-19 win because he wanted to use both designs after putting the time in. Actually, it's the other way around. The VF-22S was introduced because he wanted to use that design after it didn't win Project Supernova. Hefty suspense of disbelief is what all Macross fans should have, especially when it comes to stealth as Kawamori admitted after the fact. After all, why does the VF-17 have the old faceted passive stealth design when Earth not only developed computer-aided curved-surface passive stealth design before VFs, but also curved-surface passive stealth designs in VFs predating the VF-17? You're kidding right? A fusion (thermonuclear) engine isn't a magical get something for nothing & violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics while we're at it piece of equipment. D-T or whatever it's using still counts as fuel. The thermonuclear reaction engine is indeed not a magical piece of equipment, but it is not "fuel hungry" or "burn fuel" like conventional engines do. (Incidentally, the creators make a point that fictional Macross thermonuclear reaction is similar but different from real-world nuclear fusion, with a specific point that doesn't need what we now call "nuclear fuel" like D-T.) The point the creators are making is that in atmosphere, the reaction engines doesn't have to worry about "fueling" since it takes what it needs from the atmosphere for effectively limitless range. (In any case, as noted above, since the VF-22S is more massive empty than the VF-19S, the need for more propellant to effect the same delta-V actually works against the VF-22S in space.) Prove limitation is actual production instead of people ordering them. That they'd need a prototype VF-19 by then but could just shell out the VF-22Ss doesn't go in the VF-19's favor. What were the conditions around this expiremental license? Was it a work around to let them get their paws on one? Expiremental in that the colony production facilities hadn't been used to make them, or what? The VF-19 test unit the Macross 7 fleet had is not a prototype unit. Real-life aircraft manufacturer often produce fully-functional "production-representative" early units after the actual prototype. According to the notes, the two VF-22Ss were produced under an experimental license at Macross 7 fleet's factory for the specific use of Captain Max Jenius. However, one was <cough>appropriated<cough> for Milia. (The notes don't actually lists the <coughs>, but they do note that some secrecy was involved in assigning Milia one of them.) The VF-19S has four laser cannon and one beam gun, not five lasers, in the head unit. Its wing cannons are not described as small-bore. The VF-22S's 2 arm units and the 2 converging energy cannons are the same two units, just like the VF-17's arm guns and the VB-6's rails guns which double as its propulsion system. And they count mount them, use them, discard them and then use the internalized form because, why again? Yes they internalized them, but that doesn't prevent another external set from being stuck on, these thing are designed to be ejected you know. This reply was in response to a claim that the YF-21 FAST Pack do not "interfere with anything else" when installed on the VF-22 when they would prevent the use of the internal micro missiles as long as they are mounted. However, it is a moot point since the creators don't say that the YF-21's FAST Packs are even physically compatible with the VF-22S. VF-22S leg FAST Packs are speculation until the creators do design some specific to the VF-22S. [Removed repeated "the" in the last paragraph] Those are pretty small for fuel storage. Plus you're strawmanning, they take up FAST point to the legs. Where did anyone state anything about them taking up internal storage, nevermind how that's even supposed to work? This was an observation that the VF-19S's FAST Packs do not need to be ejected to use its leg micro-missiles, whereas the (speculative) VF-22S's FAST Packs do need to be ejected to use its ventral micro-missiles. While the VF-19 Custom is not a combat unit, the VF-19P is a combat unit (albeit with the Zola patrol force). That's why the creators note that it adds an additional head unit gun and micro-missile launchers. (Notably, two of the three VF-22S we have for comparison purposes aren't "exactly standard issue" either.) In the end, we're back with the same conclusions, once we take away the what-if speculations and go with the creators' words: the VF-19S is faster and more maneuverable, while the VF-22S is more massive and has more payload. [Edited for double "the the"]

I was only going to peek into this forum after talking to Shawn on the phone, but I couldn't resist a nuts-and-bolts discussion. Grab coffee--this is a long one: • For a level playing field, the VF-19S should be compared to the VF-22S, not the VF-19F. • Likewise, we should leave the YF-19 and YF-21 out of the comparison as much as possible. I'll correct the YF-19 and YF-21 misconceptions in this thread, but the comparison itself should be between the production versions. • The creators do specifically describe the VF-19 as being more maneuverable and faster than the VF-22 and the VF-22 being more massive than the VF-19. That may have to do with the active airflow control units, although I like to pin them down to specifics first. • Transformation aside, the creators don't say that the VF-19S is an upgraded VF-4. (It's a rough analogy, but that would be more a description of the VF-14.) If anything, they say that it is an upgrade of Shinsei's own VF-11 Thunderbolt. • The arm cannons of the VF-22S aren't described as semi-fixed--just the YF-21's ones are. (Similarly, the YF-19 had semi-fixed energy cannons in its wings, but it and the VF-19 were later equipped with fixed wing cannons.) • The VF-19S has four laser cannons in addition to the beam gun on its head turret. • The tail stabilizers are described as being used as shields for the VF-22S, but unlike the VF-19S's and VF-11's shields, they are not described as anti-projectile without the pin-point barrier. • The VF-22S's four ventral micro-missile ports and gun pods take up most of the internal pallet points, just like the VF-19S's leg pallets are usually taken up by missiles. • The YF-19 also had active stealth system just like the YF-21. (It's sort of a moot point, since both the VF-19S and VF-22S have it anyways.) • Why is VF-22S passively stealth when it has the active stealth system? Simple. Shoji Kawamori thinks the YF-23 looks cool. • The VF-19S is not more "fuel" hungry per se, since neither craft uses "fuel" per se. Thermonuclear reaction engines don't "burn" fuel like conventional jet engines do. (That's why the conventionally-powered VF-0 and SV-51 pilots had to worry about fuel, while future pilots didn't.) Reaction engines do need propellant, but in atmosphere, they simply use air for a effectively limitless propellant supply. In space, the engines do need propellant, but since the VF-22S is heavier when empty than the VF-19S, the VF-19S actually needs less propellant than the VF-22S for the equivalent delta-v. • The official casualty tallies depends on which version of Macross Plus you watch. In the video version, it's 7-2 against the YF-19, whereas in the movie edition that Kawamori originally conceived, it's 0-2 against the YF-21. Remember that the video-only gun pod incident was (questionably) blamed on the YF-19, while the "down force" incident was (questionably) blamed on the YF-21. In any case, it's the production history that matters, not the development history. • The max speed for the VF-19F/S/Custom is Mach 25+, not Mach 21+. • The Macross 7 colony fleet actually produced at least 5 VF-19s onscreen by 2046 (6 onscreen if one counts the test unit, 7 if one counts the VF-19 Custom). In the same timeframe, there were only 2 VF-22Ss. (Gamlin's VF-22S would not come until Macross Dynamite 7, by which point even the Zola patrol force had a VF-19.) • Whether or not VF-22S can even be equipped with engines as powerful as the VF-19S's is speculation, and decidedly not certainty. Notice that the VF-22S has less space allotted for engine pods due to its unique configuration and VTOL "slits." Unlike most variable fighters, the VF-22S's engine pods actually have to contract for GERWALK and Battroid modes. • It's difficult to compare missiles to missiles and guns to guns without knowing their specifications. Still, the VF-22S does not have more guns than the VF-19S (5 vs. 7) or more pointing in different directions. The VF-22S does have more missile capacity, but not as much as implied above since much of its internal pallet points are taken up by the ventral micro missile clusters and gun pods, just like the VF-19S's leg pallets. • The YF-21's FAST Packs could not be "worn" on the VF-22S without interfering with the ventral micro missile ports. (Which is one reason why we don't see the YF-21's FAST Packs on the VF-22S--they're redundant.) • The YF-21's arm FAST Packs' main function is not shield armor -- just like the YF-19's shoulder pack and VF-0's dorsal pods, they're propellant tanks (well, fuel tanks for the VF-0). That's why they took only a minor shot to explode in a nicely animated fireball in Macross Plus. • The YF-19's FAST Pack do not take up the leg points for the internal pallets. The YF-19 (and likewise, the VF-19S) can use both the internal missile launchers and the FAST Pack's missile launchers in the same mission. Notice the one scene in Macross Plus where Isamu fires from his internal missile pallet, even though he still had his FAST Packs. Likewise the YF-19's shoulder FAST Packs are not pointless--they're propellant tanks, just like the YF-21's. It's not stated whether they have "holes" for the existing verniers, or if they have verniers of their own. • The VF-19S design is not "incredibly difficult to fly." The creators make a specific point of stating that the VF-19 is "easy to control" despite of--or indeed, because of--the YF-19's trials (and despite having higher maneuverability than the VF-22S). • The YF-19 and VF-19S may not have the exact beam cannons that the VF-4 has, but they do have some nicely hefty wing root cannons, either energy cannons in one variant or laser cannons in the other. • The creators do not say that VF-19A was specifically designed for atmospheric use. (By the way, the VF-19P also has canards.) The creators do not say that the VF-19 had "to specialize to just compete in a given area." (Interestingly, the liner notes claim that Gamlin's VF-22S's "production number is the same [as Max and Milia's VF-22S] but its canard stabilizers and avionics were modified." Yet, that doesn't mean the VF-22S had "to specialize just to compete in a given area" anymore than the VF-19 family's differences mean that.) • The "eight hardpoints" that the creators mention in the VF-22S specifications also refer to the points used for the previously described pallets. It's a little confusing (and definitely not orthodox terminology), but that's how they wrote the specs. • Despite the Macross Plus game, the creators themselves describe the the YF-19 and VF-19S as being faster than their YF-21 and VF-22S counterparts at low and high altitudes. (As noted above, they also describe the VF-19S as more maneuverably than the VF-22S.) • Like the YF-19, the VF-19S has virtually panoramic monitors, making blind spots a minor issue. • The creators do not say that the VF-19F/S's verniers put it at a disadvantage compared to the VF-19A in atmosphere. In fact, certain scenes in Macross Plus point out the advantage of using verniers that never run out of "fuel" in atmosphere. • The creator do not say that the YF-19 was won Project Supernova because it was the only one still standing or that it was cheaper. In fact, it wasn't the only one still standing at all -- there were two YF-21 [corrected] prototypes (the first had a conventional control system). • The creators specifically mention that the only 2 VF-22Ss in the Macross 7 fleet had in 2046 were produced under a special experimental license. • By 2047, the VF-19 was not being used only by elite pilots. By that time, even the Zola patrol force outside the regular UN Spacy had obtained the the VF-19. • "Due to the high cost and problems in the construction of the main wing's complex structure, [the YF-21's variable cross-section] technology is not intended for mass production." All in all, the creators took care to balance the different strengths and weaknesses of the VF-19S and the VF-22S (and their prototypes). They do note that the VF-19S is the better overall fighter with its speed and manueverability, while the VF-22S is the better craft for special missions with its mass and payload -- which is exactly how each is used. [Edited for a typo]

Thanks to every Macross fan who visited and everyone else who became fans after visiting! Fortunately, thanks to time zones, it's still the birthday today. I also can't believe it's been ten years, three servers, two American presidents, and five Japanese prime ministers. I'll be adding more memories on the April 16th update: namely, email messages of congratulations and reminiscences from Shin "Caffeine IV Tube" Kurokawa, Carl "Gainax Can Do No Wrong" Horn, and others (with everyone's okay). Thanks for the fun so far and to come!

Apology accepted--now let's get back to what makes Macross fun: talking about it, asking about it, writing about it, and yes, speculating about it like fans will do for any story. Once again, just please do not present something as accurate when it isn't, something as official when it isn't, something that trumpets "facts" when it itself is wrong, and something as being copyrighted by you when permission was not asked from the original creators.

Absolutely--the more fan work, the merrier for any fandom. (You might notice that Gundam Project no longer even exists--my friend and frequent working cohort Mark Simmons couldn't afford it anymore, especially after North American Gundam fandom and web hits grew, but his budget didn't. Fortunately, his work on Gundamofficial.com and Gundam DVDs continues, just like my work on the Macross DVDs.) I personally do care about the Macross Compendium's accuracy and "officialness," especially when it is called into question and yet without merit. People will note that I do not criticize a website on accuracy unless 1) that website calls the Macross Compendium itself inaccurate without merit and 2) that website claims to be accurate when it isn't. As I have noted before, I have no problems with fan speculation when it is treated as such. The Gundam fandom wouldn't have grown as much as it has in Japan if it weren't for Shoji Kawamori, Haruhiko Mikimoto, and countless others working on Gundam fan speculation--and the same is true for the Macross fandom as well.

Actually, I'm just wonding if the part I've marked on the picture below is a micro-missile launcher? Graham That's correct--that is the micro-missile launch port, as noted on Shoji Kawamori's original mechanical designs and noted on page 119 of the Macross 7 Animation Materials. This is another good example of where people should not say "the information doesn't exist" without checking first with the creators or their notes. http://www.anime.net/macross/mecha/united_.../variable/vf11/

Therein lies an issue: I can't speak for the creators by answering "the information you seek doesn't exist" unless I ask the creators directly this question. To say that the information doesn't exist without asking the creators themselves is jumping to conclusions as well. A perfect example of this is the VF-1 Valkyrie's sub air intake. For over a decade, people assumed that the sub air intake doesn't have a main purpose in Fighter mode--an assertion made as recently as this year. It was only a little over five years ago that Shoji Kawamori said for the first time publically what the sub air intake does. As Kawamori noted for that answer, the information existed all along--he just hadn't said out loud. ^^ If I had answered five years ago to all the people who asked, "What does the sub air intake do?" by saying, "The information you seek doesn't exist"--then that would not be correct. I avoid saying "the information does not exist" when I can ask the creators directly. You might notice that the few times I do post on this forum (and other forums as others can vouch) is when I'm told by a reader that the Macross Compendium's accuracy is being called into question. The impression you have that I only respond to Nanashi's posts on this forum is because Nanashi is the only person on this forum who consistently calls the Macross Compendium's accuracy into question on this forum--and is consistently wrong for it. Thanks to this forum's convenient search feature, I can also correct the many other inaccuracies from Nanashi at the same time. Perhaps you're right--I should just set aside Nanashi's posts, since I've shown that every time he tries to assert something is wrong in the Macross Compendium, his posts are proven to be inaccurate. That would me give more time to respond to all people's valid posts equally.