All Activity
- Past hour
-
Super Macross Mecha Fun Time Discussion Thread!
Seto Kaiba replied to Valkyrie Driver's topic in Movies and TV Series
@snakerbot has the correct answer: To expand on snakerbot's answer, assuming that the New UN Forces are a monolithic organization is one of the more common misconceptions that fans make when talking about the Macross Frontier and Macross Delta series. The relationship between the New UN Government and its various member governments (emigrant governments) has been continually evolving in the era of space emigration, as has the relationship between the New UN Government member governments and the New UN Forces. The New UN Government was originally a strong central government with broad authority over the individual member governments. Likewise, the central New UN Forces wielded considerable authority over the local New UN Forces maintained by all of the individual emigrant fleets and planets. You can think of it as being a bit like the relationship between the US federal gov't and state gov't and between the regular US military and national guard in a sense. It's not an exact comparison, but the relationship is close enough to get the gist. Time, distance, and the limitations of fold technology gradually made centralized authority less and less practical as humanity expanded into the greater galaxy aboard its various large scale long distance emigrant fleets. Referring every important matter up the chain of command to some central authority on Earth simply wasn't realistic as a way to handle matters of governance or defense for a growing number of emigrant governments and the problem only got more pronounced with time. This led to growing unrest among the emigrant governments and prompted a period of small civil wars and uprisings that would come to be known as the Second Unification War(s) and culminate in the pro-centrists within the New UN Gov't and New UN Forces attempting a coup in 2051 (Macross VF-X2). They were defeated, and ultimately the pro-autonomy faction won out, granting more independence and authority to the individual member governments and decentralizing command of the New UN Forces to make it easier for emigrant governments to respond flexibly to threats. By the time of Macross Frontier and Macross Delta, the relationship between the New UN Government and member governments is more akin to that of the European Union. Emigrant fleets have had a fair amount of discretionary authority in deciding how to equip their local New UN Forces defense forces from a relatively early point. Macross 7 is the series this first rears its head in, with the central New UN Forces and Macross 7 fleet having adopted the VF-11 while the colony Megaroad-13 set up in the Varauta system made a decision to adopt the VF-14 instead. Master File suggests that this was the case from the very beginning, with some emigrant fleets toying with adopting the VF-3000 back in the 2010s. That has been taken to its logical extreme by the time of Frontier, with the wealthiest emigrant governments starting to get into the defense industry and begin domestic development of new model VFs instead of buying a license to locally produce VFs developed for the central New UN Forces on Earth. (This mirrors what Japan went through in terms of defense appropriations. Japan's F-2 is a build-under-license version of the US F-16, with Japan vying to break into the lucrative weapons export market by developing a next-generation fighter to replace it.) Earth and the central New UN Forces are implied (or directly stated in Master File) to have adopted the VF-24 as their 5th Generation main fighter from 2057. The specifications for the final YF-24 Evolution prototype, minus Earth's proprietary technologies, were transmitted to all of the emigrant governments as required by law. The Macross Frontier fleet used the YF-24 Evolution specs as a starting point for the domestic development of their own 5th Generation main fighter for their local New UN Forces and for export sale to other emigrant governments. Macross Galaxy did likewise, developing the VF-27 using both the YF-24 Evolution spec and stolen development data from the Frontier fleet's anti-Vajra YF-29 program. Master File's version of this makes it out to be a joint development program called "Project Triangler" rather than independent programs carried out in each fleet, with Macross Frontier partnering with Macross Olympia and Macross Galaxy to codevelop a next-generation fighter that all three fleets were supposed to adopt and profit from export sales of. Existing material suggests that the VF-25 was exported quite widely, with the Macross 7 fleet being among known customers adopting it as their next-generation main fighter. The VF-31 is not a replacement for the VF-25. It was developed as an alternative/competitor to the VF-25 by a regional economic/defense pact that had similar goals vis-a-vis the huge economic benefits of exporting weapons. The Brisingr Alliance is a mutual defense and economic union between the New UN Gov't's worlds in the Brisingr globular cluster. They're way off the beaten path on the far side of the galaxy and their sheer remoteness has not helped their economic situation. So the Brisingr Alliance floated the idea of joint domestic development of a next-generation main fighter instead of buying a license to build Earth's latest fighter again as a way to keep defense spending within the cluster and stimulate the local economy directly. They also wanted to potentially export the new model to other emigrant governments and thus bring a new source of outside revenue into their economy. (The VF-31 situation is a very direct allusion to Japan's domestic fighter development plan.) That's... mostly unrelated. Master File presents a very different context for the VF-31 Siegfried custom which is somewhat at odds with official media. Official media present the VF-31 Siegfried as an Ace Custom machine that Xaos independently produced by making "aftermarket" modifications to a few of the trial production VF-31A Kairos units loaned to them by the local New UN Forces for field testing. Master File instead presents the Siegfried custom as a sort of limited production model meant for the special forces. On the other hand, there is almost no official info on the VF-31AX. Officially, it's implied to be just an improved version of the Siegfried and thus an aftermarket Ace Custom but no detailed information is offered. Master File presents a similar picture of the VF-31AX as an "aftermarket" customization that improves on the Siegfried. Where it differs from official material is that it claims the Siegfrieds were upgraded/repaired using a pre-existing stockpile of parts built for a planned upgrade to convert the VF-31 Siegfrieds into experimental 6th Generation technology demonstrators codenamed "VF-31X". Because it was a rush job, only part of the upgrades were made and the resulting aircraft had many issues, being seen as something of a flying trainwreck by the developer who insisted Xaos not refer to it as the VF-31X under any circumstances. Master File paints a picture of a 6th Generation VF development program as effectively stymied by a lack of sufficiently pure fold quartz. They've been doing that the entire time. That's literally the backstory of the VF-3000. It was an internal continuing development project based on the VF-1 Valkyrie that was started by Stonewell Bellcom and continued by Shinsei Industry after it was formed by the merger of Stonewell Bellcom, Shinnakasu Heavy Industry, and Shinsei Manufacturing in 2012. That kind of internal, independent development is also the origin story of the SV Works at General Galaxy. They were an independent design team meant to pursue development of VFs meant specifically for anti-VF use and ultimately ended up working for/with the Epsilon Foundation subsidiary company Dian Cecht to develop and manufacture new model VFs for Windermere IV's Kingdom of the Wind. (Though their development by/for Windermere were financed by Windermere's royal treasury who had a LOT of fold quartz to burn.) They've actually adopted several... it's just not universal because the various local New UN Forces subordinate to the emigrant governments are each effectively autonomous forces under a common banner and their local governments can equip them as they see fit. Some governments adopted the VF-24, some the VF-25, some the VF-31, and so on... some supposedly went all-in on unmanned fighters, and we know of at least one that totally abolished its own defense force. -
The computer and electronics super geek thread
azrael replied to azrael's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Yes. And Crysis. While developing for Cyberpunk 2078/9/80/81 and Crysis 4. Along with a whole slew of other tasks. -
Is it just my PC or is that the herky jerkiest video in a long time - especially considering it is supposed to be an ad.
- 1742 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- dreamworks
- pixar
- (and 9 more)
- Today
-
The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next
mikeszekely replied to mikeszekely's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Hearts of Steel Bumblebee and Megatron And Void Rivals Jetfire are available to pre-order on Pulse, now if you're Premium and 2:00pm ET for everyone.- 17459 replies
-
- transformers
- toys
-
(and 5 more)
Tagged with:
-
I agree with this sentiment. Yes, there’s some bad issues (the troubled joints on the Ride Armors prone to cracking/breaking, minor chipping/scratching that can happen to the torso, parts that can pop off but are thankfully easy to pop back on). And some of the design choices can be annoying (Hot Pink Houquet , the overly busy HUD lines on the visors, the uncolored pilots for the birds). AND I’m still pissed over the fixed pose pilot for the Tread, not tossing in Rey’s bike with the Tread, and initially hiding the missiles behind a Japan only paywall. But they actually completed the hero line: the main four bikes, the three Legioss colors, and the Tread. Sure there’s Shinobu’s bike, the Dark Legioss, the drone Legiosses, different colored Treads, and the whole Inbit crew that can still be done. But somehow, Sentinel completed a Mospeada collection, something that only CM’s has ever been able to accomplish. Just the improvements to the Legioss’ and Tread’s designs alone should be celebrated. How they pulled off some of those ideas is amazing. And yes, all these figures have no issues holding dynamic poses. So yes, Sentinel should take a victory lap and enjoy this tip of the hat
- 13500 replies
-
- 2
-
-
This is a land based version lacking propulsion on the back. Went ahead and ordered that Tamiya livestock set. Got my eyes on a baby 🐖 or 🪿
-
That would be cool, wasn’t sure if the thing was a lunar type though. Maybe an animal buddy in a space suit if it is. Or maybe get some plastic sheets and do something like a hanger/ maintenance area display
-
The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next
obakesan replied to mikeszekely's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
- 17459 replies
-
- transformers
- toys
-
(and 5 more)
Tagged with:
-
The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next
rsvictor1976 replied to mikeszekely's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Hopefully a third party upgrade comes out that addresses the chess void and the leg attachment. The large derriere doesn't bother me too much, even '86 Prime has a big butt.- 17459 replies
-
- transformers
- toys
-
(and 5 more)
Tagged with:
-
The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next
mikeszekely replied to mikeszekely's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Not a licensed one, anyway. Most likely because he'll be a heavy re-tool of Vortex, and the way he transforms makes it easier to make his heels and toes thrusters instead of making his toes each one and his heels each half of one with a hump for a smaller one. Wrist-mounted flamethrower. Anyway, my thought seeing this artwork is that I need Hasbro to tell me that they're doing toy colors sooner rather than later. While I prefer OX/toy decos of the Scramble City gang in combined mode in general, I can live with Sunbow for Superion, Menasor, and Defensor. I HATE Sunbow Bruticus, though. Blue legs and silver chest or bust.- 17459 replies
-
- transformers
- toys
-
(and 5 more)
Tagged with:
-
Wow, it's like a missing link VF, awesome!
-
Super Macross Mecha Fun Time Discussion Thread!
snakerbot replied to Valkyrie Driver's topic in Movies and TV Series
The short answer to all of your questions is that there is no singular "they" like this sentence suggests. There are many local NUNS branches, each with their own requirements and constraints. To further complicate matters, there are non-NUNS outfits like SMS and XAOS that may have their own objectives as well. The federal NUNS on Earth adopted the VF-24 and redacted and tuned down specs were then broadcast out to the colonies to do whatever they wanted with. Some would presumably just build per those exact specs, some would ignore them and use other VFs or all-ghost fleets, and some would use those specs as a jumping-off point for their own designs. Frontier was in that last category. Their local government decided to develop the VF-25 because they wanted a VF to meet their own requirements and because they had the resources to do so. The local government in the Brisingr cluster chose to develop the VF-31 mostly in an attempt to kick-start their economy, which was in somewhat of a sorry state due to their isolation in a backwater corner of the galaxy. Since the Brisingr Alliance NUNS was not the same entity as the Frontier NUNS, they (Brisingr) couldn't just use the VF-25. They (Brisingr) would have to either buy completed fighters outright from Frontier, or more likely, pay license fees to build them locally. -
Got my shipping notice for the tread from Yoyaku- about $52 to ship DHL, so not as bad as I thought it might end up being.
- 13500 replies
-
Yeah this kit is tiny at 1/35 and I’m doing a straight build which allows me to progress rather quickly. I may add a base to this which will haven’t done before. Maybe add a 1/35 scale animal buddy in there if I can find one in time? I'm also excited to see your build. Make sure and post some progress shots. 👍
-
Your Most Recent General Toy Purchase - 2024 Edition
Thom replied to azrael's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Cool perch @Mog!- 758 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- toys
- just purchased
- (and 13 more)
-
These all look really cool Definitely a wild amount of work and it’s definitely paying off
-
You’re like a machine. I started my project a couple weeks ago and barely where I can start painting. The mods I added were extremely minor, nothing time consuming, but I’m definitely at a slower pace. Can’t wait to see your project done
-
I can vouch for Kicks Generation Toys. I purchased a MoShow Toys figure from them and I came in perfect condition. Shipping was fast, packaging was good, no damage to the box or the figure. Shipping for the Pose+ Legioss should be free from them, orders over $250 get free shipping.
- 13500 replies
-
- 1
-
-
The Transformers Thread (licensed) Next
M'Kyuun replied to mikeszekely's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Takara 101: When designing craft that fly or go into space, there will be zero regard for accuracy or faithfulness to the actual design, or general design, of said craft. Moreover, we at Takara believe it is an imperative, a hallmark of our approach if you will, to egregiously ignore actual design traits, to pile as much robot kibble onto the underside of the craft (you know, the part that everyone on the ground actually sees when it's flying), to avoid integrating arms if at all possible (b/c TF fans LOVE jets with arms hanging off the sides), and in general put forth the minimum effort to integrate bot parts seamlessly within the confines of said craft's fuselage. Additionally, whenever possible, we will strive to have minimal to no functional landing gear, as TF fans seem very pleased when only the merest suggestion or better! no suggestion of anything recognizable as landing gear exists on our flying alt modes. Indeed, history indicates that the further we travel from accuracy regarding flying craft alts, the more praise our fans heap on them. Look no further than our magnum opus, MP-52 Starscream for its many blatant departures from accuracy in F-15 mode. It's deliciously terrible which means the fans will embrace it all the more. Or any Silverbolt figure we've ever made (we'll throw in SR-71s too), as the amount of bot that we throw on the bottom seems directly proportional to the adulation of the fandom. We must certainly be doing it right! Regarding the art, indeed, why would the engines be firing when the hand is right there in the blast zone? I guess the artist felt it made for a more dramatic look, b/c physics doesn't matter. Rule of cool, I guess.- 17459 replies
-
- transformers
- toys
-
(and 5 more)
Tagged with:
-
Looks great. Can you remind me what tabletop game these are for?
-
Super Macross Mecha Fun Time Discussion Thread!
Sildani replied to Valkyrie Driver's topic in Movies and TV Series
I had thought the NUNS adopted the VF-24, of which the VF-25 was a detuned "Share-Valkyrie" that was sent for free to emigrant fleets and colonies and the VF-26 made by Macross Olympia went nowhere. The VF-24 was described as so powerful and versatile that I can't imagine the NUNS getting rid of it only a decade or so after its adoption. -
Super Macross Mecha Fun Time Discussion Thread!
Captain Global replied to Valkyrie Driver's topic in Movies and TV Series
Hi, so recently I've been re reading the vf master files and had some doubts maybe you guys can help me with. My main doubt is with the transition from the VF-25 to the VF-31. I have some explanations on why NUNS never adopted the vf-25 and instead decided to develop the VF-31 series, but they do not seem quite convincing to me. I would like you guys to correct me if I made any wrong assumptions and perhaps help me to fill in the blanks. Machine translation has come a long way but it is ambiguous or outright wrong sometimes. The way I interpreted the VF-25 and VF-31 master files was that 1.NUNS never widely adopted the vf 25 and derivatives limiting it to select units, however colonies and especially migration fleets truly adopted it in scale. 2.At the same time NUNS still was searching for a cheaper, mas produced aircraft with increased flexibility. The VF-31 A was supposed to fulfill this role and incorporate the multi-mission pack. 3.Following the deployment of the yf-29 they started also looking for a 5.5 or 6th gen platform (project hyper nova). Hence the vf-31S and the vf-31AX were developed. My main question would be why they did not adopt the vf 25 in order to fulfill the vf-31A role and why they decided to pursue the VF-31 project despite already having invested resources on the 25 and the triangle project. I can understand the idea of the project "hyper nova" in order to have some edge against possible rivals, but for the general-purpose machine It still seems a little incoherent. So far, the explanations I was able to find are the following: -Perhaps it was because the 25 was too expensive as it mentions NUNS was looking for a more cost-effective option. But thought the VF-31 master file I could not find any mentions to cost saving measures, so it seems it could be as expensive as the 25. -Another theory is that it is because of the hi-lo mix. As it says in the master file, adopting the 31 series allow to have both aircraft deployed together with increased interoperability and somewhat of a deterrence factor. However, reading the "Variable Fighter Generations" section on the Vf-25 master file, it says that NUNS already considered the VF-171 and VF-25 an adequate hi-lo mix. Perhaps the massive 171 losses on the vajara war proved them wrong. -My last explanation (and this is a personal theory) is that Shinshei and General Galaxy are able to start their ow internal projects without needing a request from the NUNS or their funds. Given how decentralized the Galaxy is they could just develop the VF-31 series on their own, with their own resources and without the need for a NUNS request or them even buying the thing. This would also explain why General Galaxy/SV works were able to fund, develop and build the SV-262 and SV-303 on their own. Also, one thing I find a little weird is that NUNS never seems to fully adopt anything past 2059, although In the 31 and 31 AX master file it present some units thata dop these machines It is never widespread adoption. I understand this lore is only semiofficial and that in macross narrative always comes first. But I would like to know if I misunderstood or if I'm missing something. Perhaps on the next installment of the franchise we are going to see the venerable vf-171 getting hammered (again) by the bad guys in the first episode. PD: sorry for the long post -
This is ~3.5 months of 3d modelling work. Translating metal mini's into 3d prints and updating them to artwork standard has been a blast
-
-
Can anyone vouch for Robot Toy Base or Kicks Generation Toys? Both are taking deposits ($20.00) for the POSE+ Legioss. The prices quoted below are more reasonable than BBTS, but these prices don't include S&H: I imagine the final prices will all be within a couple $10 dollars of each other. https://robotoybase.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=8238 USD439.9 + shipping charge by airmail https://www.kicksgenerationtoys.com/collections/pose USD475.00 + S&H
- 13500 replies