Mr March

Ah, I must have missed that time. Still, if it was a missile launch, this one sequence might be more telling since it wasn't a launch. Yeah, they should have at least changed the color, like they did between SDF Macross to DYRL (all the missile highlights went from red to yellow). As for the VF-171, I'm sure we may get some more Battroid love yet. Still, even if we don't, at least we got the VF-171 PPB punch

Looks like we got a good micro-missile count on the VF-25 Super Messiah; at least, the dorsal launcher pods. I counted 21 missile per pack

There is nothing but hull in that particular section. In GERWALK mode pictures - where the rear of the YF-21 remains unaltered - you can clearly see it's simply a diamond-shaped portion of the rear fuselage, which would be the same as fighter mode. The YF-21's "GERWALK thrusters" are 2 x banks of pivoting slit nozzles (ventral fuselage) for GERWALK mode VTOL. They sit inside the rear ventral fuselage just above the legs (GERWALK mode ventral rear).

As soon as the Macross Zero artwork becomes available (I'm hoping it will appear in the Macross Chronicle) I'll be adding more Macross Zero stuff.

Because the Valkyries are not just spacecraft; they are aircraft as well. Hybrid designs, hence why they have intakes. It makes sense that they'd sacrifice some maximum speed in an atmosphere for the trade-off of unlimited fuel and range. As for what the propellant is, apparently it can be almost anything. The way they describe OvertTechnology Reaction engines, they can use both nuclear or non-nuclear reactant. See the Macross Compendium entry on the Thermonuclear Reaction

The variable fighters are not conventional turbofans and heat management in a valkyrie must consider more than just thrust. You've got two thermonuclear reaction engines producing over tens times more power than a Nimitz aircraft carrier. There must be some kind of advanced coolant system in place to deal with the demands such a thermal system would create. I'm pretty much out of my league after that, but from what I understand, gas-cooled systems are the most efficient and are likely the type used in a valkyrie fusion reactor. As to why the coolant systems in the YF-19/YF-21 couldn't function as well in an atmosphere as they do in space, it may have to do with aerodynamic necessities that are not considerations in space. It's possible that for the YF-19/YF-21 to fly at maximum aerial performance efficiency in an atmosphere, the engines need to be open to intake air. This may place a limitation on effectiveness of the internal cooling system, which perhaps requires a closed system to be 100% effective. The internal cooling system is obviously so efficient that it can handle all cooling needs in space despite the fact that dissipating heat is traditionally easier in an atmosphere than a vacuum (give thanks to OverTechnology for that, I suppose). Based on the many Macross anime shows, it appears a Valkyrie can fly in an atmosphere with the intakes closed, but it may not be desirable from a performance point of view. Perhaps it disrupts air flows or creates other problems that wouldn't be a concern in a vacuum. Hence the heat management limitations.

Given the incredible amount of thrust possible in the YF-19, YF-21 and VF-17 Nightmare, I think it's safe to say dedicated cooling systems were a requirement, not an option. These variable fighters can attain orbit in under a minute; that much thrust that quickly I would think produces more heat than can be managed by cold air intakes.

All the Valkyries (including the VF-25) have vernier thrusters, not just the Zentradi Q-Raus. Also, of course the VF-25 can fly without air intakes. It's a trans-atmosphereic fighter craft after all, capable of operation both in the atmosphere and in space. The VF-25 has an internal cooling system and reaction mass for propulsion in a vacuum like any other Valkyrie. It's not anime magic; that's the way the variable fighters were designed from the VF-1 onward.

Fantastic news. So happy.

Well, what happened in Japan and what happened here are two totally different things. I can only relay what my experience has been walking among NA fandom. Perhaps Macross Zero did good in Japan, but it was definitely not a boon to the fandom over here from what I can see.

AnimeNation

The Star Wars forced-based, non-movie plot FPS games have been pretty good. Jedi Knight, JKII, Outcast and Jedi Academy were all a lot of fun to play with good balance and some excellent use of RPG elements and force abilites. I think Force Unleashed looks like another solid entry into that same line of games, but I suppose I'll have to wait to know for sure.

Oh, btw, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans who are referencing, linking and advertising my website. I've noticed many fans like Sulendil Ang and Dante74 posting links to the Macross Mecha Manual in their signatures. A large percentage of the MW community also links to my site for reference in regular discourse. I've also seen a lot of fans on the AN, MAHQ, AnimeSuki, and many other website linking to the M3. I just wanted to say thank you all for helping promote the website. I'm very happy to see my site is so useful to so many.

Oh, I see. Yes, I can add some screen shots for a rudimentary profile, but like all the Vajra entries, there will be next to nothing as far as information.

I don't see Macross Zero as a high point for Macross. In fact, I think from an anime market point of view, Macross Zero seems to have hurt Macross more than anything else. Macross Zero barely made any showing among North American fans and what little impression the show did make was largely uninspired or negative. It's been my impression that Macross Zero soured a lot of potential fans to Macross who were totally underwhelmed by the show. More often than not I find myself apologizing for Zero and when I try selling Macross Frontier to potential fans, I always have to distance the new show from Macross Zero to win people over. Although response to Macross Frontier has been really good, I think response would have done better if Macross Zero never existed (though the CGI lessons of Zero obviously benefitted Kawamori and Co. more than audiences). I remember well the atmosphere on other anime sites like AN or MAHQ after Macross Zero was finished; it was morose to say the least. Even the long time Macross fans were pretty much writing off the franchise at that point. Macross Frontier by comparison has definitely been a high water mark for the franchise; at least so far. As far as I can tell in the fan circles and general anime fandom, there has been far more interest in Macross Frontier than there ever was in Macross Zero. The buzz surrounding the show and mention of Macross appears to be at it's highest point since Macross Plus (which was itself an OVA/Film). The show has even won a lot of Robotech fans over (there's currently a huge topic running at the megaverse forums). Whether Frontier turns out great or not in the end, it has definitely put Macross back on the map as far as North American fandom. It's gone about as far as it can without an official Region 1 DVD release.

I don't understand the question.

I think the Akizuki Type resembles a Varauta High Speed Raiding Space Cruiser. The the bridge and ventral amidships replace the top/bottom fins of the Varauta ship. The bow and overall hull shape of the Akizuki type also resembles the Varauta Raiding Space Cruiser. They might even be roughly the same size.

It's gonna be entertaining

VERY nice work. Looking good.

It's not negativity, it's being hopeful. I am very pleased with Macross Frontier thus far and I'm hopeful it'll have a satisfactory finish. I've been satisfied with 90% of the episodes, I like the characters, I like the mecha and the stories continue to surprise. I can't deny the show is a lot of fun and I'm enjoying myself. But the worst is possible and it wouldn't be the first time. I hope for the best.

I'm definitely hoping for the best. Good luck.

Where the heck is the information on the Aliens Revoltech? To hell with all this crap, I want to see their Xenomorph!

Right now, it definitetly feels like an upward swing in Macross and the Macross fandom as well. But I'm not going to celebrate until Macross Frontier has been completed with a satisfatory ending. Everything hinges on that ending and all the fun I'm having watching Frontier can all be taken away from me with one really lousy finale to the series. A lot is riding on this series, IMO. I hope the worst doesn't happen, but I'm not placing a vote until the job is done.

That would be funny to add to the profiles

It's hard to get a handle on what the Dimension Eater does. The first time the weapon was used on Gallia 4, it appeared to be shredding everything and clearly had some kind of explosive effect that pushed outward (like when the Zentradi screamed "de culcha!" and was blown backwards). But when it was unleashed upon one of the Islands, it appeared to be crushing everything. It could be the scale that made the difference or perhaps it's meant to be non-specific in effect. Or perhaps the Dimension Eater is a explosive/shredding effect as it expands and then a crushing/absorbing effect as it subsides. It's funny, but the way the scene was edited in episode 21, it almost felt like Ranka was left behind for a moment