Mr March

If Alto makes it back to the Macross Frontier fleet, I see no reason why the SMS/NUNS wouldn't think it was the Vajra that destroyed Gallia 4. Not only can both Alto and Ranka report what they saw transpire to the SMS/NUNS, but there should be a flight recorder and other sensor data in Alto's VF-25. If Mikhail and Sheryl make it back in the VF-25G, they can also confirm what happened.

No specific explanation is given. But it's very likely that advancements in Energy Converting Armor technology made the concept of a fighter-based pin-point barrier system more than a little superfluous. The BDS system of the YF-21 was unreliable even with a properly trained pilot such as Guld Bowman. Slight changes in mood as well as wayward thoughts would adversely affect the system. With the only prototype YF-21 also destroyed in 2040 (remember that YF-21 prototype No.1 was piloted by a conventional control cockpit), it's not surprising the technology was abandoned. In-universe, there's no explanation given as to why the VF-19 Excalibur wasn't widely deployed post-2047. The VF-22 Sturmvogel II (the production version of the YF-21) was employed as a special operations variable fighter in some limited capacity. As a production reason, Shoji Kawamori did explain that the VF-19 Excalibur looked too similar to the hero Valkyrie (VF-25 Messiah) of the new Macross Frontier series, so he decided to use a revised Nightmare design called the VF-171 to act as the mass production fighter for the New UN Spacy.

The Valkyries have been regularly plowing into city blocks (VF-1D in SDF Macross), ramming through bridges (VF-1A in DYRL), crashing into the ground (VT-1 in DYRL), dragging on canyon floors (VF-11B in Macross Plus) and now belly flopping on the turf (VF-25F in Macross Frontier) yet continue to operate afterward. I think it's pretty consistent series-wide It also seems incredibly difficult to stop a Valkyrie short of completely destroying it. The transformation systems continue to function even with limbs missing and it seems a Valkyrie can still function even when it loses half it's power through a destroyed leg. No doubt the energy converting armor is a significant factor in the durability of the Valkyries, but collisions like those in the anime would place extreme stress on both the internal frame and machinery. It's clear the Valkyries are the pinnacle of robust, reliable military hardware, a doubly impressive feat of engineering considering how complex it would be to build a transforming aerospace fighter craft in comparison to any other, far simpler vehicle.

And the funny thing is Ridley and Co. are probably only vaguely aware of the astounding influence Blade Runner has had on anime, if at all. I'm not sure any of the special features I watched on the 5-disc set mentioned anime, though it may have been in passing.

I like this drawing. Very nice.

Thanks fellas. Indeed, more Revoltechs can't be a bad thing

Here you go: I'm sticking to the cyberspace interface theory for the VF-27 cockpit.

That's some fine paraphrasing! I like it. Cathy vs. Leon is my favorite

More important question we should be asking ourselves is why is anyone in the future still wearing glasses? We're rapidly approaching a time in the near future where it seems glasses will be a thing of the past. Of course, this is animation, so glasses are a handy tool to help distinguish one character from another

There's plenty to love. I really enjoy watching the new EX-Gear system. I also like how the creators have continued to use the EX-Gear throughout the series. Sometimes in lesser shows, stuff like that will be shown once and then forgotten. But Macross Frontier is doing a good job remaining focused and using their own creations intelligently. I'm not reminded of Robotech in any way, other than in the most vague terms that Mospeada and Frontier both feature powered armors. The EX-Gear is it's own creation and I don't see anymore similarity between the two than I do between Macross itself, Iron Man, Aliens, Halo, Fallout, Star Wars, etc. I also noticed that the head unit laser cannons on the VF-25 Messiah got some love while in Fighter mode. Alto uses the guns to fire rearward upon Brera's VF-27 during their dogfight. It was really cool to see those guns in action.

LOL! :lol: Now that was a good laugh.

Dangerous self-preservation psychology, perhaps? Maybe that's what happens when they plug chips into their brains

So if the SDF-4 Global was attached to the 117th Research fleet, that means there was no colony ship, right?

Time for some more Revoltech action YF-19/YF-21 Grudge Match 1 YF-19/YF-21 Grudge Match 2 YF-19/YF-21 Grudge Match 3 YF-19/YF-21 Gun pod fight YF-19/YF-21 Straight Front YF-19 Straight Front YF-19 Straight Side YF-21 Straight Front YF-21 Straight Side YF-19 Classic YF-19 Classic (with FAST Packs) YF-21 Classic YF-21 Classic (with FAST Packs) YF-19 Crouch Front YF-19 Crouch (side) YF-21 Crouch Front YF-21 Crouch (side) YF-19 wild YF-21 wild

If one is going to steal, steal from the best. IMO, Macross Frontier episode 13 is the only production I've seen that actually does the Alien/Aliens concept justice. Everything else from the 1986 sequel onwards has sucked soiled ass

All I can say it's about damn time! It took 13 episodes (yeah, I'm not counting the flashback to Mikhail's sister) for us to finally see some VF-171 Battroid action. I was beginning to think we'd never see it. I was getting nauseous at the thought of newbie Macross fans joining MW to post "So why is the VF-171 a non-transforming Verytech like the VF-4?"

Well, the Vajra sure came back into the story with a bang. I'm still not sure what the hell happened in this episode; all I know is it was pure anime ownage. Wow!

I have to admit, you guys really got close on this one. I was convinced that it was going to be the SDF-1, but I never suspected it would be the SDF-4. Or better yet I will say this, episode 13 is fantastic!

Episode 12, "Fastest Delivery" Without doubt this episode was made for the fans. Almost everything about episode 12 is an echo of Macross past; the giant Zentradi, the language, the young idol singer, the speaker pods, the mecha combat, and so on. Starting inside the bridge of a Zentradi warship on the surface of the colony world Gallia 4, this episode opens with a scene of Major Ogotai and his advisor speaking in Zentradi of the Zentradi themselves, a scene very reminiscent of the opening to the 1984 film Macross: Do You Remember Love. From there Sheryl Nome's transport , with Alto in the VF-25 as escort, defold over the planet and adjust for the time difference in the transition to real space. Back aboard the Frontier fleet at Mihoshi Academy, Ranka surprises her friends by taking the day off. Nanase is overjoyed, but discovers Ranka has domesticated her curious green pet. Alto and Sheryl land upon Gallia 4, Alto leaving his Super Packs and Fold booster in a self-bundling configuration in orbit of the planet. The Zentradi prepare a grand salute for Sheryl but her illness gets the better of her. As Sheryl makes her way out and faints, the event sparks a battle as the ambitious Temjin seizes an opportunity to fan the flames of latent unrest among the 33rd Marine Battalion. Alto is subdued and Temjin takes hostages. On Frontier, Nanase warns Ranka of violating ecological protection laws within the closed system of a colony ship, but agrees to keep Ranka's secret. News of the Zentradi rebellion spreads quickly to the Frontier fleet angering President Glass who damns the Zentradi. Aboard the Macross Quarter Ozuma blames himself for not sending enough protection but Kathy is convinced the whole operation was a setup. Captain Wilder seems to have been through a similar scenario in the past, but remains silent on it and laments that it would take seven days to get to Gallia 4. But back at the Academy, Luca proposes a solution to rescue the hostages. Temjin prepares his force of Queadluun-Rea mecha and the Zentradi sit at a standoff as he demands the warship in exchange for the hostages. Alto and Grace speak of their situation over bed-ridden Sheryl; Alto determined to escape back to his valkyrie. On Frontier, Lucas describes the new Fold Booster built by his family company LAI; a fold booster vastly superior for fold travel and able to navigate through Fold Faults. Mikhail equips the device to his VF-25G Messiah and goes off to rescue his friends. On Gallia 4, Temjin rallies his troops around discovery of a reaction weapon vault but is interrupted when he's informed via a comm unit about Alto's escape, implying Grace was an informant. Alto makes it to his Valkyrie, but is captured by Temjin. The hostilities between the Zentradi factions begin and Temjin goads Alto with sarcasm about singing to stop the Zentradi. Just then Mikhail in his VF-25, with Ranka aboard, flies into the delivery Ranka's singing with four speaker pods under the wings. The Zentradi, devoid of culture on this outer world, are entranced. Temjin, unable to accept defeat, tries to attack Ranka in his Queadluun-Rea, but Alto fights him. After a brief battle, Alto prevails and sends Temjin to his doom as he falls into the water fa below. Beneath the water, something reacts to the events on the surface, perhaps disturbed by Ranka's singing. Alto meets with Ranka where she wishes him a happy birthday and the two prepare to head back to Frontier when Alto looses control of his valkyrie by some outside force (possibly the creature below the water) and the two crash. When they recover, they discover what appears to be the SDF-1 Macross left abandoned in a wasteland. "Fastest Delivery" has many elements that seem to add up to a classic episode for old and new fans alike. The Zentradi gain a long overdue spotlight in the Frontier story and there is much potential for a really great episode that it astounds me how little is actually done with it. At the half way mark it's clear that all the setup of the first half of this episode and the threads from episode 11 will be spent upon Ranka's debut. Trouble is that's Ranka's debut is all that happens; the rising tension ultimately serves only to swing the love triangle pendulum back into Ranka's favor. The Zentradi turn out to be a villains-of-the-week and the only dramatic confrontation is a tensionless aerial battle between Temjin and Alto. The majority of the episode is superficial and filled with guilty pleasures for the Macross fan, but little of it amounts to any substance. The best the episode offers is a few homages and some laughs when the Zentradi swoon over Ranka. The last few moments of the story end with a cliff hanger that is likely the most exciting aspect of the episode. This has definitely been one of the weakest episodes of the series thus far but is only the second such episode out of the twelve released to date so there can be little to fault Macross Frontier. Episode 13 looks set to deliver upon some of what has been built for the past few episodes, but this one feels like treading water while it satisfies what "needs" to happen in the plot at this point in the series. Look forward to more promising events in episode 13. Deculture!

Episode 11, "Missing Birthday" This episode starts out with adverts for Ranka's first live performance intercut with a conversation between Leon and Kathy riding in a car. Gallia 4, a New UN Goverment world, is going to be a focal point for important events according to Leon's information and Kathy is very curious. It's clear she knows about Mr. Bilrer through discussion with Leon, but he appears tight lipped himself. Ranka is clearly becoming very busy starring in adverts and doing interviews, but is planning to attend Alto's birthday. Back at the school, the students talk around the pool and learn Sheryl is planning a concernt of Gallia 4. Kathy meets with Ozuma to arrange an escort for Sheryl. It's the perfect job for Alto, but he'll have his hands full this episode with the arrival of his brother Yasaburo Saotome. Alto's father has fallen ill and has made a deal that should Alto return on his birthday, his father will accept him again. Sheryl then meets with Ranka and the two talk of careers, but Sheryl has a dizzy spell revealing she might not be well. Grace later speaks with Sheryl and confirms signs of illness, buit a stubborn Sheryl will hear nothing of it as she prepares for her appearance on Gallia 4. Ever inquisitive about the circumstances on Gallia 4, Kathy meets with Klan to discuss the Zentradi living there and it's clear even after 50 years there are still divides in Zentradi society; those for the New United Nations and those against. Alto then meets with Sheryl and she offers him a chance to go to Gallia 4 where a real sky exists where Alto can fly his Valkyrie. Once alone, Alto listens to Ranka's phone message, offering to meet at the park on his birthday. Alto has a choice, decides to escort Sheryl instead and asks Mikhail to meet Ranka to offer his apologies. Ranka is left alone at the park but agains encounters the strange green animal that has followed her previously. The episode ends with Leon covertly contacting Grace aboard Sheryl's transport for Gallia 4, Alto escorting in his VF-25. The mysterious VF-27 then follows with it's own fold booster attached. There's much happening in this episode and the story feels perfectly on track. The episode mostly focuses upon Alto, especially his relationship with his step brother and his father, but it also plays upon Alto's vulnerability for his dreams of flying. Sheryl cleverly siezes upon this opportunity to fulfill Alto's wants and makes him an offer she knows he won't refuse. It's still unclear if Sheryl has admitted to herself yet how much she's fallen for Alto, but it's clear she's competitive with Ranka and given her personality is determined to keep Alto for herself. Ranka is clearly too passive in her relationship with Alto and is almost begging for his approval. What Ranka needs to do is prove her worth by fighting for Alto, but will she? On the war side of the story, Leon is assisting the plans of Mr Brilrer and it seems much more is happening on Gallia 4 then almost anyone suspects. The episodes of Macross Frontier are again building to something and it's going to happen soon. Brera barely appears in this episode, but it's again made certain that he's being equipped and supplied from within the Macross Frontier fleet. His VF-27 is equipped with a fold booster at the end of the episode by what looks like L.A.I., the company that built the VF-25 and is Luca's family business, run by his siblings. More ties are sure tobe revealed as the story unfolds. That brings to a close another strong episode of Macross Frontier and we're on to the next. Deculture!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA This thread has now become an all time classic of MW. See, never say never! *throws around a celebratory tossing of eggs into everyone's face* I was fairly sure it was the SDF-1, but again, Macross Frontier throws us all for a loop. A great surprise

LOL Just don't try to resell them, because no one will buy them now, just like the Seinfeld episode "We're sorry sir, these action figures have been flagged. Flagged? We can't resell these action figures. They've been in a bathroom"

Great work GGemini. You get a hug too

Nice pictures ruskiiVFaussie! I really like the extra pin-point barriers on the YF-21. Your YF-19 pose is in a great spot because the dark roof of your display cabinet hides the stand attached to the Revy. Cool stuff!

Yeah I know, just making a joke. It's the legs/rear engines that look really weird to me. Compared to the official line art picture I posted, they look very different. How old is that fan art picture, if you know?