Mr March

Most Valkyries are general purpose superiority fighters, at least the main line fighters. Also, there isn't a huge array of variable vehicles like there are fighters in the big military organizations in real life. The UNS and New UNS function as the main branch of the UNG's military and utilize only a few different models of variable fighter at most. Even functions such as Bombing and Elint are performed by modified versions of the very same Valkyrie rather than a specialized craft. As time goes on a few more variable bombers, variable attack craft and variable shuttles were introduced, but these are small potatoes compared to the variable fighter forces used in actual action and there is nowhere near the vast array of specialized craft and support vehicles that would be needed to support a military like the UNS. If anything, their forces should be larger and far, FAR more varied than a conventional military. However, just the opposite is true. Having analyzed the UNG military as such, I see no problem with the continued use of Armored and Super Part systems for the Valkyries when they are general purpose vehicles expected to operate in so many different, specialized roles. It's impossible to design a single vehicle for every specialized operation in which it is to be used, that's why specialized vehicles are built. But since this isn't the case nor policy of the UNG, it only makes sense that different hardware suites would be utilized to suit whatever specialized sortie in which the general purpose Valkyries are to be deployed.

Of course it is. My opinion and this particular point are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the VF-1 is much smoother and more rounded than nearly every other anime mecha of it's time. But digressing, there are many examples of smooth and supple humanoid mechanical designs in robot anime that appear non-human in proportion. Some of the more curved and rounded Mortar Headds from Five Star Stories are a perfect example. Just a note, I think the Q-Rau is a poor example to make your point about rounded, smooth mecha that are non-human in proportion. The Q-Rau basically IS a suit of armor and due to the size of the Zentradi pilots, the Q-Rau has to be designed to accommodate human appendages within it's arms, legs and head. I do understand your points and I agree, but the Q-Rau doesn't exactly work as a design for comparison.

I don't recall that shot, but I know there is another shot of the original QF-3000E Ghost fighters in SDF Macross. One episode in space clearly shows several Ghost fighters from the rear flying around the SDF-1, probably doing routine patrols. The official statistics tells us the SDF-1 Macross had 120 GHost fighter stationed aboard and the scene I mentioned above pretty much tells us they were used both at the beginning and during Space War I.

Yes, but this is not a discussion so much of the degree of mechanization as it is personal preference. All the same, one of the things I love about the humanoid robot designs of the Macross mecha is their clearly inhuman appearance. The Valkyries look more like robots than many other mechanical robot designs in anime. As an examples I've posted here before, the Gundams are so humanoid in appearance as to be almost human in proportion. If you took away scale, could you really tell the RX-78-2 Gundam was a giant robot and not just a guy in an armored suit like the Master Chief from Halo? That's why I love the Valkyries, because they are so decidedly non-human. If scale was taken away from the VF-1, I could instantly tell it had to be a robot. The torso and hips give it away completely. The YF-19 and YF-21 are even better, looking even more decided inhuman than even the VF-1, which is why they are some of my all time favorite designs. Going back to the head units of the VF-1, the VF-1J just looks more inhuman and mechanical, hence it's my favorite. The VF-1S is also somewhat mechanical, but just not as much and it's style simply isn't as attractive to my personal tastes that it would beat the VF-1J head unit.

No, the relevance has not been lost on us and many members have already mentioned the link between VF-25 and the 25th Anniversary. Tactics. There's a difference between having a workable defense and just sitting while the enemy pounds you. Mister red baddy has joints and exposed sections like engines that cannot be fully armored for maximum protection, just like any other machine. The more enemy fire one takes, the more likely it is that a chink in the armor will lead to serious trouble. We're also not sure exactly how invulnerable mister red is as yet or if mister red's supposed invulnerability is really that at all. It's a universal law in nearly all visual fiction that armor thickness varies according to the requirements of the plot

I admit, I love the VF-1J head unit the most of the VF-1 variants, but the VF-1S is also a really good design. I think the one aspect of the VF-1S head unit design I don't like is the fact that it's just a bit too simple. It looks just a bit too much like a helmet rather than a head. That's not inherently bad but, as I've mentioned before when stating my preference for explicitly mechanical looking designs as opposed to more "humanoid" creations, I like the more mechanical look of the VF-1J head unit.

Great work hh! Your template sure is interesting. It's very detailed and systematic. It makes it quite easy to change all kinds of things quickly. How do the gradients work?

I agree. I'm also gonna do a little soapboxing here, so read further at your own peril In defense of RT.com (I know, just bear with me here), it is an official website. Official websites, whether Robotech, Star Wars, Dune or Martha Stewart have always had a poor and well deserved reputation for ulterior motive. After all, these websites are extensions of the business and as such they are designed to promote and sell their products. This is as it should be, since it's company people investing their time and company money being spent to build, promote, update and maintain these websites at their own cost. However, fans have to realize this and if you ever join an official website it's understood that a lot of censorship and proactive policy will be taking place as the business promotes it's own. Personally, this is why I've tried to avoid most official websites and stick to the fan sites. If fans want to complain about Macross 7 or say Kawamori has gone insane or talk about import products, they are free to do so on a fansite. As much as we all may lament the burdens of being a fan (which means accepting all the bitching and whining that comes with it), I'll take MW over some official webnazi telling me to toe the company line. Of course, with Macross we don't really have that problem because the official website is Japanese

Doesn't look like it. It was back online for a couple days, but it's been down all evening.

It's possible. Not all the City Ships were identical even in Macross 7 (Macross 5 is an example), so it stands to reason there could be larger or smaller versions.

It's not. It's Episode 23 and it shows the Macross 5 fleet landing on the Planet Rax. Three New Macross Class ships are shown landing in the ocean.

Are we sure the word "network" is being used in a communications context here? It could be referring to the organizational structure of the UNG. Like the network of solar systems that makes up the human civilization of space; it's "Sphere of Influence" as they say.

No, he's right about that one point Zinjam. An episode of Macross 7 clearly shows three New Macross Class ships as part of the Macross 5 fleet (in addition to a VERY brief, and ONLY, shot of the Neo-Nupetiet-Vergnitzs class ship). briscojr84 has a picture which he has posted before that shows the multiple New Macross Class ships in the Macross 5 fleet. Hopefully he's watching this thread.

Even Better Then The Real Thing (U2) Around The World (Red hot Chili Peppers) Feeling Good (Muse) The Next Movement (The Roots)

Yeah, that's what I figured. Well, maybe a few important pieces of info will somehow filter through from this show.

Wolfman Yeah, yeah, yeah, hold on to your shorts. VF-5000 goodness of all kinds will be in the next update Fatalist Hehehe, mission accomplished! Glad you like it.

Weirdness. I wonder what kind of stuff they talk about? Is it actually worthwhile or is it all just crazy talk?

No one in their right mind would let mine anywhere near a brainwave control system

I have enough trouble relating to people in modern life, let alone 100 or more years from now. I'd settle for a life in this century.

I'd have to agree with both Radd and Elektrix. Alto is presented far more as a traditional hero archetype like Hikaru than anything approaching the misfit emo that most are mistaking for bishonen. In fact, Alto is appears to be an overachiever from what his classmates say of his skills and is looking for an outlet to both prove himself and achieve through his skills that which is beyond his current lot in life. He finds his current situation stagnating and is bored with that which he has already mastered. He's also very outspoken and opinionated, traits in direct opposition to silent personalities that internalize their frustrations (text book emo). Of course, being as young as he is, Alto is going to obviously bite off more than he can chew, but that's part of growing up.

The large majority of the population is not cut out to be a pilot. I think I'm safe judging my own lack of piloting skills without the pep talk. But you go hard there maverick

Well, maybe it's not as much a crowd pleaser as a VF-11, but here's my VF-5000B Arctic Camouflage fighter: ***EDIT***: A few coloring corrections made to the drawing.

I agree. Anime in general is known for a lot of bishonen. In the real robot genre, The Five Star Stories back in 1986 featured several major bishonen characters including the lead character.

Just what's on the site.

I'd never pass the screening they do for pilots, so I could never pilot a Valkyrie (eye sight problems). And yes I know Max wears glasses, but that's cheating I'm with Dante74, I'd stay far away from any Valkyire cockpit, because I'd be one of the first to get shot down.