Mr March

The nostalgia toy market has to be significant. I've never seen sales figures and I doubt adult nostalgia buyers come close to the pre-teen toy markets. But just based on encounters with adult toy owners in everyday life and the sheer size of the product lines year after year, it's obvious there is a sizeable market. These companies wouldn't be making these massive product lines if they weren't selling. I can't speak for collectors, because I'm not one myself, but some adult fans can buy an awful lot of stuff. I've seen collections that would blow your mind (many here on MW have pictures of their vast toy landscapes). I think it's got to the point where even non-fans buy toys in adulthood, though to a much lesser degree. You look around the average office and see how many people have toys on their desks. In certain industries it's even more common. I remember going to visit my friend at Critical Mass (a graphic design company). The entire office of some 50 employees was a multi-colored forest of fandom merchandise. Every desk had anime figures, comic books in bags, Simpsons statues, film monsters, Pixar film plushies, super hero figures and there was even a fella that had two VF-1 Yammies on his desk.

Very interesting points, but I'd just like to add a few considerations to the discussion. Laser weapons do dramatically increase the speed of attack and the effective range, but you still have to detect and aim the weapon. Once outside visual range, lasers can only hit what the radar system can detect. Mecha combat in Macross still takes place at visual range for the most part (with a few exceptions like the opening of DYRL). This is likely due to factors such as point defense and evasion. Variable fighters can interdict long range weapons like missiles with gun pods or lasers and stealth systems allow craft to avoid detection over long ranges. Within visual range, the performance of the Valkyires are such that aiming is even more difficult except at anything other than point blank range (which pretty much describes the vast majority of mecha combat in Macross). Speaking of detection it's likely variable fighters have neither the size of radar required nor the power needed to detect objects over vast distances. Whereas the SDF-1 Macross and other space ships can detect each other at least a light second or more out, it's likely Valkyrie radar can't even reach a light second. I think the furthest we've ever seen a Valkyrie detect anything was when Diamond Force found City 7 in Macross 7, which appeared under 10,000 kilometers away. I think only specialized Valkyrie units, such as the VE-1 Elint Seeker, can detect objects over long ranges. Aiming a weapon over vast distances becomes more difficult the further the target. A very small fraction of a degree adjustment in the direction the laser weapon itself can mean a difference of several kilometers or more by the time the laser travels a light second. When attempting to fire upon a 12 meter tall Battroid some 300,000 kilometers away, being off by even a small fraction means you won't come anywhere near hitting the target. Even space ship combat in Macross doesn't seem to take place much further than a light second, likely due to the practical problems described above (and big, slower moving space ships are much easier to hit at long ranges than tiny fighters). The SDF-1 Macross typically fired at targets less than a light second out such as the initial battle of Space War I when it destroyed two Zentradi scouts 280,000 kilometers away (Episode 1, "Booby Trap").

Ack! No you didn't forget, but I did I'll have to correct the black hands for the VF-1J Milia in the next update

Comedy gold

LOL As a stereotypical polite Canadian I'll apologize to the stereotypical ignorant Americans for derailing our topic In all seriousness, the tangent is off but hasn't this thread already gone way off topic?

Never played it, but the color schemes for the Valkyries are kinda cool, from what I've seen in the manual scans

Very true, but the end result of the Halifax construction wasn't really my point. Regardless, it's a relevant issue. Oh yes, I remember reading about the cuts during the Trudeau years. It's so funny that he was accused of being such a tyrant when he used the military during the FLQ crisis when his military policies were anything but favorable I suppose it isn't the first time a new government has run high off the lesser know achievements of a previous administration. Hell, the outgoing Federal Liberals were the first to balance the budget, something for which the newly incumbent Conservatives seem to have taken most of the credit I wasn't aware of a hybrid carrier promised by the Conservatives, but yeah, a naval consideration was what I had heard. Actually, I heard rumors of a new White Paper and everything. It all sound quite exciting there for a while. Not sure what will become of it.

A Note About...Lasers Probably no future weapon in all of science fiction has been abused more than the laser. Sadly, the Macross franchise is no exception. Real lasers are continuous beams, they are invisible in a vacuum and they propagate at the speed of light, much faster than the eye can see. Exsedol's joke makes an excellent point in fact; so many fictional energy weapons are called lasers, yet do not function as such. Such inconsistencies precipitated many early fan debates as to the true nature of fictional "laser" weapons. You can well imagine the viciousness of the arguments Personally, when I use the term laser within the context of Macross it should be understood the fictional laser of the Macross franchise is not a true laser weapon. As such, going further into the nature and function of Macross "lasers" is really opening up big pandora's box of speculation. Needless to say, the function of lasers in Macross as they appear in the anime is good enough for me.

The Valkyrie gun pod is a firearm used within an action/adventure drama for the purposes of entertainment. It's use (and misuse) is to be expected within certain boundaries of implausibility, same as firearms in other similar entertainment like Transformers, Star Wars, Serenity or Live Free or Die Hard. Moral of the story: all hail endless ammunition until the script demands an empty! Zinjark Sharks with fricken lasers!

Sounds like Noyhauser is definitely in the know, especially more than me I will add that keeping Quebec happy is a bit of a misnomer, though it does have influence over decision making to a degree. But, the government military contracts and international deals made to benefit domestic companies isn't unique in favour to Quebec. The decision to go with the MARCOM's new Halifax-Class frigates in particular utilize extensive domestic contracts which benefit New Brunswick more than any other province (though a few have been built in Quebec as well). Also, the push to increase funding to all branches of the military, as well as a new mandate for our forces, has been growing public support and building within political circles for the last decade. Ironically, it was the last Federal Liberal government that began to process of military budget reform and the current Federal Conservative government has only increased their budget commitments (though like the former Liberals, the Conservatives so far remain staunchly in support of debt reduction as the spending priority). It's my understanding that the Canadian government originally became involved in the JSF program precisely because of the proposed multi-role potential of the F-35. I think a lot of pressure came from AIRCOM to make certain that the next major purchase for the military should be a very versatile multi-role fighter that could be utilized in all kinds of operations and I think they may have also had eventual Naval deployment in mind. This could all be rumor, but that's what I've heard in the grapevine. Perhaps noyhauser knows more. Dante74 Ironically, it was the left that got Canada involved in the JSF if I remember correctly and the our current right wing government is even more committed to the military, so I'm hopeful we'll get the F-35. Hey, I may take you up on that offer. I could use help with a profile or two

That's cool. On the topic of the advancement of ballistic/explosive sciences, I'm sure we're not going so far as to expect destructive energies an entire order of magnitude different from conventional weapons (with the exception of warship and reaction weaponry). We'd probably do well to assume parity. For example, the prequel Valkyries (VF-0 and SV-51) were powered by conventional engines with armor equivalent to a tank. The gun pods of those Valkyries were slightly heavier than an A-10 and so the weapons were just a little above the destructive potential of the heaviest modern aircraft cannon. When the VF-1 rules the battleground just a year later in Space War I, all the mecha use thermonuclear reaction engines, capable of powering energy converting armor to levels much greater than conventional tank armor like the VF-0 and SV-51. So, they needed a monster 55 mm gun to give Valkyries the firepower of a frigate in an age of super strong armor materials. Hence, the GU-11 would be useful against the most heavily armored mecha. The Valkyrie's missiles would also follow suit. OverTechnology would no doubt advance ballistic and explosive sciences enough to maintain parity. It think this is all ultimately just rambling speculation, but it helps make sense of the anime fiction.

Wow, you weren't kidding! It's like a time machine back to 1970's era comic book printing. Fear thy newsprint!

We aim to please

Using the square black piece Hope that helps

The hell you say! Man, I have to listen to all sorts of anti-aesthetic yammering about the F-35, but that's nothing compared to the X-32. I can just imagine the fan revolt if Kawamori designed a variable version

Totally random. Been a Macross fan since I was a youngin', got reintroduced during the Macross Plus era and some time in 6+ years ago I was searching the net for Macross information and came here. I never even knew when Macross World began and only found out about it's history a year back or so. I think it was in a thread similar to this one. I still find it hard to believe I was one of the first people here; I could have sworn MW had been around for years before I stopped by. Strangest thing.

Didn't realize it was a serious issue. I use Milia on my website but I'm not sure why. I think I just artbitrarily chose one and tried to stick to it. Perhaps Miria just sounds too familiar, like Maria. Not that there's anything wrong with Maria (it's a fine name) but Milia sounds more foreign and exotic. Hence, more alien.

That vapor shockwave is amazing. Never seen anything like it.

I think so too, I just don't want to see another fighter craft fiasco. We Canadians have had more than enough of that in our history Hehehe, another hopeful. Btw, I love your new Avatar Oh, sadly my government loves to waste millions of dollars just for fun But I think odds are good we'll get the F-35.

I don't think it’s a stretch at all. It's important to note no one is suggesting a magical reworking of the physics of ballistics. At the same time, to assume OverTech had zero impact on the sciences of ballistics and explosives is absurd, IMO. A look at the last 100 years of ballistics and explosives tech demonstrates enough significant change. To suggest ballistic tech ends at APFSDS shells made of tungsten shot at 900 m/s seems unimaginative to me for a sci-fi show. The VF-0 armed with a 35 mm gun pod dispatches SV-51s Battroids with Energy Converting Armor as hard as a tank. From there, firepower only increases up to 55 mm gun pods. So the benchmark for a gun pod is a weapon on par with the GAU-8 30 mm or better. In a comparison between the VF-1 and A-10, the A-10 weighs nearly two tons less than the VF-1 Valkyrie and has only a third of the VF-1’s thrust. So the VF-1 could mount a 30 mm GAU-8 cannon with the same firepower of the A-10 yet fly faster and enjoy more stable firing with the added benefit of vernier stabilization if required. If I recall, there are also methods to handle recoil more effectively such as muzzle brakes and venting (techniques considered for the A-10). AFAIK, there is quite a difference between an air tight cartridge meant to resist water and dust versus a cannon made for extended use in a vacuum. There are numerous other design necessities to consider, not least of which is cooling. I think it may be a misnomer to state energy weapons are perfected in Macross. The lack of universal adoption would suggest efficiency governs their use more than practicality. Perhaps ballistics are more stable, use less power, can fire more rapidly, handle heat management better, suffer fewer effective counter measures, cost less, easier to build, et cetera. The VF-4 was a beast of a variable fighter at 14 tons so perhaps practical beam weapons simply weight too much (the VF-1 strike cannon is anything but small). The UNS favored energy weapons only in small-to-medium bore configurations, perhaps because of numerous disadvantages with practical large-bore energy guns. If memory serves the early gun pod is a medium to short-range weapon. Valkyries engage in long range combat using missiles, not gun pods. The one time I recall the gun pod used at long range is Max (big surprise) in SDF Macross firing upon battle pods at extreme range. As the variable fighters progress to the VF-11 Thunderbolt, we see the gun pod becoming a universal weapon. The VF-11 is a largely missile-less Valkyrie and is armed with a smaller caliber 30 mm gun and more ammo. Seems the gun pod is not only being improved but also expanded in the role as a practical weapon.

Sounds reasonable. As I said, I'm pretty much constrained by the canon appearance of the VF-11C within the anime itself. So I have to keep the VF-11C line art the same. I'm starting to like these little comparison diagrams. I'm going to have to find a space for them on my website. They're very useful and everyone seems to like them.

Her VF-11B is featured in the "Macross 7 Plus (Top Gamlin)" segment shown after episode 20. The detailing on the fighter clearly identifies it as a VF-11B (the line details just rear of the cockpit are present, something the C line art lacks and thus instantly identifying it as a B variant.)

Well, I'm not sure what to follow in that situation. I know the reason for simplifying the line art for television versus OVA/film. But given that the line art is canon with respect to the series itself, I think I have to stick with the line art. Regardless, I guess one could go either way, detailed VF-11C or simplified VF-11C.

In Macross 7, Milia operated: VF-1J Valkyrie VF-11B Thunderbolt (seen in a flashback about Gamlin) VF-17S Nightmare VF-22S Sturmvogel II They were all customized in her signature red colors.

Welcome to Macross World, ver CO! As azrael has mentioned, there are few mechanical differences between the B and C. However, there are a few small visual differences beyond just colors. See the picture below (VF-11B on the left, VF-11C on the right)