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Vifam7

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Everything posted by Vifam7

  1. How about if the next Macross series went the Gundam Build Fighters route? - a show that blatently says "we just want to sell Valkyrie toys".
  2. I loved Tomytec's Gimix llne. Both the Macross kits and real-life aircraft kits were simply stunning. I could tell that a lot of thought went into these kits and nothing seemed half-a$$ed. It's just a shame that the kits didn't sell. Yeah, they were on the expensive side, but I felt the kits were well worth the cost. That said, I think Tomytec might have wasted resources on the battroid and gerwalk modes. When it comes to Macross models, fighter mode is where it's at. From what I can tell, it seems like many of the left overs are battroid kits or those expensive two-in-one battroid/fighter combo kits.
  3. Yes, it died. Supposedly, the Macross models completely bombed.
  4. And this what the carrier destroyer might look like once converted for F-35B use. Kinda reminds me of RN's former Invincible-class carriers.
  5. I've never used a HOTAS flight stick. How does one control the rudder on those things?
  6. No, it would still be the F-15. The latest variants of the F-15 come with the APG-82 AESA radar which is far superior to the Su-35's Irbis-E PESA radar. Plus the recent F-15X concept promises a bear loadout of up to 22 missiles. F-15s are far more reliable too. And that's before we get into the whole compatibility issue with the Sukhoi plane.
  7. Probably the easiest to get right now would be the Hobby Master Spitfire in 1/48 scale. You can check out the entire lineup here : http://hobbymastercollector.com/1-48Spitfire.html Some of them are long OOP. However, a new Mk.V Spitfire is due to be released in January. You can pre-order it here: https://www.flyingmule.com/products/HM-HA7850 or here: http://www.aikensairplanes.com/spitfire-mk-v-raf-no-303-polish-sqn-en951-jan-zumbach-raf/ Hobby Master diecast models are generally pretty good for the price. Other alternative is the old Franklin Mint Armour models (also in 1/48 scale). Don't know the quality of those models though.
  8. There actually was one. Back when the B-52s were brand new! Starring Natalie Wood and Karl Malden
  9. The mold is utilized by various different brands so it can be hard to say exactly what name it falls under. But, the first of these 1/100 models came under the Amercom brand name.
  10. Vifam7

    Hi-Metal R

    I think it's the most popular in terms of desiredness by Macross fans. Most can be confident that the VF-1 will be the very first release or eventual release in any Macross toy line. But the VF-4 is one of those Valks where it's iffy whether a manufacturer will do it. Plus, for Macross fans, it probably ranks up there as one of Kawamori's finest designs.
  11. Vifam7

    Hi-Metal R

    A hint to the next release? SNN Valkyrie!
  12. The problem with choosing anything other than the F-35 is that, Canada would face the possibility of losing the workshare on the F-35 production. That and losing half a billion Canadian dollars they already pumped into the program and get nothing in return. That said, if Canada picks the Gripen, I would love it as it would bring something different to the airshows (when they come down south). :)
  13. That's simply not true. https://theaviationist.com/2016/03/01/heres-what-ive-learned-so-far-dogfighting-in-the-f-35-a-jsf-pilot-first-hand-account/ https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/operational-assessment-the-f-35a-argues-full-program-procurement-and-concurrent?aliId=1895829143#_ftn10
  14. IIRC, it was due to the whole "budget sequestration" and "continuing resolutions" thing that capped the defense budget and slowed down the purchase of F-35s - which in turn meant that the economies of scale couldn't take place.
  15. The Brits for a brief moment considered EMALS catapults for their Queen Elizabeth-class. Unfortunately, they chickened-out due to cost.
  16. The USAF has lately not been shy of using expensive assets. Afterall, they used B-1s for close air support. If they're actually going to buy 100+ (maybe up to 200) B-21s, there will likely be enough assets to go around. Against an enemy that might have modern SAM systems, the B-21 will probably be the best asset to use for deep strike roles. However, if they don't buy enough B-21s, that could result in a huge capability gap.
  17. The problem is, how you can convince the bean counters and general public to spend billions on 5 different single mission aircraft when the recent air force/navy inventory is rife with aircraft that can more than adequately perform multiple mission types. The problem with single mission aircraft is that it also limits flexibility and the number of assets. For example, currently, a typical carrier air wing in terms of fixed wing combat aircraft assets consists of 4 SHornet squadrons, and a Growler squadron. If you break those 5 squadrons into specialized single mission types, you might end up short of the aircraft type you need in a given situation. Let's say 3 squadrons were A-6-like long range attack, one a EW squadron, and one a F-14-like fleet defender squadron. Well, if theater had no need for SEAD and no opposing air force, then 2 of the squadrons on the deck is basically useless.
  18. The F-16 and F-18 were never envisioned to be light attack. They were both to be light weight day-fighters carrying nothing more than 2~4 short-range AAMs, and a gun. No radar and no bomb racks of any kind. But almost immediately into development more equipment and missions were asked and put on the F-16. By the time of the Block15 , it was far removed from the basic day fighter envisioned by Col. Boyd and the "Fighter Mafia" The F-15 was technically supposed to be a air-superiority fighter only with "not a pound for ground". But the fact was McDonnell Douglas engineers knew it would eventually be tasked for ground attack and allowed room in the design for it. Hence the reason why they were able to propose the Strike Eagle in short order. Hard to say that the F-35 is a disaster. It has yet to be proven. The only real demerit it has currently is its high cost. Though that will come down so long as the buyers don't back down. Keeping in mind that high cost is what really doomed the production of the F-22. If Congress had allowed Israel, Japan, Australia, and perhaps other friendly countries to buy the F-22, the cost might have come down enough to continue production and not have required the F-35 to take on so many roles. The F-35 isn't really light attack. Total weapons payload is 18,000lbs - whch is exactly the same as the old A-6.
  19. The thing is, modern wing design, materials, and engine power have pretty much made VG wings unnecessary and obsolete. That said, if VG wings is coming back into fashion, maybe we can also bring back twin-booms (a la P-38/Sea Vixen/Vampire)? Like these:
  20. The F-35 will work out just fine. It's starting to turn the corner. The original Tomcat wasn't perfect out the door either. Afterall, for much of its service life it had to make do with the "interim" TF30 engines. The Israelis chose the F-35 over the F-15SE. However they recently showed interest in buying more F-15s - not the SEs, but new build F-15s that have the latest advances (perhaps incorporating features that Boeing recently proposed in the F-15X) ~ not as an alternative to the F-35 but to replace their aging F-15A/B/C/D Baz fleet.
  21. If the F-14 (and F-15) wasn't so expensive in the first place, that might have been a possibility.
  22. I don't know about that. Recent reports were suggesting that those 197? or so USAF F-15Cs will not be getting their EW equipment upgrade and thus the USAF is possibly already considering retirement of the whole F-15C fleet.
  23. Tomcats are obsolete. Big giant targets for stealth fighters like the ones that China is starting to develop. No need to bring back ancient machines with outdated aerodynamics.
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