dialNforNinja

Say March, how's the Varauta heavy update coming? It's been a while since you mentioned it. And I probably should do what Paramat suggested, but aside from the VF-27Kai I've been drawing original variable devices to use in a noninfringing game, if I ever get a working computer again to model them and the programming skill to stich Irrlicht, Irrklang, and a whole lot of behavior and content scripting together to make on. The power of (my lack of) Macross30 compels me.

The reason I like the VF-9 (aside from the weapons assigned to it in the game, which are noncanonical as far as I can discover) is that it's so small compared to any other VF, but still has full transformation ability and is super sleek in F, unlike most smaller mecha (coughcoughLegiosscough) and the articulated cockpit pod in G is a nifty unique feature. Being so small and hence light and with the wing layout, it's no wonder it had better maneuverability than its contemporaries.

Maybe that's the explanation, then! Out of curiousity, what's the polycount on this? It is beautifully slick.

My SMS route OC pilot from Academy mode, as fictionalized for a unified backstory that includes my OC wingman as well and stitches it together with the second version of herself from the Festivals route built for using song based units, so she is her own support character. Obviously, there's no customizing mecha to that degree in the game, only adjusting the power of the weapons/engines/armor etc. as they already exist in the canon mecha. I can go on at some length if you're actually interested...

Aw, it's that other VF-14, not the cool one. It is a well done rendition though.

edit- never mind, too late. I will say that the Milia VF-9 is my favorite unit in Macross Triangle Frontier, since they took away the VF-27's cluster missles from Ultimate. I wonder if it'll be in M30?

Made this unit up for my Macross Triangle Frontier pilot, Miranda Astra (signed as a five point star) Rockwell. Since Mira isn't a hoplophobe, she retains the Quantum Beam Rifle, though it's chromed and has a (completely nonfunctional) microphone shaped addition to the stock to be incorporated into mecha-scale choreography. The barrier knife in the shield is replaced by a speaker pod gun, so the hip dongles are remodeled from uselessly light machineguns to carry a VF-25 style one on each side, and the head is very close to the VF-27 Beta Normal Type except for having a sculpted lower face. The SES Boosters are, naturally, optional. The shoulder speakers can fold down and be visually the same as the stock mechas, thoguh they don't have the same degree of protection for the joint due to the more intricate structure. She uses Sunbird Squadron colors, aka "Player1" in my game so where Brera's Lucifer is the top row, Miranda's Sandalphon is the bottom row. Wingman colors for my game reverse the yellow and bright orange on the Grace Type.

Just the fact that it's more new stuff on the Varauta mecha would make it good, judging by the preveiw thumbs you've posted I reckon something more along the lines of "inspires end zone dance" will be more accurate. I'll put the Alma up next time I'm in reach of the real computer instead of my PSPotato.

I've got a 'pretty good' line art version of the Queadlunn Alma from Macross the Ride made from a (fairly large) photo of the battroid from a con - it's still undersized by your standards, but small line art is better than no line art... Want to see it? I mention it because it follows the same transformation style from the FBz-99, VA-3 and Feios. If I can find the original image again, I once did the same for cockpit mode EX-Gear from some GK or possibly toy, if there was a toy.

Yeah, I did meant to ask that of March, but got my names screwed up again somehow. I don't even have the excuse of them being similar this time... For my own part, I'm pretty good about keeping only shadow on the shadows layer(s,) only highlights on the highlights layer(s,) and only white or black on the designated layers for cleaning line art/adding panel lines/etc, but yeah, anywhere that's actually intended for the multiply-on-color stage tends to get whatever's on the brush, unless I specifically need to do something different with it. Even so, those are some good looking pieces as well, so I'm not sorry for that. Same question, Mr. March?

Technical question Sketchley - are you actually picking the highlight colors and painting them in normally, or using Soft/Hard Light layers and varying transparency to adjust the intensity? The first lets you do things with specularity, while the second makes changing the color layer underneath easier, so they both have their pros... I tend to use the latter myself, especially for things like 3d texture master files, precisely because it makes it so easy to swap out the base color scheme.

Don't worry too much about my nitpicking - I said from the very first one that they looked great, and that was no lie. I'd be fiddling endlessly in search of perfection, and that's no way to roll out an update in a timely manner. WRT Yamato versions, I'd certainly be happy to see some if it's possible, and with the M7 blurays coming out now would be the time if ever... hint hint, guys!

Oh, it certainly CAN be done, I had a 3d model for that assembly on the dead machine, but I wouldn't want to try supporting the weight of a figure with it at under 1/48, like I said, even assuming diecast main parts and the 9 piece version. Mechanical advantage is all the wrong way to ease along hips or the waist with weak/complex mechanisms, my main objection to the YF-24 family after the awkward VA-1MS style "angel wings."

head antenna bases - no highlught on near, no shadow on far, those surfaces are flat. Maybe highlights on the grey now that it's darker? far leg, the highlight should have the left edge aligned closer to the 'fang' denoting the corner of the ankle fairing like the near leg, that curve is pronounced even if there's no actual creased edge All just suggestions of course.

Another color tweak - on the near wing, the highlight that joins the leading edge should probably be on the upper side of the line, and definately follow the shape of the root piece rather than cutting across the outer panel. The little stub of the retracted inner panel at the top back is probably too farr back to get a highlight to separate it, but the current one makes it look like part of the root.

March - there was alwys supposed to be room for color in the third eye chakra gem, but the line to show it as inset was a bit too thick. I'm only working from normal sized paper and have worked all-digital for over a decade aside from napkin sketches until becoming computer-bereft, so a few slips were inevitable. As the shiny newness wears off I see more and more of them...

Exactly. That wouldn't be so bad, but in gerwalk the leading edge part has to end up stacked vertically with the fusilage part, and fitting a linkage that allows them to work both ways into the limited space available is really rough. It's why I had the parts reversed on the Skate (see 'Macross-ish 3d models' thread) and did it as an original instead of a straight FZ-109 model - the hips just wouldn't work without being really complex the canon way. Reversing the arm let me give it forward lasers too

March - new colors are looking pretty good, though the shade of black seems to vary between shots - still like the purer blue. I also preferred the lighter grey accents but you can't really argue with the screen shots when they agree. I note that the little knobbler at the top of the forehead is supposed to be dark, though, like a mecha widow's peak. I'd love to see one of these with a big high collared cape, too! 8^D

Not too good, despite how simply it's drawn the hip connection has to have about a half dozen finicky little parts to actually work. (7 or 9 for my best approximation depending on whether you use ball joints or sturdier, single axis ones, not the two as drawn) I doubt it could be done under 1/55 without part swapping, and 1/48 to approach acceptably durable. They have to transform two different ways for gerwalk and battroid since you can't do interpenetration or morphing in the real world.

Thinking about it more, they should probably be a slightly darker color overall. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/vlcsnap2012090800h37m38.png/ The actual animation colors are too dark to make out details, but there's a fair bit of room between that and either of our interpretations.

For leg detail - the front and outside crease lines are also panel lines, unlike the FZ-109 the gunpod bay opens on a front hinge for less slipstream induced strain when opening to draw the gun flying forward in G. The inside of that line to the middle of the smooth curve from front to inside, is the main gear door, opening in the same direction, and most of the inner panel opens on a rear hinge to let the leg missile noses peek out to fire. There should be a firing port just below the knee on the outside, but for the most part they are smooth, UNS style legs with not much more detail to see.

Definitely go with the midnight blue, I was just being lazy since I knew your version was on the way. Those are completely awesome, March! I hope you'll do one for F and the high angle G as well, but B alone is great.

There was apparently an IHP gk at one point, though that was at least part swap variable and this one looks F only... I'm pretty sure it too was a gk though, I found a picture that's pretty surely the same sculpt painted olive green where the black should be.

Take a look over in Fan Works...

A! I finally camep up with a concise phrasing for my objections to the M3 VF-14! If the VF-4 looks like it skinned a plane and is wearing it as a pelt, the M3 VF-14 is that plane. It's all skinny and freaky-like, especially the two chest flaps just hanging out there, and the exposed inner arm where it telescopes to pull the hand under out outer forarm in F.