PC Valkyrie

Hi all. I'm an old time member and I have not been active here for quite some time. Love SDF Macross, DYRL, and Macross Plus. Have seen Zero and Frontier too, but I have not seen Delta. I just have simple question: which episode of Macross Delta does the classic VF-1 appear?

I haven't posted here in AGES. Originally joined the original Macrossworld back in the early 2000's. Like the OP and a good number of members here, I'm in my mid-late 30's. Robotech and Transformers introduced me to the concept of transforming mecha, and I have been hooked ever since. The original SDF Macross TV series had the awesome story, but the most of the animation/visuals pale in comparison to DYRL. I absolutely LOVE DYRL, and it continues to be my favourite Macross anime. Sure, the story of the Hikaru, Misa, Minmay and the rest are rushed, but I get to enjoy it in 2 hours. And everybody knows it was a visual masterpiece in terms of the hand-drawn anime. The characer designs are the best and the updated VF-1 look was simply awesome. The muscial score of the movie was another plus for me. Macross II had very nice opening/closing songs, and the animation was pretty good too. I just found the VF's to be not animated with the same amount of "detail" as I would like. Macross Plus' main strength, in my opinion was the mecha battle scenes........nothing else compares to the hand drawn animated visuals of the YF-19 vs the YF-21, especially during the climatic battle between Isamu and Guld. Never saw the Macross 7 TV series, but I did see Macross 7 Dynamite and The Galaxy is Calling Me. Let's just say I have no desire to see the TV series, and end it at that. Macross Zero was a dissappoitment for me too. Didn't like the hand drawn animation style and character designs at all. The mecha looked OK, but it's hard to accept that those designs were supposed to precede the VF-1. I'm currently 2/3 of the way through watching Macross Frontier. I find the animation style to be a cross between Macross Zero and Macross Plus. I do like the new VF-25's. Visually, it is satisfying. As most of you can tell, I appreciate the visual aspect of anime and mecha design. A good story helps. With DYRL, there was awesome animation, classic VF-1 design, beautiful character design, while SDF Macross provided the wonderful story. Macross Plus was the Top Gun of Macross and I also enjoyed the mecha action/animation. After that, I did not enjoy Zero and the Dynamite 7/Galaxy is Calling Me. Macross Frontier keeps me interested because of the mecha and to a lesser extent, the story. Am I getting old?......yes. But I still enjoy Macross Frontier now for mostly the same reasons I enjoyed Macross back in the 1980's. It's just that Macross Zero and 7 seemed to deviate from those aspects of Macross which I like.

Haven't posted on MW a LONG time....... Does anyone know whether we will see a 1/60 Max VF-1S (as in DYRL)? That's the one valk I'm hoping to get in this 1/60 size.

Wow, haven't posted on MW for AGES. Bought the DYRL remastered set and got it last week. Just bought a cheap regionless DVD player and enjoyed the new DVD yesterday on my 42" Plasma from a proper viewing distance. Compared to the FX bootleg DVD, this new remastered edition is SO MUCH brighter, and clearer. Many details that I could not appreciate before are very clear and bright. And the grain that people have complained about is really not that noticeable unless you stand close to the TV. Now, I agree that the grain is much more noticeable when I view it on my laptop computer, but I'm also very close to the screen. Also, you should note that the factory BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST settings of a TV and computer monitor usually are too high to emphasize the "WOW" factor on initial purchase. With proper calibration (like using a THX optimizer on some commerically available DVD's), where the brighness and contrast are usually turned down significantly, I'm sure the grain that people complain about will not be as noticeable. Don't get me wrong, the grain is still present, but it is not anywhere as bad as what people say if you watch it on a properly calibrated (for home theatre) TV and at a proper viewing distance. Overall, I think the film looks pretty darn good, especially for a 24 year old film. However, I am disappointed that they did not remix the audio to a true Dolby Digital 5.1.

Many people here seem to be classic muscle car fans..... This new upcoming car is of interest. Here are off the press specs of the upcoming Ford Shelby GT500. The latest tests (SAE) shows an ouput of 500HP and 480lb-ft torque from the supercharged 5.4L V8. I estimate a 0-60mph time somewhere in the mid 4 second range. Technical Specifications Type V-8 Manufacturing location Romeo, Michigan Configuration Iron Block and Aluminum Heads Intake manifold Cast-aluminum with Roots-type supercharger and air-to-water intercooler Exhaust manifold Cast iron Crankshaft Forged steel Throttle Body Dual 60 mm, electronic Valvetrain DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder Valve diameter Intake: 37.0 mm; Exhaust: 32.0 mm Pistons Forged aluminum Connecting Rods Cracked forged steel I-beams Ignition Coil-on-plug Bore x stroke 3.552 x 4.165 in. / 90.2 x 105.8 mm Displacement 330 cu. in. / 5,409 cc Horsepower 500 hp @ 6,000 rpm (SAE Certified) Torque 480 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm (SAE Certified) Compression ratio 8.4:1 Redline 6,250 rpm Idle Speed in Neutral 750 rpm Engine control system Spanish Oak PCM Required fuel Premium Fuel Injection Electronic returnless sequential Oil capacity / type 6.5 quarts / Motorcraft 5W-50 Full Synthetic Motor Oil Coolant capacity 21 quarts Peak Boost 9 psi

When I was in highschool in the 1980's a classmate told me that GERWALK stood for: Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-joint Don't know if it's official, but it sounded cool!! Anyways, I always loved GERWALK mode. It's the one mode which displays the uniqueness of the transforming valkyrie: it's a hybrid mode which has the features of both a plane and robot. Isn't it the most versatile mode as well?

For those who received their copy already, any comments about what is in the Gundam 0083 section?

I think it 's a good move if you pass on the Elise. How often do you drive on the track? On the streets, the Elise will be a sore (literally) driving experience. 911 or Cayman are both great, IMO, if you've got the cash.

That's a great looking ride. I actually like the lines of the E36 over the E46 3 series. I feel ashamed for asking (because I should know this), but what's the power output from your engine?

Oh come on A1, you know the M3 is a 3 series that's heavily modified by BMW's Motorsport division. When I last looked at the 3 series brochure in 2005, the M3 coupe and cabrio were in there..... Naturally aspirated high reving 3.2L inline 6 making 333 peak HP and a relatively low 262 lb-ft of peak torque in North American trim. 0-60mph in under 5 seconds according to most car magazines, and 1/4mile time of low-mid 13's. The current E46 M3 is in the last year of production (the new E90 M3 will debut sometime in 2007/2008 with a new V8 making >400HP). The current car is a great handling car which provides very high levels of driving involvement and thrills if you can take the car to its limits on a track. The steering feel and balanced weight distribution contributes to high levels of confidence for the driver driving at the limits. I've experienced this on an autocross course and the M3 is impressive indeed. I almost bought one last year, but the practicality and convenience of 4 doors for my family and a slightly more comfortable ride made me go for the C55 AMG instead (which has 95% of the handling of the M3 and 105% of the straightline acceleration).

Have to chime in here from time to time..... Yes, the new 911 Turbo certainly looks very impressive on paper. The performanc stats are in supercar territory. This is a supercar which I can drive everyday as a daily driver!! While the Corvette Z06 still delivers more bang for the buck, the 911 gets you more exclusivity, and bragging rights. With AWD, a rear seat to place little kids in, and a decent sized trunk in the front, it's the most practical supercar I know of. What I found interesting is that the factory numbers from Porsche indicate that the tiptronic is FASTER than the manual gearbox. With torque converter lockup in the forward gears and very fast shift times, the traditional power loss and delays in shifting associated with "slush boxes" are no longer an issue with "performance oriented" automatic transmissions like Porsche's tiptronic and AMG's Speedshift. And with manual modes on these automatic transmissions, you can still get complete control of the gear selections when you want. * Top track speed: 193mph * 0-60 mph: 3.7 sec. manual/3.4 sec. Tiptronic S * 50-75 mph: 3.8 maunal/3.5 Tiptronic S * Acceleration 1/4 mile: 11.8 sec. maunual/11.6 sec. Tiptronic S

Got my GBP-1 a couple of weeks ago. I watched DYRL with my son to show him the brief 1.5 seconds the GBP-1 VF-1J appears in the film. He found it quite neat to see dad's new toy on TV shooting all those little missles. I noticed that the tips of the missles are yellow in the movie. The tips are red on the toy. Is this a mistake?, or are the missle tips red in the TV series?

I don't quite agree with your conclusions. I've never even sat in a F430, Ford GT or the Corvette Z06 yet, so I'm basing my thoughts on the various reviews I've read/seen about these cars. The following numbers are from Road & Track. F430 0-60: 3.5s 1/4mile: 11.7s@120.1mph slalom: 70.9mph Ford GT 0-60: 3.6s 1/4mile: 11.7s@125.6mph slalom: 69.6mph Corvette Z06 0-60: 3.9s 1/4mile: 12.1s@120.7mph slalom: 69.6mph I don't think the GT or Z06 "beats" the F430 in terms of objective acceleration and handling numbers. Yes, the GT has a higher trap speed at the end of the 1/4mile, so it will eventually overtake the F430 in a long drag race. I would be interested to know their lap times around the Nurburgring track in Germany (widely considered to be a good measure of a car's overall performance), but I don't have that info on me. Regardless of the numbers reflecting acceleration and handling, most people who are in the market for the F430 will not change their mind just because the cheaper Ford GT's performance is on par or even slightly superior. "Performance per dollar" is usually not in the mind of most who can afford a Ferrari. People buy a F430 for a number of things that are unique to the Ferrari. 1) The latest transfer of technology from Forumula 1 (like the E-differential, the wickedly fast paddle shift sequential gearbox, advanced aerodynamics to generate so much downforce without the need for any "wings", the "manitinno" switch on the steering wheel to change the car's dynamics, etc, etc, etc). 2) The visceral roar and linear powerband of the naturally aspirated high revving (8500rpm redline) 4.3L V8 making 112 HP/Litre. No supercharger or turbo required. 3) The "prestige" and cache of owning a Ferrari. The F430 outperforms the older 360 in almost everyway, so it is indeed a step forward, not backward, for Ferrari's entry level car. When the 360 was introduced, there was no Gallardo or Ford GT as direct competitors, so of course it was unique. It is very commendable that Ford GT can match the performance of the F430 at a cheaper price. Ferrari knows it can charge a premium for its cars because they know they have the prestige/heritage/reputation/technology over cars like the GT. Ferrari is having difficulty building enough F430's to keep up with demand. I don't think the GT is selling anywhere as well, even though it is so much cheaper. If I had the money for an exotic car, I would pick the F430 over the GT in a heartbeat.

Husband, dad, and MD.

Great pics. Haven't posted here in a long time.... Anyways, I pre-ordered the GBP armour from HLJ quite a few months ago. I still haven't got an email notice that they are billing me or shipping it to me. Anybody else in the same situation?? Or should I be concerned and contact HLJ?

Actually, lots of S54 engines of the current E46 M3 "blew up" in the early 21st century. There were many blown engines when the current M3 was initially introduced. This resulted in the infamous rod bearing recall......not something BMW M was very proud of. The S54 engine is very highly strung as an engine (it would have to be to produce 333HP from just 3.2L). There have also been catastrophic VANOS (BMW variable valve timing) failures, as well as a number of SMG transmission related problems for a good number of members from M3 forums.

The Audi S4 is great.....great performance car with 4 doors so the family can ride along. I got 2 car seats at the back of my C55 AMG.

hehehehe......I was expecting some major Mercedes/AMG bashing here. I agree that AMG is not the brand to get if you want purer sports car experience. As I said before, the philosophy to making a "performance" car is different between AMG and M. AMG historically always wanted low end torque so the driver can access that power easily without major downshifting. AMG also tunes their cars to be slightly more comfortable for day to day driving on the streets. In contrast, BMW M has always used high reving motors where you have to rev to get the power. BMW is always praised for their superior handling feel and feedback, especially when at the handling limits on a track. The cost is usually a harsher ride in urban driving. Interestingly, their approaches seem to be converging. As mentioned above, AMG has a new naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 which has 4 valves per cylinder and variable valve timing. It makes about 510HP @6800rpm. It is billed as a high reving motor with redline at 7200rpm. Not high as a Honda VTEC or BMW M engine, but much higher than their current engines. This engine also has lower torque numbers than their current supercharged 5.4L 3 valve V8. On the other hand, BMW's engines are also increasing in displacement (5.0L V10 in the new M5 and M6, and it is speculated that the next M3 will have a 4.X L V8 making >400HP to replace the current 333HP 3.2L I6). Furthermore, Mercedes' upcoming engines will all move to 4 valve design. The first of the new ones came out in the SLK350 and now the C350 and E350. The upcoming new S class will have a new 5.5L 4 valve V8 making 388HP. I thought long and hard earlier this year deciding between the current M3 and C55AMG, so I've done quite a bit reading in forums and tests of both cars. Also got to drive the SMG M3 on an autocross course and my friend's 6 speed M3 cabrio extensively on the streets. My conclusions: Both the M3 and C55 are sub-5 second cars to 60mph and both will do the 1/4 mile in the low to mid 13's. Both have similar grip levels on a skidpad and similar slalom speeds according to the magazines with a slight edge to the M3 in that department. Both take the same 8.22 minutes to lap the high speed Nurburgring track in Europe. However, the M3 feels subjectively better at the handling limits. There is better steering feel and the chassis communicates better feedback in the M3. This is where the M3 usually wins out in the comparison tests. If you track your car, the M3 is the car of choice, hands down. It feels more sure footed at the handling limits than the C55. However, the C55 is so much more easier to drive fast around town because of superior torque low in the rpm range. The natrually aspirated 5.4L 3 valve V8 makes 362HP and 376lb-ft torque, with most of that accessible under 3000rpm. From 3000 rpm to the 6700 redline, hold on!!! On the streets, very few people will ever take either car to their handling limits, so I thought that the M3's forte will rarely be exploited. With that compromise, the more comfortable and luxurious C55 won out in my mind. That and 4 doors help with 2 baby car seats in the back....

Some comments about Mercedes and AMG, as I'm quite familiar with their virtues and "problems". Since the late 1990's, the electronics in Mercedes cars have become more complex. At the same time, there were some cost cutting measure taken in the production side of things. They stopped "overengineering" their cars, as was the case beforehand. The combination of these 3 factors has resulted in cars which have had below average initial quality and long term reliability. While their motors have remained rock solid, almost all of the problems relate to electronic glitches and bugs. The biggest "glitch" has been their SBC (fully electronic, no hydraulics) braking system which is offerred in the current E- and SL-class cars. Because this system was found to fail occasionally, they had to spend big $$$$ for a massive worldwide recall of all the cars affected. After this fiasco, they've dropped this SBC braking system for the future models. The upcoming redesigned top of the line 2007 S-class sedan will not even offer this as an option. Many of you probably have read about Mercedes' fall in the JD Powers surveys (initial quality and long term reliability). The negative press that Mercedes got and the relative lack of new exciting models in the last 2-3 years has really hurt Mercedes in terms of sales and profits. In 2004, the people in charge in Stuttgart made a new committment to increased "quality" for Mercedes. Their efforts have paid off to some degree as Mercedes jumped from very low to among the top 3 or 5 manufacturers in the JD Powers survey for initial quality. Time will tell if long term reliabilty will improve. With regards AMG, I agree that most AMG models are not very flashy in terms of exterior appearance. I believe this is deliberate to appeal to customers who don't want to stand out more than a typical benz. For sure, the BMW M models (their direct competitors) have relatively more road presence and seem to turn heads more with flared fenders and more aggressive bodywork. AMG cars are about effortless speed and acceleration with a sleeper look. All of their cars have immense torque figures very low in the rpm range due to the use of high displacement engines +/- forced induction with supercharging or turbocharging. HP numbers are insane for their top models. This is in contrast to BMW M, who produce high reving lower displacement engines whose peak torque comes at much higher engine speeds (like Honda). In other words, you have to work harder in an M car to get the massive acceleration compared to an AMG car. Different approaches for different customers.

You cancelled the E90 M3 order for an Elise? Very different cars. If you track your car regularly, I agree the Elise is the superior car. I've never driven an Elise (not sold in Canada), but every review I've read says it is one very bumpy car. Not the most comfortable (which is why it handles so well). Don't know too much about the roads you drive on regularly, but the Elise may be a real pain to drive in everyday traffic. You also lose the functionality of the M3 (decent trunk and a rear seat). If I was looking for a 2 seat convertible sports car that I could use everyday, I would consider the following: Honda S2000, Boxter S, BMW Z4 (upcoming M version), and the SLK55AMG. Anyways, I'm sure you've thought about this long and hard. Just a little surprising you'd choose the Elise over the other 2 seaters out there. Edit: Also, my personal opinion is that the Elise is not very pretty, but that's very subjective.

It is well known/suspected that Porsche deliberately did not put the most poweful engine into the Cayman S because they have to protect their icon, 911. The 911 has such a strong historical and iconic status that Porsche had to protect their loyal 911 customers. They also have to justify the price premium for a 911. Therefore, the Cayman S has to be slower (in a straight line) than the 911. Being a mid-engine hardtop, the Cayman naturally has the best handling characteristics (especially compared to a rear engined 911 or any front engine sports car). I wouldn't say that Porsche is heading in the wrong direction. The new 997 Porsche 911 has been very well received/rated. The redesigned Boxter and new Cayman are generating lots of interest and potential sales. Sure, the Cayenne was a departure for Porsche, but it remains their highest selling vehicle (last time I checked) contributing to their profits.

4 current cars which I consider to be "supercars" are: 1) Bugatti Veyron 16.4 2) Ferrari Enzo 3) Porsche Carrera GT 4) Mercedes SLR McLaren There may be others which are offerred only in Europe. Of those 4 cars listed above, the SLR has taken the place of the NSX as the most appropriate for "daily driving". Edit: I forgot the Ford GT and Saleen S7. Somehow, these 2 just don't leave the same feeling of "WOW" like the 4 listed above.

heh...yellowlightman....taking things a bit to heart here....you sound so angry at SMT's and spoilers!!....or maybe you just like to sound "controversial" with your opinions.... It sounds to me like you're one of those people who think that a true manual transmission is the only way to go if you're a "real driver", and that any other type of gearbox (sequential manual, automatic/manumatic) are just for people who can't drive a true manual. Fair enough, if that's what you think..... I also enjoy driving a conventinal manual transmission car. In fact, I miss that quite a bit with my old VW Golf GTi. Nothing beats that "connected" feeling when you manually control the clutch and row through the gears. But I'm also impressed with what sequential manuals can do (like BMW's SMG and Audi's DSG) and even the latest manumatics in the high performance cars (like AMG's speed shift and Porsche's Tiptronic). Shift speeds can be lightning quick at a press of a button/paddle if you feel like a more spirited drive, but you can retain the convenience of driving without pressing a clutch, which can be REALLY helpful if you live in an urban setting. And as you point out, most people drive on city streets at reasonable speeds and not on a track. Don't knock it until you try it.....(and I don't mean what your typical Honda/Acura manumatic can do). At the highest level of auto racing, sequential manual gearboxes are the way to go. Anything less than that, it's just really driver preference that matters. Edit: And I do agree with you implication that you have to be a skillful driver/shifter in a manual transmission car to keep up with drivers who drive sequential manual or performance tuned automatic transmissions on a track.

Take it easy dude. Everyone knows there is very little in common between an F1 car and a road car. But the CONCEPT of a clutchless sequential manual is the same between SMG/DSG and the Ferrari F430, which has the closest thing to a real F1 gearbox. Bottom line: you will shift faster, which is important if you're competitive on a track. And aerodynamics/spoilers DO have a role, but only if your car is fast enough.....even a little lip spoiler on a trunk can exert quite a bit of downforce at high speeds (well in excess of any speed limits in North America). Why do you think Porsche Boxter's/Cayman's come with that ugly little spoiler which extends up when going fast? It certainly isn't for looks.....cause it's just an ugly thing when it's up.

Styling is subjective, but BMW has always been about the "ultimate driving experience". Having driven the E46 330i and M3 extensively on an autocross course at a BMW driving course, I must admit that the driving feel/feedback and confidence it creates for the driver is impressive when cornering at the limits. Sure it has a rock hard ride, but BMW M cars (and even non-M cars with sport suspension) have very good handling. Most people would consider the 3 series to be the benchmark with regards to the compact sport sedan/coupe category in terms of handling. Even though the objective performance/handling numbers are very similar between the M3 and my C55, the M3 FEELS subjectively better at the limits. If you're really serious about the track, the SMG (or any other clutchless manual like Audi's DSG) is the way to go. Like it or not, you will shift faster using paddles rather than stepping on a clutch and manually rowing a gear shift lever. The shifts occur almost instantaneously at the fastest manual SMG setting. Look at F1 cars and even the Ferrari F430. This is the way of the future if you're looking for the best performance from a transmission. SMG sucks only when trying to go in automatic mode, where it is very jerky and feels pretty unrefined compared to a conventional automatic transmission.