sketchley

It's great seeing Richard Dean Anderson's brand of sly humour again.

I believe he's referring to steps 3 and 4b in this image: http://www.macross2.net/m3/macross7/fz-109a/fz-109a-transformation1.gif Specifically how the leading edges of the central wing (between the central hull and the engine nacelles) folds up with the rear parts of the nose section to form the back of the upper legs/hips.

Nope. This one is down to corporate greed and shortsightedness (as the last few posts have indicated, this is not limited to Bandai, but fairly widespread across the internet). Why shortsightedness? It's a frikken commercial!

Ah, but that's only in the "detail up" lineart. These are the more common low detail pieces used by the animators for fluid shots.

Heh... and the tables have turned. Don't blame any one company, blame the paradigm shift to nationalizing the internet and annoying things like auto-detection of a user's location. (Microsoft is the worst offender when it comes to that.)

The latest blog VF5SS provided a link for states why. Basically the development of the VF-0 has been covered in the two VF-1 books. So the SV-51 was added to bolster those sections as a parallel development, and the VF-3000 was added (and existing sections in the preceding books expanded upon) to show the developments from the VF-0. Deciding to release it right in the middle of two national holidays probably doesn't help in getting the book out efficiently...

Do they even have missiles? If memory serves, the Tie Bomber was only ever shown firing from the big port in the middle of the secondary hull, and not the edges, like this anime shows.

Refer to: http://nomansland.site.nfoservers.com/MRG-Active-Archive//forums/index.php?topic=2481.msg37207#msg37207 That's the official setting info for the VF-14 (finished design). The VA-14 (going to call it that, it's the initial, rough design) also has shoulder launchers. Given that the VF-14 doesn't have shoulder missile launchers, it's most likely that those are the supplemental Varohta armaments. Internal engine nacelle missile launchers are basically standard on the main VFs, starting with the VF-5000 (which, in-universe, predates the VF-14 by about 10 years.)

I agree that there is anime magic going. That said, the size of the intake isn't directly proportional to the girth of the engine. Take a low-bypass turbofan engine (see image). Note that as the high-pressure compressors increase the pressure of the air, the relative girth of the engine also decreases. From such sources as the cutaway views of the VF-1 and the launch of the YF-19 in Macross + Eps 3, we also know that the fan and low-pressure compressor are in the upper leg, thereby further reducing the girth of the engine sections in the lower leg (high-pressure compressor and combustion chamber stages) as a good proportion of them are in the upper leg. Lastly, Kawamori-san took the space restrictions into consideration when designing the legs of the Fz-109 et al. You can see the engine casing in the rear view in the following. So, 1/3 forearm, 1/3 engine, 1/3 missile launcher, no? Nevertheless, no matter which way you slice the pickle, there is plenty of surplus volume in the legs. How much is debatable, and I contend that although 8 missiles are a bit of a stretch of the imagination, 4 missiles could fit in.

Psst, I was referring to the Super Parts/Armour Packs there, not the VA-14 itself.

Good observation. Great for space-use, but less than satisfactory for atmospheric use. Anyhow, wanna point out that the VF-4's engine nacelle boosters completely replace the shoulder and arm assemblies. Gotta love that arm-less VF-4SL.

The bad boy's got missile launchers on both the tops AND bottoms of the engine nacelles (shoulders and lower legs, respectively, in battroid form):

I recommend the Tachikawa School Pen. http://www.jetpens.com/Tachikawa-Comic-Nib-Fountain-Pen-School-Model-Nib-Extra-Fine-Black-Ink/pd/4578 Provides a decent variation in line weight, and are really excellent for their price (slightly above the disposable price point, but due to the replacement ink cartridges, if you do need to replace it, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg). Of course, nothing beats a G-pen nib dip pen, but when it comes to detail, one doesn't need the 0.1 to 2.0 mm variation in line weight.

PS the Armour Packs have to be rethought somewhat. Besides significantly or completely obstructing the built-in weapons, they obstruct a large part of the cockpit's field of view. I recommend applying the leg's ergonomically rounded design to the rest of the packs, and remove the nose radome. I can see where you're trying to go with it, but it doesn't work in either mode. Perhaps a radar array like the VF-25 Armour Pack or Destroid Defender will fit a bit better? [ultimately it's secondary to maintaining a consistent design pattern - rounded, aerodynamic edges - throughout the design of the packs].

I'd go with de-gribbled Varohta types - as a) the VF-14 is reverse designed from the Fz-109, and b) it's made by the same company as the VF-17, which also stores gun pods in the legs. As for gun pod size/missile issues - the engines on the VF-14 are definitely a lot smaller than the girth of the legs. There's some anime magic going on to fit everything in (but the same can be said of ALL the other VFs that have missile launchers in the engine nacelles - guns OR missiles, logically not both). That said, it's best not to dwell on such things as logic when it comes to a transforming aircraft, lest one's head blows up. I'd make the gun pod reminiscent of the VF-9's. Which is double plus good: on the one hand it's main by the same company (General Galaxy) as the VF-14 and VF-17, and on the other hand, it's also a smaller sized gun pod due to the smaller size of the VF-9. At the very least, it's reasonable to presume that General Galaxy has more experience with a smaller sized gun pod, and may be the main reason for the VF-14 to have such a small internal gun pod (that large external one? Strapped on the belly like a regular gun pod, of course). The more I think about it the more I get the impression that the VF-14 relies on the beam guns (engine nacelle/shoulders or rear/chest) for ranged attacks, and the gun pod for close-range action. Almost giving the impression that the gun pod should be sub-machine gun-like in design and operation. Hope this gives some food for thought.

Sounded like a blast. Just one noticeable typo: "Musa and Hikaru"...

Great Mechanics.DX 22 Awesome cover of the Yamato. The artist got the weathering and lighting JUST right: http://www.futabasha.co.jp/booksdb/book/bookview/978-4-575-46468-9.html Starship Troopers: invasion: Aramaki states that the bugs are approximately 85% that of those that appeared in "Starship Troopers". They were reduced in size because the volume of the ships that used the existing bug size would become too large. Amino Testuro Interview (4 pages) "Macross 7" is a simulation of how far a guy who has a purpose will go. The bold text in the interview: Cutting through the depiction of the hero's purpose is rock. The thing that was unknown in "Macross" has, conversely, turned out to be a large weapon. Your 4 cool productions have become a part of the life of the fans. Macross FB7 The bold text: For the first time ever! The nation-wide theatrical screening event of "Macross FB7", the world view collaboration that crossed over productions, has been determined starting from October 20th (Thursday). The Setting Establishment (regular article that ends the magazine, featuring): The VF-19 Kai Excalibur (Fighter Valkyrie) from Macross 7 (6 pages) Summary: the text and images all appear to be something we've seen before (well, if you have books like Macross Chronicle or This is Animation: Macross 7 TV Animation Series). Nevertheless, it's got all the VF-19 Kai collected in one spot (including the eps. 11 VF-1 FAST pack prop equipped version), along with comparisons to the VF-19S, speaker pod, speaker units, PPB, leg missiles, landing gear, cockpit and guitar control stick, Sound Booster No.1 and Speaker Pod Sigma. The last page features the other Sound Force VFs, but interestingly, the fighter mode pictures of both are with the Sound Booster No.2 and No.3 craft attached. I've seen the VF-11MAXL Kai with the Sound Booster attached in fighter mode before (I'm sure everyone remembers it + Fold Booster), but I've never seen the VF-17T Kai with the Sound Booster attached in fighter mode. The only problem is that the images are really small... ... nevertheless, the name is quite interesting: VF-11MAXL Kai Thunderbolt (Mylene Valkyrie) & VF-17T Kai Nightmare (Storm Valkyrie).

I kinda get the point you're trying to make, but comparing it to architectural styles isn't a good comparison. There are plenty of rounded building designs constructed during and even before the '80's (for organic/rounded: the Sydney Opera House's design dates from 1957, and for blending in: Fallingwater dates from 1935). If memory serves, the main reasons that there weren't as many until after the 80's is due to construction costs (partially connected to increases in materials technologies) and changing trends in what clients (in this case, the people who commission buildings) want. Regarding current movie design trends - there's been a shift away from engineering/science based designs toward Southern California graphic design school methodologies - in short, the setting images that are commissioned in preproduction are more geared toward atmosphere and mood than the actual mechanics of a prop. I fear that is where this new Robocop suit design is coming from: the atmosphere and mood of the suit rather than the man-made-into-a-machine feel of the original. Does the design reflect us/society? Have we/society changed (or are changing) to one where image is more important than substance?

All you need to know about the VF-14 (and all their really has been said in detail about it): http://nomansland.site.nfoservers.com/MRG-Active-Archive//forums/index.php?topic=2481.msg37207#msg37207 http://nomansland.site.nfoservers.com/MRG-Active-Archive//forums/index.php?topic=2264.msg35166#msg35166 In short: it's got missile launchers and gun pod racks built into the legs. There are no FAST Packs/Super Parts/Armour Packs because, just like the VF-4, the VF-14 has enough internal volume to provide more than enough propellant for the majority of missions it's deployed on. The VF-1 and VF-11, on the other hand, don't have enough propellant to be able to perform missions in space, thus the FAST Packs/Super Parts. The reason why both have an armoured version is the same reason why they were the main fighters of the Unified Forces during their peak: they had more versatility than their competitor (the VF(-X)-2 and the VF-14).

But the M3 version IS the official version (or became the official version as the design wasn't complete in time for animating the M7+ short that it appears in). Anyhow: VF-14 (complete version): http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Statistics/VF-14/VF14.php VA-14 (rough version): http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Statistics/VF-14/VA14.php

I'm trying to recall the source of it, but nothing's coming to mind. Someone posted on this site a link to, in short, how the producers/writers of TNG got ideas stuck in their head from the TOS, and as time passed, altered things significantly. Aside from the change to the Klingons, the other one that comes to mind is how one of Kirk's lines about attending Starfleet Academy altered over time to EVERYONE (not just officers, which I think was the intent of the line) has to attend the Academy. On Earth. If anyone remembers the link to it, it would be greatly appreciated.

Dropping the "-scale" is just to keep things from getting overly wordy. Nevertheless, if you're going to use it, you should keep the hyphen. Anyhow, other ways to translate the term: http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/sjis/dosearch?sDict=on&H=PS&L=J&T=%91%E5%8C%5E&WC=none Edit: that sucks, Jim Breen won't let you post searches as links. >.<

I'm not looking forward to them because of the silly masks thing. Hmmm, overexposed, eh? I think I'll be a bit more satisfied with their appearance if (big IF) they don't perpetuate the warrior-society stereotype that TNG basically pigeonholed them as. Scientist Klingon? Mechanic Klingon? Klingon who doesn't say "it's a good day to die" and fret about honour? More variety, please!

I'd translate them as "Super Large Space Emigrant Ship Macross" and "the Macross Ship", respectively. Alternatively, "the Macross Warship", but as 艦 tends to donate larger, heavier ships that aren't always used for combat, it's something that could probably get "lost in translation" without a loss to the intended meaning.

The title doesn't appear to have been printed (in NA or online). Anyhow, the teaser of it: http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/na/image/yokoku/13/yokoku1.pdf (girl in the bunny suit pointing a gun at the viewer)