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sketchley

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  1. sketchley
    Not officially. However, the Zentradi dojinshi has this to say: "Kirutora Keruēru class Planetary Assault Landing Ship (...) The ship's primary use is to be the sortie mothership of an assault drop operation on a planet where the enemy is, using atmospheric descent boats. Be that as it may, it is rather unusual for the Zentrādi Forces or the Supervision Forces—both of which always mobilize in fleets in outer space—to be on a planet's surface. Because there is no concept of "making things" in both armed forces, they also don't conduct base construction, either. When a fleet descends and deploys on a planet, it is mostly to conceal themselves or to use the planet as a "shield", and only the "terrain" is used. Moreover, given that most of the time such tactical actions appear if the fleet is cornered, the Kirutora Keruēru should have been necessary only in limited situations. However, the Kirutora Keruēru's extraordinary robustness and great carrying capacity have given it a variety of other uses. (...)
  2. sketchley
    This echoes some of my sentiments about the sequel Star Wars trilogy. And we all know how that turned out. Maybe it's for the best if the company is making a business decision to not make any more 'Matrix' films?
  3. sketchley
    The 'Powers of 10' from the BBC also does a good job at helping visualize the scale of space.
  4. sketchley
    Great Mechanics G 2021 Winter states that the Sv-303 is "equipped with 6 Ghosts" (in Battroid: 2 on each leg nacelle, 1 on each back/wing nacelle). As they are comparable* in size and shape to the LD-262S Lilldraken on the Sv-262, it gives us a starting point to inferring the Sv-303's size. * I'd like to say EXACTLY the same, but with their confusing colouring and the small image sizes, it's hard to say for sure. EDIT: images courtesy https://www.mahq.net/mecha/macross/delta-movies/sv-303.htm without Ghosts: with ghosts (the pinky-purple lined parts on the lower legs, as well as all the extra fins and flight surfaces. The 2 Ghosts on the back nacelles not visible in the image):
  5. sketchley
    In brief: the same as humans. Caveat: Zentradi are genetically designed super-soldiers. So, their age spans would be at the maximum levels. Possibly longer due to those modifications. And as others have pointed out, aging also appears to be delayed as well—nobody wants enfeebled soldiers after all. Perhaps when the Zentradi naturally die, it's a rapid degradation, as their bodies are designed to operate at peak levels, and they just burn out?
  6. sketchley
    Re: cloning in the Macross universe Long story short, don't ask! Seriously, I don't think the creators have worked the mechanics of it out, either. On the one hand, in SDFM they pretty much say that the Zentradi are exactly the same as humans. However, they also imply that military operations take decades from start to finish—sometimes dozens of decades—yet we never see an old-aged Zentradi (aside from Buritai and Exsedore, who are arguably 'middle aged'). I don't want to think about the implications of that in the Macross universe (all signs point to euthanasia at a young age). On the other hand, Robotech (or the Palladium Books interpretation of it) indicated that the masses of soldiers are put into stasis when they're not needed... Nevertheless, one thing to keep in mind is that the genetic cause of aging (telomerase) wasn't known at the time SDFM was created, so cloning yourself a younger body is a viable option. Not to mention that cloning involves Over Technology, so it's possible that even if we factor in telomerase-based aging, there's a workaround. However, it doesn't explain why Buritai never restored his ruined eye... maybe the cloning process copies you 'as-is', and doesn't rely on genetics? (as illogical as that sounds, remember that we're talking about Macross with its Over Technology handwavium.)
  7. sketchley
    I think I may have been around the same age at the time. However, early on I noticed one of the brothers was subjectively 'better' at drawing the things I liked (I think it was the mecha/battles). Later... well, giving them the benefit of the doubt, I think that they could see the writing was on the wall about the cancellation of the series. Nevertheless, I really liked some of the creative directions they took. Like the 'Black Death Destroyer" Invid variants they introduced and the side-story one-shot comic set on the Karbarran homeworld.
  8. sketchley
    http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/Stats/Statistics.php As a list, it's as complete as I've been able to make it up to Macross Delta. Off the top of my head, the only things that are missing are the stuff from Macross II, as well as that combiner enemy mecha from the Macross M3 video game.
  9. sketchley
    Stealth Kerukaria [Quel-Quallie] Reconnaissance Pod The other new Zentrādi mecha in Macross Digital Mission VF-X are officially called (stuff in square brackets [ ] is, apparently, the nickname or common name): Gurāji Kai [aka Stealth Glaug] Fighter Pod Kai [aka Stealth Fighter Pod] Rigādo Kai [aka Stealth Regult]
  10. sketchley
    Good advice all around. One other trick I've seen some people on this site use is to photograph outdoors in natural sunlight. It may be seasonally limited in your neck of the woods, but depending on where you live, you could also exploit the outdoors for some interesting backgrounds.
  11. sketchley
    Expanding on this, the ships (specifically the Battle class) are described as each being composed of "several separate ships". However, that could also be translated as "several separate hulls". While it makes less sense to have just a leg section zooming around space, we do see such things as the forearm Gunship and Carrier Ship operating on their own. Nevertheless, as it was a feature adopted from the Supervision Forces, it's not too big of a stretch for humans to convert the separate and distinct airtight hulls into the system Azrael describes.
  12. sketchley
    Well I agree that some of it is 'lost in translation', some of the terms you've add are... 'added in translation'. Here's the Japanese definition: かんさつ【監察】《名・ス他》 情況を見届けて察知すること。特に、視察し監督すること。 DeepL: To observe and perceive the situation. In particular, to observe and supervise. Google: Seeing and detecting the situation. In particular, inspect and supervise. Eijiro, on the other hand, results in this: https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=監察 (TLDR: things like medical examiner, personnel inspector, Justice Inspector, administrative audit/inspection/supervision, Federal Observer, etc.) Nevertheless, I've always interpreted it as referring to the group (of soldiers) that were assigned (by the Protoculture) with 'watching over' the experiments that resulted in the Protodevilun, rather than vice-versa.
  13. sketchley
    Agreed. As one astronomer put it: when two galaxies collide and merge*, NONE of the stars inside them hit each other because the distance between each star is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo vast. So, yeah, it's blind (bad) luck that they ever encounter each other. * literally forcing themselves through each other before making a u-turn to slam back together in one big mess!
  14. sketchley
    That's correct. The full line is: "「ストライクパーツ」は１５０号までを予定しております。　　※実際の商品とは異なる場合があります。" Or ""Strike parts" is scheduled to be up to No. 150. * (What's seen in the video) may differ from the actual product."
  15. sketchley
    Well, considering that the article also introduces it as "the Valkyrie from 300 years later", I'm guessing that this was bleeding news at the time of publication, and the creators of Macross II were still in the process of developing the OVA. ... is it just me, or does it only have 1 (one) head laser?
  16. sketchley
    This. At best, they are a fun peak 'under the hood' to see how Macross tech works. But at the end of the day, they are fan produced content that is not official in any way, shape or form.
  17. sketchley
    Here's an image of it from Vol. 005: https://blog-imgs-43-origin.fc2.com/a/s/t/asterisk485/IMG_0938.jpg Source: http://asterisk485.blog106.fc2.com/blog-entry-33.html
  18. sketchley
    Do you mean this? マクロス コミックゼントラ盛り 本誌に掲載された4コマ漫画や読み切り作品を収録。2011年3月26日発売。ISBN 978-4047156753 * https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/マクロスエース#単行本 If so, the correct reading is "Macross Comic Zentradi Serving" (as in "a serving of rice"). The description reads: "Includes 4-panel gag manga and one-shot works published in [the Macross Ace] magazine. Released on March 26, 2011." It's a collection of the following and other gag manga: ゼントラ弁当マクロス風 アキバ鉄工作。2009年から2011年まで『マクロスエース』に連載。本作を題材としたパロディ4コマギャグ漫画。単行本『マクロス コミックゼントラ盛り』に収録。 * https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/超時空要塞マクロス#漫画 (at the very bottom, just before the "game" section starts) Translation: "Zentradi bento-box Macross style By Akiba Tekko. Serialized in "Macros Ace" from 2009 to 2011. A parody 4-panel gag manga based on [Super Dimensional Fortress Macross]. It was included in the "Macross Comic Zentradi Serving" publication." ※ the titles (Macross Comic Zentradi Serving, Zentradi bento-box Macross Style) are playing on the ゼントラ丼 (Zentradi Bowl, as in Beef Bowl) thing that showed up accompanying events and attractions spawned by Macross F.
  19. sketchley
    Agreed. Macross Shoji Kawamori Designer's Note (Pg 235): "Mr. Kawamori (...) designed this VF-X3 Star Crusader (also known as the "Medusa Valkyrie" to make a more space fighter-like VF based on the VF-1 Valkyrie. Rather than mounting the exterior on the aircraft, he was reviewing the shape of the parts from the elements that make up the aircraft."
  20. sketchley
    It's a nice kit. However, it's also a child of its era. So there's no rubber grommets in the joints like the ones introduced in Gunpla. Due to that, the legs become a floppy mess if most of the joints* in them aren't glued solid. That said, the legs have great articulation. * there's like 5 spread out between the hip and knee (not including the "hip" where the legs attach to the torso)!
  21. sketchley
    Going back to this - it's definitely odd that they did it that way. It's almost like they didn't have access to the (Japanese) shooting script, and based the English dialogue on what they heard. As for where the 'new company' comes from, all of the following are read as "shinsei": 新生 (rebirth, new birth), 新制 (new system), 新製 (new make). There are other possibilities, too. So, the error is understandable. But, again, it boggles the mind that they either didn't have access to or just ignored the Japanese production materials (script, promotional artwork, line art, etc...)
  22. sketchley
    Yes, and no. The most common meaning is "nova" (as in a super nova's less destructive sibling). The second most common meaning is "new face, new star" (as in the new starlet was on the talk show last night). However, knowing that "Shinsei Industries" means "Nova Industries", it does put a new spin on "Project Nova" and "Project Super Nova", no? Was General Galaxy ever not the underdog??
  23. sketchley
    This. One solution to shrinking the finished image is to export it as-is into .gif (or some other lossless format) that Firefox can handle. Then use Firefox's print scaling option (goes from 10% to 200% of screen size).
  24. sketchley
    Books like Variable Fighter Master File claim that the Unified Forces only used NATO weapons. So, if you want to be 'authentic', there's that guideline. However, I'd go with your gut instinct on what makes the Commanchero look more lethal. There's been no material that said the Commanchero wasn't used by the Anti Unification Alliance—not to mention that the Unified Forces have a history of using Anti Unification Alliance weaponry—so anything goes.
  25. sketchley
    For a general idea: First, compare the changes he made to the VF-1 when he designed the VF-0. Next, look at the evolution of the VFs in CG from the VF-0/Sv-51, through the VF-25 to the VF-31. As you said, the sensor bits would be internalized—but if he's keeping the F-14 image source, then there's going to be some kind of chin sensor pod. In the "How Tough is Your VF..." series I drew*, I noticed a steady increase in complexity. While everything up to Macross F was relatively easy to draw (especially the SDFM and M7 Valkyries!), the VF-25 was where it started to verge on being too complex to hand-draw effectively. In short: it's not that the transformation, etc. is too difficult, but the shapes of the individual parts are not conducive to drawing, and the panel lines, etc. on the parts aren't helpful for conveying volume—in fact, they do a darn good job at highlighting mistakes! So, the net effect is it will look more streamlined/stealthy in fighter form, but things like the torso, arms and legs will be more complex with lots of concave, convex, hollow, and otherwise uneven surfaces. Not to mention gangly arms with a smaller head... * https://www.deviantart.com/studiootaking/art/How-Tough-Is-Your-VF-0-564358951 https://www.deviantart.com/studiootaking/art/How-Tough-Is-Your-VF-1-565535276 https://www.deviantart.com/studiootaking/art/How-Tough-Is-Your-VF-25-570988566
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