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sketchley

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  1. sketchley
    Those Meltran ships... on the one hand we have DYRL which was purportedly filmed 'in-universe' using Unified Forces ships (etc.) as stand-ins for the real thing (E.g. the Beginhill Training Ship being dressed up with holograms as the Bodolza Mobile Fortress). Then we got M7 with a Meltran fleet using those ships. On top of that we have VF-X2 using one class of those Zentradi ships as a (human? Unified Forces?) transport ship, and other groups using Miria's gunship as... well, like how it was portrayed in DYRL. It's a real headache to sort out. The only guidance we have is from Kawamori-san himself: "SDFM story, DYRL designs." Officially? "Many" for the mecha. No such stats (if 'many' even counts) for the crew. The production staff never got around to (or didn't even bother to) fill in those stats. Unofficially, there are many sources, but your mileage varies. Fanky's doujinshi "Ships of the Galaxy #3: Zentradi Fleet"* is arguably the most complete and has what you're looking for, but some other parts of their publication are dubious at best. * http://www.cwo.zaq.ne.jp/bface700/16sum/gs03.html
  2. sketchley
    VFMF: VF-1 Valkyrie states that it (ARMD-9) and ARMD-10 (Haruna) departed in Aug. 2012 with a Megaroad class. As the Macross Compendium* states that Megaroad 01 departed in Sep. 2012, and Megaroads 02 and 03 were in 2014, it's fairly safe to infer that those 2 ARMDs went with Megaroad 01. * https://macross.anime.net/wiki/Megaroad_class
  3. sketchley
    It sounds like it might be an internal DNS error. Like the mistake is pointing at the CSS file and not the proper page that is supposed to render and display the code. The problem is that it sometimes takes figuratively forever to update DNS errors even if the fix was created within hours (or even minutes) after an error first appears.
  4. sketchley
    In some ways it's like the Macross universe's version of the USAF's F-16 vs YF-17 "competition"—with the F-16 being adopted as-is, and the YF-17 being reworked into the F-18 and being adopted by the USN, etc.—just replace the F-16 with the VF-11, and the YF-17/F-18 with the VF-14. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YF-17
  5. sketchley
    Regarding the VF-14, Macross Chronicle sheds some light on that: http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/MCRmechanic/OTHERun04AVF-14Vampire.php * main fighter generally means the main fighter of the Unified Forces, not the 'main' aircraft used by a local government. As for the uniforms, the Variable Fighter pilots in the M7 fleet use something different from what the central Unified Forces uses. Staff Officer Gunther is from the Unified Forces Headquarters—presumably the unit that he was attached to when he (and they) disturbed the Protodevilun during their investigation of the forth planet in the Varota system. So that may just be down to different branches/sections of the Unified Forces, and/or that each Emigrant Fleet is allowed to choose which uniform for the personnel under its jurisdiction. * the real reason is ease of differentiation in the viewer. If both the protagonists and antagonists are all wearing the same uniforms and flying the same Valkyries, it would confusing to the point of baffling. Kawamori-san (and Studio Nue in general) are really big on having visually distinct designs for rival forces (even down to differing silhouettes), and this is a good example of that. The more extreme example is Kawamori-san replacing the VF-19 with the VF-171 in Macross Frontier because the VF-19 looked too similar to the VF-25! Anyhow, one thing to keep in mind is that the Varohta Forces that we saw in M7 have equipment that the Protodevilun modified and 'enhanced'. The shapes of the real things are moderately to greatly different.
  6. sketchley
    Short answer: yes. Not only do all the escort ships (both military and living support) have to be built, they also have to be outfitted, and then crewed. During the process, several hundred thousand citizens (aka emigrants) also have to be settled into their new city. If memory serves, the SDFN class were produced during the initial years of the program. Their main mission was to spread humanity out in the galaxy—just in case the Zentradi came back to finish glassing the Earth. The official materials state that they were the initial pathfinders (as you mentioned) for travel routes outbound from Earth. It's not directly stated, but given the other details we know, it's fairly safe to say that they were also involved in the short range emigrant fleets (one may have even discovered Planet Eden). At some time after the introduction of the Megaroad class, the SDFN class was discontinued. From what we can glean from Macross Frontier, some (perhaps all) were retired from the emigrant mission, and turned into the flagships of smaller research fleets, etc. Sadly, this is dabbling in the era that even Japanese Macross fans lament as they refer to the "great blank period". There just aren't that many details about it.
  7. sketchley
    In the Frontier context: they introduced the Super Fold Drive, which purportedly surpassed Fold Faults and reduced travel times to 1/10. So, it's arguable that one could travel back to Earth in 1 year. Incidentally, Kawamori-san described the Macross setting (for Macross Frontier) as "the Great Age of Exploration with e-mail". Hopefully that helps inform on not only the distances and travel times involved, but what he was shooting for with the Galaxy Network and the relatively concurrent dissemination of information (songs, technology, etc.) throughout the galaxy.
  8. sketchley
    I haven't really dabbled in Macross Delta stuff, so it may not be the same source. Nevertheless, the 'same number, different meaning' mind-slip seems to happen more often than we'd all like with Kawamori-san and Macross. In addition to the 10 years = changing distance, we have the 100 Zentradi ships thing (were in Buritai's fleet? survived SWI? went with Megaroad-01?).
  9. sketchley
    What I was referencing came from Macross F. And as you know with Macross, it was most likely altered when Delta was released.
  10. sketchley
    Elaborating on this: There are 2 general types of Emigrant Fleet: short range (within 100 light years of Earth) super long range (beyond 100 light years, arguably thousands of light years) The short range ones started first, and one of those discovered Eden. Based on that, we can speculate that the region closest to Earth (100+ light years from Earth) is the most explored, most developed, and most colonized. It is arguably comparable to the UFoP in Star Trek (but more like a collection of fully independent countries rather than under the control of one mammoth government). Beyond that 'core', it is literally pinpricks of human settlement in a vast sea of darkness.
  11. sketchley
    Way back when, I attempted to make some for ... a different project. http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/Stats/Locations/Locations.php#intro The ones most relevant are probably Milkyway Galaxy Map, and Milkyway Galaxy Core Map. There's a lot more named stuff in the text below that section. Just keep in mind that GREEN text is official setting, BLUE is unofficial, and black is neither. The proximity of the named planets to Earth are best guesses based on what we know about standard Space Fold travel rates, and the locale's context (E.g.: places mentioned in the VF-X2 game have to be relatively close to each other, as the game takes place over weeks and months with relatively short* travel times.) Disclaimer: with all things Macross, the official setting materials are vague. Many times they just mention "in the vicinity of the centre of the galaxy". They make no mention of what quadrant or how high above or below the galactic plane those things are located. * at the opposite end, we have the Macross Frontier Fleet: it took 20 years to get to where it is at the start of the TV series, and the fastest trip back to Earth—with standard Fold Drives—is 10 years.
  12. sketchley
    Seeing that brings back memories! Way back when I made speculative stats for it. ...way back in 2005! 👴 Obviously, I had no idea how to read Japanese at the time—it clearly states (next to the big exclamation mark!) that the General Galaxy VF/B-22a Jagd Vogel II isn't part of the official setting! 🤣 Nevertheless, what I liked about the design is that it clearly takes inspiration from the FB-22 bomber variant idea that was floating around at the end of the 1990's. E.g.:
  13. sketchley
    The similarity most likely stems from being penned by the same artist around the same time (SDFM:DYRL: 1997.06, VF-X2: 1999.09). As for word on the Annabella Lasiodora—here's my translation of the relevant section in Macross Chronicle: http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/MCRmechanic/Other06aHatchetAnnabellaLasiodora.php
  14. sketchley
    You mean the 陸戦用大型制圧ポッド (Ground Warfare Large Suppression Pod), or what Kazutaka Miyatake describes as a "Four-legged Tank" (四脚戦車) in his art book. There are some pictures of it here (ignore all the text, as it's made-up baloney for the Robotech setting): http://www.robotechresearch.com/rpg/mecha/zentraedi/crystal_dreams/tolver_malgrin/tolver_malgrin.html
  15. sketchley
    Alas, the only info about this appears to be what's been posted in Macross World (back in 2009!): https://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/topic/29401-gattai/ Regarding its name, I think "Final Weapon" is a mistranslation. If Redwolf's post is correct, then it would be 最終兵器, or "Ultimate Weapon" (idiomatically: one's final trump card). IMO, I think it's used only in the context of the game (as in the final boss), not the Zentrādi overall, as the staff behind the various productions of Macross occasionally use descriptive names (E.g. the "8-Engine All-Wing Giant[-People] Bomber" [aka: flying wing] from Macross Plus).
  16. sketchley
    The first thing that came to mind is a pilot's finger light*. However, I brushed that off for the same reason I didn't include finger lights in those stats: they're for map reading**, and not needed in fighters such as the F-18 and F-22 that use MFDs to display info. * https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/13529 ** that came from a list of gear helicopter pilots in Desert Storm carried with them in their suits, if memory serves. So, what's the glove doohickey for? As it's only on the Windmere pilot suit, maybe it's a key fob to operate the Sv-262? Or a controller for the pilot suit's jet pack?
  17. sketchley
    Macross Pilot suits: http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/Stats/Statistics/Flightsuits/Flightsuits.php#FSGeneral I finally found the time to update this. In short, adding scans of the TSV-62 Mk.I and TSX-62 (from the VFMF books), and so on and so forth. However, while working on the Delta content, I spotted something perplexing about the Windermere pilot suits: they have some kind of electronic device on their index finger of one hand. Was that ever shown being used in the series? Was it even depicted at all? (the source is Macross Delta Character Design Works, and the accompanying text is mostly the designer's comments). Scroll down to the very bottom for what I could glean from the book about it: http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/Stats/Statistics/Flightsuits/Flightsuits.php#MD ) And for those that have trouble accessing my site, the gloves in question:
  18. sketchley
    DS9 also did it well—especially in the latter seasons. I'm also in the middle of an SG-1 rewatch. I think one of the many things that SG-1 got right was the chemistry between the cast. Hopefully, SNW has also done that. However, one of the other big draws of SG-1 is all the on-location filming they did of Vancouver and the lower mainland, which is where I'm from (more or less). One wonders if SNW will do the same for Toronto/Southern Ontario.
  19. sketchley
    Close. Those 6 "laser machine guns" are actually 6 Lil Drakken drones (the pink parts, present in the Battroid and Fighter mode images, but missing on the GERWALK mode image, above). Each of those can separate and fly independently. In addition to the "laser machine gun", they are each equipped with a pair of micro missile launchers. Does the base (main) unit have micro missile launchers? It's hard to see, but it looks like there are a pair in what becomes the upper leg—just below the knee caps (visible in 2nd image above, not visible in the others). There *may* be a pair of laser machineguns on either side just behind the cockpit, as well. But those could just be the business ends of the dual quantum beam cannon turret when in Fighter mode.
  20. sketchley
    I can't say authoritatively, but context plays a strong role. For example: "the Boeing747 FCS" probably means Flight Control, but "the F-18 FCS" is unclear. There's no other antenna on that part, is there?* If not, referring to them as "antenna" should be fine. E.g.: backpack cover antenna (L). * like the long-thin one coming out of the top in this hand-drawn image: https://macross.fandom.com/wiki/VF-1D_Valkyrie?file=VF-1D+GERWALK.gif
  21. sketchley
    "FC"... I also don't like it, as FCS usually refers to "Fire Control System". The image source is the Variable Fighter's Aero Report article in This is Animation: Macross Plus. Alas, that's what it is labelled as in Japanese (with no description of what "FC" stands for). For better or for worse, there are known typos in that article, so I suggest taking it with a grain of salt. ECM antenna/aerial makes much more sense, all things considered.
  22. sketchley
    My first thought upon seeing the brick shape was "roof ridge". So, architectural/building sets? Edit: apparently the technical name for what I'm referring to is "roof hip". 🤷‍♂️
  23. sketchley
    If memory serves, that's the main route of contamination. The general advice about those bricks is that they should be OK "for normal use". However, if those vintage bricks are breaking and crumbling into little pieces, they should be disposed of.
  24. sketchley
    Here's a rather in depth article on it: https://tamararubin.com/2019/05/vintage-1970s-legos-test-positive-for-a-high-level-of-a-known-carcinogen-how-can-i-tell-if-my-legos-are-safe/ Short form: vintage bricks from the '70's and (early) '80's contain the carcinogen cadmium (among other toxins) more prevalent in certain colours (red, black, and yellow) there are ways to ascertain if you have a 'modern' brick or a 'vintage' brick (refer to article for details)
  25. sketchley
    I've heard something from the Lego group about older bricks being "toxic" compared to the newer ones. I don't know when the Lego group changed their plastic recipe, but it is something to keep in mind depending on whether or not you intend to give the Lego to kids.
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