Talos

I rather like the design myself. I wonder what it would look like with a Master File VF-1X as a base. I'm going to have to do a profile of that.

So, looks like we now know what Hakuna Aoba pilots now, VF-1X++ Hakuna spec. New fairings in front of the wings, modified nose, and boosters on the leg Super Parts. Last picture in this post. http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=34643&view=findpost&p=896455

Haha, I knew this would be the next one. It was only a matter of time. Hopefully it will include some good YF-24/YF-24 Evolution info too, since all we get in the show is a top and side profile. I hope they do the VF-4/3k/5k book too. I would probably expect it to be next after this one. Hmm, remember all the people saying the VF-19 book would be the last one in the series....?

Looks pretty good, can't wait to see it textures. I've been working on VF-1 line art recently, so another great-looking CGI one is inspiring. Keep up the great work!

We see Max's VF-1A earlier and it looks pretty much the same too. This is the second variation of Hikaru's VF-1J in Macross the First, since the design in the manga has a different cockpit area. It doesn't have the DYRL-style Skull Squadron canopy cover.

Still needs some tweaking (mostly in the wingtip and chest plate), but the VT-1 is just about done. I put it in with my VF-1D for a comparison.

Since you were talking absolutes, with no reference to timeline, I felt that small caveat was in order. All this talk about VF-0s and SV-51s converted for later use reminds me of a drawing I did a few years ago. It was basically a "What if the VF-1 was designed as a real successor to the VF-0", so it was basically a VF-0 with redesigned nozzles, cockpit, head, nose, and a few other places. Something along the SV-52's design idea, but I had it labeled VF-1.

I just wanted to point out a couple things. First, with this one, reverse engineering can make virtually identical copies. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/TU-4-MONIN0.jpg During WWII, several B-29 Superfortress bombers were forced to land in the Soviet Union after bombing Japan. They were interred and the USSR reverse engineered them to make the Tu-4 (NATO codename: Bull), their first nuclear bomber. It was such an exact duplicate that there's a story that they copied the builder's plate, some of the Boeing signage, and some battle damage repairs that one of the planes had. Besides Soviet engines and cannons, the biggest difference was the conversion to metric, which caused a ton or two of additional weight. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Me262ila2006.JPG Not sure of the exact build date of this Me 262, but it was either in the late 90s or early 2000s, as part of the new-build Me 262 replica project. Besides engines and things like radios, it is virtually identical to the WWII jet fighter. The reason I bring these up is they show how exact you can duplicate something with reverse-engineering. The Tu-4 was constructed without access to the original blueprints or build info, while the 262 was. Considering access to more advanced production facilities, there's no reason they couldn't do that to the SV-52 and build new ones. Small quibble, but the Macross II-timeline version of the VF-4, the VF-4 Siren, does in fact mount FAST packs. (It's also seen carrying a gunpod, unlike the main timeline.) http://anime.geocities.jp/emiri_0624/CD_171935F8-012.png You're completely right about engine installations. Depending on how much thrust the plane was designed to take, you could really need a good deal of redesign or strengthening to do that successfully. The installation of the Spey turbofans into the UK version of the F-4 Phantom spring to mind.

Many WWII and later surplussed aircraft still have their gun barrels. Everything from P-51s to F-104s and the like.

You might also try HMV or check with some of the sellers here on MW.

I usually prefer the fighter stuff myself, since I'm a big aeronautics geek, but the lack of a single one of either mode for either of those two fighters stood out to me.

It's fun. (Don't feel bad, happens to me all the time) I would have liked to have seen some battroid or GERWALK VF-1X/P stuff though.

Oryol/Orel Орёл "Eagle", interesting. Also has some connections with Artem Mikoyan. Makes me wonder what the SV-51 is called. Sokol?

Bingo.

Also serrated panel lines (Think F-22 or F/A-18E), a new canopy...

So can the 120mm cannon on an Abrams. Actually, VD, a Sidewinder is based on a 5" rocket frame anyway, so with folding fins you could easily get a micromissile pod. The only problem is targeting, but the AIM-9X supports LOAL (lockon after launch). The Sidewinder's been used against ground targets for years. Just look at the AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radiation missile, made out of obsolete AIM-9C bodies.

No, he means Liza Hoyly, the Zola Patrol pilot from Dynamite 7. She piloted the VF-5000G, VF-17D, and VF-5000T-G.

Only problem is that Guld wasn't in the UN Spacy. He was a civilian test pilot with General Galaxy (not many UNS fighter pilots with a degree in neurology) and helped design the YF-21, at least the BDI/BCS aspects of it. Guld Goa Bowman

This already differs from the design seen in the manga, which didn't have the DYRL-style Skull Squadron shield over the canopy. The older design continues the black and red striping across the spine. One of the issues of Macross Ace came with decals to do up a Hi-Metal 1/100 VF-1J Hikaru in this scheme. You could try that.

It is in the same location as the Skull Squadron squadron insignia, so it's quite possible it is one for a "Green Arrows" squadron or something.

It's looking really good, Rodovan. Oh, how I wish I could 3d model like that!

It's not, it's a Super VF-1J. You can see the single-seat canopy and the shadow of the head lasers. It's also armed with a gunpod, according to the shadow.

Since I finally got my copy as well, I thought I would jot a couple thoughts down. Gubaba and sketchley covered most of the stuff I would, but there's a few things I would point out. Ver 1.0 FAST pack. It's a trimmed down set of leg pods and the arm pods with no boosters. The funny part is that from the front, it has a profile reminiscant of the CFTs on the F-15. One of the Armored Valkyrie color schemes is marked "VF-1JA", which I initially thought to be a typo until Seto pointed out it's not. Still reminds me of the VF-2JA from Macross II. I love the detail in the "flight manual" section. The cover reminds me of several TOs and Dash 1s I have. UNWEPS T.O. 01-VF-1A-4 JOFTOPS Flight Manual for U.N.S. Models Varia(b)le fighter VF-1A, B, and J Block 4 Vol. 1. Dated 1 November, 2008. VF-1X/P. Some interesting new panel line details on them, such as the angular radome edge. The new canopy is a bit odd-looking, still, since it sticks out more on top of the plane. Intakes remind me now of the TIA: M+ VF-5000 side view (more on that below). Weapons. 9 different variations of the AAM-1 Arrow, including an extended-range one with a booster stage and an enhanced maneuverability one. Oddly enough there's a TV one too. GBU-28/B Paveway III and GBU-28/S Space-Paveway III LGBs.... An inertial strike penetrator based on a GBU-28 warhead, a TV-guided GBU-27/S Space-Paveway IV, and a Stealth-JSOW. Odd, but interesting. The GBU-28/B would be a little large to carry on such a small fighter... New gunpod as well, the GU-11D. Looks like it has a second barrel under the regular ones. Insurrection of Fitz Roy. Good WWII reference since Fitzroy was there. Looks like a fully-armed Super VF-1A with radome and VE/VT-1 boosters. VF Geneaology. Reuse of the VF-4 and VF-5000 side views from the This is Animation: Macross Plus book, as well as Kawamori's draft profile from his Design Works book, except the 3k and VF-4 have less detail and were squashed vertically about as much as the VF-5000 already was in that book. Horrible side view and I wish they had redone it (like I am, actually). I mean, the shape is nothing like the VF-5000 really is. The head is completely missing, there are random wing-mounted beam guns we never see anywhere else (they look cool, if a bit Decepticon-ish, though), and the intakes and nose are way too shallow. Unfortunately they did that to the VF-4's engine pods and the entire VF-3000, plus simplifying the design of the latter. I love the cover of the hypothetical book and I would love to see that come out too, but I am not impressed with the drawings in this chapter. Color schemes. I love the VF-1A on page 122, the one from SVF-56. It's painted in the JASDF dark blue-on-blue anti-landing craft scheme that some F-4EJs and all F-2A/Bs wear and looks great. I did a similar paint scheme on one of my VF-4 drawings a couple years ago. The cannon fodder VF-1A from Skull Squadron looked cool too, especially with the toned-down tail. All in all, it was a neat book. It felt like they didn't have as much content to put in it, at least compared to the VF-19 Excalibur book (which is the high mark of the series so far). I would have liked to see less on the transformation and such and more time on the variants, such as the VT-1 and VE-1. There was a missed opportunity to tackle some of the surplus VF-1s too. Probably my least favorite book so far, but that's not to say it's bad at all.

As I read through Macross the First again yesterday, I couldn't help but feel bad for poor Hyperion. What did that moon ever do to them in the first place? I also didn't know destroids could do moves like some of the ones Max did. They were certainly quite...impressive. But Kamjin definitely has a reason to warn Milia now, but he hasn't seen the blue fighter yet...

Oh, I know. I took a screencap of that scene for that exact purpose a couple years ago. Unfortunately it's not the most lineart-accurate side view ever. (The woes of traditionally-drawn and, especially in Macross II's case, cheap animation) I'll draw it myself sometime.