Vinnie

I can host it. I've got plenty of space and bandwidth at the moment. I'll PM you with an address to send it to. I should be able to upload it when I get off duty tomorrow morning and I'll post the URL here.

I wholeheartedly agree here. Having Toni's uniform being different should've been the dead giveaway for me since I also forgot he was UNSMC....oh well, live and learn! 407439[/snapback] Hey thanks for the love guys! I used the Digital Mission VF-X uniform as the basis for the UNSM jumpsuit. Nanashi's recommended it and I think the special operators would have more in common with the Marines than the rest of their Spacy brethren. So not entirely canon, but within plausibility. The next couple strips are hopefully gonna start fleshing out the characters a bit. Probably a bit more on the one-shot side, than this "mini-arc." The VF-4 Battroid is also on the way.

Comic #8 - Today's Special Redid the background. I think it's a marked improvement from the original. Not sure it conveys the diner-ness of the place, but it's a start. Other than that #8 is an exercise in classic webcomic pun usage. Absolute rock bottom humor! Yes! So bad it had to be done. I'm really happy with the character lineart on this one, though. I think it came together quite well. Nice to draw Toni in something other than a space suit for once. Also, Remove Before Flight is almost up and running. A few tweaks in color and content are needed, but I think the basic functionality and look is there. I think I'll get rid of the banners on the comics to make it easier on the eyes and put a more subtle one at the top of the page. Anyway, take a look and tell me what you think.

Aw, geez. No need to worry 'bout lil' old me. But thanks! Hmmm...let me know if that's a persistent condition. I can access it from a couple of networks including the Air Force one (which says a lot.) If there's a problem with my domain hosting service though, I'll have to address it.

Gah! That one wasn't supposed to go public yet! Oh well. Schroeder's Cat is outta the box now, eh? Not the best production to date, but I think things are still improving. There may even be an update later tonight when I get some feedback from the writer who is home on leave right now (which is what I was waiting on...) The other note is the page is just a PHP script I was playing with and works for some handy viewing of files. I'm working on installing Drupal CMS with a webcomic module which should make for a functionally slick site (the asthetics I'll make no promise on.) Finally, I was just promoted to 1st Lieutenant and closed out the month with 32 flight hours. My Platoon Leader is back, so my workload should decrease as I shift some of the burden off to him. I haven't been avoiding anyone, just been burnt out. Anyway, as things start to slow down again, I'm hoping I can once again resume my lofty goal of weekly updates.

This is the right place, although I think there've been a couple discussions before about prose being the least preferred medium of fan work. One of the recurring themes is that people are far more critical of writing than a visual medium. That aside, I appreciate any contribution and took the time to read your work. I'm not quite sure how to comment on it though, as it's rather short and my memory of the particular episode is a little hazy. I wouldn't mind seeing more, or a longer piece, though.

LOL!!! I DO REMEMBER! Oh those were awesome comics. If you need a place to host them, I've got plenty of room on my server space. I could even have the guy working on the Remove Before Flight site do one for Little Valk.

Yup, I'm Max 8. And on the VF-4... The short answer is: I did complete the modelling. The long answer is: I lost the last 4 months of work when I took a break from Macross for a few years. I've since been trying to re-build from my last saved point. This time texturing as I go. It's purpose has been for my fan comic and you can see the results here: http://www.removeb4flight.com/comics/Comic004.jpg http://www.removeb4flight.com/comics/Comic005.jpg http://www.removeb4flight.com/comics/Comic006.jpg On modelling I still need to redo the mid fuselague section including the head and add some weathering for the texture maps, but it'll be complete and transformable. With some additional maps (specular, bump, etc,) it'll look slick as a photo-real render rather than the ink 'n paint I'm doing for the comic.

Ack! Stupid sandstorms. I flew a mission north and got stranded at the forward team site. The patient made it to Baghdad, but the viz was way too low to get back to our base. Not a bad deal though, it was surf and turf night in their DFAC. But for replies. -No the distorted perspective in the last panel was unintentional. I'll fix it when I get back to my room...whenever that is. -Yes llamas. We couldn't think of anything more "out there" and simultaneously humorous than sucking a llama through a jet engine. -Not sure who Jeff Minter is, but I'd love to know what he has to do with Macross and llamas. -I need to see the Little Valk series. Seeing that "Small Veritech" ripoff made me vaguely remember the LV comic. Did it have the gang lusting after a VF-11MAXL? It also had a VF-4 in it, right? Once again thanks for the comments. Hopefully I'll have some downtime soon to get the next one out.

NOTAMS 06 September 2038: YNAV Newport Field A1534/38 QMHXX migratory birds nesting at departure end of RWY 32. Exercise extreme caution on departure or approaches to RWY 14. WIE UFN. .... Holy, I thought 3 panels would be an easy one, but I guess not. I think I spent more time on this strip than any other to date. Hopefully the efforts are noticeable. Trying out a new font for the text, let me know what you think, because I'm not completely sold on that one. Else, just poking fun at the comments for the previous strips with this one. And before anyone asks: Yes. Maria's skirt got about 6 inches shorter...

I just threw the 2036 version out there because I thought someone had mentioned fan designs for the VF-4 head. I guess that was for ships though. The Commander Variant in the SHE kit, from what Nanashi had told me, was canon because it was one of the few SHE kits that Kawamori had design input. The thing on the head looks like a laser to me, and makes sense considering most of the VFs around the time of the VF-4G were incorporating rear-arc head lasers, presumably for protection. Finally, unless you have a burning desire to complete the unwrap and texturing yourself, I'd be more than happy to finish the unwrap and texturing on the VF-4 for the mod. I could probably even whip out the heads/other transformation pieces if this model is supposed to transform. I'm no gamer, but I love all things VF-4.

The VF-4 would have been an awesome fighter if it weren't for that stupid head. I'll see if I can squeeze in some new heads. How many variants? (A is a go, how many more?) Also noticed the Tuliqui-Sovis is still on the shiplist (Fanmade Zjent Frigate). Should I dig this one up and do orthos on it also? 396779[/snapback] Boxer we need all the Fan designs you can muster- get back to me when you can 396911[/snapback] I'm curious to see what ya'll come up with and what light Nanashi can shed on the issue. My take on the heads when building my VF-4 in MAX, was that the standard head seen in the lineart was typical of all VF-4 models, and the version in my avatar, from the Studio Half Eye kit, was the commander variant only available on the VF-4G upgrades. If you're looking for an alternative design though, I believe there's art floating around somewhere for the VF-4 Battroid from the 2036 Games.

397495[/snapback] Well, in this case it would probably be the FF-2011 and A/C/non-letter model VF-4s. The VF-4G and 2011+ is way too good for the Pukin' Dogs at this point in time. And for you bird lovers, that particular duck is the Ribbon Tailed Mallard. Similar to an Earth Mallard, but features a long shaftless tail feather that is shedable a defense against predators and handy tool for fan-comic artists to parodize missile contrails. In any case, Comic #6 is on the way. I just need to do the backgrounds and shading, and it'll be good to go. Expect it tomorrow night.

Only Max knows for sure... and he's not saying! LOL! 397232[/snapback] Is he the only one...or is he? Perhaps Mylene is the Milkman's baby and the twins, Muse and Therese, with their purple hair are from the UPS man? That only leaves Miranda who was cursed with boring brown hair. Brown...no she must be the UPS man's baby and the twins are from none other than... Gamlin's father! That means Millia set her daughter up with her quasi-brother! Scandalous! See all the drama next time on: As the Compressor Blades Turn (Or my brain could simply be fried from flying 4.7 hours of goggles last night, having next to no sleep, and the 110 F heat.)

New Comic Me and Ben are working on #6 right this very moment. Once again, thanks for the comments. Just some quick replies -Blue perhaps, but doesn't work on this sky blue background. -Speed a problem? Yeah, I'm just using the first couple strips to get a feel for the art and characters. It'll pick up. -I'm national guard! So I can still play army and get my flight hours part time even if I did get a drawing gig. -Hmm the cult... yes perhaps it's time it was revived.

Damn! I'm not a fan of fan-fighters but this is alright! The real question becomes: you being a 3D modeller guy, are you going to turn this concept art into a 3D model? Now on the subject of the VF-5 itself. Why does a primarily space based fighter need water landing gear? Was it the original plan was for a space based fighter, but then it became a low-cost fighter for colony worlds?

I use 3ds Max 8 to do my VF-4. The construction technique I like is laying out lineart schematic drawings in the 3 isometric windows. Using splines to match up as close as possible to the linework, closing off the spline cage, and applying a surface modifier to it. But there's several other techniques that work very well for other folks.

You know, you'd think that. You really would. I mean that P&W Star Ram compressor with the advantage of OTEC can suck in anything and keep on trucking. Rugged compressor blades that would grind anything to fine bits that would be incenerated by a magnetically contained nuclear inferno shortly thereafter. However...well, just refer back to comic #2. Another continuity note: You'll also notice that this isn't Toni's bird. It got kinda clipped off in panel 6, but 604 is actually assigned to 1st Lt. Jane Day, the XO. With one aircraft presently operational in the whole outfit, pilots have to take turns getting their missions/hours in. The VF-4 that'll be modexed 632 hasn't been acquired by the Dogs yet.

One day you should ask Vinnie, Lightning 06 or me about the legendary "Cult of Lightning." 393153[/snapback] Sure is my favorite valk! If I could only get a chick to cosplay as a VF-4... And on that disturbing note...It's comic time! You'll have to click the Macrossworld attachment, as I'm on an Air Force network at the moment that's denying me access to both the website I've set up for the comic (not ready yet) and my xanga blog. This week's piece is more of a technical one than anything else. I tried a new drawing technique for doing Toni. I'm trying the Remove Before Flight tag out. Did the backgrounds a little differently. Finally, I'm super happy how the VF-4 is turning out and decided to showcase it heavily. Unfortunately I got so wrapped up in rendering it that 6 panels later the strip was starting to get kind of crowded. So instead of cutting everything out, I just made it bigger. It's probably some sort of a webcomic no-no, but I'm only 4 strips into this. Still learning. So yeah, I'll try to get back on schedule. Kind of hard at the moment now that I'm the acting platoon leader AND we're short on pilots. But I'm not complaining, I'd rather be busy than sitting around bored.

Stingy Bandwidth Bureaucrats! We can actually get stuff, just not things prone to viruses. In any case thank you very much! I just which I knew what the ultra small font under the cockpit said. Anywho, I did promise a comic this week and while it's not...quite ready yet, I can throw up a 3d render I'll be using in one of the panels.

I'm right there with you on Aoi. The young bachelor in me would of course want something more exciting, but Aoi's definitely the kind of girl you could bring home to mom, get married, raise kids, and grow old with. But Motoko? She's like the Millia of the Akamatsu-verse. I mean, how many times was poor Keitaro almost killed by her blade? Although now that you mention the Akamatsu mangas, I can't help but think Kaolla Su under Moonlight Transformation for that exotic far east princess thing, Saati from Ai Ga Tomaranai filling the Aoi/Belldandy role, and I think some of the Negima girls would be fun to date when they get a little older. Of course right now, I'd just like a Lucy McMillan. Some sexy voice on the radio and a fun date to come back to come back to after a flight. The weather girl at Metro here has a cute radio voice, but unfortunately she's an enlisted airman.

That's lame huh? A post with no content? Lemmie fix that: Two WIP Shots of the VF-4 done in SVF-143 colors circa 2038. Some of the proportions aren't quite right yet as I've been working on it in modules, and some of the parts haven't been replaced yet from the old model, but the idea is there.

Hey guys none for this week. I'm using my free time getting the VF-4 model finished (again) and textured. I'm at 75% complete and plan to have a new comic up by this thursday. Me and whitten worked on the next couple of strips and have some funny stuff coming down the pipe. On a more personal note: flew up to the forward team site the other day, and got mortared for the first time. Well, it was probably a rocket attack. In any case, if I can hear the whistling and then the booms, then it's way too f-ing close for my comfort level. I suppose I'll get used to that after a while though.

Ah, very nice! What program are you using? Do you have a website or something with your models and art displayed? Also, did you do a fan jet or fan racer a while back?

Click to Enlarge Thanks for the encouragement folks! It keeps me going and pushes me to try and update every thursday. This week's strip is only a day late, but kind of rushed as I tried to get myself back on schedule. It didn't get quite the level improvement I was hoping to achieve this week, but some aspects I'm quite happy with. Next week I'm hoping to have a textured VF-4 for you. Oh, and a series title? I'm thinking "Remove Before Flight" as it's kinda goofy, aviation related, and seems to fit that trend for webcomic titles. Any thoughts?