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Valkyrie Driver

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  1. Valkyrie Driver
    I'm gonna weigh in on this. Can the F-35 perform CAS, yes. Will it be as effective, partially. What makes the A-10 preferable, is the fact that it makes no bones about being stealthy, thus it's payload is not as severely limited (F-35's performing CAS would likely forego stealth anyway), additionally, the F-35, while capable of hauling a greater payload in terms of weight, cannot carry the quantity that an A-10 can. The F-35 is limited in terms of the number of hardpoints it has, 8 hardpoints compared to the Hog's 11, total payload is only 2,000lbs difference. The A-10 has a loiter time of approx 2hrs at 5,000ft, and greater surviveablity against ground fire. Let's also not forget the gun system that the fighters carry. The A-10 has a more powerful gun, and carries 1,174 rounds of 30mm ammunition, compared to the F-35's 180rounds of 25mm. If we look at the math, the Hog can carry 16,000lbs of ordnance on the hardpoints, if we look at the 500lb Mk82, the gold standard for CAS, the A-10 can carry 32 of them, 10 triples and a double on station 11. The F-35 has 6 hardpoints external, allowing it to carry 18, a gross weight of 9,000lbs, leaving 9,000lbs of it's total payload unused. Add to that the A-10's capability to carry a variety of munitions, not just bombs, and the fact that the F-35 has not been tested/approved for that capability, and you have a lack of versatility on the part of the F-35 in performing CAS. The A-10 is the superior choice for CAS, because it was purpose built for that role, while the F-35 is only adequate. The fact that the A-10 has the gun it does, is part of what makes it effective, not because the gun is more effective than bombs or smart munitions, but because of the psychological impact it has on the fight on the ground. Friendlies hear the A-10 make a gun run, and they get fired up, the enemy hears it and they break and run. That's an important factor to consider, in addition to the number of runs an A-10 can make compared to the F-35. The F-35 has the potential to be a great asset, however, I believe it will fall flat as a multi airframe replacement. The F-16 can outperform it in air combat, and the A-10 out performs in CAS/Anti-tank. The F-35 would however make an excellent supplement to those airframes, or future dedicated airframes, as well as offering us a potent day 1 strike fighter. USAF will do what they do, and they'll suffer for it. *All comparisons were made based off of the F-35A, as the Air Force version, it seemed appropriate to compare a USAF jet to a USAF jet.
  2. Valkyrie Driver
    The VF-31 and the SV-262 are both really cool, and I'm glad we got to see them in episode 1. I actually thought the frankengult was pretty cool, what do you do when you have a regult with busted up thrusters, and a queadluun with a smashed up cockpit? Kluge them together of course, especially if you need a functioning mech. I'm actually kinda surprised we haven't seen that more often, but hey, it looks like the planet they're on might not be the most well supplied, so there's that...
  3. Valkyrie Driver
    So, I'm not trying to put spoilers out there, but I feel I need to ask this question: As I was watching the Delta prologue episode, I noticed a star map of the milky way, and it seems to have shown humanity moving in all directions from earth. It looks to me like as of Delta, humanity started moving into the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Is the setting for delta in the LMC? It would be really cool if it were, just as something different, you know?
  4. Valkyrie Driver
    So I just saw the Prologue episode. It's interesting, and at first blush I really liked it. They didn't waste any time getting to it, which I liked. We also learned a lot about what's going on, not enough to ruin further episodes, but enough to get a feel for the setting. Speaking of which it's refreshing to see something other than a colony fleet as the setting, I'm sure we'll see that come up in later episodes, but it's a pretty cool start. The animation quality is amazing, the mecha look great, and the story seems like it's going to be pretty interesting. I'm seeing some elements recycled from other Macross series, which is fine, since it seems to be stuff that wasn't really expanded on in those shows. The Walkure seem to be M7's jamming birds, done right, while the presence of a song that triggers violence in people seems to be pulled from M2, as well as the idea of opposed songstresses, which seems to be neat. Overall, I'm pretty excited to see what's coming. Hopefully it won't take too long to get some translated subs out there, for those of us with the handicap of not being able to speak japanese (I'm still learning).
  5. Valkyrie Driver
    I have the Alto VF-171 and It's great, though recently one of the wing pins was sheared off. It still works, and transforms but the wing can go a tad wonky if it gets bumped. Still I'd like to see improvements made, so that battroid mode is more solid. If they made a this and it wass improved, I'd buy it.
  6. Valkyrie Driver
    Passive stealth is as David said, achieved through construction. Passive stealth either absorbs radar waves, or directs them away from the receiver or both. The F-117, F-22, F-35, PAK-FA, ATD-X, J-20, and J-31 all use passive stealth, as that's the only way we have of making a stealth aircraft. Active stealth would probably generate some sort of field that bends radar waves around the aircraft, essentially fooling the radar into thinking there is nothing present. Active steal this electronic signal masking. The result would be the similar, the radar transceiver gets less returning radar waves, making the dot appear smaller (and thus less threatening). The difference is entirely how the effect is achieved. Active stealth is not to be confused with a jammer, which simply floods the radar with returns and generates "noise" that attenuates the radar, making the radar think that the dot is faster, or closer, or more numerous than it really is. I hope that answered your question. Passive stealth wouldn't be unnecessary, just less of a design consideration, instead focused on low observable techniques to minimize the signature. Besides, we know from the story, that active stealth isn't perfect, so low observable techniques are still used in design and construction to further minimize the radar cross section. You'd also need active stealth, because the VF-19 and VF-31 both have canards, which is like hanging a neon "shoot me" sign on it. Though they can have the benefit of providing extreme maneuverability (especially in the VF-19A/B/C/D which were very similar to the YF-19 prototype, and it's axis of lift being fairly far forward of it's center of thrust, a stability consideration). The VF-31 looks very stable, and I have to say, from a toy collector's perspective, that while the VF-25/29 style torso is not innovative, it is far more stable and playable than the YF-30's (at least from the reviews I've seen). I really kinda want one, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the new show has to offer.
  7. Valkyrie Driver
    Yeah I really can see that. Though I'm not sure I see much that's retro in the VF-31. It seems pretty cutting edge to me, along with it's seeming similarities in transformation to the VF-25. The Chest section looks as though it's a straight up grab from the VF-25. You're absolutely right about the artwork. The Navy still does it, with squadron markings, usually on the Vertical Stabs, and usually only big on the Squadron Commander's and the CAG's bird. The Artwork is usually smaller on the Sqdn's other aircraft, still mostly on the vertical stabs. Occasionally you'll still see nose art on Air Force Aircraft, but it has to be approved and inoffensive. Stuff like my dad had painted on his air planes would never fly today (a cartoon called the last great act of defiance). Still though when I was at Barksdale I still saw B-52's and A-10's with noseart. Kawamori-san has always done a great job with stuff like that, it's pretty consistent with the way the US Navy marks their aircraft, and the art style of those markings is typical Navy.
  8. Valkyrie Driver
    I have to say, that I wasn't on board with the new valk, as it really looked too much like a rehash of the VF-25, but it's kinda growing on me. It has a lot in common with the VF25 for sure, and it would have been nice if it was more like the YF-30, just to be different, but it's not bad looking.
  9. Valkyrie Driver
    Is there anything for those of us that live in the dark land of North America. I clicked on the links, but it's not available in my country. It's like I live in Soviet Russia or something.
  10. Valkyrie Driver
    The Idols are all so cute... Any idea if we'll get a crunchyroll simulcast?
  11. Valkyrie Driver
    A static display VF-4 would be really cool...
  12. Valkyrie Driver
    Considering that the Arcadia YF-19 has a lot of common parts with the Yamato VF-19 line, that just doesn't fit the case, given how reproduceable computer assisted machining is, no I think it's more likely that the tolerances were engineered in. If it were a tolerance issue, you'd have a lot more variation some stiffer and some looser, Yamato/Arcadia Y/VF-19 joints are consistently loose, the joints on my 19F are a bit tighter than most people's which makes me think my example is slightly tighter tolerance, or that I haven't played with mine nearly as much as others.
  13. Valkyrie Driver
    Very true, I don't want you to get the impression that I'm only trying to show violence, because that's boring. Just trying to illustrate that it's easier to jump into action where action already exists rather than build it up from the ground. That's good advice, I may have skipped necessary dialogue, or opportunities for necessary dialogue, when I shouldn't have. I'm not big on reading transcripts of conversations, or on writing them, as some do. I'm going to keep dialogue to important snippets of the conversation. I appreciate the feedback.
  14. Valkyrie Driver
    I've done a significant edit of the first chapter, and included a bit more dialogue. From what I got from Gubaba's comment, dialogue is the action for these two chapters, as the characters meet and begin to interact. I get that. There will be more action and less mindless dialogue as the story goes. I'm not intending to focus as much on some of the typical Macross elements, rather than the romance being the primary plot point, it's a subplot, integral and important yes, but not the point of the story. The mecha will play a larger role, as it's what the characters do, they pilot battlesuits and variable fighters. I also want to show the characters struggle with their identity, realizing that they aren't just what they do. I also don't want to do the typical love triangle you get when two guys meet a girl they like. I don't want my two male characters to fall out over the girl, rather I want one to get the girl, and one to be the third wheel, until he figures out that he's looking for love in all the wrong places. I've got a direction I want this to go, It's just slow setting the scene. Getting to the action quickly in a story set in the Warhammer 40k universe is easy, there's violence everywhere. Getting to it in Macross is rather hard, as it has to escalate to violence, because it starts from tranquility. Keep the criticisms coming, keep it constructive though. It should get better when I hit my stride.
  15. Valkyrie Driver
    Honestly, there are fewer mechanical issues with the Bandai (complex transformation notwithstanding) than exist with the arcadia. I'm not saying the arcadia is bad, I still want one. It's just that it's fit and finish is sub par. You're paying BMW money for a Triumph, is basically what it amounts to.
  16. Valkyrie Driver
    Duly noted.
  17. Valkyrie Driver
    Yeah, I figured that would be the biggest criticism with the first chapter. I do intend to have more dialogue, I just didn't want so much boring dialogue (Commander's inbrief meetings are painfully boring), I was going more for taking snapshots of the characters for their intro, as I didn't really intend to do dialogue until it could be interesting. The next chapter will have more dialogue and character development, as we see more of the core characters, and begin to see how they interact. I really intend to focus most of my creative attention on the characters I've named, Sanada being the mentor, some romantic subplot (I don't know if it'll really be a love triangle, and if it is it'll be short lived as I have other ideas, it might actually be more like a love rhombus than anything). This is also a painfully different style of story than I have usually written, more focus on personal relationships with the action being the backdrop, rather than the action being the focus of the story. I appreciate your input, keep it coming as I put forward more chapters.
  18. Valkyrie Driver
    I had not noticed that. Still the arcadia gun is better proportioned, and offers more in terms of play, and I think the hinged gunpod is a bit wonky. I'ts nothing I can't live with, I mean, the VF-19Advance isn't a YF-19 so it stands to reason that some things will be different. Still, I'd prefer the gun pod be redesigned if bandai does a YF-19 release, along with the appropriate cockpit gimmicks. Arcadia did make some big mistakes in reusing as much of the M7 VF-19 molds as they did. They needed to improve on it, not just reuse it.
  19. Valkyrie Driver
    There are definitely some things I like about the arcadia that you showed off Jenius. The shield in fighter mode covering more gaps being one, the gun pod being another, and the overall chunkiness of the arcadia is more pleasing. I would have liked to have armaments for the VF-19Advance but it's not a dealbreaker, and it's nice to not have to keep track of all that. Seems to me that your basic point is that the Arcadia is a great display piece, but a subpar toy, and that the Bandai is a great toy, but a mediocre display. Does that about sum it up?
  20. Valkyrie Driver
    You're right they can't be upgraded, this thread has kind of become a general VF discussion, but I can't change the title (since I'm the OP) because it either won't let me, or I don't know how. It's an anti vehicle weapon so I imagine it's along the lines of what the 40mm HEDP round carries. Other Micro missile technologies that are out there are the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) which is a laser guidance upgrade for the Hydra 70 rocket that works with current Hydra launchers. Another one is the Direct Attack Guided Rocket (DAGR) which is compaitble with current hellfire systems. It offers a lock-on before launch capability that the APKWS lacks. I can't use hydra launch systems though. The Hydra 70 is a 70mm (2.75 inch) folding fin aerial rocket for those of you who might not be familiar with it. Standard US unguided rocket. For comparison's sake, the FIM-92 stinger is 5 ft long, and 5 inches in diameter. Fully capable of bringing down any aircraft (provided you can get it to lock on). All of this info is available on wikipedia, just so you don't think that this is all classified or something.
  21. Valkyrie Driver
    Well, finally it's here. The first chapter of my story Macross Starlight. It's kinda slow right now, trying to set the scene and set up the main characters. I'll leave it to y'all to read, so i don't spoil it. Let me know what you think, I'm kinda stepping outside my realm of expertise here. The only other fanfiction I've written has a bit more action to it, since that one's a bit more focused and specific. If you want you can read that one here at the bolter and chainsword.
  22. Valkyrie Driver
    Slowly, had a lot of stuff on my plate. Tried to learn calculus, algebra in three different bases, formal logic, ARM assembly, and Chemistry all at the same time. That and working on another fanfiction, and building wargame terrain, painting an army, Keeping a girlfriend happy. Busy, busy, busy, I've been trying to do the story in chunks, but I'm not really happy with how it sounds.
  23. Valkyrie Driver
    Makes me wish I had more VF-1's.
  24. Valkyrie Driver
    I don't really care what bandai did on the box art, hell they could have used line art or some other picture and I still would have bought it. It could have been a brown box... I personally love this toy, and I find myself agreeing with Jenius's review, though my opinion on the arcadia is based on secondhand information, and the only other toys I have to compare it to is my Yamato YF-19 and my Yamato VF-19F. All three of my 19's are great toys, so I'm happy. I would like to have another 19F and a 19S, and of course I'd love to have an Arcadia YF-19, but money is tight and there are so many other toys I'd like to have.
  25. Valkyrie Driver
    It's probably already been mentioned but I can't find it, the SV-262's name is a reference to the Me-262 Schwalbe.
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