Valkyrie Driver

Thanks y'all.

Spanner, I see what your saying and I get the necessity. I was just saying that the VF-25 doesn't seem as clean in battroid mode as other Valks, like the VF-0, VF-1, VF-11, VF-17/171, SV-51, or VF-19. It's the fact that the wings just don't stow away neatly like the Valks I just mentioned. Granted, it is not fair to compare a Valk to a transformer (I'd take my v1 chogokin over a MP07 Starscream any day), because despite what they look like in Battroid mode it's a clean fighter. it is the difference between a fighter that transforms into a Giant Robot, vs a Giant robot that transforms into a fighter. I'm sure I'd love the renewal version better, and I think you've convinced me to get one (the high praise from CollectionDX and ScorchedEarthToys helped too), but the design still isn't my favorite (that honor goes to the YF-19/VF-19A). There are aspects of the VF-19F/S that I don't care for either (Holy crap head lasers on the S, and the shape of the wings, and there's too much anime magic involved with the transformation). I just think that maybe the stowage on the wings of the VF-25 could have been handled differently, maybe have them oversweep to tuck them in a bit more. Did they ever release an alto vf-25 with armored parts? Or was it just the VF-25S Ozuma?

I outline my fanfic setting here, near the bottom: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=35183&page=9 But basically, I'm using an emigrant fleet. I thought that the internal weapon bays were not considered cannon for the VF-11. If they are considered cannon, then there would be no need for the size of the fighter to be increased, unless it was for including bigger engines and more/better avionics. The VF-14 is probably a bit big for a primary fleet defense fighter, that and the fact that I really like the VF-11...

Don't get me wrong, the VF-25 is a good design. I personally don't care for it as much, since the wings just remind me of transformer kibble. That was one of the big draws for me, macross mecha look and feel like fighter jets when they're in fighter mode, they look and feel like robot war machines in Battroid mode. Everything is supposed to stow away neatly in the transformation. Maybe it's that the only toys I've had of it were the VF100 version and the v1 Chogokin, but the aesthetics just don't feel quite...right. Maybe its my bias, but the VF-25 feels too... Russian, to be a hero mech. I love the SV-51 because it has that same Sukhoi-esque quality, but it was a mook unit. And the VF-11 didn't feel wrong, even though it had the same kind of quality, since it was the redshirt mech.

I stand corrected. I paused it and got distracted, Still would have missed it had I not been looking for it. I don't really like VG wings, coming from an aeronautics perspective. I also really have a difficult time envisioning how the wings on the 19 would actually swing back (without the mechanism on the arcadia), which would not be viable. Aerodynamically it's flawed. Not to mention, you'd lose a lot of lift with that configuration... Ah well, that's not a discussion for this board...

Looking back at it it was the ventral fins that did it. But I see what you mean about the landing gear. I agree with you about the V1 chogokins, they are pretty nasty. Unfortunately it's all I have in a VF-25. It really made me hate the VF-25 design. I know the Renewal toys are supposed to be better, but some things don't change, like those ungainly wings off the back, God I hate that. Still the v1 wasn't all bad. I might need to replace it in the rotation though, since it is clearly inferior...

So, I've decided to give a shot at writing fanfiction, and I've decided to use an upgraded VF-11 as the primary mecha. While I'm not taking it to full avf specs, I am integrating some AVF features, like internal weapons bays (albeit small), and up tuned engines. I've also decided that the design should be scaled up a little, like 5 to 10% (similar to the way the F/A-18E/F is bigger than the F/A-18C/D). What do you think?

That seems to be a bit of a design flaw to me. The way the wings worked on the Yamato was just fine. You couldn't swing the wings back in fighter mode, but IIRC that never happened in M+. I guess I'll find out as I"m watching it now...

Is that Roy custom VF-25F a v1 DX Chogokin? Or is it a renewal?

So, I'm considering doing some paint customization on my valks. Shading the panel lines, and adding some weatheirng. Any suggestions

I also want to be somewhat realistic. I plan on making all of my VF pilots commissioned officers, while destroid pilots would be both comissioned and warrant officers. In addition to destroids, there would be fixed Battroids, much like an Arm Slave from Full Metal Panic. These would be piloted by infantrymen to put them on equal footing with Zentradi. It would be special use equipment, and function with the same type of master-slave system. Their armament would be restricted to mecha scale infantry type weapons, (Rifles, pistols, machine guns, and rocket launchers). I'm going to try to show more than just space combat, because that gets a little boring...

Thanks. Well worth it IMO.

Last time I tried to write a fanfic, it didn't go anywhere, as there wasn't any support on this site for it, and because I didn't have a plan. I'm thinking now that I'm going to give it another go. So the idea that I've come up with just after reading some of the posts here: Setting would be on a New Macross colony fleet similar to Frontier, big city ship with the island configuration, a smattering of cultures from earth (broken into districts to keep the aesthetics consistent, but lots of mobility), with provision for Normal sized zentradi on the other islands. Changing size would be just like on frontier, not a big deal, and not required except in the main city. Big difference would be that the fleet doesn't identify with the NUNS, instead they hold on to the Identity of the Original United Earth. The Fleet would operate very much like an independent republic, with a free and open society (much like an Idealized United States), with each ship having representatives and senators elected from within. The Military forces would be professional soldiers (18 and up), and there would be some military prep schools (high schools) and a Military Academy (University level). In addition to civilian equivalents. For mecha, I'm going to use a lot of previously established mecha. VF-11E/F- Main variable mecha for the fleet. 10% size increase from the C/D models, to allow for uptuned engines, small internal bays, and additional safety equipment. Armed with standard C/D model gunpod, but upgraded with a detachable anti armor bayonet. Additionally Airframe has been fitted with 6 underwing hardpoints, and has the capability to use an upgraded Armor Protect System (used as battroid support for destroid units). E model is a single seat fighter, F model is a tandem seat fighter, used for training and Electronic Warfare. VF-19C/D - (YF-19/VF-19A upgrade) Special Mission Fighter for the fleet. Used in a variety of roles, but usually as a high speed penetrator, used for air interdiction and superiority missions. C model is a single seat fighter, D model is a tandem seat fighter. D model is used primarily for training, however both are used in conjunction during air raids. D model functions as airborne forward air control, and command and control. D model also contains more powerful sensors used for SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions. VF-17E - Upgraded VF-17D. Special Mission Fighter, used for high speed penetration of enemy air defenses. With the inherent stealth characteristics of the design, and the addition of more advanced active stealth systems as well a pinpoint barrier system this fighter is typically used to destroy key enemy facilities, or when properly equipped, is used to take out small enemy capital ships. The standard gunpod can be switched out for a high output beam cannon. This beam cannon can be utilized in any mode, and is constructed from stealth materials, but must be mounted under the hull of the aircraft. When firing the cannon the barrel splits open (essentially a miniaturized macross cannon) and the radar cross section increases exponentially (from virtually null, to glaringly obvious). SV-53 - Upgraded SV-51, space worthy and with more powerful engines. Dedicated CAS (Close Air Support) platform. Single seat only. Using a system similar to the YF-21, it can alter the shape of its wings, though this capacity is limited to improving its low speed flight characteristics. In fighter mode it has 8 underwing hardpoints, and 2 under fuselage stations located forward on the intakes just below the wing root cannons. VA-3/EVA-3 - Primary Bomber and electronic warfare mecha. VA-3 model is specific to this fleet, and has a crew of 2. EVA-3 has a crew of 4, and is usually used where dedicated electronic warfare craft are needed. EVA-3 can also be equipped with early warning sensor packs (similar to the VE-1). These aircraft are quite large for variable mecha. Destroids - Tomahawk, Defender, Phalanx and Monster destroids will see some action, since I have a special love for them. My Idea is to have this fleet have friction with the NUNS. This will be set in the frontier era, but they're using mecha that has already been seen in the UN Spacy inventory. I'm planning on having some new enemies and some old ones. Remnant Zentradi, as well as enthralled human/zentradi soldiers. I'm going to also have some conflict between the fleet and the NUNS. In the case of the NUNS conflicts, I'm going to show my fleet as being behind technologically (my VF-11E/F would still be surpassed by the VF-171, and the VF-25 would surpass the VF-19C/D). It's my intent to focus on other parts of macross than just fighters in space. This is just my ideas right now.

This is amazing. What program are you using to model this? What did you have in mind when you decided to do this, was it just for a digital model, or do you plan on bringing this to life? Truly great work. I'm in awe of your skill, perhaps one day I'll be that good (I have only ever done mechanical drawing, and I'm not an engineer...yet...)

Y'all are making me want more VF-1's. I now want the VF-1J GBP, and a 1J Max and Milia, and I'll need a 1A (My TRU v1 broke a couple weeks ago, so now it's relegated to the box... ). At which point I'll have all of the Characters from Skull Sqdn... And that's not including the Max and Milia VF-22S's that I want, as well as the Q-Raus (I like Q-Raus, and I want some of the enemy mecha).

I want to know where you're getting these ghosts. Also do these ghosts come with the missile pods and the conformal tanks? The new 0's look pretty good, I'd really like one, to you know, replace my old floppy Yammie.

I have pretty much filled my toy collection with my favorites. Two of them are still on the way, a VF-171 and the Tomahawk Destroid. The Tomahawk holds a special place in my heart as it became the basis for two of my favorite BattleMechs (Warhammer & Warhammer IIc). It was because of this that I came to love Macross in the first place, so definitely special. The VF-25 bugs me a little. It has too much transformation junk hanging off of it. I can tolerate the wings on the Y/VF-19 (the YF-19 more so due to the lower profile) since it actually looks pretty cool, and serves a purpose (guns in the wing roots). The hip guns on the SV-51 don't bother me, nor do they on the VF-25. It's just those wings. I can't help but think that there had to be a better way to stow those wings so that they didn't stick out so far. That's the only part that bugs me (aside from the fact that my VF-25 toy is a v1 chogokin). I really like the VF-17/171 because of its classification of being a heavy battroid, I like to see that different mecha have different roles just like real world fighters. Destroids too, Unlike battlemechs, they aren't divided into weight classes, but each has a distinct purpose. I'd like to see more destroids, maybe more about the zentradi uprisings at the end of SDF Macross, or maybe we could see some destroids in action against Zentradi remnants on a colony world. I kinda envision a combined arms approach between destroids and variable fighters. I'm with Mr. March, there are just too many awesome mechas to pick one favorite...

Number 2 out of the big order. Here it is next to my other recent, The SV-51 dwarfs the YF-19, and as far as the 19 goes, I'm pretty happy. I'm glad I never ended up getting that 1/72, even though it would have been nice to have as an "evolution" piece for my collection. I think I might just say that with a few exceptions, I collect 1/60's. (Couple Toynami 1/100 VF-1's and a VF-19S hi metal). The only disappointment with the YF-19, is no provision for underwing stores, but I hear Kurisama has some fixes for that...