Valkyrie Driver

So any updated design would be relegated to secondline use? In that case, assuming that the VF-1 and VF-0 were updated, and put into circulation by a colony force, what roles would you see the colony using them in? Why? I'd probably say the VF-1 would occupy a role similar to the F-16, light(er)weight multi-role fighter, while the VF-0 would function as the F-15C/D/E. Air superiority and strike fighter.

If you constructed a VF-1 out of modern materials (c. 2040), and used contemporary construction techniques, would there be a weight savings? Same question applies to the VF-0. If so, what role would you see those fighters occupying? Or Would you re purpose the designs and improve the thrust to weight ratio, while essentially making either one a heavy battroid?

I realize this has been done a million times on the internet, and probably a thousand times on this forum. So If there is a current thread for this stop me and point me there. Here goes... So I'm a fan of both shows. And unlike the millions of times we've seen this, I'm not asking for a straight up who would win, that requires too many variables so I'll set some parameters first. Assume you're in the role of a Military Intelligence analyst, and you're putting together a comparative equipment profile, for a commander (This community is a rather technically minded one, so I know y'all can think this way). 1. The pilots of each machine are of similar skill and experience, and we'll assume both are not exceptional cases (i.e. not genius aces with preternatural ability). Lets assume that the pilots are professional soldiers with appropriate training and around 23-26 years of age (Angsty teens don't pilot jet fighters, not even in Japan. That's a professional soldier's job). So again we'll assume some realistic standards apply. 2. We'll assume a neutral universe. No Minovsky particle jamming, no elevated background radiation from antimatter warheads. Assume an earth class planet, with earth standard gravity, and nothing exceptional throwing off its gravity, or any debris fields orbiting the world. Just an earth class planetary system (1 planet, earth standard gravity, makeup, and atmospheric conditions, and 1 natural satellite). 3. Take all conditions into account, you have more in play than just space. Take it to atmo, and to the ground. Assume we're fighting on earth, take topography into account. Assume the landscape is contemporary, that is 21st century. Assume cities are devoid of inhabitants, to allow you to explore full damage potentials for weapons, and so you don't place any artificial constraints on efficacy (worrying about collateral damage). 4. I want technical analysis. Compare the hardware, we don't need full technical specifications. Just your analysis of those specs, to support your position. All Gundam designs must be Production designs from the Universal Century (No Gundam Wing "hero mechs", or G Gundam "Ultimate Fighter Mechs"). All Macross designs must be Production designs from the main continuity (e.g. Macross II doesn't count). No "Hero Customs" will be considered. Keep it to production types only. Limited production does count, as in the RX-79[G], and VF-19/22/25. Now that's out of the way. Everybody ready? Go.

I always had a problem imagining how special operations would use a variable fighter. Fighter pilots are a special breed, and it's hard to determine elite status among an already selective community. The closest real world model I can find would be the Air Commandos of the USAF 6th Special Operations Squadron. But their job is to teach foreign nations how to train and maintain an air force (Post US invasion Iraq and Afghanistan). That hardly fits in with an overt offensive group like fighter pilots. Maybe the Wild Weasels would also be a good example, taking on dangerous missions with specially equipped aircraft. As such, would an AVF be used for such a role? I was under the Impression that the AVF was supposed to be a replacement for the mainline fighter. For Special operations (still don't know how you do covert with a transforming jet fighter) or special missions it would make sense that such a group of pilots would have any number of craft available for use to fit the mission. If a VF-1A would be the best fit for the mission parameters, then they'd use a VF-1A. For an AVF upgrade, what sort of improvements/enhancements would you expect to see, in updating an older design? Would a VF-11 get smaller engines with equal output to make room for weapons bays? Would a VF-1 get a Pin Point Barrier System? Would there be slight adjustments to control surface geometry to account for added low-observable capability, what kind, if any, signature reduction would be added? Would an improved gun pod be in order? Would a VF-11 upgrade (We'll call it a VF-11E Super Thunderbolt) have a VF-19 gun pod, and internal weapons bays? Would it have the PPBS? Active Stealth System? What role would a VF-0A upgrade (VF-0E?) occupy? Would it be an air superiority fighter, or would it be an anti-ship attack craft? What is the role of a Heavy battroid? Is it a ground combat vehicle (Battlemech or RX-79[G]Gundam)? Or is it purely a space combat role? Macross doesn't really focus on anything other than air/space combat, and doesn't really show us what the rest of warfare has become since the introduction of the Variable fighter/Destroid (I realize that in universe the destroid is all but extinct as a combat unit by 2050). What do y'all think?

Wow, this on the Heels of hearing about a Ghost in the Shell Live action Movie. I'm Not sure how I feel about this, I didn't care for robotech since I saw macross first. Also, I skipped over RT, once I figured out where the BattleTech Unseen had originally come from, I went straight to the source. Still, could be fun to see some transforming fighter jets, minus tv trope personalities, kick alien butt. I'll reserve judgement, but I don't have high expectations.

Delta wings are also great for Atmospheric flight, lots of wing area, making it very efficient in flight, as well as incredible maneuverability. Yeah, it would count, as long as it retains more of the typical VF-11 aesthetics (i.e. no boobs or mylene style head).

I agree that the VF-11 Thunderbolt would be the most logical and likely choice for such a program, and indeed I'd love to see it. I'd like to see the F-16 re-manufactured with stealth materials in the leading edges and stealth geometry in the control surfaces, and using an enclosed weapons pod (ala F18E/F Advanced Super Hornet) to take the place of the F-35. But it's not going to happen (Hopefully we procure a low cost fighter to replace the F-16, F-20 tigershark might be back on the table). If I were making the decision, I'd choose to revive the VF-0. Here's why, conventional layout, uses a lifting body design, It's big, plenty of room to pack in all the new AVF systems, It already incorporates some of the Passive stealth geometry, as well as being a combat proven design. Since the R&D work had been done, it cuts costs, and allows the UN Spacy to field a low cost, high performance fighter. (I also like the VF-0 because it resembles my favorite Battlemech, the Stinger, and it's the only toy I have that does so, my VF-1's are S models). The Dimensions of the VF-0 are not too dissimilar from the YF-19, which is the gold standard in AVF design. Basically, I'm wanting to see what VF's folks want to see reimagined as AVF entries, for the purposes of this exercise, we'll assume the Year is 2038, 2 years before the Project Supernova Trials, Which eliminates some of the later entries (Y/VF-19, YF-21/VF-22, VF-25, VF-29 are already past that spec, and the VF-17 doesn't qualify since it's a special operations mech). And give some in universe reasoning as to why you'd choose that design.

SU-37 seems to have inspired some of the VF-11. As well the YF-23 may have provided some too

I was vaguely aware of the existence of Macross the ride. I've been away for a while, focusing on other hobbies and important things. Still catching up.

I guess I wasn't as clear as I wanted to be. I'm not talking about cramming more powerful engines in the airframe, since doing so would naturally overstress the airframe, I meant taking an old design and manufacturing from the ground up, all new, accounting for higher stress tolerances, without compromising the original design aesthetic. Think F-15SE Silent Eagle. It was built from the ground up to implement those design changes, while using a preexisting design, to cut R&D costs. That's sort of the idea I had. Still think the VF-0, would be awesome, though the VF-1 would be a good choice too, given it's small size. Bigger ain't always better.

It's been a while since I've been on here, just moved into a new apartment and I started unpacking my Macross Collection. But I've always loved this community, so I'm back. If you were to pick a design from any Macross product (Show, movie, game etc...) To bring up to Advanced Variable Fighter specs, which one would you choose? I'll kick it off. I'd probably choose the VF-0, since it was the first, UN Varibale fighter to see deployment, It seems logical. That and the fact that it has the original feel with the more modern design cues, it kinda begs to be brought up to spec.

With those "clamps" or retainers or whatever you want to call them broken, fighter mode is flimsy. Mine is stuck in Battroid mode now.

This is a bit off topic, but does anyone have a fix for broken parts? The pieces that hold the leg bar in place broke. I used some superglue but I doubt that it's going to hold up to transforming. Please help.

My latest purchase, made today, is a 1/72 Yamato YF-19. This was one of the first valks that I wanted, but was never able to get one. Until now. It said it was a 1st Edition, but I can't be sure. I'm really excited. I really want the 1/60 Yamato YF-19, but I can't spend that kind of money. As an aside, how is the Bandai VF-171? ****EDIT**** Sadly it was confiscated by Japanese customs, due to it containing "combustible material". I guess I have to make due with my VF-Hi Metal VF19S as the only 19 in my collection.

I love my 11C. Favorite yamato toy. I had to give them to my dad for safe keeping while I PCS, I'm sad, I miss it. At least I have my 1/100s to fidget with. The Hips get loose quickly, and the gunpod is tricky to get seated right so it lines up correctly, so watch out for that. I think the 11B has better gunpod alignment, not sure I don't own one. I do wish I'd bought the 11B instead, as that's the M+ VF11, and I like it better.

I love my VF-19S HiMetal. It was less than a third of the price for the Yamato 1/60 scale. I don't mind swapping hands on a toy this small, and all the modes look fine. Sure it doesn't have as much detail, But that doesn't matter as much to me, because I'm too add to appreciate the detail anyway. (Not entirely true, I do appreciate the detail of my 1/60's, but they're just too damn big to fidget with.) I like to fidget when I work, so the 1/100's are perfect, plus I get the VF-19, which I've always wanted, I wish it was a YF19 instead, but beggars can't be choosers.

Touche. But they don't defy physics. They don't change their mass, and even with suspension of disbelief, it is entirely possible, given the exotic materials that variable fighters are made from. Also, there is a fair amount of straight fighter combat in the franchise, maybe not as much since frontier came out, but frontier tried to be like gundam seed. Where do the mid wing nacelles end up in battroid mode? Do all the modes look clean? No, the Battroid has excessive wing kibble on the back, and it just hangs everywhere, and looks like a gen 1 transformer. I don't care for that, and I know there are a bunch of other folks who feel the same way. I'm of the opinion that sleek is sexy, and if sexy is what matters in giant robots, then they should be sleek. Also, real world fighter tactics translate to Macross just fine, it's all about aggression and cunning, outwitting your opponent and then crushing them, same as war has been for thousands of years. It's the warrior attitude, you never want your enemy behind you, you want him where you can see and kill him. That's all I'm getting at really, I understand why the head lasers ended up in the dorsal position and aimed to the rear, the designs had to transform, so you make it transform however you can without parts just sprouting from nothing.

I've been disappointed in the Mecha designs from Macross lately. The VF-25 grew on me, it just didn't look as clean as previous designs. My favorites are still the range from Zero to M7. This whole space fighter stuff, kinda gets boring. I took a nice little hiatus from Macross for a while, to pursue other hobbies, and this is what I come back to? This thing is bulbous and unattractive, and it looks like the YF-19 and VF-25 had a chubby love child. There have been many Aircraft with the mid wing engine nacelles and most of them were prone to engine issues. Also, four high output engines, soon we're going to have full on inertial dampeners (which the VF-25 has already I just found out). Come on, this is silly, is Kawamori really even designing these things anymore? As for Air Combat, staying above and behind the enemy is for leading the target, and makes it easier to drop the gunsight on him. It is also advised to attack the underside of your enemy because it is generally not as well defended. I never really liked the rear facing laser idea, because it required more systems. (Systems which would already be present in a VF I suppose.) It also violates the 5th rule of the Dicta Boelcke, In any type of attack, it is essential to assail your opponent from behind. As for turning and burning, that's a defensive tactic, fighter pilots don't like to attack from a defensive position, because it is disadvantageous. Try to secure the upper hand before attacking, that's rule number one of the Dicta Boelcke. There is a ton of subject matter on Air combat, I suggest reading the Dicta Boelcke, and Douhet's book, The Command of The Air, you also may wish to read John Boyd's works as well.

I actually started off with the original Transformers as a kid, of which I had several of the toys. Then I moved on to MechWarrior 2,3&4, which got me into BattleTech. I followed that for a while, and found out that my favorite 'Mechs were from Robotech, which led me to Macross. I really got into it when Robotech: Battlecry came out, and I took to trying to make transformers out of my old Gundam figures. My first Macross toy was a Banpresto VF-1A/J/S strike Valkyrie, which I painted like Max's from DYRL. My first exposure to Macross proper was Macross Plus. Then I found SDF Macross at Best buy, and bought it, and I haven't looked back. Macross remains one of my all time favorite anime franchises. "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."- 1 Corinthians 13:11, is what my dad always quotes when he sees my toy collection. He wonders why a 25 yr old man, still has toys. I'm in the military now, and it only supports my habit. Being slightly ADD having something to fidget with is appealing.

I'm currently watching M2 on netflix. Yeah it's the english dub, and I hate Ibiki, such a snot nosed 17 yr old civvie turd. The casting was terrible as was the acting. M+ was so much better. The story of M2 isn't bad, but if they were to re cast it, and digitally remaster the animation, and re do the dialogue, it could easily be so much better. As for the ADV SDFM dub, yeah it was clunky, but I still enjoyed it enough to buy the set. I guess I'm not that picky, I just want to be entertained. M+ remains one of my favorite of the franchise to date. Now, If only we could get a dub of M7, Zero, and Frontier I'd be set. Frontier grew on me, the mecha was cool, and the story was fun. Could have done without the bionic camel spiders in space though.

I just got my VF-19, and I gotta say, for a 1/100 scale valk, it feels a lot like my 1/60 scale yamatos. I like that, it feels solid, and so what that there is some partsforming, but that's to be expected from a toy this small. I don't mind the small size and small inaccuracies. Besides, at 1/3rd the price, I have a vf-19. The head could be more posesable, but it's all good.