Graham

Here's the scans of all 6 pages of the latest installment of 'Macross the Ride' from the new March 2011 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine (out today). Notice the SV-52y Oryol model kit has rear-swept canards, whereas the lineart has forward swept canards. Other changes from the SV-51 that I can see, as well as the feather-like outboard ailerons and new head that sketchley mentioned are: The Oryol has the wing root guns deleated. Active stealth antenna around the nose gone. Side hybrid sensors infront of the canopy gone. Lacks the SV-51's dowward tuned wingtips. No gunpod in the lineart, yet something is filling the space where the gunpod's magazine normally goes. Slightly redesigned legs (the part with the orange band around it on the planes dorsal surface (i.e batroids knee area). I'm wondering if the SV-52y uses thermonuclear engines? (Edit: changed pics to larger versions) Graham

Yes, a few days ago. We've been discussing it in the YF-29 toy thread. It's Durendal or Durandal, named after the legendary mythical French sword. Kawamori seems to have a mythical sword thing going at the moment. Graham

I'm hopeful that the VF-17S/D in MTF will finally have a correct shell firing gunpod, as per the anime. The attached picture from the official MTF website shows the VF-17S with the icon for a standard shell firing gun pod. I fired up MUF on the PSP this morning to check what gun icon is used for the VF-17D/S and it is a different beamgun icon. Graham

Some of the things written/drawn on that board are by Japan-based MWers. IIRC, The 'VF-2SS' is by MWer Save and the Orguss is by Renato. Graham

Pics of the sprues and also completed, but unpainted kit in the new (March) issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine. Will post hi-res scan when I get home tonight. The design is slowly growing on me. Graham

SV-52 'Oryol', featured in new Macross-R episode (March issue of Dengeki Hobby). Hi-res scans to come tonight. Graham

Yeah, it was strange in MUF the Mac 7 VF-11C got Super Packs, but the Mac Plus VF-11B didn't. But both of them could use the Protect Armour. Graham

How did the side fighter mode look like, relatively slim like Kawamori's lineart, or chunky like the old Bandai 1/65 toy? Getting a lineart accurate, slim looking VF-17 fighter mode, while keeping the battroid nice and beefy looking is going to be one hell of a trick to pull off

No, good find. Graham Save, Renato, Tochiro - did you actually get to see a VF-17 CAD data sheet? I haven't seen that yet If yes, which mode(s) did it show? How did it look, what can you remember? Graham

The official Macross Triangle Frontier site has an update today. Both the Mechanic and System pages are updated Confirmed are FAST Packs for the VF-17....yeah! This makes me really happy . I'm hoping the VF-17 will also finally get a proper shell firing gunpod instead of a beam gun. Also, confirmed is the Metal Siren (previously only the prototype Metal Siren was shown in the recent Famitsu article). Less important, but still nice is that the Macross Plus VF-11B also gets FAST Packs, which it lacked in MUF. Oh, and the big fortress of the Marduck leader from Macross II (sorry, I forgot his name), may also be a playable mecha. Some of the mecha like the VF-9, Proto-Metal Siren, VF-19S with FAST Packs and the 'Q-whatever' from Macross 7 the Movie that were shown in the recent Famitsu magazine/online update also get pages in the Mechanic section. Really hoping for the inclusion of a VF-2JA Icarus and VF-3000 Crusader in MTF. The System update seems to be about the Mihoshi Academy part of the game....yawn (no interest). Even if this game had 100% identical, unchanged missions from MUF, I would still think it worth it to buy, just for the chance to use the VF-17S w/FPs, VF-19S w/FPs and VF-25F w/Tornado Pack. Graham

Absolutely no interested in a Zentran space cucumber or space watermelon. Graham

Honk Honk!

From the various toy and model kit pics, I'm going with FAST packs. The YF-29 appears to use standard Vf-25, legs and the micro missile launchers appear to be just stuck on the outside of the legs. Graham

I quite like the Sheryl scheme, but the Ranka one is just nasty IMO. Graham

Heh, keeping on the mystical sword theme, I hope the next two VFs are called Stormbringer and Mournblade (big Elric fan). Actually quite liking the color scheme in these latest CAD pics. I far prefer the legs mostly grey or white rather than red. Although I'm sure the final production version will have them red. Graham

Where? Please cite source. Graham

Probably some sort of tactical battlefield comms / map device, that allows the commander to know where all his troops are and communicate with them. Graham

In the UC Gundam universe, Minovski particles seemed to be able to do everything. Off the top of my head: 1) Power source for MS. 2) Power source for beam rifles/beam sabers. 3) Give MS flying ability (V-Gundam onwards). 4) Active jamming of all types of missiles (don't ask me how one particle can jam IR homing + radar homing + optically guided missiles). 5) jamming of RF communication. Never liked Gundam tech. Graham

I wanted to get one of the greenie DX cannon-fooder VF-27 toys, but the retail price in HK was too high (HK$1,800 IIRC). So I don't have one. Graham

No for most VFs the ECA can only be used in Battroid mode. There is an official explanation that if IIRC, in Battroid mode, the VFs engines generate surplus power, which can be used to power the Energy Conversion Armor. I presume (I'm guessing) that activation of the ECA in battroid mainly applies if the VF is on the ground and not actually using it's engins to fly, boost jump or hover in battroid mode, which would otherwise draw a lot of power. Presumably with the latest generation of VFs, the engines have so much power that not only can they run at full thrust, but still have enough surplus energy to power the ECA in all modes. Graham

Same as the Armored pack for the VF-25 IIRC, althought that uses the armor's in-built capacitors to power the energy conversion armour (again IIRC). Graham

Good. Just say "NO" to 3D. Friends don't let friends watch movies in 3D! Graham

As I've mentioned before, it's got to the stage where 3D is actually a turn off for me and if a movie is only shown in 3D, I will not pay to see it. If there is a choice between seeing it in 2D or 3D, I will always choose the 2D cinema. Graham

I tend to go the other way and just buy VF-1 toys that were in DYRL (although I also cheat a lot). Luckily, I'm not a fan of these Hi-Metal VF-1 toys, so won't be getting anymore. Graham

I had the chance to handle the prototype of this in Yamato's Tokyo HQ back in March last year. Pretty cool toy, but Zoids are just not my thing. Graham