Graham

Given that the tail fins (rudders?) on the E/F/S/P are spaced much wider apart than on the 'A', would this wider spacing make them more effective than the closer set tails on the A type? Graham

Given that one of the pics shows NUNS emblems and the design itself seems to take several design cues from the VF-25 (the style of vents on the wing root guns for example), it has to be far newer, i.e. from around the time of Frontier or post-Frontier, as the NUNS logo didn't exist until Frontier came out. Graham

The VF-19 Master File is a book. We are presently discussing possible inaccuracies in the information presented in the book and as part of this discussion, we are referencing the stats found on various old toys and models, which might be why you are confused. Graham

But did Chronicle's writers actually cite 12 per leg for the VF-19F/S or 12 total, i.e. 6 per leg like the Fire Valk? Need to check on this. Interesting that the upcoming Bandai 1/100 Hi-Metal VF-19S, has the toy with 6 missiles per leg. Not sure what figure (if any) the VF-19 Master File gives for the number of leg missiles on the VF-19F/S. Don't have the book with me to look at the moment. These days, I tend to believe that the 20 micro-missile count per HMMP-02 launcher on the NP-BP-01 FAST Packs is correct, ala Yamato's 1/48 and 1/60 scale toys, which were designed with Kawamori's input. The cutaway drawing, originally from the Gold Book (is this what was reprinted in Chonicle? - not at home can't check), while nice always seemed to me hold far too few missiles in the HMMP-02 launcher, given its external size. Anyway, better keep VF-1 discussions out of this thread. Graham

I just checked the Compendium and the release dates listed there are also the same: Bandai 1/100 scale VF-19S plastic model kit - released in August 1995. Bandai 1/65 scale VF-19S DX toy - released in May 1995. I wonder if the model kit and toy were Egan's sole source of data for the VF-19S stats? I do find it interesting that the model kit manual which lists the lower thrust stats of 68,500kg was released several months after the toy, which lists the higher thrust of 78,950kg! Really makes you wonder which is correct! I'm gonna have to dig up the Bandai VF-19Kai model and toy stats now to see if there is any discrepency with those. It's also interesting that the VF-19S 1/100 model kit stats are the only Japanese source that I've seen from the 90s' that lists the 24 micro-missiles per leg (48 total) for the VF-19F/S. Note that the DX toy lists 12 missiles total. The Macross Chronicle seems to have retconned the 48 micro-missiles out of existence and now lists the VF-19F/S with the more familiar 12 missiles in total. I wonder were the 48 micro-missiles a mistake? Graham

Found one source for the 78,950kg thrust figure for the VF-19S. It's on the back of the box of the Bandai 1/65 scale VF-19S toy from 1995. See attached pic. Now I need to check which was released first, the 1/100 Bandai plamodel, which has the 68,500kg thrust figure, or the 1/65 Bandai toy, which has the 78,950kg thrust figure. Graham

Nobody got #50 yet? It's out today. Really curious if the VF-2JA gets a Tenjin painting or not. Graham

Thought the VF-11 looked OK, but the VF-1 was fugly IMO. Graham I wonder if the writer/creator of the Assault Calibur is a Gundam fan? It certainly sounds like something very silly and Gundam-ish. Graham

Had something of a rethink on the VF-19S thrust issue,since the discussion in this thread yesterday. All my previous thinking on this subject had been based on the assumption that the VF-19S entry in the old non-Wiki Compendium had given 2 seperate and distinct figures for the VF-19S thrust, one for Space and one atmosphere. I'd never realised that the information in the Compendium presented in "[]" was actually older information that was no longer valid, until it was pointed out to me yesterday. I think I now agree with the side that thinks the revised lower VF-19S engine thrust first published in Macross Chronicles was actually a typo, which instead of correcting at a later date, the writers decided to come up with some nonsense theory to cover up the mistake. Graham

My feeling and it would be interesting to see if any of the text in the Master File or Chronicle backs this up, is that the VF-19F/S/E style airframe, which is pretty much an all-new airframe (more streamlined, more verniers), compared with the YF-19/VF-19A style, was designed to offer an improvement in overall performance over the older VF-19A and eventualy replace the VF-19A in service. Just because the VF-19F/S is suposedly optimised for space, doesn't necessarily mean it's performance is going to be inferior in atmosphere to older versions (especially with the new longer F/S style wing fitted). The above is just my personal theory, I have no evidence to back it up at all. Graham

still don't have a convincing reason or desire to own any Hi-Metal VF-1. Graham

My first console was a Sega Mega Drive and I spent many happy hours playing on it. Games I remember spending ages playing are: ESWAT, an F22 game (forget the name), a Buck Rogers game (again, forget the name). There were loads of other great titles as well, but again I've forgot their names (getting old). Really wish I'd kept that. Graham

Less relevant now, but I'm still interested to know where the Compendium's revised figure of 78,950kg for the VF-19S comes from. Definitely need to do some serious digging through my books and magazines. Anyway, good discussion all round guys, really usefull. All these years and I never realized the Compendium material in '[ ]' was out of date material. Show you are never too old to learn something new, which is why I love discussions like these. Graham

Ah, I somehow missed the earlier post regarding the Compendium's FAQ regarding changes. However, it could be argued (not that I'm going to), that the FAQ entry only refers to changes in the Chronology, not the other sections of the Compendium, so the figures could be read two different ways 1) a revised figure and an out of date figure in brackets as per the FAQ, or 2) A seperate figure for space thust and atmospheric thrust, which to be honest is always how I read it. I have a very old hard-copy print out of the Compendium at home, will have to go back and dig it out tonight. Graham

OK, so going back to Macross Compendium, which states that: - What if (and bear with me here please), the VF-19F's FF-2500F engines were designed to be balanced for all environments, so that they have the same maximum thrust in both space and atmosphere. Hence why the Compendium lists only one figure (72,500 kg) for the VF-19F. This presumes that the cooling issues with the YF-19's engines in atmosphere were overcome at some stage with the more advanced engines. So, what if in theory, the VF-19S's FF-2550J engines were on purpose designed or tuned or whatever, to actually be more efficient in Atmosphere, but this comes at the expense of the being less efficient in space? This could explain the two quoted figures from the Compendium for the VF-19S. So 78,950kg is the VF-19's max thrust is atmosphere, while 68,500kg is the VF-19's max thrust in space. This would indeed give the VF-19S a better rate of climb in atmosphere than the VF-19F, but would put it at a performance disadvantage in space compared to the VF-19F. Now, I'm not saying I agree with the above theory, but it does offer an explanation as to why the Compendium only gives one thrust figure for the VF-19F, but provides both space and atmospheric thrust figures for the VF-19S. It would also support the Macross Chronicles claim that the VF-19S has a higher top speed and rate of climb in atmosphere compared to the VF-19F. Why a fighter which is supposedly optimised for space use (still not sure I buy that though), would require better performing engines in atmosphere at the expense of less performance in space is anybody's guess? Perhaps the engines where tuned that way on Docker's personal preference? Food for thought. Graham

My personal theory regarding the VF-19P’s lower thrust is that it is supplied with de-tuned, or lower performing (if you like) engines. There may well be export regulations/sales of arms regulations in place (similar to today’s ITAR), prohibiting anybody except from UN Spacy military, from purchasing the highest thrust engines. So tier 2, or tier 3 allies or friendly states/planets may only be able to buy slightly downgraded versions of the latest military hardware. This makes sense from the standpoint that if a conflict arose at a future point in time, between UN Spacy and their former ally, then UN Spacy would still have the superior hardware. This would be analogous to the situation today with the F-35 JSF sales to US allies, in that there are still discussions whether allies are going to get full stealth capability and be allowed to maintain it themselves or be supplied with a downgraded stealth capability and/or only the US is allowed to maintain/repair stealth capability. Graham

Attached is a scan of the VF-19S stats from the 1995 1/100 scale Bandai VF-19S plastic model kit. Graham

Sorry guys, will get round to send out the remaining replacement hinges soon, promise! The last few months have just been one thing after another - I had overseas business trips, then work got really was hectic, then my house got flooded due to a burst water pipe, then my wife, son and I all got a bad case of flu. Hopefully things are all improving now. Just been a little burned out with everything that's been going on, so no mood and time time do the hinges. Graham

Macross music of course! Usually the instumental stuff from M+ or MF. Graham

Looks like the VF-19F with the longer wings has about the same wingspan as a VF-19A, so roll rate should be about the same as a VF-19A, right? Am I the only one that thinks the Assault-Calibur is a bit hokey. The only difference is those two little retractable beam guns under the nose, correct? Forgot to dig out the VF-19S/F plamodel instructions last night to check if they have the engine thrust figures, as I didn't get home until late. Will do so tonight. Also, want to compare the wingspan of my Bandai 1/250 scale VF-19 toys, as I seem to recall the VF-19F/S wingspan is not much different from the YF-19/VF-19Kai/P. Although I may be remembering wrongly. Graham

Games on the 48k Sinclair ZX Spectrum were the best. I spent many a happy hour in the early-to-mid 80s playing Ant Attack, Manic Minor, Jet Set Willy, Combat Lynx, Elite, Tranz Am, Saber Wolf etc. Ah, I miss the sound of casette tapes loading. At that time IMO, the UK really lead the world in games design. Graham

Kurt, Amazing job as usual. When I visited Yamato's Tokyo HQ in April, they had a 1/2000 SDF-1 there that had been painted up especially for Kawamori-san. I've gotta say your paint job is far superior to the one that I saw. In fact, I've just remembered I took a few photos of the one Yamato painted for Kawamori-san, so I've attached them for comparison. Graham

Heh,I bet I can guess who the customer is. Graham

Will probably go to see this, just for shits and giggles. Graham

Thundercats was one of a few 80s cartoons that I could never get into, the others being Transformers & GI Joe. Graham