Noyhauser

Oberth isn't but the Carrier and Stealth cruiser (albeit in a refit form I think) are. I agree, the model doesn't look as nice as Thorsten's... the intake looks just wrong.

I think its generally agreed that the Frontier map is not chronologically accurate.

Better here than anywhere else... BOMBA!!

No, the point is that this is a completely illogical argument, because its apparent that the PD never JUST fought with the Zentredi. They created a massive army of their own, the Supervision army to fight the PC and the Zentredi. While yeah the PD couldn't be everywhere at one time, they didn't have to be: They created the SA to be their own massive army of mindless soldiers. Its clear that the PD could simply destroy entire zentredi fleets, while SA held the territory they had already taken. And one shouldn't simply discount the SA, they were still a formidable force several thousand years after the PD were sealed away, able to mount offensives that destroy large parts of the Zentredi weapon building infrastructure. Given their longevity and effectivenss, its clear the SA must be self-sustaining (either through their own production of clones or by capturing soldiers) and would have posed an almost insurmountable threat to the PC and Zentredi. Also, I'm also not convinced by march's arguments. First off, its not just big grabil who is the problem. I think its episode 14 or something we see Sivil trash a Guantanamo carrier in a matter of seconds. Taking down something like a Boldozaa fleet command ship doesn't seem like much a stretch for the small Grabill and Sivil, with the fleet remnants being killed by Grabil. The episode 26 comment only adds further credence to such a point. Second point: I'm pretty sure that after losing 85% of their population to the PD, the Protoculture would try to do more than just seal them away in a distant planet. I mean if they could conjure up massive Zentredi fleets with enough firepower to destroy the PD, what sense would it be to keep them around, when their followers could possibly come back to free them? Lets also consider the thematic argument here about macross 7. The whole point of the series is that weapons can't solve all problems. You have an unchanging main character who's sole purpose is to show that the power of song will help to overcome adversaries. Throughout the story, the increasingly destructive weapons are used against the PD to almost no effect whatsoever against them. Its only Basara's song that creates a resolution. So to now argue "oh if they had MORE weapons, well then they would defeat the PD" throws itself in the face of the overbearing main theme of the series itself. This is why I think most people here are finding real trouble accepting the recommendations. In the end, I think its pretty safe to say that if the PC didn't have Anima Spiritia, It and its Zentredi forces would have been annihilated by the Protodeviln and their Supervision army cohorts.

I get what you're saying March, but I think you're wrong. It never says the Protodeviln were vulnerable at all or even hints at it. Everything suggests they were effectively invulnerable. What the Protodeviln did was create the supervision army from captured Zentredi and Protocultures, which allowed them to control the territory they took. This was what the Zentredi primarily fought against, not the Protodeviln. While the Zentredi were likely on an equal footing to the Supervision Army, they likely had no chance vs the Protodeviln. I actually doubt they had any ability to destroy them. After losing 85% of their population, the Protoculture didnt' destroy the PD, they sealed them in a planet. And the supervision army wasn't ineffective either. They were able to destroy the Glaug weapon plants several thousand years after the war. With the PD invulnerable and able to trash whole fleets, while being able to build their own fleets, it was only a matter of time before they overcame the Zentreadi war machine. In the end it was the anima spiritia which seemed to be the only thing that was effective against the PD, which finally won the war for the Protoculture.

I'd have to watch it again to be sure but I'm pretty sure its because of sneaking in Sheryl in the previous episode.

You're only now realizing that I mean the woman can project images for other people to watch, it stands to reason that she can holographically alter her appearance as well. Well one person over there at least. I joined the boards just to watch how they try to justify bashing Frontier when HG releases masterpieces like Shadow Chronicles.

Yeah, I meant to reedit that... It was strong a wording. However I don't think it invalidates my argument. As for your second point I don't think its at all clear that the VF-4 was "sweetness." Having big guns isn't all that, thats a very simplistic view of fighter design, or what the airforce looks for. Just because something is big and heavy and carries a big gun does not make it a better fighter; there is a whole range of issues that are involved that makes it a good fighter, issues like; how much maintenance does a fighter require (serviceability, and sortie rate), its maneuverability, number of fighters for given price, observability. With the exception of the last category (and maybe the first category), we can make fairly good assertions about the VF-4 vs other fighters. You can see an illuminating parallel to US Airforce thinking prior and post vietnam. Prior to vietnam you had a lot of heavy fighters with heavy missile loads, essentially interceptors. Afterwards you had a push for cheaper, faster, lightweight fighters like the F-16 and YF-17/F/A-18.The same thoughts probably followed round the VF-4 vs the VF-5000, VF-9 and the VF-11. No fighter except the VF-14 vampire, the ONLY other fighter to use lasers as its primary armament is as heavy as the VF-4 (Extrapolating from the FZ-109's weight). Every fighter afterwards are far lighter and apparently more maneuverable. Edit: I should also say that I'm not entirely sure about all of this, its merely one extrapolation based on the best evidence available. Like March I find it interesting from a personal standpoint, since its interesting to track what sort of defence management decisions UN Spacy made on production and operations, given the situation they faced.

Nice use of the social sciences, but we have much corroborating evidence to show that the lasers were the problem. March has already made a conclusive case above that the lasers were the cause of the fighter's very large weight increase, indicating it was a significant part of fighter's design, requiring a vast increase in weight. The Cost of the fighter was seen as exceptionally high, requiring two new fighters to supplement it: the VF-5000 and the VF-9, before its full replacement, the VF-11 arrives.The next point, and this is the clincher, none of the mainline fighters after the VF-4, use the same weapon loadout. The major difference between the VF-4 and the VF-5000 is that its not carrying a large laser. The same goes for the VF-11. The only fighters that do use laser weaponry as its main armament are the VF-14 and the VF-27. However neither are UN Spacy's mainline fighter. I think much of the evidence indicates the laser systems were problematic for the UN Spacy.

Yes but staying power is only one aspect of the equation. The other side, probably the more important question is economics and maintenance, and we know the VF-4 was pulled from frontline service and replaced with the VF-5000 precisely because it was too expensive. If thats the case, its almost certain the VF-4 was a very complex beast, which likely required significant maintenance to keep flying. In the VF-4's case the "newest" system it carries is the lasers, which are its primary armament. Everything else could have been replaced or upgraded: engines, rocket packs, avionics ect. Now yes Strike Valks carried the RO-X2A Beam Cannon, but its not the primary weapon system of the fighter. If the Beam Cannon failed on the Strike Valk, a pilot has the gunpod, head lasers and many micro missiles. The VF-4 is far more dependent on its lasers; Beside the conformal medium range missiles, thats its only weapon. That suggests to me that the laser was likely very expensive and difficult to maintain, compared to other fighters systems. If I'm right, then this explains why the VF-4 wasn't well received. Colony missions required relatively low maintenance aircraft: they have limited resources once they leave Earth and the Factory satellite. Its nice if the VF-4 can stay on the battlefield for a long time; it doesn't matter squat if the thing is a hangar queen, and not able to fly for a mission on the day its needed because its requiring maintenance. With VF-4 squadrons too expensive to keep flying, UN Spacyswitched over to the VF-5000 or stayed with the VF-1 until the VF-11 came online. Note that also the VF-11 and VF-5000 is a direct descendent of the VF-1, in terms of weapon loadout; they use gunpods, fast packs and a barrage of reaction warheads. This to me suggests there were significant problems with operating large scale beam weapons on fighters, and the VF-4's design ideas were deemed to be unsuitable for the needs of the UN Spacy.

Hmm I'm not too sure about that; the air intake area looks terrible; and its gotten worse in successive photos. However, I think its battroid looks pretty good (probably the primary mode they designed it for), though it might have a case of the rickets, based on the camera angle.

Good to know, So at what point does the "transformation sequence" get to trump realism? Because I'm looking at this model and from what I've seen of other bandai products I have bought in the past, I'm seeing something that doesn't strike me as a "perfect representation" of valk. It strikes me as model with a bunch of compromises which is now in essence a glorified toy for beginner modelers. Thats nice and all, but that still doesn't do anything for me as a modeler. I and the other modelers on here are consumers as well and we have a right to say what we want. Call me crazy, but I'm willing to bet there is more than a couple japanese modelers sitting at their computer right now saying the same things we are. If they want fans to come, make a toy with EMSIA or Zeonography level quality or something. Instead the toy fans are looking like they will shafted with the 1/60 DX, just like the true modelers are getting this bad compromise of a model. I hope I get proved wrong, but I'm not counting on it.

Well in Digital Mission VFX, its pretty easy to do so. A couple of missiles, a bit of gunpod and its over... However Guld had none of those advantages, he had just come out of a knock down drag out fight with Isamu, having expended all of their missiles and other stores. Basically all he had was his arm lasers to fight with. If he wanted to win, he had no choice but to sacrifice himself in the process. And whether he raped myung (I don't believe he did) or not, it doesn't matter. Guld sacrificed himself in order to atone for the sins of his past; it was his penance. That is what makes it truly heroic; he learned from his failings and sought to be a better human being in a completely selfless act.

If this is a question about the most heroic pilot, then Guld must be on the list. Guld, in an act of selflessness and redemption for his previous sins makes the ultimate sacrifice in a horribly painful manner. He saves not only his friends, but also humanity itself... he essentially wills himself beyond all human limits, to protect others, despite his flaws. Its a tragic story, which magnifies how heroic he is. Its unrivaled by any other character, save for maybe Roy in DYRL.

I posted above a financial times article on the subject that gives a fairly good overview on the situation. No but I work for a different academic outfit that does somewhat similar work, just not as big or focused on military affairs as Janes is. JSDF is a pet interest of mine though, so I keep an eye on it using the resources we have. If you ever get a chance to flip through the yearly IISS Military Balance, do so (at a university), you'll find it an really interesting publication.

Well Japan is in the market to get a new fighter to replace its aging F-4js... but its been putting off the decision for over a decade. The Air Force hasn't been a major priority for Japan in the past ten years, besides the ongoing F-2 and the Tanker project. First is the overall stagnant growth in Japanese economy, which has limited the government's ability to purchase big ticket items. Second, the Japanese military is facing a different drain on its budget: Operational missions. For the first time, the Defense Ministry needs to balance paying for combat operations in the Indian ocean and elsewhere with procurement. Finally, the airforce hasn't been the target of recapitalization to the extent the Navy has. The Navy is getting a whole slew of helicopter destroyers (And their helix), new destroyers and submarines. Moreover the government has invested heavily into Theater and National missile defence programs, which has put an even greater strain on the procurement budget. So for ten years the airforce has been forced to make do with the F-2 program. Since the F-4 decision can't be put off anymore, they are now shopping around for a replacement. With Congress refusing to sell the F-22 to Japan, it looks as if the Eurofighter might come into being as the next generation of Japan's air defence fighters.

Thought you guys might like this article in the Financial Times on the F-22 vs the F-35... though the details might not all be new. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d7d3b01c-535f-11...0077b07658.html

And that means absolutely nothing. According to the Macross timeline, the Cold War never ended until the ASS-1's crash. Sales of Su-27 post 1990 are almost certainly not going to happen in their timeline because most of them occurred in due to the end of the cold war and hte Russian export market. Had the Soviet Union continued to exist, they would have never exported the SU-30 to China, Algeria, Indonesia, Venezuela, or Malaysia, because all of these states were against the USSR in one way or another. Also, all the things you mentioned above are Cold War designs, and one (the F-14) doesn't exist in our 2008 period. So no, It does make any sense at all to bring them up.

Eh, I'm somewhat more loose with the labeling of kits. Kawamori isn't really sure about canon, so I wouldn't be a stickler on what was where. I believe he himself has stated that the reality sits between both. For example, I kinda think Fast-Packs on VF-1s probably existed during most of the TV-timeline. While that might conflict with the Boobyduck episode, its difficult to imagine how the Valkyries could effectively operate in space otherwise. That doesn't mean I'm also not anal about realism at all, but I like making realistic what ifs. I've got a couple of VF-1s in alternate schemes, and I'm finishing a F/A-18E in UN Navy colors carrying a single RMS-1 a set of AMM-1s, and a few other missiles; something from the Anti-UN Uprising. I think its highly realistic, but its not exactly canon.

Stop sniping sellers on here? Two sets recently I wanted had your YGPM before I could reply. Not bitter (okay maybe a little bit)

Misaforever unfortunately we can, so your quote shows us the same large images twice on the same page; can you remove them?

Agreed... that was fantastic especially when that is the best track on the OST; I worried they can't top that one.

Yes, though somewhat less than a typical Hasegawa kit. HLJ claims the kits need glue, but they fit fairly well without it; It was possible to get a decent model without alot of work on the Jigabachi, but not the Hellhound because of its cockpit, among other things. My guess is that the Hannibal would be closer to the Jiga in regards to difficulty. Its still a model, though less difficult than the standard kind. Olivers: you can tell your friend that alot of people really like the line, and I'd love to see more of it. Their choices have been great, and I'm on pins and needles to see what they come up with next.

Yes! More Patlabor goodness from Kotobukiya, and in 1/72! It might be the UN Variant of the Labour shown in the movie (It says PKO: Peace Keeping Operations) yet who knows.

One thing people haven't mentioned is a good putty/sealer. Its one of the most critical supplies you can buy, since you use it to fill in nasty seam lines. Personally I use two products: Tamiya basic putty to fill in larger gaps and Gunze Mr Surfacer (1000 is a good all around number) to fill in smaller seams. You can get it from HLJ, but I've heard that its getting difficult to get it from U.S. suppliers. There are some domestic alternatives, which others can speak to, just don't buy the testors stuff that comes in the grey tube.