Noyhauser

^ agreed, except that there was nothing better than the nuke on the VF-11 Full armour... THAT was ridiculous.

I don't mind the VA-3... I think its kinda a cool design actually... and it having some screen time wasn't too bad. However it "swimming" though an ocean was idiotic... followed by what could have been a decent boss encounter... (by that measure I've suppressed all memories of the VF-0 diving into the ocean as well... oh shxt... I just remembered it).

Yeah, which was the basis of one very forgettable level in the game.

I don't know if it matters, but I'm pretty sure the VF-X2 version is the VA-3M, and the other ones are simply C or not listed. What the means in the terms of the actual design, I don't know.

Major Focker A bit of advice: from the sounds of it you don't seem like an experienced modeler. Though you've shown quite a bit of eagerness and determination to create a diorama, I think it might be important to consider how your limited skills might affect what you want to achieve. Building a resin kit is not an easy feat, actually its fairly difficult, even for experienced modelers. There are more steps involved, and greater level of difficulty. I would advise you maybe to start with a hasegawa kit and get very proficient in building that, than jumping into a 100+ dollar resin kit and finding yourself completely out of your league. I would hazard to say less than a dozen people on this board could build a 1/48 Ultimate Detail valk and do it justice. I can't and I've been modeling since I was 8 years old... almost 20 years. Its someting to think about. I don't mean to rain on your parade, but determination only goes so far, and you might want to start on some easy projects before jumping into something very difficult. You may even find just buying the toys and weathering them far more pleasing and up to what you want to do.

I'm assuming that you haven't flown business or 1st class on BA? The difference between economy and the Buisness, (and from what I've heard of 1st) are, well, lets say night and day. Having flown on Cathay, they are comparable.

Eh... its already got enough missiles. An anti-armor bayonette would be cool ala Macross plus. Also you could attempt to make it a reloadable variant. That would likely entail the top part of the rifle being a detatchable clip, so beefing it up. Personally I've just added an extra VF-11 gunpod I had to a VF-1. I thought it reflected the 2020 time period I wanted my fighter to be in.

Just to reiterate, I'm very "in" on this one, with the same caveats as Valk.

#1 LOGH LOGH LOGH LOGH #2 1980s and Early 90s Miyazaki. #3 Gits Sac #4 Dordaemon #5 Gurren Lagann! Oh God and I forgot Lupin III... How can you not love that show with its catchy opening track?

Don't be crass, particularly when you missed my point. I didn't refer to the later fighters, because that was not my focus. A development of the VF line after the VF-1 shows a slow growth in size of fighters due to evolutionary development of established technologies. Fighters slowly developed between 2010 and 2040. But in 2004~2010 the development of the VF-1 and VF-0 is completely different situation. The benefits of overtechology provided them with the ability to minaturize components and capabilities, creating what one could describe a revolutionary new fighter. If the initial design specifications in 2002 called for a variable fighter able to reach Mach 2+, maneuverable, SWAG, integrated EW suite, all environment, and carry a certain amount of ordinance (A 55mm gunpod, head laser, wing mounted missiles) the difference between the VF-0 and the VF-1 shows the difference that a thermonuclear overtechnology engine provides over a supertuned jet engine. They could build the VF-1 at 1/3rd the size of the VF-0 but with all of the capabilities of their larger brethren, would you not do so? Your comparison of technological development among modern fighters is completely misused to explain this situation. After the VF-1 the subsequent fighters are just evolutionary decendents, which enjoy incremental advances in technology, albeit at a slow development pace. This is more akin to what we see in normal fighter development. Increases in thrust, the efficiency of the thermonuclear engine, different mission roles and weapons layouts. As these advances occur, Valkyries increase in size and capability. The VF-4, VF-5000, VF-17, VF-11 show a growth in fighter size as technology allows them to build bigger planes with the same or greater capabilities as their predecessors. This is comparable to the US fighter development between fighters from 1945 to 1990, going from the P-80, to the F-86 to the F-4, to the F-15. (notice I pointed out mainline fighters, which is different from the F-16 case, emerging from the lightweight fighter mafia of the early 1970s) Also, does anybody have the comaprative lineart size chart for all Valkyries on hand? Its the one that has them all lined up vertically that shows the slow increase in VF size. I can't find one online but it proves my point fairly well.

Umm would you mind reading my post above your original one? I address why Kawamori (who is a stickler for details) likely let the vf-0 be larger than the VF-1. Just because it came after does not mean that a retcon was required. Kawamori could have put together a smaller fighter. He certainly retconed other aspects, like SWAG, so it seems to me he's happy with how the universe is currently on this subject, and given the explaination I give above, its apparent why that is.

The Kenbishi Multiped tank that goes on a rampage in the first season of Gits is one of my favorites. But I also loved the Heavy gear tanks, particularly the Northern Guard Aller that used a rail gun (it looks squished a bit in this photo, it has quite a wide body for added stability while moving over sand) and a special version of the NG Klemm light tank called the Chaser ( imagine this photo, again less squished, but without the missiles but a mounted aircraft gattling gun like the A-10, like a ZSU-23)

Actually it makes alot of sense when you think of it from a design perspective. the VF-0 is still limited by old technology like jet engines and the need to carry fuel. It necessitates a larger frame in order to be a transforming craft. The VF-1 is truly a breakthrough in technology. Its smaller, lighter, more nimble, has an engine that is smaller than any jet engine, but produces the same thrust but with unlimited range and no need for fuel. IT can go to battroid and stay in the mode for as long as it likes. Thats probably the greatest difference between the two craft. The VF-0 is a fighter first, and a transforming craft second. The VF-1 is a true transformable craft, so its not as concerned with aerodynamics as the VF-0 is. Being smaller is not a disadvantage, if anything its a huge advantage over the large ungainy VF-0.

Hmm, I've overstated myself, you're right. On the small scale stuff, I guess there is movement, and I was too brazen to suggest that "no progress." Its not surprising that that the black box stuff has seen upgrades, but then again the Europeans have been working in these areas as well. I'm curious though, how long will this continue as the belt tightening continues, and Rumsfeld's influence wanes (he was a huge proponent of the revolution in miltiary affairs and increasing IT's integration into vehicles.) What I don't see however are the major upgrades to the M-1 that are similar to the the Germans and the Leo-2 line, which I was what I was referring to. Upgrading your electronic architecture is one thing, something expected as a result of RMA, but the underlying hardware is another, usually far more expensive than replacing a computer. Are their any major examples of this that you can think of? Your engine and Thermal Imagers examples seem like this is somewhat on the right track, though but even these don't seem to be major upgrades.

Like new is not new. Refurbishing equipment might extend the lifetime of a piece of equipment, but it comes at the cost of increased maintanence costs and increased equipment failure. Moreover because of combat operations in Iraq, many pieces of equipment have already used up their entire service life in the space of a couple of years. "Refurbishment" isn't like getting new equipment, not even close. All this further erodes the capital available for R&D or upgrades. Right now, and probably until 2013 (considering that no major drawdown in Iraq occurs until 2009) approximately 80% of the DoD's capital budget will be taken up by repair or replacement of worn out equipment. Moreover that means that very little funding is going to near term R&D. The services are attempting to maintain their long term programs (the DDX, F-35, FCS) but little is going into short term stuff, like upgrading the M-1. What money is going into that is being prioritized for equipment that is viewed as essential to counter insurgency warfare. So when you talk about a tank like the M-1, the upgrades on it aren't happening. all the money is being spent on keeping it just running, or paying for successor programs like the FCS.

Or the Macross ones. And people said this series was getting boring?

They already are there now with the Canadian Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment, and the apparently the Dutch army. Personally I wouldn't rate "seen more action" as a useful indicator: it has the propensity of actually being a detriment. In the US's case constant combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has whittled the R&D/upgrade budget for the M1 to low levels, in order to pay for day to day operations, maintenance/refurbishment of existing M-1s, and R&D for other vehicles, like the MRAP. Its also important to remember that the Government of Canada decided to go with the Leo over the Challenger and the M1 in a rush bid to get units in the field last year. This was after the Chief of Defence Staff Served as the deputy commander of III Armoured Corps in Fort Hood and Him and the Commander of the Army are former tankers. Now that might have to do with the best price, and the state of the U.S. military (ie burning through the M1's service life due to constant use), but that in itself illustrates the above point. Since the bundeswehr sold off a large portion of its tanks to European countries, and are committed to upgrading its current force, you see alot of R&D going into the Leos. The Canadian Leo 2s for example come with slat armor and Reinforced mine protection (an added plate on the belly). Not that either of these are some sort of breakthrough, but they were specifically asked for as a result of experience gleaned during Canadian operations in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan. The decision to bring tanks was made by Department of National Defence after operation Medusa in Panjway valley where they decided they needed direct fire capability. Then they realize they needed better tanks, so they went with the Leo. All in all though (and I'm going to speak only to military tactics) one of the reasons why there is no R&D going into tanks in the US is because senior officials do not see a great utility in tanks being deployed into places like Iraq. Now before you get on my case about how great it is, read Gen. Petraeus counter insurgency manual, there has been a definate move to get people out of vehicles and into the general populace, as per the "best practices" of counterinsurgency. Money that could be spent on upgrading M-1s I think is deliberately going elsewhere.

If I remember correctly mine had that problem too, but I saw that it would be easily solved by putty + Surfacer.

And on top of that I think it will probably ensure that we will NEVER see Japanese Macross goods in North America. Flush with cash from the signing rights, HG have everything to lose to let Big West come into this market. This is their cash cow and they will milk it to the grave.

I can see this being terrible, not that I care. Say what you will but Tobey Maguire is a terrible actor, he has one facial expression: a mild state of confusion. I can see this being another example of Wing Commander.

Its highly unlikely they would have ever dug up the Arc Gurren if Rossiu hadn't put into place an alternate project to survive the moon's descent. And certainly without the head they would have never started the Arc gurren either, as Lord Genome's control is required to activate the ship. Also I think you should see the episode 23 before you keep arguing, It goes alot farther to validate my points than yours, particularly given Simon's actions and the scenes of Rossiu after the trial. This wasn't a man who was acting amorally to further his own goals... rather he hated that he had make a choices he had to made. Thats not to say he wasn't elitist or isolated from others, which he was. But he was trying to do the right thing for others, not himself, which is very different from what you're claiming here.

To echo what some others touched on. First lets be honest here Simon was a terrible administrator at the start. You can blame him for almost every single error prior to the exodus with Arc Gurren. His administration was quite honestly dysfunctional. Seriously people, would you put the barinbo twins as the people in charge of the census, one that quite possibly would seal the fate of humankind? Its nice and all that he's the greatest pilot of the Gurren lagann, did that make him an effective leader that met the desires of the people? No, not even close. The people were going to lynch him for his ineptness. Rossiu had to do something, so he made a trial, and condemned him to death. You can say it was a stacked deck against him but then again he did appoint a barinbou to serve as his council, I mean if he's good enough to run a census for simon.... Then again if Rossiu didn't would that quell the uprising that Simon HIMSELF was the cause of? And as Wolf X pointed out, the tools that Simon uses to defeat the Han-Rasen at the end of episode 22 are almost all the result of Rossiu's efforts. I'm not saying Rossiu was a saint, I think though that he isn't some evil megalomaniac like people made him out to be. He's a flawed character, and he's conflicted by what he has done and what he has to do. Its not as if he did this to make himself more powerful, rather he was trying to do the right thing.

I don't know. At first I felt the same thing about Rossiu's rebellion, and I didn't get where the story was going. I think at the end of episode 21 it was made apparent that the story revolves around the power of emotion over logic, and that Rossiu would ultimately fail. That dynamic was never clear until that point, and it casts episodes 13-22 in a completely new light, one that I think plays alot better.

Thats exactly why I went back to paintbrushing from airbrush. I don't have the time anymore to spend several hours on setup, so I'd rather work my hand skills to the point where I can reproduce similar effects. I don't think its possible for 1/35 scale military stuff, but I think that paintbrushing works well with aircraft, particularly when semigloss/flat is generally the effect one is trying to reproduce.

Thanks... One extended scene. I found this AMV that has some scenes from it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULoD7F8BfU4