Vostok 7

Pretty good, but there are glaring errors Despite the fact that there's two 001s flying around, December 24th 2008 is just much too soon for the setting. The VF-1A alone would have only been just produced and wasn't even fielded until February 2009 when Space War I began. But then, I'm anal about that kinda stuff Vostok 7

I can understand the VT-1 being used even ~50 years after it's development. And the VF-1 would still be around in backwater colonies and defense forces, or used as trainers for lower level militaries (though it would probably be being replaced by VF-11s by 2059). There are several jets still in use with modern militaries that are going on 50+ years old by now. Heck, the F-104 Starfighter was only recently removed from service by the Italians and the Germans. The VT-1 is understandable though. Most of the trainers currently used go back several years. The T-33 Shooting Star is still used as a trainer and even a fighter by many countries. The T-38 Talon which is the US' current trainer is getting close to 50 years old. The VF-1 (and it's variants) were very sturdy and designed well, so it makes sense that they would still be in use even 50 years after the fact, just not by front-line military units. Vostok 7

As I mentioned earlier, I didn't know it, but Yakolev Design Bureau actually assisted Lockheed in the design of the X/F-35, hence the similarities. But in a lot of ways, even though they aren't "the enemy" anymore, the Russians are the only real competition in plane design to the US, and so you will tend to see a lot of copying and similarities when it comes to designs and systems. For instance, the F-15 was directly designed to combat the MiG-25. And what does it look like? A more elegant MiG-25 (In a lot of ways the F-15 is superior to the MiG-25 despite being "similar" since the F-15 was designed as a maneuverable air-superiority while the MiG-25 was a pure speed interceptor with marginal handling, but that suited the F-15 well when the MiG-29 was introduced) We haven't seen any true 5th generation Russian fighters yet (they are all under development or stillborn as in the case of the Su-47 Berkut and MiG 1.44/1.42 'Flatpack') and all indications point to the fact that they will be very derivative of the current 5th generation US fighters. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_PAK_FA (interesting note, Sukhoi is developing a version of the "PAK FA" with HAL India... Not quite Israel, but close! ) Other countries make good fighters, it's just Russia and the US have always been at the forefront and in direct competition with each other. Vostok 7

Indeed, the Yak-38 and Yak-141 use two small lift jets behind the cockpit, but one of the major similarities is the "swiveling" main jet exhaust for stability, similar to the F-35. Despite the Yakolevs using separate lift engines versus one engine with a shaft driven fan, the systems between the Yakolevs and F-35 are very similar. The Harrier uses a completely different setup in that it has only one engine with four vectorable ports to provide lift, part of the reason the Harrier has been so successful because it's rather simplistic. However, the Yak-141 is distinct in that it is mach-capable and true multi-role fighter aircraft rather than strictly close support attack aircraft (though the F-35 is closer in role to the Harrier being multi-role, however the F-35 is mach-capable and so can fill the role of air-superiority better than the Harrier could). Vostok 7

Honestly, the trailers made it look like "straight to DVD" crap. Vostok 7

Ha, I didn't think about this, but now at least we'll have something to pose next to our Yamato König Monsters. Vostok 7

Vertically nose up, like the X-13, the Lockheed XFV and the Convair XFY Pogo? All those concepts "worked" but were otherwise deemed total failures for various reasons. Landing and taking off nose up would be extremely difficult to do, especially in an aircraft as large as the SV-51. Vostok 7

Yes, the Yakolev Yak-141 'Freestyle' which pre-dates the F-35 by almost two decades, and I'm sure was more the inspiration for the SV-51 than the F-35 was. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-141 Also, it should be noted that the F-35 isn't a true VTOL, it is only a STOVL setup. Ha, reading over the F-35 entry, Lockheed was actually assisted by the Yakolev Design Bureau in designing the STOVL setup on the F-35 That explains the similarities between the systems. Vostok 7

Holy mega-sized pictures Batman. Only thing you did wrong with the gunpod was put the sticker on upside down. Vostok 7

The Zeta C1/A1 also has landing gear on it's cannon. Vostok 7

HA! I think that's the one I remember. I remember it looked pretty decent (despite all the 1/72s other flaws). Vostok 7

It would be soooooo much easier if I liked the fast packs for the VF-11 Vostok 7

I got that, but it just left me like "Ok, what was the point of that? Is Kid Kirk against old cars or something?" Then of course you see him riding around on a "old" Harley... So maybe he was on a joyride and forgot about the giant miles deep chasm at the end of the road... But why did he act like it was planned then? See what I mean? And yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the scenes in the trailer didn't make the movie. That seems to be the norm anymore. It's even worse when you buy the DVD hoping they are there in the "deleted scenes" and then they aren't even there either Vostok 7

Haha, SV-51 'Vostok' is great. Did they come from the east? (Vostok means "east" in Russian ) Only the 501st were clones? Maybe officially. It's never implicitly stated that all other stormtrooper legions were pure recruits and not clones. Millions of clone troopers wouldn't just disappear after the Clone War But there were lots of very very good TIE Fighter pilots that the Empire would have definitely cared to recover Of course, if you survived long enough in an unshielded TIE/ln to NEED recovery you might be worth it Vostok 7

I'll have to get a picture of my display now that I finally have it set up. Then you guys can see my 1/48 VF-1A Low Viz 2 in "John Woo Mode" (dual strike cannons) and my 1/60 Millia shrine Vostok 7

Exactly the reasoning I used for my stalled MiG-45 "Valhalla" project. Even better, Valhalla ties into "Valkyrie"... Valkyries are the warrior chicks that haul dead warriors to Valhalla. Vulture is a good reporting name, fits the styling of the SV-51 very well. NATO reporting names were often descriptive (Flanker, Foxbat, Foxhound, Fulcrum), while some were just nonsense words. As far as the Alpha/Gamma thing, NATO reporting names were usually amended when different variants were spotted, like 'MiG-25 Foxbat-A', 'Su-27 Flanker-E'. The Soviets used their own naming designations, usually an acronym at the end of the model number that designated different design changes or equipment changes, such as the MiG-25P 'Foxbat-A' standard interceptor model versus the MiG-25PU 'Foxbat-C' interceptor-trainer model (U is the first letter of the Russian word for "Trainer") or even more exotic, the MiG-25RBSh which was a reconnaissance-bomber model with a SLAR (side-looking airborne radar) system (Sh was the model designation for the type of SLAR in that model, there was also a MiG-25RBS model with a different type of SLAR). I would assume then that the Alpha and Gamma are more in line with NATO designations for variant models, as in "SV-51 Vulture-A" or "SV-51 Vulture-G". Though, reading the NATO reporting name article at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_reporting_name), Vulture seems like too common of a name to use, but they they did use "Bear" for the Tu-95, so I suppose it's not out of the question. Vostok 7

Yeah, but then I got another problem, my wife killing me :lol: Vostok 7

Agreed on all points, honestly. Like I said, I can live with the stubby nose, it's the tailfins that kills it for me. They are a huge part of the lineart and anime image of the VF-11, and it was sad they missed the mark with them even the second time around. That's the only reason I use "fail". They did such a good job improving everything about the YF-21 and the YF-19... Why not the MAJOR complaint about the VF-11 besides the weak hips and shoulder bars? I'm going to wait with non-bated breath for the official release and see what it looks like and decide then. But really, how hard would it be to mould a couple anime and lineart correct tailfins for it as an upgrade? I'm sure someone in the community could do it. If it was done, I'd seriously consider buying the VF-11. I remember back in the day people were actually making paper tailfins that would slip over the tailfins of the 1/72. Improved the look immensely. Vostok 7

I would buy a 1/60 v2 Low Viz 1 and 2. I hope they make them. And I agree, limiteds are great if you can manage to get them before they're gone. I had a 1/60 -1A CF TRU and the 1/48 -1A Low Viz 1. Sold both for a hefty profit when I got tired of them (got rid of the CF TRU to get a couple non-limited CFs when they came out so I could sticker them, got rid of the Low Viz 1 for a Low Viz 2). I agree about shop/magazine exclusives too I hate looking through Gundam releases only to find most of the cool stuff was magazine-only Vostok 7

I admit, the battroid mode is muuuuch better than the 1/72. I just usually buy on the strengths of a fighter mode, as that's my favorite. If I wanted a good Battroid, I'd buy the GN-U, as it's extremely accurate and a heck of a lot less expensive. The fighter mode is exactly where the 1/60 fails Though, the GERWALK is no great shakes either. It's too bad Hasegawa doesn't make a fighter mode of the VF-11 Vostok 7

I hope someone comes out with some aftermarket resin tailfins that can either slip over or replace the stock ones. Even if it makes transforming to Battroid difficult. Unless, of course, Yamato pulls some anime magic on us and releases the thing with significantly bigger tailfins and a less squashed nose. It's a shame they changed philosophies with the VF-11. After all the complaints about the original you'd think they'd stay with the "Fighter First" philosophy they had for the VF-0, SV-51, YF-21 and YF-19 that made those things so sexy. Then you get to the VF-11 and it's like they dropped the ball. I can see the differences between the original and the 1/60 but in a lot of ways the new 1/60 looks like they just made the 1/72 bigger and added some improvements. And it's very very clear that despite supposedly trying for "a balance", they obviously focused heavily on the Battroid mode, considering it's the most line-art accurate mode. I could overlook the stubby nose and oversized body in fighter mode if they had only made the tailfins lineart accurate somehow. It would have improved the look 100x. So in the end, as much as I was looking forward to the 1/60 VF-11B mostly for the idea of larger tailfins since that was my only real complaint about the old one, I'm gonna have to pass on the new one unless someone makes an upgrade like I mentioned. I love the VF-11B. It's just really sad that no one has given it's fighter mode justice which is arguably it's best looking mode Vostok 7

I'M CAPTAIN KIRK!!!!!!!!!!! I still don't get why Kid Kirk drives a classic Corvette over a cliff in the trailer Vostok 7

UGH I want one SO BAD but I don't have the time, resin skills or money :( I love the Commanchero, I've always wanted one!!!!!!! Vostok 7

I hope so. The HCMPros are worth every penny. Hopefully the Gashapon Disease and other issues we see with the prototype are just issues with the prototype (specifically if they used cheap materials). Vostok 7

It's really an either or, either a -0A with ghost (which I want) or a SV-51a CF or a YF-21. I just don't know which I want more Vostok 7