ewilen

Actually, I don't think the VF-0's FP were designed to compensate for any deficiency of the VF-0 per se. Instead they were intended to test the idea of FP for the VF-1, where (as Noyhauser argues) the space vs. atmospheric requirements are different. Note that the Ghost booster of the VF-0 is not a fast pack--it's a field modification which is used in conjunction with the only part of the VF-0 FP which was ready at the time. Unless and until an official explanation appears, I would guess that the VF-1 FP wasn't ready for production at the time of SDF Macross episode 1 but was completed in the course of the series. Oddly, it first shows up on Hikaru's Skull-1, which means that either some units were moved aboard shortly after the SDF-1 returned to Earth (even though the UN Spacy was keeping SDF-1 at arms' length at the time), or that the design was finalized on SDF-1 and put into production there. Or possibly it was completed on Earth and the plans were sent to the Macross's onboard factory. It's likewise possible that the GBP-1S design was only finalized and put into production sometime after "Booby Trap". If you favor DYRL continuity, though, you can just say that the FP were always employed on VF-1's when in space.

Okay, I sometimes forget that "prototype" isn't the same thing as testbed or concept. Clearly, the leg armor from a VF-0 wouldn't fit a VF-1. I take Nanashi's text to mean that the leg armor was part of a FASTpack design which was intended to test the concept for use on the VF-1. And in general, everything points the VF-0 and associated equipment being part of the experimental/test program leading up to the VF-1, not a parallel program intended to develop technologies for the VF-1's successors. This may seem trivial, but it goes back to a longstanding debate on the nature of the VF-0, in which Aegis and I were the main protagonists (or, occasionally, antagonists).

Looking good!

Another potential anti-anti-armor technology is active armor--i.e., a system that detects an incoming missile (or even shell) and shoots it down before impact. Rail guns and particle accelerators still need a targeting mechanism. If they use completely passive sensors (optical) they can't be dodged; otherwise, if you know you've been sighted, evasive maneuvering/taking cover might work. And of course you can maneuver/take cover preemptively in a high-threat environment--the tank in front of you goes up in flames, so you go hull-down. Under this scenario, heavy armor may become obsolete, but an agile vehicle that embodies tactical/operational mobility superior to dismounted infantry, and which is is adequately protected against small arms/light artillery, would still have a place on the battlefield.

I thought the topic of this thread was Robotech. No real interest in this new series on my part except for morbid curiosity. The new Horizon isn't bad; OTOH, the new Louis is awful. The character in SC/Masters is an altogether nice guy; this version has a disgusted look on his face as if he's about to chew someone out.

We must be talking at cross purposes or not understanding each other. I'm trying to say that the leg fastpacks of the VF-0 were prototypes of the leg fastpacks of the VF-1. Isn't that what Nanashi's translation says? Aegis on the other hand is claiming that all the "stuff" on the VF-0's in the final episode somehow shows that the VF-0 was designed to test or prototype technology that was intended for VF's AFTER the VF-1. My reply is that whatever we see on the VF-0 is either a prototype of a system that was later used on the VF-1 (leg FAST pack components, GBP) or a field mod. Again, note "was just test equipment for the VF-1..."

I watched one episode--the one where Megas is impounded by the DMV. I though it was okay but not inspired; basically I agree with JsArclight's comments. I felt like the creators thought that if they injected the right cultural references, they could get away with mediocre scripting. If I were to compare it with something, I'd say it's kind of like the cartoon version of The Tick. But I loved The Tick. The genre references were appealing yet many episodes went far beyond the comicbook parody to achieve a unique zaniness.

Yes, I agree that wheels and even treads are faster than legs. I think I said that in my post. I also agree that they're simpler. But again, legs are superior in broken terrain. There is even a prototype logging machine designed for such terrain, which has legs. http://www.safnet.org/archive/902_machine.cfm http://www.plustech.fi/Walking1.html The purpose is partly to minimize environmental impact (legs don't flatten everything they pass over) but the literature also explicitly cites improved mobility. Again, if you read the other links I posted, this is also one of the reasons for continued robotics research into leg-based locomotion.

Okay, the bulk of it is field improvisation, but The conformal packs on the legs were the only part of the "additional armament package manufactured by Shinnikasu" which was ready. This package was a prototype for the VF-1. The other stuff was field improvisation. Contrary to what Aegis has said, none of it was prototype for variable fighters after the VF-1.

I still don't think so. Have you read Nanashi's translation of the notes on the VF-0 Ghost booster? (Link here.) It sounds like the bulk of the add-ons were prototypes for the VF-1 Super, although the use of a gutted QF-2000 Ghost may be more of a field improvisation.

Or so as their myth says.... ... I actually thought the Mayan people were decendants of fish AS WELL AS the rest of humanity. Yeah, I think the bird/fish myth is more of an allegory. Either it's about evolution in general (fish -> amphibians -> reptiles -> mammals & birds) or it's about a sea-based culture that encounters visitors from the sky. It reminded me a little of a Vietnamese myth about a dragon from the water (Lac Long Quan) marrying a fire/sky/mountain fairy (Au Co); she gives birth to a bunch of children who are the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. I interpret this as a vague memory of the mixing of a sea/shore-based culture with an inland culture (probably Chinese, or ethnic Vietnamese coming from China). (Here's one reference.)

I don't really want to endorese the notion of Macross-type mecha in the real world, but on the narrow issue of treads/wheels vs. walking vehicles, I do believe that a walker would be more able to negotiate many types of uneven terrain. Treads are superior to wheels or legs for soft ground, since the weight is distributed over a large area, and they're better than legs (but not as good as wheels) in terms of speed because the motion is more efficient. However, in very uneven terrain, a tank-type vehicle can still get stuck (e.g., crossing a deep/wide ditch) or overturn (moving crosswise on a steep grade), and be unable to right itself. Legged locomotion can potentially deal with these problems more effectively. That's at least one reason why robotics engineers continue to explore legged robots. http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/32/18/buehler/ http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/te...75AC0A9629C8B63 http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displa...tory_id=1620734 http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/leglab/home.html

I think he's referring to the FX bootleg Perfect Edition, which does have subs.

macross.anime.net is the place to look for answers. I've already posted the length of a 1/48 SDF-1 in another thread. It'd be about as long as a tractor-trailer truck.

Probably not, though, because the action figures are terrible, with few exceptions. But I really have to disagree with Mechamechanic--the 7" destroids are pretty nice, even though they're almost all plastic and not very posable. The Glaug and Regult also aren't bad as toys go. (Yes, they're grossly inaccurate in various ways.) Then again, I got the destroids and battlepods pretty cheaply.

Another comment. Something someone mentioned about Aries's last words--when I read Renato's summary, it sounded like she was just declaring her love for Roy. But while there obviously was something going on between them, and she may have partially meant to tell Roy that she loved him, she was also talking about Love as the antidote to hatred and war--foreshadowing DYRL and the love song that wins the day. This improves the story in a couple ways for me, first by tieing it to later developments in the franchise; second by not making the Aries/Roy relationship into quite as much of a personal love story which impinges on the Claudia/Roy relationship.

The Red Sox win the World Series, and now this? Good insights all around, folks. I agree that, taken by itself, this story isn't really very profound or original--it's just a mix of The Day the Earth Stood Still and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. But it works well enough as a framework for all the action and Macross-y goodness, with a little bit of a personal story (nice comments, Wes). I would have prefered a little more depth to "Daisy" (I'm guessing that's a mistake in the fansub)--it seems like he goes crazy and attacks the birdman purely out of revenge. I'd rather if he were shocked by Nora's death into realizing that the birdman had to be stopped to save humanity--except that he goes about it the wrong way (with weapons), so he dies. Nora always seemed more crazy and bloodthirsty (though she obviously had her reasons); DD has more of an even keel, regardless of his reasons for being with the anti-UN. Radd, Illuminatus is one of my favorite novels; however I read it a long time ago. I'm not sure what you're referring to above. Edit: Changed "destroyed" to "stopped" because it makes more sense that way.

NLA has on their home page that it isn't NLA Quite the opposite, they claim credit for it.

Yeah, this is really more appropriate as a new thread, or you could resurrect a recent thread on the same topic. The newbie questions thread is for questions that can be answered definitively.

I'm pretty sure I've read that Kawamori put the story into the Macross universe in order to get financial backing. Otherwise, it might not have been made.

Please see the entry for the VF-0. http://www.anime.net/macross/mecha/united_.../vf0/index.html There are 2-seat versions for the VF-0A, which is what the VF-0B from Hasagawa is (until otherwise noted). I agree, the compendium says there are 2-seat versions of the VF-0A. In other threads, people have said that they think the entry will change to show a VF-0B. But right now, we just don't know. For one thing, as is pointed out around here, the VF-0B doesn't have the same head as the VF-0A. (Also look here.) It seems probable that Kawamori will ratify the Hasegawa design--it's no skin off his nose, really. But there hasn't been any official word yet.

The only other -D variants I've found, looking through the Compendium, are the VF-17D (1 crew) and VF-11D (2 crew). There are several 2 crew models that don't get the -D designation (some of them are trainers). The VF-0B may or may not be canon. Hasegawa has made the kit, but the designation doesn't appear in the Compendium, and so far no one has spotted one in Macross Zero.

Trying to explain myself a little better about the discrepancies between SDF M and MZero, as contrasted with DYRL/MZero. Recall that in DYRL Roy's relationship with Claudia is basically sketched in two scenes: the one in the club where he shows Hikaru how to "be a man", and the one where Claudia asks how Roy died. Most viewers would probably say that Claudia loved Roy, and even that Roy loved Claudia, but there isn't much to show us the depth of their feeling or commitment. In SDF Macross, Claudia's account in "A Rainy Night" more clearly portrays a deeper love, and it has significance in the overall story, because it relates directly to the Misa/Hikaru romance, which is central. Furthermore, there's a point later in the series when Hikaru leaves on a mission, and it's deliberately juxtaposed with the events of "Pine Salad". (IIRC, Misa makes him a meal before he takes off.) So the way that Roy dies and leaves his woman grieving adds dimension to the danger that Hikaru faces whenever he goes out on a mission. The Roy/Claudia love story is an important part of the story structure in SDF M. The Roy/Aries relationship in MZero weakens that element of SDF M. Again, this isn't to say that you can't come up with a way of factually reconciling the Roy of M0 and the Roy of SDF M. But it makes the story worse. It's similar to (although not nearly as bad as) The Fly II, which kills Geena Davis in the opening. Sure it could happen, but it craps all over the meaning of The Fly. Or to give another example, the opening of Aliens 3. Perfectly plausible that the little girl dies, but it destroys a major part of what I found appealing in Aliens. Since the Roy/Claudia relationship plays a much smaller part in the narrative and meaning of DYRL, you don't run into the sort of thematic conflict if you link M0 and DYRL that you do by linking M0 and SDF Macross.

Welcome to MW,　LinxCrossq. Magic: IMO, it is indeed clear that all the "magic" in M0, M7, and arguably elsewhere in Macross is really supertechnology and/or natural phenomena that aren't currently explained by human science. For example, after seeing the fansub, I note that the growth of the AFOS when it comes to life is basically explained by nanotechnology--it takes elements out of the atmosphere in order to build itself to full size. Personally, as I've said before, I don't mind it very much, but it is indeed a break from SDF Macross, which was fairly conservative with its scientific/technological premises. That is, it had a limited number of science fiction postulates (space warping, fusion power, antigravity, cloning) and they weren't too radical in terms of current science. The ESP, telekinesis, telepathy, spiritia, and sound energy of M0 and M7 are innovations, and they're also more difficult to ground in current science or even scientific speculation.

Okay, just watched the fansub, and either because of the repitition or because I can understand some of the finer points, I liked it better. There are still some rough points though, most of which Renato has already covered. I'll add: Why does Aries spill the beans about Operation Iconoclasm in front of Sara? BTW, here's a present for Keith...