grebo guru

Here's the VF-5000, the so-called "Star Mirage". It's mostly the B-model, but I added a couple of little tiny details from the G-model. I also experimented with a few different coloring tricks, and added on the gun normally wielded by the VF-1SR series. I have yet to fully "extract" the 1R's gunpod, so it still using the coloring from the original picture -- which ends up texture-clashing with the rest of image. Le sigh. Well, it's all an experiment. I have some head modifications planned as well, of course. Grebo!

Hey all, Here's my stab at the VF-14 Vampire. I colored in dark Blackbird-ish tones, but followed the patterning of the Macross M3 color scheme. Much like with the VF-2SS, I can't figure out where your typical gunpod would be mounted in fighter mode. And don't say "inside the leg, like the ElgerZorene"! That'd work for the VA-14, but this version is too skinny (IMO). Plus, I don't think it looks as cool. Anyway, I'm no fan of the Metal Siren, but I do like its gunpods -- and since they're supposed to be paired underwing, they work well with this VF. w00t! No head variations for this one yet... but I'm workin' on it. Grebo!!

Here's a new wallpaper I made today. I scanned the image from the December 2006 issue of Dengeki Hobby Magazine. Enjoy!

Okay, here's the trio -- A, J, and S. I managed to work up a side view of the A head. And you'll surely notice that I'm calling it the VF-12. This is, of course, for my own RPGing purposes. Grebo!!

Yes, that's what I was shooting for...

I finally got around to doing some color versions of the VF-2SA:

And then tere's another possibility for the Super VF-1 missiles: There's a model kit (or is it a toy?) of the Super Valkyrie, and you can remove the cover of the missile launcher and you see the following: each side has 2 missiles ready for launch, and then two rows of four missiles. So, each launcher has a total of 20 missiles, or 40 total for both of the backpack units combined. Not official, but neat nonetheless. So.... I guess I am actually gonna have to review Macross Plus tomorrow and count missiles. Hmmm. Will need snacks. Grebo! (PS - thanx for the pic, Mr March. Already saw the poster, but that b&w non-negative version is nice.)

Here's the VF-2JS in color!

Hey all, As an RPGer, I am often frustrated by the lack of hard numbers in some VFs' stats. We know, for instance, how many missiles (full-size, mini-, and micro-, plus grenades) the Armored Valkyrie carries. Same with the Destroids, and several other mecha. However, there are many for which I have no idea. The VF-17 has four Micromissile launch bays (2 on each shoulder), but how many missiles does each shoulder hold? The UMM-7 Micromissile pod, which can be found loaded under the wings of Super/Strike Valkyries, has an array of 5 missiles visible... but is there a second volley of 5 in that box? Is there also a third? The YF-21 has four Micromissile launch bays on its top/back, but how many missiles total does it hold? And then there's the VF-22S; it has additional Micromissile launchers, IIRC. I'm thinking of reviewing my Macross Plus DVDs and actually COUNTING how many missiles the YF-21 spews out in various scenes. This would at least give me a ballpark... Anyone have an answers, opinions, or ideas? Thanks! Grebo

Thanx for the compliment, Kaiba. Yeah, I understand what you mean about the MII VFs. I love them myself. I'm not a huge fan of M7, but it has plenty of elements I like -- the ships, the Macross 7 itself, the VF-17, etc etc. Lotsa good stuff there. Personally, I don't think being a fan of MII and being a fan of M7 have to be mutually exclusive, but it sure seems to happen a lot.

Thanks, Zinjo and Seto. Yeah, I think the side-view head works quite well. The face-front 2JA head is from a smaller image, and unfortunately the result is a clash in line weights. I can touch it up a little, and hopefully a coloring will also mitigate the effect.

Here ya go Boxer. (It was earlier in this very thread. Ya wacky guy!)

Heyyyyy, good job!!! Thanks, Knight26!

Alright, well, here's another head transplant for youse-all... the VF-2JS, I suppose you'd call it. It is, of course, the VF-2JA head on the VF-2SS body. I did this because I would like all VFs to have a standard assortment of heads (A, J, and S at the very least). And since I've opted to transplant the VF-1R series of heads to the VF-2JA, the 2JA's head can now serve as the VF-2SS's J-model head. The picture is attached. Grebo

Arf arf! Ah, I understand now. By "streamlined" you mean, like, "rounded" or "smooth", right? (As opposed to the angular form of the VF-2JA.) I hadn't followed that before. Understood. I dunno about the YF-1R head. It's not gorgeous, but it's also really not out of line either. I mean, it's basically a VF-1J head with extra guns... The 1A's head has always been ugly, but it's still functional and acceptable. But I do think the 1R head will look better on the VF-3000, which is also pretty ugly (yet still cool). Anyway, I've done another head transplant: I put the VF-2JA head onto a VF-2SS body. It's in the 2SS thread. Grebo!

Exactly. The thing to look at here is concept more than execution. I'm still looking for the link to the guy's site, but I can tell you that all his other re-engineered transformable mecha also look squat. It's just his style. BTW, attached is another of his re-engineered designs: the "Mospeada" (or "Cyclone", if you like roboatech) Ride Armor. Again, it's rather squat. But also very clever!

Despite your saintlike restraint, Noyhauser, I was still apalled by the frosty reception I got from people when I first posted here. I frequent plenty of boards, and this one is by far the least friendly towards necomers. "Go read the newbie thread", newbies get told. Yeah, go read that 80-page monster! That's welcoming. It's so easy to go read all that, searching through it for the answer to one's own handful of questions. GOD! "A really annoying fashion" indeed. Stop acting superior. If you think my posts were really annoying, you obviously haven't spent much time outside this board... where REALLY annoying posts get made. Humph and harrumph!

Yay! Let's be mean to newcomers!!! That's always fun! Yes indeedy, that kinda policy willl definitely make this a place where people want to come and chat. So anyway, hi ValkyrieAddict: It's not 100% clear why Battle 7 transforms. The "real" answer is, of course, because it looks cool and ties in with the original Macross. However, the rationalization is not clear. The gun gets a much wider field of fire when wielded by an arm-like arrangement, but this same effect could be acheived with a turret. And why fingers? It's really not well-explained, as far as I can tell. And yep, the VF-17 is indeed a stealth fighter. In fact, although its official name is "Nightmare," its nickname is the "Stealth Valkyrie". Grebo!

w00t! Glad ya like. Yeah, I think I'm definitely repurposing all the VF-1R series' unique elements (heads and SPII) for the VF-2JA. Except for the gunpod. That'll go to some other model. (Haven't decided yet; maybe the VF-5000?) I'm already working on a pic of the VF-2JRA equipped with SPII gear. The VF-2JA's head is almost definitely gonna go to the VF-2SS as its "J-model" head. PS - Thanks for the support, CdnShockwave!

Aha, Boxer called it. Seems those pics are from a doujinshi called "Blue Gale." Cool. Must... go... to... comiket!

GaoFighGar = Kazumi Fujita. Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second L = BEE-Craft (Junichi Akutsu, I think; definitely one of the Artmic alumni) Genesic Gaogaigar = not sure that's Okawara either...

I'd say that Kawamori is good, but a bit overrated. The VF-1 remains the standard by which all other transformables are judged. True. And I LOVE the VF-1! However, a lot of his other mecha designs "cheat" a bit. Things flatten, etc. I mean, the VF-17 is really cool, but it seems to gain a lot of volume in the transformation to Battroid mode. Also, Kawamori's designs sometimes look a tiny bit unfinished -- sketchy, perhaps. And cluttered. I don't mind busy. But cluttered can bug me. I'd definitely rate Kawamori higher than Kunio Okawara (who has SUCKED for a long time), but I'm not sure he's as good as Kazutaka Miyatake, and I'm of the opinion he's definitely not as good as Hajime Katoki, Kazumi Fujita, Masamune Shirow, Shinji Aramaki, and Yutaka Izubuchi. Grebo!

Well, it is. Someone posted an image here a while ago with art (that I've seen nowhere else), of the AR, JR, and SR heads, plus front/side/top views of the VF-1R+SPII. This head is from that image. Look at the lineart again. I didn't touch up that area at all. The bottom part of the heatshield can, apparently, retract to reveal a scondary sensor turret. You'll notice I didn't color it this way on the VF-2RA I did earlier. I'm glad! I do too. Greebo PS - attached is the lineart I was referring to, plus a VF-2ARA.

At this point, it'll seem like I'm doing these things outta sheer defiance. (Truth is, it's just a bonus.) Anyway, here's what I think is a really good result -- a VF-2JRA. Yesssss... I pretty sure now that I'll try transplanting the 2JA head onto the 2SS body to get a 2JS model. Grebo!!!

It actually is supposed to come out from under the chest plate, not the back plate. That's already pretty iffy with most VF-1s... Now look at the VF-1D and tell me how that big heat shield cover can come out from under that chest cover. Especially considering how "chopped" the central part of it is. Anyway, Im not actually here to nitpick about my beloved VF-1. I just was making a point about the cleverness of this guy's alternative design.