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JB0

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  1. JB0
    Much of that isn't necessarily true for a variable fighter. Attitude thruster effectiveness will go UP with reduced atmosphere, and the engine performance should stay fairly constant, if not improve, as you shift from air-breathing mode to "space" mode. My impression is that they harvest heat from the fusion powerplant, and transfer it to the engine. In atmosphere, they can use that heat to rapidly heat air. From there it functions on similar principles to a conventional jet engine, just using a heat exchanger in place of a combustion chamber. Remember, fuel is burned to heat the air and force it to expand, not because it offers intrinsic value. Out of atmosphere they can use the same supercooled hydrogen that feeds the fusion generator itself. As the air gets thinner, you can just stop sucking air into the engine. Close the intakes, turn on the hydrogen injectors, and let 'er rip. Heck, you may see a performance BOOST at high altitudes as you switch from compressing and superheating (very thin) air to vaporizing liquid hydrogen. FAR more expansion on the latter circumstance. Obviously this reduces operational time somewhat vs atmospheric flight, but the implication from the shows is that they can still run for a very long time. "Space" mode is, from my perspective, also going to be a necessity for battroid foot thruster usage. Your entire air intake is of highly variable geometry, very rarely in anything resembling an optimum path, and prone to sucking debris through the compressor. And it's probably a good idea in GERWALK mode, for similar reasons. Heck, GERWALK seems specifically designed to suck in debris. ... I don't want to talk about the VF-0. That's a very good question. Especially since they show VF-1s rendezvousing with the Macross as it heads for orbit in episode 1, which strongly implies that a VF-1 can ALSO generate enough thrust to attain orbit. I'd assume it's simply a case of rapid deployment. That really does make the most sense. Tangentally, "reaching space" isn't really as clear-cut as it sounds. Both the Space Shuttle and Apollo went "to space", but there's LITERALLY a world of difference between the two. To say nothing of the Pioneers and Voyagers. It's more a case of how high you want to go than a hard cutoff from "I'm on Earth!" to "I'm in space!". (Even more tangentally, I am very pleased I just got to say "literally a world of difference" without misusing the word 'literally') To date here in the real world, no manned mission except Apollo has ever made it completely out of the Earth's atmosphere. The ISS has to be routinely accelerated to counter atmospheric drag and keep it form falling out of the sky. But many, many manned missions have gone "to space". It's not outside of the realm of possibility that the VF-1 can "reach space" on it's own, but can only attain the higher orbits with assistance.
  2. JB0
    JP3 was just every dino attack that didn't make it out of the first 2 books, with just enough narrative to tie them together. Oh, and this time Dr. Grant speaks raptorese.
  3. JB0
    Apparently to start next year. This is very good, since the last series didn't so much end as it did stop.
  4. JB0
    I know for a fact mine was neither Optimus nor Soundwave. My first Optimus was Powermaster Prime, my first "real" Optimus was the Generation 2 reissue. To this day I've never owned an actual transforming cassette player Soundwave(though I DO own a real working tape player shaped like Soundwave!).
  5. JB0
    Honestly, I'm getting pretty much what I expected from Unlimited Blade Works. It's more or less a straight port of the game, so there's few surprises. I still appreciate that they try to make the servants look super-powered, and don't bust Shirou's theme out every episode(instead saving it for ACTUAL awesome moments). Those were my two biggest gripes with the Fate route series. ... Oh, and I like how That Bastard Shinji keeps gawking with confused slack-jawed wonder at everything. He's ignorant of almost everything involving magic and the Grail War, and they're taking advantage of it to illustrate him as the complete buffoon he is. Like the scene recently where he gapes openly at Kirei's command seal. He's never SEEN a proper command seal before, and is incapable of hiding his confusion and curiosity.
  6. JB0
    I.... honestly have no idea. My earliest memories involve Transformers, plural. Slag and Shockwave are both contenders. So is Tracks.
  7. JB0
    There is no third book.
  8. JB0
    Yes, Lost World was a book starring Malcom. Despite that the book Jurassic Park stated in no uncertain terms that Malcom was dead.
  9. JB0
    In fairness, in Dark of the Moon, The Fallen is dead and Megatron's spirit is broken. Hell, he needs a peptalk from a squishie to even work up the gumption to try and shoot Optimus again. The mighty Megatron, so lost that he's reduced to moping in the corner, a coward lacking the spinal motivators to act on his designs. Even STARSCREAM had more nerve than that! It's kind of a low point for the character. I almost felt bad for the poor guy.
  10. JB0
    Because it's destiny. The fates of Earth and Cybertron are inextricably linked, and have been since 1984. Clearly, this should've been considered before they imploded Cybertron, as it means the Earth is now doomed in no uncertain terms. I didn't see it a a contradiction. Transformium is what their bodies are made of, but the Allspark is what imbues that shell with life, reason, and soul. Without the ability to infuse machines with a spark, transformium constructions are just that: machines. ... Which makes the sparkless Galvatron problematic, but less so than he may at first appear. I am going to claim he's not, strictly speaking, alive. But there's enough data recorded that Megatron's thought processes can be emulated by the lifeless machine that is Galvatron. It's artificial intelligence. (I still think he's highly problematic. While his sparkless sentience can be worked around and justified, it was a bad narrative decision that causes a lot of trouble with the whole premise.)
  11. JB0
    I could make a guess or two, but the best explanation is probably to make teenagers feel superior to the nominal parental figure. Those kids sure showed him! Did what they wanted, flaunted his rules, then threw higher rules in his face to shut him down YEAH!
  12. JB0
    My name is JB0, and I endorse this message.
  13. JB0
    Especially since they use the big complicated explanation instead of just "Dude. Age of consent is 16 here. Now suck me Lucky Charms!"
  14. JB0
    1:1 or GTFO!
  15. JB0
    If I don't get Crazimus Prime headhunting quintessons, I will be deeply disappointed. ... I mean, more disappointed than I usually am with this subfranchise.
  16. JB0
    The story I heard was it was a dispute with Cartoon Network over money.
  17. JB0
    I did that with Slag. I mean, he was a robot AND a triceratops(the best dinosaur). Life didn't GET any better. He even followed me into the pool and the bath tub. ... So did Voltron's blue lion(the plastic one the characters sat in), but that was because it was SUPPOSED to get wet. The cartoon showed it underwater ALL THE TIME, it was CLEARLY a water toy!
  18. JB0
    Not gonna lie, I may make the effort to find this one. I don't rightly care that Trypticon is a plastic brick(like every other toy of the era). He's a giant robot T. Rex You said you've got a T. Rex?! triple-changer that other Transformers can live in. And that's just friggin' awesome.
  19. JB0
    I wanted a Combat Mode Sari toy. No joke.
  20. JB0
    YES! We get a likable and interesting squishie character, so they can the show just as her story arc kicks into high gear.
  21. JB0
    And it's all very funny when you consider initial reception was "omg ugly also why are they fighting crime and not decepticreeps worst show ever"
  22. JB0
    " They add that this is not just another traditional Chinese knock-off. It's actually the only officially licensed Star Trek building on this planet." What.
  23. JB0
    You're not alone on the Animated love.
  24. JB0
    It wouldn't be Fate if everyone didn't talk too much. Nasu desperately needs an editor.
  25. JB0
    I can't understand why. Spielberg is a smart man most of the time.
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