Arm FAST packs on the VF-1

[Zentrandude]

On the side at the rear of the launcher is a motor for the high-speed exhaust expelling fan and on the butt-end there is a service hatch for maintenance of the exhaust/launch system

That doesnt make sence, if fast packs is space only the fan is useless. Guess our great froating head had a differnt view of space back then or its some kind of overtech fan that anime magicly blows something to cool it down.

[Commander McBride]

VF-1's sure don't have rear radar. (Flankers do)

Well, that is to say, the next-gen flankers do. Including my current favorite plane in the world, the Su-34. I've never seen that the Su-27 or the Su-33 Sea Flanker are equipped with it, but the -34, -35, and -37 are.

Man, you can not believe how hard I tried to convince the Lock On: Modern Air Combat guys to implement the rear facing radar in the code, so one of the next-gen flankers could be added at a later date, but they refused.

[ewilen]

On the side at the rear of the launcher is a motor for the high-speed exhaust expelling fan and on the butt-end there is a service hatch for maintenance of the exhaust/launch system

That doesnt make sence, if fast packs is space only the fan is useless. Guess our great froating head had a differnt view of space back then or its some kind of overtech fan that anime magicly blows something to cool it down.

Well, since the exhaust is a gas, the fan could theoretically help move it out of the launcher. And I could see a need to get it out of there before it condenses and freezes inside the launcher. But basically you're right--how hard can it be to vent gas in space? Have any spacecraft used fans in this fashion?

[JELEINEN]

That doesnt make sence, if fast packs is space only the fan is useless. Guess our great froating head had a differnt view of space back then or its some kind of overtech fan that anime magicly blows something to cool it down.

It makes sense that the boosters are space only, but I don't see why they couldn't use the arm launchers inside Earth's atmosphere. Can the FAST pack parts be mounted piecemeal?

[Commander McBride]

VF-1's sure don't have rear radar.  (Flankers do)

Well, that is to say, the next-gen flankers do. Including my current favorite plane in the world, the Su-34. I've never seen that the Su-27 or the Su-33 Sea Flanker are equipped with it, but the -34, -35, and -37 are.

Man, you can not believe how hard I tried to convince the Lock On: Modern Air Combat guys to implement the rear facing radar in the code, so one of the next-gen flankers could be added at a later date, but they refused.

OK, I just checked, and we both seem to be wrong. The only member of the Flanker series whose rear radar I could find confirmation of is the Su-27IB / Su-32 / Su-34.

[David Hingtgen]

There's so many Flanker variants I don't even try to keep them straight. I know *some* Flanker has rear radar, and that's good enough for me.

Of course, equally difficult is the sheer act of firing a rear-facing missile, as no matter what, it's going to be launched while the plane is going forward at 500kts, so it's got to go from -500 to 0 to 1500 kts quickly, if it's going to be any good. (Micro-missiles seem to be so agile it might be better to launch them forward and then have them do a 180)

[Commander McBride]

Well, the full speed of the missile isn't totally necessary. After all, it's designed to hit a pursuing enemy, who will be coming towards the missile, unlike a normal situation, where the high speed is necessary to catch a fleeing enemy.

[ewilen]

But wouldn't the missile stall and/or be unmaneuverable if it doesn't have sufficient airspeed?

[Basara]

It probably wouldn't be for extra ammuniton for the GU-11 Gunpod... The average infantry man carries only about 180 rounds on him (dependent on the type of rifle... taking the M-16A2 as a reference here...) so for a Valkyrie to carry 200 rounds in the gun pod, along with a wing mounted payload, as well as the anti-aircraft lasers... The damned thing is over armed as it is... to say nothing about mounting FAST Packs on the thing.

Micro missiles it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

[EganLoo]

The NP-AR-01 (addition left and right arm "super parts") armored weapons are merely micro-missile launchers. They hold 3 larger-sized Crasher Grenade/Micro Missiles each. Within the structure of the launcher at the base there is a long duct for exhaust expelling for the lower missile (see image) and a series of vents. On the side at the rear of the launcher is a motor for the high-speed exhaust expelling fan and on the butt-end there is a service hatch for maintenance of the exhaust/launch system. You can also see the special hard point connectors atop the launcher:

In Shoji Kawamori's notes, the arm missiles are just called micro-missiles, not "Crasher Grenades." (Grenade Crushers are the name of the shoulder, chest, and leg missiles on the GBP-1S protector weapon system, not the arm missiles on the FAST Pack system.) Mr. Kawamori's notes do not refer to a exhaust fan in the system. The aft cover is called the missile launch exhaust port cover, not a service or maintenance hatch.

http://www.anime.net/macross/mecha/united_...s/variable/vf1/

[EganLoo]

The GH-30B may indeed have a collapsible body.... and if it does then the purpose would be to conserve space. Folded/retracted control surfaces and a shorter body of the micro missile would allow for more missiles to be stored than ones that did not have these features.

According to Shoji Kawamori's design, the GH-30B does not have a collapsible body.

[Mr March]

Wow Egan, you're back with passion

[Chindenathus]

Just to add a observation.

The "Mini Missiles" int FM arm units have the same diameter as the MM's

in the UUM-7 15-tube micro-missile pod x 1 (Bifors HMM-01 micro-missiles).

I always assumed that was what they were.

The "Crasher Grenades" were the forearm mounted munitions on the GBP armor system, not the Fast Pack.

Yes I am aware of assumptions and there dangerous tendencies

I am contemplating a Kitbash of some FP forearms(1/48) and replacing the Micro Missiles in each unit with some left over shoulder guns from a Gundam Wing Zero. (Not custom) and adding a slide-in P90 clip like false magazine detail under the barrel assembly of each. Or maybe a combat knife sheath (with knife of course). These mods could be made without making them permanent the way the 1/48's forearm pods are constructed.

>>Has a kitbash daydream.