Macross Chronicle Translations

[sketchley]

The VF-0 is that size precisely because of the conventional engines and their required fuel. Even with those tanks on the upper fuselage, it has an extremely limited combat range.

The VF-1 is as small as it is, because it was designed to go into hand to hand combat with the alien giants.

Source: I can't remember which one, but one of the links off of here: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/Sketchley/p...ranslations.htm (probably one of the Great Mechanics issues)

[azrael]

One can only assume that means the people that worked on the F-14 also worked on the VF-0. If that isn't the case, I'd be hard pressed to ascertain a context or relevance for inclusion of that fact in the VF-0 official trivia.

That's all it is though, an assumption. While there may be common technology being worked on with the F-14 experiment group and the VF-0, how they fit into their roles would be different. New tech was worked into the F-14 experiment program while the VF-0 use new tech to build from the ground up.

[Mr March]

The VF-0 is that size precisely because of the conventional engines and their required fuel. Even with those tanks on the upper fuselage, it has an extremely limited combat range.

Perhaps I'm over thinking it but the official trivia about the nacelles and airframe don't sound like the only factor. Official trivia specifically mentions the role of the VF-0 as experimental testbed for advanced jet engines and OverTechnology prior to adoption in other VFs.

That's all it is though, an assumption. While there may be common technology being worked on with the F-14 experiment group and the VF-0, how they fit into their roles would be different. New tech was worked into the F-14 experiment program while the VF-0 use new tech to build from the ground up.

Given that the VF-0 looks like an F-14, is the same size as an F-14 and Kawamori was referencing the F-14 design, I'd say it's fairly safe to say the experiment group's influence is rather apparent. Otherwise, the trivia has zero relevance beyond a name drop, which doesn't seem likely.

[azrael]

Given that the VF-0 looks like an F-14, is the same size as an F-14 and Kawamori was referencing the F-14 design, I'd say it's fairly safe to say the experiment group's influence is rather apparent. Otherwise, the trivia has zero relevance beyond a name drop, which doesn't seem likely.

Now you're mixing production materials of the show with in-universe issues. While that may be true from our POV as a 3rd party observer, within the scope of the Macross-universe, it's a bit more cloudy.

[Nied]

I think we went over this in another thread. While the VF-1/VF-0/VF-25 are superficially similar to the F-14 in that they have variable geometry wings, the deletion of the tail planes makes a pretty huge difference in aerodynamics. I doubt there's much you could learn from an F-14 without some really serious structural modifications

[sketchley]

Perhaps I'm over thinking it but the official trivia about the nacelles and airframe don't sound like the only factor. Official trivia specifically mentions the role of the VF-0 as experimental testbed for advanced jet engines and OverTechnology prior to adoption in other VFs.

I think you're overthinking it. The only clear facts are that the Stage 1 thermonuclear turbine engines are quite small, and conventional engines (albiet over-tuned) are comparatively larger. The fuel supplies for both are also smaller for the former, and larger for the later. Therefore, a conventional engine using VF has to be significantly larger.

Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie has a nice comparative illustration of the three craft (the VF's & the F-14) on page 025 which highlights the needed engine nacelle size.

Anyhow, I hate to be the wet blanket, but shouldn't this off-topic conversation take place in another thread? Such as the Chronicle discussion thread?

Edited March 17, 2010 by sketchley

[sketchley]

Finished the translation of the VF-4 in TiAS:M+: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g33503#msg33503

It's an interesting compliment and contrast to the Macross Chronicle article.

The subsection on the implementation of thermonuclear reaction engines is also interesting. In effect, ALL flying craft with these engines have theoretically unlimited cruising range within an atmosphere! Glad that that was cleared up, as something similar had me raising my eyebrow in the VF stats in a Great Mechanics.DX article: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g35718#msg35718 (scroll down to the page 094 section).

And in further VF-4 translations: just eyeballing the two relevant paragraphs in the "Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie", it looks like that book claims that only the VF-4G can transform to GERWALK and battroid modes! Talk about throwing that books credibility down even further.

Edited March 22, 2010 by sketchley

[Seto Kaiba]

The subsection on the implementation of thermonuclear reaction engines is also interesting. In effect, ALL flying craft with these engines have theoretically unlimited cruising range within an atmosphere!

Even so... as long as the engines are running they're still going to be consuming fuel at some rate. No matter how gently those engines sip from the fuel tanks in atmospheric flight, they'll still run dry at some point. So, in practice, it's probably more along the lines of the fighter having more endurance than the pilot... by a considerable margin if Macross 7 is anything to go by. How many days were Basara, Mylene, and Gamlin stomping around on the surface of Lux before they returned to the fleet? Two? Three? In any event, the light fuel consumption rate goes right out the window in space flight since the VFs use the waste plasma from the reaction engines as ion thruster propellant in space flight, which would be the reason for the use of boosters and additional propellant tanks in the form of super parts.

Glad that that was cleared up, as something similar had me raising my eyebrow in the VF stats in a Great Mechanics.DX article: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g35718#msg35718 (scroll down to the page 094 section).

Would it perhaps be that the manufacturer is listed as General Galaxy rather than Stonewell/Bellcom? Or maybe the 3 barrel particle beam gatling gun?

And in further VF-4 translations: just eyeballing the two relevant paragraphs in the "Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie", it looks like that book claims that only the VF-4G can transform to GERWALK and battroid modes! Talk about throwing that books credibility down even further.

All things considered... the credibility of the VF-1 Master File was damaged beyond repair right around the time its writers decided to copy large portions of material from the long-discredited Sky Angels VF-1 Tech Manual. Stating that the VF-4 couldn't transform is the least of its problems where accuracy is concerned.

[Mr March]

It's rather funny how the VF-X-2 and VF-X-3 were destroyed by the annihilation of Earth, thus allowing the VF-4 to win any design competition by default. The destruction of a competing variable fighter seems to be a recurring curse in the Macross universe

Good work.

[sketchley]

It's rather funny how the VF-X-2 and VF-X-3 were destroyed by the annihilation of Earth, thus allowing the VF-4 to win any design competition by default. The destruction of a competing variable fighter seems to be a recurring curse in the Macross universe

Good work.

Technically, the VF-14 survived and was able to compete with the VF-11. And let's not forget M+, either. Or by recurring, you mean only with some VF competitions, not all?

Anyhow, what I found the most interesting with the TiAS:M+ book, is that the start on the successor of the VF-1/2 started long before the VF-1/2 had a completed prototype! In other words: the technology was already deemed limited (or dare I say, dated) long before it reached production! (By VF-1/2, I mean the VF-1, and the VF-2 that would have resulted if the VF-X-2 had reached production).

[sketchley]

I think someone's changed the title of this topic - completely dropping Macross Chronicle. Can a mod add it to either the main title, or the sub-description?

Anyhow, finished the translation of the VF-5000 in TiAS:M+: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g33504#msg33504

Next project: Macross Chronicle's VF-5000.

[sketchley]

Got side tracked from the next project by an interest in the Air Combat Pod.

Finished: Mechanic: SDFM Zent 09b Zentraadi Forces' Pods

http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g37921#msg37921

Details are few and far between, but there's a couple of decent nuggets of info. Probably what's most surprising is the anti-aircraft and ground gun turrets on the Large Landing Pod!

[Graham]

Not Chronicles related, but could I put in a translation request for the attached file, which I'm hoping may reveal some interesting info on the Tornado packs.

TIA,

Graham

[azrael]

Not Chronicles related, but could I put in a translation request for the attached file, which I'm hoping may reveal some interesting info on the Tornado packs.

Not really.

-Can be used inside and outside atmosphere.

-Lower air resistance than the Super Pack.

-turreted twin-beam gun provides a wide field-of-fire and it has some micro missile launchers.

[Seto Kaiba]

Not really.

Yeah, pretty much it doesn't say anything that couldn't have been gleaned from watching the movie trailer. On the subject of the micro-missile launchers, it seems to have eight of them built into the pack's wing surface... six on the dorsal surface, and two on the ventral surface.

[sketchley]

Completed:

Mechanic: M7 UN 10a Escort Warships of the Macross 7 Fleet: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g38204#msg38204

[Seto Kaiba]

Completed:

Mechanic: M7 UN 10a Escort Warships of the Macross 7 Fleet: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g38204#msg38204

Thanks! Excellent work as usual... VERY informative piece (at least for me). I'm particularly digging those more realistic fighter capacity numbers. Having their roles in fleet tactics spelled out is also quite nice.

Edited May 1, 2010 by Seto Kaiba

[Mr March]

Very cool to see figures for the carried craft.

[sketchley]

Completed: Mechanic: D7 etc 01a Patrol Corps Mother-Ship

http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g38217#msg38217

It's a shame that the entire datablock was full of "under investigation". I think (Japanese) readers complained about it, because they disappeared in later issues.

Luckily the size comparison gives an approximate size: less than 100 m.

[sketchley]

Work in progress... this one is making my head spin with the revelations coming hard and fast. This, like, totally flies in the face that the UN Forces had just one Factory Satellite within half a year of the end of SWI, and the Zentraadi had only one type of Factory Satellite - and that the Factory Satellite acted on its own!

Mechanic: SDFM Zent 10a Factory Satellite: http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g38229#msg38229

Mileage will vary for the MII aficionados, of course.

[Mr March]

That does a lot to explain the incredible industrial capacity the UN Spacy attained in such a short period of time after Space War I.

[RedWolf]

More like an explanation for this

.

Covering all bases lest someone shout inconsistencies.

[Graham]

Very interesting reveal about the factory satellites.

[Beltane70]

That's pretty awesome that the UN was able to find 20 factory satellites in such a short time period.

[Seto Kaiba]

Work in progress... this one is making my head spin with the revelations coming hard and fast. This, like, totally flies in the face that the UN Forces had just one Factory Satellite within half a year of the end of SWI, and the Zentraadi had only one type of Factory Satellite - and that the Factory Satellite acted on its own!

Huh... that's definitely interesting. It certainly explains the ridiculous levels of production that allowed the main continuity U.N. Spacy to build up its fleet so fast and continually replace its VFs with newer models and keep the colony missions on schedule. Presumably there are more, since I do recall mention that the various colony fleets incorporate any satellites they run across/capture into their forces as well.

Certainly far more prolific than Macross II, where capturing a factory satellite nearly intact was a BIG deal, and the U.N. only had like two...

[sketchley]

In a way it makes sense. The Factory Satellites are designed to support a main fleet. After the Earthlings defeated Bodolza's main fleet, and got their locations from the defected Breetai, it's not a stretch of the imagination that the UN Forces are able to capture so many in such a short time.

Though, it does beg the question: what happened after those first 6 months? Did they capture the other 10 to 30 Factory Satellites? Did they stop the capture missions to consolidate their forces and manufacturing capabilities, and start a production run-up to space emigration and another wave of capture missions?

If I remember correctly, there's also a nuance that the 3-Star Factory ship in the M7 fleet is also a Factory Satellite (or based on it's technology, or something along those lines).

[sketchley]

... and finished the Factory Satellite page.

[sketchley]

Mechanic: MF Citizen 08a EX-Gear (Extender Gear): http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/inde...g31313#msg31313

2/3 of contents up (front, and top half (aka Military EX-Gear) of the reverse.

We gets where the EX-Gear comes from, some of it's capabilities, a bit more on it's submachine-gun/machine-gun, and some decent stats (none of that "still researching" garbage!)

Oh, and a massively huge run-on sentence to boot! Holy crap, it was like wrestling with the 8-headed dragon-monster... I ended up breaking it into 3 sentences (one of which has 3 or 4 clauses!), I still couldn't fit it all in smoothly, and needed to add it outside of the paragraph! @.@

Kids, let this be a lesson: sentences with 8 or more clauses are WRONG. Heck, anything over 1 clause per sentence is dubious.

Edited May 5, 2010 by sketchley

[CrusherJ]

Thanks for the info about the factory satellites and the ex-gear. Very informative, particularly the info on the satellites.

[sketchley]

... and finished the EX-Gear. Interesting, sports models. Hmmm... is it an outgrowth from the hover-skating sport technology in Macross 7 Trash?

Anyhow, the technology sheet on the EX-Gear has a little bit more on the EX-gear gun: "it's also called a Linear Rifle". And fits inside a VF's cockpit. And it has two helical magazines.

Interesting weapon. Which name should we use? Machine-gun (used many times)? Submachine-gun (used once)? Or Linear Rifle (used once)?

This will be my last Chronicle page typed up for the next little while. Reason being is next up is the translation of a Great Mechanics.DX Macross article. A rather long one. Nevertheless, rest assured that I'll get around to the other 16 (or was it 18?) MC articles waiting to be typed up.

[azrael]

Anyhow, the technology sheet on the EX-Gear has a little bit more on the EX-gear gun: "it's also called a Linear Rifle". And fits inside a VF's cockpit. And it has two helical magazines.

Interesting weapon. Which name should we use? Machine-gun (used many times)? Submachine-gun (used once)? Or Linear Rifle (used once)?

Submachine gun? Nah, definitely doesn't fit that description. Linear rifle? That doesn't sound right. Not with the size of that barrel.

[Gubaba]

Cripes...the recent update screwed up all the HTML tags when I edited the Table of Contents... I'll fix it all, but it'll likely take a couple of days.

Of course, I have no idea if anyone finds the contents useful or helpful, but whatever... We're too close to the end NOT to update them.

[sketchley]

I find them useful!

Yeah... the new update did a number on the old posts. Which makes me wonder... weren't the old posts written in BB code? Aren't the new posts also written in BB code? Why did the old posts get changed from BB code to HTML?

[nexxstrait]

I find them useful!

Me too!

[Graham]

Finished the translation of the VF-4 in TiAS:M+:

Hi Sketchley,

Just wondering, do you have plans to continue with your translation of TiAS M+?

I would love to know what the book says about the VF-17.

Graham