Tamashii Nations 2009: Macross

"...If it were a mecha designed just for space, sure, why not?
But in a place of gravity, having the upper arm connect to a platform hanging waaay off from the torso is somewhat nonsensical.
Something also seems "wrong" with a shield and gun so huge that one can't stand without them resting on the ground..."

Well, let us think here for a moment if you wanna go that way: the human form as a space combat vehicle is rather impractical. While large thick limbs would make for okay counter-rotation, the only reason you have them is to reach out for something. Beyond that- despite innumerable anime to the contrary- maneuvering thrusters are your best bet.
Besides, the human body is far from the best example you want to use as a giant space combat vehicle! Compared to other animals, it is pathetic, with little naturally inherent strength, endurance, or dexterity without extensive & continuous exercise. It doesn't take blows well either. Heh- Klingons we ain't!

And you're right on the money as far as feet in a space-capable vehicle. Small landing gear are appropriate for cushioned docking, but unless you have massively-powerful magnets- and assuming that there's anything appropriate to attract them in space to begin with- walking on a zero gravity object also becomes impractical and pointless. Now, if you have a multi-purpose vehicle that can de-orbit successfully on its own, and is required to walk about on land, then you have a need for big legs.
Of course, lest we forget, a VF-1 Valkyrie would sink under its own weight with every single step with a footprint that puny! (Admittedly, later Valks have attempted to counter this, like the above...)

. . .

I would go so far as to submit the Neue Ziel mobile armor from "Mobile Suit Gundam 0083- Stardust Memory" as my Exhibit "A".

Having [regretfully] not seen it in action yet, I do know that it only has two small-ish arms which it only deploys for grappling (physical wrestling in space is an extremely inefficient use of fuel, BTW) or being psychologically menacing beyond its immense size and intimidating-pea green coloring. It is more-or-less a scaled-down space cruiser (as most space-combat vehicles are that are human-shaped, in general), and it should be treated as such. All built-in or retractable weaponry (psycommu weapons and quasi-invisible energy shields notwithstanding), external fuel tanks (required reaction mass for actually moving it's thousand-ton bulk, and you're telling me that its rockets are that efficient?), projectile claws for grabbing distant objects (a likely outcome for a close-range fighter, though perhaps without the rockets on the ends, meh?), it does not waste effort or risk breaking tiny joints/internal structures that completely ignore split-second mass-shifting/inertia on being transformable (have you seen the hip trans. joints on the VF-0A/S Phoenix!?), and- perhaps most importantly- it does not have legs & feet!

...crap, I forgot what I was gonna use for my closing argument.

(*instinctively ducks for holes to be shot through his opinion*)
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CollectionDX Staff

"The feet look like they were trying to emulate the (eesh) designs seen in the newer Transformers movies. Likewise, the shoulder configuration is NO."

You're misinformed my friend...The crappy B-Formers designs has NOTHING to do with the Macross Quarter. Totally and coincidentally BULLSLAG. The Quarter's feet really looks like it's inspired from the Anti-UN SV-51 Valks seen on Macross Zero.

Also, it looks obvious that the Quarter's upper and middle body looks very much inspired by Tekkaman Blade.

....FYI....Macross Zero came way before B-Formers did. It's not a great OVA, but it's way better than B-Formers.

Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh,....B-Formers....oh my...SIGH...Where the heck do I get these crazy ideas?

PS: Danny Choo...if you're reading this....hear me out..one of your recent moe articles had the headline 'Moelicious'.....THAT'S MY IDEA YOU JERK!! LOL!!!

-R78

OK, so the place where your suspension of disbelief at a 1000 foot tall robot broke down, is because you don't buy the shoulder joint?

Dude. They have anti-gravity. Architecture is now irrelevant.

Aff!

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CollectionDX Staff

"and if you wanna extend "Macross" to Mospeada, you have the CADS-1 blades on the VR-041 Cyclone."

No. Just no. Stop it.

-Andrew

There's a scene in the last episode where it uses the flight deck to deflect a beam cannon shot.

Also, it can concentrate its pinpoint barriers onto the edge and use it like a gigantic sword.

"Still, I'm hoping that the 2' Yamato DYRL comes out great..and that they make a tv version soon after with the inevitable improved joints! ;P"

You do realize that the DYRL and TV designs for the Macross don't even have the same joints. Like in the arms, the TV design has a simple double jointed elbow while the DYRL design has those bendy arms.

-Andrew

I fixed it for ya. Just copy/paste the "embed" code from the page next time. :)

"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High

Yeah, I saw that clip months ago. While it might be about time that a Macross-class ship finally engaged in real 'hand-to-hand combat', the Quarter still doesn't work for me. Granted the animation is fluid and the battle is appropriately intense, but the mecha designs just kill it for me. Of course regardless of that, I still truly do wanna see "Macross Frontier" in its entirety.
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CollectionDX Staff

Well... can you hurt yourself intentionally or unintentionally? For any giant robot living or not, I imagine the risks are the same, we just don't see it happen very often.

To answer the second question:

For practical and financial purposes for anime production companies, such minute details of intricate maintenance as usually not elaborated on unless there is a specific plot point to coincide with showing such an act.

Now, if you're talking about Transformers(TM), as I stated above, they are living beings, so the chances of them hurting themselves is just as likely as it is with any biological life-form. This is why a field medic Transformer character is usually around (unless, of course, you're talking about Bay-formers Ratchet... ugh!). But, again, you usually don't see the repair process; it is simply implied or seen vaguely at a distance.
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CollectionDX Staff

In the UC timeline, the introduction of the test model RX-78-3 Gundam "G-3" brought about the magnetic coating system. The superior improvements its demonstrated would later be used to upgrade the classic RX-78-2 Gundam in the series; the later MSV appearance of the G-3 justifies this in the earlier anime series.
So what you said, JIN, is correct.
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CollectionDX Staff