Robotech/Macross Resource Thread (Revamped 5/16)

[Elbows]

PURPOSE OF THREAD:
As you all may remember I started an expensive 1/200 scale Robotech/Macross project some time ago.  Unfortunately, shortly thereafter Palladium launched their comprehensive Kickstarter program which promised a more flushed out model line, albeit in 1/285th (original Battletech scale).

I put the Macross project on hold, although the rules ended up becoming the basis for my Old West game, Shoot N' Skedaddle.

With the delayed (and unfortunately not-too-promising-looking) Kickstarter delivery pending I figured I'd like to start a big Robotech/Macross thread for Lead Adventure gamers.  I'd like this to serve as an intro for non-Robotech gamers and a resource for those who are awaiting the Kickstarter or may buy into the Battlecry Robotech game in the future.  Personally I'll be using the figures to complete my original Macross project - though if Palladium's game shows any promise I wouldn't hesitate to have my models serve double-duty.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF ROBOTECH:
Robotech the animated series was a US adaptation of a series of three Japanese anime cartoons in the early 1980's.  While its closest relative is the Macross brand, the Robotech animated series consisted of three separate sections, namely: Macross, Southern Cross, and New Generation.  The series features a total of 85 episodes.  Since the series were dubbed for American audiences the importers combined three unrelated series, and promoted it as the same world, with each series representing a 15-20 year gap (to explain the change in mecha/characters etc.).

An effort was made to produce a fourth series, referred to as The Sentinels, but it never amounted to more than an hour and half long premiere episode - though this was flushed out by fan fiction, novels, and role-playing games later.

THE MACROSS SAGA:
Far and away the most popular era of Robotech is the original Macross Saga - consisting of the first 36 episodes.  While the animation has aged the story telling is still excellent.  For its time, Robotech was a rather "adult" cartoon, featuring violence, romance, sexual innuendos, the death of characters and most importantly a contiguous story line.

***Spoiler Alert***
Macross Saga introduces the world in 1999, albeit portrayed as rather futuristic, in the throes of a world war.  A "comet" strikes a small island known as Macross Island in the South Pacific.  Hidden from the world media, the comet is discovered to be a wayward spacecraft which has crash landed.  The ship possesses advanced technology and most confusingly is scaled for creatures many times the size of a human.  The ship is empty.  The international community agrees to a cease fire as the top minds in the world scour over the huge space-craft (measuring nearly half a mile in length).  Eventually a decision is made to repair and refit the ship, using technology discovered inside the vessel itself.  Unbeknownst to the world though, other information is acquired and plans are set in motion to make use of it.

Fast forward 10 years to 2009.  The ship, christened SDF-1 (Super Dimensional Fortress 1) is preparing for its maiden voyage.  Amid the festivities it's defenses activate autonomously, firing its main cannon into space without warning.  It is at this point we are introduced to the Zentraedi (See below).  A large Zentraedi fleet which has been scouring the universe looking for the errant ship arrive in near Earth orbit.  Initial scouting forces engage the Robotech Defense Force (or UN Spacy).  It is revealed that top secret military scientists determined the ship must have belonged to human-esque creatures up to 45-50' tall, so gigantic robots were created to battle them on an equal footing.  We are introduced to Veritech Fighters (Valkyries), and Destroids (all explained below).  The series launches us into several years worth of battling as the Earth fights for survival against a limitless alien horde.

The Super Dimensional Fortress 1 (SDF-1)


______________________________________________________

Members are encouraged to post up photos, resources, links, videos, gaming projects and anything Robotech/Macross related (please identify if you're posting Macross* stuff so that newcomers won't confuse the two series)

*Macross is the name of one of the Japanese series which most closely mirrors Robotech (though Macross features several subsequent series/movies.  The story lines are quite different though original animation and the general "transforming robots" theme is similar.

[Elbows]

THE ZENTRAEDI


Zentraedi Emblem

In the Robotech animated series, the Zentraedi are a race of clone warriors, produced by a humanoid like race of beings referred to as the Robotech Masters (Robotech = term used to describe the advanced technology of this race).  While the Robotech Masters themselves are human in size, the Zentraedi have been created for war and the rigors of space exploration.  Combating alien races, they have been scaled up to nearly 10x the size of a normal human being – ranging from around 35-55’ in height.  This fact was discovered while scientists explored the remnants of the alien spacecraft (SDF-1) and this is why UN Spacy mecha were developed to counter the Zentraedi threat.

Zentraedi are produced in cloning chambers, and do not reproduce sexually (though they have functioning reproductive organs/wombs etc.).  Clones are produced predominantly in male form, but females are present as well (they appear to be limited to an officer caste and elite fighting units consisting entirely of female pilots).  Initially females and males conduct business completely devoid of emotion or attraction.

Various castes seem to exist.  While basic infantry soldiers and mecha pilots are relatively simple minded, officer caste clones are very intelligent, capable of standard strategic thinking.  Due to their lack of emotion/relationship experience the Zentraedi officers and soldiers are often surprised or confounded by human actions/strategies.

Humans are referred to as “Micronians” by the Zentraedi and are studied as if a class of sub-species or an animal.  The overly pragmatic approach to all things war, and the lack of non-warring society forces Zentraedi tacticians to evaluate every single human activity as a war-making practice.  Entertainment, recreation, media, protests etc. are all seen as some form of tactic/strategy in the Micronian arsenal.

MECHA

Zentraedi mecha is exactly what you’d expect for an infinitely large clone army: cheap, effective and lightly armored.  The primary fighting mecha of the Zentraedi is the Regult pod and its variants.  A standard aviation fighter, the Gnerl is also common.  These are backed up by the elite units of power armour, both male and female versions.  These will be detailed in later posts.



A Zentraedi Regult Mecha

SHIPS

The Zentraedi fleet is beyond measure, numbering into the millions of space craft.  There is a singular leader of the Zentraedi military named Dolza who resides in a gigantic planet-sized main craft.  Fleets consist of a number of type of war ships all armed to the teeth with vast fleets of mecha, and missiles/beam weapons.  These will likewise be detailed later.


A Zentraedi fleet flagship.

[Elbows]

UN SPACY


UN Spacy Logo

UN Spacy is the military wing of the United Earth Government, responsible for the safety of the Earth population against the Zentraedi threat.  While various elements of UN Spacy exist on Earth, the animated series concentrates on the unfortunate crew/squadrons of the SDF-1 in its tumultuous adventures through near-Earth space and beyond.

MECHA

UN Spacy scientists and designers developed a number of Zentraedi-scaled mecha to combat the impending threat when the SDF-1 was determined to have been designed/operated by “giants” by human standards.

The primary fighting mecha of UN Spacy is the Veritech fighter (or Valkyrie in Macross).  The Veritech fighter is a transformable mecha which can operated in one of three modes: Fighter mode (in this mode the mecha is essentially a giant fighter aircraft), Guardian mode (this represents half-plane/half-humanoid robot), and Battloid mode (in this mode the mecha becomes a humanoid fighting robot – approximately 40-45’ tall).  Veritech variants will be detailed in later posts.


A Veritech mecha in all three modes.

The second line of defense is a group of mecha designs referred to as Destroids.  These are walking tanks/artillery mecha which serve predominantly in a defensive role, bolstering the SDF-1’s defenses, and protecting outposts, bases, etc.  Far slower, unable to fly (limited flight is possible in space), but heavily armored, the Destroids are the unglamorous “grunts” of the UN Spacy forces.  The full line of Destroids will be detailed later.


A Defender destroid.

UN Spacy forces are bolstered by a number of far more conventional vehicles (fighter aircraft, drones, helicopters, missile batteries etc.).

SHIPS

In the opening attack on Earth all of the current UEG space craft were destroyed.  By the end of the opening hostilities only the SDF-1 could be counted as fighting capable space craft.  For the duration of the animated series the SDF-1 fights by itself, its crew and population tirelessly battered by the pursuit of the Zentraedi fleet.  UN Spacy/UEG space craft will be detailed later.

[Elbows]

ROBOTECH RESOURCES:

http://www.macross2.net/m3/sdfmacross/sdfmacross-index.html
Macross Index

This source has a ton of info and excellent pictures.  I actually spent a long time gathering all of my pictures/art only to find most of them carefully catalogued here!  I'll be providing a quicker/easier "Robotech for dummies" approach in this thread.

www.dafont.com
Font Website w/ Various Robotech Fonts

I use this site for a lot of design work, and luckily dafont currently has at least three Robotech related fonts under their Sci-Fi section.  The fonts are free and install super easy.

[Elbows]

ROBOTECH DESIGNS...All over the place...

Yes, people who are not familiar with Robotech may find themselves looking at various Robotech mecha with a certain familiarity.

TRANSFORMERS
While not particularly similar in the cartoons themselves, many of the Transformer toys were borrowed from existing Robotech toys to cut costs.  You'll notice a variety of older Autobots and Decepticons are actually re-badged Robotech Veritech/Valkyrie models.



This 1985 "Skyfire" Autobot is nothing more than a VF-1S Super Veritech toy with autobot stickers on it.

BATTLETECH

FASA corporation originally had the rights to use various Japanese anime designs in their original run of Battletech mechs.  In fact it's very noticeable that the Robotech/Dougram/VOTOMS mechs were far and away the most popular and iconic Battletech mechs.  They continue to enjoy a fan base of the "Unseen" mechs.  Note that Veritechs in guardian mode were even used as "LAMs" or Land-Air Mechs.


Here you see a Spartan Destroid which was the basis for the Archer...and you see the "meh" new version after the agreement expired.


The Glaug officer's battle pod became the Marauder...again bastardized when re-designed later.

The very cover of Battletech books and games were covered with Robotech designs (something I didn't quite mind of course).

You see here the "Warhammer" which is nothing more than a Tomahawk Destroid - it even features the UN Spacy logo on its leg!


Other anime series such as Dougram were responsible for designing a slew of other very popular mechs as well...

Robotech designs had a lot of influence all over the place, and that's why it's not uncommon for people to recognize the fairly iconic shapes/designs.

BATTLETECH/ROBOTECH MECHS (off the top of my head...)

Stinger = VF-1A
Wasp = VF-1S
Archer = Spartan
Longbow = Phalanx
Rifleman = Defender
Crusader = Armored Veritech
Phoenix Hawk = Super Veritech
Marauder = Zentraedi Glaug
Ostsol/Ostscout etc = Vaguely related to the Regult Pod (they added arms, etc.)
Various LAMS = Veritechs in Guardian mode.
Warhammer = Tomahawk

[Malebolgia]

AWESOME THREAD       
And the timing is perfect since I just bought Samurai Robots Battle Royale which is perfect for Macross gaming. And since you are the Macross-guru here I am a happy gamer!
Btw, will you "revive" your old thread again with pictures? It's such a shame that all of the photobucket pictures are gone.

[Centaur_Seducer]

Great job in this one!
Will follow it interest

[OSHIROmodels]

Gonna follow this one 

cheers

James

[Elbows]

THE VERITECH

In Robotech, the American animated series the primary human (micronian) fighting mecha is the Veritech transformable fighter.  In Macross stuff in Japan etc. it is referred to as a Valkyrie.  I’ve watched the animated series several times and will do so again shortly – but I don’t believe you ever hear them referred to as Valkyries in the American version of the show.  They are commonly called simply “Veritech fighters” etc.

In UN Spacy in the animated series most squadrons are assigned a colour to designate squadron (Vermillion, Green, Gold etc.).  However other squadrons exist such as Roy Fokker’s Skull Squadron etc.

TYPES

The Veritech is shown in four primary models during the animate series: VF-1A, VF-1J, VF-1S and VT-1D (or VF-1D).  While the later released fluff and canon suggest these models might differ in engine power etc…for the most part they appear to have nearly identical capabilities.  The difference is noted predominantly in the head variations, and the D model has a twin-seat cockpit as it is the designated training model.

VF-1A: Single lens head with a single cannon.  This is the basic version for most pilots in UN Spacy.


VF-1J: Wide single lens head with twin cannons.  This is for flight leaders, or squadron leaders.


VF-1S: This is only seen in use by Roy Fokker though later canon suggests several of them exist.  This is the poster-child for more Robotech materials in the US.  A wide green visor and four cannons on the head.  Fluff states these models are reserved for the commanding officers of a carrier wing etc.


VT-1D/VF-1D: The D model features twin wide lenses on the head and two independently operated cannons.  In the show this is the first Veritech that the main character (Rick Hunter) finds himself in.  It is painted in standard UN Spacy beige but features large splashes of safety orange (not unlike Navy training planes which feature the same).

*Note that in this picture the Veritech has its Gu-11 gun pod stored on pylons on the outer arm.  This allows a Battloid mode Veritech to use both hands without releasing his weapon – in the animated series the Gu-11 is also shown with a retractable sling.

ADDITIONAL MODULES

Two types of upgraded modules are shown late in the Macross Saga: the “Super” (referred to as a Fast Pack in Macross materials) model, and a heavily Armored module.  Both of these will be covered in later posts.  They are additional fitted components which can be added to any of the standard variants of the Veritech fighter.  In addition a ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) model exists in the canon/fluff and has been introduced by Palladium Games for their miniature game.  This is an electronic warfare/AWACs style package.

MODES

A Veritech fighter may operate in one of three modes: Fighter, Guardian, and Battloid (Fighter, Gerwalk, and Battroid in Macross circles).

Fighter Mode: In fighter mode the Veritech resembles a common fighter aircraft.  This mode allows for the most speed, and is preferred for dogfighting in an atmosphere and in space.  All weapons are available in the this mode.


Guardian Mode: In guardian mode the Veritech resembles a half humanoid robot/half fighter aircraft.  While it retains flight capability, it’s primary engines are in the feet, and it loses much of its top speed.  This allows the pilot to move the Veritech like a fighter while being more agile in close confines.  It also allows the use of the Veritech hands.  All weapons are available in this mode.


Battloid Mode: In battloid mode the Veritech resembles a large humanoid robot.  This design was made to allow a Veritech pilot to battle the 50’+ tall Zentraedi on even terms.  This mode allows mobility in cities and difficult terrain, and allows the Veritech pilot to fight in melee combat or perform operations using its arms/hands.  The primary weapon in this mode is normally the Gu-11 gun pod.


ARMAMENT

The Veritech mecha has a wide arsenal of weapons.  On a standard Veritech they consist of the following:

1) Pair of nose mounted cannons (these appear to be beam weapons in the show)
2) 1-4 head mounted cannons (also beam weapons)
3) A Gu-11 55mm three-barreled gun pod.
4) Missiles (ranging from light/medium/heavy)


Standard Veritech light/medium missiles.


Standard issue Gu-11 gun pod – features three 55mm barrels, and feeds from the rear cylinder.  It is shown to have a retractable sling for carriage in battloid mode when needed.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

The Veritech mecha includes a number of interesting features.  The cockpit section detaches for rescue operations (this is likely fitted with a parachute/floats if landing in water).  The Veritechs feature small mechanical arms which allow minute repair/rescue work.  The cockpits feature three display screens (not unlike current 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft currently in service).  As shown above, the Gu-11 gun pod (or cockpit section) can be attached to the arm of a Veritech.  This allows easy retrieval of a Veritech pilot if downed.

[Elbows]

VERITECH MODULES

This post will quickly cover the two main (and one alternate) Veritech modules seen in the animated series, and most commonly found in games/models.

THE “SUPER” VERITECH

The Super Veritech is a standard Veritech with added boosters and missiles.  This vastly increases the top speed and firepower of the mecha, and allows a Veritech to break orbit without the aid of a booster pod*.  In the show, the booster pods on the top/rear of the Veritech are shown firing missiles as well.  Note that when in fighter mode a Veritech with the additional boosters keeps its vertical stabilizers folded/stored so they’re not immediately destroyed by the blast.

In the Macross world these Super Veritechs are commonly called “Fast Packs” and feature additional armaments, like twin-cannons etc.


In Fighter Mode (note: folded stabilizers)


In Guardian Mode.


In Battloid Mode.

Note that the Super modification can be applied to any normal Veritech regardless of model.  The module can be ejected at will by the pilot.



*Booster Pod:  A normal Veritech fighter cannot break out of orbit on its own power.  If not using a Super module a large Booster rocket can be added to the Veritech.  This is launched from a large wheeled platform vehicle.


Veritech Booster.


THE “ARMORED” VERITECH

Another module seen in the animated series is what is commonly referred to as the “Armor Pack” or Armored Veritech.  This module introduces a huge amount of additional armor, and a bevy of additional missiles (mostly short range missiles).  The Armored Veritech has one major caveat – when installed the Veritech may not change mode unless it jettisons the module.  Note that the Armored Veritech features the same boosters – and may fly in Space (unknown if it can fly in an atmosphere).

It’s my guess this module would be best suited as a type of boarding party mecha --- entering a hostile alien ship in battloid mode, armed to the teeth.



Again, the Armored module can be applied to any standard Veritech (including the trainer D models etc.).  Slow, heavy, but tons of firepower.


Some sketchwork showing the various missile pods installed (note that in this mode the boosters don’t show the “missile tubes” located at the top of the boosters…it’s possible the Armored Veritech does not benefit from these).


A picture showing a Veritech jettisoning its Armored module --- allowing it to revert to normal Veritech function (ie.: get the hell out of Dodge!)

THE VE-1 ELINTSEEKER

While not a proper Robotech Veritech (it may be seen in the back of some giant fight scenes or something – but is never a featured mecha or prominently displayed), the VE-1 model of the Valkyrie/Veritech is an electronic warfare model.  It likely combines both advanced early warning radar and air combat control functions with jamming and destruction of enemy radar/facilities.  In most model kits (where it is most prolific) it’s seen completely unarmed (perhaps still lasers in the nose?).

It is often displayed with large “eye” imagery obviously hinting at its reconnaissance capabilities.  It features a type of booster pack, but lacks the missile firing sections.  A large rotating radar dish is present, and various deployable antenna systems.





It features a special head as well – a large lens which looks like it includes a high magnification capability.







Palladium Games is including a reconnaissance version of the Veritech in their game – unsure what the nomenclature is, or the model features.

[Huascar]

Great resource. I am patiently waiting for my KS stuff to arrive (which is not too hard since I had to wait almost 30yrs for this game), but I am planning on a big local big push once my very large KS order arrives.

[Elbows]

BUMP:  I went through and revamped all of the posts so far...trying to make it a bit more comprehensive.  Will add more as I continue.

[YPU]

This always was a bit of a blank spot in my geeky knowledge, thanks for brining me up to speed! Very much looking forwards to your next posts.

[Elbows]

UN SPACY DESTROIDS

The second line of primarily defensive mecha used by UN Spacy are referred to as Destroids.  They are, essentially, walking artillery batteries.  Non-transformable and slow by comparison, they add firepower to the SDF-1 (the ship has mounted bays which allow Destroids to turn out on the deck when needed).  Destroids are the non-glamorous artillery/air defense mecha.  While being slow they do mount considerable amounts of firepower (far more than the average Veritech).

The keen eyed viewer will notice that three of the Destroids share a "chassis" or the same legs with various modules mounted on the upper torso.  According to the fluff this was the primary chosen design.  The Spartan and Monster represent other projects (in fact the Spartan was rumored to be an alternate design concept which was competing for the Destroid project).

ADR-04 Mk.X Defender

The Defender is an air defense Destroid.  It features four auto-cannon barrels, fed from large internal magazines mounted in the shoulders.  It's likely these are 25-50mm in size (think of a current Tunguska/Shilka etc.).  It's quite obvious that the top dish above the shoulders is likely a radar, allowing the Defender to locate incoming enemy mecha before they're in visual range.










SDR-04 Mk.XII Phalanx

The Phalanx is a near twin to the Defender, mounted on the same chassis - but featuring two large missile drums in place of the auto-cannons.  It doesn't feature a noticeable radar but it is possible the radar is mounted in the barrel-like chest of the mecha (similar to nose mounted radar in fighter aircraft).  The head represents flood lights, but could also house a forward looking infrared detection system.  In the animated series it is shown with around a dozen missiles per pod - unknown how light/heavy the missiles are.  They must pack a punch as Phalanxes are seen doing serious damage in one of the final episodes of the series.










MBR-04 Mk.VI Tomahawk

One of the most popular and iconic destroids is the Tomahawk model (likely due to its awesome looks, and its presence in Battletech lore).  It features a huge bevy of weapons, covering all ranges and needs.  The twin arms are shown as both beam cannons and ballistic weapons in the animated series (in several shots they're shown with muzzle flashes like a normal cannon, instead of beams...?).  They're seen so rarely it's anybody's guess...though linework pictures do not show ammunition feeds (and it seems unlikely ammo belts would feed down through the elbow joints.  Also notice the arms feature "vents" for cooling...but ports out the back for blast? Confusing!








HWR-00 Mk. II Monster

Another iconic favourite for modellers is the gigantic "Monster" destroid.  This Destroid outweighs the others by 4-5x, and is simply massive.  It's without question a long range artillery support Destroid.  It is shown being slow and cumbersome (and then oddly running in one episode...) so we'll assume she's a pretty slow beast.  The cannons up top are shown to fire normal artillery rounds, and the arms are shown firing as beam weapons (not missile launchers as listed in the Palladium Games RPG).  It features a crew of at least three (shown in one shot late in the series).










MBR-07 Mk. II Spartan

The Spartan is the one standard sized Destroid which does not share design features with the others (upper torso does share some weapon components).  Note the "04" designation on other Destroids is replaced with an "07" designation.  The Spartan was rumored to be a competitive contract when the Destroid request for proposals was put out.  It features hands unlike any other Destroid and is comparatively lightly armed - featuring a battery of missiles and small guns.  It can however use a Gu-11 gunpod from the Veritech and is seen with a mecha-sized baton.  It proved useful in police work after the Zentraedi refuges ended up on Earth.  Having hands makes this a pretty handy Destroid compared to many others.

[Elbows]

OTHER UN SPACY CRAFT

There a handful of additional UN Spacy craft which are featured in the animated series - though many of them are lost in the first two episodes and almost none make subsequent appearances.

ARMD Platform

The ARMD Platform or "Armor" series of ships are featured in the first few episodes.  I believe all of them (there must be around a dozen) are destroyed in the fighting.  It's unknown if the ARMD series were in existence prior to the arrival of the SDF crash landing.  During the opening attack the crew of the SDF-1 mentioned losing several "Armor" ships.  They likely served as defensive fighter platforms in orbit around the Earth.  They are seen firing missiles and beam weapons and launching space craft.






UN Spacy Cruiser

This is a spacecraft which is shown a handful of times and not really mentioned in any detail.  I haven't dug up any origins or notes on it.




The Daedalus and Prometheus

By sheer accident two large aircraft carriers were dragged into space alongside the SDF-1 when it folded.  Eventually these carriers were dragged alongside the SDF-1 and attached to it.  When the SDF-1 began transforming in battle the Prometheus and Daedalus were used as arms - delivering a devastating Destroid attack called the "Daedalus Maneuver".  The pair of carriers are used to house Destroids and Veritechs and other fighting mecha and craft.  If separated from the SDF-1 they are incapable of space flight.


The carrier CVS-101 Prometheus






The carrier SLV-111 Daedalus