The Road to Solomon

So the VF-31 pictures aren't very good, even considering that I'm not overly focused on picture quality as long as it conveys the needed information.   Sometimes that's what I have to work with, as that article was translated from manual scans from dalong.net and 1999.co.jp.

If someone has higher quality scans of manuals they're always welcomed.    There are cases where the picture is low quality to begin with, like the one posted above, since it's supposed to have a grainy high ISO film like quality.   MSV manuals don't really have great art either, so I'll just have to make do somehow.

Anyway, there's a very long Battle of Solomon article on the way as I move to cover the last two major battles in the OYW, since they come up in discussion a lot on various forums but the data itself never seems to have made it into English in an obvious way.   I am to correct that and will be using the more updated versions of these battles depicted in Another Century's Chronicle, though maybe I can come back with Entertainment Bible 39 later.   It may be some time before this article is done due to its length, but I have shorter bits to post in the meantime.

VF-31J Siegfried (Hayate Immelmann Use)

The VF-31J, (used exclusively by Delta Squadron) was developed as a general-purpose support variable fighter exclusively for the Tactical Sound Unit 'Walkure'.  Though the basic airframe and construction are descended from the VF-31 Kairos, internally the addition of a 'Fold Wave System' and different engine necessitated numerous internal changes and reinforcements in order to accommodate the improved engine performance.  The VF-31 Siegfried currently has C, E, F, J, and S variants fielded, with the base specs being relatively similar, primarily differing in external appearance - such as the head section design and number of beam guns installed there.   (The J model has one anti-air beam gun while E, F, and J have two, and the S model has four.)  Though there are essentially no significant internal differences, each model has a number of software changes, with the fold wave system on each model being tuned to the individual parameters of each Walkure member, and matching the the ARIEL III onboard AI with the movement patterns of each member, in addition to minor avionics changes.

The S model, as the commander unit, has formation command systems as well as improved transmitters and datalink systems.

Space suits of the One Year War

Even in an age where space suits are worn on an everyday basis to perform activities in outer space, there are many demands placed on the space suits worn, and as a result of incorporating all the necessary features, the space suits often limit the range of motion of their wearer.   Military Space suits aim to allow as wide a range of motion as possible, but are also modified to be easier to egress.  These types of modifications would be extremely expensive and so are not practical for civilian use space suits, and so are seen as somewhat extravagant in comparison.

Gundam Pixie

RX-78-XX Gundam Pixie

Total Height: 19.2m
Head Height: 18.3m
Total Weight: 39.8t
Generator Output: 1440 kw
Thruster Output: 70500kg
Armament: 60mm Vulcan Cannon, 90mm Machine Gun, Beam Dagger x2
(First Appearance: SFC Cross Dimension 0079)

GA Graphic gives Zeon some love.

Self professed EFSF fan though I may be, it's about damn time Zeon got some love in the Master Archive Series.  (Other than the Sinaju, I mean.)  These kinds of books are perfect considering how many variations your typical Zeon MS model has.  This should help save them from having to make things up to include in the book.  (Looking at you, FA Zephyranthes and VF-22 variants).

And of course, Macross is also coming along at the same time:

Ace Pilots of the One Year War

(TL Note: EB39 is written from a in-universe perspective, from about UC0120 or so.)

Introduction: Ace pilot requirements

What is an ace?

The word 'ace', from old French, means 'one who excels', which was later applied during the early days of aerial combat to indicate 'one who has shot down 5 planes'.  This requirement of 5 planes or occasionally the pilot to score the first kill in an engagement were not particularly strictly defined at the time.

However, after some time, the usage of this word to denote a pilot who has shot down five planes would become common parlance.

RGZ-91

The ReGz is an experimental Mobile Suit developed in UC0091 by Anaheim Electronics.  This machine's nickname is the shorted version of the full name; 'Refine Gundam Zeta', and is an experimental production version of the most advanced AEUG Mobile suit deployed in the Grypps conflict: the MSZ-006 Z Gundam.