MSA-007 Nero

MSA-007 Nero

Overall Height: 20.20m
Head Height: 19.02m
Base Weight: 34.1t
Loaded Weight: 60.5t
Power Generator Output: 1,650kw
Maneuvering Rocket Propulsion: 10,200kg x4
Attitude Adjustment Verniers: 8
Sensor Effective Radius: 12,000m
Armor Materials: Gundarium Composite
Fixed Armament: Beam Saber x2 (Output 0.9MW
The Nero plan combines the lower half of the ι (Iota) Gundam (=S Gundam) with the upper half of the λ (Lambda) Gundam to create a comparatively high class mass production unit.  Thus, it is able to boast the same slender silhouette as the S Gundam, something rarely seen in the GM line of mass production units.

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.

Minovsky Physics

Minovsky Particles were used in the crucial particle weapons used by both militaries in the One Year War.   These particles, developed by the Belorussian Zeon scientist Minovsky, are able to  be charged with an extremely strong electrical charge, and large amounts of these particles dispersed over an area are able to absorb electromagnetic radiation.  This particle's role in Mobile Suit maneuver warfare lead to the Battle of Loum between the Earth and the Moon.

Gundam Mk. V

Total Height: 25.42m
Head Height: 22.80m
Base Weight: 39t
Loaded Weight: 65.31t
Power Generator Output: 5,320KW
Main Propulsion Rocket Output: 3,340kgx2, 2,220kgx2
Attitude Adjustment Verniers: 10
Sensor Radius: 12,000m
Armor Materials: Gundarium Composite
Fixed Armament: Back Beam Cannon x2 (Output 12MW)
Beam Saber x2 (Output 0.9MW)
Incom x2 (Output 4.5MW)


The Augusta research institute developed this unit as a reduced-size version of the MRX-009 'Psyco Gundam', it is equipped with a Quasi-Psycommu wire-guided weapon system known as the 'Incom System'.

Make GMs great again!

I don't really want to get in the business of writing profiles, especially for well known MS.  The Sniper II gets a pass because it's my second favorite GM design (GM Custom for president!) and it also served as a useful experiment as to how I can have a single profile composed of multiple sources.   (Plus MG GM Sniper II hype!)   Blogger doesn't allow tabs within pages, so maybe that's a good reason to switch to Wordpress at this point, so the alternative method I used is just to put them in different posts with an HTML based menu.   Rocking it like it's 1999 Geocities.

It was an interesting experiment, and I got to pull another model manual out as well.

I accidentally pulled the page out of Gundam Mechanics in the process of scanning it though. :(  Good thing it lives in the Gundam Mechanics binder.

RGM-79SP GM Sniper Custom II

[Gundam Mechanics][HGUC GM Sniper II][MSV File Collection]

Pleased with the favorable results exhibited by the SC type, the Space Forces Headquarters hoped to introduce an improved unit for the assault on the Zeon home territories.   

RGM-79SP GM Sniper II

[Gundam Mechanics][HGUC GM Sniper II][MSV File Collection]

Type: Production General-Purpose Mobile Suit

Manufacturer: Federation Forces

Overall Height/Head Height: 18.5/18.0m

Empty Weight/Loaded Weight: 45.0/61.0t

Generator Output: 1,390kW

Thruster Output: 102,000 kg

Sensor Radius: 8,700m

The RGM-79SC GM Sniper Custom is one of the highest-performing models in the GM line, and the 'RGM-79SP GM Sniper II' offers even more improvements and enhancements over the Sniper Custom.

RGM-79SP GM Sniper II

[Gundam Mechanics][HGUC GM Sniper II][MSV File Collection]

Model Number: RGM-79SP

Head Height: 18.0m

Weight: 45.0t

Total Weight: 61.0t

Generator Output: 1,390kw

Armor Material: Titanium Ceramic alloy

Armaments: Sniper Rifle

Bullpup Machine Gun

Beam Saber

Shield

Dissappoint!

Well, I'd be lying if I said that the Macross Delta ending was worth it.  It felt okay at the time but if I stop to compare it, it's probably the weakest ending in the franchise, and that's including Zero.

The saltiness of both NA and Japanese audiences is real.  Everyone is hyped about resolving the triangle but that's really about it.    Especially the name drop of Megaroad-01 and then failure to actually do anything about it.

Yes, I went there.  At least things were actually resolved in Zero in a meaningful way.


Anyway, there is stuff being worked on, (sparked partially be a reddit discussion...)

Here is an exciting sample.  Yes, it's exciting.

As per usual, the translation is faster than getting the images cleaned up.

RGM-86R Nouvel GM III

RGM-86R Nouvel GM III

A Front View, heavily loaded with optional equipment.   The largest changes from the standard GM III are the 'double ducts' on the shoulders and newly designed head.

The GM (or Jim) was originally developed during the Old War period as a simplified, production version of the RX-78 Gundam.  After the end of the Old War.  The original model was produced with budget as a primary concern, but was later modernized with increased power output, an added linear seat system, armor upgrades, and improved sensors, ultimately resulting in the 'GM II'.

MS-07B3 Gouf Custom

MS-07B3 Gouf Custom

Model Number: MS-07B3

Head Height: 18.2m

Base Weight: 58.5t

Loaded Weight: 77.6t

Generator Output: 1,034 kW

Thruster Output: 40,700kg

Armor Material: Luna Titanium 

Main Armament: Triple 35mm Gatling Cannon, Gatling Shield, Heat Rod, Heat Saber.

As the Gouf was intended to be used as an Anti-MS unit, the Mobile Suit's individual combat capabilities were increased, with the equipment enhanced by close combat weapons and improved fixed weapons, like the whip-like electrified heat rod on the right arm.  The left hand initially featured a 5-barrel 75mm machine gun, but the loss of adaptability and flexibility was later deemed to be incompatible with Zeon tactics.

Modeling

It's always challenging to choose the next content to translate, discussions on Reddit's /r/Gundam guide me to some extent, but I'm typically looking at things I want to post as well.

I have a couple model kit translations in the works, as there's a bunch of interesting information on many of them, especially the MG and MSV kits.  Unfortunately, other than the dozen manuals I own personally there's not a lot else out there - most of the scans available on the internet do not include the fluff pages, or are at such a low resolution they're illegible (Most of the Dalong.net scans fall into this category.)  

I mean... If anyone wants to donate some scans...

Anyway, there are a few more big articles I'm working on, which accounts for the delay, but I'll put a couple smaller things like the aforementioned kit manuals up in the meantime.

I'd like to put some Macross material up as well, after I can clear out some of the backlogged bigger articles.   (Because I'm finally getting into the groove of Delta.)

Johnny Ridden

Military ID Number: PM056330279A

Affiliation: Mobile Assault Corps

Biography:

Born UC0056, as a third generation of the first colony immigrants. Johnny Ridden's family immigrated to space from the former Australia, though he was of American ancestry, unusual within Zeon.

MBR-04-MkIV Tomahawk

MBR-04-MkIV 
Heavy Weapons Assault Type

Tomahawk

Total Height (Head): 11.27m
Total Loaded Weight: 31.3t
Main Armament:
Mauler pBG-11 Liquid Cooled Charged Particle Beam Gun x2
Anti-Personnel Ramington M-89 12.7mm Air-Cooled Machine Gun x2
Sub Armament: Astra TZ-III Gun Cluster x2 (consisting of: Laser Cannon, 25mm Autocannon, 180mm Grenade Launcher, and Flamethrower)
Rocket Weaponry: Bifors 12-tube Short-Range Guided Rocket Launcher x2
Erikolon Anti-Aircraft Guided Missile 6-tube Launcher Option Pack x1


The MBR-04 Destroids were the first practical destroid models to be deployed, with the initial development beginning in May 2000, with the prototype appearing in December 2003, with the first MBR-04MkI rolling out in February 2007.