VF-1 Valkyrie

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In the fictional Macross Japanese anime series and its English adaptation Robotech, the first mass-produced variable fighter (Macross) or veritech fighter (Robotech) is called the VF-1 Valkyrie.^[1]

[edit] Background

The VF-1 was created by the renowned Japanese mecha designer Shoji Kawamori (with contributions by his Studio Nue partner Kazutaka Miyatake) in 1980-1982 to be the centerpiece mecha design of the anime series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982-1983).^[2][4] The name "Valkyrie" is a tribute to the real world XB-70 Valkyrie, an experimental supersonic strategic bomber developed in the United States several decades ago.^[5]

In Robotech (the American adaptation of Macross) the VF-1 is most commonly referred to as the "Veritech Fighter", which is short for Variable Engineering and Robotic Integration TECHnology, but its official popular name "Valkyrie" is used in a few infrequent references.

[edit] Fictional Fighter Design

The VF-1 Valkyrie is built in three main variants (along with several less frequently used variants): A standard soldier's fighter is the VF-1A, a team leader/squadron commander's fighter is the VF-1J, and a squadron commander/Commander Air Group's fighter is the VF-1S. The three models differ slightly in engines, avionics, and armament; notably, the VF-1A has one laser cannon on its head, the VF-1J has two, and the VF-1S has four.^[2][3][1]

The VF-1 was preceded into production by an aerodynamic proving version of its airframe, the VF-X.^[6] Unlike all later VF vehicles, the VF-X was strictly a jet aircraft, built to demonstrate that a jet fighter with the features necessary to convert to Battroid mode was aerodynamically feasible. After the VF-X's testing was finished, an advanced concept atmospheric-only prototype, the VF-0 Phoenix, was flight-tested from 2005 to 2007 and briefly served as an active-duty fighter from 2007 to the VF-1's rollout in late 2008, while the bugs were being worked out of the full-up VF-1 prototype (VF-X-1). The VF-1's combat debut was in February 7 2009, during the Battle of South Ataria Island, the first battle of Space War I. Introduced in 2008, the VF-1 would be out of frontline service just five years later, replaced by the far more advanced VF-4 Lightning III.

In Robotech, the VF-0 did not exist; the non-transformable VF-X was followed by a version which had only fighter and guardian mode. Not until June 2007 was the final version of the VF-1, which could transform into battloid mode, released. It unofficially saw its first combat in early 2007, when test pilot Roy Fokker "borrowed" the first production-model aircraft - a VF-1S that would remain his mount for the rest of his life, and become Rick Hunter's aircraft after his death - to thwart an Anti-Unification plot to destroy the three primary symbols of UEG power. Officially, the first combat of the VF-1 was, like Macross, 7 February 2009, during the Battle of Macross Island, the first battle of the First Robotech War.

[edit] Modes

The VF-1 is different from modern fighter aircraft in that it can transform into three different configurations or modes for different combat environments, and can perform the task of more than one fighting vehicle: In Fighter mode it acts as a jet fighter; in GERWALK (or Guardian in Robotech) mode it acts as a VTOL unit; in Battroid mode (or Battloid in Robotech) it acts as a humanoid mecha.^[1]

[edit] Fighter mode

The VF-1's Fighter mode is its basic mode and is the typical mode employed when the craft is parked at a military base and is the primary mode used in high altitude aerial combat planetside.

In this mode, it features a basic fuselage similar to the real-world F-14 Tomcat jet fighter, including underslung intakes and variable geometry wing, but with outward-canted vertical stabilizers similar to the F/A-18 Hornet's, swivelling under-wing hardpoints (last seen on the F-111 Aardvark, Su-24 Fencer, and Panavia Tornado), and a total lack of tailplanes. It is armed with 1, 2, or 4 (depending on model) Mauler RÖV-20 laser cannons mounted on a ventral turret, a GU-11 55 mm three-barreled gun pod holding 200 rounds, four underwing hardpoints holding up to twelve medium-range AMM-1 missiles, twelve MK-82 LDGB bombs, six RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles or four UUM-7 micro-missile pods containing up to 15 Bifors HMM-01 "micro-missiles". Like most of the VF-1's nomenclature, the "GU" and "AMM" designations of its weapons are referential to current US military designations (GPU for Gun Pod Unit and AIM for Air Intercept Missile).

In fighter mode, the VF-1 can reach a maximum speed of Mach 3.87 at high altitude (above 30,000 metres), and Mach 2.71 at medium altitude (10,000 metres). Its wings, similar to those of the F-14 Tomcat, sweep between 20 degrees back and 72 degrees back. Unlike the F-14, the wings can sweep 90 degrees back for storage, with the tail module folding up over the fighter's back. Although technically the VF-1 has an unlimited service ceiling and atmospheric range (since it can operate in space), the VF-1's internal tanks cannot carry enough propellant to achieve a stable orbit and needs the help of a booster pack to reach Low Earth Orbit. In this mode the VF-1 can also be equipped with a FAST Pack space booster and weaponry system.^[3]

[edit] GERWALK mode

In GERWALK (Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-joint) mode (called "Guardian Mode" in Robotech), the VF-1 looks like the nose and wings of a fighter plane stuck on "chicken walker" legs with two arms.^[7][2] The legs are formed by the aircraft's engines and intakes, bent down and forward. The arms are stored between the engines in fighter mode and fold out to the sides, reaching around from behind the legs. In GERWALK mode, the gun pod is held by the fighter's manipulator "hands" and acts in all respects as a very large automatic rifle. This mode is the intermediate one which was originally intended to simply allow the craft to land in a combat zone with a maximum of defensive ability. However, many pilots soon realized that this mode's considerable maneuverability combined with its speed made it formidable in low level aerial combat as well as when making flanking maneuvers on the ground, and most took advantage of these characteristics for such situations. Valkyrie pilots also have the option to deploy the legs alone, leaving the arms in storage.

According to an article in Animerica magazine, the form came about partially by accident. Early in the development cycle for Macross, the creators planned a main mecha called "GA-WALK", with an ostrich-like leg configuration (similar to the enemy battle pods from the finished series). However, the idea met with resistance from the initial sponsor, which wanted a more conventional robot for the hero to pilot. When creator Shoji Kawamori designed the transforming "Breast Fighters" (later redesigned and renamed the "VF-1 Valkyrie" fighters) instead, he had no real thoughts of a third mode. But when the manufacturer Takatoku Toys sent along the prototype of a Valkyrie toy for his input, the prototype's legs were not yet locked into place in Fighter mode, causing the legs to swing down. This was reminiscent to him of the discarded "GA-WALK" mecha idea that had been shot down early in pre-production. He liked the idea, and worked to incorporate the third mode, now renamed "GERWALK," into Macross.^[8] In GERWALK mode, the VF-1 has a maximum speed of 500 km/h flying, 100 km/h walking.

[edit] Battroid mode

A man in a VF-1 Valkyrie "Battroid Mode" costume at Anime Expo 2007.

In Battroid mode (called "Battloid Mode" in Robotech), the VF-1 looks like a fighter airplane folded up to resemble a 12.7-meter-tall (42-foot-tall) humanoid.^[9][2] The legs are now straight and bend in the normal direction; the sides of the nose now resemble a human chest and shoulders (where the arms attach), and the laser turret is now a head. While the mode has some limited altitude control, its primary purpose is for ground hand-to-hand combat which enabled Earth forces to fight the giant alien invaders on their own scale the military anticipated they would meet.^[9] In Battroid mode, the VF-1 has a maximum airspeed of 220 km/h. Its maximum running speed is 160 km/h. In this mode the valkyrie can also be equipped with the GBP-1S Ground-combat protector weapon system.^[3]

[edit] Toys

In 1983, Takatoku Toys released a range of Macross toys. Their first release was the 1/55 VF-1 Battroid Valkyrie, which was the first fully transformable replica of the VF-1. The toy was retooled and used as the basis for the Transformers character Jetfire.^[10] Takatoku released the smaller 1/100 VF-1S Battroid Valkyrie later in the same year. In 1984, Bandai acquired the molds of the Valkyrie toy from Matsushiro Toys (which had obtained them from a bankrupt Takatoku Toys months prior) and used them as the basis for a new range. To coincide with the release of the movie The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?, Bandai released the Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1/55 Hi-Metal VF-1 Valkyrie with the newer paint scheme used by Hikaru Ichijyo. This was followed in the same year by the 1/55 Hi-Metal VT-1 Super Ostrich and 1/55 Hi-Metal VE-1 ELINT Seeker from the same movie.

In 2001, Yamato Toys released their 1/60 VF-1 Valkyrie line. Two years later, they unveiled their 1/48 scale Valkyrie, which went into production until 2007. That line ended with a special 25th anniversary edition, which was painted in black with gold accents. In 2008, Yamato used design and engineering cues from the 1/48 to release newer versions of their 1/60 line.^[11]

In 2002, Toynami released a Robotech Masterpiece Collection range of products. Included in this range was a series of fully transformable VF-1 models in collector's packaging.^[12] Following the end of the Macross Saga of the Masterpiece Collection, Toynami released 1/100 scale VF-1 toys in 2006 that were marketed as Macross toys rather than Robotech toys.^[13] In 2008, Toynami announced it was releasing several Macross toys outside Japan, that Bandai had previously released in Japan. Several VF-1 models were released under the The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? name. In 2009, they plan to release several models under the Robotech name. Bandai reissued several toys in Japan during 2008 as part of Macross's 25th anniversary and the launch of Macross Frontier.^[10]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• VF-1 Entry
• Macross Mecha Manual A website profiling the fictional vehicles of the Macross series