Anime & Mecha 1:100 Macross Destroid 'Tomahawk' MBR-04-Mk.III (Mk. VI-Umbau mit Armen)

[dizzyfugu]

Some background:*
The MBR-04 series were the first combat-ready Destroids and the most successful land-combat weapon Destroids that were built with OverTechnology of Macross. The abbreviation MBR (Main Battle Robot) indicates the model was developed as a walking humanoid weapon emphasizing the heavy armor firepower of an artillery combat vehicle, designed to replace mainline battle tanks.

Despite inferior anti-aircraft abilities, the Tomahawk boasted firepower like no other biped vehicle from the Destroid series. Originally, the Tomahawk was just called "MBR Mk. I", but once its systems and structural elements became the basis for other models, its designation changed into the "Type 04" Destroid. The main frame from the waist down was common to the Type 04 series, which included the the Defender and the Phalanx, a module which consolidated the thermonuclear reactor and ambulatory OverTechnology system of the Destroids. Production line integration using this module was a key goal of Destroid development.

The Type 04 series was developed jointly by Viggers and Chrauler and became also the basis of the MBR-04 Tomahawk. Unlike the variable fighters (which had to be designed to accommodate transformation mechanisms), the MBR series featured a structure with a large capacity that allowed plenty of room for machinery and armor.








Projectile resistance was stressed in the design, but the Tomahawk did not have the armor strength to withstand a direct hit from a Zentraedi mobile weapon. However, the Tomahawk made use of heaviness to add firepower and versatility such that it came to symbolize those features of the Destroid.

First development began in May 2001 and trial production began in December 2003. The decision to formally introduce the MBR-04 series of Destroids was made in June 2006, mass production began and the MBR-04-Mk I rollout occurred in February 2007. The Mk VI Tomahawk's and Mk X Defender's rollouts were in November 2007 and March 2009, respectively.

The MBR-04-Mk. I's initial weaponry consisted of rocket launchers and two arms for use in close-quarters combat. Eventually, the Tomahawk's arms evolved into fixed armaments unsuitable for hand-to-hand combat and thus it was best fielded in a combined arms role with cooperating Destroid models and the VF-1.
 
The Type 04 design led to expansion of installed armaments and achieved improvement in productivity and serviceability which contributed to the rapid development of the Destroid variations. The Tomahawk itself underwent a rapid development. Earlier variants, which mainly differed in the design of the arms and the weapon package, were only produced in limited numbers. The Mk. III introduced the first heavy particle beam cannon to the Destroids, and the following Mk IV. achieved excellent results in maneuvers and an enhanced output. The Mk. VI became the eventual mass production type, and some of the earlier models were later brought to Mk. VI standard.








Eventually, a considerable number 440 units (initially, 500 were envisioned) were deployed aboard the SDF-1 Macross and operated by the U.N. Spacy as well as the U.N.S. Marine Corps. Most of the Destroid Tomahawks were deployed upon the surface of SDF-1 to perform close-range interception and also to operate as an immediate combat force. A small number - primarily from the early variants with full arms and articulated hands for bigger field versatility in small combat groups - was operated by the UNSMC for landing operations and special tasks.

The Tomahawk operated as a core ground combat unit during the Great Stellar War (Space War I) and - when paired with the VF-1 variable fighter - achieved impressive military gains against the Zentraedi army.






General characteristics:
    Equipment Type: main battle robot, series 04
    Government: U.N. Spacy
    Manufacturer: Viggers/Chrauler
    Introduction: February 2007
    Accommodation: 1 pilot plus space for a second crew member

Dimensions:
    Height 12.7 meters (overall)
              11.27 meters (up to head unit)
    Length 5.1 meters
    Width 7.9 meters
    Mass: 31.3 metric tons

Power Plant:
    Kranss-Maffai MT808 thermonuclear reactor, developing 2800 bhp output;
    Auxiliary GE EM9G fuel generator, rated at 450 kW

Propulsion:
    2x thrust nozzles mounted in the lower back region, allowing the capability to perform jumps,
    plus several vernier nozzles around the hull for Zero-G manoeuvers

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 180 km/h

Design features:
    - Detachable weapons bay (attaches to the main body via two main locks);
    - Extending/retractable periscope telescope (in weapon bay directly above the cockpit);
    - Option pack featuring missiles or searchlight (can be mounted on either side of the weapon bay);
    - Coolant tank (installed within the upper left side of the back torso);
    - Capable of performing jumps via 2 x thrust nozzles (mounted in the lower back torso);
    - Radiators with exhaust ports in the rear on the left and right hips
    - Cockpit can be separated from the body in an emergency (only the cockpit block is recovered);
    - Head unit equipped with 2 camera eyes, upper eye moving along a slit,
      the lower protected by a polarized light shield

Armament:
    1x Mauler PBG-07 liquid-cooled electrically-charged twin particle beam gun
    2x Bifors close-in self-guided rocket launchers in the shoulders
         with 12 rockets per launcher (24 rockets total)   
    2x Astra TZ-III gun clusters in the lower chest with each cluster featuring:
        - 1x laser gun
        - 1x 25 mm heavy machine gun
        - 1x 180 mm grenade launcher
        - 1 x flamethrower
    2x Ramington M-89 12.7 mm air-cooled machine guns, mounted within the head unit

    Option packs:
    1x Erlikon anti-aircraft self-guided missile launcher with 6 missiles (shoulder mount)
    1x Rheinstahl 35 mm automatic rapid-fire cannon (lower arm pod)
    1x Stonewell 20 mm six-barrel gatling gun (lower arm pod) 

*Informationen aus kanonischen Macross-Quellen/Texten, editiert und für das Modell ergänzt/weitergesponnen


Einen ausführlichen WiP-Bericht zum Modell befindet sich im Anime & Mecha Subforum: http://www.phoxim.de/forum/index.php?topic=41860.0