Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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Yes, it's time to pay tribute to the Gatchaspartan: the primary vehicle for our favorite ninja team during the Gatchaman Fighter series. This ship was unique in that it did not exist unless all five individual team member vehicles were combined. Additionally, even though the individual vehicles were weak compared to the combined Gatchaspartan, the ship launched in pieces, with the individual ninjas piloting them. Hence they almost always arrived at the scene separated, and then had to transform once they saw what big bad mecha-of-the-week they were facing.
I'm fairly sure that all of this stuff is because of the influence that the toy companies had over the Gatchaman F designs (James, jump in here, I'm struggling!).
As far as the Gatchaspartan looks, it has a strong resemblance to a paper airplane. That being said, IMHO it's a far sight better than that Gatcharooster. I missed the Firebird feature, though.
From what I can tell (and I'm certainly no expert) there was no autopilot feature on the Gatchaspartan, although there was one Fighter ep where the ship did appear to be flying itself. In ER Avery (Kamo) was supposed to be flying the ship remotely, but I'm not sure what the true explanation was in Gatch F.
The individual pieces of the Gatchaspartan, as the team is seeing them for the first time:
Another shot of the indivdual vehicles (the G1 is missing). G3 is above, G2 is in the middle, G5 is on the right, G4 is on the left. Wait, I might have gotten those last 2 mixed up.
The Gatchaspartan individual vehicles launch from the new Gatchaman Base:
The G2 is the last to join the others, to make the combined Gatchaspartan:
The Bridge of the Gatchaspartan:
The G1 detaches from the Gatchaspartan to perform the Hypershoot maneuver:
The Gatchaspartan facing a Galactor mecha:
And... recently, LB found a cool Youtube clip of the Gacthaspartan combining!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVm-cnBqeIk
And in case you were wondering, here is video of the Hypershoot weapon. Ken is standing on the entire Gatchaspartan, I think (he could also do it just on the G1) engaging the weapon with his 'light saber' and then slicing up the mecha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kig-5AAfdDU&feature=related
__________________
This post has been edited 4 time(s), it was last edited by Transmute Jun on 13-01-2009 at 15:06.
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13-01-2009 05:24
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Hinotori
Babbling Loonie
I am an Eagle.
2 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 09-10-2007
Posts: 2004
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13-01-2009 23:52
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tatsunokofan
Gatch Guru
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 03-12-2006
Posts: 1513
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Hi all!
I've got to admit, of the main mecha in all three Gatchaman series, the Gatcha Spartan is the one I like the least. I remember back in 1979, during the earliest days of this fandom, those of us who had seen the New God Phoenix thought that it looked awful, especially when compared to the original God Phoenix. Then the Gatcha Spartan came along, and we suddenly realized how good we had it with the New God Phoenix. Yes, the original ship still trumped them all, but at least it didn't look like a paper airplane or the poor man's Star Destroyer.
Anyway, regarding the Gatcha Spartan (And yes, it is two words, not one. If you look at the title card for Gatchaman Fighter episode #2, you'll see that there is a separator between the two words), Transmute Jun is correct that most of the responsibility for the ship can be blamed on Popy, the toy company that was a major sponsor for the series. At that time, Popy had been experiencing a lot of success with toys based on giant robot series that featured various smaller ships that combined into large robots, including Combattler V, Voltes V, Dartanius. As a result, Popy wanted more combining mecha from which they could make more toys of a similar nature. The Gatcha Spartan was the result. Incidentally, Tatsunoko also produced a giant robot series named Champion Gordian that premiered on the same day as Gatchaman Fighter and was also sponsored by Popy. As should come as no surprise, the titular robot of that series was formed by combining mecha.
The Planning for Gatchaman Fighter, then called by its preproduction name of "Burning Gatchaman," contains only a single reference to the Ninja Team's new mecha, when it states, "The individual G-Mecha are new, improved equipment, which unite into a fortress Phoenix." That's correct, the main ship was going to be the United Fortress Phoenix, not the Gatcha Spartan. This would have been a better name than Gatcha Spartan, if you ask me, since it would have been more in keeping with the previous series. Sadao Miyamoto produced a concept drawing with this vehicle, showing that it was to look like a large version of the hilt of Ken's Gatchaman Fencer.
Of course, this was eventually replaced by the familiar (And Popy approved) Gatcha Spartan design. At one point, the ship was apparently going to be called the "Phoenix Victory," but that name was later replaced by the familiar Gatcha Spartan monicker.
As far as the official stats for the Gatcha Spartan go, the ship is described as follows:
"Gatcha Spartan"
The Science Ninja Team's Strongest Super Mecha, the United Mecha Gatcha Spartan
Performance:
Engine: It uses the engines of the G-1 ~ G-5 mechas.
Maximum Speed:
In the air: Mach 5
Underwater: 60 knots
Functions:
The cockpit of the Gatcha 5 becomes the cockpit of the Gatcha Spartan when all the vehicles are united. When using the Hyper Shoot, its generator is brought up to the Red Zone, amplifying the Delta Power to output energy proportionate to 2,000,000 Kilowatts of power. That power flows into the Gatcha 1, intensifying Gatchaman's G-Suit and his Gatchaman Fencer to such a degree that he can cut through Iron Beasts. It can be remote controlled.
Weapons:
Two 30mm Vulcan Guns
10 Victory Missiles
One Spartan Laser
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by tatsunokofan on 15-01-2009 at 03:52.
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15-01-2009 03:31
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tatsunokofan
Gatch Guru
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 03-12-2006
Posts: 1513
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During the course of the series itself, we do learn other details regarding the Gatcha Spartan. After the New God Phoenix was destroyed in battle (Episode #1), I.S.O. Chief Engineer Saburo Kamo presented the Science Ninja Team with the Gatcha Spartan.
The Gatcha Spartan is formed when the individual G-Mecha combine together following Ken's command to "Unite! Gatcha Spartan" (Episode #'s 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 26, 29, 30, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46), or, as on one occasion, the far more relaxed, "All right, everyone! Unite!" (Episode #12). The Science Ninja Team has even worked out a series of hand signs that will allow them to unite if radio communication between the G-Mecha is unavailable (Episode #45).
The ship separates into its individual components following Ken's command to "Branch Out!" (Episode #'s 24, 44, 4 . When Ken departs in the Gatcha 1, he may use the command, "G-1 Branch Out!" (Episode #32)
The edge of the Gatcha Spartan is strong enough to cut a slice into the hull of Iron Beasts (Episode #'s 5, 9), and even do the same with the hull of Governor Z (Episode #12).
When the Delta Power that powers the ship is brought up to full power, the Gatcha Spartan can ram through Iron Beasts.
Because of the Delta Power energy transmitted to the Gatcha Fencer through Ken's Bird Suit, he is powerful enough to stand on top of the Gatcha Spartan when it performs this maneuver (Episode #'s 2, 5, 6, 13, 42). The hull of the ship is even powerful enough to allow it to burrow underground (Episode #43).
This technique is later improved upon when Kamo upgraded the Gatcha Spartan's generators, allowing the ship to be used for the Science Ninpo Hyper Shoot, again with Ken leading the way by standing on the top of the ship. Though this Ninpo technique is painful for the rest of the Science Ninja Team on board the Gatcha Spartan (Episode #16), is makes the Gatcha Spartan powerful enough to easily withstand a direct assault from Iron Beasts (Episode #'s 21, 40). As a result, the Hyper Shoot is used to destroy numerous Gallactor Iron Beasts (Episode #'s 16, 17, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43).
The Science Ninja Team attempts to use the Hyper Shoot against Governor Z, but Governor Z possesses the power to stop the Hyper Shoot and return the Gatcha Spartan back to normal (Episode #43).
Originally it was thought that Joe would be better suited for the Hyper Shoot, thanks to his being a cyborg. But Ken insisted that he be the one to use it, over Nambu's objections (Episode #36).
A variation of the Hyper Shoot, called the Ultra Hyper Shoot, generates more power than the regular Hyper Shoot, so much so that Ken glows bright white instead of turquoise.
This increase in energy is powerful enough to protect Ken from the vacuum of space and will allow Ken to cut through powerful energy barriers than would otherwise be impenetrable. This effect is will even stay with Ken for a short while after he leaves the surface of the Gatcha Spartan. But using the Ultra Hyper Shoot is very draining, and will even leave the weakened Ken smoking once the effect has been powered down (Episode #44).
Generally forgotten are the other weapons on board the Gatcha Spartan. Foremost among these is the Spartan Laser, a powerful energy weapon (Episode #'s 6, 30, 31, 32, 47).
The Spartan Laser was even used to destroy Marstora's ship, killing the villain (Episode #30).
The Spartan Laser has also been referred to as the "Bird Laser Beam" (Episode #14). The Gatcha Spartan also carries a supply of Victory Missiles (Episode #33). By pushing the Gatcha Spartan to full power, with it's generator up to the Red Zone, the ship can be made to rotate fast enough that it can break down a waterspout (Episode #40)
The Gatcha Spartan has additional equipment that can be added to it if its mission requires it to travel into space. If the ship is to travel into space on it's own, it can be outfitted with two booster rockets and launched off of a ramp. These boosters will drop off the ship once it has left Earth's gravity (Episode #44).
Alternatively, the Gatcha Spartan can be loaded inside a rocket and launched into space that way (Episode #47).
For increased mobility in space, the Gatcha Spartan can be fitted with a rocket platform (Episode #47).
Also available is a missile launcher than can be mounted to the top of the ship, from which a trio of missiles can be fired.
Once all three missiles have been launched, the missile launcher is jettisoned (Episode #47).
The hatchway on the left side of the Gatcha Spartan is the one generally used to enter and exit the cockpit of the ship, though their is also a hatch on the right side as well (Episode #'s 12, 32).
If the hull of the ship should suffer a breach, it has an emergency airlock function that is able to reseal the ship (Episode #47).
If necessary, Kamo can pilot the Gatcha Spartan by remote control (Episode #12). The ship does carry special equipment used by the Science Ninja Team, such as a set of scuba suits for each Ninja Team member (Episode #5).
It even comes with a digital clock (Episode #47).
And there you go, more than you ever knew you didn't know about the Gatcha Spartan!
James
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by tatsunokofan on 15-01-2009 at 03:54.
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15-01-2009 03:50
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