Graham

Bandai wouldn't be Bandai if they didn't release at least one new RX-78 toy or model each week I've never understood why so many people like the RX-78 though. Nostalgia be damned, it's one of the ugliest, most boring mecha designs ever IMO. I hate it with a passion. Graham

Yep, that pic is of a very old sculpt. The sculpt has actually gone through some revsions since then (head laser angle changed, hip sockets redesigned smaller). The revised sculpt was displayed by Yamato at a few hobby shows in Japan around the middle of last year. If you search, you should be able to find the threads with the pics of the revised sculpt. However, for 6 months now there has been no new news or photos of this toy in any of the Japanese Hobby magazines. Also, Yamato has stopped displaying the sculpt at the last few hobby shows, which has lead many of us to suspect that they have decided to drop it from their production schedule. Graham

One thing that the Joyride Viper got wrong is the center windscreen of the canopy. As shown in this pic, it should taper downwards to get narrower at the bottom, but on the Joyride toy, the center windscreen has nearly no taper. The Konami Viper's canopy is much more accurate in this regard. Also, the Konami viper has the red strip on the bottom of the Viper that is missing from the Joyride version. Graham

In the recent BSG console game, is the young Adama character based on the likeness of a young Lorne Greene or a young Edward James Olmos? Or do you never get to see the face of the game Adama? Graham

Why does Spawn in the design pic above have one big boot and one small boot? Has he got a club foot or something? Looks mighty odd IMO. Graham

Just read on my Janes News Briefs email, that the F/A-22 has finally been approved for full rate production. "The US Department of Defense (DoD) has approved the Lockheed Martin-built F/A-22 Raptor stealth multirole fighter aircraft for full-rate production, according to US sources familiar with the decision. [Jane's Defence Weekly - first posted to http://jdw.janes.com – 8 April 2005]" Graham

That's 'cause y'all talk so durn funny. And whats with that blood pudding? Seriously...that's just disgusting. Don't ask me, that's Northern food and I'm from down south. I think it's disgusting too. I love Fish & Chips and British pub food. Oh and meat and potato pies and Cornish pasties. But overall, British food can be pretty bland. Graham

Will you two just get a room already Graham

Nah, IMO best British comedy TV series would be Faulty Towers, followed closely by Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister. Graham

Just received my Joyride Colonial Viper & Cylon raider toys. Surprised that for toys they have no screws at all. I guess what people have been saying about them being just preassembled copies of the old Revell model kits is true then. Pretty happy with them overall and they actually look better than I've seen in most photos. My only complaints are that the Viper's wings are very loosely attached and rattle when you shake the toy. Also, I don't think the two toys are to scale as the Cylon pilots are slightly shorter than the Viper pilot. I always thought Cylons were supposed to be pretty tall, like 7' or something. The orange stripes on the Viper look pretty jarring and should have been more redish IMO. Anyway, the original series DVD set is next on my 'to watch' list, so I'll check out the exact stripe color then. Last minor niggle, I wish Joyride had designed the display stand for the Viper so that the detachable landing gear could be stored on the underside of the base when not in use. As it is, I'm gonna have to bag them, store them somewhere and probably never be able to find them again These Joyride toys along with the recent Konami versions will tide me over until somebody releases a Viper MK II & MK VII toy or injection plastic model from the new series. I'm just imagining how nice it would be if Fine Molds picked up the license for the new series kits. Graham

I'm surprised you like The Office. I didn't think it's decidedly British humour would go over well with Americans. I didn't know there was a US version. Will have to Google it to find out more. Graham

Ah, but everybody knows her panties are actually dark blue, not blue and white stripes. Graham

Just edited the topic title to correct the spelling. The wrong spelling of 'Arrival' was driving me nuts. Graham

I wonder if anyone over at the RT.com forums has started a 'Time to blow up Macrossworld.com' thread after seeing this. Graham

I love photos like that, because I can show them to my wife and say to her "look honey, see the size of this guys collection, compared with him my collection is actually pretty small. Just be glad I'm not as obsessive as him". Buys me some time whenever my wife starts muttering that I should throw out some of my junk. Graham

The book is supposed to be out in Japan today, so if any of our Japan based members like Howard, Renato, Rob or Min pick it up today, please let us have your comments. Graham

Hmm.......the stripes on the recently released Konami Viper are a very dark red. Graham

The kit ones were selling in TRU here in HK. I've never seen the preassembled ones for sale here. Actually I'm not sure I would even call thems 'kits' as they are extremely simple to put together, consisting of just the upper and lower halves, canopy, landing gear and about 4 screws IIRC. Graham

Done, but please be more careful in future. Graham

Very nice VF-0D. I'm having a VF-0D commissioned at the moment, but built with landing gear up and painted in the normal grey color scheme rather than Shin's blue. Graham

The few times the Vipers fire missiles in the new show, they seem to be fired from internal bays, but it's difficult to be sure. At least I don't recall seeing any mounted on the wings. Seems that guns are used far more often than missiles by the Viper pilots. Perhaps missiles are in short supply, but plenty of gun ammo was picked up from Ragnar station? I'm still considering whether to pick up the BSG PS2 game. Most reviews say that the early stages are too tough & frustrating. I personally hate games that start off tough as I do get frustrated easily and have broken more than a few controllers after throwing them at the wall I'd like to hear some comments on the game from those that have played it. Graham

Another book-to-movie dumbed down for the lowest common denominator....sigh Graham

Just wondering does anybody know how many missiles a Viper MK II carries? And where are the missiles stored? I'm guessing they must be carried internally and launched somewhere from the bottom of the craft. Currently just watched 'The Hand of God' episode of the new series. Excellent episode. Graham

Thanks for the pics. I've already ordered one. Hopefully it will arrive by next week. Hmmm....the stripes look more orange than red. Is that the case or is it just the lighting messing with the colors? Graham

I think one of the biggest discrepancies is from episode 5, when Shin jetisons all the weapons and FAST packs from his VF-0A, so that APHOS/Sara will no longer consider him as a Kadun of war. Then seconds later we see the FAST packs back on the legs of the VF-0A again. Graham