Noyhauser

I put it on the backburner while I did my small fleet of Suez aircraft.... but I guess I can move to finish it after I complete the Sea Hawk.

Wow Maverick... thats really impressive. Well its been awhile since I've posted in here but I've been working on a few things. My VF-11 is on the backburner, as I wanted to build some other things. I completed this a few weeks ago; Its a Academy 1/72 Messerschmidt BF-109 G-14, which was flown by Erich Hartmann in early 1945. And have been now I've been working on a series of aircraft from the Suez Crisis; the first being a 1/72 Hawker Sea Hawk. Before I started I had to get inspired (a critical part of the process), so I watched The kit itself had alot of resin, but other parts were devoid of detail, like the landing gear bays and air intakes... so I've been adding those. Here's the cockpit and wheel wells. Intakes with vanes: 3/4ths view and the last one from the top: Thanks for looking.

Well an interesting tidbit I found in this Rand Corporation book, on the future of american naval airpower; the Navy has committed to fielding at least six to nine UAVs in each Carrier airwing by 2015. There is only one program that can meet the timeframe under consideration at this time; the Northrop Grumman X-47B Pegasus, which was designed with SEAD in mind.

I really think SEAD will go to UAVs in the next 15 years; its a high risk mission that seems to play to unmanned vehicles advantages. Thats certainly the line of thinking that seems to come from the Pentagon, especially with the X-47. As for the J-10/Superflanker threat, its questionable whether it will ever materialize. Its not like we don't have any F-22s and no Russian or Chinese proxy will ever buy more than two dozen next generation fighters... if that.

Yeah I saw the Air Force Association statement, but its also an industry supported advocacy group. Obviously the Washington post article has its own biases, but I took the AFA with a grain of salt, especially when some of its responses seemed to be the ones LM was giving. Look at this response to what was the article's main assertion: Thats not really an effective rebuttal. For this and alot of the other assertions, it claims the fighter meets the Airforce's standards. Well, many of those were altered in response to the program's problems. Which one is correct? I can't really tell, partly because the GAO hasn't gone back yet to look at the issue, but you know they will. Nevertheless the article almost certainly pulled support away in the senate, especially after the President stated he was going to veto the increase if it passed.

Its not dead yet as the house did vote for additional planes, so the committees will have to reconcile the different proposals before it reaches the president. Nevertheless, the senate's decision is probably is the death of the program. Unless there is something I'm not seeing here, its also likely the end of any hopes for the export of the F-22. Eurofighters for Nihon anyone? I don't know how many of you saw it, but last week saw some fairly pointed criticism of the F-22 which hadn't been seen before. There were several veterans groups that supported terminating the program, and SECDEF Gates made a fairly impassioned statement as well. However, this article from the Washington Post last week wreaked some pretty hefty damage to the F-22. It wasn't just the per-unit cost of the airframe that was a problem, but its maintenance cost, which had increased by 30% since its introduction. Here's a snippet; The article goes on to list a litany of problems including canopy d lamination and discoloration, structural problems and lowered reliability rates, which will continue to afflict the program for some time. The article didn't make the proponents case easier, and probably helped sway a few individuals on the senate floor to vote the other way.

Hey Petar. Sorry for the late reply, but here are some photos of my slow buildup of a Club M recast as well as an in-depth review. I think it was done by someone on the boards here. The recast came with a photocopy of the original instructions, which gives me a sense of what the original kit possessed. The original came with a number of options including space fastpacks (rounded ones, for a VF-11b), and two solid-rocket boosters (from first episode of the OAV) as well four High Maneuverability missiles. Mine didn't have all of those pieces, only the Fast Packs and the original VF-11b gunpod. For some reason apparently the Club-M version has a VF-11C gunpod for a VF-11B model. I'm not sure how, but this recast comes with a VF-11B, possibly pilfered from a Hobby Base battroid... I could be wrong though. The model also has a number of other extras. It includes a displayable nose radar array. Different attachment points for the fast packs on the top of the airframe (a smooth airframe, vs a mechanical one... which I used.) The air intake has a cover for it when its in space. Finally the cockpit is pretty well done, has a decent pilot and good detail. Its quality and design kinda reminds me of the VF-4 resin that Valk009 sold on here before. Mine had some warping. Nothing terrible but it needed straightening out with hot water. There was some very light pitting, but I think one surfacer coat should eliminate that. The only issue is the somewhat dubious fit at points, particularly the nose, the wings to the fuselage and the cockpit tub to the "neck." Its taken alot of sanding at times to get it together properly. Pinning is almost a must on the wings and probably for the tail surfaces. Yet it looks pretty good and its a nicely done model. I'd recommend it to you. Here are two photos are of it being built right now.... I'll take a few more over the couple of other days.

Yeah especially with the ME-163 armed with the SG500 Jagdfaust.

Hey WM... my only point of contention with your post is over the actual health of the hobby... I don't think its nearly as bad as people make it out to be. I think the problem with smaller hobby stores closing can be attributed in part to the internet, which has altered the business model. They are not just profitable anymore, as Ebay and online retailers are taking a huge chunk of the market as it often provides better prices and almost certainly better choice. Instead of there being only one or two modelmakers available, there are now dozens on the internet. Look at the explosion of aftermarket kits for some of the most esoteric subjects; it serves an unfulfilled market demand. Right now I'm trying to put together a collection of all of Hawker Aircraft's major makes. I couldn't do that a decade ago, and smaller buyers can't cater to this market either. The only question is whether the hobby is undergoing a greying with less younger participants entering into the hobby. Here too I'm not sure whether its a real threat as I think the market has just changed how it pursues the hobby. I think alot of adults are being brought into the hobby through the internet. I look at forums like this, ARC, Finescale, and the like, and they serve as meeting points for people to become casually engaged in the hobby in a way that didn't exist before. People can learn tips and share experiences in the comfort of their own home. I may well be overly optimistic here... but I just don't think its all gloom and doom for the hobby. While it might be undergoing a retraction, I don't see signs of a major collapse at all.

It fascinates me how you can completely misread something Excillon. You responded obliviously to the type of person who doesn't really like the style of model that Bandai puts out and are pretty staunch customers of Hasegawa. Note the size of many people's stashes on here. Many individuals on this board have triples and quadruples of kits because they want to build multiple variants. Given the choice, alot of people will buy a Hasegawa YF-19 over a Bandai one because it is a classic model that makes ugly compromises. In that sense, Hasegawa makes a better product, aimed at a specific market which Bandai's goods have a very tenuous hold. Hasegawa didn't enter into macross models nine years ago to build gunpla type models, they entered to build realistic representations of Macross airplanes. Looking at the VF-25, its a nice battroid (and I'll likely build mine up in a static pose), but I don't really like the fighter mode and the work it to make it look like realistic fighter. While yes many people do modify Hasegawa models to transform, the vast majority of buyers do not, and are happy with their kits the way they are. On that note I doubt that Bandai would go down the YF-19 1/48 route... that market is already saturated with a pretty good toy by Yamato and the soon to be released Hasegawa model. Its 15 year old anime with a moderate following; not quite a massively profitable area. Conversely if Hasegawa produced the VF-25, it probably would be very profitable for the manufacturer. I'd buy several and I'm sure others here would too. Also note the very substantial price difference; an armored VF-25 is about 4500 yen, while a Hasegawa Strike VF-1 is about Y2800. A PG RX-78 retails for over 10K. Id even argue then that many PG models isn't as good as a Hasegawa model, as it doesn't have the same level of realistic relief detail. I don't care whether my model has an complex, inner frame because its never going to be seen anyway.

Funny you should ask... I've got a recast of a Club-M one on the go along with a couple of other things. I'm almost finished the main assemblies (wings, tailfins, body) filled in the landing gear pits with morimori, and now just finetuning things before prepping for painting, then final assemblies. I'll snap some photos for you over the next few days. I'll warn you now my skill is average at best.

Heh... true. However none even come close to the original big pimp, Prince Genji from Genji Monogatari. Watch it and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Basically the real problem came when France forced Airbus to chose an European Consortium engine (Europrop International TP400-D6). Most of the companies (save Rolls Royce) didn't have a long track record with Turboprop design. This was over a competing Pratt and Whitney Canada entry, which had extended experience with Turboprops (google up the PT6). Much of the subsequent problems with the A400M has been with the engines, particularly excessive vibration and issues marrying it to the A400's frame. The PW entry was based off of the company's new PW800 line, which was apparently 20% cheaper than the EPI TP400 and was closer to being produced. It also had massive domestic offsets for the European market. Reports coming out of Airbus at the time stated they preferred the PW entry for the above reasons, as well as the engine would have likely fit the project's parameters better. There are other problems with the project, but the engine issue has created the largest difficulties to date. Enders is right (he's just recently come into the job.) Had the program went with the PW entry it would have been a commercial program with acceptable levels of risk for the airframe. Yet by going with the unproven TP400 Airbus faced technological risks to what you might expect with a military project. The irony of the situation was that if Canada had signed onto the project circa 2003~2004 (which they were approached to) the PW engine probably would have been accepted. Instead the government dallied on a decision until France forced the matter to get the EPI engine. Canada subsequently decided to go with C-130js and C-17s in about 2006~7. I still think the program will go ahead. European states have too much invested in the project to watch it drop and go to a Lochkeed/Boeing split. Moreover the problems are of the governments own making, not Airbus. Gutting this high technology project to go for a U.S. system is politically unpalatable in the current economic climate, particularly in Germany and France. While everybody is crowing about the need for a replacement now, its not that hard to extend C-130s lifecycle for three to five years. Canada had to do it several times with their airframes. Moreover during a renewed push to sell the A400M in 2007 they offered a program to keep the C-130s flying until 2012 when canada could expect its A400 deliveries. There is no reason why this couldn't occur in for European countries.

That is outstanding Mechtech... you've done a bang-up job organizing it and bringing it to life. Was this a hobby for you, or did you do it for work?

Wow, there has been some amazing works going on... Maiden Japan your Optimus is simply amazing. If I had that when I was 8 years old, I'd be the coolest kid in the universe. And Ghadrack, don't feel ashamed; its a typical modelers workbench. Mine looks the same except I have less paints and more unfinished models on it. On that note, I've finally made some progress with my Academy 1/72 BF-109G-14, which I'm doing for an FSM group build. Straight out of the box, with few modifications. You can't see it, but I had a few problems with the orange peeling future effect... but I'm learning how to overcome that. A future coat, final weathering and a flatcoat... and its done. Next on my list is a Club-M VF-11 and a Hawker SeaHawk (both 1/72)

Sci/Fi and fantasy isn't my area at all, and this is a historical fiction, but I'd recommend picking up Ngal's Saga. Its a 13th century Icelandic epic which follows a series of bloodfeuds among several Norse families... pretty gripping stuff once you get into it. Its not long, 300 pages, and very readable.

No doubt. Given Isao Takahata's general themes of promoting rural and traditional livelihoods, to call him an Imperial Japanese apologist is laughable. Heh, never saw it that way but you're right. I recently realized every Miyazaki piece between 1978 to 1986 had this plot; Futureboy Conan (the Giganto) Nausicaa (the great robot) and Laputa (the Floating island fortress)

^ very few. Alot... both subbed and raw too. I don;t mean to suggest that all I watch is highbrow either. Gurren Laggan is a enjoyable series partly because it treads over alot of cliched moments and makes a half serious half lighthearted series out of it. The last ten animes I've watched in the last two months, including the stuff from before; Future Boy Conan Tactical Roar Starship Troopers (1989 version) Sky Crawlers Hetalia Axis Powers Gurren Lagann (1st movie) Golgo13 Flag Tytania Touch (I've got Viper's Creed coming up next) So its a good mix, obviously there is a bit of a missmatch given I've got two epic 1980s series (Touch and Conan) up against some meh present offerings (Tactical Roar.)

I've heard that argument and I don't buy it, particularly since my interest in 1980s anime is more recent than my childhood memories. There are a whole range of reasons for the difference; the novelty of anime in this period (leading to greater experimentation) as well as the large wealth of japan. With a diminished economy there isn't the same demand, and production companies rely to a greater extent on formulas they know will sell. All film industries go through this: I'm sure many french critics in the 1980s lamented how French cinema didn't match the artistic heights of the 1950s and 60s new wave. That doesn't mean New Wave wasn't a breakthrough in film making, just like the innovation of 1980s anime was greater than seen since.

Heh... True, but he still tries to examine different themes with his work (with admittedly boring pacing and cinematography.) Most anime couldn't give a damn about that, or even basic elements such a plot and character designs. All I'm saying is that the number of intelligent and innovative anime seems to be much diminished compared to their heyday in the 1980s and early 90s. There were sh*tty infantile ones back then too, but it seems there are a greater proportion of them now.

Is it me or does the J-10 seem significantly larger than the Lavi? It looks like they've taken a lightweight fighter design and made it into a heavy weight one...

Everything doesn't have to rely on cliched love triangles, harems fantasies and superpowered mecha designed to sell merchandise either. Given the fact you guys have reviewed almost every piece of Mamuro Oshii Filmography for your podcast (and made some excellent points about it), I think you'd understand.

It doesn't mean all said entertainment medium has to be as superficial and pointless as your post.

I heard Miyazaki recently said that he's resigned to the fact he's pouring in clear pure water into the cesspool that anime has become; I think he's right. Most series I watch just seem to be retreads of prior series themes, if not wholesale copies. Macross Frontier is a good example of the former... it retreads all the ground of SDF but without the depth of its predecessor. And just because alot of people pick apart the minutia of a series VFTF1, doesn't mean its very deep... in the case of Macross Frontier it gave the impression it was deep, but in the end proved to be exceedingly shallow and inbred in its story. There are a few exceptions. Flag, Planetaes, Sky Crawlers, and Gits SAC are a few, but overall Anime just seems to be regressing. I mean look at the explosion of series in the 1980s and the adventurous spirit behind them. They attempted to push the boundaries of storytelling in new directions without falling into old cliches or reliance purely on mecha or action porn.

Maybe I'm being a bit hard on the model, however the cockpit is completely blank, and there are several fit issues which prove to be hard to tackle. I'd recommend going with the Jigabachi model they put out in a heartbeat over this one. Still its quite an imposing looking model once built, so hopefully its worth the effort. Thanks Jardann... I'm really learning alot with the new equipment.