fearyaks

you know you can connect your computer to your tv and sound system. then you just need a wireless keyboard and mouse/trackerball if the keyboard doesnt have a touchpad built in or you dont like it in games like me. Sure, but can I do that with my wife and my friends. Instead, we can all chill and play from the couch. While split-screen is a drag, it's not too bad when you're playing on a 60" TV. Also, Mike's right... bungie.net's stats are insane. I highly recommend checking it out. FYI - my username is fearyaks (surprise surprise) if anyone is online, hit me up.

Mike & Major Anyway you two could put spolier warnings in your posts about you know who? We've (my wife and I) have mostly been playing MP but we are working slowly on the campaign.

Agh crap. I pre-ordered the Superbit version to see how it looks. I imagine whenever they kill the franchise they'll release all of them again.

I am both a PC gamer and a console gamer. Halo and Halo2 offers something that the PC can't offer in a scalable manner. My wife and I can't drink, sit on our couch with two other buddies and kill each other on PCs. Sure we could get frag boxes and some LCDs but it isn't really the same. I agree that for the most part, a lot of games are better on the PC. However from a social and comfort aspect, I prefer my couch, my surround sound and my 60" RP-LCD over a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Besides, I get motion sickness when I play FPS' on a PC. That being said, I think the next 'big' game (in my book) that I get will be Pirates! and I'll play that on the PC.

We've got crappy lighting in my display room so the pictures always tend to look washed out. Here's my displayed collection. I figure boxes aren't that interesting. Overall (displayed) collection 1/60s and some MPCs collection Top shelf Max 1 & 2 Some extras

Thankyou everyone for your tips. I'm currently breaking in my modelling skills with one of the AMT gold-plated Tie Interceptors. I figured it'd be easier as I wouldn't have to worry about weathering and all that fun stuff. Unfortunately, I did paint the solar panels black and that hasn't turned out great (because of the gold finish) and while masking them, it peeled off some of the existing plating. Regardless, It's going OK and I'll post my first model pics of a real one sometime soon (either the Vader Tie or a plated VF-1S).

I myself haven't seen any but the main page does have some movies if you need help transforming your valks.

I'll post pics if my camera doesn't break. I hope to get it started this week but I've got to clear out some space in the garage. I was thinking of replacing the Vader figure with a Lego Vader figure.... or even leaving the cockpit empty.

Thanks a lot everyone. I'll have to check the paint types I got since it hadn't even occured to me to check acryllics vs enamel. My test model is going to be an AMT Vader Tie Fighter... lots of big pieces and not a lot of assembly. Thanks!

Hi all, it's been ~ 15 years since I last built a model. I bought some cheap Star Wars models to experiment with (learn how to paint and such). Some basic questions for you all - 1. Do you paint the pieces first (while attached) or do you prefer to wait until the model is assembled... or does it depend on the piece (like a cockpit) 2. I presume you paint before you start the chalk-wash procedure 3. Is regular old Testers modelling cement OK? 4. Likewise, what about paint? I presume a lot of you are air-brushers but I want to take it easy for now and brush-paint. Is Testers that crappy (vs Tamiya for example)? I think that's about it. Thanks in advance all!

Played it on the Apple IIGS, the Amiga, the PC. One of my favorite games ever (it's a toss-up between that and Gunship... the original Micropose Apache sim). Let me just say that this game and not Doom III or Far Cry is really pushing me to upgrade my crappy PC. I also mostly stick to console versions if they're OK but Pirates! will definately be on my PC.

Lots of them have been posted in this section anyway. Perhaps a sticky of the images? Too image heavy?

Updated (edited previous post but don't want it to get lost in the stats counting).... 1/48 1A TV Max custom: 1 1A Max: 2 1A Hikaru: 2 1A LV: 7 1J: Hikaru: 2 1J: Super Max: 3 (one w/o FPs) 1J: Super Milia: 2 1S: Hikaru: 1 1S: Roy: 2 1S: Moon Guard custom: 1 Total: 23 1/72 VF11B FP: 1 YF21 FP: 1 VF19A: 2 YF19: 1 Total: 5 1/60 1A TV Max Custom: 1 1A DYRL Max: 1 1A Hikaru DYRL: 1 1A CF: 2 1A CF TRU: 1 1J Hikaru (super): 1 1J Hikaru (GBP): 1 1J Super Max: 1 1S Super Roy: 1 Q-Rau: 1 VE1: 2 1D: 2 VT-1: 2 Total: 17 Updated October

That's fine. I think most laptops these days run so hot that you'd burn your thigh if you actually used them as such. I don't really think heat is an issue unless you're playing games or doing a lot of number crunching.... the issue that I simply had was about how difficult it was for me to try and replace my faulty laptop. The larger Dells and PC based ones are understandably thick and nasty because of what you mentioned. Shoot, I wouldn't mind buying an external fan attachement or something of the sort. How about a liquid-cooled system that you could hook up to your faucet?

Chowser - have you played any Splinter Cell? How does it compare? I don't have a PSII so I've tried MGS2 and I enjoyed it (but I did prefer Splinter Cell). Was wondering how Snake Eater compared to Splinter Cell.

I'd have to agree w/Maniac. While I've never had a problem w/my Dell desktop, their laptops suck big ones. Overview - ours overheats and shuts down such that the even some screen savers get it too hot. Our thermostat is obviously busted because the fan does work (turns on when you power up the system). For whatever reason, they've outsourced their tech support to an overseas company and those poor souls simply follow 'solution trees' or whatever the heck they're called. Ex: (true story) Me: My laptop keeps overheating. I've already updated the Bios like one of you suggested and still no go. May I simply get a request in to get a replacement or a fixit order. Answer: I need to go through these steps first to make sure the problem is still occuring. Please do the following (no exaggeration) - 1. Remove the battery 2. Remove the HDD 3. Remove the memory 4. Remove the Modem (are you serious) 5. basically remove all removable parts, try to upgrade bios, check to see if overheating still happens. Me: After spending 20 minutes removing the crap, putting it back in, and trying to upgrade the bios, the stupid laptop shuts down when playing a crappy Dell bowling game. Answer: So I'll put in the order to get your laptop repaired. Phase II: Since it is a laptop, they'll need to send me a special box. No problem right? Well since I originally had the laptop shipped to my dad's place (it was an X-mas present for my wife and we were visiting him for X-mas), I make sure to give them my new address. Well of course the boxes get shipped to my dad's place (he's out of town so they get returned). I know it's not something a tech guy should be able to do (change an address on file) so no harm, no foul. I next call a sales person, start to explain my issue and they transfer me back to tech support (before I can even explain things). I finally get back in touch with sales, find someone who knows how to update my address and they 'confirm' the address and place an order for a repair. What happens? Instead of actually replacing my Dad's address with mine, they mix the two and it gets sent to Oregon with my address in the 2nd line. Well this confuses the heck out of the FedEx/UPS chap and the box gets returned. So I'm getting pissed at this point and I try to just get a total refund. However, by now (waiting for boxes and such) I'm outside the 3 month window to get my money back from Amex and from Dell. I try one more time to get the correct address and the box somehow manages to get as close as Fresno (about 3 hours north of me). So, screw them, we've got a crappy laptop that serves as a word-processor/internet surfing device. It's heavy as heck, thick as a brick and is an overall piece of crap. At work we've got IBM Thinkpads and they're much better (lighter, no issues with over-heating) and at home my wife and I now use Apple laptops (Powerbook and iBook). I think if you were going for a Laptop, consider an Apple one (good form factor, small, less issues) or a ThinkPad. For now, I think the only thing Dell has going for them is their good LCD monitors. But it is a good deal if you want a POS laptop.

Some quick shots. Crappy lighting but the 1/60s have a cool pose setup (a variation of what was posted previously).

Perhaps we should have a collection 'sticky' since this also seems like a place that people post their collections.

So a friend at work found this (not affiliated w/Google) and we thought it was pretty cool. It takes the 1st Google image search returned and turns it into ascii-esque art (using the query letters). I wish I could post the results (I suppose I could take a screenshot) anyway, enjoy!

But the person did mention something about the hands changing which would fit into the TV hands + color change theory.

What about WTF is HBAR? (I imagine in a few months no new people will have any idea what this is).

Hmm... Perhaps it is just me but wouldn't someone who is a regular MW member know the value of these Yammies (and the Bandai's)? Perhaps he doesn't want to take a loss. Go figure.

Portable systems aren't just for your workday commutes. I like to play my GBA on my lunch break at work, on the can when it's time for #2, and even a little bit in bed after I've tucked myself in for the night. The more I read about the DS, the more promising it looks. i can agree with that. i play my gba when i head up to my cabin in the woods, its much easier to lug it around than unplugging a computer or a ps2 and lugging it up there and plug it back in then pack it back up to bring it home. You guys all have good points. Perhaps I use 'those' times for reading (toilet and bed) and we don't have a cabin yet. Though I imagine if we did, we'd have an Xbox there full time.

If I took public transport to work I'd consider it. As it is, I don't travel enough to justify a portable system and at home, I spend most of my time with my Xbox (can you say Halo2, and KOTOR still to come in '04?). Perhaps if I started travelling for work more I'd pick up a portable system...

Good question. I have no idea who this person is but if you check their other auctions, those look legit (you see the items)... Note - the 1/48s are also like this. It's a bit risky since he's got a low feedback rating but those MPCs do look sealed.