spanner

5 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Congrats @spanner on getting a DX VF-1J back!  Nice display!  Also congrats on the DX YF-19.  Hope you got an excellent deal for both together.

Thanks! Haha! Nahhh they were expensive as I got em from NY.. 

2 hours ago, Kuma Style said:

A great haul and sexy shelves... can't ask for much more than that! 

 thanks! The shelves are starting to look much better with more Macross goodies on them again! 

4 hours ago, Lolicon said:

Nice Ranka figure you got there. I'm surprised she survived the prior cull... actually, I'm not surprised. 

yeah I kept her as she was my favorite of all the Macross girly figures I had. She's photo bombing the photo too! Which wasn't even intentional! 

1 hour ago, 505thAirborne said:

It's good to see that display case again with a VF-1 in it!! 

It is! And tomorrow I should have the DX YF-19! the two parcels were sent together but this one got help up in customs for a couple days for what ever reason..

My VF-1J arrived today! Its so good to have one again! 

Also checked the shoulder joints on Max, they are fine! 

New graphic card for the gaming pc! 

On 10/6/2019 at 10:31 AM, Archer said:

Honestly looks absurdly good. Might have to grab one but it's a big amount to swallow. Also, I imagine I would be waaaay to afraid to transform to battroid mode, which ruins a bit of the fun. 

Decisions, decisions....

Yes! It was a huge amount to swallow, probably one of the most expensive single Valkyrie purchases I've ever made but it does look absolutely gorgeous! 

Annoys me that the original release was so far off the mark. 

6 hours ago, Dobber said:

Just had this delivered.  I took the pictures before  I sanded the tires to get rid of the seem and give them that realistic look.

Chris

 

Looks pretty good! I had considered getting one of these but wasn't sure of the finish quality. What's it's like compared to the Minichamps cars?

2 hours ago, Kuma Style said:

LMAO; still beautiful.

-------------------

All of your poses are fantastic! 

2 hours ago, sqidd said:

I don't think there is anything with a good DCT under $60K though.

Yeah and thats about the money I spent on my SS (Aussie dollars anyways but the same deal)

When I was in the market for a new car I drove a lot of things and nothing at that price range in an automatic or dct felt good enough to buy.

Yes what ever it was had to be a manual but my curiosity had to be satisfied. The only thing I would have seriously considered was a 3 series BMW (330 or 340). But the model I wanted was over 100k.

People do bag the Holden's but for the money they are outstanding value. Yes they aren't perfect but nothing else is either.

Even driving my cousins HSV VF GTS (auto) with 130kw more power, yeah it goes hard but just doesn't have the same appeal and I couldn't justify the extra 40k price premium. If it was a manual then yes any day of the week! 

1 hour ago, sqidd said:

You need to drive one of the newer transmissions. The 6 speed auto in my F-150 is pretty nice. That was until my wife just picked up a 19' Mustang GT with the 10 speed auto. Hooooleeeee crap. That trans is awesome. You can drive around like an old lady when you want to. Or if you want to blast off in a straight line you put it in drag race mode and it shifts crazy fast. They even built in some wheel spin on the first three shifts to keep wheel speed up (drag race trick). Then there is road course mode and you use the p[addles. It's not quite as good as a DCT, but it's pretty damn good for an auto. Certainly better than anything you can do on public roads.

 

The gearing is so short it only drops 750rpm between shifts. It's like a 80cc dirt bike. But you can still cruise down the freeway at 80mph turning 2100rpm.

 Yeah an older model Commodore slush box probably isn't the best thing to use as an example but it ain't all bad. It still has firmer shifts than my misses 6 speed auto in the Cruze yet it has more than double the mileage on it and it hasn't been rebuilt yet. 

I have driven many new cars and many with Autos and yes they have made huge progress with them but they still don't impress me much at all. I get the feeling that its missing something or im getting short changed. When Im driving I want to be in control over as much as I can, gearbox included. 

My current daily is an auto and to be honest I hate it. Well I dont hate the car, its actually fairly nice to drive but the fact its auto makes it sluggish as its an older 4speed.. Before we purchased this car I drove a couple others in manual but we wanted a wagon so our options were then limited and the only wagon manual they were asking ridiculous money for.. maybe one the auto burns up I'll do a manual conversion. 

One of my previous daily's was a manual a 2003 Mazda 6 and I loved it! And I really didn't mind stop go traffic. Had that for about 3 years and only sold it as I wanted a Holden V8 again. Regrets doing that as I should have kept it.

My current manual SS isn't a daily but I did cop a little flak for not going with an auto.. Oh the auto is a faster car, oh they are easier to drive and paddle shifters are cool and it auto blips etc etc All good points yes but they lack that engagement you get with a manual. And I have learnt how to heal n toe and properly blip on down shifts and its such a satisfying feeling getting it right. Also impresses others when I take them for a spin in it! 

My misses owns a 2012 Holden (Chevy) Cruze and its an ok car. Feels solid and finished well but its an auto. But the gearbox is indecisive and  constantly hunts around for the right gear and its not a nice experience. Definitely not a good combination with the 1.4 Turbo engine. The manual version of the very same car is something else! Like a completely different car! I considered getting one before the wagon and took a couple for a test drive. So much nicer and more fun experience. Yeah it was a tad notchy and the bite point was a tad high on the pedal but nothing a little getting use to wouldn't fix.

When she drove it her first words were.. I should have got the manual eh! But her concerns were the daily stop go traffic commute to work.

Not bashing autos as a whole and yes there are some amazing auto (dct) only cars out there which are insane but for me the driving experience just isn't the same. I don't like being denied the feeling of full control. 

On 10/4/2019 at 11:05 PM, vlenhoff said:

Thanks for sharing your experiences  @Seto Kaiba

At the end of the day people who love auto trannies can say "oh Manuals are too much work" "Oh automatics are faster and more efficient now" "Oh traffic is terrible" Or those who think they will crash because they were "distracted" by shifting, oh no! The reality is the manual experience is like no other. The way you can drive fast or slow and synch everything in an orchestra of sound, power and motion. The way the exhaust sounds under load or on the overrun. The way can do heal toe to keep the revs up without losing any momentum, while shifting perfectly. The engine notes are unique and personal, not a copy of a gear change every time. The computer will always guess what you want, but in manuals, you know what you want. It is the certainty, and the expectation, which enhances confidence and accuracy. It is a total and unique experience, but now a days since the "standard" is Automatics. In a world of lazy people or those who cant be bothered to have a proper, authentic and involved driving experience. Cars have become soulless appliances, and we are too blame for it.

The one thing an automatic will never be able to replicate is reliability and absolute control. Less complex, lighter, and solid Manual systems. How many people here have had their automatic transmissions replaced? Or worked on? Or recalled? Have you ever lost control of your car? Nearly ten years of driving my car, and still have the same clutch, and the same smile on my face as I did the first day I drove it. In fact, i have only owned manual cars all my life and none of them had to be repaired, or even had the clutch replaced, ever. I am not here to bash automatic drivers, but please don't knock it, just because you don't understand the experience of having intimate control over your ship. With that said, a good driver will do fine with any transmission. The involving and intense feeling though, will not be there.

What does bother me about Automatics are the idiots out there texting and talking on the phone. They have more "free time" so they distract themselves while driving. I imagine they are so bored they need to do something to kill time, instead of paying attention to the road.

This is my very humble opinion, and again, i mean no offence to anyone preferring to drive Automatics.

BTW, i am not sure if i posted this video before, but this is how my manual car sounds. There is no way an automatic will give you this sound experience. 

 

I have to wholeheartedly agree with you on this!

Nice Bimmers Hiriyu!! 

 looks fab on display! 

6 minutes ago, Dangard Ace said:

Damn DHL.  Delivering my 1A Max to work after I’ve gone home.  Bloody hell.   

Just go back and get it! 

1 hour ago, Kuma Style said:

Yea because I totally didn't open the box and take out the packing materials to even see the item let alone take a picture of it... not.

Well yes I know that but what I meant to say was the box hardly looks big enough to offer any real protection in transit. Mine got crushed a little which damaged the corner of the box inside.

Didn't mean to sound silly about it.

Max arrived today! I can't believe I have a Valkyrie again! Dang it am I kicking myself now for letting them all go before.. 

This one is really beautiful! Absolutely love it! 

My 1J and YF19 are still in order prep but hopefully they will ship soon.

The parcel box got a little crushed in transit and the Valkyrie box got some corner damage but its nothing too bad.

3 hours ago, Kuma Style said:

I cry.

that looks like it was properly packed.. not.

Woo!! Mine is out for delivery today! And.. I finish early today! 

Cost an absolute bomb!  but worth every grain of gunpower... errr I mean penny! 

Will Be my first weathered Valkyrie too!

Simply.Cannot.Wait! 

A new addition but a replacement for one another BMW 635csi I already have but am selling.

Is that a "bathtub" chassis!? 

Another new addition. Classic Carlectables 1:18 1966 Mustang. Hopefully arrives early next week. 

The Ferrari 333 is just awesome!