Geissler

I'm not looking for finished pictures, but for people who want to participate in the quilts. If you look at the site, you will see what I mean.

One of my other interests besides Macross mecha is pixel art. I have an online art page at http://www.onlinequilt.net/ that borrows the concept of tiles.ice.org (Online quilting = different artists drawing on square parts of an image). We started a Mecha image some time ago but need some fresh artists to help finish it. If you are interested in participating and drawing a picture or two, the mecha quilt is here: http://www.onlinequilt.net/quilts/8 Everyone can of course paint in every quilt; new artists are most welcome. Have fun!

As the YF-19 was a prototype, could the tubes be housings for weapons that were removed during testing? Perhaps the weapons somehow couldn't be made to work because of weight or ammo feeding reasons? Perhaps they are empty missile tubes for experimental missiles that were never installed? Could also be a maintenance shaft so personnel doing internal repairs wouldn't get crushed by accidentally moving chest parts. The tubes could be access points for e.g. coolant replenishment or for refuelling the life support system. Or whatever

Have to add my 2 cents worth on the arrogant geek topic. The techies you describe are very inept at social interaction, but they are not a-holes because they want to, but because they invest their time in things they like, namely computers/games, instead of things they don't like or are scared of, like the world outside or people who they don't share interests with. It's actually very hard for them because they have such a limited view on life. Some learn, some don't. There's enough of them out there, though, so you can always fire them and hire some others. They'll learn their responsibilities towards their boss faster when they are shown their limits. As for the "not willing to learn because I don't care part", it's exactly that what pisses them off. They have to learn all the other stuff that's so hard for them (like leading a life), that you can do. But you can't be bothered to just take look at your configuration screens. It's not that they learn all this techie stuff in school or University, you know. They just have a knack for figuring that stuff out themselves. Most times I've seen techies frown and be arrogant towards others is when these people (their customers/friends/coworkers) ask them for really mundane stuff. Like, the stuff the techie doesn't want to know, but can find out in about 30 seconds if he must. He doesn't know what your business software does, and he doesn't care. But he knows how to install and maintain it and thinks it's idiotic that people pay for this stuff, because it's so easy and self-explaining. Nobody gets paid for the interesting parts, of course. Some figure out that they can earn more money by being nice to their customers. But some don't want to be nice because they get asked the same questions every f**ing day by their bosses, their customers, their relatives, their SO's... It's like you get ambushed every minute of your life by everyone you know. Just because all of these people don't bother to open their eyes. And geeks are too weak to say no. Imaging being a lawyer and giving everyone free consulting services. Or a doctor that has a 24 hour 7 days open practice. Geeks have to learn their time has value. Nobody asks an architect how to build a garage at home every evening. If you have learned more social skills than computer skills, be thankful for that.

I finally got my 1-J + armor set (didn't have the 1-J before). I'm under the impression that the hip pegs are longer. I had real difficulties transforming it to fighter mode and keeping the legs aligned. I haven't compared the pegs to my other 1/60s yet, but I don't remember having this problem with fighter and gerwalk modes on my other 1/60s. BTW, it seems no one mentioned that the chest armor clicks into a new heatshield piece. Now with the old heatshield and the laughable new hands I've got even more loose parts to keep track of (zip lock bags help). I was surprised to see the missile launcher on the back of the legs opening. The launcher covers on the side of the legs seem to be oversized, though.

Thanks for the input, guys! I ended up picking up two Sukois, a diecast F-14D and a diecast F-16, all in 1/72. The diecast models are quite detailed and nicely armed, good paint job too. I took a sharp look at the 1/48 line, but model shelf space is running out... BTW, does anyone have experience with Revell airbrush equipment?

One of the two local modelling / hobby shops (in Neuss, Germany) is closing and has a 30% discount on most models and toys. I never was a frequent customer there because they don't offer any Macross kits and all their scale aircraft are Revell/Monogram kits. Lego's pretty cheap, though. Now I'm tempted because of the cheap model kit prices. I usually only order models from HLJ. Now they have a few 1:48 and 1:72 aircraft kits and lots of 1:72 and 1:35 armor kits left. They also have some of the Revell 1:72 completed diecast fighter line. Does any modeller here in this forum have an opinion on the Revell stuff in general and especially the 1:72 fighter kits/toys? I think I'm getting at least the F-14. The local people and the shop clerks aren't really much of a help; about the only models most people here know are cars and trains... I'd really appreciate some input.

I have this item but can only recommend it for those who need to have every Macross item. The large Matchbox/Takatoku SDF-1 is far better. This one is nicer than the small non-transformable Macross, but IIRC it contains no diecast at all. It is barely movable and must be transformed by completely disassembling and reassembling. It has a few parts and you can build some weird combinations. The plastic is ok but looks cheap because of the metallizing. IIRC the ellbows don't swivel. It's not as large as the Matchbox/Takatoku one, but it's not too small either. IMHO it's not worth more than $20.

Great photo! Does anyone know if there is an elegant way to store the extra piece in fighter mode? I don't like having small pieces lying around.

Shawn, in case you get a PHP timeout: you can adjust the setting in your php.ini. It is called max_execution_time and is given in seconds. If you set it to 0, the PHP scripts will never time out, which might be necessary for the import. You can re-adjust it after the import. I'm a programmer and have experience with PHP and MySQL; if I can help you with the board, just email me.