VFTF1

Thanks for the advise guys. Will pick up the basic tool set at some point this year. As for painting Gundams - also something I haven't done yet - I imagine that spray painting en mass is the quickest and best way? Not that I'm thinking of doing it - yet - but maybe one day... I have found - as I am now working on my eighth Gundam model - that modeling is EXTREMELY SOOTHING - it is something which totally helps me deal with stress and teaches me to be patient. I suddenly started looking at lots of day-to-day problems as if they were Gundam models: you learn how to see the road to the end, and how to be patient as you have to take this windy road. This really helps. So, I figure that maybe if I expand one day into painting and being a better modeler, then maybe I will feel even better Pete

:lol: :lol: :lol: I just envisioned this in my mind - Tomino pulling up to get gass. "90,58 sir." "I AM TOMINO! CREATED GUNDAM AND DRIVE FOR FREE!" Tomino at the grocery store counter. "Ok - that'll be 45,24 sir." "I AM TOMINO! I CREATED GUNDAM AND I EAT FOR FREE!" and so on... But if he said the episode was too good for westerners - that would be really fun Of course something like that could only be meaningful pre-internet These days, doing/saying something like that would pretty much guarantee that all westerners would quest through the web to find the episode that was "too good for" them Cool Pete

Ooo... so am I to assume that Char will make a big splash in his Z'Gok? [get it - splash? ....yeah...dumb pun...] Anyways - for my part - I've finished up the episode Gulliver's...oops - I mean Deacon's Island Why was this episode supposedly left out of the english DVD? The first thought that comes to mind is that it might be because it doesn't move the plot along? It's a very stand-outish episode.... but who knows... Anyways - what kind of bugs me in this episode - beyond Amaro AGAIN being a bit thick skulled (he always seems tailored dumb enough to fit the need of the situation. He's depressed, shell shocked and incapable of combat when the situation requires that he defend his friends, but he's ready to shoot at children and is generally gung-ho even when running around in his underwear... that's a bit contrived - it's as if Tomino were using Amoro as a blank slate; not really a character who develops - but rather a character that is just used to be the main conduite for "this episode's main theme." To be fair - this was also somewhat the fate of Ichijo Hikaru; who was always a pretty bland character - although - could it be that they do this on purpose - make the "main character" very bland and vague so that as many people as possible can identify with him? It would seem so. The opposite end of the spectrum is a main character like Bassara - who is very unique and has his distinctive style, which he is going to pound you with 24/7 - like it or not... But - yeah... a quaint little episode - but I'm a bit impatient and want the plot to move forward - and don't really see how this moves the plot forward. Pete

What's that? Is that the really really sharp thin knife that you slide out from the blade holder? I have one of those - but what would I use it for? While we're on the subject - I have a question about those...er...decals? Marking things? The stickers are easy enough to understand - peal them off and stick them on the model. But what about the card with the writing and stuff on it? How do I use those things and get them on the Gundam? When I touched the ones for my Unicorn - they started to fall apart. What are they and how do I use them? Pete

Yep. And a broken pair of nail clipping scissors I told you I'm not a good modeler I use the broken pair of scissors when I need to cut something out of the -um - the thingy... And I use the toe-nail clipper to get rid of those stubs that sometimes remain on the pieces Pete

I can see where you might get this impression from my previous statement; but my whole point was to argue that it's too much of an oversimplification to say that the sexualization of minors is a one-way street independent of the actual behavior of real minors. In other words, just like it would of course be wrong to say "she was dressed sexually so she deserved to get raped" it would also not be imprudent to say "if she hadn't dressed that way, she wouldn't have been risking so much." Is this good? No. Shouldn't women have the right to dress however they want and feel safe? Yes. Is there unfortunately sometimes a co-relation between our risky behavior and bad things happening to us - unfortunately yes. If I parade around a busy urban stret flashing lots of cash - I increase my chances of getting mugged. Should I have the freedom to do it? Yes. Should the city be responsible for providing a safe environment for people where they can go without fear? Yes. Should people in general not mug other people? Of course. Will flashing wads of money around in a busy urban center possibly put me at higher risk? Unfortunately yes. Does stating this mean that I am therefore saying that I "deserved" to get mugged? No. Just like no body "deserves" to get raped. Besides - you seem to have missed the part where I wrote that it's not ok to simplify "sexualization of minors" and immediately equate it with sex-exploitation of minors. There's a difference between cute, teen-love and the like and pornography. Teenages and young people also have the right to have their love stories told, to have their emotions but into story-form, to have stories made that cater to them and their world. This does not immediately mean that everything is just merely "sexualization of minors." Nor does it mean that people who advocate for the artistic expression of the sexual and romantic world of young people and teenagers is ipso-facto a pedophile or simply out to "sexualize" minors - who, again - are sexually active from early ages usually independent of anime, movies or any other medium. It would be - and is - more productive to say Anime X is terrible because it only sexualizes minors - look at episode a, b and c - look at the bad plot, look at (list bad things) - all this does is sexualize minors and it's just a cheap jerk off fantasy --- rather than saying "anime in general has too much sexualization of minors." Finally - try looking at it this way: Doesn't this whole "too much sexualization of minors in anime" argument remind you of the "too much violence in cartoons" argument? Both lines of argumentation are - in my opinion - ridiculous. Why? Because immorality has a place in fiction - it is the proper place for it, in fact. The word "obscene" - in the original latin - means "Meant for the Scene [aka State/aka Theater/aka fiction drama]. It was considered that some things are too immoral to be allowed to be shown or done anywhere EXCEPT in WORKS OF FICTION which is their proper place. So even if there was an anime called The Adventures of Pedophile Man and his Giant Phallic Robot - I would still not see the existence of this kind of anime as some huge outrage. REAL acts of violence, impolitness, and so forth and so on are terrible. The portrayal of these things in fiction is not - one ought not get so bent out of shape over it. And again - if you're going to argue that sexualization of minors in anime is a terrible prevelent thing - then I think you have to also accept that anime has too many "killer robots" in it and argue equally vehemently against all this catering to mecha-porn fanatics - and what's with all the "everyone dies" or "Earth is destroyed" and massive deaths of populations and so on and so on and so on... And in the end - we'll only be able to watch the Smurfs and Seseme Street - because everything else is just too unsanitary? Pete

Ghost Train - that looks really really cool! I like it. It's a bit like Strike Noir's evil cousin or something in terms of Paint scheme, and very distinct - and fits with the name Ghost Train As for me - I bit the bullet and have put building my other HG Gundam OOs on hold for a bit and instead taken up my first Seed Distiny project. I must say I'm very very impressed by Force Impulse. First, this kit is from 2008, at it shows lots of improvements from other kits I've built from earlier years. The shoulders don't just danlger between the arms and the main body - because the peg for the shoulder/arms now is thicker nearer the body so the shoulders can stay on the body independent of the arms (something that none of my other Gundam MGs do). The hands seem more stable - generally everything seems tighter and more well built. Also - as an aside, since I'm watching Mobile Suit GUndam - this guy is a real treat because he is very RX-ish, what with his Core (Splendor) and generallly looks like a slightly sleeker version of the original Gundam. Just the legs and the Force Silloquette left to go Pete

Well - I see this thread has gotten interesting Good food for thought guys Pete

That's it! I'm sick and tired of this stupid dilemna! It's ridiculous. I'm just going to get both. Duh! Pete

Even if the premise of your statement is correct- and it very well might be (I just don't know enough about general anime productions to have an opinion one way or another), then consider for a moment that if indeed the majority of stuff is sub-par and simply catering to nit-wits via sexualized young girls in order to bring in lots of money - then this is how companies get the financial basis to sometimes go out on the edge, take a risk, and produce something that has high quality but might not garner huge revenues. Second of all - I don't think you can blame the sexualization of young girls on anime; if anything, young girls are to "blame" for considering themselves sexual at younger and younger ages - if we want to talk about it in terms of "blame." Although - I wouldn't put it in those categories to begin with. First of all, I think that there is a distinction between cute, raunchy, mindlessly pornographic, proper, improper and a host of other "fine lines" in between. I just refuse to believe that "all" anime is generally homogenous in its' treatment of young girls and sexualization thereof. Maybe I'm watching the wrong (or right?) anime - but I honestly haven't noticed anything over the top anywhere, and I was pretty confused by people who complained about the "over-sexualization" of Ranka in Macross Frontier. I just don't see it as being a problem. Young girls often dress and act just like what we see in these anime - they are very into fashion, and looking good, and they have crushes on older guys. This is what real life looks like. I hardly think it's necessary to cast dispersions on anime for reflecting tendencies in the real world - and often doing it with sarcasm, gusto, humor etc etc. We live in a world where sexuality and sexualization have become regular, normal everyday banal and completely normal. I don't see anything bad in this; particularly if the matter is portrayed in an intelligent way. And final point: There is nothing sexy about young "sexy" girls in sub-par anime plots. It would be like porn movies without the actual porn scenes, or Transformers The Movie "Sexy Cut" - where all you'd get to see were the scenes with Meghan Fox - and nothing else. There's nothing attractive in it. So it's really hard for me to believe in this image of a totally worthless lot of anime which only caters to "young sexy girl" lovers and doesn't have anything going for it in terms of plot. Unless the "moe girls" are the plot? In which case it would be like soft-core hentai or something - and could just be viewed as that, instead of being lumped together with other anime that aspires to be something more. I dunno - I just get the feeling that this whole issue is overblown. Pete

Tinypic.com no passwords needed. As to the pics a page back - with the 1/60 VF-1 ...hm. Well - just looking at it standing next to a Yamato valkyrie is unsettling. It just doesn't cut the mustard. In fact - you know - the only time it looked ok was in the pic somebody put up of it next to Yamato's 1/72 blue YF-19. It looks to basically be at THAT level. Something I would go "oh wow!" at if it were 1998 or so. Dissapointed. Again. Alto by himself looks moderately decent... but... geez...going really back and forth on these. I just see myself getting the models instead - after all. Pete

I think what happened was they decided on a plane, and then decided on this particular design, and then went "shopping" for a name, and Hasbro said: "plane? combine with Prime? big jet? JETFIRE." I'm also thinking that he will have a bit to do with the original insofar as he'll start out evil (he HAS to start out evil - look how eviiil he looks ) and then become good and finally merge with Prime and beat the bad guys in the end. No sense screaming "travesty" now. We have known the direction Bay and crew have been going with this movie for a while now - in fact - it was a done deal ever since the first one succeeded. If the first movie had failed at the box office, we fans would be saying "see - I told ya! Should've done boxy G1 designs!" But given the phenomenal success of the first film - they are going to apply the same formulae in terms of design and concept for the second. Don't like it? Buy Henkei, bu Encore, buy Animated, re-read your marvel comics, go watch the cartoon. The movie is what it is. Frankly - what annoys me is not the design of the movie TFs - but the CRAPPY TOYS. If ever there was an actually well done representation of the Movie TFs - I'd buy them. But the toys always cut corners. Pete

Well - yeah - Yamato need to make a TV style SDF-1. That's for sure. But I just don't know how they'll remain faithful to their "1/60" Philosophy with that. Also - rather than the GN-U line being full of mecha - it would be nice if Yamato made the characters that Kayodo seems to be taking its' sweet time with. I'd buy Yamato poseable figures of Misa, Minmey and the others. Heck - they can even start with the DYRL designs. Pete

Fine Then from now on, I hereby Christen the Mac in Macross: Itchy Joe Hickaloo Minmey: "Oh Itchy Joe! I don't care what you and that woman did on that island..." Itchy Joe: "I scratched her itch, she scratched mine - nothing else..." Minmey: "Oh Itchy Joe. You're such a hick!" Speaking of which - when the 1D comes out - can the 1D get its' own special topic as well? It would be great to have the sub-topic-title: "Minmey's Ride" And then - when the VT comes out - "Misa's Ride" Pete

This is getting way too complicated Let's just go with EXO's idea for now - the sub-titles to each thread are really cool Except Itchy Joe's one Pete

I will definitely pick up a new VF-0S. Although, I already have one and it is very sturdy any ways. But never enough as I always say Pete

I just want to point out that it's Ichijo - not "ichijoe He ain't named Joe, and he don't Itch Pete

Speaking of females with "S" as the first letter of their name.. Syvil from Macross 7 would rock Include an electronic stand with batteries and a sound ship. Press a button and hear Syvil's Orgasmic Scream ! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Pete

I always prefered Curly - and could never understand why they called him that, despite the fact that he never had any hair to curl... In fact, it got so bad, that whenever I saw Shemp, my first thought was "that's Curly" - and then I was like - no - but - it's Shemp. Curly is the one with no hair and not the one with Curly hair; despite appearances... In any event - I think it's really wierd that there's this huge controversy over Moe. I mean, I personally never liked him, I never trusted him. For all I know, he had me set up and had my brother, Angel Fernandes, killed....oh...wait...exit Scarface mode... Anyways - the wierdest thing, to me, is the comparissons that people make between cute girls and Moe. I mean, Ranka is Moe? Come on. I'm very open minded, but give me a break. Ranka is a girl, not a middle aged guy, she has green and not dark hair, and her hair style is a bit more refined than a 30s bowl cut. One could, I suppose, argue that she is clumsy - but I'm not really sure of that - I mean - she's more shy and timid and this makes her sometimes do clumsy things (like when she hit her head on the mike when bowing at Miss Macross)...But to go from that to being Moe...? Moe's antics were always forced. The guy looked constapated all the time - and maybe that was his character - but still - nothing like Ranka. Anyways; cute anime girls are not Moe. I have yet to see an argument made which could come close to proving otherwise, yet people keep bringing this up as if it were a legitamite train of thought or something. Wierd. Pete

This is actually an interesting issue... Leon and all of the experts say that the Vajra communicate via their intestines, and that what each individual feels/experiences is communicated to the hive and inputted back to all of the other units. But Ai-Kun clearly shows otherwise. He was Ranka's friend ever since he got into Sheryl's panties. When he finally matured, he didn't hesitate to remain loyal to Ranka and showed affection for her. His actions went beyond the simple Vajra instinct that commanded them to take Ranka "home." - I think. Also - he clearly did not mindlessly kill people close to Ranka - Ai-Kun could easily have taken out Alto - especially when Ranka blocked his shot - but he didn't - because he probably "knew" that Ranka wouldn't want Alto hurt. In any case - I get the feeling that the Vajra are not all that completely "mindless" drones - and to the extent that they "are" - then I prefer to think of them as being pre-programmed biological computers which - you guessed it - DEVELOP ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE after a certain amount of expriences. This is not far fetched. If human built computers can develop AI at some point - then why can't bio-weapons like the Vajra also develop the ability to think independently, or at least semi-independently? Pete

Actually, Minmey was ready to gobble him up even though she was pretty sure Hikaru HAD slept with Misa. Maybe this is also something that put Hikaru off. Minmey is the kind of girl who has no female shame - which I personally think is a highly desirable and attractive trait in a woman. Of course, initially, this lack of female shame seems great - like it did to Hikaru when Minmey "showed him" how to "act in love" and kissed him. But then, you suddenly realize that this also means the girl a) could be like that toward any other guy, b) thinks very little of true love, c) has burried her emotions, d) will never be authentically intimate with you. Misa was the complete opposite. In her behavior, she made Hikaru wonder whether she was "really even a woman?" Then, when Hikaru kissed her out of military necessity, she slapped him ANYWAYS (showing that despite her understanding of the situation, she still has this female instinct of female shame) and then later she progressively goes to pieces and is ONLY happy on Earth for a moment when she can "play" house - but even that doesn't sustain her - and she comes apart emotionally and needs Hikaru as a man to put give her a sense of stability and meaning. So - maybe I over-simplified by saying that Misa got Hikaru just because she managed to sleep with him first. Minmey also had her chance - when Hikaru motioned towards the Motel during their date - but she didn't do it. Why? I'm guessing it was partially because it was a skanky motel and not the Ritz I'm also guessing that in a way - Hikaru was an opportunity for Minmey to "escape" a little bit from her life a star... And 'escaping from being a star' is not the same thing as truly loving and needing another person. In any event - look how she acts during the reunion. She just hugs him and later comes up to his room and tries to make out with him - it's not really an "I love you and need you" scene as much as an "I don't care if you slept with some other girl and I'm not really much bothered to discuss our feelings and the situation, I just want to possess you." That's how I read it. Contrast with Misa: Misa - although the whole situation hurts her very very much - since she authentically trusted Hikaru when she slept with him - not only keeps her cool, but then - through tears - tells him to go after Minmey. And she doesn't say it in a mean way like "you lying cheat! Go away" - she says is as someone who loves him enough to let him go for the sake of his own Happiness. And then - boom: Hikaru tells her he loves her and delivers the best line "I could die any day - so - if you don't mind sombody like me"... My favorite scene in the whole movie I think Minmey understands at the end - that's how I read the girls' little exchange of peace-smiles. I think Minmey has enough guys and has her own life and dreams and doesn't really love Hikaru but understands that Misa does - and she should just step out of the way. Pete

No. But in the interest of chunky nostalgia, the pilot is removable to accommodate a second BLOCK. Block sold seperately. Pete (can't resist poking fun at the DX...)

Yamato: A Work in Progress Well - I hope they definitively fix it so people won't have anything more to complain about QC wise Pete

I don't know if it's just an image that she cultivates and that lends to her hot/cuteness or whether she really is this way - but Fox is not really that bright and has been known to say/do some stupid things. I still remember the scenes from "making of" that were shown on Youtube before TF the movie came out, where they talked about Meghan Fox and Bay being at odds; because Bay basically could't make her understand simple things like "now scream" or "now run" or "now look right." Bay basically figured "hot chick to do simple action sequences" and was appalled at how she couldn't even grasp simple concepts. They showed a clip where Bay was just screaming at her and she just stood there like "huh? You want me to what?" This whole "I'm a tranny" line fits into the "I'm an airhead" image that she has (don't know if it's real or not). She might well be a total airhead - who knows? Has she had other roles in which she shined as an actress? Honestly; she wasn't THAT bad in Transformers; and in many ways, it's not like the part gave her a lot of room for dramatic acting... but on the other hand niether did Shia's role - and yet he STILL managed to deliver a really brilliant brilliant performance that totally carried the movie in many ways (without Shia - the movie would have FAILED). either that or she really is a transexual Which would be just totally awesome if it were true - because so many of us were completely fooled Pete

Ah - well that helps explain a lot. So I take it that flash of light at the very beginning of the show opening credits and the ensuing "wave" which circles the Earth is the explosion of the colony? Well - now this (the siezing of power in the republic of Zeon by the Zabi family) makes more sense and it does lend itself to Zeon being the bad guys - except...for one last point... What was the reason for Zeon to declare independence from the Federation? Was it something the Federation did? Was it just because Zeon wanted to? In spite of the "we're all the same/war is terrible" etc etc points - I still think it is important to make distinctions between regimes because war doesn't usually drop out of the sky for no reason. The causes are always complex adn mixed; but someone always has an interest, and there also always has to be a perception of either just cause or injustice done to someone to stir people to want war. In any case - hopefully these things will reveal themselves as the show goes on. And Char looks dashing in a white suit and those 80s Scarface sunglasses Pete