F-ZeroOne

Oh, thats fine with us. They do that, and we'll just revoke all the jet engine privileges we gave you guys about sixty years back. You did read the small print on that contract, right?

I loved them as a kid, but never had more than a couple. I really like some of the modern designs, but because of space issues haven't picked any up. I also know that if I begin, I'll never stop...

It isn't what you've got, its how you swing it... So long, F-14...

Are you referring to the TV series? Rather like Ghost in the Shell, theres a number of different "versions": Patlabor: The Movie 1, 2, and WXIII. Patlabor: The Original OAV series. Patlabor on TV and The New Files OAV: this is the version I'm referring to. Patlabor isn't a "flashy" show, and the animation is decent without being outstanding, but I like it for the generally superb writing, character interactions, and the gentle - rather than "in-your-face" - humour. The other nice thing about Patlabor is thats theres quite a lot of little Japanese-culture background ; for example, when Captain Goto decides he needs the team needs some bonding, he does it in a traditional Japanese way - by taking everyone out to get falling-down drunk. Helps that the Ingram and Griffon rock, too. No magical girls, but there are big robots.

Gee, I guess all the other Air Forces had best just give up now, huh?

Thanks - I've checked against another source since posting that and it does appear to be the correct figure. Bunnies with guns shall be mine!

I'm not so sure Patlabor on TV is under-rated - just about every review, critique, and book entry I've ever read on it states its a great show - but it is under-appreiciated, except seemingly in Japan. Not enough busty magical girls in skimpy outfits, I guess...

Is that the same product? I know it shows the Waffe Bunny figure, but the listing is as "Weapons Set" and the price is half that of the other figures - is it more likely to be just a set of additional weapons...?

Its okay, Drifand - I've read about the measures you take to get those poses before! Its just having recently built two Cloth Gears myself, I wouldn't have believed that pose possible until you did it. Its a really strange feature of those toys, that they have this - for the time - really poseable inner skeleton that is practically useless because of the way the armour fits together. I'll also admit that the the 1/32 Ingram toy is a brick, but it does have a certain "presence". I also like seeing your shots, Drifand, by the way, as it provides inspiration for posing my own toys - even if the result if often a demonstartion of gravity in action...!

Does anyone know when the "Waffe Bunny" is coming out? The add implies this month, but I can't seem to find it for pre-order anywhere...?

Labors are designed to work - mainly - in and around urban environments for the most part and they are quite a bit smaller than many anime mecha. You can get some idea of size by looking at the windowed area immediately underneath the head; on the Revoltech you can actually see the HUD display used by the pilot. The revolvers and shotguns were obviously designed to keep with the "Police" feel of the Ingram and the series. As has been pointed out, the relover officially fires 37mm rounds, although the artwork and animation is a little inconsistent here and it often appears much bigger than that in action. The shotgun, IIRC, is 90mm, but like all movie shotguns, calibre doesn't matter because shotguns are the Macross Cannon of movie close gun fighting. I hate Drifand, not for getting toys before me, but for getting his toys to do those poses. I have several of those Patlabor toys, and I swear Drifand must have broken the legs of the Cloth Gear Ingram to get that splayed pose like that!

Happy Birthday, Noriko! (though I feel I should point out that Norikos birthday was not a generally happy occasion for her after the events depicted at the beginning of Gunbuster... )

Ah, thank you. I must have missed that scene somewhere.

Stupid question - is the VF-0 equipped for air-to-air refuelling?

Nope...

More Eurofighter news - Saudi Arabia has commited to purchasing 72 Typhoons. While this deal has been on the cards for a while now, the UK press has been speculating that a confirmed deal of this size may boost chances of Typhoons being ordered in other countries - including Japan.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks to me like the "fat neck" for the landing gear problem may well be a bit of a non-issue. Astounding!

Funny you should mention that. One of the Roboticktektoe-comic series claimed thats just what the Zentraedi used to do with their dead on the fleets...

I can't believe we've got this far in without anyone mentioning giant tuna heads.

They have apparently got somewhat better since then. Incidentally, thats quite an old release, so they might be a bit tricky to find new, at least from retailers and not auction sites.

I guess you get what you pay for. The price of the intricate designs is fiddliness and occasionally suspect quality. You could always buy Star Wars figures instead. I hear thats popular. I have sort of a love/hate relationship with Microman. When they're being bad, they make me want to conduct experiments with ballistic arcs through top storey windows. When they're being good, though...

Bonus image - Road Force MicroLady Ray gives evil AcroYear-X VolTech something to think about...

Just noticed you're looking at a MagneForce figure. I have one. They're pretty neat, although the issues I've had with mine are slightly "slippery" limbs (they don't always hold a pose) and very loose wrist armour. Still very nice figures; you can do some nice boxing poses with them! One neat feature is the "light pipe" eyes; at the right angle, light will filter through the head and give the figure "The Glowy Eyes of Righteous JUSTICE!".

You can pretty much divide Microman into three "types" - the original, classic series from the 70s (you may have had the licensed US versions as "Micronauts" as a kid), which are sometimes reiussed by Takara from time to time; the 90s versions of which I know nothing, and the modern, 21st century versions. The very latest types have got joints all over - they seem to add more with every release - and tend to come with lots of accessories; guns, spare hands, stands etc. Some of the designs are also very good, and considering the scale, pretty inventive (which includes "blank" Microman material Force figures for customising and variable breast sizes for the MicroLadies!) They are also perhaps the cheapest Japanese action figures you can collect (well, unless you start lusting after the various "exclusive" ones). On the downsides, build quality can be patchy (some figures apparently suffering from cracked joints), joints can be floppy, and parts like armour can be a right pain in the arse to fit properly, and the figures can be rather fiddly to pose. Having said that, although I only have a few of the figures (and have sworn at that them quite a bit at times), I've just ordered two more MicroLadies. Heres a picture of MicroSister El to help you make your mind up!

That sucks. As to "something in the studio", probably cigarette smoke.