reddsun1

Looks mighty cozy in that there cockpit. I'm surprised some of those pics weren't considered "sensitive" material. Then again, it's only blank display screens and such...

not even the silhouette is the same anymore...the body will from here on out will be based on a Chevorlet. no wonder why Ford is thinking about pulling out... >:-p this is why i like rally racing, drifting, and road racing: at least they use production-Based bodies. 395681[/snapback] Yup, FIA's GT-3 category is showing some promise. The cars seem to have started life as bona-fied production super cars; there's nice variety of makes in the grids; and it seems to be focused on privateer racing, in an effort to keep costs from spirlaing out of control? I do take exception to "ringers" in some American racing series, like the GTO-R. Anybody who's seen one of the Pratt & Miller-built chassis next to say, the Millen D1 drift ver of the GTO will know what I mean. Cars like the factory Corvettes and the Aston DB9SR come precariously close, with their highly modded bodies, so disparately different from the production namesakes.

1. Ma-ku-Ro-su! [i mean c'mon, that's a given, right?] and in no particular order... --X-Wing, Star Wars --Phoenix, Battle of the Planets --Colonial Viper, BSG ['78] --Spike's Swordfish II, Cowboy Bebop --Argo/Yamato, Starblazers --Andromeda, Starblazers --Galactica, BSG '78

Interesting. At first, I was surprised they went with the Camry nameplate instead of the "Solara," since that's their coupe model; then again, the Camry is a much more well known model name and identifiable with Toyota. After all, how many people say "Toyota Camry" any more? It's just synonymous with with the brand. Meh, none of them look a godd--n thing like their corporate namesakes, anyway... National Ass'n of Silhouette Car Auto Racing

Yes, they seemed to have overlooked [or just ignored] the fact that H. Jackman is pretty dang tall, like 6'1" or something; when I always thought Wolvie was kinda short, like 5'6" or something? In regards to the Mystique pic posted above: I know, I'm usually one who comes down on the side of "letting good taste prevail," feeling that the thinly veiled nudity cum blue skin is a bit gratuitous and not necessary to drive the story, saying fer goodness sakes, put some clothes on! But every now and then--makes me wish I were a movie makeup staffer. *sigh*

I will admit that--somewhat inspired by the configuration of the VF-0D--I have wondered just what the VF-1 would look like with a larger wing. Even before seeing MZero, I've thought that one of the few weaknesses of the original VF design was the relatively small wings. Aeronautical experts correct me if I'm wrong; but that, in relation to the overall size/mass of the plane, is what makes for a condition of "high wing loading" is it not? I've always thought that was a lot of plane to move around through an atmosphere on such relatively skinny wings. So I wondered what a VF would look like with a different wing config, changing nothing else? *prepares to dodge pitchforks and torches* Now, I realize full well that Kawamori-san probably pored over this very idea many times over as he was designing the VF-1 all those years ago. And I've no doubt he's more knowledgeable than I could ever hope to be--both in aeronautical and mecha design. I also realize the design parameters of the Valkyrie [or any TF mecha for that matter] is about making compromises. The wings; the cockpit canopy shape; where ordinance is stored; any and all of these things must not only be maximized to give maximum effectiveness in air-to-air/ground combat, but can only do that to a degree. They [designs] must also still allow the craft to "feasibly" reconfigure, allow completely different body sections/parts to interconnect and move, change into a different form and fulfill a whole different set of mission functions. I'd say Kawamori-san deserves mad props for doing so in a "convincing" manner, and still making them look so dang cool. The designers at McDonnel Douglas, or Boeing, or Rockwell probably couldn't even begin to ponder how to do such a thing [even on paper], and still make it come out as beautiful and "realistic" as the VF's. But I digress. I tinkered a bit with a .gif image I found, and this is something I came up with. I call it Valkyrie 2.0 That's what a different wing configuration might look like. In retrospect, I'm glad SK didn't change the VF any more than he did. The VF-1 looks good enough as it is.

Yes, it is a shame, really. I forgot to mention the coachwork is all hand worked aluminum. Meaning that an inordinate amount of time, effort and skill went into painstakingly shaping and forming all those panels....and it still came out looking like that?

Yup, it's official: Prodrive is aiming at getting ready to compete in F1 by 2008. Looks like Max Mosley et. al. are looking for something of a return to the era of the privateer teams to spice things up and keep it interesting for the fans? “This is wonderful news for everyone in the company,†said David Richards, chairman of Prodrive. “We have won World Rally Championships, British Touring Car titles and the GT1 class at Le Mans, and have been saying for some time that we would also like to be in Formula One with our own Prodrive team. We are now one step closer.†And now, on to the "the hell is that?" news. The ANTAS V8 GT hearkens back to a bygone era of design trends and styling cues--that perhaps should stay bygone? Looks like the offspring of a drunken orgy between a TVR, a Marcos and a Morgan. Motivation comes from a Maserati V8 [with 4 Webers no less]. Eccentric cues abound: heart-shaped egg-crate grille; dorsal fin; split windscreen...and rearward vision? Fuhgedabadit! "And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving. Whats-a behind me, is not important."

"Another story is that of a student pilot who was practicing arrested landings on a land runway with an F-8H. Things didn't go well, with the pilot missing the cables on two attempts. As he came around for the third attempt, the pilot decided that his aircraft wasn't flying any more and ejected. The pilotless aircraft then settled down on the runway and snagged the cable, to come to rest alongside the runway with minor damage. " LMAO!

If people keep watchin' this crap... they'll keep producing it. I won't bother with anything that looks lame because I don't wanna waste a dollar on it. Hell... that's what DVD is for. Only when you get some really sucky movie you can never get your 2 hours of time back! 394096[/snapback] Don't get me wrong; I like "crappy" movies [but in a different sense]. In fact, I consider myself a B-movie fan. But it's when Hollywood passes off utter CRAP as something more than it is, as "A-list" material that's supposed to justify hugely inflated budgets and marketing blitzes and such--that's when I think "you must be joking if you expect me to pay to see this..." It's like being fed a tuna sandwich, all the while they're telling you "oh no, it's fine caviar, really it is!" As the old proverbial saying goes: don't piss down my back an' tell me it's raining... But then again, in regards to its acceptance from the masses, as my Grandaddy used to say: you can get a fool to buy sh-t from you, if you can it in a fancy jar an put a pretty enough label on it...

*groan* Even as I skimmed over the review at the link, the first Predator is playing on cable now. I just want to vomit all over my keyboard in disgust at the apparent utter lack of appreciation or understanding of either of the franchises' original films. But what good would that do? Do these A--HOLES even bother to watch the original movies before they sit down and start churning out this kind of CRAP?! I hope this is a joke. Really.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!! *claws at own eyes to prevent seeing the travesty* Part of me wants to be an optimist. But that part is quickly overrulled by the realist in me, that suspects all we'll get will be lame flash-powder-explosion SFX; action and story pacing coming at blistering and totally un-Matsumoto like speeds; ship designs totally unlike the originals; character and plot changes tantamount to intellectual property rape [they'll probably make Derek Wildstar a woman to cash in on the butch-fem-girl-power BS that Hollywood is so into now; hell, they probably won't even make the ship look remotely like the Yamato....no, as mentioned previously, this whole thing stinks of another fiasco of Wing Commander-esque proportions.

Okay, I'll concede there may not have been a place for all of these support mecha, but there definitely would have been a way to work in a cameo for the Sea Sergeant [maybe even the Avenger II? It's definitely a carrier-based craft]; say, hunting for that elusive Anti-UN sub. Hey, if introducing a mecha into a series solely for the sake of expanding the merchandise/model line can work for Bandai/Gundam so well [i.e. Gudam 0083, etc, etc], why not for MZero?

Why even let them get that far? Judging from the comments I've read up til now, this guy Boll shouldn't even be allowed near a theater, much less make films to go in them.

I can't remember which w'site that little anctedotal story I quoted was on now. But doing a search on "Kawanishi N1K1" or "Shinden Kai" [yes, for some reason, that mispelling actually turns up info on the "George" fighter] will almost certainly turn it up.

Well, I finally caved and peeped the vid. They had me right up 'til the very end. Although very well done, I ain't never seen spray paint go onto a surface that fast, especially considering if you're trying to make letters that large. The actual "tag" wasn't convincing.

Oh no, I didn't mean Wal Mart losing profits--I know at the end of the day they're gonna get paid, regardless. Sorry, I meant the suppliers themselves, like BBI, or Huffy Bicycles, or [best example I remember reading about once] Vlasic Pickles. Remember those rediculous big gallon jugs of pickles they used to sell for some rediculous price like $1.99 or something? IIRC, the Vlasic guy in the article I read said something to the effect that the company has never sold so many pickles in its history. But, because Wal-Mart got them to slash the prices so deep for those jugs of pickles, they're in essence losing money with every jug they sell. But the Wal Mart contract is so big and important, they can't exactly tell them to go screw themselves. Similar situation for Huffy.

Going back and rewatching MZero. I can honestly say I really like this OVA. All the attention to the mechanical details and capabilities of the VF's that one might have liked to have seen in the original series. Not to mention, the amazing fight scenes. Only one thing I think they "dropped the ball" on though: the support mecha/vehicles that we see in the series. Considering the series' place in the Macross timeline--only 1 year before arrival of Zentraedi/Space War I--a lot more of the support mecha alluded to in the original series should have already been in service by then? Sure, I know--anything Macross is going to be all about cool-ass transforming VF's, right? But still; would have been a good opportunity to see other mecha, given the vast improvements in animation quality and detail: Anti-UN fighters like the MiM 31 F-203 Dragon II [ok, maybe not that one? it was land based?] Avenger II attack jet Tiger's Eye AWACS Sea Sergeant copter Commanchero To have seen some of these in MZero would have made for a nice sense of further connection with the "future" events of Macross. Plus it could've allowed for some enterprising company to market collectibles of some of these in 1/60 or even 1/48; that would have been kick-ass

Now that's a cool custom fig. Definitely looks like he's got more swagger in his step than the original Scott figure. Like John Wayne posing next to Woody Allen for a publicity photo.

A little o/t cause it's technically the wrong scale, but still....dayum! Ooh! Ooh! I want one! I want one! Can we take her home? Please? I dunno, the whole "warrior woman" vibe of the costume is really working for her. What a cutie.

I had no idea BBI's lines of figures were so extensive and varied. These figs certainly kick the s--t out of the old 80's GI Joe toys in the way of accuracy and detail. But then again, I'm sure the price reflects that too. Come to think of it. I'd bet that's the audience companies like BBI are aiming at: kids of the 80's who grew up with the old 1/18 Joes etc, who are probably looking to recapture those good feelings from their youth, only with a good deal more sophistication? Or, they may just be looking to make some kick-a$$ toys, coincidentally in the same scale?

It's a shame really when you think about it. We may be glad that Wally-Mart might carry these toys, but I imagine they're losing money on every one that's sold through the retail giant, because of their "cost-cutting" policies. Note the huge difference in retail price at most any online retailers. They [Wal Mart] slash the prices by $10 or more right off the top; I imagine the profit margin is cut to nil. There are other stories about how the chain uses its economic clout to bully suppliers into contracts that cut their profits to nothing. Anyways, the Jugs are currently the most common on their shelves, with the occasional desert Stuka or Me109. I've seen some sites with the "Marines Dream" Corsair for reasonable prices, about $52...

I believe Phalanx mentioned earlier the Japanese "Oscar" fighter as one notable plane that served in the Zero's "shadow"? Actually, one of the less known fighters of WWII Japan that I recently found out more about was the Kawanishi N1K2 "Shinden-Kai." Ironic, if not for the advent of modern computer simulation games, a lot of these planes would be lost to obscurity. The Mistu Zero is certainly the most famous plane used by Japan, but not the only one. A unique design feature was wing flaps which operated automatically to increase "lift" when necessary during extreme maneuvers. The device, operated with electricity and oil pressure using a U-shaped tube containing mercury, was an important factor in the aircraft's maneuverability in combat. "The Shiden Kai was to become perhaps the best all-round fighter to be operational in the Pacific theater. It was fast, powerful, and maneuverable, and was well-armed and armored. In the hands of an experienced pilot, the Shiden-Kai was the equal of any Allied fighter, even the later models of the P-51 Mustang which began to appear over Japan in the spring of 1945. In one notable action, on February 16 1945 over Yokohama, Warrant Officer Kinsuke Muto of the 343rd Kokutai in an N1K2-J single-handedly battled a dozen F6F Hellcats. He shot down four of them before the rest were forced to break off combat and return to their carrier. However, against the B-29, the N1K2-J was less successful, since its climbing speed was insufficient and the power of the Homare 21 engine fell off rather rapidly at higher altitudes."

Well, it's certainly no Skull-1, but it'd probably be pretty cool to have a big honkin' 2-ft toy jet w/the ol' skull and bones to go swooshing around the living room with.

Jeez, maybe I should have tried to snag one of them F-18's before they sold out. There's dealers on evilBay asking as much as $100 for these things!