David Hingtgen

http://www.fighterchicks.com/Callsigns.htm Callsigns are given, not picked. And usually as embarassing as possible.

The only thing funnier than callsigns, are female callsigns. From Fighterchicks.com: http://www.fighterchicks.com/Callsigns.htm How NOT to land a plane: Usually, it's mains, THEN nosegear:

Remember when planes were made of metal?

Exactly. They'd sell WAY more and make more profit from Classic TC, Dirge and Thrust at Hasbro's online shop than they ever could at Botcon. Even if they only charged like $12.99 each, instead of 300 bucks for 5-packs. There's a LOT more people our age who will pay normal prices for their fave seeker, than will drive to Botcon and pay 300 bucks for them.

Mix some baking soda and water, scrub the screws. Won't get them bright and shiny, but should get the rust off. I've used it on G1 Transformers.

Man, there's nothing airlines like more than paying huge amounts of money to "design consultants", to end up with the exact same damn boring paint every other airline has. Leaked pics of Delta's new scheme, which looks just like every other airline and using the same pattern and color (or lack thereof---it's all white, no stripes or anything): And man do I hate the "logo too big to fit on the tail" trend. Brownie points if you can figure out what it is. Took me a few secs, but I'm a huge airliner buff. I determined many years ago, that if I ever have control of an airline, it will have stripes, period. Thick, obvious ones at that. Stripes were common on planes for the better part of a century for a reason---long thin tubes with pre-defined window rows look really good with them!

Lots of Raptor pics from a recent airshow demo: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/2649602#140105972

A couple of years ago, VideoGame Depot got some unopened cases of SNES games, and I was there to watch them be unsealed. I picked up the Ninja Gaiden trilogy, and Super Valis 4. Never beat Super Valis 4 (actually, never got very far---I need to hook my SNES back up and really try some day)

Just look at the zillions of repaints for many BW and RiD/Armada toys. Hell, there's more TransMetal 1 Cheetor repaints than there are seekers I think---and they sold! (Personally, I thought the TRU-exclusive FoxKids repaint was cool, and it's the only version I have). If stuff like THAT sells, there surely should be room for major characters like Thundercracker. Heck, they could even use Skywarp's paint pattern to save money, just in different colors. How many repaints of Armada Prime are there?

I was going to bring up Gargoyles about 1 page ago, in reference to "something for kids AND adults". Similar for Batman: TAS. Both those shows had one thing in common, as I've read in interviews with the writers etc: Don't "dumb down" the script for kids. Write it intelligently enough that adults can enjoy it, and the kids will as well. Don't pander to them---they can handle surprisingly complex/mature plots and such. Of course, both Batman:TAS and Gargoyles have to be censored left and right for re-runs, due to being to "mature" and "violent" for today's kids... That's part of the problem right there-----if it's not hearts and balloons, it's too much for kids nowadays, and you get pandering crap as a result.

Vader. Personally, I just didn't like the design of many of the stamps. I mean, there's NOBODY I'd want to use the Palpatine stamp for. I'll pass on buying/using the set.

Is it just me or does it look like the duct from that case's side, will block off the rear fan?

Can't recommend a floppy, I've never had need to use anything other than cheap generic OEM drives for that. I'm just saying I've had bad experiences with every Samsung drive, and would choose any other brand. For a 3.5 floppy, you should be able to get one for basically free---surely someone has an old PC they're getting rid of you could strip for parts. (Just tossed my old one out, and forgot to snag its floppy drive)

Just in my experience, Samsung drives suck. (Good cameras, but if it involves "spinning at high RPM's" theirs never do well) Never had a floppy drive of theirs, though.

There's a Cypher figure, but it doesn't transform. Nor stay intact for long--look at it funny and it shatters--much of Kaiyodo's VO:OT line is that way.

I've always wondered about the "real gun with an orange tip" aspect.

Awesome pics of VFA-31's new colors, and just cool pics in general: http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmeh_2/

Don't forget the music, the AC games often have some of my fave music.

Black Aces have a new CAG scheme, IMHO it's their best since their original Tomcat scheme. http://s171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/Rhinotank/

Hey, another Peterbilt on the left side...

Success! 5mm socket hammered into rounded-out 3/16in hole worked perfectly. Now to just let the supercharger cool down so I don't get a face full of oil when I fully remove the plug. (Supercharger oil by itself is nasty stuff, I can only imagine what it's like when hot and spraying) PS--found out during filing that there's like 3 layers on the supercharger plug, I think that's what prevented the JB from adhering. There's the teal alignment markings paint, then a black oxide or something, then a zinc chromate layer, THEN the actual metal.

Didn't work at all---JB weld held to the socket very well, but didn't hold to the supercharger plug AT ALL. I think elmer's would have had a stronger bond. Going to try again---sand down the plug, get a rough surface, etc. It seemed to adhere to the plug's coating, more than the plug. Strange, the "black" coatings usually don't peel off like that, but a closer look at the plug makes me think it's brass.

JBO----there's no confirmation on any retooling for Dirge and Thrust from the Ramjet mold, but it's been "strongly hinted" that they will have their correct wings--which means big VTOL lift fans for thrust. (Dirge has always had the most realistic wings of the 1985 seekers)

Google really went to town for April 1st: http://mail.google.com/mail/help/paper/more.html It's like Email, but using paper! Google's own ISP, TiSP: http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html It's free!

Just a repaint, still has SS's blue skunk stripe.