wm cheng

Hey @Dobber, @Dynaman, @Seto Kaiba very interesting observations about the Disco crew and entitlement. Being in Art Dept (in ST SNW) but this isn’t specific only to Star Trek but all different art departments for all different shows, the newer generation hires never gel together like family from earlier on in my career. New hires are constantly asking why they aren’t in charge more without taking the responsibility or earning the experience. I feel the new younger writers represent this demographic now and Disco isn’t aimed at “us” old timers. It’s aimed at the much larger younger generation that identifies with these instant gratification entitlement workplaces. Experience is no longer valued because the corporations don’t promote from within anymore. This generation moves up by being headhunted away into higher positions, if the companies won’t show you loyalty, why would you be loyal to the company?! Can’t say to much specifics but I can say that SNW is definitely the orphaned stepchild with the fewest resources of all the newer ST productions. Disco has more than 2-3x our budget (and so squandered!). Even the showrunner has said that TOS was so low budget and did its best when it had very little which is so frustrating for us. SNW is seen as only popular with a very small (but vocal) dying aging demographic that’s getting smaller and more irrelevant. The Studios are trying to court the larger more influential demographic than serve the old fans (which is why you get S31 and Starfleet Academy which is YA).

Thanks, I did pull the trigger on the Ace Toyz version! The first thing I thought when I saw the smaller 1/12 Bandai PX-03 was I wished it was lit like the bigger 1/6 version - so when you guys pointed me to the Ace Toyz - I was like wow, it's exactly what I wanted! It's just too bad the mechanical detailing wasn't as nice under all the cowling but I don't think I'd ever display it with the cowling off which offsets the display with the lights - so they cancelled each other out (in my post rationalization mind :P) So what tipped me was that I find the figure nicer (better shaded, creases with wash, liked the magnetic swivels AND $60 cheaper. I think I would turn on the lights more (and it is a bigger Wow factor) than I would remove the cowlings when playing with it. It's really the perfect size to display with my new Garland (even though the scales are wrong but the relative lengths are close). Now I just have to wait for someone to re-issue the Bubblegum Crisis Priss Motoslave in the Metallic Colour. Thanks so much for your insights and help finding one.

Thanks @Bobby - that's exactly the kind of opinion I was hoping to hear. So you're recommending the Ace Toyz over the Bandai? The lighting gimmick is cool at first, but I usually end up taking the batteries out after a few months when it sits in my display case as I've had a few batteries corrode on me after forgetting about them. But it is a nifty feature! The figure on the Any Toyz seems a bit better too. But the mechanical details seem better on the Bandai especially with more covers to remove and strip down.

Thanks @MKT!!! So they're about $50-60 difference between the "used" licensed Bandai (more expensive) and the "new" Ace Toyz - so what's your suggestion? Better detailing in the mechanicals on the Bandai (plus its actually licensed) vs. the lighting feature and slightly cheaper on the Ace Toyz but boy are they similar.

Wow! Is this Ace Toys bike out? Does anyone have it? Is it any good (better than Bandai)? I've been eyeing the Bandai PX-03 but at over $200-$250 its a bit rich for me. But my recent 1/15 Garland has lit a fire under my butt for these 80s motorcycles from my youth. I'm concerned it doesn't have all the markings - says waterslide decals is limited edition but can't find that for sale anywhere and its around $200 too - so which is better, Bandai or Ace Toys?

Just got the re-issue Arcadia 1/24 Garland and absolutely LOVE IT!!! A bit expensive coming to Canada, ended up being $280cdn, plus $30 HLJ Quick Pack which really was UPS and was dinged $50 brokerage fee & taxes (GST/HST) so it ended up being $360cdn in total which is a bit much for something this small, but it seems very well made and solid.

I just picked up the re-release of Arcadia Megazone23 1/24 Garland and its re-ignited my love of 80's motorcycle anime. What is the best Priss & Motoslave toy there is? Is it the Metallic version of the Yamato toy? Any hopes that Arcadia might have purchased those and re-release? Any news or suggestion on where I might find one of these - I've looked at Manadrake for the past year and nothing comes up. It's too bad as I do love BC series and the music, but it doesn't seem to have quite a resurgence as some of the other 80's toys lately.

Wow @Kurt absolutely stunning!!!

Hey @SteveTheFish DO NOT USE lacquer thinner straight on the model, it will eat into the plastic. Sometimes people use lacquer thinner as liquid cement.

It's working thanks!!!

Hey @Shawn - sorry to bug you again, but the emails from MW have gone strangely quiet, could you check if you're still sending out updates? Am I the only one that uses email updates? 🤣

Thanks!!!

It's weird that everyone I see seems to be using the same kind of small celled black foam but where are they buying it from? I don't have this stuff laying around (Pelican case foam is rare if you don't have Pelican cases :P) - I don't see it for sale anywhere (other than very expensive Pelican cases).

Looking great @derex3592 - wow really nice riveting on that wing especially for 1/72 scale! Where does people get those black foam inserts that you cut up to block up the intakes or landing gear wells?

OMG!!! @MechTech that's absolutely amazing. Are you making this for a naval museum?!?! Wow, just absolutely incredible. What scale is that? I've got one of those fuse thingys on top of your shell - I always wondered how big the rest of it was. It's heavy and doesn't turn anymore, but I thought it was a nice paperweight. Now I know where it belongs! I'm just absolutely floored. You are the Master!

That's looking great, I have a stencil like that too that I've been thinking of trying but I have found this guy I'm following on Facebook and he's amazing in 1/72 scale. I think I might try his acrylic ink technique instead of these spray patterns as I find it more scale appropriate for 1/72. Have a look here; https://luftraum72.com/layered-ink-patina-technique/ He's a fellow Canuklehead too and I have his book and its amazing!!! Highly recommend it.

YES 100% Something we haven't seen before would have made me jump on this, but I'm happy with my 1/60 v2 version of this for now.

What a Hunk of Junk! @Chas - looking great! Nice warm tones @Rock - never seen those big ass missiles outboard before, are those their version of Phoenixes?

Wow that's so eye opening @no3Ljm - thanks, it really puts into perspective when ordering from Japan nowadays. Just before the pandemic, I was complaining about 3,000Y EMS to Canada for similiar sized/weight toys, but now that's increased over 3 fold (that's only 4yrs ago)!!! I had to factor in brokerage fees and customs, duties and taxes for us Canukleheads (if it was anything other than EMS - and still I had a 50:50 chance of customs), but not only is the toys getting so expensive, the shipping is astronomical nowadays. I wished I got a 300% increase in my wages over the last 4 years!!!

LOL! Man that looks amazing and I love high-viz schemes especially orange!!!

It is over $500cdn shipped with customs & duties charged by Amazon (I only went that way because I had US gift cards to spend). I think the Canadian store options are actually cheaper in the end - even though they are pretty crazy prices.

Woohoo!!! Thank you @Shizuka the Cat so much - ordered with Giftcards! Ah, I can relax now that I've got one or not?!?! (or arrives months later) There seems to be so much Joy that has been lost in Macross Collecting over the years (at least in the last decade). So does Amazon charge now up front or only when they deliver?

So do people here generally think it WILL become available on Amazon.com in the coming days/weeks/months?

I did love watching the old one as a 9-year-old boy (Star Wars every week!!!) and had the perfect simplicity for a kid to get immersed in it. It grew up with me seeing the 2003 version but it's just too bad that it started strong but waned and lost its direction towards the later seasons unfortunately. I'm happy for any Science Fiction on TV, but I hope any reboot should only be done if they have something different and better to say instead of just replacing everyone with opposite genders (I do love Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck!) just to tick off some HR checklist. Why not come up with a new series instead of rebooting a reboot?

Thanks so much for your assessment @jvmacross - I would have thought the spine would be so much thicker being an all Macross Encyclopedia! I haven't seen anything I don't have already except they're all smaller. I already have all the TIA, Perfect Memory & Gold Book - now I don't feel like I'm missing out too much. Whew, wallet saved! I guess there just isn't anything new for such an old piece of art.