mechaninac

True, but nobody will stop seeing romantic comedies because of a few stinkers, same goes for horror flicks and many other genres. However, for something with the limited appeal of giant robots all it would take is one turd to make audiences avoid the genre like the plague for a decade or more.

TFs ...that's funny, I actually had the Ingram, VF-2SS, and GMs in mind as inspirations for that drawing. Oh well, it still needs a lot of refinement.

yes. more pay == more effort into work. Tell that to the brain dead shufflers at any unionized US automobile plant.

Queue in the "Twilight Zone" theme music, we've got black helicopters flying overhead...

Unfortunately for Macross fans, Transformers has mass appeal, and Macross does not; besides, if not done properly, and seriously, a live action movie based on SDF would be absolutely atrocious.

Damn Graham, that's just cold. I don't like transformers either, and think they are beyond silly, but even I would not call people who like transformers TRANNY fans...it's not like the robots have extra appendages or anything. My vote for dumbest toy...cabbage patch kids!

Yes it is ...isn't it great?

A1, Hurin. Forget it. Don't waste any more time on FM. It's clear that he's just arguing for the sake of arguing. And I get the feeling that he falls into the category of people who denigrate those more successful then themselves because doing so makes them feel less burdened by their own failures. I admire Arnold because he is his own man; an intelligent immigrant who decided to be successful and take advantage of the opportunities available to anyone with a modicum of ambition in this country. I admire him not because of his athleticism, or his physic, or that he is/was a popular action star, or that he's a Governor, or what he said or did regarding steroids, or how he dispenses his public time; I admire him because of what he represents to anyone who has the will to succeed ...and that is why he's a role model (i.e.. someone to be emulated).

Here is my small contribution. Let me know what you all think...feel free to be brutal.

I'm in, but I won't hold my breath on ever seeing it--just like a VF-11 from Hasegawa. And Chowser is absolutely right, 1/48 would be the way to go for the YF-19 as well as all the other M+ mecha; they'd be big, expensive, shelf hogs...and worth every bit of it.

No surprise there. Let this tired franchise rest for the next 3 to 5 years; it has been far too over-exposed. That show just had too much baggage to overcome. Let's just hope they create a proper series finale to cap the series as opposed to what Sci-Fi network did with Farscape (I know they made a mini series to wrap it all up!). PS: Final episode to air on a Friday the 13th...that's just too perfect.

They have improved, I'll grant you, and this season has been replete with nods to the original series...sometimes to the point where it comes across as a crutch or pure pandering to TOS geeks, and that won't get them new viewers. All the discrepancies, omissions, and contradictions can be explained away with enough contortionism and imaginative gymnastics, but those fall into the fan fiction realm of the equation and have no bearing on the visual evidence established by the episodes themselves. As for the Romulans, I've got to correct you on them having holographic technology only. In the second season episode "Minefield" not only do the Romulans have cloaked mines that Enterprise can eventually detect with the sensor pod used to detect Suliban vessels, but also a second generation cloaking device which is advanced enough to make it undetectable by Enterprise. Two BOPs (which just like the NX-01 itself, look much too "modern" when compared to the original series) are clearly shown decloaking to confront the NX-01 to the complete surprise of the crew. Again, according to "Balance of Terror", Romulan cloaking technology was unknown to Starfleet until NCC-1701 has a run in with it in that episode...several decades after the Romulan war, which Enterprise pre-dates.

You say that as if Star Trek has EVER maintained continuity on even a week-to-week basis. Personally, I enjoy Enterprise. It beats the hell out of Voyager, and is one of maybe 4 shows I watch on TV. I never said that Star Trek had smooth continuity, and I did put the word history in quotes; granted that Enterprise has better self-contained continuity then the other incarnations, especially Voyager (it contradicted itself about every other episode). However, there is an established canon that gets repeatedly trampled on Enterprise: the portrayal of the Vulcans (somewhat ameliorated by the "Kir Shara" arc), a Vulcan in Starfleet (Spock was the first), Romulans with cloaking technology (The Federation was unaware of this until "Balance of Terror"), the Tholians (it is implied that the Federation knows nothing of the Tholians until "The Tholian Web"), The Farengi (although not named, it is hard to swallow that they would stay away from all Starfleet contact until TNG), Borg (unknown until TNG), and many other nits to pick. I too watch the show; however, just like TNG, DS9, and Voyager, I can't bring myself to watch any episode more than once...they just aren't that riveting.

Simple, one single cavity pilot mold to save money; even Yamato did that with their 1/48s at first, only they molded the figure in four pieces (easier to do on 1/48 than 1/55). The piece is, most likely, a single piece that is then painted to represent each individual character's flight suit. The decision to have the figure looking left was probably made to give it a more dynamic look; the same is done with model aircraft--I have a Hasegawa 1/48 F-16C that also has the pilot looking left.

"A Lost Hope"....priceless

Meh...Star Trek is a tired franchise that should be put on hiatus for at least 3 years. There is very little creativity in it. Enterprise, although entertaining at times, suffers greatly from sloppy, derivative, plot lines that tend to retread the same old themes and clichés that have been done to death since TNG first aired. In the case of Enterprise this is an even worse problem because it's a prequel that often steps on, and sometimes runs right over, previously established "history"...the series was an interesting idea that falls flat due to poor execution that relies too often on cheap gimmicks, "sexy" content that add nothing to the stories, and technobabble (always a pathetic cop-out by the writers). In the end, Enterprise will live or die based on viewership, and that has been declining even before they moved to Friday, where they now have to contend with a very strong sci-fi channel lineup. Star Trek is just not novel anymore, it's like a sick old cow at death's door being milked for that last drop of milk. With all that being said, I wouldn't mind seeing a fifth season that delves more into the Federation's founding and properly wraps up the series instead of just having it cancelled without a proper finale. But if that's its fate I won't care all that much. Enterprise had potential, but it's execution was flawed from the very beginning. B&B managed to screw it up just as they did with DS9 and Voyager...too PC, too pedantic, too predictable.

You're right on Harvey being a lot more fun; indeed, if JC had Six in his brain instead of the cadaverous Scorpios I don't think he'd ever want to get himself rid of the neuro-clone. My point however, was not to compare the two characters, but to criticize the dramatic vehicle of the "enemy in your head". Farscape was tongue in cheek sci-fi candy, and even at it's most serious it was always satirical. The thing about the new Galactica series is that it has this pervasive undertone of paranoia, betrayal, hopelessness, tension, angst--it is a very depressing show most of the time, and that, plus the little rays of hope and perseverance that poke through now and then, together with the almost total absence of technobabble, is what makes it so great, and such a refreshing show. Episode #4 tonight...can't wait.

Well, as explained in the series so far--I've only seen the mini and the first 3 episodes--, the Cylons have "found" God in their own way. They see humans as their parents (creators), who must be destroyed in order for the them to come into their own existence...like children leaving home to live on their own as adults. You'd think that their decades long absence from the scene would have been enough, but clearly they don't see it that way and want to see humanity extinct. The one thing that bothers me about Six having a mind link of some sort with Baltar is that it's been done before. It just reminds me of Harvey the Neuro-clone. Great series thus far. I thought "Bastille Day" was a bit slow, but still much better than just about anything else currently being produced.

Pokemon does not cause cancer...it IS a cancer.

If you're looking for opinions on what to buy from our exalted bunch of misfits, the near unanimous consensus will be for you to get the 1/48 scale VF-1 series from Yamato; it is, by far, the most detailed, articulated, gimmick ridden representation of the VF-1 ever produced in toy form from any manufacturer. Now, if you're only going to get one VF, I'd recommend one of the two "hero" planes from the series: Roy's VF-1S or Hikaru's VF-1J (w/ Fast Packs if you can afford it); no matter which 1/48 VF you choose, however, you won't be disappointed...they are all beautifully engineered pieces of art that will stand up to a lot of play--just keep in mind to be careful with the infamous bp8 (back pack hinge) as this is this toy's Achilles' Heel. I would stay away from the Bandais unless they hold some special, nostalgic, sentimental value for you as their design is quite dated and their proportions leave much to be desired. On the up-side, those things are bricks and in the case of a nuclear war the only things left standing will be cockroaches, Cher, and chunky monkeys. I would also avoid Toynami's VF series, with the possible exception of the VF-1R--only because of it's uniqueness. Their proportions, while superior to the old Bandais, still fall way short of what is available from Yamato (1/60 or 1/48). Also, their quality and longevity is highly suspect. They do come in a nice box, but that is about all they have going for them. There you have it. For my money there is no substitute for Yamato's 1/48 in the VF-1 arena. The one word that best describes the feeling of handling a 1/48, as opposed to all others, is satisfaction...they are pricey but worth every penny. Just my 2 cents...hope it helps, and welcome MW--you're now "One of Us", and may your wallet survive.

Aside from the fact that we are all addicted to transforming mechs of all kinds, and ignoring that transforming fighter planes makes most of us drool until puddles form around our feet, and that more toy renditions of our collective obsession are always welcome no matter what the subject (VF-0, VF-1, etc, etc, ad infinitum); it is no wonder that many clamor for a SV-51 TF toy, or for that matter, the VF-0 or VF-5000, or VF-4, etc. In the end it's all just more grist for the mill. Besides, as ugly as it is, or may be because of it, the SV-51 is just cool in a stick figure sort of way.

I'm blind! ...I have gazed upon Godzilla's macross shrine and now I can't see. BTW, what are you going to do with all that stuff, open your own toy store or museum some day? Damn, I'm sooooooo jealous.

Thanks for the link. I always wanted to see demonstrations of various techniques since the difference between watching it and reading about it is like night and day.

Click on the honey pot for some Southern cross too.

I saw that. Very funny, specially the fact that the human torch burst into flame at first contact with air . Also of note, and very amusing, was their homage to Johny Quest (the obvious inspiration for VB's satire) by having Race Banner show up in the episode...I won't say how or what happend in deference to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.