F-ZeroOne

Thanks for the correction. All we need now is for some Typhoon brylcreem boy to break the ROE on the next training exercise and get himself a photo of a gun kill on a F-22... [1] [1] Yes, I know that the infamous "F-18" shot wasn't the full story, and was also really, really silly on the part of the Navy pilot.

Just got this about a week ago too. So far, I've found it too be a little bit harder than the last game on "Normal" setting - I've actually been shot down, rather than killing myself by flying into the ground. Your wingman - depsite having the most ridiculous wingman name in the history of aviation - actually does things this time round, too! "Hey, that was my kill!". I really liked the fact that the Draken is one of the starting aircraft, too...

Mine only shipped this week - and the actual figure I need for the body a couple of days after that. Its coming via SAL, so its going to be a little while before I receive them. I'm intending to post images when I do get them. FedEX Delivery Valkyries are expensive...

Interesting Typhoon tid-bit from the Eurofighter forums - apparently the Typhoon will be getting the 27mm cannon, plus relevant training, in RAF service. This is apparently due to current operational experience involving Harriers which is causing air/ground force co-operation problems. Go ahead, punks. Make our day.

Well, Konami got my 4,500 yen in the end. I hope their marketing people are happy. First thing I do when I get my gun-bunny is send her round to strafe their offices.

Isn't a "nisei" an Americanised Japanese person?

Ah, nuts - so I have to get a seperate MMS body then if I want the Waffe bunny?

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...