Something I often shy away from is politicking in the real world. It's not really my domain. But I would be socially irresponsible if I did not speak up when I have this opportunity to spread the word.
Here is a very unfortunate incident that happened to a fellow wargaming player... Please take a look if you can.
122nd Cadian: Bad Journalism
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Hercules: Heavy Labor
Labels:
review,
stuff,
Transformers
My first attempt at a vlog review. Runs about 10 minutes.
As usual it needs not be said that is not for everyone. It's a collector's item with limited production run. MSRP is about normal for this kind of thing, but value is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
As usual it needs not be said that is not for everyone. It's a collector's item with limited production run. MSRP is about normal for this kind of thing, but value is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
!!!UPDATE!!!
Seems I'm not alone with the leg that won't straighten out. TFC has helpfully posted the following instructions for a DIY solution. Good luck!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
While I've been waiting
So... just as we settled into Labour Day weekend, I received an email from THQ. It was the shipping confirmation for my long-awaited collector's edition of Space Marine on PS3. Little did I realize at the time, long-awaited was about to become even-longer-awaited.
So besides transferring to a new work-area, here's a list of all the things I've accomplished in my spare time NOT playing Space Marine.
So besides transferring to a new work-area, here's a list of all the things I've accomplished in my spare time NOT playing Space Marine.
- Enjoyed a nice reunion with some extended family including a trip back home, and a visit with my brother during the long weekend.
- Finished Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions on PS3.
- Met friends for a night of pool at Dooly's on Member-Mondays. Twice.
- Started and finished reading Star Wars "Allegiance" by Timothy Zahn.
- Hosted an edition of Bad-Video-Game-Movies night at my place for my buddies.
- Completed all challenges in "Dead or Alive Dimensions" on 3DS.
- Built a Lego Technic mobile crane model. Added the Power Functions kit.
- Played Anomaly Warzone Earth nearly to completion (boy does it get hard towards the end).
- Watched all 6 Star Wars films on blu-ray including a massive portion of the bonus features.
- Visited with friends for an impromptu birthday party.
- Watched "The Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi." (Epic!)
- Attended a Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators pre-season game.
- Tonight I will begin a new gunpla kit I bought myself at the local specialty shop. It's the over-sized 1/48 scale RX-78 and it'll be awesome.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
8053 Mobile Crane
Labels:
Lego
I never quite warmed up to Lego Technic. It's Lego, but it's not really Lego to me. It doesn't have that elegant simplicity of bricks but instead has complicated bars with connectors, which to me, is the opposite of elegant. But I do still appreciate its inherent genius.
I felt like diving back into this sort of thing after stumbling on a Youtube video about Lego. I chose the Mobile Crane kit because it's suitably complex and is also playable when done.
After the first hour, I felt that usual "Technic Confusion" already. It must take some kind of savant to realize a model from these mechanical innards. I didn't know where the instructions were taking me other than that I was building some kind of chassis. When I got to the point seen in the photo below, I finally saw that I was actually building the brackets for a steering column that would angle the 8 wheels.
Actually to be more accurate, it figured it out sooner and snapped that photo only after I started on the front cab. But the point is, the model up to then was more or less just a series of bars and with a few seemingly random gears.
To me, thrill of Lego Technic is seeing bits become assemblies, assemblies become parts, and so on. Then that moment you think, "ah! Now I can see how this is supposed to work."
So eventually I got to this...
At the end of "Bag 1" (which is actually a series of bags), we have what can easily be recognized as a vehicle. A large gear serves as a steering knob at the back while a smaller one swings the stabilizers open and closed. The little feet lower when you twist the black handles.
"Bag 2" is all the for the crane assembly.
The crane is where things get very alien to me. The red lever shift a clutch into place to catch a series of gears. Depending on the lever positions, you are raising the arm, or extending it, or lowering the grapple line.
Technic does something else that annoys me a bit: no drivers or pilots. Long ago, I recall some sets had "Technic people" but I'll settle for Little-Prime being able to sit in crane cab:
In fact, it bothers me even more than they made seats in the main cab, but there's no room for a passenger's legs. Why couldn't the design be just one or 2 "holes" longer. Even the cab doors open... but for what?
It also kind of bugs me that although the structure is about as stable as it will get, Lego plastic still has a certain amount of flex. Those stabilizers are cool but not truly functional. And I'm almost afraid to turn the knobs and gears when the fit is just a bit too tight. I expect it to snap at any time, even though it clearly shouldn't.
Still the whole point of this exercise is to make an outrageously large model and it does that just fine. The crane ends up being over half a meter long and just as high if the crane is fully extended and raised. I just wish it weren't so hard to take Technic bits apart because I'm eager to try building the harbour-crane model using the downloadable manual. Maybe I'll give it a few weeks rest. :)
I felt like diving back into this sort of thing after stumbling on a Youtube video about Lego. I chose the Mobile Crane kit because it's suitably complex and is also playable when done.
After the first hour, I felt that usual "Technic Confusion" already. It must take some kind of savant to realize a model from these mechanical innards. I didn't know where the instructions were taking me other than that I was building some kind of chassis. When I got to the point seen in the photo below, I finally saw that I was actually building the brackets for a steering column that would angle the 8 wheels.
Actually to be more accurate, it figured it out sooner and snapped that photo only after I started on the front cab. But the point is, the model up to then was more or less just a series of bars and with a few seemingly random gears.To me, thrill of Lego Technic is seeing bits become assemblies, assemblies become parts, and so on. Then that moment you think, "ah! Now I can see how this is supposed to work."
So eventually I got to this...
At the end of "Bag 1" (which is actually a series of bags), we have what can easily be recognized as a vehicle. A large gear serves as a steering knob at the back while a smaller one swings the stabilizers open and closed. The little feet lower when you twist the black handles."Bag 2" is all the for the crane assembly.
The crane is where things get very alien to me. The red lever shift a clutch into place to catch a series of gears. Depending on the lever positions, you are raising the arm, or extending it, or lowering the grapple line.Technic does something else that annoys me a bit: no drivers or pilots. Long ago, I recall some sets had "Technic people" but I'll settle for Little-Prime being able to sit in crane cab:
In fact, it bothers me even more than they made seats in the main cab, but there's no room for a passenger's legs. Why couldn't the design be just one or 2 "holes" longer. Even the cab doors open... but for what?
It also kind of bugs me that although the structure is about as stable as it will get, Lego plastic still has a certain amount of flex. Those stabilizers are cool but not truly functional. And I'm almost afraid to turn the knobs and gears when the fit is just a bit too tight. I expect it to snap at any time, even though it clearly shouldn't.Still the whole point of this exercise is to make an outrageously large model and it does that just fine. The crane ends up being over half a meter long and just as high if the crane is fully extended and raised. I just wish it weren't so hard to take Technic bits apart because I'm eager to try building the harbour-crane model using the downloadable manual. Maybe I'll give it a few weeks rest. :)
Friday, August 05, 2011
Hercules: Exgraver
Labels:
review,
stuff,
Transformers
After waiting for months, here he is! The first sixth of Transformers Club's attempt to remake their own version of Devastator. Of course, being that TFC is an unauthorized fan group, they aren't allowed to use trademarked names like Devastator (or Decepticon or Constructicon, for that matter). So this is the first part of "Hercules", he is "Exgraver" and "not Scavenger."
Not-Scavenger come out pretty well despite the general reaction that he isn't quite up to Hasbro/Takara standards. Exgraver is made of the same type of solid ABS plastic. He stands about 7 inches high (his head to his feet). Everything on him moves - from shoulders to hips, knees to elbows, even his head is on a ball joint allowing him to look up at you from your desk. This is especially important since he also features light-piping in his eyes. And the "Hercules's right arm" configuration doesn't seem like an after-thought either: the arm also has an elbow and wrist, both which rotate and swivel. Not-Devastator's hand even has articulated fingers.
If he's so posable, does that mean Exgraver is playable? Well... this is where I have to deduct points. Hasbro/Takara are in the business of making kids' toys. And kids can be a little rough. I've noticed in recent Transformers instruction manuals that they specifically say forcing parts may cause them to pop off. They don't break; you simply pop the parts back into place. I don't feel so comfortable here. I feel like if a joint is just a bit too tight, I don't want to force it. Part of this is due to design and part due to implementation.
One of the first steps in the included instructions is to stow Hercules's hand onto the robot so that it becomes part of his vehicle mode. Well, I discovered that there simply isn't any give. If the hand is in place, there's barely any room to flip the shoulders up and plug into place. Well, there's a little room, but there is the risk of scratching up the parts that meet. I've since discovered it's safer to just reverse the steps - fold up and peg the parts before putting in the giant purple hand.
Myclone Optimus Prime is exactly 2.5 inches tall, to give you an idea how bulky vehicle mode is. With the "Hercules hand" stowed away there are a few more 5mm holes and pegs around to also plug in the two gun accessories. No baggie required for left-over parts. Exgraver may require parts-swapping for the cab (that is actually plugged into an upside down fist when in vehicle mode) but at least he cleans up after himself. And as you could see in the first photo above there are a variety of ways to plug everything in robot mode as well.
I can understand the common complaints - that this figure is too expensive for what it is. But let's be serious - TFC is no Hasbro. They accepted a risk to undertake this project, but they aren't stupid. They have shopped around and must have found the best factory they could afford. And in order to make back the costs of a limited production run, they priced their figure accordingly. "Hercules" is not priced for everyone, but those of us who took the plunge should not regret the decision to support the project. Because I can't wait for the next one!
Not-Scavenger come out pretty well despite the general reaction that he isn't quite up to Hasbro/Takara standards. Exgraver is made of the same type of solid ABS plastic. He stands about 7 inches high (his head to his feet). Everything on him moves - from shoulders to hips, knees to elbows, even his head is on a ball joint allowing him to look up at you from your desk. This is especially important since he also features light-piping in his eyes. And the "Hercules's right arm" configuration doesn't seem like an after-thought either: the arm also has an elbow and wrist, both which rotate and swivel. Not-Devastator's hand even has articulated fingers.
If he's so posable, does that mean Exgraver is playable? Well... this is where I have to deduct points. Hasbro/Takara are in the business of making kids' toys. And kids can be a little rough. I've noticed in recent Transformers instruction manuals that they specifically say forcing parts may cause them to pop off. They don't break; you simply pop the parts back into place. I don't feel so comfortable here. I feel like if a joint is just a bit too tight, I don't want to force it. Part of this is due to design and part due to implementation.
Do this first...
...then this (the thumb will be behind the head)...
...and then this (plug in and then fold fingers over the face).
...then this (the thumb will be behind the head)...
...and then this (plug in and then fold fingers over the face).
One of the first steps in the included instructions is to stow Hercules's hand onto the robot so that it becomes part of his vehicle mode. Well, I discovered that there simply isn't any give. If the hand is in place, there's barely any room to flip the shoulders up and plug into place. Well, there's a little room, but there is the risk of scratching up the parts that meet. I've since discovered it's safer to just reverse the steps - fold up and peg the parts before putting in the giant purple hand.
Myclone Optimus Prime is exactly 2.5 inches tall, to give you an idea how bulky vehicle mode is. With the "Hercules hand" stowed away there are a few more 5mm holes and pegs around to also plug in the two gun accessories. No baggie required for left-over parts. Exgraver may require parts-swapping for the cab (that is actually plugged into an upside down fist when in vehicle mode) but at least he cleans up after himself. And as you could see in the first photo above there are a variety of ways to plug everything in robot mode as well.
The instructions say this...
...but you can do this if you jiggle the black panel a bit...
Last but not least... the obligatory picture of Exgraver's arm-mode. This is going to be a seriously large figure. The hand compares with Optimal Optimus from Beast Wars. The connector for the shoulder joint is not at the very tip but that makes sense as the prototype photos released by TFC have shown that the head and shoulders formed by "Not Hook" will be very beefy.
...but you can do this if you jiggle the black panel a bit...
I can understand the common complaints - that this figure is too expensive for what it is. But let's be serious - TFC is no Hasbro. They accepted a risk to undertake this project, but they aren't stupid. They have shopped around and must have found the best factory they could afford. And in order to make back the costs of a limited production run, they priced their figure accordingly. "Hercules" is not priced for everyone, but those of us who took the plunge should not regret the decision to support the project. Because I can't wait for the next one!
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