Interesting New Stuff from Hasegawa.

[Whiterook]

Coming soon to this very sub-forum, after I build them of course, two models I picked up years ago: Babylon 5 Space Station and a Babylon 5 Starfury! I am a HUGE Babylon 5 fan, and I bought them back in the late 90's? Perhaps at some level, I knew I'd be getting into model kit building, perhaps? An epiphany!

[Geek44]

Never warmed to Babylon 5 or Stargate (I know you're a fan) myself but I do like sci-fi as a genre. Maybe I'm a little 'old school' in that regard. I read lots of Asimov as a kid including 'Bicentennial Man' and 'I Robot'. Curse you Robin Williams and Wil Smith for butchering two sci-fi classics. I also really like 'Blade Runner' as a movie (the book is better but I treat them as 'seperate' entities to be enjoyed for different reasons). A friend once built Darth Vader's TIE fighter by Ertl. Pretty basic kits...and that's my criticism of the few sci-fi kits I've seen...they're very basic.

[MAGNA]

My friend used to be right into Star Trek and bought some kits. You are right about the simplicity Geek. He wasn't impressed with most of them at all.

The funniest thing was the plan sets he bought. The original series Enterprise didn't have a toilet anywhere on board. Did they use the replicator or just set Phasers to flush ?

[Geek44]

That's a pretty bad oversight. Maybe they just opened a window and let fly 'medieval style'.

[Tom Houlihan]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

The original series Enterprise didn't have a toilet anywhere on board. Did they use the replicator or just set Phasers to flush ?

Well, all they had to do was transport it elsewhere. Why do you think those "Photon" torpedoes were so feared?

[Whiterook]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

My friend used to be right into Star Trek and bought some kits. You are right about the simplicity Geek. He wasn't impressed with most of them at all.

The funniest thing was the plan sets he bought. The original series Enterprise didn't have a toilet anywhere on board. Did they use the replicator or just set Phasers to flush ?

And what...you really thought that was Romulan Ale???

[Whiterook]

Originally Posted by Geek44

Never warmed to Babylon 5 or Stargate (I know you're a fan) myself but I do like sci-fi as a genre. Maybe I'm a little 'old school' in that regard. I read lots of Asimov as a kid including 'Bicentennial Man' and 'I Robot'. Curse you Robin Williams and Wil Smith for butchering two sci-fi classics. I also really like 'Blade Runner' as a movie (the book is better but I treat them as 'seperate' entities to be enjoyed for different reasons). A friend once built Darth Vader's TIE fighter by Ertl. Pretty basic kits...and that's my criticism of the few sci-fi kits I've seen...they're very basic.

I have quite a few Asimov books myself...one of my favs (though not one of the better written) was "The Stars, Like Dust"...for some reason, I just couldn't put it down. B5 and Star Gate are great escapest fare for me, but hey, don't go by me, I actually like Andromeda with Kevin Sorbo (actually, a fascinating concept!!!)!

[Geek44]

I find Asimov a bit 'pulp' now that I'm more 'mature' (read old). I still like his stuff for what it is...I have the entire 'Space Ranger' set, ploughed through the 'Foundation' saga (still have little idea what that was about) and many, many short stories. I haven't read 'The Stars, Like Dust'.
I'm totally unfamiliar with 'Andromeda' but I've been sickened by Sorbo...Hercules I think. I remember a dull-witted work-mate once proudly proclaiming that Kevin Sorbo had been found to posses 'the strength of ten men' despite his being only a single man...I think he was blurring Hercules with reality. I'd love to know who 'found' that fact.
I love Phillip K. Dick and think he's one of the more underrated sci-fi writers of the Asimov/Heinlein 'grandfather' period. Among his works (credited in tiny letters in the end credits) are 'Total Recall' and 'Blade Runner' which was released as 'Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep'. The book is waaaaaaaaay deeper than the movie (of course) and raises more questions. If I ever go to university, a thesis might come of that book/movie. My favourite sci-fi book of all time, that remains in my top five books of any genre, is actually the second part of a two part story by Greg Bear. This guy is pretty contemporary and wrote 'The Forge Of God' and (my fave) 'Anvil Of Stars' in the 80s/90s. His ideas are just mind bogglingly huge and his pseudo-science is awesome but totally believeable. See also 'Eon' and 'Eternity' by this guy.
I'm right onto the 'bad story/movie but a great concept' thing. The 'Terminator' series is the best example I can think of. I love that 'time loop' thing present also in 'Twelve Monkeys' (another excellent film IMO). Getting past Aahnie, Linda Hamilton and that wooden Michael Biehn is hard but the idea is awesome.

[Whiterook]

The movie version of 12 Monkey's was very good, but the book was WAY better. You should read it sometime, Nick...I think you'd like it.

[Geek44]

I didn't know it was a book too...I'll be looking for it.
BTW, see my S/F thread over at Kilroy's mate.