A CHALLANGE to all of you Tread heads.

Thats all im trying to do, educate you guys on what you probably wont ever see besides that tiny little table at the end of the juding hall with 3 or 4 kits on it.

the reason I threw the Ma.k kits up there, other then them being wicked little kits, is they are quite utilitarian, and more feasable then most others.  I mean, we live in the space age, its quite plausable for colonisation of space, is it not?  Wars not going to go away, its just gona migrate to space as well, and in space, you sort of need a space suit, right?  Well you want protection, so you armor it... WOAH you have something out of MA.k right there, eh'

You know what I find funny though, I watched Iron man today, and I thought, so many people here probably read iron man when they were young, or still do, and find it TOTALY acceptable, but dont like mecha, heh, its the same thing, except Iron man is an American Mecha, as opposed to a Japanese mecha.

At the risk of setting this whole thing off again... 

Smeagol, while mechs aren't my thing, that one with the KV turret and armored legs is cool, as are the Road Warrior-styled units made from found parts.  For me they all work in an artistically acceptable science/historical fiction vision of the world's possible futures.  They're big, clunky and utilitarian in the extreme and this makes them more believable to me.  The hyperstylized units with theoretical weaponry are unrelatable to my taste in sci-fi and historical fiction. 

I shudder to comment on that steampunk unit- but I will anyhow.  I very strongly dislike the steampunk aesthetic and culture.  But.. that mech is incredibly well done and to my eyes flawless.  I can easily acknowledge the builders skill, attention to detail and design vision and give them the respect that the work deserves.  But it doesn't mean that I like it. 

Insofar as breaking out of boundaries and building a mech..?  Possibly in the future if I see something that I dig like that KV walker or dream up an idea to scratchbuild but not soon.  I do have Aurora's Cornelius from Planet of the Apes to finish one of these days... now that's sci-fi!

Lastly, I do appreciate your efforts to bring some us further into the darkness of scale armored warfare.  I wouldn't be aware of those mechs that I mentioned if it weren't for you making the effort to bring them to our attention, thank you.  They're not something that I'll go looking for, but if I see one that looks interesting I'll pause and look at it.

Awesome moose, Ill check that out

 

Irish, I guess you are like me,  Ill build anything atleast once, there is always something to enjoy about it.  I quite enjoy building the turrets on tanks, I enjoy detailing the small little things on the inner frames of gundams, I enjoy scratch building details to makem look cooler.

I know not everyone keeps their builds, what you do with it when your done is your own choice, I know hans tears his up after a bit, to each his own.  Heck, you give yours to your nephews, one day there gona see the work you put into them and really treasure them (I assume they usem as toys as kids do)

You should follow the link to Fitchenfoo's website, he has some stellar work, he really does

 

Karl, stop taking everything so personal.  Every non wip thread that we both post in turns into a screaming war, just because people dont share your beliefs dont scream them at the person.  I built this so many some people over here could, I dunno, find something else to build with tanks, get some of the enjoyment that I get watching and doing Scifi builds.

As far as scifi being whatever you want, I enjoy that in wips even more then doing it myself, because if someone is doing a Sherman, you know what to expect, except in some cases where they go over the top and far beyond whats the norm (like chuck w's builds, or building the internals when they will only be seen through a small hole if you look carefully).  I like that whatever goes in scifi wips because it makes them interesting, you want to watch to see how they approach it, what they do that makes it their own, and if it works or not.  If it doesnt work, well then scratch it up to youth/old age and try again, or, since its a wip on a forum, see what the others have to say to see what you did wrong...

Leme put it into some terms you may really understand Karl, its like when your writing a new piece of music, when you bring it to the band there are always little tweaks and twists, re-orchestrations, additions and subtractions, but when you go and play a symphony, theres not really any room for change.  Both can be absolutley beautiful, but each has it's drawsbacks and Bonuses, do you understand?

Its the same with scifi builds, granted 'anything goes' but there are limits and norms people stick to, noone goes over the top or really beyond thouse boundries, they keep it as realistic as possible for the most part.  Granted, with gundams people can go over the top, but look at some of the others, its not just gundam or macross.  Look at the Ma.k, look at that Votoms build by fichenfoo.  You say that the Eagle you build was plausable, well the Ma.K suits are just as plausable imho. 

 

 

And just to show what it looked like since I dont think most people here know what a votoms kit is.

 

 

WOW this tread got ugly.  I didn't read any hostility in the challange. BUt I guess that is just me.  I figure if you don't like what some one is saying don't read it or comment on it.  Just my worth.  And that is all it is worth.

But as for the bb guns, if you would like to see what the R/C naval combat is about there is the website of the main rule body that we fight under.  Modelwarshipcombat.com and the local club is Portpolarbear.com  The guns are built by a guy in Minneasota and you can also buy them from battlersconnection.com

Thanks for showing a little interest in it, Steve.

Take care everyone

Kim

Well, I'm not going to comment on what this thread has boiled down to. It wouldn't serve any effective purpose. This post is about my personal experience.

I have built at least one model in about every genre there is, and to be honest, I enjoyed each and every one of them on some level, some more than others.

I did build one or two of the Gundam kits not to long ago, and while I did enjoy the builds, when i was done, they were given to my nephew to put on their shelves. I just found that they really weren't my cup of tea. 

One of the things I like about what is on my shelves is that when somebody asks about them, I can tell a story. "that one? Well, that is a representation of the Higgins boat that my Uncle Larney drove at Anzio.", or "that's a model of the '65 Mustang that my father bought when he left the Air Force", or "That's a German 105mm, we have a real one at the shop if you want to see it."

I guess what I am saying is that these things are more tangible to me, have more physical meaning. It isn't that I don't like the Gundam Universe, it's just that I can't see myself living in it.

That being said, I do have two or three more Gundam/Anime style kits in the stash that were given to me. When I break one out again, I promise that I will post the progress. Chances are, though, it will be getting a WWII style paint job!

 

Steve

 

P.s. I DO have to say, though, that THIS is just STELLAR!

 

I have an affinity for everything Steampunk/Jules Verne style, and I would love to have one of these!

Well, I spent the time to read through all of this "urinary contest". Hopefully everyone who reads it understands "sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don't". Everybody is different.

Now that we have gone to our respective corners, could we please let this thread DIE and move on.....please!

Rounds Complete!!

LOL Steve--

I mean no offence to either of you dudes---stawberry, chocolate or vanilla---it's all good --- just different flavors---tread

smeagol the vile wrote:

I have tried, but he wont stop

That's right, Steven--it's all MY fault.

WOrry not--I got nothin' left to say; wouldn't make a dent anyway, apparently.

I have tried, but he wont stop

Again guys we love you all ---give it rest---tread

smeagol the vile wrote:

Max, thank you for getting my point.  I just wanted to share a bit of my world that these guys would never really experiance.  I also want to see what some of the best modelers I have the pleasure of talking to and learning from could do with these types of kits, thats all.

There's nothing wrong with your proposition, Steven, but you have much to learn in "the way to say it" On top of pooh-poohing "monotone color schemes" (95% of all Allied Armor), and "this person's tiger, or this person's panther,", on two separate parts in this thread (unless I'm being paranoid?) you call out my models as examples of something that you found either boring, uninteresting, or lacking in detail--I mean, honestly; tell me, how did I read you wrong?

"...how the heck many Hetzers has Karl built"--honestly, I've built two--not exactly "stuck in a rut" now, is it?

"Doog did that spaceship not to long ago, while it came out looking great, it wasnt that... detailed, color wise or weathering wise"--honestly, now? Ever hear of "a compliment that's not a compliment"?

I don't care WHO you are--until you can show me the same dedication and patient, diligent detailing in one of your builds as I lovingly put into that model alone, I would say that you have no right to casually throw around such remarks.

And I don't care who I am, or who anyone here thinks I think I am--any modeler here who has put as much time, effort, and care into the helpful tutorials and availability to help and advise in many, many PMs (even you quite recently) as I have deserves a little respect. 

Rob Gronovius wrote:

firesmacker wrote: Is there any kind of Gundam or Sci-Fi kit that can be played with by a small boy? I ask because I wouldn't mind doing one. They actually seem kind of cool to me in a weird sort of way. My only concern is my almost 3 year old wanting to play with them. I'm not asking to be a smart-***. If there is something like that out there, I am genuienly curious to know. Fill me in please if you can. Regards, Jeff Toys R Us used to carry a line of Gundam kits that were virtually an action figure that needed assembling. I built a few of these with my son (he's 12 now, I think he may have been around 5-6 at the time). He was able to play with them, but not quite as roughly as he played with his Pokemon action figures. They were around $5-10 back then.

They were the 1/144th scale kits for the Gundam Wing series.  The wing series sort of started bandai up again with putting out gundam kits, there was a lul before that.   Those kits are the real gap between the vintage kits and the modern HGUC ones.  They take ALOT of work to get right, some of them are real terrors, not even looking how they should (like the sandrock kit)  I have all of them,  never had the patience to do anything more then snap them, just takes TO much work.

Alot of the modern 1/144th scale kits can be purcfhased between 10 and 20$  (more then 5-10, but with the tooling improvements) check here http://www.gundamstoreandmore.com/uncenmodkit1.html for a full lineup of them. 

Max, thank you for getting my point.  I just wanted to share a bit of my world that these guys would never really experiance.  I also want to see what some of the best modelers I have the pleasure of talking to and learning from could do with these types of kits, thats all.

Geesh guys--y'all are certainly gettin awfully ANAL about your likes and dislikes--I have read the whole thread--most of it is not even good discussion ---it is almost getting mean spirited---go build a tank go build a Gumdam-- who gives a crap--- sorry--tread

Can't we all just get along???

Seriously, threads like this are what keep me from posting more. If I state an opinion and word it in a not-so-pollitically-correct way,  a whole bunch of people are going to gang up on me. I didn't read any hostility in Smeagol's original post, I just saw some opinions and a friendly challenge....just for fun. He wasn't telling anyone to "not like" armor or to "fall in love" with mecha-type stuff, he was just telling us what he thought. I thought that was part of what this forum is for.....sharing opinions. Mabye that's true, just don't dis the big dogs!(pun intended)

Just my ......guess I'll be on the S*** list now.....this thread just rubbed me the wrong way.

 

smeagol the vile wrote:

You have said how you feel about this many times, why not go build something instead of constantly posting page long posts about how I am wrong?

LOL, well now, Steven, I tried to make a polite, considerate dissection of your post not about "how wrong" you were/are, but about why your ham-handed proposition and your subtle condescension was not bearing fruit, and you come back with that. It was meant in the most diplomatic, constructive way I coud think of putting it, Steven,

I guess I'm not surprised at your reaction.

caSSius said what I'm sure others are thinking as well--"...you've generalized the whole armour forum down to something that bores you. I won't even pose the obvious question about why you'd hang around a place where the duplicity of the subjects being posted bothers you...".

I was hoping to enlighten you as to why so many of we Armorers have no interest in Gundam kits and why we find Armor to be every bit as exciting, challenging, and UN-boring as you seem to think that it's NOT.

Here's a "challange" to YOU, Steven--first, why don't you re-read my post to see what I was trying to impart, second, why don't you think about learning some manners, and third, why don't YOU build some armor that has at least a nod to historical fidelity and accuracy?

 

 

 

 

moose421 wrote:

Well I have strayed from armor.  Mine was not scifi, its R/C naval warships.  That is where you stick low powered bb guns into a 1/144 scale warship.  Heck, I don't even have any PE on it.  In reallity it is a semi-scale ship.  Just the basic structures.  Oh yeah, the hull is sheeted in 1/32" balsa.  The ship that I have is the USS Wichita and she carries two guns and a bilge pump.  Yep, the first time out and I got it sunk.  Made a couple of rookie mistakes and was pounced on.  It was a blast.  Now the mark IV H that I am building is fun. Kim

You seriously put bb guns inside of 1/144th scale warships?  Thats wicked, where do you get the Bb guns that small?  That would be awesome to put in a RC tank or something.

the doog wrote:

This thread reminds me of somebody trying to get a football team to try ballet.

LOL...good analogy Karl......perhaps another might be the much over-used "you can lead a horse to water...but you can't make him drink"

Smeagol, although I believe I understand what you're trying to do...ie. get people to "expand their horizons"...I don't agree with your approach, or at least how it degraded to the point of throwing insults at not just an individual (who's Eagle build-up was amazing in my opinion...especially when you consider the quality of his starting point and the mods he had to perform to give it a modicum of authenticity) but also in how you've generalized the whole armour forum down to something that bores you. I won't even pose the obvious question about why you'd hang around a place where the duplicity of the subjects being posted bothers you...

You've thrown out the invitation...albeit clumsily...and even had a few expressions of interest...but for me, you summed up why I'll pass on your invitation in your original post...although I'd finish the paragraph differently:

smeagol the vile wrote:

Now I know what some of you are saying 'thats not my cup of tea' 'I only build what I am interested in'  I know and I hear you, but sometimes its good to branch out.  What is the WORST that could happen?  You spend a bit of money on a nice kit...

...that I will never finish, because it doesn't interest me and that I've grown a resentment against because because I wasted good money on something that's burning up the few hours I have for this hobby. [end of revised paragraph]

Diversity may be what motivates you...but trying to force it down the throats of others, who are not like-motivated, serves no purpose other than to alienate people.

Personally, I have enough trouble finding time to work on things that interest me and that are important to me...I would find it nothing short of work to try and model something that I have no passion for...regardless of how many pics and links you post of your passion...and my model table is a designated "work-free, relaxation zone".

I'll get off my now and saunter back to the boring ol' Armor Forum...it is after-all the reason why I'm here...it's where my interest lies.

This is one linebacker that isn't considering switching his cleats for a pair of toe-shoes.

Cheers

You have said how you feel about this many times, why not go build something instead of constantly posting page long posts about how I am wrong?

Steven, I "get it' that this topic is obviously dear to your heart, and is important to you for your own reasons, but I don't think you're quite "getting" it back. Many modelers here diversify, and quite well, in fact, but building a mecha kit is not the only "standard" for "branching out" or challenging oneself. You seem to be stuck on the insistence that "If it ain't Mecha, it ain't ***"? Try to sell it all you want, but allow me to point out some observations;

smeagol the vile wrote:

Everyone... Its just that I live with a mindset that you never know what you are going to like untill you try it.  That doesnt go for EVERYTHING but it goes for alot of things.  I understand if someone doesnt like Japanimation like everyone likes to say (though, I bet every one of them watched some anime as a kid, speed racer, robotech, something).  Honestly though, that doesnt matter to me, because they might not like the subject or not konw anything about it, but find that they enjoy the living heck out of building it.

I don't think you're taking into account that for a lot of modelers like myself, part of enjoying the build is knowing something about the thing you're building. You couldn't bribe me to sit through a manga or mecha cartoon, so I highly doubt that I would enjoy building a big, over-anthromorphosized robot which is theoretically outside the bounds of reality. I mean, just the suspension of the Laws of Physics involved in the existence of such a thing would be so extreme that it could never exist in actuality--that's reason enough for me not to build something. It's not like a "paper panzer", which were real designs that could have and would have existed had not the war ended. Even the Space 1999 Eagle--it was based on sound theoretical considerations and design.

  

smeagol the vile wrote:

I find building these kits not only to be fun, but to be a challange you wont EVER get building armor or any scale.

Steven, honestly now--do you have any idea how subtly condescending that sounds? Imagine if one of us went into the Sci-Fi forum and said "Well I find these tanks to be a challenge you won't EVER (emphasis noted) get building Gundam or any scale"? I mean, seriously, Steven--check yourself here please?

smeagol the vile wrote:

A Master grade bandai gundam kit, for example... a GM the SIMPLIEST DESIGN, it has just been released in a 2.0 version, it has 12 runners of parts, now for lets say something more advanced, the Ex-s Gundam, has 30runners of parts and multiple packs of screws for support on joints.  Or maybe a Perfect grade it, while alot more expensiv... the GP02/Fb 46 rnners of parts, metal parts (solid metal, not photoetched), and wiring for included LEDs (anywhere from one to alot depending on the kit) All of these kits not only come with the parts, but VERY detailed instruction manuals, some of the best I have seen actuially, a small to large selection of dry transfer decals, and in some cases a stand/base.

Yeah, well; a typical multi-media kit also contains a lot of bells and whistles--PE, metal, wiring, clear parts, metal cables, resin--how about that 1/16 Trumpeter King Tiger? Have you seen the parts in that? Or how about the K5 Leopold or Dora kits? You wanna talk complexity? Even the 1/35 DML Pz IVD mit 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/43--over 35 sprues, packed with parts, and that's not counting the tracks and full "goodies card" with the PE, tow cables, clear parts, etc. While your enthusiasm is commendable, smeagol, but your perspective is short with regard to the comparision you've attempted to make, and some could even take it as a tad condescending.

smeagol the vile wrote:

That might not mean much to any of you honestly, but when I see that, I find it to be a challange myself, I want to try and build it to see what I can do with it.  Along those lines... I see so many builds of tanks and such, weathering aside, that are the same because its this person's tiger, or this person's panther,

-geez; ya know, it's funny that you say that, because that's exactly what I think when I see alot of those gundam kits! But I'd never go into the SCi-Fi forum and actually say that..?!

smeagol the vile wrote:

...as was said before, scifi is just that, fiction, you can do anything you want to your kit to make it look how you want without having to worry about rivet counters and whatnot, its a great way to express yourself without being confined.

I actually find the "requirement" to build within at least some sort of parameters to be a "plus" to the kit's building, and I would get bored too easily wit a kit where I could theoretically do anything and it would be "OK". I know that for some modelers like myself, the research, knowledge of, and striving to create and replicate something with at least a nod to accuracy, detail, and a plausible finish is just as important --and enjoyable--as gluing and painting.

smeagol the vile wrote:

I guess that reason is why I sorta flipped out when the discussion started on my halftrack about me not using the correct shade of gray... I just find those things nuts.

Ahhh, now--now I get the reason for this whole "challange" thing. Dr. Hannibal Lector would have a field day with this, but I'm just going to say "Thank you agent smeagol.."

smeagol the vile wrote:

I honestly think most people feel that these mecha japanimation things are toys and cant be taken seriously as well, with their bright colors and such, but its really, honestly not true.

Well, you certainly hit the nail on the head there, as far as I'm concerned. I DO look at Gundam/Mecha kits as toys, marketed to kids in a "WWF" vein. They look like wrestlers, with over-accentuated psuedo-anatomical parts that would serve no purpose in a real design, and are really purely aesthetic enhancements done for artistic "style". A REAL mecha would be impractical, clumsy, and easy to knock over--only the suspension of physics in the "anything goes" world of Japanimation makes them fun to watch. As a modeling subject though, in my personal opinion, that "anything goes" aspect of building one leaves me cold. I am of the opinion that it takes more skill by far to build something that could be a realistic machine (car, plane, tank) that conforms to the Laws of Physics and reality--demanding a recognition of certain weathering and finishing requirements. And some of the SCi-Fi modelers we have here DO that with some of the Armor-styled vehicles and spaceships, so I'm not saying that one can't be a tremendously talented Sci-FI modeler----but to postulate, as you have, that somehow the Armor crowd is "missing out" because of the requirement of accuracy and historical fidelity strikes me as...well, perhaps not too well-thought-out?

That KV-thing dio is pretty cool, but to be honest, I'd be thinking of the real tank if I tried to build that...

     Everyone... Its just that I live with a mindset that you never know what you are going to like untill you try it.  That doesnt go for EVERYTHING but it goes for alot of things.  I understand if someone doesnt like Japanimation like everyone likes to say (though, I bet every one of them watched some anime as a kid, speed racer, robotech, something).  Honestly though, that doesnt matter to me, because they might not like the subject or not konw anything about it, but find that they enjoy the living heck out of building it.

    I find building these kits not only to be fun, but to be a challange you wont EVER get building armor or any scale.  A Master grade bandai gundam kit, for example... a GM the SIMPLIEST DESIGN, it has just been released in a 2.0 version, it has 12 runners of parts, now for lets say something more advanced, the Ex-s Gundam, has 30runners of parts and multiple packs of screws for support on joints.  Or maybe a Perfect grade it, while alot more expensiv... the GP02/Fb 46 rnners of parts, metal parts (solid metal, not photoetched), and wiring for included LEDs (anywhere from one to alot depending on the kit) All of these kits not only come with the parts, but VERY detailed instruction manuals, some of the best I have seen actuially, a small to large selection of dry transfer decals, and in some cases a stand/base.

That might not mean much to any of you honestly, but when I see that, I find it to be a challange myself, I want to try and build it to see what I can do with it.  Along those lines... I see so many builds of tanks and such, weathering aside, that are the same because its this person's tiger, or this person's panther, as was said before, scifi is just that, fiction, you can do anything you want to your kit to make it look how you want without having to worry about rivet counters and whatnot, its a great way to express yourself without being confined.  Its another reason I didnt add startrek or Starwars, there is SO MUCH information out there on that, its hard to break the mold often, because if you do an A wing in green its from one squadrin, if you do it in blue, its from that one, but if you build a Lunar Pawn Ma.K kit, its basicly up to you what to do with it, can be whoever's, you can make your own decals.  Hans, you said your account name is a fictional char you used when you were younger with your friends, you could simply make custom decals for said char if you wanted.

I guess that reason is why I sorta flipped out when the discussion started on my halftrack about me not using the correct shade of gray... I just find those things nuts.

I honestly think most people feel that these mecha japanimation things are toys and cant be taken seriously as well, with their bright colors and such, but its really, honestly not true.

  Was a winner of the... 2005 bandai asian cup, I believe.

There is one modeler, though he himself is a jackbutt, is an absolutley amazing modeler, I dont think I have ever shown his work here, his tag is Fitchenfoo (www.fitchenfoo.net)

(from a series I forgot about D: called Votoms, same type of mech thing you guys abhore)

 

 

 

 

 

I thought by trying to show you some of the non gundam, more... plausable things, the votoms, the Ma.k (which is quite plausable, if you think about it) you would like it a bit more, there alot closer to your building scale, can use the same weathering techniques and painting techniques but in a brand new way.

Well I have strayed from armor.  Mine was not scifi, its R/C naval warships.  That is where you stick low powered bb guns into a 1/144 scale warship.  Heck, I don't even have any PE on it.  In reallity it is a semi-scale ship.  Just the basic structures.  Oh yeah, the hull is sheeted in 1/32" balsa.  The ship that I have is the USS Wichita and she carries two guns and a bilge pump.  Yep, the first time out and I got it sunk.  Made a couple of rookie mistakes and was pounced on.  It was a blast.  Now the mark IV H that I am building is fun.

Kim

I mean it's a toy...  Dunno about the scale... Looks like about the same scale as those small GI Joes.. I'm not carin' about that it's a toy or not though...  The basic hull and turret's right, needs some vis-mdding here & there and has a few things I've seen on any tank anywhere, but it's designed to get beat up by kids in a back yard, so that part's ok... I'd say that it's as good as any of those put out by 21st Century Toys though..

Be even better after I get it armed...

What do you mean when you say alot of work?  Crappy fit, poor moldings?

Ill check it out though, there are a few academy RC kits for sort of cheap, a 1/25th panther G.  What scale is the abrams in?

There's a fairly decent M1 Abrams R/C you can get at Target On-line for about 15-20 bucks, Smeagol... It'll need work, LOTS of it, to be a scale model of real quality, but it's pretty fun as is... I bought one each fer me an' the grandson and we fight 'em when he comes over.. He's 7 and is turning into quite the clanker...

I would if I had the cash for such a large project.  I wouldnt mind having myself a LARGE scale RC tank, and theres also a 1/60th scale gundam kit that I want to RC (the mech hovers, and the feet are LARGE, so you could easily fit some wheels inside of them, gettem remoted and there you go.

the doog wrote:

This thread reminds me of somebody trying to get a football team to try ballet. Can we get back to Armor now?

Nah ... looking at the rest of the threads here it fits most certainly. 

I would check on ebay.  Tons of Gundam/sci-fi kits you just can't shake a stick at!

the doog wrote:

This thread reminds me of somebody trying to get a football team to try ballet. Can we get back to Armor now?

I tend to favor sci-fi kits that are in essence, armor kits. I find it to be little different than the paper panzers armor modelers build. There are a line of Dougram 1/72 scale kits that are military vehicles used to defend (I think) against the larger robot warmachines. Some of these kits look an awful lot like US WW2 3/4 ton Dodges, Jeeps and armored cars very similar to modern day Strykers and BTRs.

This thread reminds me of somebody trying to get a football team to try ballet.

Can we get back to Armor now?

firesmacker wrote:

Is there any kind of Gundam or Sci-Fi kit that can be played with by a small boy? I ask because I wouldn't mind doing one. They actually seem kind of cool to me in a weird sort of way. My only concern is my almost 3 year old wanting to play with them. I'm not asking to be a smart-***. If there is something like that out there, I am genuienly curious to know. Fill me in please if you can. Regards, Jeff

Toys R Us used to carry a line of Gundam kits that were virtually an action figure that needed assembling. I built a few of these with my son (he's 12 now, I think he may have been around 5-6 at the time). He was able to play with them, but not quite as roughly as he played with his Pokemon action figures. They were around $5-10 back then.