Dew husky or Green tea husky?

[Kobuk]

Have you ever seen the Battleship Texas?

Nope, never been there.

[Kay Alett]

Have you ever seen the Battleship Texas?

Nope, never been there.

That's a shame, I've only been once when I was a kid but it was really fun. I've been to Seawolf Park where you can go aboard the USS CAVALLA submarine from WWII and the USS STEWART destroyer escort that is one of only 3 in the world

I'd love to take a trip back down there and re-visit those places. when I went on the CAVALLA I had trouble going up and down the ladders inside because I was afraid of hights, now that I've gotten over most of my fear I'd like to try it again.

[Kobuk]

I was going to mention this long ago, but I guess I just forgot.   Anyway, At work in the seasonal Toy Dept., we have the following....
http://www.leapfrog.com/en/families/scout_/my_pals/my_pal_scout.html

Isn't he cute?! Every time I have to stock the Toy Dept., I just can't resist pressing his paws to make him say new things.  
<---- Doesn't he look kinda like me, only without the Dew. LOL It's almost like a mini-me.  

[Kay Alett]

He can learn to talk? Make it say "Gimmie Dew!" Or recite the MPoD.

[Arbutus]

Or recite the MPoD.

This is a seriously scary prospect.

[Kobuk]

My mother visited me for Xmas yesterday and besides bringing gifts, she also brought a whole bunch of treats with her that she made and/or bought.  In fact, I think she overdid things a bit.  I'll probably be eating this stuff for the next two weeks! LOL She bought a platter of Xmas cookies. She made a large bag of Chex Mix. She also made chocolate peanut butter brownies. Yum! And last, but not least, she made fudge: Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and White Chocolate.  I don't think I'll be able to eat all this by myself, so..........*uses Blastdav's cloning machine to clone more servings of treats* Dig in, everyone! And Happy Holidays!

[Blastdav]

I was going to mention this long ago, but I guess I just forgot.   Anyway, At work in the seasonal Toy Dept., we have the following....
http://www.leapfrog.com/en/families/scout_/my_pals/my_pal_scout.html

Isn't he cute?! Every time I have to stock the Toy Dept., I just can't resist pressing his paws to make him say new things.  
<---- Doesn't he look kinda like me, only without the Dew. LOL It's almost like a mini-me.  

My gosh is that a monocle?! p.o

^___^

[Kay Alett]

My mother visited me for Xmas yesterday and besides bringing gifts, she also brought a whole bunch of treats with her that she made and/or bought.  In fact, I think she overdid things a bit.  I'll probably be eating this stuff for the next two weeks! LOL She bought a platter of Xmas cookies. She made a large bag of Chex Mix. She also made chocolate peanut butter brownies. Yum! And last, but not least, she made fudge: Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and White Chocolate.  I don't think I'll be able to eat all this by myself, so..........*uses Blastdav's cloning machine to clone more servings of treats* Dig in, everyone! And Happy Holidays!

Let the feast.... BEGIN!
*om nom nom nom noms*

[Kay Alett]

From the IRL picture thread

What is there in the way of ventilation? A vent system, or perhaps a fan? I don't know too much about fursuits, I have this annoying claustrophobia thing...

Some fursuiters put small CPU fans inside the muzzle area to help cool them off. Others might wear those camel-pack cool vests. And still other suiters might just "tough it out" so to speak and try to endure the heat as best they can. Also, staying hydrated and drinking water is very important.

How do you personally deal with the issue Kobuk?

[Kobuk]

Me? I just deal with the heat as best I can. I don't have a fan in the muzzle and I don't own/wear a cool vest. Most I can stand being in suit before needing a break is about 2 hours.

[Kay Alett]

From here: http://forums.furtopia.org:80/index.php/topic,37525.msg731389.html#msg731389

1. Furtopia
2. Livejournal (But very rarely.)
3. http://www.modelwarships.com/index1.html
4. http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/
5. http://www.starshipmodeler.com/
6. http://www.whatifmodelers.com/
7. Or I'll be browsing YouTube a lot.

Hmmmmm, I almost sense a kind of... pattern here.

Kobuk you love models, obviously, but I wonder though, how do you feel about Legos?

[Kobuk]

Kobuk you love models, obviously, but I wonder though, how do you feel about Legos?

Loved getting them and playing with them when I was a pup. Tried to collect as many as I could too. The sets from the late 1970's are still some of my favorites. I wouldn't mind trying to buy, collect, and build more now that I'm older.  Legos are something that you never truly outgrow. They are a toy that will outlast just about everything else.

[Ziel]

I would feel bad for anybody who never got the opportunity to play with Legos as a kid.

And no, there is absolutely nothing wrong with playing with them at any age ^^

[Kobuk]

Ok, I'm a little bored right now while waiting for laundry to finish, so I might as well write something about me since these "Meet the Mods/Staff" threads are about the staff.

I think a lot of people already know that I love models and model kit building since I've made posts about it from time to time. But the one question that has never come up and that nobody has asked me is Why? Why do I do it?
Hard to say really. I guess when I was really young, I loved reading about and looking at all the cool military jets, ships, etc. that our armed forces had and that kinda got me into modeling and having my own "miniature" military vehicles so to speak. I guess it's my way of satisfying my "dream" of being in the military, even though I can't join due to bad eyesight. But another reason I got hooked on modeling was due to all the cool spaceships seen in the movie Star Wars so very, very long ago. Back then, there was no CGI in the 70's. So spaceships had to be built the old fashioned way: With models. I absolutely loved all the cool spacecraft that were made for movies and wished I could have gotten a SFX (Special Effects) job building them too.

I didn't get my first models till I was 11 when I was bored at my dad's house one day and then decided to take a trip to a toy store to look for something to keep me occupied. Since that time, I've built dozens of models: Ships, aircraft, one truck, and a few spacecraft. The results I had long ago were terrible as I was eager to put together the kit and show it off. But as time moved on, my skills and experience became improved, and now I take what I build to contests and sometimes win awards.

I think what has kept me going into this type of hobby is also the history aspect behind the vehicle, figure, aircraft, etc. I also have a fondness for reading and learning about history. And building models kinda satisfies that need. It's fun and ineresting to learn about the battles that people and vehicles were in, the color schemes aircraft had, and learning about the specific people who fought in a battle, or drove a race car, or something else. Schools and History class can only teach just so much. But when you're building a model car, figure, aircraft, ship, etc., you get to learn a whole lot more history, especially when you need to research the subject you're building in order to get proper colors to use or something else. Modeling can be a rewarding experience, but it takes a lot of skill and patience, both of which don't come easy.

For me, I started out long ago building the basic aircraft, ships, etc. straight from the box. But as time moved on, I found a "niche" that I would soon excel at: "What If's and Never Were's". These are the prototypes, concepts, etc.  that were never built, seen, discussed, or whatever the case might be. Building and taking a German WWII Tiger tank to a contest is nice, but it gets very boring and "stale" seeing the same subjects in magazines or at contests. Modelers today just don't seem to "get out of the box" so to speak.   They're too fixated on WWII, Vietnam, or other classic stuff because that's the stuff that has had the most history or coverage of the subject. Building "What If" subjects is a change of pace. It's stuff that nobody has ever seen before. I enjoy building stuff with different color schemes, decals, parts, etc. To me, modeling isn't just about how good the gluing, painting, etc. looks. It's also about how creative and imaginative you can be with a subject. If you aren't willing to be creative and use your imagination, then your model is just another lump of plastic in my eyes.  

Here's a few samples of my work:
CGX Stealth Strike Cruiser:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/DSC00677.jpg
VF-2SS Valkyrie Fighter from the Macross II anime series:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/DSC00686.jpg
German battleship Bismarck:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/bismarck-01.jpg
"FedEx" Ticonderoga class cruiser built as a humorous subject:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/fedex-01.jpg
Fictional nuclear powered battleship New Jersey:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/bb62-01.jpg
USS Montana battleship:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/bb67montana/10182008montana001.jpg
Currently working on Project Habakkuk (Sample pic) :
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/habbakukmodel/DSC02803.jpg

[Kay Alett]

From the Bismark to the Montana pictures are forbidden.

[Kobuk]

From the Bismark to the Montana pictures are forbidden.

Really?  I guess MW doesn't like hotlinking.  I didn't know. *goes to change links*

[Arbutus]

Hey Kobuk, I just took a look through your post, and I guess I never really thought to ask the most basic question: How do you do all this? What techniques/tools/materials do you mainly use? I'm guessing they don't make kits for ships like these, so how do you construct something like this and make sure all the little parts fit together?

Also, is there anything inside the hulls of these ships? If you opened one up, would I see tiny little 1/100 scale sailors in their bunks?

Fictional nuclear powered battleship New Jersey:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/bb62-01.jpg

What's the story behind this one? I think I told you this, but I can go down to the waterfront here and see the real U.S.S. New Jersey just across the river. What's this fictional version about, though?

"FedEx" Ticonderoga class cruiser built as a humorous subject:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/modelstuff/fedex-01.jpg

This one's hilarious.

[Kobuk]

I have to run an errand right now. But I'll post later tonight when I get back.

[Kobuk]

Ok, the bunny has a lot of questions. Hmmmm. Let's see.......

How do you do all this? What techniques/tools/materials do you mainly use?

When I first got into modeling long, long ago, it was mostly trial and error. As time moved on, you meet other modelers and learn tips and techniques from them. Going to model shows and contests also helps too. The biggest resource I found/used was FineScale Modeler magazine: http://www.finescale.com/
When I build, I try not to rush. There's no "due date" that a project has to be done by, unless there's a contest coming up. I can spend as little as an hour a night, or as much as a full day on a model. When it comes to modeling, don't feel like you have to copy everyone else or learn really quick all the tips and techniques others use. It takes a lot of practice and skill to get to where professionals are. Sometimes even years. 
As far as tools and materials I use, That varies depending on the subject I'm working on. A sample list would be:
Toothpicks, Various sized paint brushes, Liquid cement, Putty, Sanding paper, X-Acto knife, Razor blades, Coping saw, Tweezers, Small needle files, and the list goes on and on. Just take a look through a hobby store sometime and you'll see various supplies.

I'm guessing they don't make kits for ships like these, so how do you construct something like this and make sure all the little parts fit together?

Oh, you can find lots of model kits of various subjects at a hobby store or online at a hobby website. Almost anything can be found. All model kits will generally come with an instruction booklet in the box telling you how the pieces fit together, what order they go in, What colors of paint to use, and so forth. As for all the pics I linked to earlier, everything was a kit except for the Montana battleship and the Habakkuk. Both of those are scratchbuilt. What I mean by scratchbuilt is that most of the parts were either made, bought, or came out of extra kits I have at home.

Also, is there anything inside the hulls of these ships? If you opened one up, would I see tiny little 1/100 scale sailors in their bunks?

No, the insides of ship hulls and aircraft fuselages, etc. are pretty much hollow with little or no interior detailing. Once you put the deck on a ship for example, you wouldn't be able to see anything inside anyway.
HOWEVER........there are modelers who are extremely professionaly talented and will go the extra mile to detail the interior of something just to make the model stand out and be a bit more believeable. Some examples are:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/ijn/yamato-100-jd/jd-index.html
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/cvn-65/350-sk/sk-index.html

What's the story behind this one? I think I told you this, but I can go down to the waterfront here and see the real U.S.S. New Jersey just across the river. What's this fictional version about, though?

At the time I built that which was back in 2001/2002, I didn't want to build the New Jersey kit straight from the box. When I build stuff, I like to deviate from the norm and build unusual subjects with my extra decals, parts, etc. There's no "story" behind it. It was just done for fun.

Any other questions?

[Kobuk]

I don't care if Arbutus sees this or not. I'm going to eat this chocolate Easter Bunny and nobody's going to stop me! 

Breaks off the ears. *munch, munch, munch*

[Kay Alett]

Yay! Chocobun! *om nom nom nom* 

[Kobuk]

Ok, this was too funny not to share.  Anyway, you know when you're watching a nature program on tv how the narrator or other wildlife person will discuss the animals traits, behavior, personality, etc. and will probably talk in a low voice while "in the field" so to speak so as not to disturb the animals? Well, Kaloyan wrote something up describing my fursona which I thought was really funny.  Read below:

*imitating David Attenborough*

Let us take, as an example of the husky, the legendary green husky: The Dewd. The Dewd is a unique breed of husky, seeming to live solely on green tea and most noteably, the soft drink Mt. Dew.
If one were to observe the husky in his natural habitat they would see him on his daily hunt. Stalking through office corridors and super market aisles, stalking the abundant cans of soft drink it needs to not only survive, but also keep his coat the tint of green it holds.

Much like the Flamingo, Dewds are not born their distinctive color, they aquire it through their dietary habits.

Now......Who here has some Dew? *begins stalking the hallways* 

[Kobuk]

FINALLY! I'm on vacation from work all next week! Yay!  Time for this husky to relax, have fun, and just be lazy! 

Pushes all the paperwork off my Furtopian desk and watches it land on the floor in a mess. Then props footpaws up on desk, then leans back in chair, and sips a cold Mt. Dew.

Yep. This is the life. Ahhhhhh. *watches as everybody else scurries about and works. 

But seriously, I'll probably sleep in late, relax, work on my Project Habakkuk model for summer model contests, and I plan to go to the Harley Davidson motorcycle museum next week Tuesday with some friends.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/content/pages/hd_museum/museum.jsp?locale=en_us

[Shim]

I was in one of the musical theater groups, and in-between shows, a girl went out, bought one of those, and we replaced the lyrics of "The Boars Head carol" to "The bunny"...tasty tasty rabbit

[Weisseman]

Happy Birthday!