Ka 50 "Black-Shark"

Hey Everyone

Life's been getting busy for both JQ and I (our academic schedules aren't letting us breathe too much heh). That's the thing about hobbies, there are times when 'real life' gets in the way of the things we truly desire to do...and as always, hobbying runs on $$$ haha.

Well, today we are featuring the Ka-50 "Black-shark" attack helicopter, once again courtesy of Micromachines, and sporting an unrealistic all silver-paint job :P (nonetheless I still miss micromachines, and if you look carefully, you can still get some sets on ebay.com)



As with Russian military projects of the 1990s, the economic meltdown resulted in the cessation of the development and production of the Ka-50 helicopter. With Russia gradually rebounding back into greater financial health, some projects have been started again and production is slated to start in the future. To date, only a few Ka-50s and Ka-52s (2 seat, side-by-side) are in Russian service, with India and Jordan expressing interest...and Russia themselves restarting Ka-52 (favored over single seat Ka 50s) production in Fall of '08. The Mil-24 Hind (which has a cool design IMHO) remains the mainstay chopper for the Russians, but they have deteriorated due to a lack of funds, resulting in higher casualty rates in recent Chechnya conflicts.

Armed with 4 hardpoints and a semi-rigid 30mm cannon, Ka-50s are designed to work in a group of 4, with data-sharing of targets being shared among the choppers and ground personnel with appropriate equipment. The laser-guided Vikhr missiles are reported to be jam-proofed and highly accurate with automatic guidance provided by a targeting system (which allows the Ka-50 to take evasive maneuvers after ATGM launch). Also, the Ka-50's weapons control system allows the pilot to rotate the body of the chopper to aim the 30mm cannon (Shipunov 2A42), compared to turrets used in others like the Mil-28 or AH-64. Like the AH-64, it can carry short-range IR-guided A-11 Archer missiles (an improvement over the AA-8 Aphids)...attack helicopters carrying AAMs was always a cool concept to me since I was a kid.

If you're a fan of Battlefield (or other modern military games), notice that Russia is once again put in the forefront (especially for Bad Company 2)? I remember when BF2 came out a few years ago, the prime powers were the US, China and the Middle East Coalition (similar for C&C Generals), which was a 'new thing' during those times...reflecting the loss of prestige Russia had in contrast with China's rise to power. And now, Russia's back...and the lines between good/bad guys is predictably greyed. Unfortunately JQ hasn't played MW2, and I can't talk about the twist in that game related to that last point :/

PS: MW2 has a really cool single player campaign worth playing through, it's more polished than the one in BC2 in my opinion.

WFB: The Lizardmen

Hey Guys

Hope you all are doing all right and having a good time hobbying! Well, this time I'll be featuring the lizardmen of WFB and just a little discussion on an observation I have about WFB in general (on its link to past myths).


The lands of Lustria are an exotic and dangerous place...a veritable paradise that promises unimaginable gain in the face of peril, largely thanks to the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen have been described to be a "neutral" army, and are fierce protectors of their kingdom, even tenaciously fighting off the murderous expeditions of Dark Elf slavers.

It is logical that WFB draws upon historical mythical antecedents, which perhaps gives the characters/races of WFB a lot of attractive literary power...something that works on an existing mythical framework, and yet create new content out of it (that is perhaps parallel to contemporary attitudes). Hence, the WFB Lizardmen follow previous myths already in place, perhaps from direct influences such as the lizardfolk in D&D, or ancient humanoid reptilian myths like the the Dragon Kings of China (sounds like Dragon Princes of Ulthuan haha), Cecrops I the Mythical First King of Athens, and even the infamous Gorgons that we all know about.

The Chinese Dragon King of the South.

King Cecrops I, mythical First King of Athens.

Naturally, the concept of mixing 2 separate things together can seem pretty creepy...especially if one half is us, and the other is the slimy reptilia. Ancient myths like these just make me wonder how people at that time thought about it (like accepted facts, or just bed-time stories), and what is the purpose of synthesizing two unlike groups together? To highlight the need of order in life and the unacceptable concept of mixing where we ought not to be? To 'wow' the audience?

Tikam Tikam

For those who are unfamiliar with the Title, it is a malay/singlish slang word for "random picking of things". (Correct me if I am wrong, Not a affluent connoisseur of my country's slang)

For the toy that i am featuring, it is the type of toy you get by putting coins into the machine and turning the knob so that a ball come up with some random "crap" from the range of "crap" that they over from the machine.

This machine can churn out random stuff. From key chains, to poor quality Walt Disney products to Fake Pokemon Figures and Funny simplistic toys.

I got this one from a machine that was somewhere along the streets. The sign display read "Warplanes of the World". Since I was bored and pretty much had change to throw away, I decided why not lets give it a shot and check out the stuff i got.

And lookey here, With a lil luck, I got a Av8B Harrier Jet.


HAHa the funny thing about this toy though is that if you take a closer look, U can see the word "China" right next to the US Airforce insignia.



That is pretty much ironic in every sense. An American/British plane, with the word "China" on it. I wonder where did these guys get their "Warplanes of the World" Facts from. :S Because I am pretty sure China doesn't have AV-8B jets.

Nonetheless, for a scrappy toy, its attention to sculpt and other details were not bad.

But then again, this are widely considered low grade toys that probably would get dispose off in no more than a week from the point of time that is is acquired from a kid

Get me wondering though, How is there ever a market to earn profit from this.

However, I would like to point out something, this is not the same as the Japanese machines of similar concept. Because those are high quality products and by god, they are not cheap. In fact many of the stuff they have inside their own set of ball packages are original.

TMNT (2)

More pics from the infamous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles



The Turtles Chilling out together.


Family Photo


Heroes in a half-shell


Ready for Battle!


The leader contemplates on how to lead his younger brothers with inspiration

A little "Did You Know" Fact about the Turtles: The concept of TMNT arose from a humorous drawing sketched out by Kevin Eastman during a casual evening of brainstorming with his friend Peter Laird. The First issue comic of TMNT was intended to parody four of the most popular comics of the early 1980s:Marvel's Daredevil and New Mutant's, Dave Sim's Cerebus and Frank Miller's Ronin.

And these Turtles have definitely come a long way. The Retro Mondo Awesome Heroes of the 80s-90s.

Thank You Rachel for letting me get my Hands on these awesome figures. Really High Grade stuff.

TMNT (1)

IF you haven't heard of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, You must be living in a cave.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have made an impact on kids since the 1980s. While it has less of a significant impact today compare to PIKACHU or JOOJOO pets..(Whatever you call them)

They were certainly the most coolest S**T in the block.

I remember when i was a lil 6-8 year old kid, I had like the biggest action figure collection of TMNT products. But as usual, I destroyed and lost them along the years of my Destructive childhood behaviour. I had all 3 of the Turtles but Michelangelo. I had Splinter, Shredder, 3 foot soldiers, Some lizard character,some Pizza Shooter Machine, Shredders Car and the infamous Turtle Van.

While I think the new remakes are pretty cheesy compared to the then Classic TMNT, they always have a special pace in my heart.

Few years back, I was asked to repaint the four turtles colour codes from the Original Uniform colour orange from the original Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to their distinctive "Blue, Red, Orange and Purple" colours that were so fondly remembered in the TV series for Rachel, A friend of mine.

And those figures were pretty cool. I must say, they were real fine remakes of the original comic art representation of the TMNT. Ah just made me remember the good old times and how this turtles have been so "Mondo Awesome" and "Superbly Spectacular"


Red And Rude Raphael


Purple and The team's "Intellect" Donatello


Leader and "Big Brother" Leonardo


"Free-Spirit" Party Dude Michelangelo

More Pics to follow ;)