Not sure if you are aware but next weeks TV-Champion promises to be great:
TV -Champion - King of Pro-Modelers.
Time to start setting the VCR/DVD Recorder to record this show, not sure yet who will feature in it(doubt that David Fisher or Anthony Mestas will be in it though/both great guys and modelers)
Date & Time:
Thursday 19/02/2004 19:30~21:00(methinks)
Channel 12(TV Tokyo)
Really wish they woukd bring back the Airbrushing competition, got the previous ones on Tape.
Other than the airbrush competition, which could have some action (pun), watching modeling would be kind of like watching chess. Unless or coarse the models were in swimwear[8D]
Get it packed when you hear what else they do on there:
1.) Doll House making
2.) Display food for restaurant windows
3.) Paper Models
4.) Miniature carving (i.e. rice-kernel, etc.)
5.) SFX makeup
5.) etc
Some of the competition are pure trivia others a mix.
The show is aired once a week and ususally has 2 or 3 rounds where competitors are eliminate, there are PRO and AMATEUR competitions.
“King of …” Competition brings together previous champions/winners.
Most of the rounds are time limited.
Pro-Modeler is not about finished a Kit, but making your own article based on a given theme. This involves scratchbuilding, sculpting, etc. Final round (Diorama) is assembled on site, but 2 weeks preparation time are usually given.
As for modeling on TV, the local learning channel runs a “How to do” beginners guide for plastic models.
It is a great show to watch, normally runs 90 minutes.
Yesterday’s competition was “Storage Reform”, they went into small places(apartments) and redid them to optimise storage space.
Selection of competitions run from the ones given above to “Eat as much as you can” championships and simialr (rather sick to watch if you ask me).
Japan has some really interesting shows on TV, 2 I am watching a lot are:
1.) DreamHouse: Houses are build for people according to their wishes and budgets. Learned a lot about houses and their pitfalls over here.
2.) Before & After: Houses and aparments are remodelled to make them more liveable or fix existing problems.
Also many shows give advise on how to survive on small budgets, household tips, etc.
The few Japanese produced “reality” shows are bad (obviously fake), but if I want to really switch the brain off all I need to select if FOX TV or CNN. [:D]
Cool. There is a cable channel here “Spike” (used to be TNN), that takes a Japanese show (I think it said “Takagi’s Castle” in the credits), dubs there own stupid voices and commentary over the speaking, and show’s them in large blocks on a sunday afternoon about every month or so. The call the show MXC, for Most Extreme Elimination Challange. My wife and daughter loves the show. Got to admit it’s funny stuff.
From what I have seen/heard it combines Sasuke/Muscle Ranking and Japanese variety show.
100 people compete on an obstacle course and the first one to reach the castle wins or something like that.
Might be doing either JAFCON, Wonderfest or a similar Con this year, haven’t been to a Con since my son was born.
If I get something finished I might enter JAFCON again, no chance of winning anything there anyway. [:D]
If I can hitch a ride with my friend from gunma, I might consider it.
Shizuoka Hobby fair is not that interesting for me, I prefer the Garage Kit events as I usually meet many friends there that are dealers.
Plus, I get to hunt for bargain resin and rare/old Kits too.
SHS is the only show I’ve been to here thus far. Had a blast last year! Granted, it’s mostly military, so if that’s not your bag, I can see where it might be a bit dull.
No old kits, either!
I’ve been wanting to check out JAFCON and Wonderfest, but just haven’t made it yet.
Would your Gunma friend be Mr. HLJ, by any chance?
They are great shows, not much armor there though.
At both shows can get to meet and chat with people like Max Watanabe and Takuji Yamada and see their work first-hand.
If you are thinking of Scott, you are mistaken. [:D]
Last year at Shizuoka my club’s exhibition table was back to back with Mr. Yamada’s, and I had the opportunity to speak with him at length for a couple of days. He had some great armor dios with him. I love his Godzilla stuff, too!
He does it all, really.
Well, maybe I’ll see you at one of the other shows, MMF!