Monday, September 1, 2008

Thunderbolt Air Raid/Disaster Siren

Few can strike fear like an air raid siren. Looking up for Bears, and around for Tornados. The cold war fear machine is recreated in all its glory in this figure.

1)Accuracy :5 - I can only assume it is accurate because I had no idea that these had designations. Some of the colors seem off from sirens i've seen but because of my general lack of knowledge I can not degrade this pieces score.

2)Design : 3 - As a whole the design is ok. When we look at the details though the set kind of declines. There could be a lot of tweaks to make this look better. A darker outline color and possibly some shading for an item this large.

3)Standard : 3 - This will not conform with other sets in the same era. For the most part the lack of an outline makes it look a little awkward against something that has a black outline for example.

4)Uniqueness : 5 - As a whole this is very unique! How can't it be, it is not like we have a section on Post-War sirens!

5)Usability : 4 - There could be some trouble cutting this out. The main reason we have outlines is so that errors in cutting can be hidden. In this case it will look like the pole is a little odd. Also anything this large needs a little work not to become a wind sail!

Total : 4 out of 5 Stars - With a little more outlining and shading this would be a perfected piece. As is it has some design flaws that hinder its construction.

Iranian J10

J10s are an amazing aircraft that are being in some of the, 'enemies,' of the world today. Alexz is the first designer to really tackle all the unique designs.

1)Accuracy : 5 - Looks drawn from a blueprint which in this case is a good idea. Due to the need to be accurate in aircraft design.

2)Design : 2 - I do not really like the design of this camoflauge. It is too pixelated for a modern aircraft. Somehow it needs to blend in a little bit better. Plus with the detail on the tail and nose it feels incomplete and somehow out of place.

3)Standard : 5 - Would fit in on a table even with the design differences above.

4)Uniqueness : 5 - We can easily say that no one has ever made an Iranian J-10 on the site before :). And its great to see someone actually taking the time to go ahead and do some kind of work like this!

5)Usability : 5 - Follows the basic formula for aircraft on the site. Print; fold; and play. Therefore it is extremely easy to use!

Total : 4.2 out of 5 Stars - A good figure that may need some work in an advanced photo studio such as GIMP or photoshop to really get the true essense of the actual aircraft.

101st Airborne Jeeps

A warzone is a warzone because it isn't easy to make everything look all pretty. Nothing is ever ideal and that is why this set is one of the coolest ones in theory on the site.

1)Accuracy : 5 - A high mark for accuracy because of the theory. For the most part given the situation around the battle of the Bulge they would not of had the time to clean and ready the tanks. This set shows this by having soldiers just sticking out of the sides and ready for combat in any way they can.

2)Design : 4 - With the above said there are things in here that need to be fixed. There are no backsides; reducing the detail; and there seems to be an unlimited amount of shovels for the 101st! There are 2 shovels per vehicle. I'd assume in the situation they wouldn't have that kind of access. I would recommend following the Canadian soldiers in the UN method. Have other pieces of equipment hanging off the side!

3)Standard : 5 - Would fit in in the situation. They are built for a very specific section in time and ergo ready for that time period.

4)Uniqueness : 5 - Overall this set has an amazing look and feel which gives it something unique to the site.

5)Usability : 5 - Click print and you are ready! All you have to do is fold them up and you are ready, and there are enough extra pieces that there is an ability to have lots of unique configurations.

Total : 4.8 out of 5 Stars - A great set that with a little more attention to detail would be absolutely perfect.

Romanian WWI set

Its fun to see all these individual sets for even the more minor nations of the major conflicts. This is an interesting joint venture from Night Wolf and Mike.

1)Accuracy : 5 - A very interesting design with good attention to detail. There isn't anything that really screams inaccurate in this set with the realistic weapons, helmets, and gear.

2)Design : 3 - This is wonderful designed from top to... not bottom. The only downside is the bases! Oh god the bases. They need one unifying idea. One color; or one color and one idea (for example extra grass.) Otherwise soldiers have different poses facial hair, hair colors, and detail! Also backsides would of been a big plus!

3)Standard : 5 - Will fit in with most of the stuff in the WW1 section. Because of the Zulu modification poses the dynamic idea is alive and well; in ww1!

4)Uniqueness : 5 - Has a unique feel to it. A different nation using differnt weapons equipment etc etc. The soldiers feel unique upon themselves. There are enopugh pieces to make everything unique and interesting.

5)Usability : 5 - Officers and individual items give this set a very functional use. If you print out the current page you have enough figures to be ready to play a good sized game.

Total : 4.6 out of 5 Stars - With some minor tweaks this would be an ideal set. As is its just slightly sloppy. Give it 30-40 minutes and it'll be perfect and ideal.

French Gendarmerie VBRG

Details can do wonders to sets. If you take a gander at this goose you'll see some amazing eye catching details which give it a feel of, 'French Superiority,' on the table :).

1)Accuracy : 5 - Scaled correctly, colored correctly, and overall detailed correctly. Its like a pixel version of the real thing!

2)Design : 5 - Simply put there is a ton of awesome detail that I love in this vehicle. The red and white detail at the bottom, the sharpness of the words on the vehicle, and of course the windows. If you look at the windows there are a lot of very nice details that enhance the set.

3)Standard : 5 - Would fit right in next to the other French Gendarmerie stuff we have on the site.

4)Uniqueness : 5 - No one really is making anything like this, therefore for the most part its pretty unique. Other then that some of the nicely done detail on the windows and the vehicle itself makes it highly unique also.

5)Usability : 5 - Print and play! This is ready to control riots in the bad streets of Parie! The base is asphalt which makes it even more useful.

Total : 5 out of 5 Stars - A grand set with great colors and great detail.

3D Tiger

Some things should be 3D, and somethings shouldn't be 3D. Fourtantly the Tiger in all its bulky glory should.

1)Accuracy : 4 - A nicely designed and accurate piece. The hindrance is that this may not be 100% accurate in its dimensions.

2)Design : 5 - Nicely designed with an attention to where pieces go and how to put it together. The items are marked and thus it makes it nice and simple when assembling. Though could still use some instructions.

3)Standard : 3 - Does not really fit in with the other vehicles on the site. It would be the only thing in 3D on your table if you used only JG figures.

4)Uniqueness : 5 - Without mentioning standard this actually is highly unique. Having 3D vehicles for the big stuff is useful. For example the Gustav gun would of been ideal for 3D, and this being 3D makes it very unique.

5)Usability : 5 - Even though it takes longer to construct I could see this being a central focus in a squad based game. Therefore the score for usability is extremely high.

Total : 4.4 out of 5 Stars - A great piece that could change the way we make the, 'big stuff,' on juniorgeneral!

3D Kubelwagen Automobile

3D vehicles are something we do not have a lot of on the site. Teodor introduces some of his own with his 3D Kubelwagen.

1)Accuracy : 5 - A very accuate vechicle. Based on established designs already on the site. The only questionable variable is the added berth factor.

2)Design : 5 - Very well designed, although for the most part it is a redesign of someone else's vehicle. This makes for an interesting option in the future. If people can go back and take what we already have on the site and rearrange them into 3D vehicles it leaves open a huge option for future items.

3)Standard : 2 - On a downside this doesn't really work well with anything else we have on the site. Out of 1100 pieces of equipment, soldiers, or other things there are something like 5-10 actual 3D pieces of work. This would look great as a stand alone piece but if you needed a Kubelwagen for JG figures it would look awkward.

4)Uniqueness : 5 - As mentioned above, hardly any 3D vehicles so when we see one its unique!

5)Usability : 4 - Not as easy as simply printing and putting on a base. This said it is built to not be as such and also give you some better looks! The actual construction of this 3D wise is nice and simple and in the end a great job.

Total : 4.2 out of 5 Stars - A nicely designed 3D piece that falters because nothing else really matches it.