Warning: Controversial Comments Enclosed!

[Golden Puma]

To non collectors it is the collection regardless of what it consists of that they cannot fathom. Outside of clothes, jewelry etc collecting is a pretty male dominated arena. I've been a collector of all manner of things for as long as I can remember. My other half still mocks some of the more unmanly looking figures but the majority of my friends appreciate it. My son who is 2 years and 4 months old is my young apprentice and is undergoing a full indoctrination in the world of GI Joe The Action Force.

[The Baron]

I get what you're saying but I think it would have been wrong to segregate the contestants in terms of merit. I made a big deal out of advertising the 25th Anniversary celcbration on other forums, and so I'm glad it got noticed.

OK, so of the 45 contestants, the new boys are:

redrage
Antarctica
scoobs
Sidewinder
Wolfman
The pub landlord
farseer1138
moose
scrapiron-scavanger

Now, Antarctica is the guy who has just put in a ton of work on the Yojoe Battle Action Force section, moose is the man responsible for the fantastic Battle and Action websites, and has contributed many a comics scan to the archive. The pub landlord is on oldbie who had to create a new account and farseer1138 didn't win anything.

So to look at it another way, that makes it 5 noob winners out of 45 contestants, which I think is pretty fair. Who knows, they may well stick around and join the gang.

Although, moose was partcularly jammy I will admit. I wanted that Interceptor!

[Flint]

Although, moose was partcularly jammy I will admit. I wanted that Interceptor!

That's what I was realy drooling over as well, that and the rebel shad. But I am very happy with what I did win !

[Chopper]

I've been a lurker for years and read considerably more than I have posted. I feel if I don't have anything important to add. I won't. Years of Usenet I guess. However this group is changing the way I think in this regard. And I think Andy and DoubleTap are on the money. I collect Guitars, DVD's, CD's, Atari and vintage computers, Hi-fi equipment, Action Force and recently dug out and repaired my old 1975 Action Man (you KNOW where that's leading). Mind you I also Hunt and watch Rugby;-). Oh and my Son has my Star Wars collection - which he is expanding - and my Daughter has my Lego collection - which she is expanding, they both think this is really cool. And I'm loving it;-) Its great to have kids.

To cut a long story short, after this week I am quite startled that there really are people who like this kind of stuff I like. BAF was a huge part of my life, me and a couple of mates would bugger off from school at lunch time, nip into town and grab our Battle/BAF comics. I will never forget the day they had the figure give away. In NZ we dipped out on the vast majority of any give-away's because the cost of freight made it non profitable to ship from England I guess. I bought about half a dozen comics, man it was heaven. Damn it I'm digressing again.

It truly is a good place to be, I am a noob, even tho I subscribed 5 years ago. You guys know more than I and don't have the burden of distance or an under performing economy;-) I am really stoked the way things have gone this week and hope a few more noobs feel the same way. I'm going to help where I can and hopefully fulfil my dream of an entire SAS/Z force army.

I'll post some piccys of my collection, including Red Laser and his mate the Minesweeper;-)

But yeah, its good to belong. If anyone here is ever in Melbourne there is plenty of Beer. No bloody Wampas tho. Shudder.

Thanks guys, and well done Baron.

[The Kraken Wakes]

I do have another painted interceptor but it has the battery cover and front landing piece missing

[Shadow_Contact]

I agree with scoobydie, I wanted to add my name as I really want some BAF comics. But I feel that taking without giving is wrong so I didnt bother adding my name.

[Golden Puma]

I've been a lurker for years and read considerably more than I have posted. I feel if I don't have anything important to add. I won't. Years of Usenet I guess. However this group is changing the way I think in this regard. And I think Andy and DoubleTap are on the money. I collect Guitars, DVD's, CD's, Atari and vintage computers, Hi-fi equipment, Action Force and recently dug out and repaired my old 1975 Action Man (you KNOW where that's leading). Mind you I also Hunt and watch Rugby;-). Oh and my Son has my Star Wars collection - which he is expanding - and my Daughter has my Lego collection - which she is expanding, they both think this is really cool. And I'm loving it;-) Its great to have kids.

To cut a long story short, after this week I am quite startled that there really are people who like this kind of stuff I like. BAF was a huge part of my life, me and a couple of mates would bugger off from school at lunch time, nip into town and grab our Battle/BAF comics. I will never forget the day they had the figure give away. In NZ we dipped out on the vast majority of any give-away's because the cost of freight made it non profitable to ship from England I guess. I bought about half a dozen comics, man it was heaven. Damn it I'm digressing again.

It truly is a good place to be, I am a noob, even tho I subscribed 5 years ago. You guys know more than I and don't have the burden of distance or an under performing economy;-) I am really stoked the way things have gone this week and hope a few more noobs feel the same way. I'm going to help where I can and hopefully fulfil my dream of an entire SAS/Z force army.

I'll post some piccys of my collection, including Red Laser and his mate the Minesweeper;-)

But yeah, its good to belong. If anyone here is ever in Melbourne there is plenty of Beer. No bloody Wampas tho. Shudder.

Thanks guys, and well done Baron.

beer! I'm on my way! Though hope you don't have more than your name in common with Mark "Chopper" Read! I've shipped several items out your way in the past, provided you don't need sign on delivery it's not too expensive. If you ever need a postal address in the UK to ship to if seller won't ship overseas or is charging a fortune let me know. look forward to seeing your pics, Gavin

[Lady Jaye]

Personally, I find it a little sad to complain afterwards. We could have guessed an outcome like this beforehand. I can totally catch your drift Paul, but hardcore posters do not have any more right to a prize than newbies. The competition was open to all and a draw is a game of chance. People are allowed to register, win and bugger off. The system is 100% fair.

If you want a newbie-proof competition:

• only those who chuck in goods can enter
• every posting counts as a lottery ticket

"never thought you were a geek"

If your friends are giving you such responses, maybe you have got the wrong crowd hanging around you? Friends respect each other no matter what they choose to do. Just come out of the closet and enjoy being a little 'different'. Already to many normal people walking this planet!

Collector of militaria and/or building military models makes one a geek my ass !

Behaving like a 10 year old when you are in your mid-thirties does make you a geek! But at least this geek is having fun!

[Crimson Rage]

I wasn't even going to enter the draw but the Baron talked me into it!!!

It was open to all, regardless of how long a peson had been a member, so I guess that's all that need be said. The rules were followed!

[The Kraken Wakes]

I dont have a problem with it, I gave a few prizes and I just hope that the people who got them like them.