Followed by the 'Buy an ink sample. 'OMG! I love this ink!' Buy a bottle and use it a bit. Buy another ink sample that is close in color. 'OMG, I actually love this ink more than the bottle I just bought!' Buy a bottle of new ink. Repeat several times... Then I end up with bottles of inks I really liked at one point, but have not used in a very long time. ^ This was me early with fountain pen inks that weren't the basic cartridges that came with the pens. Now I mostly buy ink samples and only a few bottles every once in a while.
Have started trading ink samples with friends to dwindle ink supplies of the “This ink isn’t as different from the other inks I have as I had imagined from online swatches.”
I'd say the worst part of fountain pen inks is I can't stop buying them. Because of this I now have enough ink to write constantly til the day I die. There will still be leftovers for someone to write the eulogy.
Voting for a “Currently Inked, Plus” segment in which Drew answers the “What three pens/inks?” he is using, Brian answers the question of what was the last pen he inked and they both talk about what they are wearing 😂. Drew’s jacket is legendary!!!
Agree on Drew's inked pens and jacket, but D R E W don't taunt me... what ink in your Manyo Nuts? That pen is HIGH on my list! Medium nib, tho for me, not F or XF! I'm using Sailor Shikiori Rikyu Tea ink in my franken-pen version of the Nut -- it's olive-ish and shades w/ brown. Do tell, what ink is in your 🌰? TY!
I also heard this quotation being attributed to Lenin, when speaking about the tanks used by Russian military during WW2. “QUANTITY has a quality of its own”. The German tanks were more complex to manufacture, and therefore could not be made as quickly as the Soviet ones.
The ink job candidates has to be put into the Top Ten of all time pencast questions and answers. You hit the nail on the head with this one. I was amused, informed, and impressed. It was worth waiting for over an hour for the discussion! I had to pause the penchast to immediately check to see if I had J.Herbin 1798 Amethyste de l'Oural in my possession. Upon finding that I had a bottle in the back of my ink drawer, I was both elated and ashamed. Definitely an ink that should not be regulated to the back of the drawer with its great performance, versatility and flair!! The bottle now sits on my desk front and center. Nobody puts Baby in a corner (or the back of a drawer).
"They either think I'm hilarious, or they're terrified of me." Congratulations, Drew, you are a mascot. Ask anyone who has ever run around an arena in costume - that's exactly how the little kids react!
As the Pencast approaches 2 1/2 hours, I think we can all see where this is heading. Not to spoil your upcoming announcement or anything, but when do you plan to launch the inevitable "24/7 live streaming" edition of the PenCast in which you both wear body cams for a full day?
The Hobbit is the best starting point... and is best read... at your own pace and not rushed. It's also a great text to be written out as cursive practice with fountain pens. :)
I agree with adding a segment asking what Drew has inked up every week! I wonder every time and am looking to see what he’s writing with every time he pulls a pen out to take a note. You can call it Droulet’s Pen Corner!
Ok! I had to pause here! Andy Serkis does an amazing job on the LoTR audiobooks! Yes he acts. Every character has their own voice and personality. (Just to be fair, he’s not the best singer when Tolkien adds tunes to the expansive narrative but the songs are infrequent.) I’d recommend it!!!!!
Reading Tolkien is an adventure in itself. The movies were fun and all... but they just weren't... Tookish. Oh, and Drew there are SIX books that make up The Lord of the Rings, despite what the publishers would make you think by printing two books per volume.
But to those like Brian who are not avid readers-be warned that the four volumes (Hobbit+”trilogy”) come in at 576,459 words. And far too many are in various elvish tongues….”
@RobertStoddard Still lightweight beach reading compared to one of Tolkein's main inspirations: William Morris' The Earthly Paradise, a twelve part frame story retelling of great myths and legends...in verse! 😂
With Chou Kuro... follow the instructions, IMO. I know they said that they didn't experience negative effects with tap water -- and maybe the tap water around here is much "harder" than where they are -- but I found that our tap water makes the pigment "clump" and stick to surfaces to an extent. Even isopropyl alcohol didn't lift it then, but ammonia did just fine. I know this is only one anecdote, but it happened to me.
Chinese pens (I have several) are amazingly good and really punch above their weight. They also provide a strong base to the market. An excellent pen at the £15 level will make the manufacturers of pricier pens sit up, take notice, and make sure their pens are better than then the cheaper Jinhao / WingSung / Hongdian pens. I own several Chinese pens plus several so-called "grail pens" (L2000, PC823, MB149, Urushi Maki-E) and, tbh, there is still a big difference there but the gap is closing.
So I know yellow jackets are bad but I live in Alabama and this year we are having trouble with copper heads. I was going down the interstate Wednesday of this week and had one crawl across my feet!! I almost wrecked! I'll take yellow Jackets any day at least it takes a lot of them to kill you!
I was on tenterhooks to see which ink got the job. I was really pulling for Fuyu Syogun (one of my top five inks). I think it looks a little stodgy and boring in the bottle, but right out of the gate, it surprises you with beautiful shading and a sexy "calm before the storm" blue hue. Enjoy your loud, glitzy new employee. I'm hiring Fuyu with all its secret skillz. 😂😂😂
The worst is re-inking (this is totally separate from choosing an ink). There is always a certain level of danger with re-inking. "will my fingers fumble at the worst possible moment?", or, "Will I swipe the side of my hand on something inky and be stained for a day or two?" Cleaning pens i not that hard because there is always water involved to instantly rectify anything in an instant... Reinking though (especially if we are messing with ink samples) is always a bit scary.
I couldn’t agree more! And only a true penthusiast understands that re-inking is not the same as inking it for the first time. Will you rotate your chair at the wrong time and knock the bottle over? Or will someone else knock the bottle over? Not a fan of re-inking.
As someone who’s just getting into fountain pens, this is absolutely true. I’ve heard that dish soap is good at getting ink stains out. It does do the job fairly well.
*Pulls up chair. arranges watercolor supplies, pens and sketchbook. Happily settling in for the latest Pencast!* This makes the best way to celebrate TGIF. Thanks, Brian and Drew! (And that jacket, Drew! Epic!!)
Really enjoyed the ink interview section. I would have hired Amethyste de l’Oural as well. It was really well thought out. Well done. I see myself as Pilot Iroshizuku fuyu-shogun from your description of each ink.
There is one ink that everyone should have - Waterman Serenity Blue. If you are having flow problems with a pen sometimes it will write with that ink. If you ask for helo, you will likely be told to try it. It's essential for vintage pens as it's non-acidic. And Chinese pens - the clones can often let you try a size or type without spending a lot of money. I wouldn't be saving for a Custom 823 if not for the Wing Sung 699. Some Chinese brands are getting quite good. Hongdian is an example. They have at least some very original designs, good quality and even customer service. I wouldn't be surprised if this brand went mainstream eventually.
My priest is Korean. Just today he was sharing with us that the word for plunger that he learned in the military in South Korea was ddoo-ruh-bung which to me sounds like doerbung. So you have to use a doerbung with your sackbut. 😅
My current favorite ink is Iroshizuku fuyu-syogun. Laid down by a medium cursive italic nib, it looks bluer than it does on your website, and darker. I think it’s a coldly elegant ink, no warmth, all business. I love it.
1:28:59 it’s refreshing to see Brian not purchasing this pen. Yes, it’s pricey but not overly ridiculous. I love his frugality. It’s also relatable to those on tight budgets.
I think the Chinese pens deserve some credit for innovating. Check out the 2ml cartridge converters on the new Jinhao Daodao 9019. That is next level. Also, I don't understand why the western and Japanese brands don't have offerings of really large grip sections like those on the Jinhao X159 and 9019 (I'm not talking about pens over $1K). Point taken on government subsidy of shipping. I like the fact that it takes two weeks to get one of those pens; it fits in with the slower lifestyle I'm after which is what got me into fountain pens.
As a follow up to the Chinese pens question, I would also like to comment that since I have started my fountain pen journey I find more often than not less expensive pens often perform more consistently than the pricier pens. My beautiful Monteverde Rodeo Drive pen hardly ever works whereas my pink PenBBS works every time I pick it up. So I buy pens that I find most attractive and will post!
I’m so glad I’m not the only adult that pulls faces. My Teenagers think it is either funny or embarrassing depending on their mood. Thanks for the funny faces at the beginning Drew.
The issue with Chinese pens, is that we have some companies that simply COPIED, WHOLESALE, the pen design of other pen companies... You know which ones, cough, cough...These companies, I don't and won't support them, as that's what I call plagiarism. But there are some Chinese companies that will come up with their own design, INSPIRED, by the design of leading pen companies. These companies, I respect and will support them. Pen BBS, Narwhal, Asvine etc
Currently my top two most favorite inks are Organics Studio Nitrogen inked up in a Clear TWSBI Eco, fine nib, and Pilot Iroshizuku Tsutsuji inked up in a Kaweco Sport with an extra fine nib.. they’re both fantastic. I love how they flow.. the Iroshizuku inks have been great in every pen I’ve had them in. ❤🖋️
Thank you for reading my comment about yellow jackets- knowledge is power! Also, you had me laughing at sackbuts- surely the Sacred Sackbut should be played during a procession of The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
I've always tended to feel the same; but,now that I'm doing more nib adjustments/smoothing,I find I'm getting better at it. I am learning on cheap nibs and would not attempt any work on more expensive ones. Yes,I've completely destroyed a few. "A man's got to know his limitations."@@lizbensoncox
In general, when cleaning pens, after I flush them with water, I have a cup with a paper towel in it and let the nib sit on the towel for a while. It works great. For my 823, I flush it "good enough" and I'm always going matchy with brown inks, so it doesn't really matter.
Andy Serkis is narrating the Silmarillion. And if you don’t want to read the Hobbit and LOTR, I recommend the audiobook version. It takes away the angst of read large books.
Grant here! Thanks for taking our question! They boys had a blast putting it together. I’ll be using the Pencast for our “family time meeting” next Sunday. Fun fact, it was three who have been with us the longest that came up with the content. They picked each ink based off their own personality. The final ink Fuyu Syogun, they picked to represent me since the English translation is roughly…Old Man Winter 😂
This should help pass two of the hours while waiting for a co-order delivery from y'all with my triple tail and paper, also sharks for both my neighbor and me. Although my neighbor is most excited for the inks to sample, including last weeks pencaster's treat.
I've heard bees hate mint. And Brian, I'm a Medievalist and I HATE LOTR. Books in need of a serious edit. Christopher Lee would berate me but I'd take that hit because I do not like those books at all. Do not feel you are missing anything. Favourrites: Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikibu, Robert Oster Blue Water Ice, Iroshizuku Kon Peki, Diamine Imperial Purple, Diamine Royal Blue. Drew's idea for the Urushii is excellent. Michael Biehn, Come with me if you want to live. Sackbutts are fine instruments. Check out some Medieval dance music.
Woah woah woah. Rob Inglis is the only narrator for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The man is a legend, please accept no substitute. He was an OG superfan
I have never felt so seen. I feel like Drew summarized my entire professional career when talking about Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun. This may explain why I am so drawn to this ink. I used a sample awhile ago and loved it; I think a bottle purchase is in order, especially since I identify so strongly with its qualities.
Yay! The jacket! Excellent form of self expression. Drew, for me the worst part of the hobby is having to figure out how to deal with packaging. Yeah, unboxing is delightful, but the aftermath of separating out recyclables from non-recyclables just dampens the experience for me.
Just started tuning in this week, I feel like I'm learning so much about the nuances between brands and inks. I thought there would be subtleties to learn in fountain pens and I'm really happy I get to learn about it through two homies who love the hobby. The variety in conversation topics is such a nice refresher from the typical podcast, I feel like I'm just hanging out with my friends during the casts. I was wondering, since you brought up sepia inks recently, is there a top list of inks for this gradient? I sketch product designs and would love to use this ink color for this purpose.
If someone had given me the shark pen as a kid it woulda ruined me for the price point range I can afford! I was writing with Monteverde Valentine Red in a pink shark when you mentioned them, and I have Blue Ghost in a clear shark. I was absolutely shocked by the quality writing experience for the price.
"Ink Interview" was fascinating! Outstanding question from an outstanding group of students - and answered with great insight and perspective. Best segment!
My first exposure to Tolkien was back in elementary school in the early 80s when my dad read the Hobbit and LOTR to me and my brother. We thoroughly enjoyed it plus it gave us some time with our dad every night.
The section on interviewing inks was brilliantly done. Very intelligent metaphor and well worked. Brian we did learn from it. Very impressive. Working for the two of you must be a pleasure.
Totally agree with Drew, I'd have hired Améthyste de l'Oural too! Nitrogen is super talented but high maintenance, Wild Strawberry has a good heart but is a little flaky, and the grey is competent and inoffensive but will never have an original thought. 😂
I recently listened to the audiobook of The Hobbit read by Andy Serkis, and he DID act out all the different voices very skillfully! It's awesome! I'm planning on listening to his Lord of the Rings audiobooks soon. One of my favorite pens is the Jinhao 51a; I have 4 inked up right now. I love the hooded nib, the slip cap, and the included cartridge converter. From what I can tell from reviews, it's superior to the modern Parker 51. So thoughtful of Mr. Oster to send Brian a huge bottle of Blue Water Ice!! And thanks very much for the tour of Drew's legendary jacket!!!
The BEST part of Fountain Pens is falling asleep during the part of the Pencast you don't care about so much and dreaming about spending all your $$$$ acquiring the mystical grail pen you've been drooling over. Then jerking awake and finding your hands covered with ink.
I'm so excited about the new Supra in black anodized aluminum. Do you know if there will be a Lilliput to match? Will you ever carry the black Lilliput that is already in the market? Also, I love how Drew's jocket turned out. Well done!
Chinese pens are produced with subsidies. Isn’t that the best thing for fountain pen lovers; another third party (in this case a government) funding their hobby…?😂
Cheese ice cream exists. Look for Queso ice cream (Philippines). One of my favorites, others include Avocado, corn, and ube (purple yam). If you want them together plus other ingredients, there is also Halo-halo flavor (literally, mix mix)
The most miserable parts about this hobby: 1.) The state of your bank account after a big pen order 2.) Constantly adding things to your wishlist that you can't afford 3.) Falling in love with a limited edition pen that sold out several years ago. 4.) Breaking or losing a part to a pen and unable to find a replacement.
Max Miller (Tasting History with Max Miller on UA-cam) did a Parmesan Cheese ice cream a couple months back and said it was surprisingly delicious. I’m with Brian… I would definitely ask if I could get a tiny sample taste of the dog directed flavors (after asking for an ingredient list).
I've had parmesan ice cream before and it was surprisingly delicious! I wouldn't buy a whole pint of it, but I'd order a scoop if I saw it on a menu. It was made like regular vanilla ice cream, but with parmesan grated in so it wasn't overwhelming.
A novelty treat that was indeed made for (SOME) humans: The first time i went to Salt and Straw ice cream in Portland, they had recently done a collab with a local school to have kids help come up with flavors and there was one called “Old People”. 😅 I believe menthol and wherthers original were involved.
What do you guys think about having a tri-yearly Fountain Pen Design Contest? Example: On the first year for a couple of months people can submit a picture of their pen design in different angles. The next couple of months you can have the community vote for the best design with some kind of online I.D voting system so people don’t cheat 😅 The second year you can announce the winner and the rest of the year will be spent manufacturing the design into a real pen that will only be available for purchase the following year then discontinued. After that third year you can start the contest back up again 💪🏾 I think this would bring sooo much positive energy to this community that I just recently fell back in love with. The only thing that might be a little difficult is setting up the I.D voting and maybe Copyrighting stuff but I know it’s possible. I subscribed to you guys a couple weeks ago, keep up the great work! - Wind
Chou Koru would be best to work on a dedicated, opaque pen to avoid stain issues. If you use it with a Pelikan Demonstrator limited edition pen with hard tap water, then you are living on the edge.
Stephen Fry is my favourite but yeah of course Andy Serkis' voice is also great! But I'm curious about another thing... The Pelikan M215 rings .. is there a special reason why it's not offered for purchasing on gouletpens or have you just overlooked its existence? With the barrel made of brass the 'inked-up-weight' of ~21g (empty weight is 20g) gives the writing feeling a very special touch. I also like how it was designed with the silvery chrome in the capring and pistonknob-ring and on the clip...don't tell me you two geeks don't kie it! 😂 my best greetings from vienna, Austria
Oh no… that dragoness pen is tickling a desire akin to what I see people expressing for Benu. Did I want a pen that looks like the Milky Way mixed into moonstone with a hint of lucid dreaming? No. Now that I’ve seen it, can I stop thinking about it? Also no.
Growing up in France in the 90s, children were taught in school to write with fountain pens at an early age. There was this “myth” that with time the nib would start adapting and forming to your handwriting. I remember trying to write with my friends pens and finding their nibs extremely scratchy and uncomfortable while my pen was as smooth as butter. Is this common knowledge or was it all made up by our teachers so we wouldn’t steal each other’s fountain pens? 😅
I had a bunch of chinese pens when I started using fountain pens. The issue with them is often the quality roulette you are doing buying them. I've had Jinhao pen basically self-destruct under normal use. And I've had some that were extremely inconsistent... but I also had some that worked really well. The difference with the pens that are more expensive I would say is the after sale support tends to be better on more expensive pens. Like they said, it's what resonates with you... and your budget to be honest.
Yes on variability. I bought a 8 dollar Jinhao early on and it works better than I would have anticipated considering how people talk about cheap pens. It is still inked and writes well on the first or second stroke even after leaving it unused for months on end.
"Wild strawberry might one day decide they don't want to be wild anymore" oh man this question was so fun. Loved your responses! P.S. love the denim jacket!!!
Lately, I've fallen in love with Sailor Ink Studio #237. That lovely pink always shades gorgeously, going from saturated to deeply saturated. It surprises me everytime, and I can see a bottle of it in my future!
I'm want to believe that Nitrogen from O.S. isn't a slacker, they just misunderstood, I want to believe the offset label it's just a period table reference, where the representative letter is off center alongside with more information, like the atomic weight, eletron configuration, name, etc. Nitrogen is just a passionate nerd wearing thematic tshirt on his interview.
I dont know what it its in those icecreams for dogs there, but I know we have some dog ice creams here in Norway, and I would not recomend for humans, its like different types of fish, meat, liver and so on! :) Also just have to say love watching your videos and learn more about fountain pens and all the other stuff! Love to hear how your kids learn to save for things, and to acutally have somethings on their wish list and prioritice how to get it :)
I have tasted a plain “vanilla “ dog ice cream and it had very little sweetness, I think most dog frozen treats have little sugar-dogs don’t need that, unlike humans dogs are satisfied without it.
Loved the Customer Service Ink session, definitely some good laughs in there with how seriously Brian and Drew took it. Currently have the new Goulet Pen Care associate Amethyste de l'Oural in my Sailor PG Storm Over the Ocean and they work very well together :) OS Nitrogen makes me think of Jean Ralphio from Parks and Rec. Exceedingly extra, entertaining, dangerous... when it succeeds it's fun, but is it worth the risk?
Have you guys considered doing using AI image generators to create images of any of the following? 1. Brian Goulet doing bushcraft/knitting/[insert hobby] 2. Drew wearing puce cargo shorts 3. Drew wearing a raden jacket 4. Brian as ‘Professor Deep Dive’ teaching [insert topic] Just some ideas. There are so many inside jokes and pen related things you could do. Keep up the great work guys! Love the pen cast. I discovered it a few months ago and I’m slowing working my way back through all prior episodes while keeping up with your new releases!
As a music teacher and trombonist I found your facts accurate. I reference most of those points to my elementary students. As you can imagine, sackbut goes over amazingly well. It’s always worth a good laugh. I did the Charlie Brown teacher demo about 20 times this week!
Bit late, but maybe better than never... my favorite inks: 1. Pilot: I'm torn between Kon Peki and Yama Budo. I'll go with Yama Budo because I have little else that is that color. 2. Sailor: I haven't written with too many of them, outside of samples. I'll pick Ink Studio 453 because I got a full bottle of that to go with my 1911 Wicked Witch. 3. Monteverde: Kindness Pink. Best straight up pink I've encountered, and the only full bottle of Monteverde ink I've bought. (And, no, Yama Budo is not pink to me) 4. (Jacques) Herbin: tricky one. I think my choice would be Kyanite du Nepal, but Rouge Hematite and Stormy Grey are runner ups. 5. Lamy: by what I have, Crystal Ruby. Though I have recently tried a sample of Azurite, and yes, that is a fantastic ink as well. Not much that's quite like it. 6. Robert Oster: fully agree with Brian on Blue Water Ice. One of my two favorite blues at the moment. 7. Diamine: My other favorite blue: Majestic Blue. Can't beat the dark color and sheen combination. If I want to go a little less sheeny, it'd be Sargasso Sea.
I don't know if you previously saw this comment to Pencast 99, but your discussion about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys brought me back to my days working as an aerospace engineer for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in FL. The Italian built Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLMs) are large pressurized containers that were used on the US Space Shuttle missions to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station. The 3 modules were named Leonardo, Raffaello and Donatello by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). While we at NASA liked to believe the modules were named after 3 of the 4 the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Italians claim they were named because they denote some of the great talents in Italian history (uh huh). A logo was actually produced by Mirage Studios artist A.C. Farley featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Raphael in an astronaut flight suit. There were cloisonné pins produced, as well as stickers and embroidered patches. Maybe you should look for one of the patches for your jean jacket!
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The worst part of fountain pens is buying a bottle of ink, then realizing you don’t like it as much as you thought you would.
That happened to me so often I just went and bought the Atomink set from Birmingham. Now I’m always happy
That is why I have too many samples!
Followed by the 'Buy an ink sample. 'OMG! I love this ink!' Buy a bottle and use it a bit. Buy another ink sample that is close in color. 'OMG, I actually love this ink more than the bottle I just bought!' Buy a bottle of new ink.
Repeat several times...
Then I end up with bottles of inks I really liked at one point, but have not used in a very long time.
^ This was me early with fountain pen inks that weren't the basic cartridges that came with the pens.
Now I mostly buy ink samples and only a few bottles every once in a while.
Have started trading ink samples with friends to dwindle ink supplies of the “This ink isn’t as different from the other inks I have as I had imagined from online swatches.”
I'd say the worst part of fountain pen inks is I can't stop buying them. Because of this I now have enough ink to write constantly til the day I die. There will still be leftovers for someone to write the eulogy.
Voting for a “Currently Inked, Plus” segment in which Drew answers the “What three pens/inks?” he is using, Brian answers the question of what was the last pen he inked and they both talk about what they are wearing 😂. Drew’s jacket is legendary!!!
The Coat of Many Colors is awesome!
Thanks for some great ink suggestions. I’m working my way through the blue velvet too. It’s amazing!
Agree on Drew's inked pens and jacket, but D R E W don't taunt me... what ink in your Manyo Nuts? That pen is HIGH on my list! Medium nib, tho for me, not F or XF! I'm using Sailor Shikiori Rikyu Tea ink in my franken-pen version of the Nut -- it's olive-ish and shades w/ brown. Do tell, what ink is in your 🌰? TY!
@@ZiaLinkZen Sailor Shirikashi is a good match for Manyo Nuts, of course. I imagine Drew has FWP Buttered Popcorn in his Pen.
@@Quinkerbell_3604 no doubt 😎
my Ancient Copper would look nice to compliment the amber fenials. Either way works. (I love that pen.)
“Quantity IS quality”. Wow. That’s my new fountain pen collection motto.
Put it on a T-shirt 🖋️
That quote has been attributed to Lenin…
I also heard this quotation being attributed to Lenin, when speaking about the tanks used by Russian military during WW2. “QUANTITY has a quality of its own”. The German tanks were more complex to manufacture, and therefore could not be made as quickly as the Soviet ones.
This should be embroidered on a pen storage case 😂
@@josephcocker4184 Yeah, it's unlikely that either of them actually came up with that quote. - Drew
I don't mean to brag, but I've seen Drew's denim jacket in person, and it's truly spectacular.
The ink job candidates has to be put into the Top Ten of all time pencast questions and answers. You hit the nail on the head with this one. I was amused, informed, and impressed. It was worth waiting for over an hour for the discussion! I had to pause the penchast to immediately check to see if I had J.Herbin 1798 Amethyste de l'Oural in my possession. Upon finding that I had a bottle in the back of my ink drawer, I was both elated and ashamed. Definitely an ink that should not be regulated to the back of the drawer with its great performance, versatility and flair!! The bottle now sits on my desk front and center. Nobody puts Baby in a corner (or the back of a drawer).
What a wonderful comment! Haha thanks for this! - Drew
@@GouletpensHow's the new starter shaping up? 😉
"They either think I'm hilarious, or they're terrified of me." Congratulations, Drew, you are a mascot. Ask anyone who has ever run around an arena in costume - that's exactly how the little kids react!
Haha you're not wrong! - Drew
As the Pencast approaches 2 1/2 hours, I think we can all see where this is heading. Not to spoil your upcoming announcement or anything, but when do you plan to launch the inevitable "24/7 live streaming" edition of the PenCast in which you both wear body cams for a full day?
LOL please noooo - Drew
The Hobbit is the best starting point... and is best read... at your own pace and not rushed. It's also a great text to be written out as cursive practice with fountain pens. :)
The worse thing is lusting after a pen I really can't afford....
I agree with adding a segment asking what Drew has inked up every week! I wonder every time and am looking to see what he’s writing with every time he pulls a pen out to take a note. You can call it Droulet’s Pen Corner!
Ok! I had to pause here! Andy Serkis does an amazing job on the LoTR audiobooks! Yes he acts. Every character has their own voice and personality. (Just to be fair, he’s not the best singer when Tolkien adds tunes to the expansive narrative but the songs are infrequent.) I’d recommend it!!!!!
So well done. Highly recommend as well!
Tolkien wasn't a great singer either, but I love his own rendition of "Namárie" (I think you can find it on UA-cam). Oh, and Sam's troll song!
@@nordlyselsker That is worth hearing!!!
Reading Tolkien is an adventure in itself. The movies were fun and all... but they just weren't... Tookish.
Oh, and Drew there are SIX books that make up The Lord of the Rings, despite what the publishers would make you think by printing two books per volume.
But to those like Brian who are not avid readers-be warned that the four volumes (Hobbit+”trilogy”) come in at 576,459 words. And far too many are in various elvish tongues….”
@RobertStoddard Still lightweight beach reading compared to one of Tolkein's main inspirations: William Morris' The Earthly Paradise, a twelve part frame story retelling of great myths and legends...in verse! 😂
Drew, the jacket looks amazing!
Thanks, Deb! - Drew
The worst part about the hobby of fountain pens is not being able to afford your grail lens and then they sell out 😢😢
With Chou Kuro... follow the instructions, IMO. I know they said that they didn't experience negative effects with tap water -- and maybe the tap water around here is much "harder" than where they are -- but I found that our tap water makes the pigment "clump" and stick to surfaces to an extent. Even isopropyl alcohol didn't lift it then, but ammonia did just fine. I know this is only one anecdote, but it happened to me.
Alcohol with a fountain pen? Isn't that really bad?
Good to know! - Drew
Are you sure Orwell is fiction, Brian? Have you looked at the USA recently?
Chinese pens (I have several) are amazingly good and really punch above their weight. They also provide a strong base to the market. An excellent pen at the £15 level will make the manufacturers of pricier pens sit up, take notice, and make sure their pens are better than then the cheaper Jinhao / WingSung / Hongdian pens.
I own several Chinese pens plus several so-called "grail pens" (L2000, PC823, MB149, Urushi Maki-E) and, tbh, there is still a big difference there but the gap is closing.
Well stated!
So I know yellow jackets are bad but I live in Alabama and this year we are having trouble with copper heads. I was going down the interstate Wednesday of this week and had one crawl across my feet!! I almost wrecked! I'll take yellow Jackets any day at least it takes a lot of them to kill you!
I was on tenterhooks to see which ink got the job. I was really pulling for Fuyu Syogun (one of my top five inks). I think it looks a little stodgy and boring in the bottle, but right out of the gate, it surprises you with beautiful shading and a sexy "calm before the storm" blue hue. Enjoy your loud, glitzy new employee. I'm hiring Fuyu with all its secret skillz. 😂😂😂
The worst is re-inking (this is totally separate from choosing an ink). There is always a certain level of danger with re-inking. "will my fingers fumble at the worst possible moment?", or, "Will I swipe the side of my hand on something inky and be stained for a day or two?" Cleaning pens i not that hard because there is always water involved to instantly rectify anything in an instant... Reinking though (especially if we are messing with ink samples) is always a bit scary.
I couldn’t agree more! And only a true penthusiast understands that re-inking is not the same as inking it for the first time. Will you rotate your chair at the wrong time and knock the bottle over? Or will someone else knock the bottle over? Not a fan of re-inking.
As someone who’s just getting into fountain pens, this is absolutely true. I’ve heard that dish soap is good at getting ink stains out. It does do the job fairly well.
*Pulls up chair. arranges watercolor supplies, pens and sketchbook. Happily settling in for the latest Pencast!* This makes the best way to celebrate TGIF. Thanks, Brian and Drew! (And that jacket, Drew! Epic!!)
2nded!
Yay! Thanks for joining us! - Drew
That sounds soo cozy 😍
I loved the "ink interview" question--good on you, students!--and you handled the assignment really well. Very interesting all around.
Really enjoyed the ink interview section. I would have hired Amethyste de l’Oural as well. It was really well thought out. Well done. I see myself as Pilot Iroshizuku fuyu-shogun from your description of each ink.
There is one ink that everyone should have - Waterman Serenity Blue. If you are having flow problems with a pen sometimes it will write with that ink. If you ask for helo, you will likely be told to try it. It's essential for vintage pens as it's non-acidic.
And Chinese pens - the clones can often let you try a size or type without spending a lot of money. I wouldn't be saving for a Custom 823 if not for the Wing Sung 699.
Some Chinese brands are getting quite good. Hongdian is an example. They have at least some very original designs, good quality and even customer service. I wouldn't be surprised if this brand went mainstream eventually.
As a librarian, sitting here in the library listening to y’all.. I have to agree.. quantity is quality 😂 Great joke, Drew. lol
My priest is Korean. Just today he was sharing with us that the word for plunger that he learned in the military in South Korea was ddoo-ruh-bung which to me sounds like doerbung. So you have to use a doerbung with your sackbut. 😅
My current favorite ink is Iroshizuku fuyu-syogun. Laid down by a medium cursive italic nib, it looks bluer than it does on your website, and darker. I think it’s a coldly elegant ink, no warmth, all business. I love it.
1:28:59 it’s refreshing to see Brian not purchasing this pen. Yes, it’s pricey but not overly ridiculous. I love his frugality. It’s also relatable to those on tight budgets.
I think the Chinese pens deserve some credit for innovating. Check out the 2ml cartridge converters on the new Jinhao Daodao 9019. That is next level. Also, I don't understand why the western and Japanese brands don't have offerings of really large grip sections like those on the Jinhao X159 and 9019 (I'm not talking about pens over $1K). Point taken on government subsidy of shipping. I like the fact that it takes two weeks to get one of those pens; it fits in with the slower lifestyle I'm after which is what got me into fountain pens.
That new converter on the Dadao can't be praised enough!
Good point about slowing down. Amazon next day delivery feels a bit less fulfilling.
As a follow up to the Chinese pens question, I would also like to comment that since I have started my fountain pen journey I find more often than not less expensive pens often perform more consistently than the pricier pens. My beautiful Monteverde Rodeo Drive pen hardly ever works whereas my pink PenBBS works every time I pick it up. So I buy pens that I find most attractive and will post!
Unfortunately, that particular brand is known for having issues, and has nothing to do with the price.
@@crystalca9082 got it. thanks for the reply.
I’m so glad I’m not the only adult that pulls faces. My Teenagers think it is either funny or embarrassing depending on their mood. Thanks for the funny faces at the beginning Drew.
The issue with Chinese pens, is that we have some companies that simply COPIED, WHOLESALE, the pen design of other pen companies... You know which ones, cough, cough...These companies, I don't and won't support them, as that's what I call plagiarism.
But there are some Chinese companies that will come up with their own design, INSPIRED, by the design of leading pen companies. These companies, I respect and will support them. Pen BBS, Narwhal, Asvine etc
The patents likely expired so it is ok (if that is the case). Plagiarism is for writing.
@@mf-- Thank you for your correction :)
That's what some companies call "competition".
Currently my top two most favorite inks are Organics Studio Nitrogen inked up in a Clear TWSBI Eco, fine nib, and Pilot Iroshizuku Tsutsuji inked up in a Kaweco Sport with an extra fine nib.. they’re both fantastic. I love how they flow.. the Iroshizuku inks have been great in every pen I’ve had them in. ❤🖋️
Thank you for reading my comment about yellow jackets- knowledge is power! Also, you had me laughing at sackbuts- surely the Sacred Sackbut should be played during a procession of The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
The worst part of the hobby is tuning/fixing troublesome pens. Cleaning is not that bad.
Right. I came here to say that as well. I don't enjoy the cleaning, but nib tuning/fixing is definitely my least favorite.
I've always tended to feel the same; but,now that I'm doing more nib adjustments/smoothing,I find I'm getting better at it. I am learning on cheap nibs and would not attempt any work on more expensive ones.
Yes,I've completely destroyed a few. "A man's got to know his limitations."@@lizbensoncox
In general, when cleaning pens, after I flush them with water, I have a cup with a paper towel in it and let the nib sit on the towel for a while. It works great. For my 823, I flush it "good enough" and I'm always going matchy with brown inks, so it doesn't really matter.
That's what I do also.
That ink interview was such a deep dive. 😂 But I'm glad you chose Amethyste de l'Oural, because they were clearly the right candidate from the get go.
Andy Serkis is narrating the Silmarillion. And if you don’t want to read the Hobbit and LOTR, I recommend the audiobook version. It takes away the angst of read large books.
Grant here!
Thanks for taking our question! They boys had a blast putting it together. I’ll be using the Pencast for our “family time meeting” next Sunday.
Fun fact, it was three who have been with us the longest that came up with the content. They picked each ink based off their own personality. The final ink Fuyu Syogun, they picked to represent me since the English translation is roughly…Old Man Winter 😂
It was our pleasure, Grant! - Drew
This item - question and answer - was a work of genius!
This should help pass two of the hours while waiting for a co-order delivery from y'all with my triple tail and paper, also sharks for both my neighbor and me. Although my neighbor is most excited for the inks to sample, including last weeks pencaster's treat.
I've heard bees hate mint. And Brian, I'm a Medievalist and I HATE LOTR. Books in need of a serious edit. Christopher Lee would berate me but I'd take that hit because I do not like those books at all. Do not feel you are missing anything. Favourrites: Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikibu, Robert Oster Blue Water Ice, Iroshizuku Kon Peki, Diamine Imperial Purple, Diamine Royal Blue. Drew's idea for the Urushii is excellent. Michael Biehn, Come with me if you want to live. Sackbutts are fine instruments. Check out some Medieval dance music.
Woah woah woah. Rob Inglis is the only narrator for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The man is a legend, please accept no substitute. He was an OG superfan
PS: I am noticing and admiring Drew’s jacket without directly complimenting him on it
I'll take that as a compliment! Haha! - Drew
I have never felt so seen. I feel like Drew summarized my entire professional career when talking about Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun. This may explain why I am so drawn to this ink. I used a sample awhile ago and loved it; I think a bottle purchase is in order, especially since I identify so strongly with its qualities.
That's awesome! We need Fuyu-Syoguns in the workplace! - Drew
@@GouletpensThere's a place fir every ink in the workplace! 👍🏼
Yes! Me too! I actually just got my bottle after falling in love with the sample and realizing I would be sad and miss it when it ran out. ❤
Yay! The jacket! Excellent form of self expression.
Drew, for me the worst part of the hobby is having to figure out how to deal with packaging. Yeah, unboxing is delightful, but the aftermath of separating out recyclables from non-recyclables just dampens the experience for me.
Just started tuning in this week, I feel like I'm learning so much about the nuances between brands and inks. I thought there would be subtleties to learn in fountain pens and I'm really happy I get to learn about it through two homies who love the hobby. The variety in conversation topics is such a nice refresher from the typical podcast, I feel like I'm just hanging out with my friends during the casts.
I was wondering, since you brought up sepia inks recently, is there a top list of inks for this gradient? I sketch product designs and would love to use this ink color for this purpose.
If someone had given me the shark pen as a kid it woulda ruined me for the price point range I can afford! I was writing with Monteverde Valentine Red in a pink shark when you mentioned them, and I have Blue Ghost in a clear shark. I was absolutely shocked by the quality writing experience for the price.
Pencast stats:
Average length of video: 1 hour, 55 minutes, 19 seconds
Total length of playlist: 8 days, 11 hours, 44 minutes, 9 seconds
"Ink Interview" was fascinating! Outstanding question from an outstanding group of students - and answered with great insight and perspective. Best segment!
My first exposure to Tolkien was back in elementary school in the early 80s when my dad read the Hobbit and LOTR to me and my brother. We thoroughly enjoyed it plus it gave us some time with our dad every night.
All the pen stuff: all good, as usual.
Walton Goggins skills as an actor: AGREED, Agreed, agreed!
The section on interviewing inks was brilliantly done. Very intelligent metaphor and well worked. Brian we did learn from it. Very impressive. Working for the two of you must be a pleasure.
1:47:58 : I'm a 46 year old woman with a Beetlejuice Loungefly Wallet. You GO, Drew! Buck that system, one cute thing at a time ☺
Heck yeah! I'm gonna do it! - Drew
Totally agree with Drew, I'd have hired Améthyste de l'Oural too! Nitrogen is super talented but high maintenance, Wild Strawberry has a good heart but is a little flaky, and the grey is competent and inoffensive but will never have an original thought. 😂
I recently listened to the audiobook of The Hobbit read by Andy Serkis, and he DID act out all the different voices very skillfully! It's awesome! I'm planning on listening to his Lord of the Rings audiobooks soon.
One of my favorite pens is the Jinhao 51a; I have 4 inked up right now. I love the hooded nib, the slip cap, and the included cartridge converter. From what I can tell from reviews, it's superior to the modern Parker 51.
So thoughtful of Mr. Oster to send Brian a huge bottle of Blue Water Ice!! And thanks very much for the tour of Drew's legendary jacket!!!
There is a certain quality in quantity, (Russian saying)
Somehow, the "Sticker Nerd Kid" becoming the "Cool Patch Jacket Dude" it's the only logical conclusion for character development.
The BEST part of Fountain Pens is falling asleep during the part of the Pencast you don't care about so much and dreaming about spending all your $$$$ acquiring the mystical grail pen you've been drooling over. Then jerking awake and finding your hands covered with ink.
I'm so excited about the new Supra in black anodized aluminum. Do you know if there will be a Lilliput to match? Will you ever carry the black Lilliput that is already in the market?
Also, I love how Drew's jocket turned out. Well done!
Chinese pens are produced with subsidies. Isn’t that the best thing for fountain pen lovers; another third party (in this case a government) funding their hobby…?😂
Cheese ice cream exists. Look for Queso ice cream (Philippines). One of my favorites, others include Avocado, corn, and ube (purple yam). If you want them together plus other ingredients, there is also Halo-halo flavor (literally, mix mix)
The most miserable parts about this hobby:
1.) The state of your bank account after a big pen order
2.) Constantly adding things to your wishlist that you can't afford
3.) Falling in love with a limited edition pen that sold out several years ago.
4.) Breaking or losing a part to a pen and unable to find a replacement.
Private Reserve Tanzanite is my favorite ink. It just lights up the page. Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi (charcoal black) is my every day black ink.
Max Miller (Tasting History with Max Miller on UA-cam) did a Parmesan Cheese ice cream a couple months back and said it was surprisingly delicious. I’m with Brian… I would definitely ask if I could get a tiny sample taste of the dog directed flavors (after asking for an ingredient list).
Semi-related, but Hey, fellow Tasting History & GPC fan~! 😂🎉
I've had parmesan ice cream before and it was surprisingly delicious! I wouldn't buy a whole pint of it, but I'd order a scoop if I saw it on a menu. It was made like regular vanilla ice cream, but with parmesan grated in so it wasn't overwhelming.
Max Miller? The Cheeky Chappie? 😉😄
Brian, with your love of blues . .. how about J Herbin Kyanite du Nepal? I think it’s fabulous. What awesome shimmer.
A novelty treat that was indeed made for (SOME) humans: The first time i went to Salt and Straw ice cream in Portland, they had recently done a collab with a local school to have kids help come up with flavors and there was one called “Old People”. 😅 I believe menthol and wherthers original were involved.
NASA just retrieved samples from the asteroid Bennu. Sounds like y’all should work with Benu to design a commemorative pen!
There is a Filipino cheese and corn ice cream. I've had it and it wasn't too bad. Fun flavor
What do you guys think about having a tri-yearly Fountain Pen Design Contest?
Example: On the first year for a couple of months people can submit a picture of their pen design in different angles. The next couple of months you can have the community vote for the best design with some kind of online I.D voting system so people don’t cheat 😅
The second year you can announce the winner and the rest of the year will be spent manufacturing the design into a real pen that will only be available for purchase the following year then discontinued. After that third year you can start the contest back up again 💪🏾
I think this would bring sooo much positive energy to this community that I just recently fell back in love with. The only thing that might be a little difficult is setting up the I.D voting and maybe Copyrighting stuff but I know it’s possible. I subscribed to you guys a couple weeks ago, keep up the great work! - Wind
Chou Koru would be best to work on a dedicated, opaque pen to avoid stain issues. If you use it with a Pelikan Demonstrator limited edition pen with hard tap water, then you are living on the edge.
I adore Birmingham inks. My favorites are Gerbera, Eroded Bronze, & Voltaic Arc. I also think Diamine Aurora Borealis is underrated.
Ok, who missed the chance to call that section "the inkterview"?
AHHH! You're right!! - Drew
Drew, just curious; what method do you use to choose your THREE PENS?
I typed HYDRA in the coupon code and it says it isn’t valid. Do we have to spend a certain amount? I wanted to buy Herbin’s fuchsia de Magellan.
same here..
Stephen Fry is my favourite but yeah of course Andy Serkis' voice is also great! But I'm curious about another thing...
The Pelikan M215 rings .. is there a special reason why it's not offered for purchasing on gouletpens or have you just overlooked its existence? With the barrel made of brass the 'inked-up-weight' of ~21g (empty weight is 20g) gives the writing feeling a very special touch. I also like how it was designed with the silvery chrome in the capring and pistonknob-ring and on the clip...don't tell me you two geeks don't kie it! 😂 my best greetings from vienna, Austria
Thanks for the heads up on this pen. It is right slap-bang in my aesthetic, and I definitely need to consider. 👍🏼
Oh no… that dragoness pen is tickling a desire akin to what I see people expressing for Benu.
Did I want a pen that looks like the Milky Way mixed into moonstone with a hint of lucid dreaming? No. Now that I’ve seen it, can I stop thinking about it? Also no.
Growing up in France in the 90s, children were taught in school to write with fountain pens at an early age. There was this “myth” that with time the nib would start adapting and forming to your handwriting. I remember trying to write with my friends pens and finding their nibs extremely scratchy and uncomfortable while my pen was as smooth as butter. Is this common knowledge or was it all made up by our teachers so we wouldn’t steal each other’s fountain pens? 😅
I was told exactly the same at my school in the UK. And my parents said it too, now I think about it.
I heard the same tale in the US as a reason not to loan your pen to someone.
You all are the best! Just ordered the new Jacques Herbin 1670 Fuchsia de Magellan. Just a heads up, the code HYDRA didn't work for me.
same here :(
I had a bunch of chinese pens when I started using fountain pens. The issue with them is often the quality roulette you are doing buying them. I've had Jinhao pen basically self-destruct under normal use. And I've had some that were extremely inconsistent... but I also had some that worked really well. The difference with the pens that are more expensive I would say is the after sale support tends to be better on more expensive pens. Like they said, it's what resonates with you... and your budget to be honest.
Yes on variability. I bought a 8 dollar Jinhao early on and it works better than I would have anticipated considering how people talk about cheap pens. It is still inked and writes well on the first or second stroke even after leaving it unused for months on end.
They almost all need a little bit of "tuning", but can be made to perform really nicely with some work.
You wore the jacket!!!! That’s cool!
Thank you! - Drew
"Wild strawberry might one day decide they don't want to be wild anymore" oh man this question was so fun. Loved your responses! P.S. love the denim jacket!!!
Haha thanks, Becky! - Drew
Hi Guys!: You did it AGAIN! Not only did I learn stuff about pens and ink, but I get great fashion ideas from the pencast, too!
Lately, I've fallen in love with Sailor Ink Studio #237. That lovely pink always shades gorgeously, going from saturated to deeply saturated. It surprises me everytime, and I can see a bottle of it in my future!
Recently bought the bottle after finishing a sample. A new favorite.
I'll have to check that one out! - Drew
I'm want to believe that Nitrogen from O.S. isn't a slacker, they just misunderstood, I want to believe the offset label it's just a period table reference, where the representative letter is off center alongside with more information, like the atomic weight, eletron configuration, name, etc. Nitrogen is just a passionate nerd wearing thematic tshirt on his interview.
LOL well said! - Drew
I dont know what it its in those icecreams for dogs there, but I know we have some dog ice creams here in Norway, and I would not recomend for humans, its like different types of fish, meat, liver and so on! :)
Also just have to say love watching your videos and learn more about fountain pens and all the other stuff! Love to hear how your kids learn to save for things, and to acutally have somethings on their wish list and prioritice how to get it :)
I have tasted a plain “vanilla “ dog ice cream and it had very little sweetness, I think most dog frozen treats have little sugar-dogs don’t need that, unlike humans dogs are satisfied without it.
Loved the Customer Service Ink session, definitely some good laughs in there with how seriously Brian and Drew took it. Currently have the new Goulet Pen Care associate Amethyste de l'Oural in my Sailor PG Storm Over the Ocean and they work very well together :)
OS Nitrogen makes me think of Jean Ralphio from Parks and Rec. Exceedingly extra, entertaining, dangerous... when it succeeds it's fun, but is it worth the risk?
There's no more effective an alarm clock than guck-guck-gug of a pet throwing up. And it's not even that loud!
100% true! - Drew
At 48:40 I hear Bryan "I like punchier inks..." and I wanted to hear "... and I cannot lie".
You're REALLY going to like the video we publish this Wednesday, then! - Drew
Everything to do with fountain pens is excellent and calming.
I fell behind on the Pencast over the last few weeks, and just caught up Thursday. Thanks for giving us these 2+ hour Pencasts, they make my weekend!
Have you guys considered doing using AI image generators to create images of any of the following?
1. Brian Goulet doing bushcraft/knitting/[insert hobby]
2. Drew wearing puce cargo shorts
3. Drew wearing a raden jacket
4. Brian as ‘Professor Deep Dive’ teaching [insert topic]
Just some ideas. There are so many inside jokes and pen related things you could do.
Keep up the great work guys! Love the pen cast. I discovered it a few months ago and I’m slowing working my way back through all prior episodes while keeping up with your new releases!
Corgis on patrol!
Drew attempted to say "no" on Chinese fountain pens in a sort of diplomatic way. It didn't sound like an approval.
I absolutely approve of Chinese pens. Sorry if that was unclear! - Drew
The ink interview was so fun, love how you guys really got immersed in the question.
Target is the worst at rotating out toys/franchises! Clearance items also vary store to store, even in the same area. It’s so maddening sometimes.
Right!? - Drew
As a music teacher and trombonist I found your facts accurate. I reference most of those points to my elementary students. As you can imagine, sackbut goes over amazingly well. It’s always worth a good laugh. I did the Charlie Brown teacher demo about 20 times this week!
The new chou kuro is insanely good. I LOVE it. It’s been a game changer for me
Nice!!! - Drew
I really want to try it! I need to get it on my list
This is awesome new pen day and the pen cast what a Good Friday
Bit late, but maybe better than never... my favorite inks:
1. Pilot: I'm torn between Kon Peki and Yama Budo. I'll go with Yama Budo because I have little else that is that color.
2. Sailor: I haven't written with too many of them, outside of samples. I'll pick Ink Studio 453 because I got a full bottle of that to go with my 1911 Wicked Witch.
3. Monteverde: Kindness Pink. Best straight up pink I've encountered, and the only full bottle of Monteverde ink I've bought. (And, no, Yama Budo is not pink to me)
4. (Jacques) Herbin: tricky one. I think my choice would be Kyanite du Nepal, but Rouge Hematite and Stormy Grey are runner ups.
5. Lamy: by what I have, Crystal Ruby. Though I have recently tried a sample of Azurite, and yes, that is a fantastic ink as well. Not much that's quite like it.
6. Robert Oster: fully agree with Brian on Blue Water Ice. One of my two favorite blues at the moment.
7. Diamine: My other favorite blue: Majestic Blue. Can't beat the dark color and sheen combination. If I want to go a little less sheeny, it'd be Sargasso Sea.
I don't know if you previously saw this comment to Pencast 99, but your discussion about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys brought me back to my days working as an aerospace engineer for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in FL. The Italian built Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLMs) are large pressurized containers that were used on the US Space Shuttle missions to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station. The 3 modules were named Leonardo, Raffaello and Donatello by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). While we at NASA liked to believe the modules were named after 3 of the 4 the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Italians claim they were named because they denote some of the great talents in Italian history (uh huh). A logo was actually produced by Mirage Studios artist A.C. Farley featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Raphael in an astronaut flight suit. There were cloisonné pins produced, as well as stickers and embroidered patches. Maybe you should look for one of the patches for your jean jacket!