A mixed bag.

This week has been one of good times and sad times.

One of the things about being a serviceman is the transience of it all. You just get used to people being about and then they move on to be replaced by someone else. On the plus side, you get to go to many leaving functions but on the down side... your friends move on.

This week one of my friends left the service so we had a proper leaving function and gave him a good send off... I hope that the next person who comes a long becomes as much of a mate as his predecessor.

So... I went to the cinema yesterday and saw the new X-Men film. Now here's the rub. On the one hand, it is a good film with lots of action, lots of characters and some excellent special effects. On the other hand, time travel is used to totally re-write the X-Men universe and change the relevance of the first two main films. The purists will be spitting feathers... those who just want a simple super-hero film will be spitting feathers (unless they can suspend their beliefs for a couple of hours)... those who like time travel and all of the rubbish it conjures up will love the film.

Me... the film was great apart from the time travel aspects. The writers have completely altered much of the previous work. You are even left in doubt as to whether Wolverine will ever get his adamantium claws...

Recently, I have been converting/sculpting but my juices have dried up... so I decided to paint a cheap plastic dinosaur fo no apparent reason:

Click the Pix!

It's amazing what a quick paintjob does for these cheap, rubber dinosaurs... I reckon that I must have spent about 30p on the painted one. Not a bad result, really.

That's it for now.

See you from the Cretaceous period!

Jaded

Today is a hangover day. I may have been partaking in a few glasses of port until about 5am so I am not firing on all cylinders today. That means that today's blog post will be a bit 'to the point'.

First up, I have been pointed at with another Liebster award from the Bandit86 blog. Rather than going through the whole process, I will just answer the questions... so here they are:

1. If you could be an actor in a film, what film and who would you play?
- I think I'd play the lead role in Sniper. I'd need the film's fitness trainers to go to work on me first but I reckon I'd be great as a gnarly old war vet who works alone.

2. If I could have lunch with 3 fictional movie characters, who would they be and why?
- Professor Flitwick (from Harry Potter) because he would be great dinner entertainment using his elevation tricks, The Silver Surfer because he would have some awesome tales to tell and could put on a holographic show of them and Pilot from Farscape to add a little calming influence on procedings.

3. What is my favourite part of the wargaming hobby?
- Honestly?.. Seeing the new stuff that turns up and being inspired by the creativity of it all.

4. What is my feeling on crowd funding and have I been involved?
- I think it serves a purpose but is being misused by people who don't really need to use it. I always thought it was a helping hand to get an idea off the ground for someone starting out... now it seems to be an easy 'advance order' system for larger companies. I have joined in with 5 kickstarters so far... I am still waiting for Mantic stuff from last June.

5. What are my favourite past/present TV shows?
- Farscape/Space Above and Below (a tie for the past one) and nature programmes.

6. Do I consider myself a nerd/geek.
- Of course... and I stand upon the tallest place and yell out loud about it. It is very funny when people expect you to be embarrassed about it, only to discover that you are happy to be so creative and childish.

7. What is my favourite figure that I have or want?
- That is very tricky because what I really want is a range of cut-down 1/60 scale Votoms mechs to be made... I would dearly love those. Failing that, The Grymn are under my skin and there are so many classic Grymn that I couldn't possibly just choose one.

8. Who is my favourite figure sculptor?
- Kev White from Hasslefree Miniatures. He has an exceptional grasp of anatomy and posture... and sculpts Grymn.

9. Do zombies creep me out?
- No. I just don't get the whole zombie thing. I never have and I never will (and I have no idea where the quote comes from because I don't watch any zombie films).

10. What is my biggest fear?
- I don't have one... I go with the flow and fear when I need to. I don't dwell on things to an extent where I could say 'that is my biggest fear'. I guess the safety of my family would be high up there though.

11. What gives me the most joy?
- Everything. I am one of those people who can see the best in a bad day. Children and animals are great to be around... they do the funniest things and can show such raw emotion that you would have to have a heart of stone not to feel joy in their joy.

Thanks for the questions Bandit86, they were quite tricky.

I haven't really been hobbying much this week so I only have a couple of WIP pix to show off:

Click the Pix!

The top pic shows three mobile weapon platforms that have been made from Imperial Guard weapons, some plastic bricks and some old Epic Landraiders. They still need to have details added but are getting there. They are for my Squat troops to use (the ACTUAL Squat miniatures, not my converted-from-Imperial-Guard ones) because they are so tiny. The bottom picture shows a very early WIP of my Squat Warlord in Exo Armour. By the time he is finished, he will be completely different from the WIP.

Well... I hope you have enjoyed today's post. I am now off for a drink of water... and some headache tablets.

See you through bleary eyes!

An interesting week?

Hello again. It is Sunday so it is time to update the blog again.

I'll start with something completely different and talk about mobile phones. I have just been given an upgrade and I have not only advanced to the technological marvels of a touch-screen phone (with internet!) but I was also given a tablet as a free gift. I think it is great when you don't really keep track of things and a phonecall 'out of the blue' gets you... STUFF! Now, of course, I have to learn how to use them both but I guess that slow and steady wins the race.

I have had quite a sociable week that, coupled with a distinct lack of any identifiable sleep pattern, has limited my hobby time again... so I have just pottered along and have been bothering Ebay as well.

First up... I put a bid on some Squat plastics... and I only went and won them for a very reasonable price (less than £2.00 each!). That means two things... I have finally got some proper Squats and I have managed to find yet another distraction.

Now you would have thought that a Squat was a Squat, wouldn't you? Well... apparently not. You see, my Squats are bigger than yours:

Click the Pic!

The one in the middle is one of my Imperial Guard conversions and the other two are actual Squats (with new heads). As you can see, there is a noticeable difference between them so I am forced to think about how to mix them together. I have 20 Squats so that isn't enough for a platoon (I need 25 for that) so I can't make a separate infantry platoon... however, with 18, I can make a heavy weapon platoon so that is what I am going to do. I think that they have been chosen for heavy weapons because they aren't as big as standard infantry Squats and can have self-propelled weapons so they don't have to carry as much. The weapons I am thinking of using are these: LINK.

Speaking of Squats, I have now converted enough IG to make the first squad:

Click the Pic!

From the top left, Grenade launcher, Comms, Sgt, Loader, Las-cannon. The bottom row are all basic lasguns. Only another 26 to go!

Well... that is it for today.

See you from the bottom of the alphabet soup!

Liebster Award questions and nominations...

So... to continue on from the last post, here are my 11 questions:

1.  Why did you decide that wargaming was for you?
2.  If you had to team up with a super hero, who would it be and what powers would you have to compliment their abilities?
3.  What do you think is the cutest film creature (from a sci-fi/fantasy setting) and why?
4.  If you were sentenced to death by firing squad, who would you want staked out next to you and why?
5.  Zombies? In one sentence, explain why a rotten, animated corpse seems to be the coolest thing on the wargaming scene since... ever.
6.  If you had unlimited surplus cash and had to choose a single wargaming army, what would it be and for which rules/game?
7.  If you lost everything apart from the clothes you are standing in... what would be the very first thing (after food/drink) that you would choose to obtain and why?
8.  What is your favourite pet?
9.  You are standing next to the director of a film that you really didn't like and were able to replace him in the director's chair. Which film would you choose to improve?
10.  What do you think is the best wargaming genre and why?
11.  Who would you choose to write your epitaph and why?

So... nominations...

John Bear Ross
The Rovanite
Maxxev
Dwartist
Brummie
Gunner
Vampifan
Tales from the Maelstrom
Bandit86
Brandlin
Chico

Hopefully, they will accept the nominations in the spirit they are sent.

How to do it?
Read the last post for information... then:

1. State your eleven truths.

2. Answer my eleven questions.

3. Choose eleven questions of your own.

4. Nominate eleven blogs.

Monday procrastination.

As you may have noticed, it isn't Sunday... but I'll get to that.

Before I do I would like to welcome Nobody667 to Inso's World. I hope you enjoy your visit and make sure that you check all the corners... you never know what you may find.

I was going to post yesterday; as usual but I din't have anything to show off so I thought I'd let it slide until today... and I still don't have anything to show off. That is because I've had a lazy week where I have socialised a bit too much and not been really bothered to do any hobby stuff.

First up, I went on a leaving do at the Reading Beer and Cider festival on Thursday and on Saturday, I went out with my lad and a few of his mates... and in between, I have been shattered with no enthusiasm for hobby stuff.

In the news, I have been ticking along on a few little bits... namely the commission sculpts. It is very difficult putting tiny spines on the back of a 20mm tall creature...but I am getting there. I reckon that I'll soon have some pics to show off (even though the sculpts are currently around a month late).

I have also bitten the bullet and have five more Squats in progress. They have currently been shortened, had their legs and bellies sculpted and their backpacks fitted (a comms, loader and special weapon ammo pack). That means that when they are finished, there will be a squad (that just needs to be painted).

In more Squat related news, I managed to bag me 20 plastic Squat miniatures from Ebay. They cost me £29.00 including postage... which is an amazing price if you think that some of the buy it now prices are ridiculous (a box of 36 for £300.00? Mental). They are new on sprue and have all the arms and weapons but not the bases and one head is missing (not a problem when I am already sculpting Squat heads at the moment). That makes mw very pleased.

So... I've been nominated for  Liebster Award...

I must say I've never heard of it so here is a link to what it is all about:

The Liebster Award

If you don't read it, you'll never know what it is about because... I am not explaining it!

The eleven truths:

1. I have an alternative personality... it is a Velociraptor and it lives here: Being a Velociraptor.
2. I have had some of my poems published on line as part of 'The New Ulsterman' webzine.
3. I am married with two teenaged children who aren't quite embarrassed enough to stay at home when I go out (but I am working on it).
4. I have seen the future (Christmas) and it involves some of THESE with lots of pads and a helmet.
5. I am in the Royal Air Force (and have been for nearly 27 years) and am currently involved with getting the Puma Mk 2 helicopter fully into service.
6. I love eating fresh Lobsters... and preparing them is all part of the enjoyment (BASHY, BASHY!).
7. I have a little bit of a crush on Kylie Minogue... but don't tell anyone.
8. I once walked into a cheetah's cage and stroked it. Luckily, it was eating its dinner at the time (and so were the other two).
9. I could drive a forklift before I could drive a car... and was a qualified motorcyclist before I could drive the forklift (work that out).
10. I currently have five different sculpts for sale in various shops (including Hasslefree, Grekwood Miniatures, Matakishi's Tea House and Impact Miniatures).
11. I have been a passenger in a helicopter that landed on Ben Nevis in Scotland.

Now the questions I have been posed:

1. You have been marooned on a desert island with paints and brushes... what miniature would you take to paint?
Answer - The Heresy Dragon.

2. On that Island, you later discover a shop that sells one hobby accessory... which one?
Answer - A decent lamp.

3.  Said shop is run by a hobby related individual, past or present. Who are they?
Answer - Christopher Lee (he was in Star Wars amongst MANY films and used to make wargaming miniatures out of sculpted paper mash).

4.  You have been rescued by Superman and brought back home. Your entire collection has been sold; apart from your paints. What is the first miniature you would paint?
Answer - I would sell my paints and not start up again. I'd find a more practical hobby to do... it would be the freedom I have long craved.

5.  If you could have any past miniature range, in its entirety, which would it be?
Answer - GW Squats... and in multiples. Basic troops, support weapons, Exos and Hearthguard but not the bikes (dreadful).

6.  A miniature manufacturer that you don't think should ever have existed.
Answer - Defiance Games (and any other company with any links to Tony).

7.  Your likeness in miniature, sculpted by whom and in what clothing?
Answer - Kev White (Hasslefree Miniatures), as a Grymn in light weight powered armour (like the humans he sells).

8.  A complete range sculpted by your favourite sculptor? Choose range and sculptor.
Answer - Kev White, Squats (of my design).

9.  You get the chance to interview someone on your blog. Who do I choose (living or dead but hobby related)?
Answer - I'd bring Tolkein back from the dead and ask him all about his thoughts on the film versions of his books.

10.  You are elected as head of Games Workshop by the board. What is your next move.
Answer - Reduce prices by about 25%, reintroduce the Squats (but with an improved design), get rid of the new look Visions and White Dwarf and release White Dwarf as a proper magazine with other manufacturers being invited to add articles. Finecast would be scrapped, Forgeworld would be used for the resin casting instead and that company would have its QA department fired and replaced with a more stringent team (to improve reputation)...

11.  The Grim Reaper finally claims me but resurrects me. Which area/time do I choose (but not who... that is in the lap of the gods)?
Answer - Tokyo, Japan... now.

I will nominate my blogs and dish out questions a bit later.

See you from the Septus Nebula!