A day late.

Sorry I didn't post an update yesterday, I have been working all weekend and didn't have any time for hobby stuff.

What can I tell you? Well, I got to actually work on one of our helicopters for a change (rather than sitting behind a desk) and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I changed an awkward access, hydraulic pipe and sorted out all of the functional tests and leak checks that went with it...it's been a while...but was great fun.

I was attacked by a stray cat and now have some lovely puncture marks on my forehead and neck. The cat in question is generally friendly and likes being made a fuss of but I think it caught a reflection in my spectacles and lashed out. Needless to say, I treat the little wotsit with a bit more respect now.

I have done a very small amount of sculpting. The Ogarix is now holding a weapon and I have started to sculpt three 15mm Space Dwarfs. I haven't done much because I am so tired I would mess up any intricate work so I am just doing the easy bits.

I have placed another order with Hasslefree Miniatures...a Grymn pilot with his dog, a Grymn pulling the pin from a grenade and a leader Grymn. Because they are master casts, they are a bit more expensive than they would normally be...but they are worth every penny.

I have seen a few trailers for an upcoming movie called AVATAR. It is a 3D film about humans going to a world full of big, blue aliens. To be honest, I think it will turn into a big 'Eco' film and the story will be rubbish...but I don't care. I have seen the awesome dropships, assault craft, robot walkers and some spectacular battle sequences...the story can go to hell for all I care! What I'd really love to see would be all of the cool kit released as toys in 28mm scale...but that is a vain hope.

I think that is about it for now. I'm sorry there aren't any new pix to show off but hopefully I'll get a bit of time over this week to get something to a point worth taking pix of for Sunday's update.

See you through the murky depths!

Oh dear, oh dear...

I've had a bit of a busy week this week. I have been doing lots at work and not having time to do stuff at home...

...I even have to work the weekend.

I don't mind too much because I get to play with helicopters for a change (instead of just being a glorified desk jockey).

Unfortunately, I can't promise any progress on my current projects due to life...so don't expect too much in the way of pics.

I have been thinking a lot about 'stuff' lately and one thing that has crossed my mind is the lack of 15mm sci-fi Dwarfs. In fact, apart from Hasslefree Grymn, there aren't that many 28mm scale sci-fi Dwarfs either. There is also a lack of mushroom men ;) !

Where are there decent sci-fi Lizardmen?

I really think that it is time for a few new ranges.

In fact, I am so convinced, I may even sculpt a range myself. I wonder who would buy a range of 15mm Dwarfs off me? Fat little sci-fi Dwarfs with big guns and beards. Maybe some 30mm tall Space Lizards. Hey, if I actually managed to do 15mm scale space Dwarfs, maybe I could do 28mm scale ones as well?

So, what makes a range then?

What do you really need in a sci-fi range?

A MEGA leader.
His/Her support staff - comms, flag waver (?), bat-man, drill sergeant.
A few officers.
A few Sergeants.
A few Corporals.
A few big-gunners.
A lot of basic troops.
Powered suits of armour?
Robot drones?

What about space pirates?
A MEGA leader.
A bunch of 'characters'
A bunch of big-gunners.
A bunch of mis-matched regulars.

Lizardmen?
Small groups or large forces?
What about a small squad of super armoured Lizardmen with enough firepower to take down an army!

What would people really want to see?

Questions, questions...

See you on the bright side!

Wednesday wanderings.

Is it Wednesday already? I wouldn't have known if I hadn't checked the calendar. This week has been a week of management exercises so far...fortunately it's over with for now but it won't go away...

There is always something homely about certain things.

Steak and ale pie.

Coffee made with half milk and half water.

Home made cakes.

Port.

The thing with port is that it can be seen as a strong wine...but it isn't. No wine could contain the deep smoky taste that Port has. No wine can fill your mouth with flavour like Port does. No wine could fill your spirit with heat like Port does.

You could put lemonade in it...but that just takes away the soul of it. It is a drink that needs to be savoured neat...you can't taint it because if you try, it changes completely.

BUT...there is a price. One or two relax you...a few more enrage you...a few more after that and all hell breaks loose as the stuff tries to escape you!

There are things in life that mean so much more than just 'things'.

Tinned pears and condensed milk.

Bread and dripping...the taste of the jelly under the layer of beef fat; awesome.

Coffee with chicory...I hope I never taste it again and don't mention Camp coffee!

Space dust!

So many things that come and go. We appreciate them differently as we get older and they attain a special place in the soul. How can a tin of pears be so special? It is the memory of those days where everything was so free of responsibility, where the worst you could expect was a clip around the ear or a good telling off. Where you could go and climb a tree without being called a hooligan and play kiss chase with your friends without disapproving people warning you of the dangers of promiscuity. Life was great then...

...and then there was the Sunday dinner. A glorious roast with all the trimmings followed by a bowl of tinned pears with condensed milk.

It's the stuff of legends.

Why?

Because as long as you live, you'll remember those special things as clearly as you'll remember stories of mystical dragons, beautiful princesses and daring knights...

...and they become legendary!

Tinned pears?

Food of the gods!

Take care.

Another Sunday Update.

Hello again! I've just got back from a nice stroll along the side of the River Thames and thought I'd post a bit early today.

Fist up, I have a bit more progress on the Ogarix. His left arm is nearly finished and I've started to detail his right one. Not shown in the pic is the start of his weapon, which is currently a twisted piece of wire coated in a finger-print covered layer of putty! Anyway, here's the pic:

Click the Pic!

Next up is a pic of the Grymn powered armour. As you will see, I have reworked the legs and completely bulked up the suit below the waist. I still have a little bit to do on the legs but I am fairly happy with the look so far:

Click the Pic!

As you can see, I have started to think about the arms. Please note that the gun arm in the picture has only been slid on the wire to show you the part that I was sent...it may not end up on this suit and if it does, I doubt very much if the forearm will look the way it does in the picture. The position of the arms will change and the length will be corrected to the right length.

I need to tidy up the legs a bit and I also need to add a few little details to the inside of the ankles.

Well, there you have it.

Catch you on the dark side.

New snake pic!

I finally worked out how to get pix off my phone so here is a pic of the actual snake I caught yesterday:

Click the Pic!

...Ain't it loverly :)?

Holy Moly...SNAKE!

When I got home from work tonight, my daughter pointed out a snake on the path. That may be a usual occurrence in many parts of the world but in England, it isn't.

What could I do? There were children about and there was the threat of cats getting at it so I thought I'd pick it up and put it somewhere safe. So I dispatched my good wife to get a secure box for it while I picked the snake up.

It was obviously an escaped pet because it was very docile and was quite happy being handled...it seemed to be sun bathing quite happily prior to being picked up. To cut a long story short, after knocking on a lot of doors and not finding the owner, the snake is now with the RSPCA.

Below is a picture of the same type of snake. It is a Corn Snake and the one I picked up was the same colour and a good 2.5 feet long:


Before I get worried comments, I knew that the snake was either a common smooth snake or a corn snake (both of which are non venomous) so I was confident I could pick it up. If I had any doubts I wouldn't have touched it. Never touch a snake unless you are sure it is safe to do so. If you are not sure, wait for an expert to do it.

I think it was a pretty cool event and the snake was really cool too!

On to other things, the Powered armour now has sculpted legs and the Ogarix is still ticking along nicely; the arms are beginning to look much more defined and smooth.

Apart from that...not a lot that could possibly compare to catching a snake!

SERENDIPITY!

I haven't seen someone for ten years and I bump into them at work! They aren't in the forces any more but happened to be doing contract work at the base where I am stationed. How is that for a coincidence!? It was great to see them!

See you on the flip side.

Tuesday.

Wow...more people have joined the blog! I'd like to welcome Darknight, David Jaske and Eric Lakin to Inso's world. I hope that you get what you are looking for here and also that you find something that gives you ideas for projects of your own.

...WELCOME!

It seems that something has stirred in the ether that has sort of caught the hobby world by storm...

Spacehulk.

What do I think? Well, it looks pretty good but I think that £60-00 is a bit too expensive for a boardgame (especially since Lego has recently brought out a series of customisable board games for a fraction of the price...and they will have MUCH more play value).

What has really captured my attention is the fact that Spacehulk is 'limited edition'. I hate it when companies release things on limited edition for two reasons.

1. You may not get hold of the stuff you want because you have to attened a certain event OR jump through various hoops to qualify OR you have to be the first in a queue.

2. You know very well that it will only be limited edition UNTIL they realise that it has sold like hot-cakes at which point it will suddenly not become so limited as the 'new' item is released in a different box (but with the exact same product inside).

Now I realise that 'Limited Edition' items can be essential to small companies trying to raise funds for the more general stuff that they release but I do find it frustrating sometimes when I see something that I MUST have only to discover it is only available when you attend the 'game-place event in Illonois' (made up name but you get the idea).

GRRR.

On to other things.

Does Iron Man look like a GW Space Marine? What about Master Chief? Stormtroopers from Starwars? Do any of these look like Space Marines? Starship Troopers...

I ask this because it seems that everytime anyone releases pix of their new 'powered armour' there is always a chorus of 'that looks like a Space Marine'. There have been occasions where people have deliberately jumped on the style of a SpaceMarine in a deliberate attempt to copy IP BUT generally speaking, if there is so much as a knee pad or elbow joint that resembles anything from a Space Marine, the GW shouts start.

I am saying this because the Grymn powered armour WIP that I have shown, looks like a Space Marine...aparently. Now, bear in mind that the legs are just frames for putty (as I have already mentioned the legs will be changed), does the body look like a Space Marine? Does it? Hmmm?

I love the way 'Work In Progress' means 'Finished Article' to so many people. It sometimes makes me cringe when someone puts up an obviously unfinished miniature, calls it a WIP and some one tells them that the head needs detail...even though the head hasn't been started! Or when there is an almost complete miniature,sculpted in fantastic detail, with an obviously unfinished part (due to it lacking the same level of detail) and someone points out the fact that it needs more work.

WIP means Work In Progress.

Oh...by the way, the legs on the Grymn Powered Armour have been changed. When they are a little more complete, I'll post pix...

...but it will probably just look like a Space Marine though...