Figure (non)Painting Total

While I got a fair amount of bits in the mail, they didn't complete many models. I have a bunch en route though. I didn't finish painting anything, of course. Since I'm ramping up to pre-Halloween mode, I may not find time to work next month either. But I do have two separate weeks off. If I can finish the costumes, I may be able to squeeze in some time to paint a bit.

Sept figures bought – 1, figures painted – 0

40K Ork Trukk (in bits) - 1


Running total 2010 – figures bought 90, figures painted 0

New fabric store

We did some fabric shopping last night. We popped into Marshall / Northwest Fabrics at 575 Berry St. I have found my new fabric place! When Fanny’s Fabrics closed years ago, I have had to make due with the meager selection at Walmart and Fabricland.

I hate Fabricland. Not only are the aisles tight and the selection poor, but they stand their fabrics up to display – which makes them very tippy. Plus they change out their fabrics seasonally - which makes it hard to spandex or fleece year-round.

Marshall had a nice big selection, with good signage. They have a policy of minimum cut of 1 meter – which is a bit annoying when you only need a bit of material – but all-in-all I was quite pleased. Plus, they are open late on Wednesdays and Thursdays - until 8pm (Monday - Tuesday and Friday - Saturday until 6pm).


We bought 3 ½ meters of purple vinyl (for costume), 1 meter of a pink vinyl (for pouches), 1 meter of red felt (for fez). We also bought some zippers.

Langenburg - Goliath

While on our road trip to Saskatchewan, we pulled over in Langenburg to take a ride on the Goliath. We had seen it on the way down and decided to stop in on the way back.



You can get some good height on this swing.

Skate or Die!

Some of the video games from my youth were 720 and Marble Madness. "Skate or die"! Considering that skateboarding has become even more common than back then, you would think it would resurface. Perhaps the Tony Hawk skate games have replaced it – I haven’t tried it so I don’t know how it compares to 720.

I did find myself recently thinking about Marble Madness and why no-one has made a version of it recently. Then, in Dollarama, for $2 we found a copy of Hamster Ball by Brighter Minds Media. It is very similar in look and play to what I remember from Marble Madness. Of course, I’m using my Trackman Marble on my computer so it plays quite well.

Now to find a Missile Command game.

View-master

My mom brought over the old view-masters we used to have when we young. Since they have been fair game for the kids for the last two decades, they are in somewhat rough shape. They are the old red and white square models.

We had mentioned that Shan liked the old travelogue reels. We didn’t have any of those but we had a bunch of the old cartoon ones. My uncle Pete used to have one of the brown viewer and he had a bunch of the travelogues. We used to look at them when we would visit as kids.

I’m going to have to see if I can fix them. Besides the old-school 3D memories involved, they are also useful as props. A red model goes with the Tick props. It would look nice sitting next to a little wooden boy. I have to find out which reel he uses.

I also picked up a newer rounder model at Value Village. The kids can use it for now – but I’ll probably end up using it for the eyes on a Joe Crow from Mystery Science Theatre.

Pre-halloween

Gee’s Hit-Girl costume is coming together. We got a belt and a wig to use. We found a pattern for the pants and jacket and found dye. We still need to find fabric for the pants and jacket, find gloves, dye the skirt, make a mask, cape, and weapons. Time is getting close but I still feel we are in a good spot.

We had been toying with plans for a family costume for Valleycon but didn’t get around to working on them. Unless everything falls into place over the next few weeks, we will have to put them off until next year.

D3 has decided to be the new Doctor. We’ve got a close suit jacket and found suspenders. We need pants, shirt, bow tie, a fez (Fezes are cool!), and maybe a sonic screwdriver. He is sure that none of his friends watch the show, but at least he decided. He had been thinking of wearing one of the family costumes but, since that probably won't happen, he'll go as the Doctor.

Unless, of course, they change their minds at the last minute. Gee is already torn between being the Hitgirl costume we are working on, or a cowgirl, or maybe a vampire. Part of the reason I delay getting started on these if because they have a tendency to change their minds at the last minute.

dejarik - pieces acquired

Dejarik is the name of the holo-chess played on the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars (New Hope). With their last set of miniature figures, before dropping the license, Wizards of the Coast put out the figures in their final set - Masters of the Force.

I picked up a set of the figures. They are a nice size and weight. I don't know if I'll ever get around to making a Dejarik set, but at least I have the option now that I have the figures. With a set of fan-made rules online, it may be worth a try.

Road Trip - Saskatchewan

This summer we did a bunch of travelling starting with a trip to Yorkton Saskatchewan. Since we haven’t really had any road trip pictures with the kids, we decided to take a few shots at some of the big statues and tourist attractions.
This is the Welcome to Saskatchewan sign at the border.

From the other side.


This is the Welcome to Manitoba. Considering we’re known as ‘friendly’ Manitoba, you would think they would make it easier to get closer to the sign.

Ork Trukk instructions lie!

The one problem with picking up bits online instead of buying the models is that I don’t get the instructions. This isn’t a problem with most of the models I’m getting - especially as I’m getting Ork stuff. Plus Games Workshop has the plans online for the Stompa, Battlewagon, and Deff Dredd. The one that isn’t online is the Ork Trukk instructions.

You would think that it should be fairly simple, but it’s actually a tricky little model. Luckily, I was able to get a scan of the instructions. However, it seems that the instructions lie about where the driver goes. In the instructions he is shown on the left (as here in Canada) and he fits on that side – but his control stick needs a bit of work to squeeze in. I’m more inclined to believe that he fits better on the right side (as in the UK) and will try him there on my next build.

This will determine which side I put him on for the third build.

Aug figure painting total

In August I worked away at collecting bits. I have a few partial models but was able to complete purchases of only two:
- 40K Ork Trukk (in bits)
- 40K Ork Deff Dredd (in bits)

Aug figures bought – 2, figures painted – 0

The paint is handy, on the coffee table. We started painting some of the Space Wolf squad and Dreadnought but didn't follow through to completion. I did finally base the cowboy figures but need to touch up a few spots and paint the guns. I also cleaned and started assembly of the Trukks and Dreads.

Running total 2010 – figures bought 89, figures painted 0

Lung butter - excuses

So, even though it looked like painting might ensue at the end of August, it didn't really happen. In lieu of excuses, let me explain a few new phrases:

Lung butter - a thick phlegm - usually a light yellow or green color.

Throwing up down to the orange juice layer - after all the food has been regurgitated and the (usually) orange bile is expelled.

Fuzzy headed / woozy headed - a light-headed, disoriented feeling. Often noticed when standing up quickly or after bending over to do something.

Brain cloud (made with a back-to-front hand motion over the head) - a general malaise. Referenced to the movie Joe VS the Volcano where it refers to a disease where the person feels perfectly fine up until they die.