Gamecocks win the College World Series for second straight year!

Sniper is finished

Added a couple 'posters' of mullahs/leaders/etc and chipped the top of the wall a bit.

Sniper!

I was all ready to post this up as "complete" this morning, but I remembered one little accoutrement I wanted to add on.  Ill get that done tonight...   Im going to submit it in The Guild's group build (which is "40mm bases")

Revell Apache complete

Quick post with a couple quick pics....I finished up a 1/72 Apache last night.

5 Days Of War, and a new Predator

Just was reading about this this morning - a movie about the Russia-Georgia conflict in 2008 starring several big names.  This is a decent review 5 Days Of War but Ive seen some other crappy reviews too.  Whatever - as long as I get to see some Russian tanks and maybe Emmanuelle Chriqui riding one, Ill be happy :)

Comes to theaters in August in the US, but it seems the rest of the world can either get to it on DVD now, or in the next month or so.

Also, I got this from Heresy Miniatures in the mail yesterday.  If it bleeds....

My first building and Apache WIP

Blogspot is acting funny today. Trying to use my mega haxx0r html skilz, so apologies if this post doesnt look right!

Ever since I A) watched Spartacus and B) finished my set of gladiators earlier in the year, ive had it in my head to build a small arena. I finished it last night.

I think overall, it turned out pretty well. I wanted it to represent a small, provincial arena, and I think I have managed that. However, I did have some serious issues that I will document below

Blood from a dead gladiator, also a blood stain on the right on the stake

WE, WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE, SALUTE YOU!
The picture of this arena looks a helluva lot better than it does in person. What should have taken about 20 minutes took me most of the night....

• I forgot to prime the balsa wood that I used around the edges, so the paint looks like shit.
• My airbrush wasnt working AT ALL. I had to dump the paint and attempt to clean it out THREE TIMES. I really hate using an airbrush! I finally gave up and painted the balsa by hand - USING A #2 BRUSH!!!! It took FOREVER, and I needed multiple coats.
  
• I tried to use a cheap paint from the local craft store - it was really thick, and the only way I could get it to spray was to REALLY thin it down. Id read on The Miniatures Page that people use Apple Barrel paints instead of high end stuff like Vallejo, GW, and Foundry - uh - fuck that.
  

Oh well - I think Im going to build some "Afghanistan houses" etc, so this was a good learning experience. I just hope my airbrush isnt toast.

Next up, Im nearly finished with a 1/72 Apache. I was going to finish last night, but obviously, I didnt get to it. I need to add the pylons, some decals, and a tiny bit of weathering (I dont want to go crazy) and Ill be done. Maybe tonight?




  
Just after taking these pictures, I bumped the rotor, and the chopper went over on to the hardwood floors. The rotors all snapped off, the front camera piece came out, and one of the wheels broke off and went about 15 feet down the hall. Lovely. I think I managed to get it all back together though....

A Happy Mebane Father's Day

My wife and I both grew up in cities, moved to Dallas for several years, and then decided we needed to settle down a little bit, so we moved to the little North Carolina town of Mebane.  Little did we know what we were getting into!  Im pretty sure we are the Worlds Greatest Little Redneck town... 

We wanted "Biscuitville" for breakfast - if you eat at Biscuitville, you might be a redneck.

On a normal Sunday morning, the line for drive through is easily around the building, and sometimes loops around it twice.  Here, you see a typical Mebanite couple, enjoying their breakfast in the back of their "pick em up" (Hat on off to the side, fat rolls hanging out).  Notice, they are parked right next to the dumpster.

Ah!  Sweet biscuit victory!  Ham, egg, and cheese biscuit and hash browns!!!

I understand that this may not be the most exciting blog post you read today.  However, the couple in the back of the pickup was easily worth my time...and hopefully yours too!

1/72 Taliban from Liberation Miniatures

Ill be honest - I dont know anything about what the Taliban's ideals are.  But, they have cool hats.

Bloodbowl Gamecock

I just completed this Hersey Miniatures "Deathbowl" player.  Cool sculpt, but they need more!!!

The lettering on the front is the only thing I would change (Its not 'uniform' enough for my liking), but it looks decent, and Im not sure I could do any better.

Loosely based on this uniform from the 2004 season from my alma mater:

May 2011 Totals

Another good painting month.  I completed a bunch of 20mm stuff - some US forces from Afghanistan in Multicam which I think met with so-so results, some Al Qaeda, that sadly have turned out to be some of the best stuff Ive done to date, and some modern armor that I think turned out really well.  Finally, I worked on some 1/285th Sherman tanks.  Busy boy!

On the purchase front, I made 3 pretty major purchases:
I bought three new models (A Blackhawk, Apache, and another Bradley) from a hobby shop while I was in Canada ~75 US Dollars (Techincally June, but who's counting?)
I bought a couple MRAPs, and a bunch of other stuff from S and S Models for ~100 US dollars
I bought several more Afghani/Taliban types, as well as drivers and tank drivers from Liberation Miniatures for ~50 US Dollars.  Total of $255 for the month of May.

Completed, for May, 2011:

20mm infantry completed: 32
18 US Army, Operation Enduring Freedom (Liberation Miniatures)
14 Al Qaeda Assholes (Liberation Miniatures) 

1/72 Armor completed: 5
3 HMMWV (Revell Germany)
1 Bradley AFV (Trumpeter)
1 Abrams Tank (Trumpeter)

1/285 Armor completed: 5 
5 Sherman Tanks (GHQ)

In progress, May/June, 2011:
20mm Infantry in progress: 12
12 Taliban (Liberation Miniatures) 

28mm Infantry in progress: 1
1 "Deathbowl" Player (Heresy Miniatures)

Just started working on some Taliban, and Im got the urge to paint some 28mm figures again.  Have a "Deathbowl" figure primed and ready to go.  Also, I have some Macedonians from Sgt Major Miniatures that I may work on this month.

Yearly Completed Totals:

25-28mm infantry completed: 38
25-28mm cavalry completed: 3
20mm infantry completed: 48
15mm infantry completed: 33
15mm armor completed: 1
1/1200 naval vessel completed: 1
1/72 armor completed: 5
Turtle Tank completed: 1
1/285 armor completed: 5

Purchases in May, 2011:

Imperial Hobbies (1/72 models) - ~$75
RH Models (Liberation Miniatures) - ~$50
S and S Models (Several different things) - ~$100

Total Purchases, 2011

~$1117

Women talk about weiner.

Im not mature enough to handle this.

I dont think this would be getting anywhere near as much attention if the guy's name was Wilson, or Thompson, or Smith

A few pictures from Seattle, Vancouver, and Whistler

My wife and I just returned from a trip out to the Pacific Northwest.  Here are a few pics without being too boring (Hey buddy - want to come over and see slides from our trip????)

The Reifel Bird Sanctuary is a beautiful patch of land set aside for bird migrations in Ladner, British Columbia.  Here is a picture of a Sandhill Crane and its baby - apparently a rare sight.  My wife had a run in with 'daddy' shortly after this picture!

Wild baby ducks eating from my hand

Next up was Whistler BC.  We got on the worlds biggest so and so gondola - totally crazy.  I think they said it was nearly two miles long and it connected from one peak to another.  You dont want to fall from this bad boy.

View from the glass bottom on the gondola

 Also saw some black bears while there - snuggy wuggy

Next, it was on to Seattle for the main reason for the trip - U2 on my birthday!  This was my 7th U2 show - and Id probably rank it as my second favorite (first being a concert back in 1993 during the Zoo TV tour when they were calling presidents, etc during the show!).  The boys still put on a helluva show.

These arent my pictures...but pics from the show nonetheless

This pic is from Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me - one of the really good 'obscure' songs.