Happy Holidays!

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with Happiness and Joy

Making 15mm Armatures

Okay I am getting better at this and each time I learn a new trick. I have tried different ways to make armatures for my 15mm stuff. I found a new way to make them that is easy and quick. I learned about it on another Blog. However I'll be darn if I can remember Who it was or where it was to give them the credit. The creeping hazards of getting older.

I'm using 24 gage wire.

My first step is to make a loop  this will be the arms of the Armature and then twist it upon it self. I have to guess as to how much I will be needed to make the arms.

Next I cut a short piece of wire and  and it will be placed into the loop of  wire. As you see here on the Left.

Using a pear of flat nose pliers I hold on to the neck of the loop and the little short wire together 

I than twist all three together using my other hand. giving it three twists. As you can see here on the Right.

You can now adjust the short wire to give your armature as to about where you want the top of the head to be. and snip off the extra wire at the bottom. I know guys that part  of this even makes me cringe almost every time.

The figure for comparison is from GZG

I then give the twisted section a bit of Super Glue so that the short wire now cannot fall out or move. here you can see I have the armature ready to go mounted on a rubber stopper with a film of Scotch Tape as to prevent putties from sticking to the stopper.

It took me only a few minute to make these and to take pictures as well. 

I took me much longer the write up this article then to make those armatures. Once you get the hang of it you can make an army of these in no time. Well these guys are ready go and ready for sculpts.

Surviving in the Cryptozoology World

 I have been bitten by the history of Cryptozoology. I have been reading about all of the strange sightings from around the world of varies unknown creatures. However I have been digging deeper into the History of Cryptozoology of the United States and of North America in general. Which gives a large range of ideas as far as gaming can go.

I have been looking for a set of rules that can work for such a gaming idea. And as luck would have it I did. I found a couple of rule systems that can work. One is "Cryptoworld". Another rule system is "Monster of the Week".

 Cryptoworld. Seems to be a nice set of simple rules. There are two books the first is the core rules. The second book has a few additional rules, with a section to allow one to make and play out being one of the Cryptids. Again they are nice and simple to play with out to much problem understanding the rules. So they are easy to get younger people to understand play.  

Monster of the Week. Also has two books of rules out as well. The first book has different character types to play. However the rules only allows one of each type of character in anyone game. There are enough characters in the first book to allow for a good size party to play. There are rules for magic and spells in the game. The second book add additional characters to the game and expanse on the rules. These rules allow you to play out such shows as Supernatural, Sanctuary, Grimm and possibly  Wearhouse 13. 

In addition there are a lot of supplements and scenarios for "Monster of the Week"  at Drivethru RPG https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=monster+of+the+week&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto= 

The next step is finding figures for Cryptos. Finding things like Vampires, Werewolves, Mummies and few other creatures in 15mm is easy, there are a lot of options out there from many manufactures of 15mm. However things like Wendigo, Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, Woods Demon to include many others there are none to found, so one has to make their your own.

I broke out the Green Stuff and away I went. Here are some of my results with some background add to each Cryptid. (The figure comparing size to sculptures is from GZG) 

Bigfoot. A large Creature seen in many areas across North America. Many think it is an escaped ape however it has been reported to be over seven feet tall and with claims of being ten feet tall! all reports state that it was walking upright on two legs. There is a report of Miners and Loggers being trapped in their cabin by groups of these creatures. Throwing large rocks and small logs at the cabins. These events lasted a couple of days.

Skunk Ape; A Creature much like a Bigfoot only slightly smaller. Has been seen in many state in the very southeastern areas of the US. Many reports are in the state of Florida, but again there are sightings in many other areas. Some of these sighting coincide with the missing of small animals like pets and small livestock such as goats, sheep, and calves.

Ape Man; A Creature seen in a many areas across North America. many reports describe the apeman to be much small version than a Bigfoot. Standing at about six feet tall. Some of these sighting as well have coincide with the missing of small animals like pets and small livestock such as goats and sheep.

Wendigo; A Creature seen across North America. Folklore say it an evil spirit that has takes over a human that has committed to cannibalism transforming them into a hideously thin creature so ravage and thin with hunger that it has chewed it's own lips off. and because of the this hunger it will never meet it's fill. It has been reported to be the blamed for many missing deep forest and back county backpackers and campers.

Goatman; There are reports of a Goatman to be half human and half goat. Unlike the mythical character Pan. The Goatman has a goat's head and face. A better description would be the head of a goat the upper body of a man and the waist and below of a goat and rather big and tall. The Goatman has been reported in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and even in Maryland. The reports of the Goatman in Maryland state that he chases vehicles with an Axe! Around Beltville Maryland area.

Pukwudgie; Native Americans legends have talked about these tiny people has to playing tricks, stealing children and starting fires with a snap of the finger. They are reported to use magic. They are known to become invisible or change themselves into half porcupine half troll creatures. For the most part they look like tiny people with large noses, big ears with grey skin. As to how dangerous they can be is legends have it, that the Pukwudgie will try to lure one to their deaths, by tricking one to come into the wood in order to push them off of cliffs or by using poison arrows. All in order to capture and control ones soul!

This is a start to my idea thus far. Now do I want to play this out as in the shows like "Supernatural" or "Sanctuary"? Or maybe something on the lines of "Wearhouse 13" where all the cursed items have turned people into all of those creatures? Or just maybe a little combination of all three. Where there can be a little of all things, Witches with some magic, and cursed items that have other curses to them rather than turning folks into creatures. Saving some creatures while having to dispatch others. As that of "Grimm", good and bad creatures/people. 

Small Ships in the Future

 My thoughts of future space travels is that one would have to conserve space on the main ship. So the idea of smaller ships, hangered in the bays would also have to double as living quarters. If your going to have fighter bays and shuttle bays, you'll have to make the most use of them.

Fighters would have room for a bunk, space for personal stuff and bathroom facility. While have access to the main dining facility on the main ship. Rations could be stored as well in the fighter for longer missions. Fighters would also have their own long term life support system.

Shuttles would have room for more bunks and personal items with a kitchenet plus bathroom facility, to include it's long term life support system. Of course these crew would also have full access to facilities on the main ship as well.

Along with Bombers, Ship's Boat and Tugs. The list of small ships can go on. 

So I thought I would scratch build just one ship idea of such as a fighter. It can be used on the table as a Line Of Sight obstacle or as play through terrain.

It took me the better part of the day to build it and few more hours of another day to paint it as well. I still want to add something to lift it up some and give it the effect of landing gear under it but for now I am very happy with it. There is space for four emergency jump sets if need to evacuate the ship, if some of the escape pods are damaged or room for emergency supplies. Of course either way it will be very tight quarters. However again it's main roll is a Fighter.

I haven't added flight numbers or nose art as of yet. I want to get some fine tip paint pens for that. Then when all is finished I will give this project a matte finish sealer.

As you can see it is still not much larger than present day crafts. Only if we can come up with better propulsion systems. and being in a hanger bay would not make much differences as for a hanger bay size.

Here is more of a look at the interior and concept.

Here is a look with a GZG figure in and about the Fighter.

You can see there is some room for ducking back into in case of hostile Boarders so a small firefight can happen with in the Fighter as well.

I have plans to make about four more. Two for each ship's hangers I want to build as a terrain item. I thought four would look good also in/on a spaceport, or even being on planet side of some new world  or checking on the happenings of a colony. With the ability being able to carry four additional personnel down four could easily cover a larger area.

The Effects of the Wildfires out West

   We of those in Minnesota are feeling some of the effects of the Forest Fires their having out West and in Canada. We are hundreds of miles from these disasters going on. There is an Air Quality Alert for the state. being out side for any length of time will make feel like you have a small choking effect and coughing. 

For the weekend they are predicting the smoke problem will only be come greater as the wind change and will be blowing in more smoke. Currently we can smell like a combination between the flavor of burning wood from a campfire and that Yuk of a heap of garbage being burned. 

I can only imagine how bad the air is for those much closer to these events.

Here is a few pictures of around here right now.

I truly hope the West gets the rain they need to help quench the fires. 

 

Some New Terrain Painted

 I made some Polymer Clay terrain pieces some time back and finally got around to painting some. These are just some random terrain items. However I do want to make some as points of interest later on. These are going to look really good on the Gaming Table and can be use in other genres of gaming. 

I have some other items I wish to make copies of I am waiting for some reusable molding to come in the mail in the meantime.

Here is the first one.

Using purple and white side by side to make streaks then a black wash followed by white highlights.

 

This was it before.

Next up is..

Here I did blue and purple to form streaks.

Here's the before

I have to have some pointy crystals too.

and before..

I also have to have some vegetation too..

the before...

These were all with Scuply Clay on fender washers then baked as directed, and then painted. I placed a drop of each color mentioned side by side and just let the brush make the streaks. I then painted everything else around the base, the base and rocks. Ones dry I gave everything a black wash and let dry then finished with a white highlight on the crystals and other lighter tones on everything else. I sealed everything with a brush on acrylic sealer and then coated all the crystals with Mod Podge to give them a shine to them.

All in all they came out great. They will make for some duck and cover terrain on the table or even points of interest.

  

Scooby-Doo Team

Scooby-Doo and the Gang is coming together very well. I had some conversion work to do to make them all look right for their part.

Fred, I did a head swap and added a scarf and big collar around the neck and a little extra hair.

Daphne, I had to file a bit of a groove in her hair and added a little extra more. I add some Green Stuff to make her thigh high boots to look more like pants and then gave some regulars looking boots as well.

Velma, I added glasses, shoulder bag, and skirt, I then gave her high top socks and boots

Shaggy I did a head swap added some extra hair and a goatee, I had to shave the sleeves of the arms to give shaggy his short sleeves then added some Green Stuff to finish off the sleeves  

Scooby-Doo I just had to add Green Stuff for his eyewear and added a vest with pouches 

I plan to use them with "Five Klicks from the Zone Chapter 1" rules and have them working to survive in what area they are in and to move about across the wasteland.