POW! annual 1971 - #2 - Magno
10 years ago
Dino Flakpanzer - oh my!
Just kicked off the second of this year's Group Builds over at SFM:uk, called "Dinomania".
Essentially several of us are taking a 1/35 Tamiya Triceratops (or two) and doing anything we like with it. Currently there are four participants, but there may be some more in the future.
My plan is to somehow turn mine into an alternate universe Dino Flakpanzer (anyone with a better name, let me know). I have some spare 1/35 WWII figures and accessories in the bits box, so will try and do something with them.
It's a pick-up build, so quite a long deadline (near the end of the year) so don't expect too many updates, it's something that will be worked on in parallel with the other planned builds this year.
Just for interest (and so you can see how I'm doing), here is my self-imposed build list for 2008:
Essentially several of us are taking a 1/35 Tamiya Triceratops (or two) and doing anything we like with it. Currently there are four participants, but there may be some more in the future.
My plan is to somehow turn mine into an alternate universe Dino Flakpanzer (anyone with a better name, let me know). I have some spare 1/35 WWII figures and accessories in the bits box, so will try and do something with them.
It's a pick-up build, so quite a long deadline (near the end of the year) so don't expect too many updates, it's something that will be worked on in parallel with the other planned builds this year.
Just for interest (and so you can see how I'm doing), here is my self-imposed build list for 2008:
- MaK Fireball SG and AFSSA E3C/E3CM Meteor asteroid diorama
- MaK Forum Group Build: Feuerspritze
- SFM:uk 2008 Competition Build (secret!)
- MaK Krote diorama
- SFM:uk Dinomania Group Build
- Anything else that tickles my fancy!
Chicago, my kind of town!
Well, it's not the first time I've been to Chicago and the city certainly lived up to my memory of it.
The hotel was elegant (although the room was a tad pokey compared to the others I've stayed in over the past few days) and the deep pan pizza I had at Gino's was fantastic (although I couldn't eat a whole medium one - I only managed two slices!), just watch out for the buffalo wings - they are hot!
I have also discovered that business travel can be good for you! In the weeks preceding this long batch of travel and meetings I was suffering from high blood pressure (I even had spots before my eyes - not a good sign). Now, with the exception of being extremely tired and looking forward to the long flight home, my blood pressure s done and my vision clear. I suppose focusing on one thing at a time is a factor, but I'm not a doctor ...
Anyway, really looking forward to actually getting home. Just one more day now - hooray!
The hotel was elegant (although the room was a tad pokey compared to the others I've stayed in over the past few days) and the deep pan pizza I had at Gino's was fantastic (although I couldn't eat a whole medium one - I only managed two slices!), just watch out for the buffalo wings - they are hot!
I have also discovered that business travel can be good for you! In the weeks preceding this long batch of travel and meetings I was suffering from high blood pressure (I even had spots before my eyes - not a good sign). Now, with the exception of being extremely tired and looking forward to the long flight home, my blood pressure s done and my vision clear. I suppose focusing on one thing at a time is a factor, but I'm not a doctor ...
Anyway, really looking forward to actually getting home. Just one more day now - hooray!
Toronto, shiny happy people?
On the face of it, Toronto is a clean, vibrant city with lots of nice shiny buildings, a scenic waterfront and bags of culture.
However, this seems to come with a price.
You can't seem to walk 100 metres without being approached by a homeless person wanting money. The problem is worse at night. On the steps of the hotel I'm staying in, not more than five minutes ago there was a drunk homeless person just outside the doors hassling the other people and I was approached by another wanting money.
I have no idea what the city's policies are to tackle this problem, but I have a fleeing that whatever plans they have in place, it doesn't look like it's enough.
Anyway, on to the next city ... how I love business travel ...
However, this seems to come with a price.
You can't seem to walk 100 metres without being approached by a homeless person wanting money. The problem is worse at night. On the steps of the hotel I'm staying in, not more than five minutes ago there was a drunk homeless person just outside the doors hassling the other people and I was approached by another wanting money.
I have no idea what the city's policies are to tackle this problem, but I have a fleeing that whatever plans they have in place, it doesn't look like it's enough.
Anyway, on to the next city ... how I love business travel ...
Sitting in a hotel room, staring at my laptop
Yep, here I am in a very sunny Toronto and I'm cooped up in my room tippety-tapping on the keyboard (albeit a nice shiny keyboard now that I've cleaned it).
The main problem with business travel is not the meetings and the endless taxi rides to and from airports and hotels. For me, it's the bits in between. The hours that seem to stretch on and on when you've done all your prep work for the next day and the post-meeting notes and all you have to look forward to is the mind-numbing banality of the hotel television channels and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness.
So, munching on the free turn-down service chocolates and the coffee from the in-room machine, I sit here effectively talking to myself in an attempt to keep sane until the next fleeting human contact.
Anyone know any good restaurants?
The main problem with business travel is not the meetings and the endless taxi rides to and from airports and hotels. For me, it's the bits in between. The hours that seem to stretch on and on when you've done all your prep work for the next day and the post-meeting notes and all you have to look forward to is the mind-numbing banality of the hotel television channels and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness.
So, munching on the free turn-down service chocolates and the coffee from the in-room machine, I sit here effectively talking to myself in an attempt to keep sane until the next fleeting human contact.
Anyone know any good restaurants?
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Quebec, a city of the new old
Having conducted my business in Quebec, I took some time out to walk around the city and soak in the sights.
My impression of Quebec is that it is deeply proud of its history and heritage (2008 is the city's 400th anniversary) and much of the architecture reflects this. However, because it is such a clean city (in the old area at least, which is the area I'm concentrating on) it looks to be a strange mix of the true old and new old.
Beautiful nonetheless.
My impression of Quebec is that it is deeply proud of its history and heritage (2008 is the city's 400th anniversary) and much of the architecture reflects this. However, because it is such a clean city (in the old area at least, which is the area I'm concentrating on) it looks to be a strange mix of the true old and new old.
Beautiful nonetheless.
The best thing about this hotel in Quebec
is that it has free WiFi, so I can access the Internet whenever I like!
I don't know if this is the norm with hotels in Canada (I've only stayed in a few), but it is a real selling point for me, especially if I'm looking for a hotel to stage a business event in. It makes such a difference if there are no access rates (which seem to be standard in the UK and in Europe as far as I can tell).
Perhaps if more hotels stopped seeing WiFi or even normal wired Net connection as a source of income and simply an essential customer service (imagine if hotels were to charge you for putting the lights on or having a shower!), I think they would encourage more business.
Just my two pence ...
I don't know if this is the norm with hotels in Canada (I've only stayed in a few), but it is a real selling point for me, especially if I'm looking for a hotel to stage a business event in. It makes such a difference if there are no access rates (which seem to be standard in the UK and in Europe as far as I can tell).
Perhaps if more hotels stopped seeing WiFi or even normal wired Net connection as a source of income and simply an essential customer service (imagine if hotels were to charge you for putting the lights on or having a shower!), I think they would encourage more business.
Just my two pence ...
Two-handed Polar Bear done
This is my second Polar Bear, "Long Walk".
Essentially a stock build, with modifications to the left hand (to make it grip) and a new right hand (built from another left hand). The rocket carrying tubes are scratchbuilt from the filters from a 1/35 Tiger tank kit, with styrene tubes and channel.
The snow is a product from Games Workshop, which worked quite well. I brushed some Future on the suit to make the snow stick to parts of it. I also attempted a winter whitewash, although I'm not convinced it worked too well.
Still, you live and learn!
Essentially a stock build, with modifications to the left hand (to make it grip) and a new right hand (built from another left hand). The rocket carrying tubes are scratchbuilt from the filters from a 1/35 Tiger tank kit, with styrene tubes and channel.
The snow is a product from Games Workshop, which worked quite well. I brushed some Future on the suit to make the snow stick to parts of it. I also attempted a winter whitewash, although I'm not convinced it worked too well.
Still, you live and learn!
Bay 37 Finished
Well, the Group Build is over and the group have cast their votes and the winner is ... not me! :D
There were three of us that all got 4 points, so the admin's vote was given to CFX for his creativity. All the entries can be found here.
Anyway, here's some pictures of my finished diorama, "Bay 37".
There were three of us that all got 4 points, so the admin's vote was given to CFX for his creativity. All the entries can be found here.
Anyway, here's some pictures of my finished diorama, "Bay 37".
Nearing completion on the Split Suit
Well, my Polar Bear split suit diorama is coming along nicely. Been working on the engineer and some of the equipment, and things are slowly nearing completion.
Here's some pics:
Here's some pics:
Gallery Links Added
I have added links to my model galleries. Bear with me on this one, as they are linked through to my old web site and need to be reorganised.
Split Polar Bear Quick Update
Just a quick update, I've finished the new camo and have gone over with a fine grade sandpaper to simulated scuffing and wear.
Removed all the cabling, as I plan to replace these with some better ones I recently picked up and given everything a gloss coat ready for decals.
No pics yet, it looks really weird with the gloss coat, so I'll wait until I dullcote it.
Removed all the cabling, as I plan to replace these with some better ones I recently picked up and given everything a gloss coat ready for decals.
No pics yet, it looks really weird with the gloss coat, so I'll wait until I dullcote it.
SFM:uk Group Build 2008
The 2008 SFM:uk Group Build is currently going strong.
Several of us are using the WAVE 1/20 kit of the AFS-CD Type Polar Bear from the Ma.K. universe as the base of the build.
The rules are simple: do anything you like with the kit!
I chose to create a "split suit" - basically modifying the kit to represent a suit in maintenance mode, opened up to show the inner workings and pilot. This will eventually be shown in a diorama of a maintenance bay of some kind.
Anyway, enough of the talk, this is where I am currently up to with the split suit:
Still lots to do and not much time left to do it in! Wish me luck!
More information and a build diary for this can be found over at SFM:uk.
Several of us are using the WAVE 1/20 kit of the AFS-CD Type Polar Bear from the Ma.K. universe as the base of the build.
The rules are simple: do anything you like with the kit!
I chose to create a "split suit" - basically modifying the kit to represent a suit in maintenance mode, opened up to show the inner workings and pilot. This will eventually be shown in a diorama of a maintenance bay of some kind.
Anyway, enough of the talk, this is where I am currently up to with the split suit:
Still lots to do and not much time left to do it in! Wish me luck!
More information and a build diary for this can be found over at SFM:uk.