Lots of Boats

   According to my son Greyson, "if it doesn't have boats, it isn't art." By that logic (with which I disagree, by the way) my paint table is art. Because it is currently covered with boats, both large and small.

   The large is an Old Glory Colonial Steamer (15mm) that I received as a birthday present about four years ago, I think. It's coming along well, but painting planking is a bit wearing. SO I am doing it in bits while I work on other boats, too. Color scheme is dark grey hull (VMC Grey Black) with red gunwales (VMC Red). Decking is a light tan (VMC Buff), the pilot house and paddles are dingy white (VMC Offwhite) and the upper works are dark wood (VMC Flat Earth). 

Here's the stock photo:

Available Here

   I haven't attached the smokestack because I can't find the finial. The stack will be black, the finial brass. I did attach the upper works, and added balsa planking to the top of the pilot house. I am not going to permanently attach the forward gunshield (though I am painting it for drop-in use) and the bulwarks added to the rear of the boat are out. I plan to add rope stays to the stack, and some sort of awning (removable, I think) to the rear of the boat. I will also add a flagpole which can be swapped out for various nations to use.

   I am a little extra excited about this project because I measured this boat for a fit when I had some custom Martian canals made up last year (or was it two years ago now???). Now I will have a vehicle with which to dominate the canals of Mars. Rule, Britannia!

   The other boats on which I have been working are a starter set of Dystopian Wars Federated States of America ships. So, nine frigates, three cruisers, and a battleship, plus tiny flyers and two bombers. Plus turrets, and drop ins like rocket batteries and shield generators. You know, the usual VSF-y stuff.

Baby It's Cold Outside...

   Well, not super cold, but cold for Houston. It's one of those days that is rare here: too cold to use spray cans out in my garage. So, the minis I have just finished painting (the first of the year!) will have to wait for more amenable temperatures in order to be varnished. 

   Come to think of it, I suppose I could try some brush-on varnish that I bought a while back. Probably ought to 'test' it first, see if it is still good. It's Model Masters by Testors. Anyone ever used that brand before?

Monterey Jack Saves the Day

   I am speaking, naturally, of the eminent archaeologist of Arkham, not the cheese.

Monterey Jack interacts with Amazonian Locals

   We played another game of Arkham Horror this week. This time we added in the cards from both the King in Yellow and Curse of the Dark Pharaoh sets. Our Ancient One was Nyalarthotep. I drew Monterey Jack as my investigator, which is fine, because he is one of my favorites.

   This was one of the fastest games we have yet played. The Investigators triumphed by closing all the gates. Monterey Jack, after having a great deal of trouble in the Other Worlds (especially being delayed three times in the Abyss) used an Elder Sign to seal the final gate in the eighth turn of the game. And, thanks to the luck of the draw on gate locations, there were three turns in which a gate failed to appear because the location was already sealed with an Elder Sign. The Stars Were Not Right.

 

To Historicon or Not to Historicon, that is the Question

   I really enjoy going to Historicon. Over the past eight or so years, I have gone five times: twice in Lancaster, twice in Valley Forge, and once in Fredericksburg. Each time was fantastic fun. Played lots of well-produced games and tried many new rule sets, genres, and scales. Bought lots of toys, both in the dealer's room and in the flea market - oh how I love the flea market!!! Met lots of great people. Drank lots of Yuengling. And rum. That sort of thing.

   This year I am trying to be more frugal, however. It's not that I can't afford to go - I can. And with a friend along (I have a buddy who wants to go), the cost goes down because I can split the room and the rental car. So that makes it even less expensive, or, as I see it, leaves me with more money for purchasing toys.

   I already decided that I would not buy any minis until I had painted some of the ones residing in Lead Mountain. I think a two-to-one ratio of painted to purchased would be good. So, if I paint ten 15mm figures, I can buy five. Perhaps that should be my goal this year.

   Naturally, that means I need to get painting if I want to attend Historicon and buy things. Because I will buy things at Historicon, and I am not going to limit myself to Belle and Blade's videos and t-shirts! Maybe a painting and gaming goal needs to be reached by, say, the opening of registration, before I can go. Yes, that sounds good.

   I know you find this stuff riveting... I promise to have more gaming content next time.

Mentioned in a Magazine!

  Okay, this is kind of cool. At least, for certain values of 'cool.'

  I just got my copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy (WSS), Issue 76, which was dedicated to Victorian Science Fiction - "Adventures in the Age of Steam" as they put it. So there I am, just flipping through the issue, reading an article that serves as in introduction to VSF (or steampunk, if you insist) written by Gary Mitchell.And there, right at the end of the article on page 33, is a mention of The Aethergraph:

"The Aethergraph, for example, is a new online 'zine on the topic, complete with a mock Victorian-style newspaper presentation."

  Geek-out frenzy ensues. I'll be back later.