Wednesday 29 October 2014

Vampifan's Views 57 - Monthly Musings 35

Vampirella by Michael Kaluta
October has been yet another busy month for me. Without doubt, the best news of the month was I had my second operation to remove the cataracts from my right eye. As before, it was a complete success and I now have damn near perfect vision in both eyes. One minor hiccup is that my close in vision is just a bit blurry. For everyday life this is of no concern. Where it does affect me the most is when it comes to painting figures. When I paint my figures I like to hold them up close to my eyes. Anyway, I was told by the surgeon that this might happen. I may have to get a pair of reading glasses. In the meantime, I have bought myself a pair of magnifying glasses, which I wear just like normal glasses. They have 4x magnification and are superb for focusing in on close up things like a miniature figure in my hand. For anything else they are worse than useless. They only cost me £4 from Amazon and at that price I really can't complain.

Speaking of painting figures, I have a mixed bag of figures currently on my painting table. They consist of 6 Recreational Conflict Hazmat Troopers, 3 Crooked Dice Doctor Who female companions, 3 Shadowforge assorted females (a US Army medic, a vampire and a sci-fi cop), a Black Scorpion female US Army medic and Ken the Zombie.
Let me tell you about Ken the Zombie. He is, apparently, a limited edition figure made by Partizan. I learnt that one was up for grabs on e-Bay. I made a bid of £3.80 for him, never expecting to win. This was a day before bidding closed and I felt certain I'd get outbid at the last minute. That has happened before far too many times. Indeed, I have never ever won a bid on e-Bay. I have bought things on e-Bay before but only if the buyer has the "Buy Now" option. Imagine my complete and utter surprise when I was informed that my bid was successful. I couldn't believe it! I am very happy to have him in my collection and soon he will join the ranks of my painted horde.

Coming soon - six new original films
On the card modelling front I have just finished making a Stoelzel's Structures Barn. Expect a review of it very soon. I am tempted to make the Farmhouse next, to go with my Barn, but Carl has just released a new set which has me very interested. Actually, to be honest, ALL of his sets have me interested. But this one is unique as I don't know of anyone else who has produced a card model of a cinema complex. The Colossus Cineplex is a two screen cinema with a large car park surrounding it. Carl ran a competition on his new forum to come up with the names of fictitious film titles. I suggested quite a few and he chose four of my titles, which appear as film posters for the model. I've included a picture of the six winning entries, which Carl has expertly illustrated. My suggestions that were chosen were Nun But The Brave (a thriller about a vigilante nun), The Scarlet Chronicles (a Vampirella film. In the Vampirella comics, the Crimson Chronicles are often mentioned but seeing as that name is copyrighted, I changed it to the Scarlet Chronicles), and Brummies vs Zombies and Geordies vs Zombies (both sequels to the film, Cockneys vs. Zombies). The other two film titles were suggested by my friend and fellow blogger, Colin Nash. It was a fun contest and the thrill of seeing four of my titles appearing in the set was reward enough for me. You can check out and buy this model from here - http://www.wargamevault.com/product/139063/Colossus-Cineplex

Finally, I want to pimp a new blog-site run by my good friend, Stephen Gilbert, called Zombie Goths and Anime Candy. You can find it here- http://manicgoblin.blogspot.ie/ I persuaded Steve that it would be a good thing to buy the Zombicide board-game and he persuaded me to buy the Super Dungeon Explore board-game. We are both equally enthusiastic about these games. My interest in fantasy gaming has lain dormant for many years now - gone but not forgotten. I'm very excited about getting back into fantasy gaming after such a long absence.

27 comments:

  1. Some nice film titles. "Nun But the Brave" Classic. The person I was named after was in "None but the brave" so I have gotta think this is a good one (It's obligatory). And I would pay money to watch a Goerdies Vs Zombies film. I do wonder if brummies and Geordies translate to America though!
    Glad your sight is a bit better.

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    1. Thanks, Clint. I'd pay to go see all of my films that I suggested. Here I was thinking you were named after Clint Eastwood. I'd never have made the connection with "None but the Brave" if you hadn't told me. I had a cat called Clint and he was named after Mr. Eastwood.

      Carl told me he'd have to swot up on English stereotypes but he's done a cracking good job on the Brummies and Geordies film posters. You're right, such titles will be lost on most Americans.

      I'm glad my eyesight is a lot better.

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    2. Named after Clint Walker as it happens. Mostly from Cheyenne Bodine I am told.

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    3. I remember some ten years ago a couple British psychologists visited my department to give a talk, and what I remember best about them was their comment about our "then" department head calling him "a proper cockney".... .... But yeah, generally British regional differences are pretty much lost to us.

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    4. I'm not surprised, Carl. Mind you, I have noticed that British regional stereotypes are not as pronounced these days as they were in the past. Probably because our towns and cities are becoming more and more mufti-cultural.

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  2. Delighted to hear your eyesight is much better than before :-) I must confess I'm rather green with envy with that lovely Newark model you've picked up. I've a fair few of them as I use them as ghosts but I haven't seen that one before and how suitable as part of my ghoulish Undead would he be. I'll be scanning Ebay in future for him now. Great posting and great links. All my best.

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    1. Many thanks, Blax. Winning Ken the Zombie on a e-Bay was a huge surprise and a delight. Take note of how little he cost. I got myself a real bargain! He does keep popping up on e-Bay so it is worth checking.

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  3. Good to hear your eyesight has improved.
    That's a mixed bunch on the paint station. The Ken zombie looks pretty sweet.
    I saw the cinema on the forum and it's damn impressive, love the posters Dude!
    Mind you I can't wait to see what you've done with the barn.

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    1. Many thanks, Bob. Yes, I do have a very mixed bunch of figures on my painting table. Some of them having been waiting a long time to get painted (Hazmat troopers) and some, like Ken, are brand new.
      The barn has had a bit of Vampifan's special magic dust cast over it. As soon as I photograph it I'll review it on my blog - hopefully, this Sunday.

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  4. Excellent news to hear about your op being a success. Lovely to hear you finally got your hands on a 'Ken' as well huzzah. Sounds like you have some awesome treats in store for us to feast our eyes on in the coming months!

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    1. Indeed, Simon, I do have some awesome treats in store. keep watching!

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  5. Glad the surgery was successful.I've picked up a number of mangifying glasses (apart from my reading glasses) to do fine work, often I find the working distance too close for the cheaper pairs, as they are more like a jewelers loop. Hope the working distance is comfortable for you.. I'll join the sentiments that I am also envious of the zombie figure, he does look lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Carl. The surgery went without a hitch and the results are nothing short of miraculous. I have to go back to the hospital for a review in two weeks time. It is quite possible I'll then by referred to an opticians to get a pair of reading glasses. But in the meantime my magnifying glasses do the job just fine.

      Ken the Zombie is a lovely sculpt and it's nice to see a figure that doesn't come with a slottabase.

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  6. I'm after some of those glasses as well. I've one of those illuminated magifying desk lamps. The trouble is with it that the focal distance between the lens and the figure doesn't allow the paintbrush to fit in the gap.

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    1. Do what I did, Phil and search for a pair on line. I've always found Amazon very reasonable and for just £4 for my pair I'm more than happy with them.

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  7. beyond delighted at the news of your eyesight Bryan, you really deserve the best mate.

    Talk soon,


    Steve.

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    1. Many, many thanks, Steve.

      Yeah, I'll e-mail you later. I have much to talk about.

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  8. Congratulations on your second successful operation, I think you actually wore out your eyes with your vast output, goodness knows what your output will be now.

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    1. Thanks for the kind words, Joe. I had a good chuckle about your remark saying I'd worn out my old eyes! I'm pleased to say my painting and modelling mojo is sky high.

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  9. Excellent news Bryan, congratulations non your successful operation. It's good to here about good things happening to good people!

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    1. Cheers, Ed. That is very kind of you to say. My two eye operations were such a success I wish I'd had them done earlier. I'm like you, Ed, I like to hear good news stories as well.

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  10. I think there's something not right with blogger: this post has only just popped up on my list. Still, better late than never...

    Delighted to hear about your successful eye operation! I hope the eyes never give you any more trouble.

    That's a nice zombie: I now have a hankering to convert a model into a zed with top hat and tails :-( .

    A cinema, eh? Darn it, Carl - I cannot even remotely keep up with all these excellent releases! Hmm, would the best horror game have it screening Gremlins, Star Wars or The Evil Dead? Or one of the fictional B-movies supplied?

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    1. Blogger cab be a bit temperamental, Hugh. no matter, you're here and many thanks for the kind words.

      If you can't get your own Ken the Zombie than go ahead and do the next best thing - convert one.

      With Carl's cinema you can have a great deal of fun deciding what films it is showing and what is coming next. The possibilities are endless.

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  11. Congrats on winning the bid again!

    I had a laugh with the movies - Nun but the brave - I'd watch that one lol!

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    1. Thanks, Mathyoo. I was soooooooooooo happy to win that e-Bay bid.

      Yeah, I'd go and see "Nun but the Brave" as well. Nuns with Guns - bring it on!

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