Tag Archives: technology

March 25, 2013

SupaBases adds a String to the Bow

This posting is a little late as it had been planned for last Friday but if you look at the post previous to this one you will see that South West Scotland, where I live, was battered by one of the worst blizzards in living memory and that I was also affected by it.  Though the snows are currently gone, they may return, it has meant I am playing catch up now.  So…on with the show eh!

supalogo_wsThe ‘SupaBases’ logo designed by Sam Croes

Last week Alternative Armies and 15mm.co.uk both released the ‘SupaBases’ range of MDF Wooden wargaming bases into the hobby market.  This was the culmination of several months of effort on my own part and others as although there are a few other makers of these kinds of bases in 2mm and 3mm thickness’s none of them were suitable as suppliers to the company.  So we decided to create our own and we were determined to source the wood and get the job done in Scotland.   The bases are precision cut with a tool, not a laser, and this gives a lovely finish to what is currently fourteen different sizes of square, rectangular and circular.  You  can see them below in the picture.

sbp01_ws

I personally think that although the company offers white metal and plastic bases these wooden bases have a lovely feel and especially for 15mm scale miniatures as singles and elements in wargames they give an impressive finish.  From this point on I will be using them for all of our own new releases and so on.

Its not always all about new miniatures and the excitement of new game systems sometimes its the tasks without the glamour which give a lot of satisfaction.  Hundreds of customers had asked if we would make these bases, so we did.   Not a lot more I can say except that if you want to you should give them a try especially the larger ones like the 75mm and 100mm circles as these are not practical in other materials and allow for some great set pieces or dioramas or vehicle mounts.   Thanks for reading and if you want to see the SupaBases then click on your choice of link below:

15mm.co.uk        Alternative Armies

GBS

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March 1, 2013

‘Robo Basho Arto Framo’

robobasho_mar13_300dpi

Just another print on the wall…blame Pink Floyd

I actually carried out what this post is about a couple of weeks ago but work and other things have kept me from publishing this post…mainly as until this morning I thought I already had!

In a previous post I told you all about the artwork and article Sam Croes and I had created for Irregular Magazine.  Sam based the artwork on my description of the giant fighting machines of the 22nd century.  I thought the image was so awesome that I had it printed at a very high resolution and then framed by Green Jam here in Girvan.   Green Jam do an excellent job in framing, highly recommended.  Its an A2 sized print in top grade ink on a thick vellum like paper which is a little raised for a rich feel which was then fitted into a wooden frame with white border.  Normally I only place frame prints of my wargame titles on the walls (you can see DarkeStorme to the right of the Robo Basho picture) but I made an exception here.  Eventually wall space will run out but for now I am gold as they say.

Sam saw the print when he was here last week and he liked it a lot.  I offered to send him another A2 sized print if he desired it, perhaps he shall.

Anyway call it a sin of pride but I just wanted to show you all what I got!  :-)

GBS

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February 25, 2013

Doctor Who’s Dalek creator Ray Cusick dies aged 84

Doctor Who’s Dalek creator Ray Cusick dies aged 84

I learned today that the man who created the iconic shape and form of motion of TV’s most vicious foe had died from heart failure.  Ray Cusick may not have been as famous as Terry Nation or as recognisable as Tom Baker when it comes to Doctor Who but his contribution to the series went a long way to making what it was and what it has become in recent years.In a 2008 episode of Doctor Who Confidential on BBC Three, Mr Cusick explained that inspiration for the Daleks’ design came from a lunch with special effects expert Bill Roberts, who was responsible for making the creatures.

“Mr Cusick picked up a pepper pot and moved it around the table before he said: “It’s going to move like that – no visible means.” Dr Who viewers were told on the show that the Daleks had been the creation of a scientist who believed they would help him survive a war on their home planet of Skaro. But the alien race was later responsible for his death. Mr Cusick, from Horsham in West Sussex, leaves two daughters and seven grandchildren.

It is the fiftieth anniversary of the series this year and while this event will not greatly impact on the events planned it will make them a little sadder.

GBS

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December 26, 2012

Gerry Anderson dies….

Its a sad Boxing day for me.  I had not intended to post on the blog until the end of the week (with a look at some of the films and books Christmas brought me) but I have just heard that one of my favourite film makers and innovators has died.  Gerry Anderson died today aged 83 after suffering from some ill health and Alzheimer’s disease as well.  Creator of supermarionation and programmes like Thunderbirds and Stingray, including my favourite Captain Scarlet he had a big effect on my childhood and I spent many rainy weekends watching videos (yes, not DVD’s!) and also BBC2 re-runs.  Programmes that, in an age before computer animation and digital effects did things that no live action film could hope to emulate on screen.

I wish his family well and its a shame that unlike the Captain, Jerry was not indestructible.  Follow the links to learn more and have a look above if you missed the tense and often very violent Captain Scarlet.  I have used it many times to inspire wargame scenarios and the like.  Honestly to me its one of the best spy genre series ever made.

GBS

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December 9, 2012

Patrick Moore dies today aged 89

It’s a sad day for me today as the world’s most famous astronomer has died.  Patrick Moore died just after noon today at home, peacefully, aged 89.  I watched The Sky At Night right up to this year beginning as a lad some near thirty years ago.  Moore had his critics and some even accused him of being barmy at times too, but this never bothered me as he was ALWAYS about the science and to say passionate about a subject for so long is very inspiring.  This brings the run of the sky at night to an end as the longest running programme anywhere on TV with the same presenter (being on since 1957 ).  His death sees another part of that generation lost to us all.  That generation of the 1940′s, 1950′s who believed that science could solve anything and that the stars were our right and proper future.

Patrick Moore, to people my age, also has a place in our hearts as the Gamesmaster in the seminal 1990′s TV programme of the same name.  Moving there from science to science fiction.

A sad day indeed.

GBS

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November 8, 2012

CarrickAyrshire website launched!

A brand new and advanced website promoting Girvan and Carrick to the World!

After a chance meeting with Alec Clark this afternoon I learned about a brand new website that has just been launched to promote Girvan and Carrick at large.  You can find it at CarrickAyrshire and it is a very fine and informative read indeed.  Alec runs the excellent ‘Sweetie Shop’ in Girvan which I frequent with the children rather often and we have known each other for about six years now.  I have said to him on several occasions that Girvan needs a bigger online profile (indeed this blog appears top of search rankings for the town quite often) and this website certainly provides it.

CarrickAyrshire has pages on the history of the region, a gallery of excellent images of the region, filterable maps of attractions and services, a rolling list of ‘what is on locally’, a news page with readable content and a contact form.  On top of this there are other extra features such as places to stay and places to eat.  It is all clean and easy to navigate and is an excellent place to plan a trip from or to look for events to attend.  So have a look and a read about the region where I live and work.

I expect to look it up rather often.  Thanks Alec!

GBS

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October 26, 2012

Now on Gravatar

Since I began using WordPress it has occurred to me on occasion that some peoples comments on my posts have a little picture next to their name while the majority, including my own, do not.  As it was not a priority I just left it alone but a couple of days ago while speaking to my best buddy Jim Brittain I mentioned it and he, being a master of all things tech, explained to me about Gravatar.  Gravatar is free and very easy to use.  Just create an account with your email address, choose an image you like, give it five minutes and the job is done.

So I now have an image next to my comments on the blog and wherever else I post too.  My chosen picture is one that Sam Croes did for me for use in the Ion Age setting or for my own use…a Nox Trooper of the Shia Khan Empire.

GBS

 

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September 18, 2012

Mail Chimp for Alternative Armies

Mail Chimp Logo

Back in June 2012 I put up a posting that 15mm.co.uk would be switching over to Mail Chimp for its email marketing.  Well since then the company has enjoyed using Mail Chimp and has built up a large mailing list which is responsive to weekly or fortnightly messages about new releases, special offers, support materials and more.  The time arrived this week for Alternative Armies to do the same and move across to Mail Chimp for its email marketing.

You can see my motivations for switching in the previous posting and I stick to them.  It is an excellent service.

So if you are a customer of Alternative Armies expect your inbox to feature some shiny new messages soon.  In addition to product news I intent to feature links to Barking Irons for scenarios and such that are related to releases and also links to featured blogs for hobby and painting and so on tips.  Plus some special offers too of course!

GBS

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September 6, 2012

Pax Omega by Al Ewing

The cover of this book is a nightmare to take pictures of. Even Amazon had trouble! This is the best I could do.

This last week I managed to finish a book I had bought a while back.  It failed to grab me from the off but by the time I reached the middle I kept trying to find spare moments to read on.  The book is Pax Omega by Al Ewing.

I knew of Al Ewing from his work in the fantastic British Comic 2000AD where he has written many scripts including Zombo.  After this I bought his novel El Sombra on the back of the comic and also other Pax Brittanica novels set in that universe.  I really enjoyed El Sombra with its pulp trashy literature take on the motif of the western and also steampunk.  So with that in mind when I saw Pax Omega on the shelf of my local bookshop I decided to buy it.  I will admit the blurb left me a little confused.  Was this a novel or a collection of short stories?  The answer is a clever..both!

Doc Thunder’s last stand against a deadly foe whose true identity will shock you to your core! El Sombra’s final battle against the forces of the Ultimate Reich! The Locomotive Man in a showdown with cosmic science on the prairies of the Old West! Jackson Steele defends the 25th Century against the massed armies of the Space Satan! A duel of minds in the mystery palaces of One Million AD! Blazing steam-pulp sci-fi the way you crave it! From the Big Bang to the End Of Time – eleven tales from Pax Britannia’s past, present and distant future combine into one starspanning saga set to shake the universe to its foundations or destroy it! (from the book blurb)

Pax Omega is a series of stories that are linked together in ways that become clearer as the book progresses.  From the ancient past to the vastly distant future there are conflicts fused with vision and humour.  As I said it took me a while to get into the book and that turned out to be a shame because when the tale reached the point of bringing in El Sombra and Doc Thunder it was moving at a fine pace.  Reminding me of Flash Gordon of Dick Tracey as well as many other pulp heroes the book also made good use of ‘soundbites’ from other famous science fiction tales such as the ‘Robot Detective Decker’ and so on.  It also projected in places a flash into our own world with its troubles such as the Summer 2011 London Riots.   The language was florid and varied and I enjoyed that a lot.  It was bigger than life in places.  In fact there are so many settings in this book that you don’t know what is coming next at all!  This is pulp at its best..square jawed fighting and big speech making heroes and villains.

I recommend this book but I do also think that if you like the idea of Pax Brittanica you should seek out Al’s other books (El Sombra and The Gods of Manhattan).  I have not read Gods of Manhattan and it showed, I did not know who Doc Thunder was!

Mad..Inspired..Great Pulp Fun!

GBS

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September 2, 2012

We Can Remake it for You Wholesale – Total Recall 2012

Is it Good or is it Me?

Last night I went to the cinema.  Myself, my good lady and Eve Hallow.  Now I know what regular readers of this blog are wondering ‘he said he did not like the new Total Recall, so why did he go and see it?’.  Two reasons, firstly I was being paid for (which greases the wheels) and secondly I decided to be fair and after seeing extended trailers from the movie I took the chance.  Have a read of my previous posting about Total Recall 2012 for my opinions there.  But anyhoo how was the film?

Well it was actually pretty good.  Leaving aside the plot and characters the biggest impression I got from the movie was the superb and beautiful cinematography of the landscapes and an imagined future.  Hammering in the gritty dank darkness of Bladerunner and the vertical living of The 5th Element the world of Total Recall was astonishing.   Well worth fans of sci-fi seeing the film just for this.  Moving onto the plot.  It was aright, same core as the last incarnation, with bits of the original short story by Dick too.  But it did lack something..sanity.  I followed the movie closely and ended up a bit confused as to where it literally was placed.  Instead of Mars and a corrupt Earth it was sad to see it come down to yet another ‘nasty imperialistic Great Britain’ attempting to enslave the ‘Colony’ (I mean really it was two and a half centuries ago, let it drop!).  The colony was accessed by a tunnel through the centre of the Earth called ‘The Drop’.  I kid you not, a ruddy tunnel through the earth from London to…where?  Australia!  This was hard to swallow, flying cars, robot soldiers, light guns, palm phones, multi-layered cities all cool.  But really, anything is easier than drilling through the core of a planet!

The story moved along at a cracking pace and it was nice to see several nods to the previous version including the larger lady with ‘two weeks’ stay and the triple breasted hooker (yes, she was there Edward!).  Aside from some glaring holes and so on (I do not want to nit pick) I enjoyed the plot.  What about the cast?

I just can’t take to Jessica Biel (who played Melina) but I thought Kate Beckinsale was really top notch as the wife Lori Quaid.  Little was made of other characters with the plot really being Doug Quaid and his not really wife Lori  trying to kil each other.  The resistance movement and its leader were a backdrop to this as was Cohaagan, the baddest guy in the older film.  I know though that you all really want me to push on and talk about Colin Farrell as Doug Quaid / Hauser.  What can I say.  He was and still is weak as a leading man.  He played the part very well but he does not shine like say Daniel Craig does as James Bond.  The film would have been better with a different leading man.  But Farrell has buried the ghost of Alexander I will give him that.

So overall its a really good science fiction B-Movie, in that it will not be remembered as a classic, but it is well worth the ticket price and I will be buying a DVD copy in the future.  Plenty of wargaming fodder in there!

Lastly a special mention to Eve Hallow who also did not want to see the film but was convinced and lured by the promise of beer and company.  He is a splendid fellow and while he did break the cinema (I kid you not, all the lights went out and the screen cut out too, that is a first for me!) I enjoyed the evening with him.  I think he plans a blog posting of his own on the movie, I will be keen on reading it once he does.

GBS

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