Hi Interwebs. It’s been a minute since I last posted something. Boy, has it been a busy, but enjoyable summer 2023 season. I’ve been to new places as well as some old. I’ve met new people as well as renewed relationships from the past. Had a few heart to hearts.

But what about this website? What about this hobby time? Don’t forget me, please. Well I have not. Let’s just say I pressed PAUSE for a little bit. In the meantime, I have picked up few things to add to pile o’ shame – namely some GW stuff like the new-ish Space Marine: The Board Game stand alone game at Tarjay of all places. I also picked a clearance NIB Warhammer Quest: Lost Relics.

I am focusing on an endeavor that I hope you all can help me with. I will elaborate more and post a link soon. Until then, Halloween nears as well as a couple of conventions. I would like to see if I can update or upgrade my “Western” drip. Did I use that right? It’s hard keeping up with today’s slang. Need it though to keep up with my youngins’

Until next time. Happy Crafting.

Question: Do you actually wargame with the miniatures you paint?

Summer is in full swing. The kids are off of school for the next couple of months. It’s time to get stuff done around the hobby space (as well as the house). I think I will call the WW2 German Infantry Winter Battle Dress done for now – at least the first pair. I am working on a second pair of Germans also in Winter dress. Some Games Workshop minis also lurk on the workbench. All have been primed and are awaiting color.

Hi – I’m back. After last month’s drain debacle, I was able start yesterday a “quick-ish” project I picked up from the local model show – Spring Show Seattle hosted by IPMS Seattle. They are a couple of WW2 German figures in cold-weather BDUs. It’s my first go at resin figures.

First impressions – these are much more detailed than the Airfix figures that I recently completed. They come in multi-part off sprue. There was some flashing – residual material from the manufacturing/molding process. Assembly is required. They are reminiscent of “garage kits” that are produced in very limited batches by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

Here’s what I have so far. I did kind of mess up on the order of operations – I tried to prime before assembly. When I started gluing parts together the primer started coming off. Live and learn, Enjoy the pics.

Hit a setback (again) in my hobby journey.

The joys of home ownership, especially a 20+ year old house. This one is a doozy. The drain pipe in the crawl space under the kitchen decided to spring a leak. I didn’t notice this until I was outside my house and noticed water splashing sounds in the crawl space while someone was using the kitchen sink. I looked in the crawlspace vents and saw the stream. After some troubleshooting, it turns out to be the drain pipe. At least it wasn’t the water supply line.

Down the rabbit hole…

Do I pay a plumber to fix it? No. I am a DIYer. I like a challenge. Turns out crawl spaces are dark, cobweb infested, extremely short (around 36″ tall in height – thus “crawl space” moniker) and in my case, filled with standing water. Drain water. Dank drain water. At least it was not the toilet drain that burst, but it still smelled from the food and dishwater waste.

This was a week ago. I have been slowly removing the standing water, at first with a small wet-vacuum, then a submersible water pump, and now a transfer pump. And I still can’t reach the leak because I am too big to fit between the framing in the crawlspace.

Tomorrow’s attempt (April 16). Cut a new crawlspace access door in my carpet covered wood floors. Pump out the standing drain water before it stinks up the neighborhood. Then repair the pipe – fingers crossed it is just an old ABS pipe that is “simple” to replace. Then clean up the new access door and carpeting. Then go on with life.

Wish me luck.

I am still debating whether to tackle the Airfix WW2 German Paratroops 1/32 scale paint-up OR try my hand at scratch building some 1/32 scale WW2 terrain – maybe a French café a la Carentan? Should I finally record some of this for YouTube content? What do you think?

Happy crafting!

Hi Friends. Just a quick update for Early April 2023. Worked on updating site links in particular having to do with the Tools and Materials I use in my hobby and crafting activities. You will see a red button marked “Tools and Materials”. You be directed a page of tools and materials I use or suggest based on the crafts and projects I showcase here. This is by no means a complete list as tool and material needs will evolve over time. Most items last for more than several projects. And sometimes, you may want to just upgrade or try something new or different. It’s OK. Try it.

Also, I updated the Project page. Hopefully this will be a better way to navigate the projects moving forward. (I will probably update it again.)

I will post a project conclusion for the Airfix US Paratroops hopefully soon. Until then, check out my Instagram or YouTube links for more projects and updates.

Thanks for your feedback and support.

Happy Crafting!

Hi – Here’s a quick update on the activities. Took a quick break from the Airfix WW2 US Paratroops paint-up to work on some very last minute cosplay for a recent comic convention in Seattle. I was going for a Wild West Gunslinger cosplay theme loosely based on Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name (Fist Full of Dollars, A Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly).

The clothing was simple-ish enough. It was basically an old button down dress/business long sleeve shirt. “Denim” blue jeans worked or the bottoms. I also bought some paisley print bandanas to compliment the fit. I bought a black vest from the local thrift store. The “poncho” blanket was for another project, but it came in handy hear and was surprising nice and warm for the downtown Seattle overcast weather. I already had some Chelsea boots that could pass for tall boots. I bought the hat off Amazon, although I was contemplating making one from scratch by buying some felt, shaping and sealing it. (Couldn’t do that in a week, tho.)

The next hurdle was the pistol and gun belt including ammo. How am I going to do this while making it “read” wild west pistol and setup while being convention safe for cosplay? EVA foam floormats and craft sheets, pleather and lots of contact cement. I was dizzy from the fumes (always work in a well ventilated room) Also having access to the family sewing machine didn’t hurt either.

After researching the necessary info for the props, I set off on a 4 day journey to complete that portion of the cosplay. I mainly posted some work in progress pics on the Insta. I guess I could create a write-up here as well.

Anyways, back to some more mini painting.

Let me know if you want to see more cosplay type content on this site as well. As always, check out my other socials (I know, I have yet to post real content on YouTube. Soon-ish? Maybe?)

Happy crafting!

Welcome to the first post of 2023. The plans are to finish the Airfix WW2 US Paratroops this month (painted and based). Begin some terrain projects using various materials accumulated over the years – basically to clean out my junk pile, work on finally painting up my hobby space – tired of looking at the raw plaster wall in front of me. Start small and see where we go from there. Thanks for your support and checking out my website and other socials. Help this endeavor grow! Thanks again!

So. Welcome back? It’s been a minute since the last update on the paint-up for the Airfix WW2 Paratroops. It is the eve of Dec 30, 2022 and I have to say I have been severely procrastinating on this one. I don’t really know why. I can clearly see the models screaming for attention on my hobby desk mere 3 short feet from my computer desk. And yet they have sat for at least 1 month? 2 months? It’s been so long I don’t really know any more without looking back at photo dates.

But, here is the progress so far. Enjoy.

So I was mixing my colors on my wet palette trying to complete this Airfix WW2 US Paratroops painting project and this random thought came to mind, “Is it better to have a small set of colors to mix or just have every color paint available?”

There are a couple of schools of thought on this. On the one hand, if you only have your primary colors, you can mix to your hearts content and save money and space on your workbench. The drawback is you have to mix your colors every time and if you run out, the second batch of colors may not exactly match the first.

On the other hand, if you have a wide wide assortment of colors to choose from, you proceed with your paint project without having to stop and mix colors. The drawback of this is hobby paint can get really pricey. Even the “cheap” acrylics can cost quite a bit when you start buying numerous color bottles. And you will take up space in your hobby room, desk or wall. Not good if you are limited on space of course.

What do you think? More paint? Less Paint?

Happy crafting!

It’s been a while since I put down words and worked on my hobbies. Life will often get in the way of things you’d rather be doing. Take for example the drywall screws I discovered that the previous owners (or builder of this home I live in) drove into the ABS waste pipe in the wall of my hobby space/office. I discovered this while trying to hang shelving to display my minis and other trinkets. After cutting out the drywall, removing the screws (most of which were rusted and broke off embedded in the pipe), patching the holes with ABS cement, patching the missing drywall, the wall now sits waiting for paint.

Apparently I have to move everything out of the way if I don’t want paint splatter on them. Then came the school activities with my offspring and well…the wall is still in need of paint. Not to mention, I need to get back to my hobby project with the Paras. The troops have been sitting on my work table waiting patiently for support to arrive. Soon Commander, soon.