Muchos Minis and More

Thought I'd share some minis I finished recently.  Check 'em out.

First up is my version of the G.I. Joe Cobra Baroness.  This is a converted HeroClix mini.  I think that she will make a good addition to the set of Cobra figures that I did a while back.

These guys and gals are from Modiphius Miniatures.  They are Romulans from their Star Trek Adventures line.

This Eisenkern Rifle Squad was a royal pain in the dupa to put together.  I'm not exceptionally pleased with the result.  The gray paint turned out to be much darker than I anticipated.  Not my best work.

That's what I've been up to to stay out of trouble.  I did get some reading done.  Eric Larson's Thunderstruck was an interesting read.  I read Devil in the White City a few year's back.  I also just picked up his In the Garden of Beasts.  Great stories immersed in historical facts.

Another book that I read was Leonard Herrington's Elmdale Sagas: Book 3.  Fantastic book of horror short stories with a twist.  Very enjoyable!

Happy Anniversary!!!!

September 8, 2016 will mark the 50th anniversary of the airing of the Star Trek television series on NBC.  It's hard for me to believe that I've been a part of the Star Trek experience since the beginning.  I can still remember watching the show on my parents old black and white TV and thinking that it was the coolest thing that I had ever seen.  (I was only 5 at the time so cut me a break!)

Kudos to all who have been a part of the phenomenon over the years from Gene Roddenberry to J.J. Abrams.  Special thanks to all the great actors and actresses who made the many fantastic characters come to life.  A big shout out to all of the writers of the shows, movies, books, etc. who made the ongoing missions real for all of us to explore.  We can't forget all of the behind the scenes folks whose artistic and technological talents brought all of those things into our homes and onto the silver screen and more. Thank you all for making this amazingly special for the many trekkers like myself who love Star Trek!

So here's to all of you for turning Gene's vision of a better tomorrow into a dream that many of us around the world share.  As a fan, I can't thank you enough.  Let us now together boldly go where no one has gone before!

***Just a little Star Wars note***

Back in April of 2013 I did a post on this very blog titled "Large Mouse Kills Han Solo".  Does anyone get a feeling that folks over at Disney check out my humble little blog???  Maybe they decided to take the good old "message from Marz" (hey, you never know)  Gotta say,  I called this one!

Wink of an Eye

The world lost two great men this past week: Leonard Nimoy and Boris Nemtsov.

Leonard Nimoy's portrayal of Spock in Star Trek TOS was nothing short of amazing to me. He took a fictional character , an alien (well half), and had him show more humanity than we often see in one another. I held a special place in my heart for Spock ever since the first time I saw him on my parent's old black and white tv back in the Sixties. I was a chubby nerdy little kid that didn't quite fit in. I loved playing with toy soldiers, reading comic books, and dreaming of being an astronaut someday.

To me Spock was a hero. He was what I wanted to be. He was different but at the same time cool. He was smart but at the same time cool. He was peaceful yet powerful. (And the ladies seemed to love him.)

Even after Star Trek went off of the air, I still loved Spock, Bones, and Kirk. I went to all of the movies and am not ashamed to admit that I got a bit teary-eyed when Spock died saving the Enterprise. I feel that way again now. It almost seems like I have lost an old friend. I'd like to thank Leonard Nimoy for making Mr. Spock such an important part of my life as-well-as in the lives of millions around the world. My condolences to his family and friends. Live long and prosper Leonard! Second star to the right and straight on till morning.

I wish that I could have known Boris Nemtsov. It seems like he was a man of peace. It seems that he deeply cared for his country. It seems like he was willing to risk everything to make things right in Russia. These beliefs cost him his life.

I was in Russia in 1993. I met some wonderful people there. I found that they were basically the same as we are. They shared all the same wants, needs, and desires that we have. Back then they thought that we hated them and wanted to destroy them. They were just as shocked to hear me say that we felt the same way about them.

The Russians are just people. People who want a better world and a better life. Boris Nemtsov seemed like that's what he wanted for them. Russia has lost a great leader. My condolences to Mr. Nemtsov's family and friends and to the Russian People. I join with you in the hope that his efforts were not in vain and that his death will help to facilitate a better tomorrow for Russia.