More aids

Today I will delve into the history, the lore, and the incredible contribution of the magical item pictured above;

 THE 6" MEASURING STICK! 

I will also discuss some of the other incredibly dull things we do to enhance our playing of Pulp Alley.

Some of the aids we use to help stay organized in our Pulp Alley games

Thought I would share some of the things we do to try and make our Pulp Alley games run a little smoother.

 

Have a very Pulpy Christmas!

Something I built this past Friday

So with a Pulp Alley Lemuria campaign looming in the new year, and with half my gaming table occupied by an evil base for an as yet to be determined spy game, what do I wind up doing on Friday, but build an elevated highway! Madness!

Some more layout work

Administration area

Just a few pictures of some of the work in progress. This is really a little bit of a waste of time, as I will just have to remove everything when it comes time to actually build this monstrosity.

What it does do is allow me to try out stuff I have lying around to see what might work. Happy to see that the building blocks might work as quick walls. I had thought about cutting them out of foam board, but the wood blocks would be quick and easy to use. Either way I plan to cover the walls with printed out wall designs to try and cover what they really are.

Since these pictures were taken I have tested out a few more item, a helicopter pad, and a tall gantry. So in other words more pictures to come soon.

A plan for world domination ha ha ha ha.....

Step 1 Plan and build secret lair
Step 2 Build a dormant volcano to house the lair.

Optional Plan might be the other way around....

So another work in progress, hoping to get cracking on a massive build, a 3' by 3' (maybe with an extension) mountain, maybe 2' high. (we shall see)
At any rate I have found the critical starting point, I have found a monorail for the evil villain, (a must have if you have a dormant volcano)

Finally some progress on Venice

With a Venice Pulp Alley game slated for December 15th it would behoove me to finish off some of the half way done buildings. So with that in mind I have been hard at it for the last couple of days!
So while I primed then assembled all the buildings I have (20) I needed to add the windows, door frames etc. On top of that despite having primed the models in various colours, it did not prevent me from having to touch up, and or completely paint some of them.

Then I decided to try and pimp up some of the buildings with brick and stone textured paper. I think the results are not too bad, and the effort was not that bad, but it did slow down production.

Something different

Bad weather, other commitments made for a quiet game day...
However I was joined by one player who could only stay for a short while, so what better time to learn a new (to me) board game. In this case we tried the deck building card game:

EMINENT DOMAIN

Starting some long put off projects

Recently we played a game of Battlegroup, a rule set that I am beginning to like. While setting up the table I did a quick inventory of my collection of trees, and other scenery bits. I have concluded it is woefully inadequate for my needs. However in my review I noticed a plastic container of trees, that I had picked up a year or two ago, but had never done anything with them. Well this week I took care of that box.
But, again, being unfocused I also started some other projects. I started with some CD based terrain items (as per Mel The Terrain Tutor), but after prepping five of them I remembered that I had some funky sheets of moss like terrain, so I paired up a CD with some off cuts of the terrain sheets, and started work on a bog/fell.

Well, remaining unfocused I have now leapt into my WWII collection

Apparently it was time for some reorganization and prep work on my WWII stuff. I have been very gradually moving along my wall of cabinets cleaning up the jumble of 'stuff' in each. First off was my VSF collection, now every nation has it's own shelf, everyone is in proper order waiting to be deployed on the table.

Then a quick stab at my Pulp figures, but more work will be required there...

Then all of a sudden this week I summoned up the strength to work on my WWII collection. Apparently I have a lot of WWII some of it almost presentable!

The basic reorg done, freed up room for more items to be stored once they are completed.

Game day western

The other planned game for this game day (today) is a test run of Legends of the West. Again never played this game, but I have a decent collection of buildings and 25 painted (untold unpainted) wild west figures. I also plan to test, but not today, The Rules With No Name, and Dead Mans Hand. Read through all the games and each has their advantages and disadvantages, looking forward to see how each plays.

Game day World War II 20 mm

This Saturdays game, a test run of Kampfgruppe Normandy! I have test played it once, recently, looking to try it again, but this time do it right...😀 Made a few mistakes the first time, kind of forgot a chart and some rules, one of the reasons I like to ref other players until we all get the rules down. Trying to maneuver my forces and remember all the rules of a game I have read through once, and never seen played can be a challenge.

Ahhh Venice

This past week it was time to really get working on my Venice collection. While I had built a lot of the buildings and platforms, there were a number of extra buildings, alternate roofs, and a couple more plaza 'platforms'. Somehow I stayed focused enough to build and prime everything.

Some lucky finds today

Hit one of the many Value Village stores in Ottawa and found these gems. I guess after Venice we may be going to cntral or South America...

Also found another giant rocket ship, another big red one (see earlier post)

Tomb of the Serpent announcement

Ah Venice!

So not many posts this month, again no excuses.
What I do have are shots of a work in progress, Venice!
Bought these some time ago (see earlier post regarding unpacking) and finally got around to building them this last week. 15 or so building built, a dozen platforms and 6 bridges. Still a couple of buildings left to build, some extensions, and then let the painting begin.
I have left off some of the extra details that came with the kits, the plan is to spray paint the building to resemble brick and or stucco (depending on the building), then attach the brick pattern add on details. Should speed up the process somewhat. Also many of the buildings have separate pitched roofs that resemble tiles, these too shall be sprayed before being attached.

Here is a sample layout. I have gondolas and boats to add, and poles.

More VSF stuff being worked on

After many years of sitting in a box I have finally decided to tackle some VSF projects. The big walker is my version of the classic Martian invaders tripod. It is very tall, and will certainly dominate any battlefield. As usual it built from a dollar store find, in this case a device for flying a kite. Simple removed the crank, gutted the interior and found some legs (used plastic novelty straws) Fortunately/unfortunately it is big enough that I think I will need to add lights to this, it just seems to cry out for them.

The other item is a simple conversion of a cheap plastic tractor, with a 15mm turret attached, The gun is one of many guns that came with the turret.

Walker project now with possible gun locatios

Hello

So some progress made roughed in some ideas on how to arm the walker.
As always comments and suggestions are appreciated

A treasure trove found at local hobby shop

Updated Aug 22 with pics of completed kits

Thanks to a fellow gamer letting me know about these I was able to pick up a nice selection of 1/76, 1/72, 20mm models. Never heard of  Eidai before but love the product. They are older kits, with few parts, perfect for the gamer who is tired of building intricate models. All of these have less than 10 parts, many less than 5!

In particular I like the German motorcycle,  the rider and bike are all one piece, just the side car needs to be built. A far cry from the Fujimi kits that required exceptional fine motor skills to build. Having built many a Fujimi bike this was sheer joy to assemble.

Water guns, but what will they become...

Bought these at Dollarama, my home away from home.
Any guesses about what they may become?
Anyone want to make a comment about this or anything on this site?
Why so few comments?

Hello, hello. Is this mic on?

cricket cricket

VSF walker

A work in progress this time out. A long delayed project finally gets started, sad really that it has taken this log to even begin. I have had the materials and the plans for a few years, but procrastination, kept this from getting done. Now I have the time and the inclination to get this going.

Last week I worked on my gaming room to get it more organized. All too often I have found myself cleaning my game room instead of actually doing my hobby. Now it is otganized, and I am determined to keep it organized, however given the state of mess that has been the norm for decades, I freely acknowledge that it will be no easy task to stay on top of things.

The last few days saw me completely reorganize all of my 28mm VSF stuff. It now occupies about 10 shelves, which is down a shelf or two, but because it is organized I can now see actual space on my shelves. With it all organized I can actually see what needs to be done, I can quickly pull out what I want to work on as it is all at hand. This week I also spent some time re-basing my VSF figures off of the slotta bases and onto 3/4" washers. So far they have been re-based only, they still need to be textured, flocked etc, My shelves contain both painted and unpainted figures.However they are all at the very least based and primed. Being an unfocused gamer means that I might suddenly decide to change genres at the drop of a hat, and I always want to get right in on the new genre, no patience to prep. Also given Canadian winters are not the best for priming, and I like to be able to breathe in the house, I prep as much as I can when our weather is being cooperative. 

Enough rambling, onto the WIP pictures.

Dominion of Canada Militia on Mars

These have been sitting half painted for a couple of years. Finally got around to them this week, as part of my plan to get to all of the stuff that is just hanging around. They were in a bad way, almost better to have stripped them or re prime them rather then try to finish what had been started.

At any rate they are done (mostly) and ready for the table. I say mostly because I thought they were done until I reviewed the pics I have taken and spotted errors and omissions. Why does this always seem to happen...

The figures are Foundry ACW. I went with these because I saw a picture in an Osprey book of a Canadian militia man in a havelock hat, and these figures had the hat and accoutrements that came pretty close to matching the picture.

Updated Sanctum page (see top of blog)

Just a quick note I have finally updated the Sanctum page detailing my gaming room.

Games played August 4 2018

Porters search the museum for clues in Shady Deals

 Four of us got together this past weekend to continue the Tomb of the Serpent campaign. At this point it is beginning to look like this may become a never ending campaign...It is still a lot of fun but it looks like it will be a few more sessions before we might see an end to it.

Finally some pics of my game room

By old RAFM painting guide, terrible pictures...

This was the painting guide included with the box set issued by RAFM. I do not believe it is still available.

Hopefully you can read this, not certain if it contains what you hoped it would.
Also hope this does not contravene any rules/laws out there, no infringement intended!

First work completed on western themed gaming

Hi all

Just a few pics today, more soon. A small corral and a gallows . The corral was a long long long time project. Based on pictures from the Legends of the west rule  book,  this was probable started 10 years ago, more or less. Again always living up to my unfocused moniker it was a project that I started then got distracted by any number of other projects. The gallows is store bought not certain which company makes it.

I have a few 4ground buildings done, with one left to be built. I have many buildings on the verge of completion most assembled just in the process of being painted.

Some new beasties

First VSF stuff in a while.

Must confess these were started for a Pulp Alley campaign game. The monsters I planned to use for a tomb scenario proved too large for the narrow dungeon. So I quickly started working on the two little ones. Then since I started them it seemed like a good idea to finish off the larger pair too. Small figures are from Paroom Station, the larger are made by Bronze age miniatures.

They came out a little more red/pink than I had envisioned, but I think I like how they look.

Tomb of the Serpent New Nameless Ruin AAR, second game of the day

So this was the second time we played this game on the same day, and the third time playing this scenario. Up to this point the servants of evil had split the games winning 1 losing 1.
 
In this game Roosevelt's Angels made some significant roster changes and also picked up a mount for Ike, the leader. The player for the Angels had had direct experience going up against mounted leagues having played the servants in the Burning Desert scenario vs three mostly mounted leagues.. The value of mounted figures is quite significant particularly in this type of scenario where the league is trying to get across and off the board as soon as possible. Will it be enough to ensure victory...?
Read on!

Pulp Alley TOS The Nameless Ruins

Our most recent game, played July 14th 2018. We played three games that day all part of the campaign. This was our second crack at the Nameless Ruins scenario, the first time was a three league game, that went right down to the wire. This time the game did not take long to finish and the outcome was never really in doubt. That said, it was a fun game that still had tension, as the servants were randomly drawn, and you never knew what you might encounter.

Walking dead test set up

 Just a couple of shot, not very good, just a quick test.

Zombie, new project

Hello

Well best laid plans of mice and men...
I am supposed to be working on pulp sci-fi, like Buck Rogers, for summer game play, instead I have become inspired to work on a zombie project. To be fair I have had a lot of zombie stuff kicking around the basement for a lot longer than I have had any space opera stuff. I also have at least 4 rule sets to try out for the zombie genre! However no matter how you look at it, the curse of the unfocused gamer strikes again.

Now the good news of being made redundant is that you can find yourself with a lot of free time. While I am determined to do a large number of household jobs that have, up unto now, been put off due to time constraints, this week I have managed to mess up my back! Now about the only thing I can do is to remain in a seated position just perfect for painting.

Up first some scenic wrecks to fight over.

Apologies for being absent

I'm back...sort of

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post. No excuse really, just the usual life gets in the way, work running me down, other time constraints, you know, life. However recent events have changed this pattern, for the better in the short term, hopefully in the long term too!

I have been made redundant as of June 25th 2018, and will no longer have work as an excuse to fall back on!!! In the short term I am off with pay until 2020, after that time I may be able to fully retire. While the long term is not crystal clear, I am thinking at worst I may need to start looking for a new job around the end of 2019. What ever the eventual outcome the immediate results will be a significant increase in hobby activities, including blog posting.

So I have not fully come to grips with this change. I am not happy about leaving the people I worked with. I did enjoy my job, it was challenging, often rewarding, but not as rewarding of late. Clients and staff kept me busy, they also provided much needed socializing, and some exercise (I was rarely able to remain seated at my desk, something always had me moving around) My biggest concern right now is actually the social aspect, all to easy to retreat into my cave and not talk to anyone all day. Thankfully the missus is around to keep me grounded, but she is still working, for now, so its just the cat and dog keeping me company weekdays. No woe is me here, hell I still get to work on my hobbies not at some job, things are pretty damn good, I just don't want to get lost.

So a bit of a ramble to get to the blog, and to my renewed commitment to posting at least once a week! With luck I will be producing enough to have a lot of stuff to post. I have hope that that giant mountain of lead, and plastic and MDF will be conquered, and I will post my progress reports here. 

Right now I am looking at Mondays to be my 'new' regular posting day, with the occasional posting whenever I find something worth posting. 

I didn't know I needed these until I saw them...

So a lucky find at Value Village, two nice BIG rocket ships.

Small 'fighter' is from Pegasus hobbies

Saturday has arrived

As of Saturday noon, mostly done, with two hours before the gang arrives.

Thursday night before the Saturday game

Why oh why do I wait so long...

I should have taken a before picture with all the paper and junk that was covering this table.
This project has been laid out for over a month with nothing done.
So Thursday night I cleared the debris that covered the table, cut the 6 dig sites, and then went at it with brown caulking!
That was around 10 pm.
So now I am at work, will head out tonight and have a very limited amount of time to finish this off.

Thank goodness I like deadlines...

Latest finds

Just love going to dollar stores. At this time of year they have to be the most optimistic place to be, as they already have their spring stuff on the shelves. Makes one almost think that winter will eventually end.

This trip to the Dollar Tree store had less to do with spring, but has certainly given me some stuff for my adventures in Africa and other parts of the world.

Venice un-boxing

So TT Combat were nice enough to have a free shipping deal, so I was compelled to buy something that I have long coveted, Venice! The parcel arrived this week right in the middle of my Egyptian preparations for a Tomb of the Serpent game day this coming weekend. So despite having a long list of stuff to get ready for the weekend, I cracked open the Venice box and promptly assembled some of the plaza boards.

Pulp Alley Tomb of the Serpent Cairo Caper

By request

So a couple of requests for information, a picture covers so much more.
So details on a bridge, and info on 3D paint.

First up the bridge used in a recent game

New finds for 2018

First post of the new year and first post in a while, sorry about that.

Found these self adhesive tiles in Dollarama store.
The hexes are 1" wide.
The rectangles are 1" x 2".

They are a little puffy and a little shiny but I do hope to dull them down a bit.
I have been meaning to play the old Gladiator board game for old time sake, but with 28mm figures. These hex sheets should do the trick for a quick battlefield.

As for the rectangle stuff, I am thinking they will work for floor tiles in some Egyptian ruins that I am building for a soon to be played Pulp Alley campaign of Tomb of the Serpent.