Showing posts with label shout out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shout out. Show all posts

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Unplanned Christmas Update

I was not expecting to have an update today, but I found something I had to write up.  On my quest to become a better painter, I've been doing a lot of research on the internet.  I've done a lot of lurking and and a bit of posting, and this morning, I found miniwargaming.com.  Its an amazing store/forum/youtube video producer/community that all about crafting.  There are plenty of amazing things going on at this site, but the one I'm going to discuss in this short update is the FREE FREE FREE ebook they give you about painting minis (or anything, really) you get when you sign up for their forum.

Fifty nine pages of amazing painting related
descriptions, techniques and advice.
For FREE.
Free.  For signing up for their online forum.

But how good could a free PDF be?  Let me put it this way.  If you follow this site closely, you know that for the last two or three months I have been spending lots of time finding the best hobby painting sites, books and guides on the web and off.  And there are some really, really good guides, books, and forums out there.  There are plenty of helpful people on the net.  But in terms of a one stop manual for painting mini figures or action figures, this one

IS THE BEST I'VE SEEN.

Its even better than the Games Workshop guides for painting figures, and that thing was 25 bucks.  And unlike the games workshop book (which is very good) this guide does not push one paints and other products from one specific manufacturer.

That's how good.  Its 59 pages long.  Full color illustrations.  Fantastic writing.  It is written by hobby painters for hobby painters.  This guide could be, nay, should be, something people pay something for to pick up.  Its an amazing guide.  And all you need to do to get a copy is sign up for their forum.

I need to get back to the family, but I wanted to put this up there.  Happy holidays, folks.

Until next time,

David D.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Papercraft Computer Console

My computer space is not as cool as this little set up.
One of the aspects of my job as a child life skills worker is that I am on the phone plenty.  I probably spend almost as much time talking to parents, social workers, group home staff, case workers, case managers, and teachers as I do with my actual clients.

I often take calls in my car as I drive from appointment to appointment (I do inhome work) on my little bluetooth hookup. When I am lucky, I have phone meetings in my home office, aka, David's Workshop.  During these meetings, I can have my computer on, check appointments on Google calendar, pull up client notes and reports, take notes during the conversation, etc.  Its much more convenient for me to chat on the phone from the office.  My schedule doesn't always permit the privileged, but its nice when it does.


In my office, my back is to the door so anytime my wife
walks in, she can see exactly what I have up on my screen.
It keeps me honest.
A few weeks ago, I found a new activity to do while at home and on the phone when my hands were free.  I could slowly construct paper furniture for a future diorama.  Most of the time while I am on the phone, I need to be writing things down or using the computer, but sometimes I get a moment here and there.

I got the idea after visiting www.joedios.com and saw all the amazing ready-to-assmble, all-you-need-is-a-color-printer-a-scissors-and-some-glue, templates in the file section there. I pulled up some PDF files hosted at thesite that were made by JoeDios member Tracker. Tracker has made a bunch of really outstanding stuff. If you are looking for some ideas or items for action figure dioramas of your own, check out the pictures and files sections of JoeDios.  Its a treasure trove of cool.  I printed some images out on regular printer paper, and when I had time, cut them out, carefully folded the parts, and glued them together with regular school glue. The pictures in this update show the little chair and computer set up in their completed form. 

Cobra Vipers like to update their Facebook pages
and check their twitter feeds between missions to
hack into US satellite control systems.   
I am not entirely sure what I am going to do with this yet, but I have some ideas. I think someone would probably be able to construct the entire thing in 15-20 minutes.  Most of that time is just holding sections of paper together while the glue dries. But because putting this thing together was by far my last priority when on the phone, I did it a few seconds here and a few seconds there. I started this the week before Thanksgiving and finished it last night. 

Today I do not have any client meetings, but I needed a break from my school work so I thought I'd do a quick update on the blog of this little mini project.  I finished a 17 page paper yesterday and today I am working on a power point presentation.  I need to make a 10-15 minute  proposal for my graduate project, and my brain were starting to go a little fried.  Time for a break.

I hope you like this little update.  Tracker did an amazing job with his design.  It takes very little skill to make something that looks pretty slick and could be used in a lot of different ways. Tracker and other artists have created several different versions of this chair and computer design with different skins, in different colors so if you are not into the dark green/gray I have here, there are other choices.  Or you could run the thing though Photoshop or GIMP (the free, open source Photoshop!) and come up with your own ideas.

Ok- this break has gone on long enough. Time to get back to work. Take care.

Until next time,

David D.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Coyote Follow up

Sorry officer. I did not realize gatling guns
are forbidden in school zones.
Just a quick post to point out a few other folks online have published content online their experiences customizing the Iron Man Rolling Battle Headquarters, the toy I used to create my G.I. Joe Renegades inspired Coyote and deserve mention.  Dark Lord Dungeon has a fantastic review of both the toy itself before he customized it and photos of his very nice gun metal blue paint job, which makes the thing look more like the GI Joe Rise of Cobra R.H.I.N.O.  Check out his blog for more cool pics and a very nice write up.  He did some really nice work there.

I should also mention ArticulatedComics version of the Coyote, which got me started on this little quest in the first place. There are no photos that I know of online, but here is the movie he made. He did a great job both with the custom and the film itself. Here is his youtube clip:



AC wasn't finished after that project. He customized a second Iron Man Mobile Battle Headquarters to make a cobra vehicle as well. This time, he added some parts from the Pursuit of Cobra line Cobra Fury to really snap the thing up. Again, I could not find still photos of the project, but here is a movie he made featuring this item, and its just as good as the previous one:



Clearly, the Iron Man Mobile Battle Headquarters has lots of customizing possibilities for whatever toy line or group faction you would like to incorporate it into. It is hard to find on the shelves these days since it has been on sale for almost 2 years, but I just checked and found it on amazon.com for $12.00. $12.00!!! If you are looking for a first custom project or want to practice your painting skills, this is a great piece to work with.

*UPDATE* I found another cool custom projects built from the IMMBH: a new ride for Destro.  Dake on TheTerrordrom.com uploaded some really nice pictures to a custom thread there and gota good reaction.  In addition to the tight paint job, Dake did some nice work with the decals.  All in all, a really nice project.

Until next time,

David D.