Books of Interest

It comes from my early childhood days, I am hooked on the "book habit" (they are magical things) and throughout my life nice people (damn them) keep encouraging me to read, by making very good book recommendations. If that were not bad enough, some authors (damn them twice over) are not just content to write one interesting book, but they then go and have the cheek to write another or more! Imagine this crazy situation, what am I to do? (see below, this "book" made me want to read more about the sciences, Ben Miller being a well known TV comedian who kept a dark, secret [as in, he liked science]!): 

I am pretty sure it is a form of mind control (see below, from sensible science mysterious to looking for alien life - then a friend recommended a book that says it is about structure problem solving - but it has a hidden use, designing wargames): 

The question is do I push for another bookshelf or try and squeeze them into my existing ones, or pile them discreetly on the floor, until they become a tripping hazard? Your recommendations greatly received!

Dangerously Shiny Sci Fi miniatures

Best just go look and see:
http://warzone.prodosgames.com/
http://shop.prodosgames.com/en/alien-vs-predator/202-avp-alien-stalkers.html

Thanks to SmallScaleOperations for the "show and tell" post:
http://smallscaleoperations.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/avp-more-alien-stalkers.html

Benefits of an Attic Clear-out Come my Way: Space Crusade and Battle of Britain

My brother's attic received a pre-Xmas clear out (as in "What are things that are not Xmas decorations doing in this pile?") and I was the lucky beneficiary of two old, old games dating back to the late 1980's/early 1990's (see below):

Space Crusade is missing a few parts (notably a Dreadnought model and lots of counters) but the Battle of Britain is in pretty much mint condition (I remember playing it once). A detailed "unboxing" will come later. However I am torn between keeping Space Crusade as a "Collectors edition" for future episodes of "Antique Roadshow" in 2100. I think it is pretty much as given that I will "devalue it" and paint the 'dodgy' miniatures ;)

The notion of using my small collection GW miniatures as fill-ins and extras also makes common sense to me!

In a Galaxy Far Far Away: Tyranids

The question is: "Brown and Green" or "Blue and Green"?

The "Blue and Green" is the "as-was" paint scheme.

The "Brown and Green" is the "could-be" alternative.

Sometimes when you take something back out of the box you don't like what you see. I vaguely remember an old saying: "Blue and Green should never be seen (together)".

My current feeling is to go "Brown and Green". There, dilemma of the day sorted (I think). Yes, and it is another way of using the last of the Games Workshop paints I so don't love anymore.

Necron Destroyer

Sticking to the late New Year's Resolution I took in hand this wandering Sci-Fi addition and started work on "him" the day of purchase. Not a complicated build and I did not opt for any real form of sophistication with the paint work.

I did wash the sprue in warm soapy water beforehand which is a step forward in my preparation technique ;)

Nasty brute:

Shades of the "Terminator" though the vivid green see through plastic in the weapon is a nice touch.

Every gamer need a futuristic killing machine or two in their back pocket, especially one which looks a "tad" (Yorkshire vernacular for 'a little') like a trillobite.

The worrying thing was that my eldest boy, rather took to him and asked if I had any more! Curses GW already have him and I had so much high hopes for my Airfix 1/32 collection.

Painting:
GW Chaos Black Paint (undercoat)
My GW Boltgun Metal had all dried up (another one bites the dust, hmm), so I used a mixture of GW Chaos Black and GW Mithril Silver (successively increasing the latter to lighten the effect)

That was pretty much it.

I toyed with the idea of detailing it, or black washing but in the end liked it as it was. I do have an admission of also having a packet standard Necrons (bought from a previous visit to the same HobbyCraft, well they didn't have my Airfix Fairey Battle in stock) to populate my future Science Fiction one-off scenarios (I cannot be considered as a 40K gamer [yet? They'll get me through the kiddies!]

Next: Back from an "alternative future" to the "historical modelled past" ;)

Reply to Comments:
Seeing as I still cannot post (have I been black-listed? I think not) I'll pen my replies here.

Al, it's a whim thing.
I see a pack I like and I'll but and paint them.
I don't intend to follow the GW Necron army list.
The odd " alien thing" will come in handy, as per my pride and joy Sci-Fi Robot of AD2000 fame "Hammerstein",  from Wargames Foundry

Greek Geek: Not sure, all the cartoons these days are Space/SuperHero oriented.
The young chap is only six but into Sci-Fi and Fantasy, although I managed to put the odd tank in there ;)