Achtung Schweinehund!

How can you not read a book with this title? Harry Pearson's "Achtung Schweinehund! - A Boy's Own Story of Imaginary Combat" is a brilliant tale of one man's fascination with toy soldiers, model kits and imaginary warfare. Loosely organized, the book reads like an autobiography coupled with interesting facts. Ironically, the boy we meet in the first chapter never grows up - but his interests in the world of miniature gaming does as he moves from comics and toy soldiers to plastic model kits to miniature wargaming (An evolution of sorts). There are many interesting digressions inserted throughout the chapters offering historical and factual insights into the hobby world of gaming and scale modelling - I had no idea Robert Louis Stevenson and HG Wells had an interest in miniature gaming. Pearson also presents his theories on why men are obsessed with warfare, and why our interest in all things playful never wavers; I can surely relate to his views. Surely this is a must read for anyone interested in miniature gaming, regardless of age. Thanks for sharing your memoirs and anecdotes Harry! It's nice to know there are other people in the world who share the same interests.

Don't mess with Texas!

Of all the Italian post apocalyptic films (poorly made Road Warrior knock-offs), 2020 Texas Gladiators is one of my favorites. Thanks to ebay, I found a copy of this film. The story is about 5 Rangers who roam the wastes bringing law and order to the helpless. They wipe out mutants, goons and freaks. The main plot centers around the liberation of energy producing refinery ruled by a skin head fascist, his storm troopers and some crazed bikers. While one may not enjoy the seeming lack of direction and confusion in this film, it is definitely worth it for the cheesy acting and special effects, gory combat and the babes. In fact, some of the extras get killed more than once. What more could you ask for? A real apocalypse will never be this much fun.

New "Kolonists" have arrived!

I was very to receive the latest squad of miniatures from PIG Iron Productions known as "Kolony" Militia. These guys are awesome. Of course, I bought my minis from the amazing internet store, "Rattlehead Games" - thanks Brandon for the courteous service and quick shipping. (Links can be found on my site)

The Kolony miniatures are well sculpted and cast. There was hardly any flash on them at all. I glued them down onto plastic 40mm bases. Some of the figures leaned a bit too much and required propping up while the glue set.

These miniatures look really cool. The long coats, gas masks, and heavy armor and kit made me think these Kolonists inhabit a harsh, hostile environment. They also make a nice zombie containment unit. When compared to GW Steel Legion troops, the Kolony miniatures look much grittier. The GW minis are just too clean.

I am anxious to paint these guys... Another example of the great stuff coming from PIG Iron Productions!

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai

Buckaroo Banzai is a bizarro cult film from 1984. Here is the synopsis courtesy of 20th Century Fox:

Buckaroo Banzai, top brain surgeon, scientist/ adventurer and rock performer, is caught with his trusted allies, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, in a battle to the death between evil red aliens and good black aliens from Planet 10. An army of red aliens have escaped their prison in the formless 8th Dimension and established a base on earth disguised as human beings. Buckaroo Banzai unwittingly gives them the opportunity to return home when he successfully breaks into the 8th Dimension with his Oscillation Overthruster. Lead by demonic dictator John Whorfin, who has taken over the body of Italian scientist Dr. Emilio Lizardo, the aliens try to get the Overthruster back from Buckaroo Banzai. But the good black aliens are willing to destroy earth rather than let these renegades return to their planet. Even the good aliens have heard of Buckaroo Banzai --- so they give him the chance to save his planet. If he doesn't stop the red aliens, good-bye Earth!

Wow! That sounds awesome! Not only is Buckaroo a brain surgeon, he is also a particle physicist and a rocket race car driver. Japan was such a mysterious and cool place back in 1984 - it gave us the Transformers and promised a future of robot companions. Domo Arigato!

Buckaroo is equally as mysterious and mystical. The film stars Peter Weller as Buckaroo Banzai - yes, the same Peter Weller who played in Robocop - his best and most successful film where ironically, you only saw 25% of his face for 85% of the film. His sidekicks include Jeff Goldblum, (fellow neuro surgeon who dresses like a cowboy and wants to be in his band) , Clancy Brown, and Ellen Barkin as the sexy babe. His nemesis is played by a Jonathan Lithgow. Even Christopher Lloyd is in this movie - hey, if the man can play a Klingon (another 80's mistake - along with John Larroquette no less, bah!), put him in the film, I say.

If you don't watch this film for its screwball plot and cheesy special effects, then watch it for the sheer awe of the crap we were subjected to in the 80's: loud hair and clothing; guys wearing blazers with the collars turned up: ninja split toe boots; long haired guitar players on stage side by side with long haired guys playing trumpets; pants you could wear with "two" belts; and women wearing nightgowns with hightops and blazers when they go out on the town. My only pet peeve with this film is that the end credits ask you, the viewer, to stay tuned for further adventures of Buckaroo Banzai in "Buckaroo Banzai vs The World Crime League. Whatever happened to that? It must have disappeared along with all the other crap from the 80's. But this film is NOT crap - it's awesome!

Planning to start a cult?

Well, now you can in this fun filled family board game titled, "CULTS ACROSS AMERICA". There is a wonderful review of this game found here: http://www.pevans.co.uk/Reviews/CultsAcrossAmerica.html

The premise of the game is simple: start with a few cultists and high priests and keep recruiting until you encounter other cults... and attack them. You can equip your cultists with cool weapons like flaming shopping carts, big honkin' trucks and tanks. You can also summon demons and get the Pope, the US President or... the dreaded Ambassador from Uruguay to help you. There are three version of the game: Strategy, Victory, and Bloodbath. The Bloodbath is an all out slugfest, while the other games employ objectives and use cards to enhance the strategic value. The game is quite enjoyable and the concept alone is interesting. Now, there's finally a safe and fun way to make Cthulu proud!

Goin' on a bug hunt...

I finally painted the Startship Troopers "CHAS". I wish this robot was was in the movie, but I'll settle for it in the cartoon. This figure is quite impressive in size when compared to other models. It really is an awesome was machine!