Yours in a White Wine Sauce!

Sunday, 28 September 2008

A Heroic sort of Chap really

Pegaso Models have just released this smashing model of one of her Majesty's finest, from the 24th Regiment of Foot (of Rourke's Drift fame and Isandlawana infamy)

I've inquired about getting a slightly modified version, with a bottle of claret in his hand (instead of a sword) and a cowering lovely clutching lovingly to his feet. I eagerly anticipate a reply!

http://www.pegasomodels.com/productdetails_en.asp?id=755

Saturday, 27 September 2008

I went to a charity book fair today which had many interesting finds. My disappointment at not finding any Verne was more than offset by acquiring the collected works of H.G. Wells in leatherbound volumes - Huzzah!

Friday, 26 September 2008

Awesome Aquanefs

This guy is simply amazing. Go grab a towel now for all the drooling you are about to do!
Among his many fantastic models, are these fantastic Aquanefs:

The Nautilus, from Jules Verne's descriptions and the original illustrations

The French submarine Dupuy de Lome

The Alligator

You simply must visit, "Steam Noir" here:
http://www.freewebs.com/steamnoir/submarines.htm

Thursday, 25 September 2008

Wars of Empire...in Cartoons!

Qued by an entry at TMP:

WARS OF EMPIRE IN CARTOONS
by Mark Bryant

the publisher's page says:

At the beginning of the Victorian era it seemed that the sun would never set on the vast British Empire which spanned the globe. However, the Pax Britannica was not all that it seemed and the forces of Her Imperial Majesty were frequently called upon to fend of aggressor nations and quell rebellions in Britain’s many colonies.

In an age before computers, television, radio and the cinema the impact of cartoons and caricature was considerable, especially when the only sources of information were posters, newspapers and books. To a news-hungry public, anxious about world affairs, it was the cartoon, with its immediacy and universal accessibility – even to the barely literate – that could speak the message mere words could never convey.During the Crimean War it was John Leech and his colleagues at Punch who drew their own satirical version of events. And who could take Tsar Nicholas of Russia, Paul Kruger of the Transvaal or the Mad Mahdi of the Sudan at all seriously when the artists of Fun, Judy, Moonshine, Vanity Fair and others cocked a snook at all they held dear? However, Britain’s enemies also had a wealth of talent laboring to counteract imperial propaganda and there were frequent, often vicious, attacks on Queen Victoria and her generals, admirals and politicians in French and German satirical magazines such as Simplicissimus, Le Grelot and Lustiger Blatter.

Wars of Empire in Cartoons is divided into chapters covering the main conflicts of the second half of the 19th century year-by-year. Each chapter is prefaced with a concise introduction that provides a historical framework for the cartoons of that year. Altogether some 300 drawings from both sides of each conflict have been skillfully blended to produce a unique visual history of the wars of the British Empire.

Specifications
9½ x 12¼. 160 pages, color & b/w images throughout, $34.95, hardback,Grub Street Publishing
Order it from Casemate Publishing here:
http://www.casematepublishing.com/cgi/titleinfo.pl?sku=9781902304403

And let me know whats its like if you get one - please!

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Vulcania

I got this wonderful chart of Vulcania from the nice chaps at Disney - thank you indeed kind Sirs!

click here for full version: http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/pauljamesog/Aeronef/?action=view&current=Vulcnia.jpg

I've always wanted to make a model of this - perhaps it would make a good Chritsmas holiday project, but I think the addition of a drigible pad would also be prudent!

Into the Abyss

A short story by..

H.G. Wells

In the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, we are not alone...

http://www.horrormasters.com/Text/a1047.pdf

Tuesday, 23 September 2008

Aquanef Inspiration

I found this pic on my hard-drive the other day, saved from goodness knows where (please tell me if you know). I absolutely love it - very Nemoesque and great Aquanef insipration.

Sunday, 21 September 2008

VSF Terrain (25mm)

Mssr Zophiel pointed out this great range of gothic style terrain by RC Studio that just screams VSF (well, to me...after a claret or two anyway).

I particularly like the bunker, the generator and these mysterious contraptions that I dub steam-driven temporal Tesla converters

http://quantumgothic.com/Buildings.aspx

Thanks for the tip Zophiel!

Saturday, 20 September 2008

The Lost World - Found!

I happened to stumble across a DVD copy of the original 1925 version which you may recall from here: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2008/01/lost-world.html

It was lying unwanted at a car boot sale for only $5 - Bwhahahah - now its mine, all Mine!

Alhazared's Victorian Landships!

Some splendid Landships and a dazzling undersea battle!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/banging1out/tags/victorian/

Friday, 19 September 2008

Quick-play Astronef

I found a fun looking set of easy play space ship combat rules today - called 'Launch Fighters!'
Its a free download and you can thank the nice chaps at Consortium games for this contribution.

Now, to play a bit of VSF style HM Royal Ether Squadron vs Kaiser's Sternmarine action using these rules, I recommend the following simple subtitutions in the rules:

Delete Cannon, Insert Gatling-Cannon, Tesla Device or Electro-Howitzer
Delete Missile, Insert Aether-torpedo, or Congreive Rocket Mk II
Delete Defence, insert Armour Rating
Delete Movement rating, insert Aether-engine or Solar Sail capacity

and you are ready to Blast-Off for Queen and Country!

You'll find Launch Fighters! (both full and quick play versions) and Consortium games here:
http://www.launchfightersgame.com/

Thanks awfully chaps!