Life, Work, the Universe......Eurovision

 

Saturday night is 'date' night. The one night a week, we put aside whatever we are doing to have quality time together. And whether we stay in or go out, we treat it as a..... date.

But this saturday was Eurovision (Fanfare of trumpets). Eurovision has a special place in our hearts and usually one of our group of friends hosts a Eurovision party - basically, an excuse to have a BBQ, a drink or three and shout at the telly.

No parties this year so we had our own and decided to make the most of it. Dressing up in Bond tux for me, and Mrs H sported her best Breakfast at Tiffany's little black dress. Let me tell you, she outdid Lena in her little black number and that's saying something.

Now don't groan when I mention Eurovision. It's how you choose to approach these things in life and we choose to view it as a hoot.  I mean, it's the Eurofighter of the TV music world and about as relevant today as Spanish Influenza. Not to be taken seriously, eEurovision nevertheless is a brilliant drinking game and a chance once a year to rate some European totty.

Lena, the German contestant and last years's winner. My god, that girls smoulders. It was like watching Kate Beckinsale being naughty on screen. Her song? Who cares.

Our joint favourite of the night, was the madcap, literally, Moldavan entry (pictured above). I can only explain the performance as Buck Rogers in the C25th does punk! We loved them and the monocycling 'Dita von Tease' thing they had going on.

It was a great evening. No, our evening, sod Eurovision. And H. put on a night that outdid everyone on stage.

Cheers

Mark

Latest GZG Update!

We're just sorting the last few minor issues brought up by some testing over the weekend - but barring any last-minute problems the PLAN is to be able to switch the new store on tomorrow (Monday) evening!

Of course, no plan ever survives first contact with reality, so there are likely to be a few teething troubles in the first week or two - but hopefully if you've stuck with us this long, you will understand. As soon as the store is live we will be open to receive orders, but please note that due to the proximity of Sheffield Triples (see last news post) I won't actually be able to dispatch anything until I'm back from that show.

Thanks, keep your fingers crossed and wish us luck....  ;-)

Jon, Sunday 15th May.

Goes without saying Jon, best of luck from everyone on the Dropship!

Mark

IN THE PIPE: Khurasan Federal Navy Special Warfare (SPAR) team

The term 'Elite' in tabletop Sci Fi usually conjusts up one of two images. At one extreme it's shredded t-shirts, berets and bulging biceps . whilst at the other it's jump packs, shoulder pads and metal flares.

Not any more...

A couple of weeks before the whole Bin Lardy thing, Jon at Khurasan approached me with the idea of some Recon for his highly successful Federal Infantry range.

To me, Recon only has one connotation. Marine Recon. And let's face it Gunny if you are doing Marine Recon, why don't we go the whole hog. Hooyah!

We wanted something that was different but real. Figures that could be used in Force on Force as bleeding edge Future Warriors of 5 years time plus of course equally at home in the far future of Tomorrows War, FAD, FUBAR, Gruntz etc.

It was a dream opportunity. I gave Jon helmet designs and stipulated that the minis should tell a story, not random poses but a team that could be 'stacked'. 

A couple of weeks later, Bin Lardy-dardy-dah all over the news and Jon sent me the first photo of the master figures. Ok, hands up - I'm biased. But the minis in the photo makes me proud. I tell you, I'm having these minis on me at my viking funeral, to game with in Valhalla.

Jon wants to go for the big reveal, so sorry no photos (just yet). However I can exclusively and genuinely proudly, introduce you to the Federal Navy Special Warfare (SPAR) team.

The SPAR team consists of  four different 'stackable' operators armed with special .50 SMGs with integral grenade launcher (as seen on the Khurasan Corporate Marine officer ). Two different snipers (with anti-material rifle and with anti-personnel rifle), and one operator with FAW (thermobaric flame assault weapon). SPAR operators use a special lighter body armour and the ARC (augmented reality - combat) helmet.

The Federal Navy Special Warfare (SPAR) team will be released along with the Federal Infantry Mortar team above will be released at the same time as the drone and operator, the army casualty and medics diorama, the DIMOG 3 "Berserker" and Hercules civilian loader (both are conversion sets for the basic DIMOG) announced on Dropship Horizon on Saturday.

Naturally I'll keep you updated with intel as soon as it is released.

Cheers

Mark

Faux Sci Fi

When I first saw the cover of JANISSARIES by Pournelle, the soldier reminded me of the Airfix 1/76 Paratrooper box art. I wasn't far wrong.

CIA backed US Mercs are fighting in a faux Angola and rescued from destruction at the hands of a larger Cuban force by a extra-terrestrials.

The Mercs are transported to another planet where, led by a Christopher Walken wannabe, mayhem ensues.

I know why I pushed this book to the back of my mind, but playing around with some AK47 figs this morning,  Janissaries aptly demonstrates that ANYTHING can be turned into a Sci Fi background. Something to bear in mind in these increasingly tight economic times. 

Cheers
Mark

Frogstar Robotic Tank

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One of my favourite scenes from the original Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy radio play was when Marvin (the Paranoid Android) confronts a Frogstar 'Robot' in the offices of the Hitchhikers's Guide To the Galaxy publishing house on Ursa Minor (or a parsec or two thereabouts).

My mental image of this Frogstar Robot which described itself as a 'heavy duty battle machine' was essentially a robotic tank.

Now, CMG's Dragamaa tank, KAVH1, came really close to actualising my internal vision of the Frogstar 'tank'. Robot tanks were in my psyche and their place was cemented by Planet of No Return by Harry Harrison. Then I bought this Star Wars micro-machines set on Ebay - for a song - and the seller unexpectedly threw in a Micro-Machines Star Wars Universe Trade Federation Tank....

Um-diddle-diddle! Here is my Frogstar Robot Tank. Thank you Ebay seller.

Cheers

Mark

 

IN THE PIPE: Khurasan Federal RAM Mortar Team

 
A whole heap of new goodies from Khurasan Miniatures are in the pipe and heading to a galaxy near you soon. I can bring exclusive news from Khurasan Alienworkz gmb that RAM (rocket assisted munition) Mortars are the asset of the day for any self-respecting intergalactic overlord.

There will be mortars for the Feds, Lhurggs and, in time, for the Control Battalion and Sepulvedan Resistance too. RAM Mortars provide a cheap, mobile and versatile weapons platform that can deploy a range of munitions. Providing the grunts on the ground with their own dedicated, on-call artillery.

So we're going to need a forward control element to locate the enemy and direct effective fires onto them. What better than a highly manoeuvrable eye in the sky.

Here we see the Federal Army Infantry Drone team, previewed recently on Khurasan Miniatures' blog. These drones are perfect for providing real-time information back to 'the grid'.

Modern C-RAM (Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) weapons are ground based - but a fast moving drone with a powerful energy weapon may be able to conduct successful point defence missions and set up a C-RAM environment around the unit or facility it is protecting. I foresee (C-S) Counter Sniper Drones and C-RAMS (Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar and Sniper) Drones in the future.

So, when are these going to be available? The Federal Infantry Mortar team above will be released at the same time as the drone and operator, the army casualty and medics diorama, the DIMOG 3 "Berserker" and Hercules civilian loader (both are conversion sets for the basic DIMOG).

Included in this release and again exclusively to Dropship Horizon will be a new kick ass unit of Federal Elite forces, but more on those tomorrow! Hooyah!

Cheers

Mark