u/zeppomiller

I was in San Francisco’s Japan Town a month ago and picked up a nanoblock pack at the bookstore there for about $10. Then I was wandering through the Daiso (major Japanese Discount Store with a location in Japan Town). They had a similar product for $2.25. The price difference was huge, but there are quality differences… The Nanoblock Panda set has about 2x as many pieces (220 vs. 94 for the Panda models). I think those extra pieces add significant detail to the finished model. But given the price difference I think the Petit Block may win the overall comparison, even though the Nanoblock model is superior. One thing that disappointed me is that these sets are incompatible with each other, even though they both appear to the same at first glance. That is, you cannot use spare pieces from Nanoblock on a Petit Block set and visa versa. Both are manufactured in China.

From the vinyl (et. al) store in Petoskey MI. I didn’t have sufficient space to buy any vinyl, but the owner says he’s not going anywhere, so there’s hope for next year. I did pick up a CD (Rolling Stones) for .25 🤓

Easy conversion of 2 old Gunze Dorvac model kits from the 1980’s. These were designed to be modelled into various configurations, but by adding a faux multi-laser and turret mounted bolter, I was able to make them into my version of Imperial Guard Centaurs. This is not the current GW 1/2 track or early utility version, but the oldhammer armoured scout car version.

Yoda was a nice find. These hearts ♥️ are all over San Francisco

This was from the bookstore in Japan Town, SF. Check it out if you are ever visiting the City by the Bay (but avoid the mistake we made… walking there via the Tenderloin District. That was disgusting).

I had purchased a pair of these metal Terminators 30 years back, but had never bothered to model them until this week. I never liked the way they came with dual sets of power claws instead of the traditional 1x ranged weapon with 1x close assault, so they resided in the Pile of Shame for decades. But using spare weapons from a Krakos Tank (& a random Sci-Fi jetpack) I outfitted them accordingly; one with a heavy flamer 🔥 and one with a heavy bolter. I may have to fill in their squad at some point. I’ve got the original Space Hulk & Deathwing with more Terminators, but those injection plastics are pretty terrible IMO and not worth even painting.

I was on a run in Northern VA and a couple guys picked these shrooms I had photographed yesterday on a walk down the same path. They said they were not mushroom foragers but they “looked them up on the internet” and said they were safe to eat. I warned them to be very careful and maybe only try a tiny bit first if they were really going to eat these, and they agreed. Anyway, can you tell from this photo if they are safe? There were about 3 feet from a rotting tree (they said it was an oak tree, but I couldn’t tell) and these popped up quickly after a rain. They are BIG, about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. There were several other patches of the same thing close by, but much smaller. Thanks!

Here are my second group of Rogue Traders Marines, in 6 and 28mm. Vehicles, robots & walkers as well. For the Epic scale figures, I used a paper hole puncher to punch out mini cylindrical magnets, from magnetic sheet. I glued those to their bases for maximum gaming flexibility. This has been a super fun project and I’m almost there! I’ve got 3x lead minis included in the Green Meanies, posing in the front rank.

These are ancient Rogue Trader figures. I painted the Epic 6mm figures to match their 28mm counterparts. I also bought some lead BattleTech and such back in the day, to ~match old Japanese Model kits I’d collected. The idea is to have the ability to game using the same units/characters at both scales. Matching the paint schemes and using green stuff conversions is key to enhancing the effect. No 3-D printer or STL files necessary.