Friday, November 29, 2013

COLLECTION DIARY: NOVEMBER 2013

This month I have pulled back on the FFG Models purchases because I have from one to three of each ship. Until FFG gets their issues with distribution under control, or the Wave One ships are all eventually available again at my favorite online shops, I am settling back into a relaxed waiting stance. I am buying more models from other companies to build some special factions however because IMO two factions is simply not enough to keep me excited about this or any game. I need to have more to do with my hobby.

I have rediscovered The Star Blazers series this month, and I have decided to buy the models for that wonderful universe. I will detail this topic in my next article. In furtherance of expanding my space battles hobby, FFG X-Wing spending will be trimmed back in general. Variety is the spice of life after all.


I have started getting the models I need for my new Mandalorian Faction. The three Micro Machines Imperial Shuttles are going towards this force as specially converted heavy fighter-bombers.
I have also chosen to build a small group of character/pilots for the Jedi and Sith. The F-Toys Delta-7 and AMT/Ertl Sith Infiltrator models are going to serve as the medium ships for these force empowered warriors. I already had a set of F-Toys ETA-2 models to represent a lone Jedi and Sith among my fleets. As I have decided to upgrade both the light and dark sides, this month I purchased all of the remaining models which I felt I needed to have some reasonable diversity, as you will see in the following images.

Readers of B6*R7 know that I am building a collection of models for a 3-D Backdrop. This month I added some cute planets with nice strong magnets to hold them up onto the background banners I am going to have done in early 2014
I finally got my first FFG Y-Wing model this month...now I have at least one of every FFG X-Wing ship!
I finished off week one with a very nice set of Tea Lights for my large models interior illumination, and a few Wiz Kid figures for my Stat Layout. On a whim picked up a few tiny trooper models from Mech Warrior, to compare them with the 1/300 scale troopers I am sculpting...just for fun. My models are much smaller.


In week two the first new pair of F-Toys ETA-2 models arrived adding combat options for my Jedi and Sith characters who now each have access to up to three small fighter ships and one medium support ship. As you will see in week three I got three more pair of the ETA-2 ships, giving me a total of 10 models. I plan to use these as is and for conversions, to be decided upon as I build my Alternate Factions.
My Stat Layout was reinforced with even more cool Wiz Kid figures. From HobbyLink I got some new primer, a smaller set of magnets, and plenty of glue to work on my Capitol Ships and other projects.


In weeks three and four I placed a second Hobby Link order for some more Plastic and Brass rod, and made a happy buy on my last three boxes of ETA-2 ships that are now discontinued by this seller. The last of this months Ebay wins came in as well. The second trio of Imperial Shuttles for my Mandalorian Heavy Ships affords me the means to build a nice set of six of this special fighter type.
The first pair of wonderful Galaxy Voyagers ships came in for my secrete (Ha!) Pirate Faction fleet project. I also got a silly little Cylon craft for this faction, which is of course going to be fully converted into a very nice large ship...Hot Damn! (Ha!) I like to sneak these in where I can.
Last but not least I rounded off my Escape Pods with a second pair of the cool Micro Machines models giving me four in total. I will be using these to good effect on my Alliance Space Stations and on their own in Rescue Missions.

As I stated above, I have most of what I want for Star Wars X-Wing...until I can get the requisite fleet of X-Wings and Tie Fighters at a sane price, and the new Wave Four and Capitol Ship models are released...I am happily and patiently waiting on you FFG.

By way of a laugh, some of my online buddies asked me about the Death Star large model I have talked about getting. Well friends this month was full of new discoveries, as I stumbled upon the all new Yamato Series, and the Galaxy Voyagers models for my Pirates, which I have wanted to build since day one of collecting Star Wars models. I put off getting the Death Star in favor of getting some OOP Rare models. The Death Star is an in production model, and will be there when I want it...later.

Next month I am going to focus on my Pirate Fleet Project,  Alliance and Pirate Ground Forces, and the start of my Yamato 2199 1/1000 scale models collection.

Boss out!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

SIMPLE ALTERNATIVES TO LARGE MODEL LIGHTING.

Cool lighting can be a fun additional element of large models, or it can be a real drag.

These days I feel that I can get a nice lighting effect without all of the extra parts and effort. Another problem that can ruin a lighted model is if the buried components fail. Now you suddenly have an unlighted model that will be very difficult if not impossible to restore to illumined glory.
There are tiny hard core Fiber Optics and LED that will probably last for years sure, but I am not going that way.


I found some easy to use Tea Light options for my large models that will look awesome when I am done. With these easily replaceable lights you only have to set up a very accessible magnet male to female plug system that you can simply make with plastic telescoping tube.


Now if a lighted model fails me for what ever reason, I can just switch out a Tea Light that cost all of $2 (at most) and in about a minute I have full lighting again...1-2-3-simple and affordable. If you want to go this route, I recommend that you do spend the tiny bit of extra cash and get Submersible Tea Lights because they are water proof, which means that they are split paint and running glue proof too. Ha!


There are all sorts of LED Tea Lights available, try a quick search at Amazon, and find a set you like. Have fun with your projects and remember the K.I.S.S. approach my friends.

Boss out.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

SWTOR STARFIGHTER DOMINATION TRAILER

A fun new trailer was posted this week for SWTOR Galactic Starfighter Domination. This looks very cool. I am more into the miniatures, but I might have to play this one a few times...


Boss out.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

IMPERIAL ACES DELAYED UNTIL 2014...

FFG Forumes are buzzing with discontent, as FFG moves back the release date for the highly appreciated and much anticipated IMPERIAL ACES Expansion to first quater 2014.

 
Some experienced retailers are speculating that this means the new Aces game supplement may not be in stores until April 2014.

Boo-Hiss-Boo!

Boss out.

Monday, November 11, 2013

THE FFG CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND 2013 X-WING VIDEO!

The X-WING 2013 Championship Games Video has been posted this week!


This is a fine video for X-Wing players regardless of your skill level, you will learn something from watching these games.

Boss out.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

CELESTIAL PHENOMENON DECK BY RODENT MASTERMIND

One of my favorite members of The Fantasy Flight Games X-Wing Forum has gone above and beyond the call of community service to produce a complete deck of CELESTIAL PHENOMENON CARDS to expand The X-WING GAME.


I think Rodent Mastermind deserves some appreciation for this one...

The Original Topic at The FFG Forum.

The PDF by Rodent Mastermind.

The CPApp by Rodent Mastermind.

Rodent Rocks!!!

Boss out!