Two Dozen+ Links to Free Paper craft Models

The Zealot Wiki Free Paper Model page offers approximately two and half dozen links to sites that offer free paper models. From miniature war games, space shuttles, cruise ships, digital navies, and model railroading in various scales, paper enthusiasts will find links to all types of paper models here.

The Foundation

Over the past week I have been listing to a BBC radio drama of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series. The original Foundation series consisted of a set of seven science novels. This radio (podcast) is an adaption from what is commonly known as the Foundation Trilogy, which consists the Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation novels.

The BBC has done a very fine job in not only presenting this series, but in also creating sound effects that were created especially for this series. The show consists of eight parts and runs for roughly eight hours.

I do remember reading the Foundation when I was young and remember trying to make sense out of all of it. Listening to the series on my MP3 player while out for a walk has been very enjoyable and has rekindled my interest in Isaac Asimov.

Anyone who loves Science Fiction and or Isaac Asimov should listen to this podcast. I am sure that in doing so it will give you a new appreciation for this author, as it has for me.

Do you know of any science fiction podcast s? Please let me know.

Nimbus: A Steampunk Novel

I found some more free Steampunk reading. The Nimbus is a serialized Steampunk fantasy novel, that can be read online for free, or downloaded to your Kindle for a nominal fee. You can either read the novel in its entirety or read several short stories that were taken from the novel.

I have not actually read the novel, yet, but have read the summary and a couple of the short stories, which were good reading.

Another Blasted Planet Miniature Completed

This is my forth Blasted Planet miniature that I have completed. The Wooly Bool resembles the now extinct Mammuthus, proboscideans, which once roamed Europe, Asia, and America and northern Mexico

The miniature comes in two parts, the body and tusks. I used cyanoacrylate to glue the tusk in place. The body casting included a spot for the tusk piece that had been molded into the body.

Multiple Steampunk Short Stories are Available for Free

The Steampunk Short Stories page offers links to several Steampunk short stories from around the web. Nine authors are featured. These readings will give you peak into this fascinating genre.

Free Steampunk Magazine

The publishers of the Steampunk magazine are offering free downloads of their 110 page Steampunk magazine. The Streampunk Magazine is published periodically and is full of “madness, fiction, history, and theory”.

The Steampunk genre is one of speculative fiction that explores alternative Victorian scenarios. For instance Bruce Sterling and William Gibson’s, “The Difference Engine” explores an alternative take on history. What if Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine would have been completed and improved on, what would that era have looked like?

Of course this genre goes well beyond the speculative alternative historic bent and is quite fascinating to read. The Steampunk genre marries Victorian mores with technological advances (steam powered mind you) that were non-existent in that era. This genre also often includes elements of not only of science fiction, but fantasy as well. So you might have werewolf, vampires, and steam-powered airships all in the same story.

10 Inspiring Landscape Photos That Are Actually Small Scale Models

10 Great Landscape Photos That Are Actually Small Scale Models

Matthew Albanese, a diorama artist, creates fantastic and captivating landscape photos out of painstakingly detailed small scale models. The special effects Matthew employees using special lighting and other clever photography techniques are awe inspiring!

Special Effects are Everywhere

Since good acting is a rarity now-a-days, movie producers are relying on special effects more and more. Most of the movies I remember watching growing up were jammed packed with special effects. Special effects, along with a good plot, make movies the block-busters they eventually become.

There are a many situations that cannot be acted out in a safe way; this is where special effects come in. “11 Reasons Why Special Effects Are Awesome” explains how producers use technology and special effects for all types of special situations.

8 Jules Verne Inventions That Came True

It is no exaggeration to say that Jules Verne was a visionary. Verne’s science fiction writings are full of futuristic inventions. Many years before their actual creation Verne envisioned all the following: Electric Submarines, Newscasts, Solar Sails, Lunar Modules, Skywriting, Videoconferencing, Taser and Splashdown Spaceships. The online article “8 Jules Verne Inventions That Came True” mention’s eight of Verne’s’ novels were these inventions were first mentioned.

The Plastic Toy Soldier Pictures Blog

Although the blog has not been updated for a while, the Plastic Toy Soldier Pictures Blog features an assortment of images of Marx, Toy Soldiers of San Diego, and Conte toy soldiers. The author has taken quite a few photos of toy soldiers, which includes all sorts of “toy soldiers”, not just GI types.
You might remember playing with Marx toys when you were young. The one thing I don’t remember, at least not vividly, is the amount of detail these toy soldiers had. Their faces, at least contain, a surprising amount of detail while the rest of the casting is slight on detail. Many of these old Marx toys are now collectors’ items and some are being recast by other companies (Pirates of the Caribbean, by Glencoe).
Conte is a purveyor of collectible figures. These are not your run of the mill, mass-produced kids toys. Conte figures are full of detail. Toy Soldiers of San Diego offers some nicely detailed pieces as well, which like Conte are geared toward the collector.
It is simply amazing what some are willing to pay for a box full of plastic.

Vintage Aircraft Has Been Seen Overhead

This vintage WWII aircraft was seen flying over my home town the other day. I took cover as it came in from the west and strafed the populace. Luckily, no one was injured during the raid and the invader was quickly repulsed through the fire of our anti-aircraft guns.

For your Viewing Enjoyment: A Spanish Galleon the Neptune

The Pirates Galleon offers four pages of some striking images of a pirate’s galleon. The ship was built from plans from an original Spanish galleon and was built for the production of Roman Polanski’s movie “Pirates”. The Spanish galleons were some of the largest vessels built and some were very ornate. I doubt that a pirate ship would be this ornate, unless or course, the pirates had commandeered the vessel from its original owners.

Pirates of the Spanish Main

These three packets arrived in the mail a little over a week ago. Although now out of production Pirates of the Spanish Main were created by Whiz Kids. Each packet, which are about the size of a set of baseball cards include two ships, an island, nine pieces of eight, and a few crew tokens. The packet also comes with instructions the details construction of the ships, and basic and extended rules.

The general idea of the game is to travel to islands, collect gold pieces, and to hinder or sink your opponent’s ships, thus gaining an advantage over them. The game can be played on any flat surface, however a three by three foot table seems to be an optimal size for the game.
The rules are quiet basic and are in need of some enhancements, which I am in the process of writing. The game, with a few additions and enhancements should be an interesting and fun game.

10 Sci-fi Futures that Could Come True

Some of the science fiction futures listed in the Top 10 Sci-Fi Futures may be more possible than others, but all ten of these possible futures, taken from popular culture, give us a glimpse into what may come to pass. I am guessing, we are probably in store for some type of dystopian outcome. Many of the listed futures lean toward the dystopian.