Day of the LEGO Triffids!

I am feeling rather guilty this week as my hacking cough, headache, vomiting and general illness has kept me off work - I’ve been signed off until Tuesday.

Alas, I’m not always able to follow the Doctor’s advice and stay in bed as that’s when the crap sits on my chest and I bring it all up - so I’ve been “sleeping” in my office chair and watching DVDs whilst wrapped up in a blanket.

Yesterday I rewatched the 1981 BBC adaptation of Day of the Triffids - one of my favourite books - and so I was inspired to make this little scene.

Forum discussion.

Dr. S.

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Carl Greatrix draws Doctor Sinister!

Carl Greatrix is a fellow member of the Brickish Association and, as I found out, a renowned cartoonist - his cartoons of cars and their owners are known all around the world.  His website is here.

And here is his latest project - it’s me!

Needless to say, I think this is 100% awesome and I am honoured that Carl should want to create it.  This is Doctor Sinister’s first official portrait!

Forum Discussion.

Dr. S.

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My Free LEGO has arrived!

As you’ll see, my free LEGO sets from the Daily Mirror have finally arrived!

Forum Discussion.

Dr. S.

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Please send help…

I am so ill…didn’t go to work today…sat here in four layers of clothing, heating on full power, blanket, doors closed, I’m still so cold.  Can’t stop coughing.  This cannot be right…

Dr. S.

Jek Tranter - P.I. Double-Cross on Demeter, Chapter 2.

Here it is!

Dr. S.

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Jek Tranter the STORY! Double-Cross on Demeter, Chapter 1.

Before I give you this linky, I stress that this is very much a proof of concept - since I posted pix of the Ladybird yesterday and gave the back story, quite a few people have indicated they’d be willing to read about the adventures of Jek Tranter.

I can’t stretch to a full-on comic strip, but I can supply an illustrated story with my writing being the main focus - so here without further ado is Jek Tranter - P.I. Double-Cross on Demeter, Chapter One!

Dr. S.

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Jek Tranter P.I. and his ship - The Ladybird.

I am proud to announce my latest project!

Jek Tranter is an ex-Cop, busted from the Interplanetary Police Bureau for corruption, he was actually set up to be a fall guy for the Mob as part of a massive credit laundering scam. Wanted in several star systems, Jek travels the space lanes trying to find those who framed him and clear his name. To make a living, he takes jobs in outlying star systems - typically as a Private Investigator, he can also act as a gun for hire to correct injustices, or as a bounty hunter.

His ship - registration LB-1 - is known as “The Ladybird” after its slightly insectoid appearance and its distinctive livery - Tranter’s trademark black and red colour scheme.

The Ladybird is an ex Police space cruiser, “borrowed” by Tranter during a prior escape from custody and modified to his own designs. The Ladybird now features an enhanced onboard AI - which means the ship can pilot itself and communicate with Tranter - although for combat a pilot is required.

Rounding off the team is Tranter’s sidekick, friend, mechanic and bodyguard Lindi McCallister. She is a crack shot with a sniper rifle and also on the run from the Police for crimes she will not admit to and will not discuss with Tranter.

Full set of images.

Forum Discussion.

Dr. S.

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Pirates in 2008!

Is this the true face of the pirates who have seized the Supertanker off the coast of Kenya?

Webpage.

Forum discussion.

Dr. S.

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Armchair General Top Trumps!

I’d like to announce something that I’m very proud of. It’s been two years in the making and whilst I can’t take the credit for all the hard work that went on behind the scenes, the initial idea was mine and much of the groundwork was prepared by me.

Being a big fan of the Top Trumps card games and on the website staff for Armchair General Magazine, it seemed logical to me that ACG should collaborate with the Top Trumps people and make a special pack of great Generals.

Top Trumps is not universally known in the US, it has a very small underground following - but a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be in the US at the Origins game convention in Ohio and I met up with the people who were responsible for introducing the game to the States.

Shortly afterwards, I proposed that ACG could commission a special pack of cards in return for advertising in the print magazine. Alas, the figures didn’t quite work out, but what was negotiated were special cards to tie in with existing Top Trumps packs (Warships and Military Planes) and - an online game.

I’m pleased to announce that two cards were eventually produced and given away free with copies of ACG - the Warship card was the USS Indianapolis - as suggested by me - it was the ship which delivered the atomic warhead that was to be dropped on Hiroshima.

And now - the online game is nearly ready. You can check it out here.

Please be aware that this is a test version of the game - there are some typos and other errors to work through, but you can play it now!

Dr. S.

The Last Flight?

The Vulcan took off today - on what may be her last flight ever, unless they can secure more funding.  Luckily I was outside with my camera at the time. I thought something was up as I ventured onto the roof of my building twenty minutes before to take some snaps and I could see and hear that they were running the engines, albeit the cockpit cover was still on.

However they’ve run the engines on it before, presumably as part of a maintenance routine, so I had no reason to suspect it would be leaving, but as I was sitting outside in my car at lunchtime I heard the most thunderous roar and up she went.

Some pix - first - taken from the roof of my building with the engines spooling up:

And off she goes - if I had only stayed on the roof for another 20 minutes! Still, I was happy to get some snaps:

Some close-ups of the above (just digital zooms):

There’s a little black civilian jet that comes into Farnborough every now and then - it lands and takes off again immediately - like a touch and go on an aircraft carrier, and then it comes around again - does it about 5 times and goes away again. Anyone got any idea why? I assume it’s some kind of testbed for equipment - but what do I know… I’ve seen it do this on at least two separate days.

Even more oddly - this plane came in to land whilst I was on the roof, but zoomed straight off again - without even touching the runway. Really weird.

Dr. S.

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Sorted!

I just spent 6 hours - SIX HOURS - sorting my LEGO. This is the vast majority of loose stuff I own - but probably only about a third of my entire collection. The rest is in sets, bagged up, on display or part of Tabletown. I’ve got drawers full of other bits and pieces - small pieces, minifigs etc.

Anyway…I’ve decided to sort purely by colour now - I can’t be arsed with sorting by type any more aside from the aforementioned small bits.

The stuff in the crate is STILL to sort. But I’m weary now.

I HATE SORTING!

Dr. S.

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Set 8633 - Agents Speedboat Rescue.

This was the first Agents set I bought - and the one that finally sucked me into the theme - my excuse? I wanted the Sharks!

Full set of images and thoughts here.

Dr. S.

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Set 8631 - Agents Jet Pack Pursuit.

This is the smallest of the Agents sets to date, but it has some great pieces.

Full set of images and thoughts here.

Dr. S.

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STEAM video on SwindonWeb.

The SwindonWeb website has a video of this year’s STEAM event.  The images are nice but the voice-over is a bit crap.  I’m not in the video, but there’s an array of photos on the same page and you can see some of my MOCs and I’m semi-in the background of one image.  Fame at last. * Cough*

Dr. S.

Terror in Tabletown.

I am not eligible for a prize in my own competition, but this is my entry nonetheless.

The true face of terror in Tabletown.

But who are the terrorists now?

Dr. S.

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New US President.

The Emperor Eternal of Tabletown, Doctor Sinister, extends a cordial greeting to the new US President-Elect and looks forward to fruitful future international relations.

Tabletown will shortly be announcing the post of Ambassador to the US.  Visit the forums for details.

Dr. S.

How embarrassing, another award at work.

I got an e-mail today from the Property Claims Director thanking me for being a “Passionate Person”.  And here’s why…this was completed by James, my department Manager.  I’m humbled.  Thank you James.

Dr. S.

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Set 8630 - Agents Gold Hunt.

Another Agents set here - and I’ve still got four more to build (Volcano Base arrived a few days ago).

Full set of images and thoughts here.

Dr. S.

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Set 8632 - Agents Swamp Raid.

Another Agents set to review, this was the fourth one I built, I’m just doing the reviews in a different order.

Full set of images and thoughts here.

Dr. S.

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I have a dream…

I have a dream.

I have a dream that should one of my domain names fail to redirect properly, but direct to a site that’s nothing to do with me, that it won’t take 2 support tickets, 7 e-mails, one international ‘phone call, two normal calls and one fax to resolve it.

I have a dream that one day I will wake up and every website I run and every mail server I use will be 100% operational.

I have a dream, that one day, the link from tabletown.co.uk will actually work ALL THE TIME and NOT go down just at the precise moment I publicise a competition which will (hopefully) be entered by people from all over the world.

I have a dream that my demon.co.uk mailbox will respond as it is supposed to and not decide to exclude access to my mail as it is doing RIGHT NOW.

An impossible dream?  Yeah, I know.

Dr. S.

Grunts Volume One - sample issue images.

Further to my earlier news about Grunts - Volume One, I am now in receipt of a sample issue and here are some images for your perusal so you can decide if you want to order one.

This is the front cover, obviously, with a Doctor Sinister minifig for scale:

The rear cover, gives some idea of the content and refers to the fact that Grunts was on the BBC website.

Copyright page and first cartoon:

Sample internal page:

Sample internal page:

Sample internal page - closeup so you can see the print quality:

Some notes.  I didn’t intend for cartoon numbers at the top to be cropped but if I reduced the size of the strip much more, it will reduce the quality.  The number also appears at the bottom anyway so it’s not a major problem for me.  I only mention it in case someone picks me up on it.

A LEGO disclaimer on the copyright page replaces the one that appeared at the bottom of each strip - the first line of credits remains, to allow me to mention those who have assisted with strips.

I’m really pleased with how it’s come out, so if you want to order one, a reminder that you can do so here.  I am charging £1.00 over the normal listed price and any profits I make will be donated to the Bovington Tank Museum, a UK registered Charity (No: 1102661).

To those in the US, yes you can order it, in fact that’s where they are printed.

Dr. S.

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COMPETITION TIME! Terror in Tabletown!

Announcing the “Terror in Tabletown” vignette competition, sponsored by Minifig For Life!

Minifig For Life, official UK retailer of Brickarms have offered two fabulous prizes to the lucky winners of a competition to build the best vignette that depicts “Terror in Tabletown”.

There are two categories:

a) Best use of LEGO elements.

b) Most novel use of Brickarms weapons.

You can find the official Rules thread here.

Entries can be posted here.

Good luck!

Dr. S.

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Another Halloween out of the way.

It was very quiet this year.  Not a single call.  No-one even ventured onto the driveway only to walk away again when they saw the sign.

I sincerely hope that we are past the worst - a few bad years of this US tradition getting out of hand over here, perhaps now subsiding due to the public backlash?

Dr. S.

Vulcan! Parked outside my window…

Whilst I had my camera at work, I thought I’d take a picture of the Vulcan which flew in a couple of weeks ago and which is parked at Farnborough right now. It was due to fly out the day after it arrived, but the story I heard is that they tested the brakes and they weren’t happy with them so it’s been here for a fortnight awaiting some replacement parts. Our new offices look right out over the airfield so I can see this every day at the moment.

Dr. S.

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Doctor Sinister goes to work…

Today is Halloween, not a day I normally celebrate, especially since I was assaulted on my own doorstep a few years ago by a drunken adult trick or treater, but who am I to refuse a chance to dress up as my evil alter ego…at work?

Here’s Doctor Sinister taking my place at work.

Dr. S.

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David Tennant quits as Doctor Who

David Tennant is to stand down as Doctor Who, after becoming one of the most popular Time Lords in the history of the BBC science fiction show.

Tennant stepped into the Tardis in 2005, and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast next year.

He made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards.

“When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me,” he said.

Linky.

I think I’m going to go and sit in the corner now and cry.

Dr. S.

Grunts Volume One - test book on the way!

It’s been shipped!  Can’t wait to see what it looks like.  I have about ten people who want copies already!

Dr. S.

Strange Things in Tabletown - Episode 75.

Forum discussion.

Dr. S.

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Ed’ in the Mirror.

Ed Diment (LEGO Monster) with his LEGO HMS Hood in today’s Daily Mirror.
Check Ed’s pictures of his masterpiece here.

Dr. S.

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Project Mercury

Project Mercury is my plan to upgrade my military display for future shows and events in 2009.  It will combine the two separate displays I had at STEAM into one large diorama type thing.  The Mighty Lizbet railway cannon will run along the track which will run under a hillside.  Built into the hillside will be a military base with a hardstanding area/parade ground out front.  Adjoining the base will be the Naval Dockyard and some sea with the ships being loaded with missiles, torpedoes and supplies.

In keeping with all my construction projects, this one has a working name - Mercury.

The very basic layout was calculated on  on MLCAD, now I just need lots of bricks!

This is what it will replace - image from STEAM 2008. As you’ll see, I have the basic components - the vehicles, ships, track etc.

The displays by my fellow LUG members this year have been supremely excellent - mine have been fun, but lacking in the scenery aspect.

In my defence however, this is my first year for displaying anything at all, ever - I’ve done three events this year and so I do feel it’s time for a change, hopefully I can at least narrow the gap if I can pull this design off.

Forum Discussion.

Dr. S.

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