Big Finish Day 2

Once again I’ve fallen behind with my postings, sorry. I didn’t get much model work down last weekend, Saturday I spent all day at Big Finish Day 2 in Barking. Lucky old me, I live locally to where Tenth Planet Events run some of their conventions, and this one run in conjunction with the company BigFinish was no exception. For those of you not in the know, Big Finish release audio drama on CD. Some of their work has also been broadcast on BBC Digital Radio station 4 More (Formally known as Radio 7)

A horde of CDs, 55 Hours worth of listening.

Big Finish have quite a catalogue of productions these days which span enough titles to warrant their own convention. They have or have had licences covering Doctor Who (Classic series Doctors 1 to 8), Sapphire & Steel, Dark Shadows, The Tomorrow People, Stargate, Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes to name but a few. Recently they have started a range for Blake’s 7 as well featuring many of the original cast.

At the event last Saturday the 4^th Doctor, Mr Tom Baker was in attendance, promoting his first appearance in their range, along with Louise Jameson (Leela), Katy Manning (Jo Grant) and Anneke Wills (Polly).

Paul Darrow (Avon from Blake’s 7) was there to promote the new Blake’s 7 range, along with a myriad of writers, directors, sound designers, artists and other contributors to the range. Not forgetting the voice of the current Daleks and Cybermen, exec producer for Big Finish and star of their Sherlock Holmes range Nicholas Briggs.

These events are really great, you get a chance for autographs and a chance to chat with the stars in person and ask questions during their panels. Also several of my favourite authors whom I mentioned in recent posts were there, as they also write for the Big Finish ranges, John Dorney, Joe Lidster, James Goss and Jonathan Morris to name just a few - seriously I could go on all day. There is a great list of names at the bottom of this posting with Twitter accounts. Please #FF some of these guys if you're on.

I listen to a lot of these audio productions whilst model making, doing house work and whilst engaged in the great tapestry. I did actually over spend a tad, I bought another 55 hours worth of audio. I’ll be reviewing a few later along with some of the book reviews. 

There are a couple of promos I'd like to give. 

First I'd like to point you in the direction of the Companion Chronical, The Rocket Men, by John Dorney. An audio I've recently listened to staring one of the original Doctor Who cast William Russell (Ian Chesterton). Here he tells a tale of new adventure for the first Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicky. 

Yes I am biased on this I will admit, as John is also one of the semi-regular players in our D&D games. For more on the games please see Big Lee's game postings.

'Magic of the Angels' latest
book from Jac Rayner

The other is for Scott Handcock, one of the talented writers who is running the Edinburgh Marathon in May and is taking sponsorship in aid of Invest in ME. If you saw my last book review, you'll see that I mention another of my favourite authors from many of the Doctor Who books and audio range is Jac Rayner. Jac is a sufferer from this condition and will tweet on the state or lack of research and understanding for this disease. along with news on Doctor Who stuff. You can follow both Scott and Jac on Twitter. If you'd like to sponsor Scott then please follow this link  to the Just Giving Website where the funds go straight to the charity.  

http://www.justgiving.com/scott-handcock

For Twitter followers here is a big #FF call out for those mentioned above, either by name or reputation. Apologies to any I may have missed.

As the Brig would have said, "Splendid chaps, all of them."

Stars of Stage & Who,
Louise Jameson @Lou_Jameson
KatyManning Official @ManningOfficial
Anneke Wills @AnnekeWills
Nicholas Briggs @BriggsNicholas
Toby Hadoke @TobyHadoke

The Organisers,
10th Planet Events @10thplanetevent
Big Finish @bigfinish

The Writers (in no particular order),
John Dorney @MrJohnDorney
Jac Rayner @GirlFromBlupo
Joe Lidster @joelidster
Justin Richards @JJCRichards
Gary Russell @twilightstreets
Scott Handcock @scott_handcock
Mark Morris @MarkMorris10
James Goss @gossjam
Robert Shearman @ShearmanRobert
Nev Fountain @Nevfountain  & Mervyn Stone @mervynstone
Jonathan Morris @jonnymorris1973
Simon Guerrier @0tralala

Book Review January / February

Instead of leaving it until the end of the year and loading up a large list of books I’ve decided to intersperse the model work every six to eight weeks or so with a summary of reading since the last update.

I think I may have mentioned before that I’m a Doctor Who fan, so it will come as no surprise that there are Doctor Who related titles in the current line up. I’ve also said that I think I’ve read nearly every Doctor Who novel published.

There are some authors in the range that I just can’t wait to read and Jacqueline Rayner is one them. I always enjoy Jac’s work, it is fresh, lively and entertaining which is what reading for pleasure should be all about.

Doctor Who

Magic of the Angels

Jacqueline Rayner

Random House / BBC Books       

978-1-849-90286-1

This is one of the books in the £1.99 Quick Reads range, books designed to draw in the more reluctant reader. Please, if you’re not into reading and you like Doctor Who give one of these books a try, there are several Doctor Who titles in the range.

As you may have guessed from the title and cover this features the Weeping Angels, one of the scariest monsters to come from Steven Moffat. Although the plot is simple, the Doctor, Amy and Rory are on a sight seeing trip around London when they land themselves in trouble again with the Angels, the pace is quick and the adventure entertaining as the drama builds up to its climax. It’s very easy to imagine this as a TV episode as you read it. Reading this on the way to work I almost missed my stop.

****

Also from the world of Doctor Who are two autobiographies from companions from the classic series:-

Daddy's Girl: The Autobiography of Deborah Watling

Deborah Watling & Paul W. T. Ballard

Fantom Films Limited

978-1-90626-341-6

“Daddy’s Girl” as the name suggests is certainly dedicated to the late great Jack Watling, Debbie’s father. Debbie recounts with love her childhood, her acting career, and life outside of show business.  The writing is truthful, encapsulating both the light and dark sides of life, in a book that comes over very much from the heart. Reading this is like having Debbie at a guest panel all to yourself, you can hear her telling her own story as you read.

Deborah Watling played Victoria Waterfield during the Patrick Troughton (2nd Doctor) era of the program.

The Flight of the Budgerigar

John Leeson

Hirst Books

978-1-907-95931-8

John Leeson voiced most of K9's appearances with Tom Baker (4th Doctor) and was also known as Bungle Bear from Rainbow.

I’m currently reading “The Flight of the Budgerigar”, I will review that next time.

****

I started the year’s reading in the same way as I finished last year with a couple more books from the Tales of Mystery & The Supernatural range published by Wordsworth Editions.

The Bishop of Hell & Other Stories          

Marjorie Bowen              

978-1-84022-537-2

Uncanny Stories

May Sinclair

978-1-84022-492-4

Just like modern works some of the older pieces are very readable and some can be hard going especially with the shift in language over time. Both of these are quite readable, you need to excuse a couple of phrases which are a bit anachronistic with today. I did however tend to find the stories in these two books somewhat predictable, although interesting, the ‘twists’ were quite obvious and often telegraphed. Again I think this shows how style as well as language has changed.

Sticking the Sticks

A short one this week, it occurred to me as I started to stick the wooden sticks on to cover the second of these two models that I switch methods of sticking on sticks, even on the same model sometimes, more mood dependent than design.

Sometimes, in this example I would lay out the frame work first using sticks glued together for double thickness to make the main frame and beams. Then I would cut the layered planks that go between and stick them on in between the beams. This is actually a more time consuming way, but does give a more rustic look. It’s very easy to get the planks slightly too short and have gaps.

When I’m in more of a hurry to see progress I sometimes just lay all the planks on first covering the entire side of the model. 

Once they have dried I lay a single layer of additional sticks over the top laying the frame out on top of the model. 

This is quicker; the planking looks much neater between the frame as there has been no additional cutting.

But is it cheating?

Which do you guys prefer?

Bertie Came to Stay

Behind on my posting again, and not a lot to report this week either. My excuse for lack of building work last week comes on four legs with a tail and a demand for a lot of love and attention; as I was cat sitting for a friend. Bertie is a twelve year old, ginger and white tom cat who, if he likes you, wants a lot of cuddles. I’ve known him since my mate got him as a kitten so he knows me really well and I’m sure he’s much happier being here with me when my mate has to be away than in a cattery. He’s been over a few times and is very well behaved. It’s true, they are great therapy, it was nice just relaxing and having him as company. It’s a really great feeling when an animal curls up on your lap and goes to sleep feeling happy and safe with you. Although he’s my excuse I’m making no apology for it.

I did do a small amount of work on the second version of the Recycled House I mentioned last time. The hay fever tablet packets were turned inside out and glued back together before being glued to the side of the building for the side extension. The desert box, because it was printed card inside and outside I left as was and just glued it down, but first I glued another piece of cut toilet roll tube inside to give it extra strength and support. This was then glued to the front, and a rough roof cut from packaging card that some books and CDs were delivered in.

For the roof all I did was cut a rectangle of card, folded it in half and then cut three triangle pieces, two for each edge and one to add extra strength in the middle. These I glued together and to hold them in place as the glue dried I also added some sticky tape, this is all on the inside and will ever be seen so there’s no harm in the tape being there. 

You can hold some of the card together with tape but if it is on the outside then it really should be removed before you glue the sticks in place, although I have managed to glue sticks over the top of sticky tape using PVA glue  before without too many issues.

Recycled House 2012

This is the post I should have done last Sunday; hopefully I’ll get these out with a bit more frequency this year... Time will tell.

Didn’t get much time over the festive period to get much model work done, I have been working on another coffee stick house which I mentioned recently and promised some photos of, so here goes.

This one really did start life as a pile of rubbish, a pizza box, a desert box, two antihistamine tablet boxes, a toilet paper roll and some cardboard packaging from an Amazon delivery. Not to mention the obvious wooden coffee-sticks that has become a regular feature of these models.

Building using recycled boxes is not as good as using the foam board. During building the model does feel very flimsy, but once the sticks are covering the model and the whole thing is dry then it does take on better stability.

For this model I flattened the pizza box, folded it and then cut it in half. By flattening first and allowing the edges to form part of the measure you end up with two halves with one of the four sides shorter than the rest. I turned the pieces inside out and re-glued them then glued the two halves together joining using the smaller side. This stretches a little extra height for the model than if I had simply cut the box into exact halves. It also gives a little extra hand room on the inside for working with the model.

The toilet roll tube was also cut into halves and trimmed, then glued inside to give a bit of extra stability. I’m in the process of repeating this building, so the next one I might actually use more than one tube to give some extra strength.

Here I've used the glue pot to add weight whilst the tubes stick to the walls of the building.

More  to follow...

2011 Reading Pile.

I’m taking a quick look at last year’s reading list. Not quite as many as in some previous years, but there is quite a reasonable collection here. They range from classic Edwardian and Victorian tales from the Wordsworth Editions, Tales of Mystery & The Supernatural collections to modern tv tie ins.

I’m not going to review every single book, but if there is anything of interest that I haven’t commented on please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll see what I can add.

Wordsworth Editions, Tales of Mystery & The Supernatural

These are prints of classic works at very reasonable cover price, and their covers are often quite intriguing in their own right, often pictures that give inspiration for model work.  I’m reading these to give me inspiration for the Supernatural plot lines I’m planning for my campaign.  Back in 2009 I read all of the Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories so I was pleased to add his Tales of Unease to last year’s reading list.

The Castle of Otranto, Vathek & Nightmare Abbey         

Edited by David Stuart Davis

The Casebook of Carnacki The Ghost Finder       

W. H. Hodgson

Tales of Unease               

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Madam Crowl's Ghost & Other Stories  

Sheridan Le Fanu

The Monk

Matthew Lewis

A Night on the Moor & Other Tales of Dread      

R. Murray Gilchrist

Speaking of Supernatural, Titan Books have a range of books and graphic novels based on the series. These are very entertaining romps  inside the world of the TV series where you get to ride out with Sam and Dean in extra stories. Worth reading if you’re into the TV series.

Beginning's End

Andrew Dabb

One Year Gone

Rebecca Dessertine

Coyoye's Kiss

Christa  Faust

War of the Sons               

Rebecca Dessertine & David Reed

Night Terror

John Passarella

Keeping with TV shows, there has to be somewhere in excess of 400 Doctor Who novels out there somewhere and I’ve probably read nearly everyone of them in the past. The current offering, published by BBC Books covers adventures for the present TV Doctor and companion combination.

If you’ve never read any of these before but like the programme, then I’d recommend Touched by An Angel by Jonathan Morris or Dead of Winter by James Goss as a starting point.

Dead of Winter

James Goss

The Way Through the Woods

Una McCormack

Hunter's Moon

Paul Finch

Paradox Lost

George Mann

Touched By An Angel

Jonathan Morris

Borrowed Time

Naomi A. Alderman

BBC Books were also responsible for three Torchwood books as well. Torchwood is a Doctor Who spin off series, these three books fit in between the Children of Earth and Miracle Day stories. Personally the best one of the three for me was First Born by James Goss, and I’m not just saying that because I got James to sign my copy when I was halfway through reading it and I found myself sitting a few seats away from him at a Doctor Who Tomb of the Cybermen and Tutankhamun lecture. 

Long Time Dead

Sarah Pinborough

First Born

James Goss

The Men Who Sold The World

Guy Adams

Big Finish published The Mervyn Stone Mysteries by Nev Fountain. These have to be some of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time. If you’ve ever attended a science fiction convention in any capacity you’ll find something in Geek Tragedy for you. Meryn Stone was the script editor on a sci-fi shown from the 1980s, who finds himself having to investigate something quite strange and off the wall murders. These are great mystery novels are flavored with great humour. 

Everyone I know who has read them really wants to see additional books added to this series. I really do not want to give any plot away – just read and enjoy.

Book 1: Geek Tragedy   

Book 2: DVD Extras Include: Murder

Book 3: Cursed Among Sequels

From Orion books I’ve started to read the novels which were used as the basis for the series True Blood. These are the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. Usually when you have a tv series or film based on a book you compare them and despair at what was removed. For these I actually prefer the tv series, they have enhanced many of the characters that are just featured in passing to give a richer, more interesting Bon Temps setting.

Book 1: Dead Until Dark

Book 2: Living Dead in Dallas

Book 3: Club Dead

Other reading.

Running out of time here so for now I’ll just list the others, like I said leave a message if you want me to expand on anything.

Vanitas - Mathew Waterhouse

Life Begins at 40 - Chris Newton

Cemetry Drive - J. T. Wilson

Wolfsangel - M.D.Lachlan

All Aliens Like Burgers - Ruth Wheeler

Do Aliens Read Science Fiction? - Ruth Wheeler

The Reapers are the Angels - Alden Bell

Now to start on this year's already growing pile of books.

Review 2011 or The Story So Far...

Good old BigLee, he’s already reviewed last year, made resolutions for this year and prompted us to vote in the blog awards, me - well  - I’m playing catch up. It’s almost a year since I started this blog, early February actually so not quite at my first anniversary yet. However I‘d like to take this moment to thank those that passed by, dropped in and said hello and maybe even stuck around for a blog or two.

This blog has certainly been an extra driving force for me to try out new ideas and whilst surfing other blogs I’ve seen many other great ideas I wish to try out, but the problem - there is just never enough time.  I’ve managed to get quite a lot done last year, but I’ve still got many unfinished projects hanging around which I really do need to get finished before I start anything else.

Let’s see, a quick round up. The ghost town I’m building out of coffee sticks has four finished models, one awaiting varnish and a sixth one almost completed as far as the coffee sticks go. 

This one has not been featured yet and is another attempt at making the model out of all recycled materials – an old pizza box, a dessert box and a toilet roll forming the base with the coffee sticks around the outside. These are ok once the sticks are on and the glue is dry, but during construction they really do feel very flimsy. I’m also experimenting with the Quality Street coloured transparent wrappers to give creepy light in the windows on this one. (The toilet roll is to add stability on the inside - Photos coming soon I promise).

A couple of country cottages and town houses were completed, but the one based on Zandina’s house has not progressed since the last time it was featured. I ran out of space to have all these models lying around, and when I had guests over they had to be boxed up and not all of the models have made it back out yet. This is also true for the remainder of the work on the ruined castle pieces. Some of these I also wanted to base up and add grass and some foliage to as well. 

However, before I do that some pieces are supposed to play a role in one of our D&D games, but we haven’t reached that part in the campaign yet despite having planned this out with our GM over a year ago now. See some of BigLee’s posts for the saga of our rather on and off attempts at completing this campaign.

The ghost town and the graveyard pieces are for a campaign I’m planning myself, and I hope to get some actual work done on that this year, and you never know maybe even play some of it. This is a campaign based on the TV Series Supernatural using the role play mechanism by Jamie Chambers and published by MargaretWeis Productions Ltd. It does mean I need to spend some more time reading, making notes and trying to develop actual plot ideas rather than spend weekends model building. 

Maybe I should do this part now whilst the weather is less than friendly, as due to space restrictions I don’t really have the room inside to model build so easily. I also have a whole pile of figures to be painted for this campaign as well, however as there is a remote possibility that one or more of my potential players may be reading this I’m my fingers still as to what these figures actually are, let’s just say some of them come from the excellent workshop that is Heresy Miniatures.

The Doctor Who Tapestry came out to play again, I hope to get as much done as possible, but finding source photos to reference some older stories is proving a bit of problem at the moment. 

Another problem I hope to overcome very soon is the book Karl, Birth of Mystery. My publisher has been somewhat lacking in effort this year, and I think he’ll be getting a new year’s kick up the backside very soon. I will keep anyone who has placed an outstanding order up to date personally with developments – and I hope to have some news in the next week or so once production ramps up again.

Thanks for the support and well, let’s see what 2012 brings.