An Ode to Game Empire Pasadena

Okay, this one hurts an awful lot.

Game Empire has been my absolute favorite game shop for over a decade. Going up to Pasadena for games with Ben, or just going to hang out and scrounge through their amazing bits bins, it was always a friendly and positive vibe going on. A lot of that had to with the owner Chuck, who sadly passed away earlier this year. I found out yesterday that Game Empire is closing its doors permanently.

I always made a point of stopping by the shop whenever I was in California. I was always chomping at the bit to go. I’ve found some amazing things there over the years, but they pale in comparison to all the wonderful memories. 

The famous bits bins! 

I actually knew Game Empire through two locations. The current shop was their home after 2011 (I think). Their first space was considerably smaller, but filled with just as many awesome memories...such as when my lone rocket team blew up a Baneblade in an incredibly lucky shot.

Land o’ thousand games

It’s closing really hurts the most 

Thanks for the good times 

Campaign Against Cancer: Cancelled

Unfortunately the 2020 Campaign Against Cancer X-Wing Miniatures Event has been cancelled. Given everything that’s been going on in the world, I support the organizers’ decision full heartedly. Better to safe than sorry. Way better.

I would be lying, though, if I said I wasn’t a bit disappointed. This is such a special event – and not just to me either. But there’s always next year. I suppose we’ll just have to raise double the amount in 2021!

Lunch Break Hobby Time, Part V

Nearly five years ago, I made a few wargaming hills while I was working on a (unfortunately abandoned) Peninsular War force. I recently modified them by adding a few sections of – wait for it – Italian seasoning to add a few interesting patches.

This in turn inspired me to use up the remaining insulation foam I’ve had sitting around since 2015. With a trusty little steak knife, I carved out a few more hills over my last several lunch breaks. The next steps are where I’m stuck: trying to remember what exactly I did last time (this is why I write things down now). Thankfully I did a post about them so that helps quite a bit. It’s also starting to come back to me as well...which is quite nice.

Campaign Against Cancer: Postponed

It’s not surprising that the Campaign Against Cancer didn’t happen on May 2. This of course was due to COVID-19. It has, however, been rescheduled to July 18 (depending on how things are looking of course). No idea if things will be normal enough by then, though, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

This year is significant to me in several ways: September 15th marks the 10th anniversary of Grandpa’s passing, this will be my 5th time participating in CAC, and now my little cat bro Jimmy has been diagnosed with cancer. It was a highly emotional year even before the pandemic and all its stresses hit. When the event does eventually happen I’ll be happy to take part.

So until then, we sit and wait. 

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update III

Well, it’s been a while since my last COVID-19 update. We’re doing about as well as can be expected. My wife still alternates between going to the office and teleworking, and when she’s working at home on my days off I totally feel like I’m a nuisance.

I’m on Day 55 (I think) of working remotely. Not going to lie...it’s been challenging to be a productive worker through all this. My anxiety has been spiking hardcore and we’ve both been having trouble sleeping. I can’t even really stay focused on my painting. The fact I was able to finish a squad of Continentals the other day impresses me.

To make matters worse, my teleconference and painting buddy Jimmy is having serious issues. He’s been diagnosed with cancer in his vertebrae and it’s slowly affecting his ability to walk. As of right now, he still seems to be his cheerful little self and doesn’t appear to be in any pain. He’d had a major episode two weeks ago and I was fully expecting to say goodbye him then. That thankfully didn’t happen and so any more time I get with him is a blessing.

Southern Continental Infantry

After a few finishing touches, my first batch of Continental infantry is done! I’m roughly basing them on the North Carolina units at Charleston, SC in 1780. For early war scenarios, though, they can also pass for the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment in a pinch.

Despite my initial misgivings, I really liked how they turned out. There are two wounded men in the group (but they’ll be dispersed through the larger force). I have to confess to using GW Blood for the Blood God on some areas that turned out wonky, but I think it ended up alright.

The next batch is already primed blue and sitting on my desk. I hope to start blocking in colors tomorrow and have them completed by the end of the week.

AWI Continental Soldier Test Figure

Exactly 7 years ago, I posted about a WIP Continental soldier I was working on. He was an Old Glory figure that I’d had for a few years and I wrote about trying out some new techniques and using a washer as the base.

The 2013 version.

Well, none of that ever came to fruition. But I rediscovered him and several other Continental figures while cleaning out my basement home office and felt compelled to give him another go. So I threw the above figure into a pot of Simple Green and started fresh.

The 2020 version.

I painted him up to represent the Southern forces (South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia wore blue facings per Washington’s 1780 order) because a) I’ve not seen anyone else do it and b) it’ll be a little quicker to paint. I blocked in the basic colors and used Army Painter Dark Tone Quickshade and was really impressed with the results. I did go over the skin with a bit of GW Reikland Fleshshade to liven him up. I also just got a jeweler’s magnifying headband with an LED light and have been double checking things (I missed a lot in my initial paint job!) and fixing as needed.

This thing is seriously awesome!

I have a few more figures nearly finished as well. These guys won’t win any painting awards but they’re quick to do and should look good in a larger group. All told these guys we’re done in 6-7 hours. I have a few more in stockings as opposed to gaiters, and I think they’ll help give this unit a nice, motley appearance suitable for the American army of this period.

May the Fourth Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day!

I had an extra Baby Yoda figure from Gadzooks Gaming and a spare Star Wars: Legion base and thought there was no better to celebrate Star Wars Day than to paint him up.