Pages

Sunday, 11 October 2020

Signal Red Cover All Saints "Pure Shores"

 All Saints are not one of my favourite bands but they did one tune that I will happily admit to liking (possibly becasue it's nothing like the rest of their stuff.) "Pure Shores" is a great pop song that manages to get under the skin in a good way. 

 Tell you what else I like? Rock bands doing a cover version and making a good job of it. The trick is to keep the spirit of the original while adding something of your own. Or get drunk and take the piss. (Looking at you Lawnmower Deth.)

British AOR outfit Signal Red recently had a stab at "Pure Shores" and I reckon they got it right. Have a listen.

  It would be really nice if the effort put into the song and making the video pickd up some attention from the mainstream. Or a bit of radio play. 

 Then I remember that we live in a world where WAP got to number fucking one. There's no justice.


Sunday, 4 October 2020

A Fistful of Old Comics: October 2020

  On payday I decided to do something I haven't done in a long, long while; take  a stroll down Albert Road in Southsea and see if I could pick up something nice.  Personally I'd have preferred a day when it wasn't pissing it down with rain but that's Britain's weather for you.

  As it turns out, on the way to Albert Road the bus took me  through Highland Road and that's where I spotted this: 

 While I'm really not buying vinyl these days the chance to pick up a CD or two is always wonderful and that word "Collectables" on the sign definitely piques my interest. And that's why I hopped off at the next stop and trudged back through the rain.

  The owner was a nice chap and more than welcoming- definite plus point as some of these speciality shops aren't always keen on strangers - so I do hope I didn't drip too much on his floor. 

  I'm rambling so let's fast-forward to the relevant bit.  Downsairs was where I hit The Mother Lode. Two great boxfuls of old British Commando comics and a few US titles too. I was even more impressed when I found out that the Commando's were nice and cheap

   I pulled out a fistful at random that looked sort of interesting and went on my way with a warm glow that the pouring rain couldn't extinguish.  Here's what I came away with.  

 

 Secrets of Haunted House #27

 The only US title I picked up.  Not sure why it isn't "Secrets Of The Haunted House" mind you.

 

Battle Picture Library 1338 : Hoodoo

 
The next two I don't have the issue numbers for.
Curse that price sticker that I'm too chicken to try and remove.   

Starblazer - The Omega Experiment
 
Starblazer - Terror Satellite

The last few are all issues of Commando.
If you're thinking "BigD is just wanting to buy stuff that he couldn't get when he was a kid" then you would be DAMN RIGHT!


#984 Wings of Fear
 
 #1283: The Sword Shall Decide

#1299: The Black Zero

 

#1320: The Magic Blade
 
#1335: Death Of A Wimpy
 
#1354 Legend Of The Longbow
 
#1453: Man of Honour

I reckon there's a couple of hours reading in this lot and I might even try and do a proper writeup on some of them. 
 
If you want to go checkout RPM Records then here's the link:
 
That's All Folks. 



 


 
 

Thursday, 1 October 2020

BigD Builds A Fighter With A Big Nose Part V: The Final Chapter

 It took a long time, a lot of procrastinating and a number of minor tantrums but I finally, finally got this kit finished.   

  All things considered, to have done a good job on the La-200B would have involved ...well to be honest, it being built by somebody who isn't me.  This is not an easy kit to make by any means and I think I've already mentioned some issues with instructions and parts fitting together. My limited skills really struggled in several places.

But never mind all that bollocks. I finished it!

Yes, I know my kitchen table is a mess.

To demonstrate just how big this aircraft was, here it is next to an F16.

 

 

It really shows how much difference a couple of generations worth of  engine, electronics and airframe can make.

To finish, let me break it down by the numbers.

Original cost of kit : £15 (The same as a really good XL mixed kebab & chips)

Time taken to build kit:  Approx 49 days

Time it takes to eat a really good XL mixed kebab and chips: about 20 minutes

Parts I dropped on the floor and lost: 4

(Not counting the decals I accidentally lost into the washing up. Don't ask.)

Parts I decided not to bother with because they were inside and nobody was going to see them anyway: 12

Times I had to glue the sodding nosewheel back on after it fell off: 4

Times I used some very naughty words: Beyond counting.

How I feel after seeing the completed LA200B on top of my fridge:

PRICELESS

 That's All Folks