A few years back, I made a bit of a splash in certain corners of the internet when I made a handful of Space Marine costumes based on the Dark Angels Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. I've always been a big fan of the Warhammer 40K universe and the Dark Angels have a very striking, gloomy, look and feel that offered up a lot of interesting opportunities for custom details.
They were pretty cool, but there's also 999 other chapters of Space Marines to choose from. So the next challenge was to make another set of armor from my molds and dress it up in the iconography of a completely different chapter.
The result: a Space Wolf!
While the Dark Angels tend to look like they're covered in relics handed down from the Catholic church, Space Wolves are the aesthetic descendants of Vikings. Their Codex offers up a rich tapestry of bits and pieces to add to the standard armor and I'm really happy with the finished project:
For more details on this build, read more...
2016 has been a big year. While I've been all over the place, doing all of the things, I've still managed to carve out a few minutes there and here to do a tiny bit of reading. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few titles, but here's a big chunk of the books I've managed to consume in the past year.
Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard I picked this one up because I had vague memories of the Steven Spielberg film (and Batman's screen debut) when I was a kid. The movie, sadly, was much better.
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert This was a fascinating read. If you've ever wanted more details about the profound impact humanity is currently having on our own ecosystem and the other creatures we share it with, give this one a read.
The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Phil Szostak, Lucas Film Ltd. a neat look into the creative evolution that developed into the characters and creatures that were finally brought to life on screen. The biggest challenge for me was looking through all of these great concepts and resisting the urge to add even more to my ever-growing list of projects to build.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie “KonMari” Kondo A fascinating book that has reminded me that I really need to sort my junk and get rid of much of it.
Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman Someone told me that Thor turned into a woman, so I had to check it out. Turns out they didn't have the story quite right, but it still makes for a good read nonetheless.
Thor Vol. 2: Who Holds the Hammer? The sequel to Goddes of Thunder. Because I got hooked on a graphic novel for the first time in a decade and had to find out what happens next. Soon I'll get a chance to check out the next one.
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein Awesome. Typical of Heinlein's work, this tome goes into great detail about the intrigues and intricacies involved in a political revolution and insurrection in a post-digital age.
Aftermath: Star Wars by Chuck Wendig I picked this one up after reading about all of the controversy it caused in the Star Wars fan community. I'd made it a point to wait on reading it until after I'd seen Episode VII. It was entertaining, but not exactly profound.
The Art of Fallout 4 Hardcover by Bethesda Softworks I've always liked the aesthetic of the Fallout game universe. Paging through this massive collection of concept art did me no end of bad. Now I have a huge project wishlist. Stay tuned for more details on that front.
Three Moments of an Explosion by China Miéville I'm lying about this one. I bought it. I set it on my "to-read" stack, and I haven't opened it yet.
Make: Fire: The Art and Science of Working with Propane by Tim Deagan This is relevant to my interestes. I read it. It now sits in a safe corner of my workshop. 2017 will see me making fire.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi Follows a handful of fascinating characters in a future world where genetically modified crops, animals, and laborers are the norm and famine is an ever-present concern.
How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction by Beth Shapiro A look into the scientific, moral, and legal ramifications of bringing extinct animals back to life. Worth reading, but sadly there will be no dinosaurs anytime soon.
Kama Pootra: 52 Mind-Blowing Ways to Poop by Daniel Cole Young This was a Christmas present from my niece. I wouldn't exactly call it a practical guide, but it's chuckleworthy.
I'm sure there's more reading I actually managed to squeeze in, but these are the titles that stood out in my mind here, now, at the end of the year.
