Sunday, June 24, 2012

Old West 8: Cactus. Gallows. Boot Hill

Left are craft beads with tiny beads added as flowers. Right was made from a pipe cleaner. The barb wire fence is simply plastic screening nailed to small dowels with HO spikes.
 
These were all made with epoxy putty.


The upper left one is metal, the rest in the bunch are epoxy putty. The three on the right are plastic.

“Justice is finally served!”, announces Mesquite County’s Judge Fogey after infamous outlaw Billy “Rattlesnake” Poyzin has been captured, tried, and sentenced to hang. Billy is none too happy about the recent turn of events.

Homemade gallows. And, yes, it works…

“He’s dead, Jim”, Doc Lynch is told as he steps up to ensure Billy’s demise. Expect an eyewitness account of the entire event in tomorrow‘s newspaper.

U Plug ‘Em, We Plant ‘em.
A gravesite is visited by cowboy Troy Waites. There are no other visitors.

One of my favorite pieces, Boot Hill, made for me by good friend Thomas Foss of Skull and Crown blog fame.
------
NEXT: Put up yer dukes, an unfinished block, and an ambush.

“He died of throat trouble.”

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Old West 7: Meanwhile Back at the Ranch. Down Mexico Way.

“Honey, I’m home!”, rancher Dave Poortack calls out as he returns home from a long, hard day ridin’ the range. He is greeted by his wife, youngin’ Jake, and dog Fritz. Mrs. P. tells him of her day spent in town.
Fritz is already drooling with anticipation as the missus begins preparing supper. Off-camera, Dave heads to the barn to put his horse away and make sure everything is ready for the upcomin’ dance. I suspect he’s gonna be a mite surprised when he opens that barn door.
Another handmade one with an interior. FRONTLINE and dollhouse furniture if I remember correctly (which is iffy at best).

After mucho tequila, locals leave the cantina to not-so-quietly discuss their differences. I don’t speak Spanish but I kinda think it might have something to do with the new Pomegranate Cactus smoothies being offered inside. But I could be wrong. (Foamcore buildings).

The argument continues over at Juan’s. This may not end well. El doggo investigates the end of the Ride-Thru line.
-----

NEXT: Speaking of cactus. And a necktie party.

“Unexpected as a rattler in a bedroll.”

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Old West 6: Merchants 3. Shacks. Up North

Lili is a smash hit wherever she goes. Next door mattresses are on sale… as usual.
The theatre is from the ERTL COWTON plastic set. I don’t remember what company made Shermerhorn’s building.


John Wayne is admired as a gunfight breaks out around the corner. Another ERTL COWTOWN building.

Shacks in the poorer part of town, all from the BACHMANN HOBO JUNGLE set. I don’t remember who made the broken down wagon casting.
HEY! Which one of you hombres placed the roof on the shack on the right backwards?!?


Up north where miners dwell the buildings are more rustic. Lo Pan and Heffe Gink do an brisk business. Heavy resin by TCS.
Lionel sells a lot of weapons and ammunition, especially during varmint season (which is pretty much all year long). All TCS.

Side note: I met the owner/manufacturer of TCS in his booth at a local con (Pacificon? Kublacon? Dundracon?) many years ago. As it turned out, he had worked in the Officer’s Club at the Quonset Point Naval Base in Rhode Island during the time I was stationed there aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid. Odd how things happen!
------
NEXT: Back at the ranch, then across the Border.


“So cold the cows gave icicles.”

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Old West 5: Lawyer, Young, Harry's, Ma Theney's, Bank, Marshall

“OF COURSE we can sue him!“, says the lawyer as dogs commiserate about the pitiful lack of cats to chase lately.

A gunfight breaks out in front of Ma Theney’s (an MTH plastic building).

Mr. Bana’s bank just opened a few minutes ago and it looks like it might soon be having an unsavory customer make a little ol’ withdrawal. Next door, tempers rise as one “gentlemen” accuses another of copying his attire for the day. A deputy looks on and gets ready to intervene.

The bank is by DOWNTOWN DECO (Hydrocal plaster). The Marshal’s is DPM modular plastic.
------
NEXT: Lili’s at the theatre!
“He was all ragged out in his fancy doodads.”