Umbrella Corp at Galaxyfest 2012

So, this past weekend I was at Galaxyfest, a brand new scifi con in Colorado Springs.  It was a blast, and if they do it again next year AL and I will be back for sure!  AL had his own table in the back of the dealers room for security reasons (OK, he shared it with Sauron).  The table next to me was RL/RMFF!  What fun we had, all of us in the back of the bus!  (reference to Riddick)  The 501st was out front with one officer at that table, another officer wandering the halls, and me in my officer in the dealers room.  Yep, we Imperial officers had all bases covered and secured!  LOL 

Another hobby of mine (can anyone have too many hobbies?) is anything Resident Evil.  You must know that I'm not a gamer by any means, but I do love to look at game scenes and the movies are fabulous if you're into bloodie zombies and groups of people running for their lives (which I am into those things).  This past summer I went to the Army surplus store and plopped a couple hundred bucks for everything I need for an Umbrella Corp soldier.  Of course, I spent a couple months researching this uniform and decided to go with the game one, complete with gas mask and all!  At Galaxyfest I decided to wear it Saturday afternoon and ran into a Racoon City "cop".  We both made our way to the FantaScenes photography booth and had this pic done for us.  My friend Don Searle, the photog, even had it "comicized" for us (like my made-up word for the day?). 

I'll post some more pics this weekend.  A few friends already posted pics of AL all over the internet.  I've got some work to do on him before March 18th, his next event at the Rialto Theater in Loveland, CO for the E3 screening.  Then it's Starfest time third weekend of April at the DTC Marriott. I've already joined the local Umbrella Corp group.  Hmmm, need to get AL a gas mask?

Until next time,
Jawa Jaka (avoiding zombies at all cost)

Sauron the Scrubber

Last September I visited a friend in Omaha and picked up a scrubber droid from him that he started way back when.  With the EP1 3D premiere happening this weekend, I've been really busy trying to get Sauron finished (he has one event on Friday Feb 10th and two on Saturday Feb 11th).  I'm also busy working on a Naboo Officer uniform to go with him.  Here are some progress pics:

The hardest part was the radar.  Here you see an old cookie press I picked up at a garage sale some years ago for a buck.  Took me several months to figure out what I can use this for after cannibalizing it.

This was taken apart before I took the pic, so just imagine this.  At the bottom of the plunger is a disk that pushes out the cookie dough (I tried to take a pic of what it kinda looked like before I took the disk off).

Now you can see the results.  I drilled a bigger hole in the middle, put a plug through it (bolted on back), and it really looks like the scrubber radar!  And to think an old cookie press was sitting in a drawer with no use for years!!!

Next came what we call "deer warnings" that came with old cars.  Mine is just a cut-up wooden dowel painted metallic silver and super-glued onto the "risers" that came with the scrubber.

I've been working on this little box for a couple weeks now (also came with scrubber).  It's nothing more than a small plastic tackle/craft box with a piece of a circuit board cut to shape, painted yellow, and super-glued on the left. Some black wooden slat pieces glued at the top of the circuit board.  I have the doodads for the right side, just got to glue them in place.  Shouldn't take more than an hour to finish.

Sauron's one eye, thus the name.  I was tempted to paint it red inside, but it's all glued together now.  If you're lucky enough to end up at a hospital like I was, you'll end up with a very extra large car cup. Silver ring is the lid to that cup, tab cut off, painted metallic silver, screwed onto body with flathead screw through straw hole.  Cut out some old circuit boards to fit (or one large round one if you like), screw those into place using any holes in the boards themselves (I even super-glued it on first then screwed it in).  Top it all off with half a plastic christmas ornament glued onto the inner rim of the lid.  Simple and free (if you don't count the hospital bill! LOL).

Speaking of circuit boards, found this old DIM memory board.  Screwed that on the side for good measure.  Just wanted something that looked neat on the side.

This takes some imagination.  This is a heavy black plastic flower pot I found at Goodwill last week.  It had a very large rim on it that I cut off.  The top of the scrubber has an added funny half-circle shape that has a cutout on the front end and tubes sticking out the back end.  It's done in two to three parts, with a Korky toilet scrubber holder cut to shape in the front and whatever you can find for the back.  The Korky part fits over the top end of this pot beautifully, and the tubes will be attached on the bottom (very hard plastic, so it should hold wonderfully).  I've already bolted on the Korky part and painted the whole think yellow.  The entire length is 11.25".  Officially it's suppose to be 11".  1/4" longer for a found object that cost me $3, not bad!!!! 

In this pic you'll notice that I repainted the whole thing a brighter yellow, cleaned up the black stripes, and started attaching things to it.  Since this pic I've added the silver tape to the corners, handmade a mounting attachment for the radar out of scrap aluminum (sturdy but kinda springy), and finished up the top portion (gotta bolt it on).

And you won't believe the drive system!!!  If I ever decide to make a true robotic drive system at least I'll have an awesome Hummer to play with!!!  LOL

Yep, Sauron has his very own mounting rack ontop of the truck.  Nothing but the best for my Sauron!  He drives in style!  How come my droids get cool toys to drive and I'm stuck with an old Subaru?? 

That's all for now.  I'll get final pics up as soon as I can.  If anyone wants to see him in person, I'll be at AMC Westminster Promenade Feb 10th 6:00pm, AMC Highlands Ranch Feb 11th 11:00am, and Harkins Theater Feb 11th 6:00pm.  Now to get the Naboo Officer finished.  Sorry, no time to document that build.

Until next time,

Jawa Jaka (wishing I had a Hummer!)



Just a little extra

I'm posting this pic because it's on my business card and I needed to post it online somewhere to send it as a PM to someone.  I know, I'm not making much since today.  Technology, ya gotta love it!! 

In the meantime, I'm cutting some metal plates for his center foot casters so he can roll again.  The wooden block I made cracked in half during Hauntings at the Hangar.  His schedule this holiday season:
Friday 9th - Star Wars Bluray screening
Saturday 10th - Golden Christmas Parade (if he fits in the cart and if it's not snowing)
Saturday 10th - Open Cockpit Wings Over the Rockies (after parade or if it's snowing)
Friday 16th - can't remember but there definitely is something going on
Saturday 17th - Foothills Fashion Mall Toys-for-Tots in Ft. Collins
        If you haven't met AL this is a great opportunity to see him in his Santa hat!

Jaka has a departmental luncheon, a company christmas party, and hosting the Christmas Eve Apres-ski party up in Breckenridge ski resort.  I'll be in Breckenridge Dec 23-26, AL and the cats are staying home and having their own little party!

A Victoran Project

I'm starting another project today that has nothing to do with AL or robots or even Star Wars for that matter.  It kinda started last year when I was researching polanaise skirts for ren fair costumes.  I found this pattern at Patterns of Time. 

I decided not to get the pattern at the time because it looked to 1880's prairie-ish to me.  And I was right!  Just now ordered it 'cause that's kinda where my project is heading now.  I also just ordered this pattern:

I'll be combining both patterns to get the look I want. I love the lapels and fringe on this one, but will not use the bell sleeves.  In case your wondering, this is the steampunk outfit I did last April for Starfest:

It's a 1905 motoring coat with grandpa's pocket watches all over it.  I made it in honor of the Time Machine that was suppose to come but didn't.  I wore it anyway and got lots of compliments. I'm currently looking for a nice feminine safari hat to go with it.  This year I decided to make something Victorian, even though I'm more of an Edwardian gal myself (love the costumes on Titanic!).  I got the bug from my friend Melanie who had an awesome Victorian Society table at MileHi Con.  And it's all starting with this:

I made this for my mom about ten years ago out of black velvet and the skirt portion of the short dress my mother's bridesmaid wore.  It's a copper taffeta with embroidered roses (the wedding was copper and olive green while my dad wore his formal navy attire, married in the chapel on the San Diego Naval base). Yesterday I bought 6 yards of matching crinkled embroidered copper taffeta.  See
if this was meant to be!

 

I'm in the process of taking off the brown ribbon and sequins.  Three rows of seam ripping in two hours!  Jeez, I might be finished by Christmas at this rate!  I just don't think sequins goes well, however I'm leaving the gold loopy embroidery on (I like it!).  I also bought 3 yards of matching black velvet.  This will give you a good idea on what it will look like (use the pattern pics above for reference and your imagination):

I think Smokey is really looking forward to this project.  She couldn't wait to try out the new fabric.  Taffeta just feels soooooo good (and it's shiny!).

So there you have it.  My new Victorian project (I'm not even going to call it Steampunk, no goggles or watches involved).  Black velvet and copper taffeta.  Now to find some matching copper fringe for the shoulders.

Until next time,
Jawa Jaka (a Victorian jawa?)

Denver Roller Dolls troop

Wow!  It's been awhile since I've posted.  Well, I've been kinda busy lately, so I do have some excuses.  Anyway, AL stayed home for this official Rebel Legion troop since he didn't want to get rolled over by the Denver Roller Dolls, a non-for profit roller derby team in Brighton, CO.  You can check them out at www.denverrollerdolls.org or at their very active facebook page at www.facebook.com/denverrollerdolls.  The Mountain Base, Mountain Garrison, and Rocky Mountain Fan Force turned out in full force (about 25 of us) to help the Roller Dolls with their annual Halloween night.  There were four teams competing, and they were all dressed up as zombies!  I noticed one girl had zombie blood all over her shirt, and I had to say "rough game, huh?".  She laughed so hard!

So, here's a couple of pics of the event:

The Roller Dolls in all their bloody goodness!

Buckets On! (can you see me? the jawa)


Buckets Off!



I was not at this event, but I'm so proud of my garrison for the professionalism they showed on and off stage during the Weird Al concerts (there were two of them, and months of planning for both).



On a side note (but no pics), I got Sauron the Scrubby repainted with the black stripes in place, all the greeblies put back on, and am almost finished with the top part.  I finally figured out what the antenna is made out of.  I think it's the back part of an oven knob.  I'm going to try that this weekend (if I can find one).  Got lots to finish this weekend, so no events for me.  Well, except that Friday night party with some of my pirate friends...

Until next time,
Jawa Jaka (busy on the scrubber droid)

I Remember

I wish I had my camera on my way home tonight.  A sight that truly surprised me.  One of the overpasses that links the light rail to the other side of I-25 was completely covered in American flags, with about a dozen people on it waving more flags with one hand and waving to the cars below with the other.  There was a banner that said "We Remember".  Simple, no other words needed.

Earlier this morning as I was doing paperwork at my desk, I watched reruns of the memorial service on the internet.  Some of it was very moving, but nothing to make me cry.  Until they showed the actual ABC coverage of that horrible day.  I was working at Target, watching it all unfold in the breakroom (I was suppose to be taking out the breakroom garbage) on Sept 11th.  As I watched the rerun of the second plane coming in, my mind wandered back to that day, and the horrible image that has haunted me for the past ten years came full blown.  And I cried hard for a solid ten minutes, unable to do my work briefly this morning.

The image that has stuck in my mind is watching in horror all those people jumping from the windows.  I've often wondered if they were already dead and were blown out of those windows, or if they made the decision to jump.  Much like the biblical Masada.  I've wondered if I could make such a choice.  Do I jump from 90+ stories to a certain quick death?  Do I try to climb down the inferno?  Do I hunch up in a ball waiting for the inevitable flames, passing out from the smoke and heat?  What would you do?

I can't even fathom making those kind of choices.  But history shows us that many peoples have had to make similar choices.  Today, as I watch reruns of the service, admiring the memorial park with it's great pools and etched names, gawking at the wonderful building soaring high above the new trees, reflecting on the old tree that survived and what it stands for (many more people survived than died), I can't help but think how lucky we are in this country.  We might have some problems with government, economy, joblessness, etc., but we are still standing strong!  And those dozen people on that overpass just proved it to me. 

I'm still proud to be an American.  "I Remember"

AL is Rolling!!! and other fun stuff

Well, after nine hours of driving to Omaha on Friday, eating tons of burgers and kraut dogs on Saturday, and having Moose take over AL for a couple hours, here's what you get (better video coming soon, I hope):

Oh, yeah, I also have a scrubber droid to finish now.

Other great photos of the Labor Day picnic at Moose and Jen's place:

Hanging at the food tent (way too much food)

The usual crowd shot (30 people showed up)

BBQ Crew (Moose on right, Ben on left, forgot middle guy's name)

Furry Group was there making tiger heads

Kinda looks like Snap! (Furry head maker extroidenaire)

Moose working on AL (he can't help himself)

A couple shots of AL's panel board (pretty neat)

OK, this one is sideways, but gives you a good idea

All in all, it was a great day with great food and friends.
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka (and pal AL rolling!)