May 25, 2025

This week I finished building my version of a Star Wars mobile maintenance crane. It is made of parts from three broken toys I found at the swap meet for between $1 to $3 each. One piece is a version of a NASA space shuttle launch platform, one a crane from a broken Star Wars Action Fleet terrain piece, and the third is a cabin from I don't know what that I found in a pile of broken toys. I've added a couple more odds and ends and some Evergreen plastic.  I decided to keep the paint scheme simple.

With the crane done, I turned my attention to painting some random figures… I’ve been doing a lot of airship building this past month or so and needed to give my figure painting some practice.

May 18, 2025

The week opened with the painting of what I think is my 15th Victorian Sci Fi airship which was converted from a broken toy I found at Savers thrift shop for $4.

Next on my agenda was a CMON Rising Sun figure that will be part of the crew of my Mega Bloks Empress.

This week most of the time that would normally be spent as workbench time was spent in storage organization and reorganization… not a lot of fun, but necessary so that my time at the work bench can continue.

May 11, 2025

My Mega Bloks Empress is now repaired, modified, and painted.

I thought the Mega Bloks Empress would be my last airship, but then I found The Angel’s Voyage Ship at Savers thrift shop for $4, and the obsession took hold once again.  The repurposing of these toys into airships is so much fun it is very difficult to resist the temptation.   I finished the construction/repurposing and began the painting.

I ended the week painting Dr. Li Fong and Fu Manchu by Cool Minis Or Not.

May 4, 2025

I've been looking for a Mega Bloks' Empress that I could afford for years. I finally found one on eBay for $29 plus $8 shipping. It wasn't complete, but it had everything I wanted at a fraction of the normal asking price. I am converting it into another airship. New decking covering the Lego-style pegs was the big task, but lifting the airship on its posts is the part that makes me most nervous.  I have most of the big conversion work done... still some details and a lot of painting to come.

I spent two days this week painting the Farm World stable.  This is for my granddaughter, and I am very happy with the way it came out.  This started its life as a very expensive, German-made toy.  I found it at Savers thrift shop for $7 and repaired all the significant missing pieces. 

I ended the week putting the last pieces on the Mega Bloks’ Empress and giving it a flat black base coat.  It is always fun the first time I see one of these repurposed toys painted in one color that really defines it for the first time as something new rather than the old toy with some changes.