Revisiting the 'Masked Man'!

Take a 'journey with me now, to those THRILLING days of yesteryear'! As I relive (once AGAIN!) a couple of the NIFTY moments from my childhood, with 'The Masked Rider of the plains'!
 

Life's MEAT-GRINDER has been chewing the 'ol Loydster up again, my faithful-few blog-readers! But, never fear! We can STILL re-watch a little something GEEK-friendly and just plain old FUN!

 This is just as good a time as any, to re-run ANOTHER couple of my ALL-time favorite 'video moments'-- from not ONLY previous posts, but from my 'little-Loydster-hood' as well! No matter how MANY times I re-watch either of these openings to 'The Lone Ranger', it ALWAYS brings a little thrill to my heart! First, the Show's original opening-- a TRUE classic!---

Then, there's the opening they used, starting in 1958-- after the 'Ranger's 2nd theatrical feature had come out. ANOTHER classic! If THIS doesn't give you a little case of the 'THRILLS', then.... well, you just MIGHT be DEAD my friend!---

Hopefully, this time NEXT month, I'll be back-- with a FULL-length and normal-sized post! Stay SAFE, SANE and HAPPY out there gang!
 

'Dr. Franken-Loyd's FINAL custom BIG toy 'Bat-ride' adventure!

 

Just when you, my faithful-few readers-- thought you'd probably saw the LAST of any kind of posts about the Loydster customizing / tinkering on the bigger-sized toy Batmobiles! Here I go AGAIN!

Well, what can I say-- cool-- or in this particular case-- potentially cool-- 'Bat-stuff' STILL draws me in... like metal to a powerful magnet! -- OR a moth to flame! As the title of this post says though, this one has just GOT to be the LAST of at least anything 'large-scale' that I try to tinker on and display.

As is the way it usually works with me, I stumbled across yet ANOTHER 'action-figure-scale' toy Bat-ride at a Thrift store. This one was HARD to pass up! Mostly because the asking price was only a dollar and fifty cents!---

The latest candidate for a 'Bat-custom'! The Spin Master 'Bat Tech' Batmobile, from a year-or-three back. I snagged this one for a mere buck-and-a-half at a thrift store. I saw cool potential in it, but did a bit of 'mental-wrestling' before I decided to take it home!

Even though the price was an AMAZING bargain, (it was also in excellent condition-- though slightly scuffed a bit here and there! Hey-- it DID used to be a kid's TOY!) actually going through with BUYING the car was more of a bit of a mental 'tug-of-war' with me! 

I must've picked it up & put it down TWICE before I finally decided to give in, and go ahead & Snag it! The over-riding cause for the 'mental debate'? The obvious question, that my long-suffering & EVER-so-patient wife also ALWAYS asks me: 'where in the world was I going to put it?!?' (Once the custom-thrashing was done, that is!) 

Finally, I went ahead with the purchase. I decided I would figure out how and WHERE to display it-- later! My mind was ALREADY racing with LOTS of WACKY ideas! Later that same evening, I dived RIGHT into customizing the FRONT half (or 'nose') of it's body!

This particular car, in scale with (roughly 5 inch) 'Batman' action figures-- is a pretty COOL design, at least from about the middle of the front fenders back to the rear wheels. (Which strongly resembles the '89 movie car!) The front end though, well THAT'S where the design kinda falls apart! It 'sort of' looks like the front of the tumbler, from the 'Dark Knight' movies. Meaning it's front half resembles a sort of 'crab' or maybe a lobster! 

For the 2005 movie car, that was an ok design-- being that it was supposed to be a kind of experimental 'military'-type of vehicle, that Batsy had adapted & utilized for crime-fighting. But the 'mash-up' of the two DRASTICALLY different designs, into this ONE toy car's body--- just made it look REALLY weird, and-- frankly, kinda clunky to me!

Anyhoo--- I dug around for ALL of the clear-sheet plastic I could scrounge up! Including cutting-up  the clear plastic lid for one of the boxes I keep oddball stuff in, here under my little 'micro-desk'!! I even stayed up 'till the wee-hours (unusual for me now, at this point in my life!)-- 'til around 1:30 in the morning--- basically 'fabricating' a completely different front-end / 'nose' for the car!

Considering that I did it ALL by the seat-of-the-pants, and had NO ideas scribbled down on paper or ANYTHING (as I sometimes will do!)--- It turned out pretty well!! Over the first week after the initial 'thrashing-session', I did some additional fiddling around with it, to get it to where I think it's in it's final, permanent state. I've gotta say, I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome!!--- 

The 'new and IMPROVED' version of the 'Bat-Tech' Batmobile! (At least I think so!) The Bat-symbols / wheel-centers (photo-copies printed onto cardstock paper, of course!) stay stationary as the wheels turn (now that's just NIFTY!) They're also from the '66 TV version of the Caped Crusader's ride. (In this case, they're black-- instead of red.)

Another neat-o 'design element' with this car? You can see the shape of Batman's cowl (or head!) repeated at least 4 times, from back-to-front (that's including my new front-end 'addition', of course!) along the body! The front 'grille' pieces, by the way--are cut-up sections of 'zip-ties'.

My all-time favorite 'Bat-vehicle' detailing paint-- 'gun-metal' acrylic, was once again used for various areas around the car's body. It really makes it look a LOT more like a scale model or even 'movie prop', than a former little kid's toy! My son Wade says it now looks like a combination of the '89 car AND the one from the '92 animated series. I agree with him!

 I also happened to have an almost EXACTLY-right-scale Batman figure (found at the SAME thrift store, for a BUCK-- a few weeks before I stumbled across the car!), that I decided just NEEDED to be displayed along with this trusty 'black chariot of JUSTICE'! (You can go ahead and hum-- OR whistle-- your favorite 'Batman movie or TV theme' right here if you want!)

                                                                                             

Now the 'ol mental-GEARS started to GRIND-away again! JUST where in the WORLD was I going to be able to display this latest over-sized 'Bat-doo-dad' anyway??? The 'limited space' problem here in the 'Cozy Cottage', had once AGAIN reared it's ugly head!

    It was near the end of all of the tinkering, that I once again started having ANOTHER case of 'mental-hoop-jumping'! Just WHERE exactly was this latest 'Caped-Crusader-related-gee-gaw' going to be put on display? At first, I was simply going to put up a little shelf, get a low-budget display case for it-- and place it in the 'shed-annex-Man-Cave', and display it out there. Not the best of choices, but better than being stashed into some kind of storage. OR-- as my wife only HALF-jokingly suggested-- 'HANG it from the ceiling in the 'Man-Cave'! (Now... that would be just WAY too DORKY for words!-- Sorry, oh wife-o-mine-- but my shameless GEEKDOM only goes so far!)

But-- as the thrashing was winding down, it started to reach it's final form--AND-- it was looking EVER-increasingly COOL to me. I then realized... there just HAD to be a way to put this thing into the collection, on display-- right HERE in the 'ol 'Crime Fighting Headquarters'!

Then-- one evening, a couple of weeks back, I was sitting at my little 'micro-desk'-- but facing toward  the bookcase, that also houses a good-sized CHUNK of my collection of toy and scale-model 'Bat-vehicles'. That's when a DINKY little cartoon 10-watt light-bulb, lit-up over my LARGE-square-sized noggin!---The Loydster now had an 'idea'! The idea to 'move some books around'!---

It would take some effort (and also some CAREFUL measuring!)! BUT-- the 'Bat-ride-and-bookcase-combo-shelf' held at least PART of the solution to my 'lack-of-display-space' problem! I would first need to figure out what I needed to remove, (from the group of BOOKS, 'natch!) to fit in a 20 or nearly 22 inch-long display case (the size of case the car would fit into) on the next-to-bottom shelf.---

NEXT-- I ordered a 'budget-friendly' / nothing-too-fancy 11x8x20 display case, online-- then cleared-out the books from the spot I wanted to utilize for the newest 'Custom-toy-Bat-ride's display spot. THAT meant, that I now needed another (SMALL-scale, of COURSE!) bookcase to put the now 'homeless' set of books into!

Low and behold, I just happened to have a little 12 inch wide by 24 inch tall wooden box, out in our shed! I'd been using it as a kind of 'catch-all' place-- to stash odd-sized tools and other odd-ball items, in the shelf where what's left of my old toolbox resides-- in the corner of the shed. 

After doing a bit of measuring, I realized by putting a shelf into it's middle, it would be the PERFECT size to house ALL of the books I'd removed from the other shelf! I then sprayed it with some 'medium brown' enamel-- I had left over from a previous fix-up around the house-- and 'WHAM'!

--It now sits in the little space (and I do mean--LITTLE!) next to the doorway into the 'Cave. AND-- it doesn't even interfere with the door opening into the room! How nifty is THAT?!? (I picked up the 'also-JUST-right' metal sign ---displayed on it's top-- at a nearby 'Hobby Lobby'!)

                  .                                    

Late just this past week, the display case FINALLY arrived! It was 'roomy' enough, that I decided to add-in a set of 5 Hot Wheels '66 TV Batmobiles (previously displayed elsewhere in the 'Cave-- they're ALL in various COOL colors!), to keep the 'big custom' company! The case sticks out an inch-and-a-half or so over the edge of the shelf-- but... so WHAT?!?

The display just would NOT be complete, without a couple of  'Puck Lights'  to really make it 'fit in' with the rest of the bookcase. Thanks once AGAIN, Amazon!

The little home-made sign says it ALL! The 'ol hidey-hole has officially reached MAX-capacity!

So, as my 'better-half' has also said-- MORE than a few times-- unless I want to start a 'rotating exhibits' policy, like a museum-- it's time to STOP adding stuff into the (VERY) limited space of the 'Man-Cave'! Of course, as I've also said here on the bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang-- the wifey is usually RIGHT!  

Although, I've gotta say-- this being the FINAL 'big-scale' custom-toy-job-- I SURE am glad that it came out as NIFTY-NEAT-O as it did! I'm also pretty happy with the way the 'display-space' for it worked out. The HAPPY result is, I have one LAST item here in my little 'Crime-Fighting-Headquarters', that brings that big 'ol goofy-GEEKY-grin to my face! Seems like a 'win-win' situation to me!

                                       See you NEXT time, gang! stay SAFE, SANE, AND HAPPY out there!

A movie with an almost PERFECT script and plot! (AND--one of the Loydster's FAVORITE flicks!)

 

I recently re-watched this 1973 CLASSIC, after a LONG stretch of time since viewing it last. Just like the previous times, I realized (AGAIN!) why it's ALWAYS been one of my all-time favorites. Keep on scanning down through this here post, and I'll try to explain just WHY I think it's one of the BEST films ever, to come out of good 'ol Holly-weird!

It's hard to believe a few things about the movie that I want rattle-on about in this post, 'The Sting'! First of all, that it came out 53 years ago. Second, that-- unlike so MANY of the movies that came out in the 70s-- it STILL entertains and holds the viewer's interest as well as it does. Thirdly, is that it still has a TIMELESS quality. That is, no doubt-- not only because of it's 'period' setting (it's plot takes place in 1936)-- but because it's also SO well crafted and designed! (meaning in it's production design--AND it's nearly FLAWLESS plot and script!

 A proper shout-out should of COURSE, be given to director George Roy Hill, and production designer, Henry Bumstead-- not to mention the costumer, the legendary Edith Head! (They each won Oscars for their workmanship in this movie, by the way!) It was through their efforts (along with scripter David S, Ward), that this film was SO well-crafted! Oh, and let's not forget that TERRIFIC 'Rag-Time' score, adapting old Scott Joplin pieces-- by Marvin Hamlisch, who also won an Oscar here. 'Rag-Time' wasn't from the time period that the movie is set in, but from an earlier era-- the 1910s! BUT-- the music as it's utilized here-- EXACTLY fits this movie!

'The Sting', has LONG been one of my all-time favorite movies. But, since I had long ago (5 to 6 years, at least!) lost my old VHS copy of it, I hadn't watched it-- in ages. Having found a NICE copy of it on DVD a short time back, I sat down and re-watched it-- and was once again just FLOORED by how well-made this movie REALLY is!

Just WHY do I think this movie is such a MASTERPIECE? I'm glad you've asked, oh faithful-few-followers of this here bloggy-woggy-wing-ding! 'Cause I'm going to dive-off into telling you why  I think so!---

First, there's all the great characters involved-- played EXACTLY right by some of the best actors! Paul Newman and Robert Redford, are JUST right as Henry Gondorff and Johnny Hooker. Newman's character is an experienced and expert con-artist, that Redford's character-- on the run from BOTH the mob AND the police-- comes to for help, with BOTH shaking the law off of his tail AND revenge (more on THAT plot-point later!). Their first meeting is one of the BEST scenes in the early part of the movie!--

'Gondorff' and 'Hooker' meet-up for the first time. It's pretty obvious that Newman's character has seen a better day or two! It's a GREAT scene, and Newman and Redford play it JUST right!

More about some of the other NIFTY characters in the movie shortly. But first, a little more about Newman and Redford. These two had worked together before, in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' in 1969. (Another of my personal favorites, though the ending brings me down-- every time I watch it!) So, they already knew how to work well together as actors. This time was different though, in that their characters weren't long-time outlaw pals. 

The characters here are meeting up for the first time, and the younger character ('Hooker'/Redford) has some distrust and a little lack of faith concerning the older character ('Gondoff'/Newman). That's part of what makes their interaction with each other SO entertaining in this movie though. A whole host of other, pretty talented actors would have a tough time bringing these two characters to life! But, Newman and Redford do it, and they do EXTREMELY well!

'Hooker' and 'Gondorff' check out (from a safe and SNEAKY distance!) the gangland big-shot they're about to zero in on, for the 'big con-job'! It's obvious that 'Hooker' wants his revenge RIGHT away, but 'Gondorff' is a bit more cautious and level-headed about what they're about to do. Another scene (of MANY) in the movie that's played-out JUST right!

       Just check out this NEAT-O trailer, from when the movie was re-released around 1977 or so. This is after it had won an AMAZING-- 7 Academy  Awards! (Including best picture!) Maybe it will help explain some of why I REALLY dig on this flick like I do! At least it might make you want to watch it yourself! That is, if you haven't seen it! (If you haven't... find a way to watch it! You'll be GLAD you did!)---                                         

  Now, as I was saying above, this movie is populated by a good-sized group of GREAT characters, performed by a troop of equally GREAT actors. Harold Gould as 'Kid Twist', and Ray Walston as 'J.J.' are especially good. But let's not forget some of the other stand-outs in the cast-- like Eileen Brennan (as Gondorff's lady-love, Billie-- who's also an EXPERT pick-pocket!), Charles Durning (as the crooked-but-determined cop, Snyder-- who's after Hooker), and Jack Kehoe (as 'The Erie Kid' and a friend of Hooker's). Within seconds of meeting ALL of these folks on the screen, you totally buy into them being the characters they're portraying. Whether it be cops, feds, OR-- a VERY experienced group of professional grifters, con-artists and 'slick operators'!

'Gondorff' and his fellow grifters and cons discuss their plans over a friendly game of cards. Harold Gould (far left) and Ray Walston (far right) are 'Kid Twist' and 'J.J. Singleton', and BOTH actors are nearly PERFECT as those characters!

The poker game aboard the train, later in the movie-- is NOT so 'friendly'-- between the main bad-guy, (more about HIM below!) and Newman's character! They BOTH cheat, but Newman wins!

Oh, and let's ALSO not forget the MAIN 'heavy / villain' of the picture, Robert Shaw as the big mob-boss, 'Doyle Lonnegan'-- not to mention the group of 'rough-looking' character actors who play his thugs and henchmen! They ALL appear menacing and mean, and scary alright-- even doing some brutal and dirty-deeds!-- But NONE of them 'over-play' or 'ham-up' the acting in their respective parts! You believe this guy and his thugs are capable of doing some pretty AWFUL stuff, to who EVER crosses them!---

One of the GREAT, (but probably most under-rated) actors of the 60s and 70s-- Robert Shaw--  as the truly DANGEROUS mob-boss, 'Doyle Lonnegan'. Even though his character is also involved in 'legitimate' businesses-- from the very first scene where he's introduced into the film-- you VERY quickly believe --- that this guy wouldn't hesitate to have somebody QUICKLY and brutally killed who crossed him or made him angry!

Another NICE 'graphic' or artistic touch, is the use of 'title cards' throughout the course of the movie. They introduce each segment, much like the chapter-titles in a book-- or even a graphic novel.---

These 'chapter title' cards, introduce each segment of the film. Designed & painted by artist Jerry Gebr, they give the movie almost a 'storybook'-- or even 'comic strip' quality!

Finally, without any 'spoilers'-- I want to discuss the OUTSTANDING plot and script of this film! I've already covered most of the excellent cast of both the characters and actors playing them-- and each of those parts are WELL-written. What's also GREAT here, is the main plot-line of the movie! 

What starts out as Redford's character wanting revenge for the horrible murder of his mentor-- and then  meeting up with Newman's 'Gondorff' and his allies, AND the unfolding of the complex scheme they come up with -- could've turned into just an average 'buddy picture' or a 'vigilante-action-flick'! BUT-- what the viewer gets treated to instead... well, let's just say this movie was scripted and carefully crafted SO well --that it can be enjoyed even MORE, with multiple viewings!

Even 'little moments' in the movie, fit in exactly as they should, in EXACTLY the right places! Like the little 'swipe-of-the-finger' across the nose, that's a signal from one grifter or con artist to another-- that another 'big job' is about to take place!---OR-- just a way for these type of folks to greet  and acknowledge each other!--

'Gondorff', giving 'the signal'-- that another 'operation' is about to begin-- to a fellow member of the con-artist community! (It's also a type of 'greeting' they use with each other) Yet another of this movie's VERY cool little moments!

Again, without spoiling or giving anything away, I WILL say there are TWO extremely clever plot-twists in this truly unique and one-of-a-kind movie. One about 3-quarters of the way through, and a DOOZY at the very end! What's beautiful about them BOTH, is that they don't feel false or 'clunky' in ANY way! 

AND-- (speaking of that 'final twist') there are even VERY subtle little clues through the last quarter of the film, that let the viewer know that not everything they're seeing... is exactly as it seems! This is where watching it multiple times, can make 'The Sting' a 'gift that just KEEPS on giving'-kind-of-movie! One of the 7 Oscars it won in 1974, was for 'best original screenplay'. I can tell you, with NO hesitation what-so-ever... it was an award that was WELL-deserved!

Part of the 'alternate' movie poster, from the film's first release in 1973. BOTH posters, much like the movie itself-- are EXCELLENT in their art and design.

One more comment before I wrap-up this post! Another thing I enjoy about this movie, is the over-all tone, and it runs on a couple of GREAT ideas. On the one hand, you have a story of a group of 'underdogs'-- who, seeing another of their kind being beaten-down-- come to his aid, and try to set things right. 

On the other hand, there's also a kind of 'Robin Hood'-vibe going on here too! Where a high-rolling, wealthy-- yet cold-blooded and RUTHLESS--'big-wig,' who's been stepping on the 'little guys' for YEARS, get's a good CHUNK of his ill-gotten wealth TAKEN from him. AND-- you find yourself nearly CHEERING for the way it's done in the end. Another sign (in the 'ol Loydster's opinion, anyway) that THIS is a GREAT movie!

Again I'm going to say it!--- If you haven't had the chance to watch this movie, search-out a way to check it out! It'll be worth looking for and investing a couple of hours-plus of your time, believe me!

                                        See you NEXT time, gang! 'Til then-- stay SAFE, SANE, and HAPPY!!

Nowhere NEAR retirement!!--- yet!

 

While not yet feeling QUITE as 'up in years' as the old GEEZER pictured above, there ARE times when my body tells me I'm NO kid anymore! This month (June), I'll be hitting something of a 'landmark' B-day. Some thoughts and ramblings about it, down below!---

Ah yes, it's the month of June. Summertime officially arrives, the weather starts getting a LOT more hotter, AND--- the 'ol Loydster turns another year OLDER! As is usually the case, I also get a bit reflective around this time-- mostly thinking, especially as I've started getting 'more mature' in years (that means WELL-PAST middle age, folks!)-- about the passage of time. 

This year in particular, I guess I've been a bit more thoughtful than previous years-- for a few fairly good reasons. The passing of my Pops, back in December-- now means that BOTH of my parents are no longer around to help me celebrate the 'special day' (a strange feeling indeed!). Also, (on a MUCH more CHEERFUL note!) my mama-in-law, Mrs. Sandy-- is having a 'landmark B-day' herself-- turning 80 this month. AND-- lastly, there's the fact that I'll be 62 this month. The first year that folks in my 'age bracket', are eligible to draw Social Security.

Boy-HOWDY! There were INDEED times in my life, when time felt like it passed just like THIS! Other times, though-- it DRAGGED-ON ever-so SLOW! It all depended on the situation, that's for SURE!

Now, for me personally-- drawing on the S.S. fund is OUT of the question! Mostly just because the money I'm qualified to draw from it, at age 62-- is SO small! I could NEVER pay bills, and support the wifey and myself-- on such a DINKY amount. 

So, I'll just keep plugging-away, good Lord willing (of course!)--working full-time-- for a few more years. The 'full benefit' age, is 'over-65'-- and THAT is the target I'm aiming for. But-- even at THAT point, I'll more than likely have to at least continue thrashing away PART TIME at something.

Well, hopefully I'll be a bit more mobile than THIS in around 4 to 5 years or so! THAT is my target-time for at least 'semi-retirement'!

What I'm hoping to be able to do, is to at least semi-retire at age 66. I'll be up for the FULL amount on the S.S. check, and I can then cut back to a 24 - 30 hour or so work-week. That should also help keep the bills (MOST important: our mortgage!) paid, and keep buying our groceries!

Whether my current job will work with me on that plan or not-- I'm not sure. At one time, (about a year or so back) when I mentioned my 'post-age-65' plan-- they had said they couldn't keep somebody 'part time'. If that's still the case-- then I'll have to find some other folks who'd be onboard with my being only 'part time'! Because, again-- the good Lord willing, THAT is my plan after 65!

YES!-- That scene in 'The Santa Clause'! THAT is what getting older can sometimes feel like!!

Seriously, all of the above goofy images aside-- Considering the above-mentioned 'age bracket' that I'm in-- I consider myself pretty BLESSED! Yes, I've got my share of aches and discomforts, and some genuinely chronic areas of pain! But-- I'm still able to move around 'under my own power', and I'm STILL able-bodied enough to earn a living! Believe me, I'm thankful and grateful EVERYDAY for that! Things for me, could be a whole LOT worse. Again, God willing-- I'm hoping I'll be holding up as decent as I am now, in 4 to 5 years or so!

Of COURSE-- let's also not forget the OTHER thing I consider myself to be BLESSED with! It's that I'm a KID at heart! I really do think that's one of the MAIN elements going for me, that's prevented me from 'getting OLD before my time'! 

I guess some folks won't believe it--- but keeping that 'over-grown kid' outlook, I think-- is what's kept me BOTH sane, and reasonably HEALTHY! That is indeed something to be HAPPY about! I hope that sometime in the not-too-distant future, whenever I'm blessed with grandkids--- I'll be able to be the YOUNGEST acting grandpa around!!

Oh, I'll be looking for one of THESE little numbers too, in a few years! I think I'll want one with a bit more comfortable PADDING on it than THIS one though!

                                                  Stay SAFE, SANE and HAPPY gang! See you next month!

Slowing WAY down, on the 'collecting of STUFF'!

I think the little cartoon above, pretty much spells out my reasons! BUT-- keep scrollin' and readin' anyway! Just in case you may, if you're like my (somewhat SKEPTICAL) wife-- have your doubts about just how serious my intentions are!

No doubt, I've mentioned in a number of past posts here on the bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang--(including the one last month, in fact!) that space is pretty limited in the Ferrell home (otherwise known as the 'Cozy Cottage'!). The 'living space' is fine, with a decent amount of room for the wifey and myself. It's 'storage-and-display' space I'm referring to here! The kind of 'square footage' an old GEEK-A-ZOID like myself needs-- to both display AND store all the 'classic pop culture' stuff I've managed to gather up over the years!

It's THAT space that's becoming more and more hard to come by, as we've lived here at the 'ol 'micro-ranch'! In fact, the 'Man Cave'-- SHOULD have a sign on the door, much like the one below!!---

Stashing things away and displaying items in my little 'hide-out' has pretty much reached a stopping point-- as of actually a few months ago. The same can be said for the space that my EVER-so-patient & understanding wife, Mrs. Debbie, has agreed to share with me-- in our little 12x20 foot portable building. (Otherwise known as the 'shed'!) So, mentally-- I've had to have another 'warning sign' (concerning our 'shed') flashing away in my big-square-NOGGIN, whenever I've been tempted to snatch-up something cool or 'geek-friendly'! Sort of like THIS one!---

Truthfully, for a fair chunk of time now-- going back to the tail-end of last year, at least-- I've been in the gradual process of slowing WAY down on the 'collecting of stuff'. The process started with getting my comics collection better organized. I invested in a set of NEW long-boxes for MOST of the collection, for one thing. The other thing, was 'labeling' each long-box--with a simple index card-- identifying exactly what's in each long-box (something I've really wanted to do for several years, in fact!)!---

                         

It was while in the middle of thrashing-away on THAT little project, that I realized I needed to do some  serious thinking and deciding! As in-- not ONLY getting better organized with all the doo-dads & goodies I have-- but also reaching some kind of 'cut-off' point with the 'collecting-MANIA' I've had for all these years! 

The comics collection isn't really part of the deal, because I haven't collected any 'on-going' comics series, in over 20 years. I do have a small amount of space, in a few of the long-boxes-- for the addition of maybe a graphic novel or trade paperback here and there (items I DO still snag, on rare occasions!) -- but that's about it! I've also nearly completely stopped collecting T-shirts (OR customizing any!), within the last year or two. The collecting of toys and models has also been-- through mostly the aforementioned lack of space-- already slowed to nearly a stop. Same with books and magazines.

The one remaining area that I've continued to add to here and there-- and have kept a 'wish list' of things I'm missing even-- has been movies / TV shows / cartoons on DVD. Within the past year or so-- I've gradually been closing in on finishing-off with 'plugging-up' the gaps in THAT collection too! I've also compiled a detailed list (or 'index', I guess it could be called) of everything in the collection, as well as where ALL of the videos are located. (Yet AGAIN, something I've wanted to do for AGES!)--

Here in the 'Cozy Cottage', Mrs. Debbie and I have a large set of 3 plastic drawers, and 3 fairly good-sized plastic totes-- to store MOST of the videos we have. They ALL fit, either in the closet-- or under the bed-- in our bedroom. I figure once those 'video-storage-containers' are either full-- or pretty close to it-- That will be the prime time to call it pretty much quits on the 'active collecting' of video-goodies!---

I also have a couple of little spots, within the 'Man-Cave'-- for stashing-away my collections of 'toons, 'Stooges, and TV shows.----

As you can see-- these small shelves in the 'Man-Cave' are already at 'full capacity'! No 'growing room' is available in EITHER of these spots!

Not ONLY for just the SERIOUS lack of space--- but also for the sake of my EVER-so patient better-half's SANITY-- I need to pay attention to yet ANOTHER 'warning sign' flashing, up in my over-sized-skull!--

So-- my ongoing efforts to collect 'COOL-GEEKY-STUFF' is drawing to a close. Along with the reasons stated above, there's also the simple fact-- that maybe it's time the 'ol Loydster just enjoyed all the oh-SO-very-NEAT-O items he ALREADY has! I can re-read stuff, binge-watch movies / TV classics or  'toons-- for MANY hundreds of hours! AND--All of it is ALREADY in my collection, (with the exception of a small handful of videos, and those small gaps will SOON be filled!) and it ALWAYS will be! 

AND-- the 'Ferrell-abode' won't be 'busting-at-the-seams'! That will also help keep BOTH my (long-suffering) spouse, and yes-- myself-- in our RIGHT minds and HAPPY!

                                        Take care, and see you next time gang! Stay SAFE, SANE and HAPPY!

STILL customizing toy-Bat-rides! (Just not as often!)

 That's right gang! The 'ol Loydster's been at it once AGAIN-- going into 'mad-scientist-customizing-his-toy-Bat-vehicles' mode! Honestly, since space is at such a premium here in the Man-Cave-- the last couple of projects, (done slowly-but-surely, over the past few months! Life's been pretty crazy after all around here!) have been just tinkering on stuff that's already in the collection. Well... there was ONE additional 'customized-mini-Bat-ride' added into the 'Bat-parking-garage'. BUT-- that was kind of a 'happy accident'!

Along with a few other T-shirts that I proudly wear to show-off my LIFE-LONG love for the Batmobile, are these two custom-numbers I put together a few years back! They of course feature my 'top two' favorites-- the '66 TV car, and the '89-'92 version. For quite a few years, the 'Keaton-ride' was in the number ONE spot!

With nearly 20 replicas / models, or toy versions of it in my collection-- it shouldn't be much of a surprise to you faithful-few-and-true readers out there-- that the car from the '89-'92 Batman movies is a BIG favorite of mine. One of the niftiest versions I have, is a 1/43 scale die-cast model. 

This one was given to me by one of my brother-in-laws, MANY years ago. It was in pretty SORRY shape when he found it-- in an old junky house he'd been remodeling. I don't have any 'before' pictures of it, before I fixed it up-- but below is a recent pic of it, in it's current condition. Trust me, it's well OVER 100% better off than the way it was when I got it! That was nearly 25 years ago! It's been in it's 'restored state' now, for nearly that long.--

The 1/43 scale '89 Bat-ride. It's sat proudly on display in my 'Bat-vehicles-shelf ', (when it wasn't in storage a couple of times, that is!) for nearly a quarter-of-a-century. ALL that time until recently though, it was missing a couple of important 'detail items'. My search for replacing those critical missing parts, led to a kind of  'happy accident'-- which led to customizing yet ANOTHER 'small-scale-Dark Knight-cruiser'! AND-- then ANOTHER even after THAT!

I know it's not exactly the highest-quality photography-- But THIS lower 'panel', for MANY years-- was missing from the 1/43 Batmobile. (on BOTH sides, of course!) I finally was able-- to track down a pretty THRASHED version of the same toy on E-bay. At first, I just swiped these parts off that I needed, then stuck the 'donor-vehicle' into a dusty old storage tote! Then... the old 'Dr. Franken-Loyd' gears started to turn in my brain!

 

THIS is the part where the little 'parts-donor' car, turns into kind of a 'happy accident'! Just to show what kind of SAD state it was in-- the pic below, shows pretty much how it arrived in the mail!--

This poor, 'used-and-ABUSED' example of the '89 Bat-ride, had definitely seen better days! It had been played with-- HARD-- by one rowdy little kid! At first, I just intended to use it as a 'parts-donor'. But the more I looked at it, the MORE I started thinking how WAY-cool it might look-- with some mild customizing and a unique paint job.

So-- the sand-paper, masking tape and rattle-can-paint were hauled-out once again! With this little project, I decided to use some 'bright blue' metallic paint I had left over from an earlier 'Bat-custom' I'd worked on. 

It had that 'spectra-flame' type of color, like the original 'Hot Wheels' cars had-- and I thought it would look GREAT on this car. I also super-glued on some clear sheet-plastic, to cover the areas where I'd swiped those bottom 'panels' from the lower sides of the body-- for my other 1/43 car. I'm pretty proud of how my effort turned out!---

I guess this 'Bright-Blue-Bat-ride' is yet another in my collection that qualifies as a 'what if', or 'alternate universe' version of the Dark Knight's wheels! I really DIG how the 'smooth panels' I added to the lower sides turned out!

The next project involving another version of the '89 - '92 Batmobile, came about-- at least partly-- because of where it's on display in the Man-Cave! This one was a Christmas gift from my son a couple of years back. Made by a Japanese company, and referred to as the 'Super Cyborg' '89 Batmobile--- it's a VERY unique and FUN version of the car!---

At first glance, this (roughly 1/10 scale) version-- looks like simply another version of the 'Burton-Keaton-mobile'. BUT-- looks can fool you!

Now THIS is why the 'Cyborg' version of the car, is SO extra-WICKED-COOL! Panels and body-sections pop off, and you can check out all of the nifty engine / mechanicals, gadgets, and various doo-dads under it's 'skin'! My son, Wade thought it would be a present that I would be extremely GEEKED-OUT about! He was RIGHT! I fell in LOVE the moment I unwrapped it!

Now, for practical, 'there's only-so-much-display-space' in my Man-Cave reasons-- I could only place the car in a display case, and perch it on top of the shelf to the immediate right of my little 'micro-desk'. That was fine, except it presented me with yet ANOTHER little problem! It was just too darned DARK, and too high up in the room, for anybody to really SEE it!---

For quite a while, I simply accepted the situation. The 'Cyborg' Batmobile would just be something 'semi-hidden' from view! Eventually, I did try to think up a solution or two-- including trying to find a way to 'light it up' somehow. I made a couple of tries at THAT-- but neither idea worked very well.

Then-- yet AGAIN-- the 'Dr. Franken-Loyd-mental-gears', started GRINDING away! 'What if', I thought, 'I simply PAINTED the car the SAME 'bright-blue' metallic, that I'd used to JAZZ-UP the little 1/43rd car?!? The lighter color, with it's 'Hot Wheels Spectra-Flame'-sheen-- would definitely make this thing really POP! Even WAY up there, in it's 'top-of-the-room' perch! So--- once again, out came the masking tape and trusty 'bright-blue' metallic paint!

Once I dove off into the project though-- another 'lightning-bolt' of an idea zapped me! 'What if...', I asked myself (again!),'I looked around on E-bay, snagged one of the little 4 inch 'Batman Returns' action figures from a couple of years back (he would be almost EXACTLY the right scale to go with the car!), did some custom work on him--and placed him next to the freshly 'bright-blue'-painted car?' Now THAT just might turn out to be MOST excellent and COOL! 

The 'Batman Returns' (roughly) 4-inch action figure! I snagged him off of E-bay, for just a smidge over 10 bucks. The little DINKY-looking cape, would HAVE to go! ('custom-cape-making-time'!) I'd also be doing a custom paint job on him-- so he would be 'better-matched-up' to the paint job on the car!

AND-- without any further 'bragging / boasting / patting-myself-on-the-back'!-- I'll just let a couple of pics show-off the end results!---

The custom-painted 'Cyborg-Bat-ride', and now 'blue-and-gray' suited Batman figure! Is this just a WICKED-COOL 'alternate universe' combo or WHAT?!?

Just for a few extra 'grins-and-giggles,' below are 'before and after' pics of the 'Bats figure! I used a regular old 'number 2' pencil, to make the details / sculpting on the 'Bat-suit' stand-out better.---

an additional pic, just for even MORE 'grins-and-giggles'!-- The 'bright-blue-Bat-combo', now back in the 'way-up-high' perch--just as before. Stands out a LOT better, don't you think?--

As I was saying up above, space is at a premium here in the Man-Cave! So, these last couple of projects have been fun in a couple of ways. I now not ONLY have a couple of truly UNIQUE items on display--but they also don't take up any more space! Well--- the little 1/43 scale Batmobile took up a little more 'real estate'-- but that was just a matter of INCHES! That sort of thing is an easy-breezy kind of problem to solve!

The other benefit to this kind of tinkering & customizing, is the usual thing that happens. I have yet another item or two, in this little 'hidey-hole' of mine-- that  brings on that big 'ol GOOFY-GEEKY grin across my face!

That's (partly) what has helped me 'push on through', these past SEVERAL months, believe it or not! Just some moments here and there, to stop and give the brain and SOUL a little time to loosen-up. To focus on the things that bring me joy and good thoughts! Couldn't we ALL use a little of THAT, on a DAILY basis?

                          See you NEXT time gang! 'til then-- stay SAFE, SANE & HAPPY!!!