'Digitally-tinkering' on stuff! (OR--- what to do when you REALLY don't have SPACE for your main hobbies!)

The state of 'ol Loydster's mind, MOST of the time! Brain-storms (especially of the creative kind!) are pretty regular happenings!

You know, if you would've told me--- even as little as 9 or 10 years ago, that I would be able to do the kind of  'digital-tinkering' I'm able to do on a fairly basic, not-a-lot-of-bells-and-whistles lap-top--- with the ALSO fairly basic 'Windows Paint' program... I would have said that was CRAZY!

But-- here I am, 'tinkering' away! Yes, I know that the 'Photo-Shop' program, on Apple computers-- is the 'state of the art' way to do the kind of stuff I DIG on doing! Alas, I'm just a poor old 'working-class-stiff', with the above-mentioned 'basic' lap-top, so it's also a case of 'working-with-what-ya-got'! (Heck,  the current lap-top I have, was a GIFT from my son a couple of years back!---which replaced a USED one I'd had.... since around 2014!)

Besides--- it's kind of a creative challenge, to try doing some of the stuff I've been doing, with such a 'basic' program like '...Paint'!

There's also the factor of having NO space (for close to TWO years now) for the usual kind of stuff  'ol Loydster get's a kick out of!--- Building / customizing / displaying the occasional model or toy, putting up cool / unique images in frames, etc! So, what better way to scratch that 'ol 'creative itch', than in the 'virtual lap-top-world'!

This latest round of  'digital scribbling', all started with an idea I had for doing some 're-mastering' of an old image, that I created a number of years back! Of COURSE, it involves my two FAVORITE characters! (Take a wild GUESS who the number ONE favorite of the two is!)----

Like it says above, a cool image (drawn for some of my nephews, as I was saying above-- a few years back) that--- for the MOST part, I've always liked! BUT--- a couple of things in it have ALWAYS bugged me a little! Namely: Batman's chest-symbol and some of the line-work on his cowl!

Some of the 'source-lighting' on both the Supes and Bats figures is a bit 'off' too! So--- off into the 'Paint' program it went!----

I'm now MUCH happier with the image, even though all the changes are pretty subtle! Bats now sports his 'classic' oval-shaped symbol, (which was drawn by hand, then scanned into my 'puter & 'pasted' onto the figure!) and the high-lights and line-work on his cowl are a BIG improvement over the earlier effort! I also worked on his eyes, to make them a bit more symmetrical. 

I improved the 'source-lighting' here and there on BOTH figures, and added in 'gold'-colored highlights to the yellow areas on their costumes. A copy of this one just MIGHT go up in the next 'Bat-cave'!

The next series of images I tinkered around with, involve The original '66 Batman himself, Mr. Adam West! (Or, at least the costume he wore anyway!) I stumbled across a whole crop of VERY nifty images of the '66 cowl (actually on an Adam West 'display head'!), put up by the VERY cool business known as 'Williams Studio2'!

It's a 'man-and-wife' / 'mom & Pop'- ran business, that specializes in making AMAZING replicas of the '66 Cowl! They also make the replicas in LEATHER! Check out some of their handiwork! Then, click on the link to their site below, to see even MORE wicked-COOL '66 Batman stuff!---

                                                                                Williams Sudio2 COOL Bat-items!

This series of images was just for my own GOOFY-GEEK-A-ZOID amusement, as well as to satisfy my 'Bat-fanatic'- curiosity! Just HOW 'comics-accurate' are those 'classic TV show' cowls, anyway??? (Not to mention the VERY neat-o leather cowls!---Check out the one in blue-&-black below!) well, see for yourselves!----

A few careful strokes with the mouse on my lap-top, utilizing the colors gray and light gray--- gave me the answer! Those '66 TV-Cowls were VERY much faithful to the 'source material'! (The leather cowls--even MORE so!) 'Comics-accurate' INDEED! Though Mr. West would've probably had a TOUGH time actually SEEING in a cowl with 'eye-slits' like these!

After the '66 Bats stuff, I turned my attention to another image I've had here on the lap-top for a good chunk of time! It's actually a pic of a statue based on an Alex Ross painting. 

While I'd NEVER be so just outright SILLY, to even TRY to tinker / mess-around with an actual Alex Ross painting (that would be like drawing a MUSTACHE on the MONA LISA!) The 'ol 'Bat-fanatic'-curiosity made me wonder--- just WHAT would a 'Ross-Bats' look like, with 'comics-accurate' white / gray 'eye-slits', and shorter ears on the cowl! See the results below!

1. The original image, complete with EXTRA-long ears (hey, somebody like Alex Ross can get away with that in a painting! On a statue.... well, it looks a little odd-ball!)! Not to mention, 'ol Batsy's eyes look a bit 'crossed'!
 2. The results of my 'digital scribbles'! It just shows how VERY close Mr. Ross followed the 'Golden Age' design of the Bat-suit! Even Batman's head & Jaw-line, have a bit of a 'Dick Sprang look' and feel to them! (If you don't know who Dick Sprang is---- you just haven't been paying attention to THIS blog!)

Next--- again, for bit of  'giggle-inspiring-goofiness'--- I did some 'scribbling' on an image of an old 'Mego' Batman action figure! (JUST like the one I had as a kid!) This one has also been in my 'puter for a while!----

1. The original figure, how it looked 'fresh-out-of-the-package'! 2. My 're-touched' image! Another time a Bat-cowl can look a LOT more 'comics-accurate'--- with a bit of help from the 'ol 'Paint' program!

After doing the above projects--- which were just, as I was saying before-- mostly for 'grins & giggles'-- I decided to get more intense, and a little more ambitious in my efforts! At least a couple of the following images are DEFINITELY gonna wind-up framed & hanging up in the NEXT (hopefully NEAR-future) 'Bat-Cave'!

Once AGAIN, they ALL feature a certain 'Caped Crusader'!--- 

1. Another older image, that's actually migrated across a couple of other 'puters---- before winding up in my current lap-top! While the NIFTY '40s 'Bat-Logo' and figures of Bats & Robin are positioned well, the image itself is a grainy, pixelated MESS!
2. After making a copy on my handy-dandy printer, I re-traced over the logo and figures in nice, DARK ink---using a heavy line, so it would all have the look of an actual (Golden Age) comic-panel or cover!

3. The start of my work on 'colorizing' the whole thing! The 'Batman' letters in the logo, Bats' uniform and Robin's cape were all colored by hand, then scanned back into the lap-top--- so I could attack the rest of the image in the 'Paint' program! I also ended up re-coloring the 'Bat-suit' digitally.(It just looked better & more 'solid' in 'digital gray'!) I then took a deep breath, and dove into the rest of what I knew was probably gonna be a LENGTHY effort!----

4. After nearly a week, and around 10-12 hours total, of CAREFULLY moving my trusty mouse around (I slowly thrashed-away on this image, in my spare time here and there!)---- The Dynamic Duo of the Golden Age (AND-- that STILL awesome '40s 'Bat-Logo'!) are sporting BRIGHT, primary colors! A LOT of time, a LOT of effort! BUT--- by golly, I think it was WORTH IT!

This next project also started out with the image of an otherwise VERY cool statue, that I've had here in the lap-top for a while! (Hmmm.... notice a 'pattern' here yet???) One featuring the Dark Knight of the late 40s & 50s!---

1. The original image, featuring a VERY 'Dick Sprang / Shelly Moldoff'-looking version of the Gotham Guardian! While fairly nifty--- the FACE of the figure just looked a little TOO 'cartoony', and also a little too 'waxy' or 'doll-like'!
2. After digging around on-line, I stumbled across this 'head-only' pic of 'ol Bats! It's one of the 'alternate heads' that come with the 'Golden Age Batman' figure, from Mezco. (Check out their site of WICKED-COOL figures! If you're a 'Bat-freak-a-zoid'--- you WILL drool!!) The face was MUCH more 'life-like', while still retaining that 'Sprang / Moldoff'-feel to it! Still, it needed a little 'scribbling', to make it feel right!
3. The 'head-only' shot, after the required 'scribbling'! I was now ready to----
4. GRAFT the two images together! Some folks may be critical of the kinda '2-D' look to the upper-face area and neck--- BUT--- I think it makes it look almost as if it's been done by the animators at Pixar or something! --'weirdly-neat-o'! I get a kick out of it, each time I look at it!

The final project I'm showing off here--- is one that will DEFINITELY have to find it's way into a frame, in my 'Bat-Cave-to-come'! As most of you--- who've been following along with me on this here little bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang--- know,  I've LONG been a MAJOR-fan of the original '40s 'Bat-Logo'! It's easily my ALL-TIME favorite comic book logo!----

1. The original image, which--- like SO many of the images I've stashed into my lap-top-- I found on the web. As I've said before, one of the GREAT graphic designs / symbols / icons of the 20th century! BUT--- I found myself having one of those 'brain-storms' again!
'What if,'  I thought, '... that CLASSIC design were put on comics' covers today'? What would it look like? Then I started doing some further 'brain-storming'--- AND scouring the web for the proper 'raw' material to put what I had in mind together!
2.Yet ANOTHER 'head only' shot of the 'Golden Age' Bats. Also from one of the Mezco figures (this time with an 'all-black' cowl!) I would combine this image, with that of the logo--- making it (hopefully!) have a '3-D' appearance!
3. My first crack at the more '3-D' version of the 'classic logo'. I 'digitally squeezed' the head somewhat, and kept the background red, just like in the original image. 'NOT too shabby', I thought to myself! '....BUT....'---

4. What I at first thought would be the 'final draft' of the '3-D / 'classic logo'! LOTS of careful working-of-the-mouse, to make the background ALL yellow (I just decided the color had a more 'Golden-Age-cover-feel' to it!) The head still looked just a bit... 'off' though! When I enlarged it to fit into the logo, it had become a little too pixelated. So--- back into '...paint' it went!

5. Just like it says above--- 'WHAM'! More 'web-scouring' had produced an even MORE 'comics-accurate' image of the 'Bats-head-shot'!---AND-- it was a LARGER, less-pixelated image! I'm VERY proud of how it turned out! There WILL be a spot found for it to hang in my future 'crime-fighting-hobby-and-tinkering-hide-out'!

Now you know, folks! Just what an EXTREMELY geek-a-zoid individual like the 'ol Loydster--- who, at the moment-- is EXTREMELY limited in the space he has for displaying any sort of 'nerd-tastic' material--- has been able to do as an alternative!

I should also say, (just in case any 'legal-eagles' from DC / Warner Brothers are checking up on little 'ol me!) that ALL of the above projects were done JUST for the FUN of it, and I plan to make NO sort of profit from ANY of it, of ANY kind! That goes for just about EVERYTHING else posted up on this here blog, for that matter! (Especially when it involves 'copyrighted / trademarked' characters, owned by MEGA-corporations, though!)

it's ALL for the FUN of it, and if an item or two has made even a LITTLE goofy-grin break out on your face (in THIS post... or ANY post, in fact!)---- then, hey.... my mission here is accomplished!

                                                                        --- See you NEXT time, gang! ---

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!!--- # 45!!--- A close-up look at the '78 Supes costume!

 

Chris Reeve, MY generation's 'Superman'! He was a pretty 'Super' guy in REAL life too!

STILL planning on putting up an actual FULL post, some time in the (hopefully!) near future gang! Life just KEEPS throwing curve-balls and BUMPY stretches of road at the 'ol Loydster though--- so it may be a bit before I can devote my FULL attention to this here bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang!

In the meantime, let's check-out yet ANOTHER fun Adam Savage video! This time around, he get's an up-close look at one of the ORIGINAL Christopher Reeve 'Super-suits'! (Not to mention a simply AWESOME display figure that's wearing it!-- don't worry, they GEEK-OUT about that too!--- Part of why I love Mr. Savage & his YouTube channel SO much! If you haven't checked it out--- SHAME on you!)

One day, in the (again, HOPEFULLY near) future, I really need to share my thoughts & memories of the first couple of  'Superman' movies! AND-- the extra-special guy that managed to portray the character SO well--- Mr. Christopher Reeve! BUT-- for now, let's join in with Adam Savage--- and just have a little 'super-hero-GEEK-OUT-FEST', shall we?-----

Here's hoping for a GREAT Holiday season for us ALL, once AGAIN!

 

Well, gang.... another MEAT-GRINDER of  a year is winding down! Another Holiday season's here! MUCH like I stated in last year's 'Holiday post', 2022 has been something of a BUMPY ride for a good-sized group of us!

ALSO much like last year, I sincerely hope--- and better yet, PRAY--- that 2023 sure turns out to be a MUCH smoother stretch of road for us ALL!

I've been working & whittling away at an actual FULL-sized post, for some WEEKS now (such is the 'never-let-up-the-RACE-CAR-like-pace of 'ol Loydster's life!)! But--- thanks to plenty of those aforementioned 'bumps' in life's road---- such as 2 fairly BRUTAL attacks of  bronchitis / 'walking pneumonia', just to name the recent ones----that one will have to wait 'til after the ringing-in of the New Year! It WILL be FUN, and ULTRA-GEEKY-TASTIC! Trust me!

Meanwhile, just like I stated last year! Here's hoping (AND praying!) for lots of  'Christmas grins-and-giggles' for everyone! Have a blessed, safe and happy Holiday Season everybody!

Merry Christmas and HAPPY New Year! From the Loydster (AND the rest of the 'Ferrell-brood', of course!)!!

The oldest 'Ferrell kid' gets MARRIED!

 

 Once AGAIN, here at the 'ol bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang, I'm taking a break from the usual deep-dive off into geeky / nerdy stuff! This time to throw the spot-light on the recent 'kind-of-a-BIG-DEAL' event of my daughter Shelby's marriage---on October 16th-- to her most favorite fella-in-the-world, Mr. Trenton Willbanks! The ceremony took place in the 'Conservatory' at the BEAUTIFUL Will Rogers Gardens, in Oklahoma City.

 Compared to the 'life styles of the rich and famous'-type folks, I guess you could say that my daughter's wedding (as well as the reception a week later!) wasn't in the 'epic' category! But, it did INDEED take a hefty amount of planning and hard work! MOSTLY on the part of the TWO most important ladies in my life---- my BEAUTIFUL wife, Mrs. Debbie, and of course, Shelby herself! 

Oh, they had help! A BIG shout-out here, to Trent's folks, Mrs. Kim and Charles! They've pretty much  adopted Shelby into their family already, and they're also just about the nicest / most welcoming folks you could ask for as your kid's in-laws! Thanks for just being who you are, guys! (AND-- your MUCH-appreciated help in the set-up of 'the BIG event', of course!) 

Kim and Charles Willbanks---some VERY nifty in-laws INDEED!

                                                                                  

Trent's Paternal Grandparents, Charles Sr. and Mrs. Cynthia. Some more VERY nifty folks!

                                           

Another hearty and high-volume SHOUT-OUT, to the GREAT gal, Mrs. Shannon (AND of course her hubby, Matt!--- they provided the NEAT-O venue for the reception, AND the GREAT food, thanks a TON guys!)--- their teaming up with us REALLY made the 'ol 'wedding-engine' hum along on ALL it's cylinders!

Nope, the wedding wasn't an 'over-sized epic'! BUT--- it WAS very real, genuine, and--- as my daughter said in her vows to Trent: 'I know it sounds CHEESY....'  it was SWEET! Yes, I'm also a SHAMELESS sentimental 'ol softy! So, indulge a proud Loydster, and check out some pics (as well as comments & remarks, of COURSE!) of this LANDMARK event within the 'Ferrell-clan' (well, the Willbanks brood too, no doubt!)-----        

The 'PROUD parents', and (QUITE handsome, if I don't say so myself!) brother Wade (who, along with his sweetie, Ms. Chloe, helped with some of the set-up and decorating! Thanks guys!)---with the beautiful Bride! The fanciest we've been dressed-up since..... well, let's just say it's been a good CHUNK of time!

'Bride and her Bro'!

The Bride with Grandma, Sandy (Deb's mama!)--- and that swanky-looking brother of hers again!

Son Wade escorting MY still-BEAUTIFUL bride, Mrs. Debbie, to her 'front-row' seat!

The 'BIG moment'! ---For 'ol Loydster anyway! Walking my 'baby girl' down the aisle! I was SO proud, I nearly popped the buttons off of my shirt!

                         

The customary 'BIG-smooch', after the vows!

                  

                         

'Ladies and Gentlemen, we proudly present to you, Mr. Trenton and Mrs. Shelby Willbanks'!

The Bride with the wedding cake! 

Cutting into that cake! It was almost a work of art! BUT-- hey, cakes are made to be eaten!

Even MORE cake-slicing! By the way, the groom's folks provided a TERRIFIC dinner (at 'The Peperoni Grill'--- in Edmond, Oklahoma---where all the above 'cake-slicing-and dicing' took place!), for the whole wedding party and families! Thanks once again to Charles and Kim! Like I said above, they TRULY are just about the BEST we could hope for, when it comes to mama-and-daddy-in-laws!

Now, not only the 'big day', but the reception (as well as the couple's Honeymoon in Colorado!), is in the history books! But this is one little bit of history that I'll be VERY proud to look back on, and yes even revisit--- regularly and often!

Congrats to the happy young couple! May your life together be a LONG, HAPPY and BLESSED one!

NOT the happy couple! Just a little something to leave you all giggling!

Just so all of you know, the 'wedding bells' will also be ringing for our son, Mr. Wade (and his sweetie, Ms. Chloe!)--- in slightly less than a year--- early September, 2023 in fact! SO--- be prepared for even MORE wedding pics around this time NEXT year! (You've been WARNED!---And--- In PLENTY of time!!!)

Kevin Conroy--- R.I.P.

 

Kevin Conroy: November 30th,1955 - November 10th 2022

 

I'd planned on putting up a post with TOTALLY different content for this time-frame, gang! BUT-- I simply couldn't let the news I heard (from my 'ol buddy, Jeff--- COMPLETELY appropriate enough!) earlier today, of the passing of this actor!  Being a LONG-time 'caped-crusader' fan, I simply felt I had to put up SOME kind of comment / tribute!

Like other stuff I've referred to and rattled on about on this here bloggy-thingy-thang--- there's no doubt more info and more 'in-depth' background about Mr. Conroy and his career elsewhere out there on the web, than my little teeny-tiny corner here can possibly provide! Thus, I can only relate (like ALWAYS!) my personal-point-of-view! (Again---like ALWAYS!)

To hundreds of thousands of 'Bat-fanatics' out there, Mr. Conroy became-- (and in this particular fan's opinion TOO!)--- THE voice of Batman! Starting his LONG career as the voice of the Dark Knight in the original '92 WB animated series, this guy simply, completely, totally--- NAILED IT!

Like I remarked in my pod-cast about my life-long love of 'ol Bats--- (since the CLASSIC '92 series onward, anyway!) whenever I read a Batman comic book / graphic novel / comic strip, or even an earlier reprint collection of 'Bat-sagas' from the '40s and '50s--- it'll be Kevin Conroy's voice I'll hear in my mind as the Gotham Guardian! I can think of NO better tribute-- as a LONG-time 'Bat-geek-a-zoid'--- than that!

Rest well, Mr. Conroy! This 'Bat-fan' will ALWAYS hear--- in his imagination, as he reads Batman's adventures-- YOUR unique voice! 

Of course too, my prayers and thoughts are with Mr. Conroy's family and friends!

Join us NEXT time around folks to FINALLY find out-------

ATTACK of the RETURN of the GHOST of 'DR. Franken-Loyd' (Part TWO!)!!

 

 

Last time around, here at my teensy-weensy corner of the world-wide-web, that I lovingly refer to as the blog-a-wog-a-thingy-thang (among other nick-names for it!)---- I shared some images of my most recent couple of mad-scientist-type-customizations of  'Batman-related' play-things! This post, I'm focusing on a couple of other items, that I've been pretty heavy into 'personalizing' over the years! That would be t-shirts and caps.

Before 'the BIG move', in the early part of last year--- 'ol Loydster had nearly a closet-full of  t-shirts! The last count, not long before our packing-up things and moving out of the former abode---- was well OVER 40 'T's!! Yes, I now will freely admit that's a pretty CRAZY-HUGE amount of 'casual-wear' for just ONE guy to have!

So, some 'thinning-out' of the 'T' population had to be done! I knew that, except for a relatively small number---around 15 or so, tops---MOST of the rest of the 'T's in my collection would have to either go into storage, or just go away! Yes, even some of the one's I'd customized or 'personalized'! Even though they were (and are!) a small percentage of the 'T' -collection, it was STILL tough, deciding which ones had to go, and which ones I just could NOT part with!

So.... some of the 'T's in the pics below, are no longer around. BUT--- I still have photographic proof, of all of the loud-and-proud geekiness!------

A more recent addition! I added some simple iron-on lettering to this one (as well as the one below!), to make it a bit more 'personalized'! 

NO guessing as to what I'm a BIG fan of, right???

This one was actually inspired by a rather plain / generic-looking version, that I'd seen for sale on Amazon once! The 'be yourself....' lettering was there, but NO images relating to the 'Caped Crusader' himself! This got the 'ol wheels & gears starting to turn in the 'Ferrell-noggin'!

I did some tinkering with a couple of REALLY simple letter-fonts, and the 'paint' program on my lap-top, as well as an image from the opening credits from the classic '66 TV show!--- It then was all put onto (2 separate sheets, of course!) transfer paper....and 'WHAM'! a one-of-a-kind 'T' was born!

The 'Elvis' image, is originally from a shirt that was accidentally washed & shrunk-down WAY too small for me to wear anymore! I simply cut out the image, and glued it onto another shirt! Likewise with the 'chrome-looking' Bat-symbol on the shirt in the middle (the black, blue & silver-metallic-flames were put onto the shirt, after I'd glued on the Bat-symbol, with fabric-paint!).

The classic '70s / '80s Bat-logo shirt on the far right, was actually made up from fragments of TWO other older shirts that had either worn-out, or had somehow otherwise been messed-up!

This is a pretty simple black & white image, that I put onto transfer paper, then after ironing it onto the shirt, went over the lettering (and a bit of the image), with some 'gun-metal-gray' acrylic paint! No, it can't ever be put into a washing machine (most of the 'customized' shirts I've worked on over the years can't, because of this kind of tinkering!), but these shirts aren't gonna be 'heavy-work' shirts anyway! They're pretty much 'occasionally-worn' shirts (family get-togethers, running around-town here and there, etc...)!

                

Much the same as with the 'T' collection, a great number of the caps you'll see in the pics below are either in 'deep-cold-storage', or have been given away. Some have even been 'parted-out' and bits and pieces of them survive on other caps!

The ONLY caps in this group, that started out with a patch / image already on them--- are the 'Stooges cap and the Bugs Bunny cap.(though they WERE customized too-- with extra painted trim, stripes, etc....) The rest were put together from images I found elsewhere (old calendars, pages from magazines, etc....) and glued onto the caps. I then painted the trim, flames, scallops, etc... onto them with either fabric paint or simple acrylic paints! 

Also, like the 'T's above, the caps never were meant for heavy-sweating or to be 'work-hats'! these are 'occasional-wear' items too!----

I sure hope you've enjoyed this little journey into another aspect of my little crazy-geeky-nerdy-habit of 'personalizing' / 'customizing' stuff! This time, with some of my items of clothing!

I simply believe, if you REALLY enjoy SO MUCH of all of the WAY-COOL classic pop-culture that's out there, why NOT be as loud-and-proud as you can be about your love for it! Nobody's EVER had to even guess about what the 'ol Loydster's the most into, and that's for definite and for SURE!

Stay safe, sane, and HAPPY everybody! See you next month!