The Call of the Sea

As he often does, Dan Baines has kicked his FeeJee Mermaid display up another notch.  He's now added an automated sideshow barker that performs a traditional callout for passers-by.   You'll find the previous installments about his build over here.

Of Dubious Origin

Tóbal returns to our pages with a teaser for the Dubious Expedition. Those specimen tags are awesome.

Cthulhu Fhtagn! Leach Edition

Rick Leach brings us this excellent Cthulhu sculpt. One of the marks of a truly talented sculptor is their ability to create a symmetrically balanced figure with asymmetric details. 

The Devil's Archer

Emily Holland brings us the natural projectiles fired by the Devil's Archer plant of the planet Ilion.  The hollow thorns are used to pump digestive fluids into the unfortunate victim. 

Stuff

You may have noticed posting has been a bit dodgy over the last week or so.   I've also been absolutely terrible about getting back to folks that have emailed me.   For that I sincerely apologize.   I've been working through some elder care issues and it's eating up a huge amount of my time. 

The only thing worse than getting old is watching your parents get old. 

Bob's Bits

Bob's Bits is a UK business that provides props and prop components for film and television.  Their website is filled with dozens of cool props kitbashed together from the hundreds of parts they have available.  I'll warn you ahead of time-  follow the link and you'll  find yourself wasting hours browsing the site.

The Watson Pistol

CoastConFan has an interesting look at just what kind of revolver Dr. Watson carried during his adventures with Sherlock Holmes.

We find out in A Study in Scarlet, by Arthur Conan Doyle (written 1886, pub 1887) that Watson got his medical degree in 1878 and at some point afterward he joined the British army (rank unknown), at some time and then attached to the 66^th Berkshire Regiment of Foot (no doubt in the capacity as doctor).  He was wounded during the 2^nd Anglo-Afghan War at the Battle of Maiwand (27 July 1880).  Doyle may have also lumped in the catastrophic retreat to Kandahar into the action, but probably not the subsequent  Battle of Kandahar and relief itself.  Dr. Watson survived the battle and his wound, and he recuperated for a few months (presumably in India or possibly South Africa) before returning from overseas to London and leaving the army.  That would make it at least 1881 (with travel time added) or so that Watson meets Holmes in London, presuming they met fairly soon after his arrival. 

Speaking of Watson's gun, I'd love to see someone tackle is Dr. Watson's private file box from the opening of Billy Wilder's "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes". I'm afraid I don't have enough experience with vintage firearms to try and identify the gun he uses in the film.