I'm Sreampunking my shed

I have decided to take back my shed from my wife and children and turn it back into a man cave.
Of course to do this many things must be moved, rearranged or very sneakingly thrown out.
This is the start , I got excited when I found my work bench under a ton of old boxes full of clothes and shoes and started to hang stuff up.

This is the Steam punk rifle I started 2 years ago, I had no where to hang it , so I stuck it in the middle of the peg board that now holds my tools.

I had some old bottles and silverware in a box, so got an old desk and pulled it apart to make a book case/ storage cabinet to hold them in. I then had the great idea to get all the brass and copper fittings and just about every plumbing piece of crap I had lying around and steampunked it.

I haven’t finished yet and I still have plans for the little cabinet that sits on top of the shelves, I will keep you posted on more developments.

A visit to the National Vietnam Veterans Museum.

One of the things that I have meant to do on my countless travels to Phillip Island but always neglected for one reason or another is to visit the National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM). For many years the museum was in what I assumed was a small hall on the outskirts of the San Remo shopping district until 2007 when it was moved into the larger and more imposing site on the Island proper at Newhaven next to the airport. This January I had only a couple of nights one weekend to join the rest of the family on a summer break, so I made it a priority to visit the museum at the first opportunity.

  Saturday afternoon I travelled across from Cowes and pulled into the museum - which from the outside is reminiscent of a basketball stadium-and, its almost empty car park, I wasn't sure if this was a good sign. The entry foyer is deceiving with the small Nui Dat Café to one side and the usual merchandising section with the counter for admissions on the other side. It was all rather small and compact. It is a wonderful deception and doesn’t prepare you when you pull open the small shop front doors to be greeted by the vast open area filled with history and exhibits. It is only when you remember the aircraft hanger size of the building that you should not have expected less. I believe it is actually much larger than it appears from the outside. 
The museum is so comprehensive in the subject it houses that there is nothing you shouldn’t have answered within its walls. The building houses no less than three complete helicopters including a Cobra Attack Helicopter., a Centurion tank, a Howitzer artillery gun (compete with parachute suspended from the ceiling), transport vehicles as well as many smaller models and dioramas. These items alone will fascinate the kids. I however was fascinated by the detailed listings of those who served and died as well as the large ephemeral collection, including newspapers, log books, beer cans, script currency and the many photos of diggers doing their daily deeds at rest as well as in the field.


One of the most stunning exhibits is the Sound and Light Show This world-class program is a short history of the Vietnam War using multi media and holographic technology, an informative show lasting eighteen minutes that leaves you much wiser and probably more than a little amazed at the brilliance of the presentation. Moving between exhibits and pieces you will find complete uniforms from different services as well as support staff, with a collection of arms and munitions. The Museum also doesn’t shy away from the negative aspects of the times with many articles and videos of the protests and anti war movements that were active during the wars latter years. It also has a set of the infamous marbles used for the ballot to conscript young men into the services.

Though the Vietnam War was smaller in commitment and territory than World War One and Two, Australia’s involvement actually lasted longer than the latter two combined. And when this is taken into account it highlights how much the Vietnam War had an effect on a country finding its own identity leading up to the 21st Century. Though I have mentioned the size of the Museum’s area of exhibition, it is not to you move towards the rear that you get another glimpse of the potential of this museums growth. At the back half of the building is the aircraft restoration area where two massive Wessex helicopters (one partial, one close to completion) are housed and an even larger Canberra bomber with its wings standing beside it, by far the largest piece of the collection and dwarfing all other pieces. This place is so big and full of interesting things that you don’t see it until you’re on top of it.

 I grew up watching the Vietnam war on TV every night and it seemed to desensitize me to what was really going on and I don’t remember talking about it with my family or friends, not even at school. It just seemed to be in the background through my pre-teen years. When I did start to pay attention (though not to intensely) in my latter teens it was the different way the Vietnam war was portrayed compared to other current wars. The First World War was about farmers (like granddad) rushing off to the other side of the world and then coming back to farm again, on the way giving us a day off from school. The Second World War was all about the Americans and the thousand and one movies I watched showing us how they won the war for everyone. Whilst the older kids I knew whose dad’s went to war all seemed like normal dads and not a bit like the Americans. The Korean War was M.A.S.H as far as I was concerned, but the Vietnam vets were portrayed as unloved, unwanted fighting a war no one wanted. In most movies they were cast as crazy loners who didn’t fit in and didn’t want to talk about it. Eventually, as I grew older I realized all that most of all the above was pure toss and things weren’t as simple as I first thought. The National Vietnam Veterans Museum gives a comprehensive view of the history of the war, the times it was set and the effect it had on Australia and the rest of the world . The whole presentation is done in a way that makes it stimulating and entertaining as well as thought provoking whilst all the time being very informative. In closing the museum is excellent value for money and worth a repeat visit.

Originally printed in the April 2013 edition of the Basin Boronia Community News

At Last Some PusherJones Buzz..

Finally Pusher Jones are coming good with the cartoon side of their virtual band project.
Bass player Dominic gives an interview on Phoenix Music on line

Artist I admire and respect:Steve Austin

When the second phase of the Game of Kings project was realised it was decided that to expand on the original concept would require many more artists. These guys were fans of the project or were admired by the artists from the first phase, usually both. Steve Austin (under Ausven) was one of the first to gleefully accept; along with Peter Fairfax (under the pseudonym Sturstein) they contributed way beyond the call of duty and then some when they combined to panel out some of the story into graphic novel format. Peter deserves his own profile, so more on him later, Steve Austin a likeable English chap with a young family was so enthusiastic and quick with ideas and artwork he almost single handed kept the project exciting for me personally and I’m not drawing a long bow but say Simon was as well.
Since then Steven has managed to place or win in several Red Bubble Competitions where he is a very popular artist.
As a free lance artist he has been showing off his skills on his Facebook page and his dedicated web site and has a growing fan base. Here are some of his drawing that he was trailing for 2000AD and other artworks. Oh and by the way did we mention he does album cover art.(see below)
A great talent that will no doubt be a household name in the future.

 

Zombie Circus EP cover

 Cover for the single by Aussie artist Preston Pierce

Alan Moore Movie JIMMY'S END

Alan Moore has spent a great deal of time and given up a shit load of money protesting about how his works have been treated when turned into films.
Well he has finally found one he totally endorses.
Mind you he wrote it and has a cameo in it as well.
A well produced short film that has some sinister overtones.
It has everything in it that you'd expect from an Alan Moore script.

THE FULL SHORT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS THE FREE VIEWING TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO INSTEAD HERE IS THE STORY BOARD ANNIMATION

To contribute to this growing project watch this and donate HERE

Guitar Shop

The boy and I were mucking around the other night when we realized how many guitars (or more correctly stringed instruments) we had lying around the house, in cupboards, under the beds, in the attic or shed. So we dragged them all out and had a little reminisce of each piece and their history and possible future. 

No.1 is my 50th birthday present and my pride and joy an RH Ibanez ASF-80 semi acoustic because I really admire the playing of Mike Nesmith from the Monkees. 

No.2 Liam’s LH ESP LTD, this is his live guitar and he throws it around like it cost $50, it’s forever being tweaked and repaired but sounds insane. 

No.3 A Vantage RH with nylon strings that we forgot we had.

No.4 A Violin we bought for $40 to hang on the wall as art, we also use the bow every now and then on the guitars for effect. 

No.5 An ancient Eston Mandolin that is unplayable but also sits on the piano for show. 

No.6 RH Daion Strat copy, this guitar hold a soft spot in my heart because it was something that kept me happy during years of inactivity, I have promised Liam when he gets some decent paying gigs in front of a good crowd he can re string it to left hand and smash the shit out of it Jimi Hendrix style on stage. 

No.7 A strange no name RH acoustic with a funny fender style head stock I bought in a second hand store on Phillip Island, I just like the look of it. It plays horribly and can’t stay in tune. 

No.8 A Christmas present from Liam, a ION reversible All star guitar that fits my iPad or iPhone and lets you use garage band in ways no originally thought possible. A brilliant recording tool, especially for keyboard and string pieces. 

No.9 My RH Essex cut away acoustic, obscured here but by far my favoutite instrument. Just so light and rings beautifully. Superb action. 

No.10 The first guitar I ever bought (but not my first) a RH Yamaha. Bought 4th Feb 1980 at Brashes Chadstone. Only a trophy now as I warped the neck over the years by leaving in the car on travels around the country. 

No.11 LH Greg Bennet, Liam’s back up guitar. Reliable and tough. 

No.12 LH Washburn acoustic with pick ups, a wonderful guitar with a lovely sound, nothing is lost through the pick ups. 

No.13 LH ¾ Valencia acoustic, the guitar Liam learnt to play on, still used extensively at parties and parks or busking and is virtually unbreakable. This will end up in a museum one day. I restrung it and is the only guitar I ever had to for him as I thought if he plays left hand he shouldn’t be disadvantaged by only playing upside down right hand guitars. Though he does play upside down right handed guitars quite well. Note: 

Though I’m partial to the Telecaster, I have never been a massive fan of Fender and Gibson guitars and the myth built up around them. As the boy says “They just had a lack of choice back then”.

Raven On

A collection of Raven art by yours truly from the last 5 years on the Red bubble site.
Those hyperlinked are for sale as T Shirts on the site.


The Raven comments on the coming apocalypse

Quoth the Raven " Whatever!"

Regard not these scavengers

 The young wife of the captain wailed hysterically as she cradled his head on her breasts swelled as they were due to the lateness of her pregnancy. The battle was over and only the slain remain, her husband one of the many. His sword still clutched in his lifeless hand. On a nearby branch two crows waited patiently for her to leave. Aware of their presence the young wife began to dig a shallow grave to protect her lover from scavengers. For hours she scrapped with only her hands until with only her strength of will to help her dragged her husband, armour and all into the shallow pit where she laid down beside him and passed away from grief and exhaustion.
The crows’ patience had paid off well.

This years model (available as T Shirt)

faaaark yeah!  (available as T Shirt)