I Got Some New Toys… HG Gypsy Avenger DX Set and Some Paint

Boi … It’s been a while since I last posted. I’ve had a fair few real life issues to deal with but not to worry I have new toys, RPG’s, and stuff to ramble and talk nonsense about.

I’ve a bit of a 2 for 1 deal for today’s post. The first new toy to ramble about is….

My new toy is the High Grade Gypsy Avenger DX Set from Bandai based upon the Jaeger of the same name from the film ‘Pacific Rim 2’. 

Incase you guys are interested I was able to pick up my Jypsy Avenger from the folks over at Dublin City Comics and Collectables.

There are two different kits available from Bandai for Gypsy Avenger, with the DX Set being the more expensive of the two (as it comes with a stand and a LED light).

If your fimiliar with Bandai’s Gundam model kits than you’ll know what to expect from Gyspy Avenger out of the box.

Inside the box you’ll find a number  of plastic runners, a display stand, the LED unit, and the instruction guide.

Straight out of the box Gyspy Avenger is nice and detailed. I’m especially liking the level of detail in the chest and stomach area.

The LED that comes with the DX Set inserts thru the back panel of the kit, and adds a cool reactor power effect.

If your a fan of mecha designs or of the film series, it’s a pretty nice kit with some nice extra’s. I thought I would take my kit one step further…

And now for your bonus part….

A while ago I heard about Greenstuff World Colour Shifting Paint, and thought ild get myself a pot or 2 to try out.

I picked up the Celestial Azure colour as it best matches the Box Art.

To use Greenstuff Worlds Colour Shifting Paint, it’s recommend that you first ‘Prime’ your model with a Black Primer, and then apply a gloss vanish to the parts to be painted.

For best results, ild recommend using an airbrush, but they can also be applied using a brush. As I don’t own an Airbrush, I painted my kit by brush… Just remember to do 2 thin coats.

I’m not actually messing about the 2 thin coats bit. If brushed on too thick, the Colour Shift Paint will pool and be milky (at least that’s my experience).

With just a quick dry brush to the Jaeger’s ‘inner frame’ and with nearly half the frame painted, Jypsy Avenger is looking good. Here’s a closer look at the chest an shoulder.

I gave the display stand that came with the kit a repaint while I was at it, and all in all I think I did a decent job of it.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the table.

– from The Man Cave

Set Condition One: Reinforcements Inbound

A number of months ago TTcombat released experimental rules for a new class of ship useable for 2 factions in Dropfleet Commander (UCM and the PHR factions).

Myself and others threw money together to avail of their free shipping offer at the time and ordered a bunch of stuff. Personally I got my self 2 of the new Centurion Cruisers and the Command Cards for my UCM fleet.

I’ve a large backlog of mini’s of the minute so it has taken me a while to getting them painted up.

I love the design aesthetics and fluff behind the Centurion and can’t wait till I get a chance to put them on the table.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the table.

– from The Man Cave

I Ain’t Dead, Just Taking a Break

A quick PSA for any that might be interested.

Just incase some have been wondering, I ain’t dead, I’ve just been taking a break.
Due to a wide range of issues from health to personal life, I’ve been quiet a lot lately (with all the stuff going on one after another I could write a Country and Western song), but the show must go on, if only for my own sanity.

I’ve a few things lined up and another few things in the works, so be sure to check back soon, if only to see what goodies I’ve gotten my hands on.

Con Decompression Part 2: Cosplay

So welcome back to Part 2 of my Con Decompression. Dublin City Comic Con Anime Edition has still come and gone, and I’m still trying to decompress from it all. Still trying to quantify, correlate, and find the words to describe all that I saw and experienced. This time round we’re going to ramble and talk some nonsense about Cosplay. 

Now if it’s your first time hearing the word ‘Cosplay’, don’t be afraid. It’s not some crazy cult or some adult only game. Cosplay is basically dressing up as your favourite anime, manga, cartoon, comic book, video game or movie character. Think Halloween at a Con and you’ve got it.

You’ll probably want to go get a cup of tea or coffee before you buckle yourself in, as again this is probably going to be another long one.


I would first like to take a few moments to talk about ‘Cosplay is not Consent’.

If your not fimiliar with this concept/ code of conduct , or new to a Convention that has a Cosplay presence please allow me to fill you in (Parental tone activating ). 

Just because someone, whether that is a Man, Woman, or Child has gone to a Convention in Cosplay, it does in no right allow/ or entitle you:

• To Touch that person in anyway.
• To jump around that person in excitement or something similar.
• To pressure that person into taking a photo with you or by you.

What is expected of you is:

• To ask the person for permission to either take a photo of them or with them.
• To respect a persons personal space.
• Not to pressure the person in Cosplay for photos, signatures etc.
• Not to stare at a person in Cosplay. Certain characters from Anime, Manga, Video games are hyper sexualised. Some of these elements may carry over to a persons costume but please, there’s no need to stare.
• Cosplayers are artists, some have spent hours and maybe months working on their costumes so compliments are always welcome. Just be cool and kind.

(Parental tone disengaged)

Now just for the record I asked people in Cosplay if I could take their photos while at the Con, and they were cool with that.

Located on the ground floor of the Convention Center, just behind the traders could be found the Cosplay Village.


The Cosplay Village showcased an exhibition of professional Cosplayers, a repair station (to repair any unfortunate damage to ones costume), a makeup station, an exhibition of movie props, and a number of photo sets. Which I have to say was a great and unexpected inclusion.


The photo sets ranged in theme from Anime, to video games to movies…

As well as the Cosplay Village there were a number of panels and workshops running through out the weekend at the Cosplay Academy.

Some of the Cosplay panels included talks about Photography, How to take measurements for your costume, makeup, and how to choose a Cosplay character. 

The workshops focused on working with ‘Worbla’. ‘Worbla’ is a thermoplastic modelling material, similar in regards to EVA foam. Which when heated can be formed into different shapes, to make items such as armour and weapons. It is quickly becoming the go to material for Cosplayers.

These panels and workshops were in great demand at the Convention and I was unable to attend all of them.

The Cosplay segment of Dublin Comic Con Anime Edition concluded on Sunday with a Costume Contest hosted by Wayne Talbot of Rogue Comics and the Irishpubcast podcast.

All in all I think it was a great turnout over the weekend from Cosplayers and fans alike. It really goes to show how big the Irish Cosplay community is, and how big the Anime, Manga, Comic Book and Video Game community is that it deserved a Con focusing on itself, instead of being mixed in with a larger Convention.

Over the weekend  I met some awesome people and I’ve included some more photos of their awesome Cosplay costumes.



Until next time, I’ll see at the table.

– from The Man Cave 

Con Decompression Part 1: Guests and Trade Hall

Dublin City Comic Con Anime Edition has come and gone, and I’m decompressing from it all. Trying to quantify, correlate, and find the words to describe all that I saw and experienced. I’m going to have to divide it up into parts just so I can do justice to the Con.

You’ll probably want to go get a cup of tea or coffee before you buckle yourself in as this is going to be a long one.

It was a frantic weekend, but a brilliant weekend. I filled up my memory card with photos, video and interviews… And in typical Man Cave style a good chunk is unusable due to either bad sound, people photo bombing or plain old shaky hands syndrome.

Protips for moving forward:

• When taking a photo, check photo before moving on.
• When doing an audio recording, do a test recording first.
• Note to self, stop drinking so much coffee.

I hope I salvaged enough to give you a feel for how good the Con was, and I hope you forgive my rookie mistakes. So with that being said, lets move on…

 I was able to attend the guest panel Press meeting which consisted of (both Brent Spiner and Tara Strong weren’t in attendance as they had prior engagements):

• DC Douglas (Legion from Mass Effect 2&3, Albert Wesker from Resident Evil, Chase from Transformers Rescue Bots, Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans) 
• Kira Buckland (Power Puff Girls, Blue Exorcist, Nier: Automata, Sailor Moon, Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans)
• Eric Stuart (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dinosaur King, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
• Seth Gilliam (whose film and tv credits include Starship Troopers, Oz, The Wire and The Walking Dead)

 They were honestly fun and friendly people. Answering questions about their careers and freely offering antedotal stories from their careers. 

…and I was lucky enough to get a few minutes with DC Douglas.

I hadn’t quite realised just how tall of a man DC Douglas was prior to meeting him. 

As for the con itself, it was hosted in its traditional home of the Dublin Convention Centre located on the Dublin Docklands. 

As it was the first ‘Anime Edition’ of Comic Con’s in Dublin, it spanned the entire ground and first floor of the Convention Centre. 

The ground floor consisted of exhibitor/ trade hall, the cosplay village and photo sets. Personally, I wish I was a richer man, as there were so many goodies on offer from vendors. There was Asian treats from vendors such as Minamofoods and Kantanliving. Comics, graphic novels, figurines, toys and Gundams were available from vendors such as Dublin City Comics & Collectables, Big Bang Comics and Planet Minifigures to name a few….




… And there were cosplay and ancillary items available from vendors such as Hogwarts Wands, Otakuninja, Viking Drinking Horns, and The Cosplay Village to name a few.

Oh god it’s a good thing I don’t have a credit card, and that they don’t accept children as payment …
– from The Man Cave

The Man Cave talks with Rogue Comics

The Man Cave had a chance to speak with Wayne Talbot, Creative Director of Rogue Comics (not Rouge Comics).

Rogue Comics are a Dublin, Ireland based Independent comic book publisher. Founded in 2017, Rogue Comics strive to be a portal into the world of Indie Comic Books for creators who just want to tell great stories.

Some of their published works include The Broker, Red Sands, and Ocean City.

The Rogue Comics team consists of:

• Ciaran Marcantonio – Editor in Chief
• Wayne Talbot – Creative Director 
• Kevin Keane – Art Director 
• Gillian Dempsy – Managing Editor 

Rogue Comics website can be found Here, and if you’ld like to drop them a line, they can be contacted Here.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the table.

– from The Man Cave 

A meeting with DC Douglas

The Man Cave had the chance to sit down with the man of many talents, DC Douglas at Dublin Comic Con Anime Edition.

I am grateful for the opportunity to sit down with an Artist that I admire.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the table.

– from The Man Cave

Dublin Comic Con Anime Edition

At the weekend marks a first. Dublin (Ireland), first Anime inspired ‘Comic Con’ (Now I know there are other Anime Conventions in Ireland and I am in no means trying to diminish them, but this is the first Comic Con I can flither about at).

Now unfortunately I can’t go and geek myself out for the weekend, due to the usual suspects (work and family), Booo!!!

But…. I have managed to nab 10 minutes to speak to the one and only D.C. Douglas…

Some maybe fimiliar with the name, D.C. Douglas has provided the voice talent for characters such as Legion from Mass Effect 2 & 3, the voice of Albert Wesker from Resident Evil, as well as working on Star Wars The Old Republic for computer games to name a few.

He has provided his voice for numerious other animated projects as well 

Cyborg 009: Call of Justice – Professor Steven Archimedes

Durarara!!x2 – Additional voices

Erased – Kitamura[22]

Fighting Spirit – Genji Kamogawa

Hajime no Ippo – Champion Road (special) – Makunouchi Ippo

Hunter x Hunter – Shoot McMahon

Kyo kara Maoh! – Shori Shibuya

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans – Jasley Donomikols

Naruto: Shippuden – Gari[23]

One Piece – X Drake[24] (Funimation dub)

His film credits include Black Ops with Lance Henriksen, Universal Remote: The Movie with Charles Q. Murphy, the cult surprise Sharknado 2, and Helen Alone with Daniel Baldwin; Hallmark Channel TV movie Final Approach with Dean Cain; and the Lindsay Lohan “comeback” film Labor Pains on the ABC Family channel.
 His Television credits include The Bold and the Beautiful, 24, Star Trek: Enterprise, NYPD Blue, ER, Charmed, Without a Trace among others. He most recently appeared in CBS’s NCIS, Criminal Minds, ABC’s Castle, Comedy Central’s Workaholics and Fox’s Raising Hope.

I have a few questions i’ld like to ask him, but what about yourselves? 

If you have a Question you would like me to ask D.C. Douglas leave a comment below. I can’t guarantee that I’ll ask him, but I’ll try.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the table.

– From The Man Cave

My 30 Day World Scifi Version #7

#my30dayworld

Question #7: What’s your world biggest secret?

Answer:

The closer one gets to the visible source of power, the further away one gets…

My 30 Day World #7

#my30dayworld

Question #7: What’s your worlds biggest secret?

Answer:

The city has always been the city. The city has always been here. Its founding, lost to the passage of time. No record survives as to its founding or as to why it had to remain shrouded in mystery and secrecy…
… But someone remembers and all that glitters is not gold.