The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #390 and Like a Hood Ornament #47: Rocketeer Minifigure Resin Casting Updates and Making a Game Piece 2

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #389 and Like a H90 and Like a Hood Ornament #47: Rocketeer Minifigure Resin Casting Updates and Making a Game Piece 2ood Ornament #46: Rocketeer Minifigure Sculpt-along

https://archive.org/download/podcast-390/Podcast%20390.mp3

This week, I’m continuing a project started back in episode 384, making a little game piece of the Rocketeer.  My progress on that project was forestalled due to a batch of bad silicone, and it took awhile to get a new batch.  I ended up switching to a different line within the Smooth On catalog called Mold Star 16 (since I could find it), and it ended up working out great.  To celebrate, I made little cup molds of all the pieces of the Rocketeer mini figure parts I made last time (arms, legs, torso, head) as well as finally making a mold of the Rocketeer board game piece I prepared for molding in episode 384.

I had fairly low expectations of how the game piece would turn out, but once I broke in the mold, it actually worked quite well despite the complexity and intricacy of the game piece.  

I used one of the copies of the game piece to extract copies of the rocetpack and the helmet to modify the Hero Clix figure to the left (which I sanded down a bit to prepare it for the clay additions below – adding to the arms, making the chest bib with the buttons, and the jodhpurs).  It will then need to be sanded down once cured to smooth it all out.    

I attached the head using a pin to hold it in place (in addition to some superglue).  I also angled the hed so it is looking a bit right, toward the upraised hand.  It just felt more dynamic a pose.  I just need to flesh out the smoke in back with some additional clay, sand things down, and then prime it for painting.

The first resin Rocketeer minifigure duplicate made from the figure we created last week.  So far, I made four of them.

Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #389 and Like a Hood Ornament #46: Rocketeer Minifigure Sculpt-along

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #389 and Like a Hood Ornament #46: Rocketeer Minifigure Sculpt-along

https://archive.org/download/podcast-389/Podcast%20389.mp3

This week, we are trying something slightly new.  I’m sculpting a custom Rocketeer minifigure from a base Flash figure (the DC superhero) with Aves epoxy clay in real time, and am doing my best to describe the process just through audio so you can do it at the same time if you so wish.  If you want to follow along, here are the base materials:

Tools are pretty minimal, but it may help to have an X-acto knife, some tools or pieces of thin wood to shape the clay, some Vaseline to smooth over the clay, and a Dremel for cutting down parts of the figure (if you wish – I shaved down parts of the shoulder to make the figure less top heavy) and sanding the final product.  Because of the size of the figure, it may also help to have a pair of reading glasses or a magnifying glass, though that is not required.  Good lighting, though, is very helpful (a camping headlamp can really help).

We are going to be sculpting jodhpurs, adding the front bib of the Rocketeer’s jacket, adding cuffs to the sleeves, and making the helmet.  The first four parts are basically adding pieces of clay and a bit of definition. 

 

The next part is a bit more complex – adding clay to the head and then a piece of carboard to provide structure for the helmet’s fin.  Adding clay to the outside of the cardboard piece will be stronger when it all dries than just trying to make the fin out of clay alone. 

Here is the final result.  After it all dries, I will do some final sanding to touch up a few spots.  I will also be reworking the shoulder joints a bit so they fit better.  I may also consider making molds of all the parts to be able to make resin casts of the pieces so make some duplicates.  

I am using the same rocketpack I used for the Lego minifigures since the scale is about the same, though you could make your own (for the movie version – two torso sized bullet-shaped cylinders connected by a central rectangle).  Next step after all this will be priming and painting.

If you made one of these along with this episode, send me a picture or tag me on social media!  Would love to see wat you created.

Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #388: Mega Contrux Custom DnD Thirteenth Hour Figures

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #388: Mega Contrux Custom DnD Thirteenth Hour Figures

https://archive.org/download/podcast-388/Podcast%20388.mp3

This week, I’m discussing a discovery I made awhile back when considering how to showcase figures in The Thirteenth Hour DnD style campaigns we have been doing over on the Patreon via Discord.  (I typically have a second camera set up to show an overhead view of the figures – so far, just during battles – this is an ongoing work in progress.)  I thought it would be fun to include some miniatures but wasn’t sure how to find ones that would fit. Plus, I wanted them to be able to hold things in their hands and be somewhat customizable.   Enter Mega Contrux minifigures.

Mega Bloks are a long time competitor of Lego that originally started as large scale bricks for young children, though just like Lego, they now have a number of highly complex, licensed properties more appropriate for the fingers and brains of older kids (and adults).   Mega also has much more detailed, articulated, and realistically proportioned minifigures, and those are the ones I used for making The Thirteenth Hour minifigures.  I started with a figure from their Assassin’s Creed line (I’m not sure who this guy is, but his costume has a number of similarities to the Imperial Ranger uniform – a tunic with large shoulders, grey pants, a hood, and a midsection piece that can be modified to make the triangular belt they wear).

Just like Lego minifigures, the Mega ones break apart for easy customization.  

This skirt can be flipped around to make belts when painted.

From left to right – Aron, Blake, Lance, and Wander the wizard.

Wander was made very quickly with the same base figure with a tunic and wizard’s hat made of the same material.  Added a bit of epoxy clay for hair and a beard.  As you can see, there is a Lego baseplate in the background which I have used for positioning the figures during the game.  One of the advantages of using these kinds of figures is that they have holes in their feet, making them easy to position.  Mega figures also can use the full range of Lego hand held accessories (of which there are many), which makes it nice to customize them.

Want to learn more?  Check Thirteenth Hour Arts out on Patreon!

Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #387: Packaging for Upcoming Toy Projects!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #386: Packaging for Upcoming Toy Projects!

https://archive.org/download/podcast-387/Podcast%20387.mp3

This week, I’m discussing packing for some of the upcoming toy projects I have been working on – 3.75″ Rocketeer action figures, the similarly sized Thirteenth Hour figures, and the Thirteenth Hour magnet dolls (the later two are basically part if the same project – the upcoming Once Upon a Dream LP launch.   Each of these creative projects require some way to contain their respective parts, necessitating some kind of box with decorative coverart.  While I can’t say it’s my favorite part of the whole process, I do think the packaging is of similar importance to the piece of art itself – the package is for protection, foremost, and makes it easier to ship, but it is also an accessory in its own right.  It adds to the overall experience of the toy since it may add context, additional information or other pieces to collect, and a place to house the figure when it’s not being used.   

Here are some visuals to go along with the audio.  

Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Episode #384 and Like a Hood Ornament #45: Making a Rocketeer Game Piece 1

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Episode #384 and Like a Hood Ornament #45: Making a Rocketeer Game Piece 1

https://archive.org/download/podcast-384/Podcast%20384.mp3

This week, I’m starting the process of casting part of the game piece that came with the Rocketeer board game to make a helmet and rocketpack to modify a Heroclix figure into a Cliff Secord!  We will pick this up in the new year (once I get some new silicone).  

In this episode, we’ll be taking the Rocketeer game piece, adding some vents (toothpicks) to the protruding parts of the figure when it’s upside down, since the pour spout will be the base of the figure.  I’ll be using the helmet and pack to hopefully add to the Technocrat figure 

These toothpicks will form the vents once the mold is made to carry the air out and hopefully help the areas that protrude fill.

Turns out there wasn’t enough silicone to fill even this K-cup container, so we will shelve this project until next year.  But, I was able to case the upper body, which should be enough for my original intention.

And here are some cast torsos next to the original Hero Clix game piece.  To be continued!

Lastly, last week, I was talking about a film called Max Q with Billy Campbell who plays a very Cliff Secord type of character.  If you liked the Rocketeer, you’ll probably like this film as well.  I really enjoyed it.  Sadly, it’s very hard to find, though a kind soul uploaded it to Youtube.  Check it out!  The entire playlist of all eight parts is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQt_32e40QXFA5414DrH8SiyMtyax_VmP

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Episode #383 and Like a Hood Ornament #45: Troll, Dave Stevens – Drawn to Perfection, Max Q, Airbrushing Rocketeer Figures, and Cleaning up a Resin Minifigure with Hot Water

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Episode #383 and Like a Hood Ornament #45: Troll, Dave Stevens – Drawn to Perfection, Max Q, Airbrushing Rocketeer Figures, and Cleaning up a Resin Minifigure with Hot Water

https://archive.org/download/podcast-383/Podcast%20383.mp3

This week, I thought I’d start by sharing a few things I have seen recently.  They all relate to the Rocketeer / previous show guest Billy Campbell in some way, though that was mainly coincidental.  If you get the chance to check out a Norwegian film Billy has a small role in, Troll (it’s on Netflix), I think you’ll definitely enjoy it if you like monster movies in the vein of Godzilla.  Interestingly, Billy plays a paleontologist whose last name is “Secord” … coincidence?  Hmmm …

In addition, a documentary about Dave Stevens also was just released.  If you have any interest in Dave, the Rocketeer, or comic book writers and artists in general, it was really well done.  They do a nice job at capturing the inherent loneliness that sometimes besets almost anyone who engage in a creative disciple (most of whic, in my opinion comes from the fact the artist alone know what is inside and there are always translational errors in making that vision something real in the world bound by time, skill, and other finite resources.  

Interestingly, I happened to see this comic magazine from 1983 on eBay the other day.  It was an impulse buy mainly because it had an interview with Dave Stevens in it.  Thought I would include it here since it just came in the mail and is very much in line with what was discussed in the documentary.  

Lastly, while I was looking for Dave Stevens stuff, I randomly found a film called Max Q that also has Billy Campbell in it.  He again plays a flier ut this time a shuttle commander.  So far, it has reminded me a bit of Spacecamp, one of my favorite films as a kid, and I’m quite enjoying this look at the space shuttle (which NASA no longer uses) as well as the score of the film.  Not sure where you can watch it, but a kind soul uploaded it on Youtube, which is where I found it to begin with.

Welcome to a special edition of The Thirteenth Hour Podcast with guest Billy Campbell (a.k.a. the Rocketeer)! This was initially done as a thank you for supporters of a series of charity auctions of custom Lego Rocketeers done to benefit the nonprofit Hero Initiative. You may also be watching this if you are a listener of The Thirteenth Hour podcast and unlocked this interview by answering a few trivia questions related to our guest. Or, you are watching this at some future date, probably for a slightly different but related charity project. However you got here, thanks for joining, and thank you to Billy Cambell for a fun, wide-ranging conversation about the Rocketeer, comic books, drawing, Dave Stevens, and more.

Next, I thought we’d wrap up with some more hands on stuff.  I’ve been experimenting with using an airbrush to lay down at least the first few coats on the Rocketeer action figures 

@13thhr

I’ve started painting the #resin #customactionfigures of the #Rocketeer and working on the cases. First time using an #airbrush for this kind of thing #resintoyartist #davestevens

♬ Rocketeer To The Rescue: End Credits from The Rocketeer – Dan Redfeld

Lastly, I record a section where I am using hot water to warm a resin figurine I made of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour to make the cleanup of flashing and other bits that would need to be sanded or filed away a bit easier.  I’m not sure if you can do this with all resin but at least the clear stuff it works for.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 🌄 Joshua Blum 🌌 (@the13thhr.ost)

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #382: Making Rocketeer and Thirteenth Hour Xmas Decorations

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #382: Making Rocketeer and Thirteenth Hour Xmas Decorations

https://archive.org/download/podcast-382/Podcast%20382.mp3

This week, I’m working on Christmas decorations!  Gingerbread cookies and ornaments!  Here are some of the cookies I made with my kids and then decorated:

The Rocketeer and Logan rocketing through the air (so to speak).

Since I’ve been doing resin work for a number of years, I have a bunch of mini figures lying around, so I took two and made ornaments – one metallic blue Logan and a painted Rocketeer figure:

 

I also took one of the last Rocketeer figures I made (made with clear epoxy resin with blue mica powder mixed in) with silver highlights and made an ornament out of him, too.  This one felt a bit like the tin soldier from the Hans Christina Anderson story.  He came out of the mold in a way that all his parts were mismatched by a few mm, meaning they needed to be filed and Dremmelled even, and even then, did not quite fit together right.  He is, as a result, somewhat skinnier and slighter in build than his brothers.  HIs limbs did not quite fit in their joints very sturdily, either, but after enough reshaping, I got them in.  I don’t think the joints are that sturdy, though, just because the resin I used was not terribly durable to begin with and due to all the reshaping that had to be done.  However, I painted him up with silver highlights and decided that he just needed a new, different job befitting a Rocketeer – hovering in place as guardian of the tree.  I’m glad I salvaged him from the trash heap or the Kingdom of Misfit Toys and think he looks great.

 

Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #380: Making Homemade Shrinky Dinks

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #380: Making Homemade Shrinky Dinks

https://archive.org/download/podcast-380/Podcast%20380.mp3

This week, I’m discussing how I made homemade shrinky dinks using polystyrene (#6 plastic).  I experimented with both forms commonly found mostly in food packaging – styrofoam meat trays and clear plastic takeout and baked goods containers.  Of the two, I liked the clear ones best, since not only did I find they worked better, but you could color both sides (e.g. outline one side but color the back).  I found that adding a piece of parchment or freezer paper (which has a nonstick coating on one side) over the top of the film would keep the shrinky dink from folding in on itself (a problem I experienced with both the foam and clear kinds of polystyrene).  This tip I owe to Crafsman (see below), who did a video on making DIY shrinky dinks that I serendipitously saw when I was fiddling with this.  Check out his video:

In pictures:

For this project, you can reuse #6 plastic, which is often hard to recycle anyway.

Both the styrofoam and clear plastic forms work, though I personally found the clear form worked better.

You will want to draw your design on, aiming for on the larger side if you can, as the picture really will shrink about at least 50%.

One advantage of using styrofoam is that the colors stick better.  Light colors are fine, since they will darken when shrunk.

My son colored most of this one in and added the rainbow and a little dedication 🙂

I’m glad I took a picture beforehand, as my results were not great – the picture did shrink, just not in proportional ways.  It may have been a fluke, though.  I wonder if it stuck to the piece of freezer paper I put over it or the piece that was on the bottom.

I had better luck with clear polystyrene takeout container lids.  I used Sharpie markers to color in these.

Not all of these survived, unfortunately.  Some were victims of the experimentation process as I tried a variety of unsuccessful ways with a heat gun or uncovered in the oven. Regarding the latter, without someonthing over them, the pieces would commit suicide, essentially – they would shrivel up and fold on themselves, and the hot sides of the plastic would fuse together, rendering the image unintelligible.  

This one worked pretty well.   Had a pretty big piece.  It shrank relatively proportionally.  Below are some of the more successful shrinky dinks made with this method.

Give it a try!  Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Exclusive Preview and Like a Hood Ornament #44: A Conversation with Billy Campbell of the Rocketeer!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Exclusive Preview and Like a Hood Ornament #44: A Conversation with Billy Campbell of the Rocketeer!

https://archive.org/download/podcast-rocketeer-billy-campbell-preview-for-13th-hr-pod/Podcast%20Rocketeer%20Billy%20Campbell%20preview%20for%2013th%20hr%20pod.mp3

 

 

Welcome to a special edition of The Thirteenth Hour Podcast with guest Billy Campbell (a.k.a. the Rocketeer)! This was initially done as a thank you for supporters of a series of charity auctions of custom Lego Rocketeers done to benefit the nonprofit Hero Initiative. You may also be watching this if you are a listener of The Thirteenth Hour podcast and unlocked this interview by answering a few trivia questions related to our guest. Or, you are watching this at some future date, probably for a slightly different but related charity project. However you got here, thanks for joining, and thank you to Billy Cambell for a fun, wide-ranging conversation about the Rocketeer, comic books, drawing, Dave Stevens, and more.

Speaking of Dave, none of this would have happened were it not for his many talents (writing, penciling, coloring, etc). Dave Stevens’ high flying hero went on to capture the nostalgia of a bygone era – the sights, speech, and zeitgeist of the golden age of aviation and the promise of the world of tomorrow – much of which eventually ended up on the silver screen in the 1991 movie. Unfortunately, Dave left this world for the next adventure all too soon. In honor of his work (40th years since the Rocketeer comic was first published – 1982), we wrap up the episode by speculating in “what-if” fashion about Cliff’s adventures in the early days of World War 2 in a Choose Your Own Adventure style interactive story.

Now, this episode is just a preview (about 20 minutes), but you can unlock the rest, annotated with pictures and video, by answering these four questions:

1.) In 1991, Billy Campbell played Cliff Secord, Gee Bee pilot, and of course, the Rocketeer. In the late 90s, Billy played another flyer in the film The Brylcreem Boys with Irish actor Gabriel Byrne. While Mr. Byrne wasn’t in The Rocketeer, he was in another Disney film made around the same time. Which one?

a. Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

b. White Fang

c. Shipwrecked

d. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

 

2.) Billy Campbell currently calls Norway home, and Shipwrecked was a Norwegian film directed by Nils Gaup. Earlier, in 1987, Mr. Gaup wrote and directed another adventure film, released in Norway as Ofleas. The US title was:

a. The Neverending Story

b. Time Bandits

c. The Young Magician

d. Pathfinder

 

3.) Speaking of the 80s, Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens penned the comic of the Rocketeer’s first flight in 1982. The Rocketeer comic had some information on Cliff’s background that wasn’t in the film. In the comic, prior to being a stunt pilot, Cliff was:

a. a circus performer

b. a grocery store stockboy

c. a mechanic

d. a short order cook

 

4.) Speaking of the Rocketeer, one of the beloved parts of the film, comic, and cartoon is the Bulldog Diner, modeled after a real Depression era diner shaped like a bulldog. The Great Depression spawned many infamous diner dishes using available resources. Which one of these real dishes was known as SOS (shite on a shingle)?

a. prune pudding

b. Hoover stew

c. peanut butter and mayo sandwich

d. creamed chipped beef on toast 

Put you answers in the password field below, all lowercase, no spaces, to access the rest of the episode (with pictures)! 

 

 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #372: Making more Rocketeer Figure Castings, Dragon Fall Reading Part 7, and More

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #372: Making more Rocketeer Figure Castings, Dragon Fall Reading Part 7, and More

https://archive.org/download/podcast-372/Podcast%20372.mp3

This week, I’ve been casting Rocketeers using the mold I made recently.  Working on the third copy now.  Surprisingly, I’ve been pretty happy with the mold, especially since the resin I am using to cast the limbs (Smooth On 65D) has a working (pot) life of only about 2.5 minutes before hardens, so you have to work fast.  Here is the latest guy to come out of the mold with parts from the first one post priming scattered around.

I think part of the difference here was that I used a base figure that was a little easier to work with and I got a better mold to be begin with.  

In the second part of the pod, we are reading Chapter 5 in Dragon Fall (1984) by Lee J Hindle.  

More from Dragon Fall next week!  Soon – stay tuned for a podcast exclusive episodes with actress Catherine Mary Stewart (about Night of the Comet) coming this week.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #371: Making a Rocketeer Figure Mold, Thirteenth Hour Figure Updates, Dragon Fall Reading Part 6, and More

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #371: Making a Rocketeer Figure Mold, Thirteenth Hour Figure Updates, Dragon Fall Reading Part 6, and More

https://archive.org/download/podcast-371/Podcast%20371.mp3

This week, I’ve been finishing up the Thirteenth Hour action figures.  I’ve gotten almost all of them put together and am now putting on the finishing touches.  I ended up revising the color scheme when I had to redo all the limbs so be simpler and now am glad I did – no shading, brighter colors – simpler, just like the original 5 points of articulation Kenner figures of the 70s and 80s.  Logan and Aurora on Lightning below.  Aside from some finishing touches, I just need to add some clear blue-green resin to the console on Lightning the hoverboard’s front.  You can see a slight depression there at the front, near Aurora’s feet, where the clear resin will go.

Hopefully, some of the knowledge gained there will help when making 5 points of articulation Rocketeer figures.  I just finished the mold this week.  It’s always exciting to see if your hard work and planning will pay off when you crack open the mold for the first time.   

In the second part of the pod, we are finishing Chapter 4 in Dragon Fall (1984) by Lee J Hindle.  

More from Dragon Fall next week!  Soon – stay tuned for podcast exclusive episodes with actors Catherine Mary Stewart (about Night of the Comet) and Billy Campbell (about the Rocketeer) that you can unlock!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #369: Rocketeer Custom Action Figure Updates and Dragon Fall Reading Part 4

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #369: Rocketeer Custom Action Figure Updates and Dragon Fall Reading Part 4

https://archive.org/download/podcast-369/Podcast%20369.mp3

This week, I finished a prototype of a 3.75″ Rocketeer figures made from adding clay to an Iron Man action figure I found in Walgreens.  A few pictures:

This picture shows the almost completed prototype on the left and on the right, the second one which I succeeded in taking apart before adding the clay.  I also modified the right hand to be able to hold a pistol.  The black thing on the floor is an EVA foam so the pistol can slide into it:

These are the things I used to make the head.  I cut the Iron Man head off at the neck (sorry, Iron Man) and inserted a screw into the base.  I drilled a hole in the resin Rocketeer helmet and screwed the red base into it.

This was for the second version, since in the prototype, I wasn’t able to get the parts apart first, but the process was basically the same.  Speaking of which, here’s the completed prototype:

In this version, there is no functional Mauser holster; it’s just sculpted on.  Of course, in the Dave Stevens comic (aside from a few covers) and in the film, the Rocketeer has no holster.  I think it the movie, he uses his pants pocket.  But I figured, eventually, he might opt for a holster as being more secure and convenient.  I drew him as having a holster in the game as well.

 

I have also made some sow progress on the Thirteenth Hour figures of the same size (3.75″).  I had to recast most of the arms and legs, repaint them, and then individually fit them to the torsos again after the last mishap, so at this point, hopefully that learning experience will help when making the Rocketeer figures.

In the second part of the pod, we are reading Chapter 3 in Dragon Fall (1984) by Lee J Hindle.  

More from Dragon Fall next week!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #368: Rocketeer Custom Action Figure Updates and Dragon Fall Reading Part 3

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #368: Rocketeer Custom Action Figure Updates and Dragon Fall Reading Part 3

https://archive.org/download/podcast-368/Podcast%20368.mp3

This week, I give some updates on the making 3.75 inch Rocketeer figures from the 3.75″ Iron Man toy as reading the next part of Dragon Fall (1984) by Lee J Hindle.  

A few pictures of the process of painting the figure.  The next to last photo shows a duplicate I’m sculpting except this one should be able to be dissembled for resin casting.  

More from Dragon Fall next week.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #367: Custom Action Figure Updates, Final Faction, and Rocketeer Video Game Updates

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #367: Custom Action Figure Updates, Final Faction, and Rocketeer Video Game Updates

https://archive.org/download/podcast-367/Podcast%20367.mp3

 

This week, I talk a bit about a few concurrent projects such as making 3.75 inch Rocketeer figures from a 3.75″ Iron Man toy as well as the Rocketeer video game I’ve been working on.

The Rocketeer prototype so far with the mold for the pack as well as one of the resin casted packs and the helmet (ironically, the same size helmet that I used for the Lego Rocketeer minifigures).

I did successfully get a separate stock figure cracked open and will be sculpting some clay over these parts to look like the prototype to allow for making a resin copy.

Looking forward to painting this guy and adding some details.  Speaking of painting …

I’ve been repainting The Thirteenth Hour figures (even parts that didn’t need to be painted) to reflect a simplified color scheme with more bold, primary colors.  Also reworked Logan’s arms to hopefully fit better and be more stable.

I recently went to a Dollar Tree and found the Final Faction line of toys – only $1.25 each!  It’s a surprisingly good value for the price.  There are accessories, comics, and apparently, even a cartoon show.  They may be good bases for making future Thirteenth Hour figures if I can get them apart (which I think should be easier than something like the Iron Man figure since there are screws in the back).

This is the first issue of the comic …

Someone writing it clearly had a sense of humor having a back page like this … 

Just like in GI Joe, the back of the packing has a short bio and some stats.  There’s also a QR code for the cartoon!

Progress of the Rocketeer game …  Did a bunch of pixel art and story creation this week, adding to aspects of the world of the game, like this NPC enemy, a German foot soldier.

I finally figured out flying and shooting straight and added some backgrounds.  There is now a full fledged short story behind the game as well.

More coming soon!  Will get back to reading Dragon Fall next week.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #363: Starting to Make Video Games Again!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #363: Starting to Make Video Games Again!

https://archive.org/download/podcast-363/Podcast%20363.mp3

This week, I talk a bit about two upcoming projects – starting to make video games again after a few decades of not doing it!  Though I’ve used a number of the animations and sprites I made in various things, most recently the music video of Logan using the music Jeff Finley and I made, for the most part most of the work I did making games using engines like Klik ‘N Play and The Games Factory sat mostly unused all these years.  But every now and then, I’d take a look at the games making software out there, since the dream of making a Thirteenth Hour game in some capacity has never really gone away.  Fast forward to now, and I discovered a freeware games making program called GDevelop, which seems to have the abilities of the programs I used before with more user-friendliness.   So, I decided to learn how to use the program by making a simple, one level game of the Rocketeer where he runs, shoots, and flies to escape from a facility where he’s (almost) been taken captive.  Turns out, I’ve been able to reuse some of the animations I did in the past, which has saved a lot of work of creating everything from scratch.

So, more updates to come as I learn the program and advance the game!  

Speaking of games, the second project I’m working on is learning more about becoming a DM to be able to host DnD games set in the Thirteenth Hour universe for Patreon members.  So far, I’m looking at modifying some of the existing systems out there to fit the world and the ideas I have.  So stay tuned!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #357: Making Minifigure Packaging and Finishing Night of the Comet Minifigures

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #357: Making Minifigure Packaging and Finishing Night of the Comet Minifigures

https://archive.org/download/podcast-357/Podcast%20357.mp3

This week, I wanted to share the final product of the Night of the Comet minifigures!  They’re done!  I figured out how to make the lettering on Sam’s cheerleader uniform and do the packaging so the two figures can both nest in a protective case.

This short video shows how I made the coverart to look like the original poster.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

This is what the Night of the Comet coverart looks like.  Like the other similar ones I’ve done, I’ve used Chinese characters for the title – in this case, a literal translation of Night of the Comet (彗星之夜).  I’ve taken to not using the English title with these toys partly since it makes it a little harder for the movie studios / eBay to flag it as objectionable for copyright reasons. However, the biggest reason for the dual language packaging is that it reminds me of the imported toys (which were mostly robots and little figurines from places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan) I remember seeing on the streets of Chinatown when I was a kid in the 80s.  Like the others I’ve made so far, these will be charity auctions, this time to raise money for the US nonprofit alliace4girls.  I don’t know if this was something that was done intentionally when NOTC was written, but it’s a bit unusual for the time since it’s an action movie with two female leads who not only survive but thrive by virtue of their own resources.  So I figured pairing with a nonprofit that helps support and empower girls and women would fit.

There are now three such figures in these cases!

Making the cases for the NOTC figures.  I used paper covered foam for these (don’t know if I will use that material much in the future, though).

This technique for foam pieces looks promising – using a hot knife or soldering iron to essentially cut though the foam easily with little to no mess and cleaner lines than with a traditional blade.

By the way, I had the chance this past weekend to make it to a drive in showing of a double feature of Chopping Mall and The Last Starfighter.  It was a fun time!  More coming on a Patreon exclusive episode with additional pictures, audio footage from the event, and more!

Sam, Reg, and Cliff all approve of the drive in action.

 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #355 and Like a Hood Ornament #43: Welcome Obi from Obi’s Toybox As We Talk All About the Rocketeer!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #355 and Like a Hood Ornament #43: Welcome Obi from Obi’s Toybox As We Talk All About the Rocketeer!

https://archive.org/download/podcast-355/Podcast%20355.mp3

This week, I’m joined by special guest Obi of Obi’s Toybox as we talk all about one of our mutual favorite topics – the Rocketeer!  We were introduced by our mutual friend, Adam from AC Toy Design.  The Rocketeer is a pretty hopeful, optimistic film, so I think it’s no wonder that people that like it tend to be nice people.  Yet, I seldom meet folks in day to day life that know much about the film or the comics, so aside from my family and this podcast, I mostly keep that interest to myself.  So it was a rare pleasure to be able to talk with someone else on all manner of things Rocketeer related.  A few things we touched on for reference:

The comics by Dave Stevens:

Serials that influenced Dave Stevens, e.g.:

The 1991 film:

The board game

The animated series:

Toys!

The trading cards (we open a pack on the show):

I just found this wonderful looping clip of ambient sounds and music from inside the Bulldog Cafe made by Saint Ambience.

Thanks, Obi, for coming on the show!  We will be back soon for a discussion on anther pulp hero, Flash Gordon!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #352: Musical Interlude – Making a C#m Descending Chord Progression on Synth

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #352: Musical Interlude – Making a C#m Descending Chord Progression on Synth

https://archive.org/download/podcast-352/Podcast%20352.mp3

This week, I’m making a repeating chord progression in C#m for a little collaboration with past show guest Jeff Finley, who recently told me about an instrument called a handpan, which is kind of like a steel drum you play with your hands, that, at least to my ears, sounds a bit like a synthesizer. 

He mentioned that his handpan is in the key of C#m, so we thought it’d be fun to make another piece of music together.  So this is me just starting something, and then I’ll send that over for him to add to, and we can go back and forth and see what we come up with, kind of like a remote jam session.  

After playing around with a few, I ended up liking the descending chord progression C#m A E B and thought it might be fun to see what we could come up with around that.  Though there is a bit of a melody, for the most part, I purposefully didn’t add much.  It is just those 4 chords repeated again to allow Jeff to add to it.  (Jeff – recorded this at 100 bpm with each chord held for about an 8 count.)  Looking forward to what we can make together!  

This was our last collaboration, by the way:

You can find out more about Jeff on his previous appearances on the show (episode 101, 102, and 176).

• Jeff’s Amazon author page
• Jeff’s portfolio here. 
• Soundcloud (as Starbound Renegade
• Spotify (as Starbound Renegade)
• Youtube
• Instagram
• Etsy
• And, of course, the film that started it all with Brent Simon.

In other news, I’m almost done painting the Beverly Switzler figurines for Ernie Trinidad’s postproduction backers for his Howard the Doc film.  These were tough!  I used reading glasses to see the tiny details and am glad I chose to make her eyes closed rather than open since trying to paint eyes on a figure this small is always a headache in more ways than one.  I didn’t realize I’d made so many – nine painted ones and four glow in the dark ones.  There’s definitely more than I need, so I may auction some off for charity like I did with the Lego Rocketeers.  Speaking of which, this past week, it was Star Wars Day (5/4), which is also United Nations Anti-Bullying Day (as of 2012).  Combined those two things and the Lego Rocketeer in a little skit.  There are some stills below the ones of Bev.

And the clip:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

Stay tuned to episodes on more 80s fantasy and Rocketeer content coming soon! 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #347: March/April 2022 Question and Answer Session

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #347: March/April 2022 Question and Answer Session

https://archive.org/download/podcast-347/Podcast%20347.mp3

 

This week, we have out last question and answer session!  

My brother, Jeremy, who will be on soon to discuss the film Highlander, returns this month with these questions:

1) Do you have any preference between the fantasy and sci-fi genres, and if so, why do you think that’s the case? I’m asking because some people are strictly in favor of one versus the other, and then there are those who hate traditional “elves and orcs” fantasy but really love Star Wars, which is basically “wizards in space.

 

 

2) The villain of The Thirteenth Hour, Klax, underwent quite a few changes in all of the novel’s drafts, moving from a fairly 2D bad guy to somewhat sympathetic in the final product. What makes a memorable villain in your opinion and who are some of your favorite bad guys?

 

 

 

 

3) What are some of your favorite fantasy creatures? The Thirteenth Hour has dragons and unicorns but not too many other fantastical beasts – are there some creatures that you’re interested in featuring in later books?

 

 

Check out Jeremy‘s work over at Pixel Grotto, CBR.com, and Classic Batman Panels on IG.  You can support his work on Ko-fi and get access to in-depth, exclusive Batman content here.   If you are of the DnD persuasion, his articles on DnD Beyond may be right up your alley.  Thanks, Jeremy, for coming on the show!

 

These next five comes from frequent show guest Adam from @mom_gave_them_away, who was just on the show for episodes 340–341 on Rambo/First Blood.

 

4.) I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about your favorite superhero. Let hear one for Marvel, DC and an independent publisher.

 

 

 

 

5.) The movie that scared you the most as a kid?

 

 

6.) You have to live off of one food forever, what is it?

 

 

7.) Your clone, John Rambo, has to live off of one food forever. What is it?

 

 

8.) What’s your favorite fictional female character?

 

 

Find more of Adam’s work on the interwebs at ACtoydesign and his shop of original resin toys.  He does a number of podcasts as well – I Have Spoken (a Star Wars podcast), Death by Podcast (a vintage horror podcast), and You like Toys (a Patreon exclusive podcast about toys and nostalgia). 

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions!  It was a good time these past three months as an experiment to how user generated questions would go.  Patreon members – stay tuned for more of these for the Patreon exclusive episodes in the future or to ask questions for the main podcast.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #342: February 2022 Question and Answer Session

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #42: February 2022 Question and Answer Session

https://archive.org/download/podcast-342/Podcast%20342.mp3

This week, I’ve got a few quick updates and will be digging into the second set of questions that came in.  I really appreciate all the thoughtful questions!

Before we begin, I have finally finished the Lego Rocketeer including their boxes.  Now just need to list them and get them ready for auction for two charity organizations in Dave Stevens’ name.

My brother, Jeremy, who was just on for episode 337 to discuss The Black Cauldron and who will be on soon to discuss the film Legend, returns this month with these questions:

1) What was it about films like The Neverending Story that resonated with you as a child and served as fuel for the style of ’80s fantasy that The Thirteenth Hour represents? In your mind, what do you think is stylistically different about ’80s fantasy films as opposed to the stuff that came after? (like The Lord of the Rings movies or modern day shows like The Witcher).

2) The Thirteenth Hour straddles a lot of genres and defies classification – you could call it a fantasy/young adult book, but that doesn’t quite hit the mark. What are some of the restrictions and quirks of these genres that bothered you as a kid and still bother you as an adult? (i.e.: the tendency for fantasy series to be long multi-book affairs that get a little drunk on their own worldbuilding and politics; the fact that most YA books have to fit within the mold established by Harry Potter or The Hunger Games to survive)

3) Did you ever envision The Thirteenth Hour as a comic? In a perfect world, what would a comic adaptation of the story look like in your eyes? Would you go for a long running series that expands on the mythology that you wrote, or maybe a big one-shot a la Dave Steven’s Rocketeer work that’s self-contained?

Check out Jeremy‘s work over at Pixel Grotto, CBR.com, and Classic Batman Panels on IG.  You can support his work on Ko-fi and get access to in-depth, exclusive Batman content here.   If you are of the DnD persuasion, his articles on DnD Beyond may be right up your alley.  Thanks, Jeremy, for coming on the show!

 

These first five comes from frequent show guest Adam from @mom_gave_them_away, who was just on the show for episodes 340–341 on Rambo/First Blood.

4.) Favorite Gene Wilder role, not necessarily favorite movie?

5.) Favorite toy line as a kid?

 

6.) Within that favorite toy line, what’s your favorite figure?

 

7.) Can you nail down your favorite year of the 80s?

 

8.) Did you take piano lessons, and if so, do you remember your first lesson?

 

Find more of Adam’s work on the interwebs at ACtoydesign and his shop of original resin toys.  He does a number of podcasts as well – I Have Spoken (a Star Wars podcast), Death by Podcast (a vintage horror podcast), and You like Toys (a Patreon exclusive podcast about toys and nostalgia). 

Two of my favorite GI Joe figures – Lady Jaye and Snake Eyes from the GI Joe 80s cartoon.

I don’t a lot of the toys from my youth currently with me, but have found a few in later years.  The little blue Prius from Japan is there representing Micro Machines and the Japanese import that was my first GoBot.  The blue robot is a GoBot that was my favorite as a kid, and the Air Raider pilot (which was one of the ones I had as kid), represents all the smaller size figures I liked playing with as a child. 

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions!  It was a good time.  We’ll do it again next month (for the episode to be released on 3/28/22).  If you have questions, feel free to email me them at writejoshuablum@gmail.com.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #338: January 2022 Question and Answer Session

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #338: January 2022 Question and Answer Session

https://archive.org/download/podcast-338/Podcast%20338.mp3

This week, I’ve got a few quick updates and will be digging into the questions y’all sent.  I really appreciate all the thoughtful questions!

These first five comes from frequent show guest Adam from @mom_gave_them_away:

1.) What’s your favorite 80s toy line of all time?

2.) What’s your favorite contemporary toy line of all time?

3.) If you could change one thing about The Rocketeer movie, what would it be?

4.) If there was a new Rocketeer movie, who would you like to see in the cast? Excluding the obvious choice of The Rock for the lead role.

5.) How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Find more of Adam’s work on the interwebs at ACtoydesign and his shop of original resin toys.  He does a number of podcasts as well – I Have Spoken (a Star Wars podcast), Death by Podcast (a vintage horror podcast), and You like Toys (a Patreon exclusive podcast about toys and nostalgia).   

My brother, Jeremy, who was just on for episode 337 to discuss The Black Cauldron, returns to drop the next question set:

6.) In a perfect world, if you had to pick just one, would you rather see The Thirteenth Hour visualized as a big budget movie akin to the 80s flicks that inspired you, a long-running cartoon series with one of those badass intros with dudes singing, or a retro video game like the one you tried to make way back in the day?

7.) I know that The Thirteenth Hour Book 2 has been on hiatus for a bit; has the general story changed at all due to side projects you’ve been engaged in? On that note, has the trajectory of characters like Logan, Aurora and the Wayfarer changed at all after everything that you’ve experienced the last two years as a dad raising kids in this crazy new Covid world we live in?

8.) Now that you’re a fully fledged custom toymaker, are there any other projects you want to embark upon with the characters from the book? Making Thirteenth Hour dioramas? The World of The Thirteenth Hour Guide Book? A new short story?

Check out Jeremy‘s work over at Pixel Grotto, CBR.com, and Classic Batman Panels on IG.  You can support his work on Ko-fi and get access to in-depth, exclusive Batman content here.   If you are of the DnD persuasion, his articles on DnD Beyond may be right up your alley.  Thanks, Jeremy, for coming on the show!

Wrapping us up for the first Thirteenth Hour podcast Q & A is one of my favorite people in the world, Doug Bernon:

9.) If Howard and Beverly had a child, what do you think their kid would look and be like?

10.) How do you think Logan and Aurora would have handled a pandemic?

11.) Cliff Secord’s helmet is already pretty magnificent. If you were designing one for yourself today, what would it look like?

12.) What role did the movie The Rocketeer play in your life as a kid? Is that the backstory for Logan and Aurora and The Thirteenth Hour?

You can find out more about Doug Bernon in the pages of Cruising World Magazine (he and his wife have sailed all around the world) and through pictures of bread at https://www.instagram.com/wellbredloafing/

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions!  It was a blast.  We’ll do it again next month (for the episode to be released on 2/28/22).  If you have questions, feel free to email me them at writejoshuablum@gmail.com.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #336 and Like a Hood Ornament #42: Toymaking Updates, Dave Stevens Fundraising Update, Rocketeer Cards, and Working on the Backing Tracking of a New Song

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #336 and Like a Hood Ornament #42: Toymaking Updates, Dave Stevens Fundraising Update, Rocketeer Cards, and Working on the Backing Tracking of a New Song

https://archive.org/download/podcast-336/Podcast%20336.mp3

In the first part of this show, I share a bit about a new song I’ve been working on for the upcoming Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP, Once Upon a Dream.  It’s called “No Hero.”  I’m currently working on cleaning up the keyboard riff in the background since I’m old school and have to learn to play everything first before I can record it.  One of these days, I’m going to have to go digital!  

This past week, I’ve been working on putting the Thirteenth Hour action figures together.  So far, here’s what they look like:

Logan …

Aurora …

Logan and Aurora …

I still have a few to fix / assemble.  The ones in the center right are the original prototypes that I made the molds from, and I think I’ll go ahead and paint them as well also.  Here are all the pieces and figures along with clear coated parts from the Lego minifigure Rocketeers I’ve been working on.  These pieces, when done, will be auctioned off, with all funds collected donated to The Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation (the complications of which took Dave Stevens from us) and Hero Initiative, which supports comic book artists.   

Speaking of the Rocketeer, my brother gave me some vintage Rocketeer cards recently, which I’ve been slowly opening up.  Here’s the next batch:

On the back, there is an ad for this souvenir magazine …

Inside, coincidentally, there’s an ad for the cards:

I recently discovered that the game Microsoft Flight Simulator X has a skin for the Gee Bee that is the same as the NR77V Gee Bee highlighted in the film (the one that crashes in the first few minutes of the film), which is the one that Dave Stevens showed in the comics (itself modeled after the City of Springfield model that crashed in the early 30s … though presumably, Cliff and Peevy found the remains and built it into the Gee Bee that was used the comics and the film).  Nonetheless, check out these graphics!  I know nothing about this sort of thing but next time this baby goes on sale …

 

@13thhr

Opening another pack of #vintage #Rocketeer trading cards my brother got me as a bday gift.

♬ Rocketeer To The Rescue: End Credits from The Rocketeer – Dan Redfeld

Lastly, if you have questions for the show, 1/31/22 will have a listener Q and A segment.  Thanks to all who submitted questions already!  Get your questions in by 1/24/22 for inclusion in this month’s show! Email or anywhere on social is fine.  

Thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

This winter, if you’re looking for an adult of child mask, check out Thirteenth Hour mask combo package on Etsy.  This fall, it became really hard to find good quality masks for our kids as they were going back to school.  There are still long wait times for some of the companies we like best, so I thought, why not try to find an alternative?  I eventually settled on the triple layer masks available for printing on by the company Flashbay.  They were one of the few companies I found that were transparent about their third party safety data (Junior: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Junior_REACH.pdf?v=1617870020, Adult: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Sky_Performance.pdf?v=1603078812) which is nice.  I was impressed by how well these masks performed on the filtration tests, even after repeat washings.  Also, I really liked how both the ears and nose piece could be adjusted for a good fit.

The Thirteenth Hour mask combo also comes with Thirteenth Hour hand sanitizer! (But of course.)

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #335: Upcoming Plans and Updates on Current Projects

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #335: Upcoming Plans and Updates on Current Projects

https://archive.org/download/podcast-335/Podcast%20335.mp3

In this episode, a few updates:

1.) the last episode of the month for the next few months will have a Q and A segment.  Submit your questions via email or on social media (or if on Patreon, via messaging me there or commenting on the most recent post) to be a part of the show.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be Thirteenth Hour or 80s related – anything you like or think would be interesting to discuss.  Have fun with it!

2.) A few pics of the Lego Rocketeer minifigures I’ve been working on.  They’re about 95% done.  Just some touch ups needed then will begin work on the packaging.  

3.) A picture of the current state of The Thirteenth Hour action figures.  Just a few paint touch ups there, also, and then will start assembling the figures. 

4.) Speaking of figures, I was thinking I’ve used this little bookshelf to take some pictures before, but I thought I’d use it more since it has a lot of my influences in book form! 

5.) Introducing my kids to resin over the past few weeks has been entertaining (and messy).  We’re making keychains here with a combo of Thirteenth Hour illustrations, Batman 1989 pictures, and Rocketeer stills.  The kit we received came with these little molds perfect for making keychain and charm pendants (and just right for small fingers).

The finished products!

@13thhr

Experimenting with translucent resin and some #ThirteenthHour novel and the #Rocketeer cartoon for keychains. And yes, #createdonthate 🌈 #booktok

♬ The Thirteenth Hour Theme (Synth Orchestra) – Joshua Blum

6.) Lastly, check out this meditative youtube playlist.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEw1Y93zEv0qIPKp444imEBBASYxNrPYU

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Protect yourself and others with the Thirteenth Hour mask combo package on Etsy.  This fall, it became really hard to find good quality masks for our kids as they were going back to school.  There are still long wait times for some of the companies we like best, so I thought, why not try to find an alternative?  I eventually settled on the triple layer masks available for printing on by the company Flashbay.  They were one of the few companies I found that were transparent about their third party safety data (Junior: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Junior_REACH.pdf?v=1617870020, Adult: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Sky_Performance.pdf?v=1603078812), which is nice.  I was impressed by how well these masks performed on the filtration tests, even after repeat washings.  Also, I really liked how both the ears and nose piece could be adjusted for a good fit.

The Thirteenth Hour mask combo also comes with Thirteenth Hour hand sanitizer! (But of course.)

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #332 and Like a Hood Ornament #41: Toymaking Updates, the Christmas Rocketeer Episode (20), Rocketeer Unboxings, and Reading the Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 18

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #332 and Like a Hood Ornament #41: Toymaking Updates, the Christmas Rocketeer Episode (20), Rocketeer Unboxings, and Reading the Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 18

https://archive.org/download/podcast-332/Podcast%20332.mp3

This week, we’re getting ready for the holidays by opening some presents my brother sent, watching the Rocketeer Christmas episode, discussing a few toymaking updates, and, of course, reading the next section of the Howard the Duck novelization.

As far as updates go, I’ve been sanding and painting, then sanding and painting some more.  I’ve got the parts laid out for each figure and have been painting parts of them piece by piece.

This is a preliminary idea of what Logan will look like.  Not all the colors have been painted in, obviously, but that will be the fun part – when all is painted and it’s ready to glue it all together.

Speaking of toys, my brother, Jeremy, who was last on for the Red Sonja episode, sent some Rocketeer gear, and I thought it might be fun to open it up on the show:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

Then, we watch the Rocketeer cartoon Christmas Star episode.  A few screenshots:

Now, check out the Hughesville Mayor’s Rocketeer sweater!

And check out these ornaments!  Disney, take note!

Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a holiday gift, please consider checking out the Thirteenth Hour mask combo package on Etsy.  This fall, it became really hard to find good quality masks for our kids as they were going back to school.  There are still long wait times for some of the companies we like best, so I thought, why not try to find an alternative?  I eventually settled on the triple layer masks available for printing on by the company Flashbay.  They were one of the few companies I found that were transparent about their third party safety data (Junior: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Junior_REACH.pdf?v=1617870020, Adult: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Sky_Performance.pdf?v=1603078812), which is nice.  I was impressed by how well these masks performed on the filtration tests, even after repeat washings.  Also, I really liked how both the ears and nose piece could be adjusted for a good fit.

The Thirteenth Hour mask combo also comes with Thirteenth Hour hand sanitizer! (But of course.)

Lastly, we are also reading the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.  We are almost done!  Only two more chapters to go.  This past one has some humorous mid 80s satire/commentary on politics of the day (Ronald Regan economics and priorities, the Cold War, etc).

Next week, we finish Howard!  Have a good holiday, everyone!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #327: Toymaking Updates and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 14

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #327: Toymaking Updates and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 14

https://archive.org/download/podcast-327/Podcast%20327.mp3

This week, we’re discussing a few toymaking updates and reading the next section of the Howard the Duck novelization.  Some toymaking stuff first: 

I recently finished the resin hoverboard for the mini Logan I made awhile back.  Lightning, Logan’s magical hoverboard, has this shiny aqua console in front that I wanted to make out of resin but wasn’t sure how to do.  I eventually got a passable result with Alumilite resin with blue mica powder mixed in.  After a fair amount of fiddling and polishing, then painting, repainting, etc Lightning came out all right.  I’d like to do something similar for the 5 POA Kenner style figures I’m making, since that’s Logan main accessory.  I’m not yet sure if it will be similar or different, but this was a good trial run.  You can sort of see it below next to one of said Kenner style figures, which itself is made from parts that didn’t really work for the other figures I had.  The resin in some of these limbs came out too squishy to really be used, but can’t let it go to waste, now, can we?  I’m still going to put this one together and paint it.

Below, you can see how Aurora’s torso comes out of the mold.  As you can see, there’s a fair amount of clean up needed.

Some of the figures made so far, prior to priming and painting.  I’ve made two others since and am working on a third.

Some shrunk down rocket packs done with bits of resin left over casting the limbs to the figures (more to come shortly).  This technique uses mineral spirits added to the mold mixture.  The mineral spirits slowly evaporates away, shrinking the mold.  You can see here how much these Rocketeer packs shrunk down compared to the original one made for a Reaction Rocketeer figure.

Since there’s always leftovers, I often pour them into other small molds, too.  The hoverboard above is actually the one of the left, minus the paintjob, front console, and the peg for the figure to stand on.  The synthesizer on the right is the same one I used to make one for Logan to play on – the first custom action figure I did – and used to make crayons and recycled plastic keyboards: 

I added QR codes on the back of these miniatures for songs from The Thirteenth Hour soundtrack and figured they could be kind of like 3D business cards.

For example, I thought they’d be fund additions to a Thirteenth Hour mask combo package I recently put on Etsy.  This fall, it became really hard to find good quality masks for our kids as they were going back to school.  There are still long wait times for some of the companies we like best, so I thought, why not try to find an alternative?  I eventually settled on the triple layer masks available for printing on by the company Flashbay.  They were one of the few companies I found that were transparent about their third party safety data (Junior: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Junior_REACH.pdf?v=1617870020, Adult: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Sky_Performance.pdf?v=1603078812), which is nice.  I was impressed by how well these masks performed on the filtration tests, even after repeat washings.  Also, I really liked how both the ears and nose piece could be adjusted for a good fit.

The Thirteenth Hour mask combo also comes with Thirteenth Hour hand sanitizer! (But of course)

We are also reading the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.

Next week, my brother, Jeremy, joins the show as we talk about the 1985 film, Red Sonja.  Stay tuned!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #324 and Like a Hood Ornament #40: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 19, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 11

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #34 and Like a Hood Ornament #40: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 19, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 11

https://archive.org/download/podcast-324/Podcast%20324.mp3

Welcome to the first part of the Halloween editions of The Thirteenth Hour podcast!  This week, we’re discussing a few toymaking updates, reading the next section of the Howard the Duck novelization, and watching the Halloween episodes from The Rocketeer cartoon. 

Toymaking stuff first: with the spare resin that comes from making other things, I’ve been saving a bit for these little helmets to become (once finished) to Rocketeer helmets for the Lego Rocketeer minifigures to be donated to charity auctions:

There’s always resin left over after a project, so I generally pour it off into another easy to use mold, like this one.  Some of those projects:

The Beverly minifgures – still got to clean up the flashing along the seam lines and touch up a bunch of other parts (basically consisting of lots of filing, sanding, etc. edges and other parts, perhaps also strengthening the guitar necks).  Then they will be ready for painting (at least the non glow in the dark ones).

Lastly, it’s rough, but I finally have a prototype cast Logan made from flexible Smooth-On Smooth Cast 45 D resin for the limbs and head and Smooth-On Smooth Cast 300 resin for the torso.  I might try to make one that is all made of 45 D since I might be able to make it translucent, which would be fun.  Now, it’s just a matter of fine tuning the casting process to make sure the limbs can reliably fit inside the torso – which they did on the initial non-cast prototype but somewhere along the lines, something got lost in translation after casting and tolerances that were tight are no longer. 

We’re also watching the next episode of the Rocketeer cartoon (number 19) … the Halloween episode!  Some screenshots:

You can see Kit’s dressed up like a WW1 pilot for Halloween, making her look just like Cliff in the beginning of the film or in various pages of the comic by Dave Stevens.

We are are reading the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.

The author added another humorous aside calling back to our episodes on The Wizard of Loneliness, where “Lord, love a duck” was a frequent utterance.

 

Happy Halloween!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #323 and Like a Hood Ornament #39: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 18, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 10

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #323 and Like a Hood Ornament #39: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 18, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 10

https://archive.org/download/podcast-323/Podcast%20323.mp3

This past week, I have been waiting for some new resin to arrive for the Logan and Aurora Kenner style figures.  In the meantime, I have been working on these Lego Rocketeer minifigures to be donated to charity auctions. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

The packs and helmets are being resin cast.  As I mentioned in the episode, I think I will use magnets to attach the rocketpacks, at least the ones not intended for kids.  (Rare earth magnets and small children are a bad combo).  

We’re also watching the next episode of the Rocketeer cartoon (number 18) …  Some screenshots:

… and readung the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.

The author added this especially humorous segment:

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #322 and Like a Hood Ornament #38: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 17, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 9

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #322 and Like a Hood Ornament #38: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 17, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 9

https://archive.org/download/podcast-322/Podcast%20322.mp3

This past week, I made a mold for the Logan and Aurora Kenner style figures.  There will need to be another one, since the torso halves are being made with different resin.  

Make molds can be messy business …

These guys are about to be slimed …

Like this: https://www.tiktok.com/@13thhr/video/7016844956908244230

@13thhr Oh snap! The Thirteenth Hour #actionfigures are happening! Pouring the first mold … @Smooth-On, Inc. #customactionfigures #thethirteenthhour ♬ Searching for Forever (Instrumental) – Joshua Blum

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

We’re also reading the next episode of the Rocketeer cartoon (number 17) …

And starting the next chapter of Howard the Duck from the movie novelization!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #319: Toymaking Updates and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 7

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #319: Toymaking Updates and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 7

https://archive.org/download/podcast-319/Podcast%20319.mp3

This past week, I’ve made some toy progress: 1.) on my Alumilite resin experiment – just finished this translucent metallic blue Rocketeer (Pledge Floor Polish really helps to bring back the sheen after sanding), as well as 2.) with the 5 POA Kenner-style Logan and Aurora from The Thirteenth Hour.  Logan is basically ready to go.  Aurora needs a few more details but is about 80% complete.  Once these guys are done, it will be time for making the molds and casting the pieces.  The exciting part will be assembling the pieces to see how they all fit together.

Also, I want to thank all of you who took the time to write in and leave reviews on Apple Podcasts.  The process of doing so should be easier than it actually is, especially for all the non-Apple users.  Don’t worry if you tried but it didn’t work.  Just posting it on social media and tagging me works great, too, and frankly, is probably a hell of lot easier.  Game developer Antonio Scacchetti, who left one of the reviews, was on the show twice before (see episode 123 and the 2 parter: 252 & 252).  Check out Dev9k for more info on their projects!

And now, speaking of which, back to the duck!  The zaniness continues in this sixth reading of the movie novelization Ellis Weiner, based on the screenplay by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz.  This is the section of the story where Howard rage quits, gets in a bar fight, and reunites with Beverly. 

This week’s bit of 80s trivia comes in the form of inventor and entrepreneur Sir Clive Sinclair, who sadly passed away recently.  He was instrumental in developing the pocket calucator and personal computer for the masses.  He also happened to shar a last name with a certain actor in the 1991 film of The Rocketeer, so I used that as a way to throw in a bit of 80s trivia in the short story, “The Last Rocketeer,” which you can read here.  It always seemed to me that Cliff Secord would have liked video games if they’d been invented in his day, so I figured why shouldn’t he get to enjoy them in his golden years?  1983, to be exact.

 

Lastly, all proceeds to The Thirteenth Hour Studio on Etsy over Sept will be donated to the Red Cross (RedCross.org) for Hurricane Ida Relief. Check the link below to support those affected, still in the midst of the pandemic, with 80s retro art (music-books-toys).  Your purchases help those in need get back on their feet!

https://etsy.me/34VP4tf

 

Stay tuned for more!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #318: Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 6

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #316: Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 4

https://archive.org/download/podcast-318/Podcast%20318.mp3

This past week, I’ve been experimenting with a new clear resin made by the company Alumilite, testing it out with some of my old molds just to get the hang out it.  It takes a lot longer to cure and is a bit more fiddly / messy than the others I’ve used, but each resin has its own personality, so to speak, and I like the option of being able to make clear or translucent figures, which is what this one can do.   Here’s an example of a Rocketeer one I started:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

At this point, I have a prototype of the 5 POA Kenner-style Logan from The Thirteenth Hour (I was running low on primer here and just had a bit or blue and silver paint/primer left, leaving him looking like the Tinman from The Wizard of Oz, though that will mostly get sanded down in the finishing process).  There is also the start to one for Aurora (made so far from a She-Ra torso and legs – picked because it was one of the few figures like this that came with a skirt – and an Erica (from Red Dawn) head (since she has the great 80s big hair). 

Logan here post sculpting, pre priming …

Post priming, pre sanding …

Aurora is kitbashed from two Reaction figures, as mentioned above.  I thought they did a really nice job on the head sculpt.  Usually these figures look kind of generic, but this one actually looks like the actress (Lea Thompson, who, ironically was Beverly in Howard the Duck).  Since Aurora’s personality and hair was modeled in part on Beverly from Howard the Duck, it was a nice coincidence that I could find a head sculpt that worked for this figure.  More to come in the coming weeks …

And now, speaking of which, back to the duck!  The zaniness continues in this sixth reading of the movie novelization Ellis Weiner, based on the screenplay by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz.  This is the section of the story where Howard storms out of the museum, strikes out on his own, and tries to get a job.

Totally random, but check out this Kool-Aid ad / pamphlet from probably the late 80s or early 90s.  My mother in law saved it, and it made its way to our house.  I thought, “I must share these gems with the world.”  And here it is … enjoy!  And if anyone has tried a blue Kool Aid – Jello smoothie, I would love to know what you thought.

Lastly, all proceeds to The Thirteenth Hour Studio on Etsy over Sept will be donated to the Red Cross (RedCross.org) for Hurricane Ida Relief. Check the link below to support those affected, still in the midst of the pandemic, with 80s retro art (music-books-toys).  Your purchases help those in need get back on their feet!

https://etsy.me/34VP4tf

 

Stay tuned for more!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #317 and Like a Hood Ornament 37: Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 5, Rocketeer News, and Toymaking Updates

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #317 and Like a Hood Ornament 37: Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 5, Rocketeer News, and Toymaking Updates

https://archive.org/download/podcast-317/Podcast%20317.mp3

Some interesting news this week.  The Rocketeer is supposedly getting a sequel!  Now, I am not holding my breath, since there have been sequel rumors for years, and so far, they have all died on the vine.  But it is exciting, nonetheless.  Even if nothing comes of it, if it generates some interest in Dave Steven’s original comics and the 1991 film for a new generation, I view that as a win.

One thing that does seem more tangible, since it is slated for a release next month, is a beautiful Rockeeter board game.  Now, I gotta be honest, board games have never really been my thing.  Half the time, when I read the instructions, I go, “What?  I don’t understand what the hell you are supposed to do.  Who wrote these things?”  Also, maybe once my kids are older and we can all play them together, it will be a different story, but most of the ones more complicated that Candy Landy require a level of concentration pretty much making them a no-go for the little ones.  But … that is not to say that will always be the case!  Plus, game or no game, I would buy this one for the little miniature Rocketeer figurines alone (which I was thinking of trying to make a few months ago – this saves me the trouble)!  I will be looking forward to this one this fall for sure.

Speaking of The Rocketeer, I am using a Reaction Rocketeer figure as the base of the body for a 5 POA Kenner-style figure of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour.  The head will be modified from a figure of the Charlie Sheen character from Red Dawn.  Just need to do a few more touch ups and then make it all go together smoothly.  More to come shortly.

Here are a few pictures of the Beverly minifigure I have been working on for the past few months:  Just about done, I think.  Just a few touch ups here and there.

And now, speaking of which, back to the duck!

This is the section in the story where Howard meets Phil (a young Tim Robbins).  There are some really funny asides the author, Ellis Weiner, added for this segment:

  

Lastly, all proceeds to The Thirteenth Hour Studio on Etsy over Sept will be donated to the Red Cross (RedCross.org) for Hurricane Ida Relief. Check the link below to support those affected, still in the midst of the pandemic, with 80s retro art (music-books-toys).

https://etsy.me/34VP4tf

 

Stay tuned for more!
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #312 and Like a Hood Ornament #36: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 16

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #312 and Like a Hood Ornament #36: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 16

https://archive.org/download/podcast-312/Podcast%20312.mp3

 

Today, we are again working on the start of a new music track, this time with the iOS app Auxy (laying down the backing percussion and some notes in the verses) as well as watching the Rocketeer cartoon episode number 16, one of my kids’ favorites.  Some pictures from the episode … 

 

I don’t know if this was written intentionally, but the part where Kit and Valerie go back and forth about stealing / borrowing a statue remind me of the part in the 1991 movie where Cliff and Peevy do the same thing (though the statue they “borrow” if of Charles Lindburgh, not the Rocketeer). 

It’s hard to see in the above screenshot, but the dinero Kit and Tesh are holding in this scene has Rocketeer helmets on it where the Presidential head usually is 🙂

Lastly, about a year ago, there was a tragic explosion in Beirut, Lebanon (the country where half of Kit’s family comes from).  Things had been bad for some time, but the explosion and COVID really have done a number on the people of Lebanon.  Last year and recently, I made little posts on Twitter about it, mainly to raise awareness in a positive light (things on Twitter seem to have a habit of turning negative / political very quickly).  As I mentioned there, although Kit’s obviously not a real person, if she were real, she would be trying to help in some way, and if it’s one thing the world needs more of right now, it’s more everyday people who embrace their inner “heart of a hero,” just like our friends, Cliff and Kit.

Kit from Disney’s #Rocketeer is a character of mixed European-Lebanese descent. #Lebanon has been hard hit in recent yrs; COVID has only made things worse. While Kit isn’t real, if she were, she’d try to help! #heartofahero @NicoleDubuc @kathynajimy @WOCampbell @KitanaTurnbull pic.twitter.com/71IhVFK0Lv

— Joshua Blum (@13thhr) July 28, 2021

When I think of those sentiments, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from another high flying aviator, astronaut Ellison Onizuka (RIP).

“… the people who make this world run, whose lives can be termed successful, whose names will go down in the history books, are not the cynics, the critics, or the armchair quarterbacks.

They are the adventurists, the explorers, and doers of this world. When they see a wrong or problem, they do something about it. When they see a vacant place in our knowledge, they work to fill that void.

Rather than leaning back and criticizing how things are, they work to make things the way they should be. They are the aggressive, the self-starters, the innovative, and the imaginative of this world …

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but by what your mind can imagine. Many things that you take for granted were considered unrealistic dreams by previous generations. If you accept these past accomplishments as commonplace then think of the new horizons that you can explore …

Make your life count – and the world will be a better place because you tried.”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

•  Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!
• Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi.
• Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.
• Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify,  iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.
• Follow The Thirteenth Hour’s Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.
• Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify.  Join the mailing list for a digital free copy.  You can also get it on CD or tape.
• Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.com
• Book trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXY
• Interested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book?  Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #311 and Like a Hood Ornament #35: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 15 with Production Coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #311 and Like a Hood Ornament #35: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 15 with Production Coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray

https://archive.org/download/podcast-311/Podcast%20311.mp3

Today, Esther Gonzalez Murray rejoins the show (she was last on for episode 294) to watch and discuss one of her favorite episodes.  Both of the segments that make up this episode are a lot of fun.  The show has really hit its stride by this point, as just about all the characters and villains have been introduced at least once, so even though each episode is generally meant to stand alone, there is some collective sense of history at this point that is nice.  

Some pictures from the episode … the first two involve a plot where the rocketpack is malfunctioning and gets captured by The Great Orsino (Cliff’s NY Adventure reference), who covers it for his stage act.   His assistant Deany, takes control of it for a short time and uses it to do good, but, ever helpful, not before first helping Orsino try to fly it in circles by holding him down with a tether (reference from the film where Cliff and Oeevy try something similar with a Charles Lindbergh statue).

Thanks, Esther, for rejoining the show!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

•  Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!
• Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi.
• Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.
• Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify,  iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.
• Follow The Thirteenth Hour’s Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.
• Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify.  Join the mailing list for a digital free copy.  You can also get it on CD or tape.
• Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.com
• Book trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXY
• Interested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book?  Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #307 and Like a Hood Ornament #34: The Rocketeer’s Sidearm

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #307 and Like a Hood Ornament #34: The Rocketeer’s Sidearm

https://archive.org/download/podcast-307/Podcast%20307.mp3

Today, we’re taking a short break from toys and looking at the Rocketeer cartoon to discuss the Rocketeer’s sidearm, which we touched on last week at bit when looking at the clip in the 1991 film where he acquires a Mauser C96 pistol.

I always thought it was odd Cliff is often shown (in both movie stills and the original Dave Stevens comics) holding a gun despite holding one for less than a page in the comic and for only a few minutes in the film.

In this page of the original Rocketeer saga, what is shown is the Mauser select fire M172.  You can tell by the 20 round extended magazine and the selector switch on the left hand side.

On this sketch done prior to inking and colors, you can see that the original idea was to draw something more akin to the older, more established Mauser C96 (usually chambered for the 7.63 mm x 25 round coming in an internal 10 round box magazine) – the one shown in the 1991 film and in most of the drawings that Dave Stevens did.

  

Regardless of which version of the pistol was intended, this episode touches on some history and aspects of handing and usage and what might Cliff might have had to think about had he used the Mauser pistol he is associated with more.

For background, I read about the pistol in question in this book (plus a number of other videos you can find on Youtube).

This picture shows the stripper clip method of loading – the main way the C96 would have been loaded since there was no detachable magazine, though on the M172, the bullets could have been loaded one at a time in the magazines also.

The Mauser pistols came with hollowed out wooden holsters that could serve as shoulder stocks as well as protecting the gun from damage or foul weather.  The airsoft version I’m using below also a similar (but plastic) stock. 

I’m using a gas blowback airsoft version of the select fire Mauser M712 (the one pictured in the original comic) made by the Taiwanese company WE. While the Rocketeer is often shown next to an American flag, you might think more Americana would have gone into the character design. But I think Dave Stevens intentionally picked something distinctive looking that fits with the aesthetics of the costume. The fact that Cliff does not “buy American” (so to speak) and use something like a Colt Peacemaker or a 1911 fits with the character in many ways, who is a compilation of a bunch of archetypes from the mid to late 1800s (the cavalry style leather jacket, jodhpurs, and riding boots) to the 1930s (the GeeBee and the art deco styling of the rocketpack and helmet). The intricate, well machined Mauser pistol falls solidly in between, a Victorian, already somewhat overengineered and steampunkish design by the late 1930s that was nonetheless still widely used not only by the Germans but by many other countries as well, especially China, where it even had its own nickname (盒子砲, literally “box gun,” named after the distinctive box magazine).  Interestingly the Mauser M712 was apparently quite popular there pre-WW2, as an arms embargo prevented rifles and machine guns from being imported (apparently pistols that could become carbines with fully auto capacity was an adequate workaround).   

There is a video segment to this podcast which can be found here:

 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

•  Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!
• Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi.
• Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.
• Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify,  iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.
• Follow The Thirteenth Hour’s Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.
• Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify.  Join the mailing list for a digital free copy.  You can also get it on CD or tape.
• Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.com
• Book trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXY
• Interested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book?  Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #306 and Like a Hood Ornament #33: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 14, Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Rocketeer (6/21/1991)

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #306 and Like a Hood Ornament #33: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 14, Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Rocketeer (6/21/1991)

https://archive.org/download/podcast-306/Podcast%20306.mp3

The day this episode releases will mark the 30th anniversary of The Rocketeer.  In celebration, I have a few special things for this episode, including a few accompanying video segments.  

The first is the opening of the Diamond Select version of the Rocketeer figure:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

There is also a short segment with a number of other Rocketeer figurines:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Blum 📘🎨 Author & Artist (@the13thhr)

The next segment is annotation of a short part in the film where the Rocketeer is caught in between G-men, gangsters, and Nazi storm troopers, eventually leading to those iconic scenes where he’s taking off by the American flag. 

Although he is shown in both the comic (on covers mostly) and in pictures holding a Mauser C96 pistol, he never actually gets to use it in either the film or the original comic (more next week).  This clip shows how he obtained it in the film:   

This week, I’ll finish a little Rocketeer one screen game made with the app Pixicade.  It will be a shooting game, since those are very easy to make the the built in physics engine the app has.  Here is a preliminary drawing:

 

Now onto more family friendly things!  Some pictures from the Rocketeer cartoon part of the episode:

Lastly, check out episode 43 of I Used to Like This One for a guest appearance I made on the show to discuss the 1991 film version of The Rocketeer for the 30th anniversary of the film.

Lastly, thanks for all who joined in for the live Facebook concert of Thirteenth Hour music with the custom Logan action figure that happened on 5/30/21.  You can replay it here:

Set list:

1.) The Thirteenth Hour Theme*

2.) Empty Hands+

3.) Dragons’ Eyes*

4.) Forever Young (by Alphaville, acoustic guitar cover)

5.) Dreams Go Far*

6.) I Will Remember You (by Amy Grant, acoustic guitar cover)

7.) Love, Grey Dresses, and Other Things*

8.) Searching for Forever*

 

*from the Long Ago Not So Far Away LP (https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/…/long-ago-not-so-far-away)

+from the Empty Hands EP (https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/album/empty-hands-ost)

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape – last week only!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

•  Signup for the mailing list for a free special edition podcast, a demo copy of The Thirteenth Hour, and access to retro 80s soundtrack!
• Like what you see or hear? Consider supporting the show over at Thirteenth Hour Arts on Patreon or adding to my virtual tip jar over at Ko-fi.
• Join the Thirteenth Hour Arts Group over on Facebook, a growing community of creative people.
• Have this podcast conveniently delivered to you each week on Spotify,  iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Tunein, and Googleplay Music.
• Follow The Thirteenth Hour’s Instagram pages: @the13thhr for your random postings on ninjas, martial arts, archery, flips, breakdancing, fantasy art and and @the13thhr.ost for more 80s music, movies, and songs from The Thirteenth Hour books and soundtrack.
• Listen to Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack online at: https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/ or Spotify.  Join the mailing list for a digital free copy.  You can also get it on CD or tape.
• Website: https://13thhr.wordpress.com
• Book trailer: http://bit.ly/1VhJhXY
• Interested in reading and reviewing The Thirteenth Hour for a free book?  Just email me at writejoshuablum@gmail.com for more details!