When I was ordering from AliExpress, the only option available was without a box, so I’ve got mine wrapped in a bag.
Lego model was divided into 23 bags, although some contained smaller bags inside. CaDA divides its bags into 7 groups, each group is about 8 bags. And some extras, like wheels and tires. Wheels are slightly smaller than of McLaren P1, not sure what’s the reason for that, as both should be 1:8 models.
Lego is often criticized for using blue pieces. Those provide more friction, but they do stick like a sore thumb if left exponsed, like on the McLaren P1 front panel. No blue pieces in those bags. We’ll have to see if CaDA uses same color for pieces of different friction, or they just use frictionless black pieces for everything.
Category: *.BAK
7th bottle from the Advent Calendar.
I hate when whiskey producers come up with those witty names. How am I supposed to search for whisky called “the one”?
In any case, whiskey is not just about taste, but also about price. This is a blended whiskey, but at least it’s 46% ABV, and it costs just 35GBP, which is quite impressive for what it delivers.
Categories
Mousin Weasel Sprint
I decided to take a break from painting Warhammer to painting an alternative model, picking Mousin Weasel Sprint printed by someone from Etsy. Those can be printed in multiple sizes, I went with 100mm.
The problem with 100mm started pretty quickly, as there’s a single spoke that attaches the weasel to the base, and it’s quite heavy, so after gluing, that spoke just broke off and stayed stuck in the base. I’ll need to figure out how to attach it to the base safely later.
The same happened with the mouse tail. But after a couple of attempts, I managed to glue it back together.
Priming it was surprisingly easy. Maybe because it is a larger model, or diffirent plastic that the one Games Workshop uses, but one coat of Abaddon Black was enough. Shading a larger model is tiresome, though. Or maybe I needed a larger dry brush.
Categories
Lego McLaren P1 42172
Over New Year I finished my Lego McLaren P1. As I predicted, two wrong pieces in bag 11 came to haunt me in bag 23, the last bag, as the engine lid wouldn’t close properly.
Luckily, Lego has a piece delivery system, which doesn’t even require receipts. You just specify which set you are doing and what pieces you are missing.
I’m glad that I submitted the request on the 1st of January, because I received the items only a couple days ago.
But now it’s finally complete. Took 23 sittings, per number of bags, and around 15 hours in total. I didn’t try to rush it, though, had no reason to.
Next, I’ll give CaDA a try.
Categories
Imperial Iron Brew, Vault City Brewing
I’m not a fan of sours, but this one, which resided in my fridge for at least a year, was actually pretty good. So much strawberry I couldn’t believe it didn’t have any additives to it. Overall, great one, as expected from Vault City.
Also, let’s just appreciate for a moment this peach color.
Categories
Whiskey Advent Calendar
5th bottle is Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask. I’m familiar with Kavalan through their Concermaster, and Triple Cask is no different. It is sweet, if I’d prefer it to be at least 46% instead of 40%. The problem is that this bottle costs 81GBP. For that price, you can get yourself a nice sherried Cask Strength.
6th bottle is Uncle Nearest 1884. It’s a bourbon. You can taste the corn, and it has a surprising afterwarmth to it. But not something I would buy, despite a reasonable price of 55GBP (when available).
Categories
Painting Scabbik’s Plaguepack
Over Christmas, completed my Scabbik’s Plaguepack.
I was preparing so much to glue them, only to discover those are push models. Well, I’m not one to complain about that.
The real challenge if those Skaven models, in addition to regular warpstones, and the tails, are the plumes of smoke that come from their censers.
I tried drybrushing metal, but it mostly got thrown away.
Pleased how pink parts worked, with Bugman Glow, then strangely enough Berserker Bloodshade, then highlight with Bugman Glow again.
I’ve never seen bones/horns done in blue (I don’t remember this particular contrast paint, maybe Kroxigor Scales), but I did it for contrast mostly.
One thing I plainly lack is the discipline to photo the process under the same light all the time.
Categories
Kyro Malt Rye
4th taster is from Finland. I’ve had rye whiskey before in New York, and it tastes quite similar, like a rye toasted bread. Not my favourite taste. At 47 ABV it leaves plenty of pleasant warmth, though.
Categories
Lego Technics alternatives
Lego Technics sets are pricey. They are aimed at adults, but still, those usually cost around 300GBP. So there are plenty of Lego enthusiast that advocate for alternative brands: CaDA, Guly, Nifeliz, Mould King.
But here’s a thing. A lot of those alternatives don’t come in fancy boxes. Sometimes, you need to pay more to even get a box. Some have missing parts or even missing bags. And most of those models are not licensed: so you have names like Assassin instead of McLaren P1.
And once some of those alternatives like CaDA grow big enough to provide all of the above, guess what? They cost not significantly less.
Categories
Amrut whiskey
2nd bottle was Teeling, an Irish whiskey I’m familiar with. I usually don’t drink single pot still whiskeys, but this one was quite nice, at 46% ABV. If I was told it’s Scotch, I would have believed it.
So jumping straight to 3rd taster, it’s Amrut. That’s a whiskey I’ve actually been waiting for. As I probably mentioned ready, Scotland and Ireland, best known for their whiskeys, are also the worst countries to make whiskeys. Taiwan, Israel, and now India figured that out. I assume this is the regular Amrut, as there’s just the 46 ABV statement (so not cask strength), and not peat in it (so not the Fusion, I guess). Also, there is no age statement. But, it is great: very sweet and rich, like some of the better sherry Scotch whiskeys. For its price of 43GBP, it’s a bargain.
I’m a big fan of firearms history, so I was excited to learn about Mateba pistols, which are quite crazy:
Also featured here:
Categories
Genevieve, Brasserie Thiriez
There are multiple beers from differenent breweries named Genevieve. This one is from France, not a country associated with beers, although the town it’s brewed in is pretty close to Belgium, so maybe that’s the reason. I brought this beer from Denmark, since it wasn’t big on beer shops.
It’s supposed to be Belgian style tripple, but it doesn’t looks nor tastes like one. It’s not bad, just very different, almost more like an oaked cider than a beer. No head, but plenty of bubbles, just like in sparkling cider.
I said in the past that I’m yet to find a barrel aged beer I didn’t like. This might be the one. Although those are gin barrels, if I’m not mistaken.
Rukkatrukk from its event (I think):
Actus and Exitor-Rho from pulls:
Those two are considered good, but I’m still missing Tan Gi’da for full Mech team.
Tankmasha from farming the shop:
Finally Titus from the shopping event.
Titus is the one I wanted since I started playing, he’s incredibly powerful for being able to ressurect if he kills an enemy with his Vengeance.
The shopping event also brought me much closer to obtaining Marneus Calgar, most expensive Ultramarine character. He’s farmable, but the closer the better. I’m now 430/500 shards, which means it’s possible to farm him in a couple of weeks.
Categories
Abasolo whiskey (Mexico)
1st from the Advent Calendar.
When I was picking a whiskey advent calendar last year (actually, it was this year, in January), I decided not to go with Scotch whiskey, as there’s a good chance I would be familiar or even own half of it. So, despite not being a fan of anything but Scotch, I bought the World Whiskey Advent Calendar by Drinks By The Dram.
First one is a corn whiskey from Mexico. I never ever heard of Mexican whiskey, and only had corn distillate in bourbons. The color is very light, and the taste is surprisingly good, despite 43% (at least not 40%!).
You can taste the actual corn, it’s smooth and quite sweet. And for 43%, it actually hits pretty hard. For 39GBP, that’s actually pretty good deal.
Categories
Old News Alligator Wine, Randers Bryghus
This barley wine I found in Aarhus airport by complete coincidence. While often barley wine is akin to Imperial Stout, this is more of a belgian quadrupel. Amber in color, with no head (expected) and no sediment (unexpected). The taste is also less sweet than expected, with a bit of bitter aftertaste. For the price, it’s an absolute banger, if only it was exported.
Categories
Tres Diablitos beer, Coolhead Brew
I mourn for the day I’ll find a barrel aged stout I don’t like. Today is not that day, though. Despite Spanish name, this Imperial Stout comes from Finland. It has a complex taste, with a warm aftertaste of chillies.
Categories
Limehouse to Dalston
We went up the Regent’s canal to Victoria park.
Got some chai masala in the market. No mushrooms stall today, though.
Bought some personal cakes (it was a filled scone for me, actually) in Violet bakery. The scone was a disappointment.
Then we went to Hash E8 in Dalston. We had a reservation and even arrived on time, but they didn’t have it in their system. So we had to wait 15 minutes to get a table. Although both the owner and waitress apologied to us, so no hard feelings.
Categories
Fletchers Red Oak cider
I rarely drink cider. This one we found while visiting Ludlow, and turns out it’s a very local brand, that doesn’t even have a proper website.
Barrel aging makes everything better: whiskey obviously, beer, and even cider. It’s delicious, smooth, with almost no gas and a lot of body. Hits pretty strong too.
Categories
Life is Perception, Blackout Brewing
First time I’m trying beer from Romania. It’s a very solid Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, aged in Palo Cortado (special sherry) barrels for a year.
Zero head, tastes like sour cherry, leaves you energetic. At 12GBP it’s not cheap, but worth it.
Would try some more Barrel Aged from Blackout Brewing when I get the opportunity.
Categories
Asahi Cookin Cut Rubber Cutting Board
Asahi and Hasegawa are two main brands that produce cutting boards from synthetic rubber. Those are considered the best for keeping your Japanese knives sharp. I was thinking of getting one when I was visiting US, but there I discovered the cost would be the same if I order in in the UK. I guess because they ship it from Japan anyway. So, after some back and forth, I decided to try one anyway.
If I were told that’s a wooden board made from some light-colored wood, I’d honestly believe that. It is heavy and slightly textured. The real test is in a couple of months of usage, though. And not so much in the board itself, although I’m curious to see how it retains stains and scratches, but more in how often will I have to sharpen my knives.