We rejoin the holiday season, already in progress…

And here we have the third of our Santas. While the other Santas have always been portrayed as some version of the “genuine” article, there’s never been any question that this is an imposter, a second-rate Santa stand-in gone horribly, horribly, wrong: Doctor Santa! I’d really like to make a couple of upgrades on him that suggest the robotic nature of his Santa suit, gauntlet hands, glowing eyes. something like that.

Prop of the day: Barrels! When you do something like “Minions at Work” that takes place in abandoned warehouses and the sub-levels of evil lairs, you need a lot of crates and barrels. I’ve already talked about the crates, but here are some of the barrels I use. I love the classic, metal 55 gallon drum like the one on the left. These came in a M&C Power team set. I’ve got a few that I’ve repainted (they were originally military OD-green) in more industrial colors like this one. The silver barrel in the front is also and M&C Power Team item, and represents a modern, plastic barrel. Sadly, I think I only have one of these. The green “nuclear waste canisters” are actually the plastic jar that a major brand of flavored and salted nuts comes in, and my wife is especially fond of their cocoa flavor, and so I got a lot of these. the radiation stickers were actually purchased in the gift shop of the “Atomic Testing Museum” in Las Vegas, NV. It’s a great place. If you’re there, pry yourself off the slot machines and go visit it. Not far off the strip, and worth the trip. (Also recommended, the “Pinball Hall of Fame.” It’s awesome!)