The Ammo Arms Pub

The Ammo Arms was always going to be where my troops gathered in between missions for a drink and a good time. It has come a long way since it's humble beginnings of a few boards for walls and a piece of wood for a bar

The early days.

The Day After The Night Before! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

From this I decided to build the first Ammo Arms, I made a wooden box at aboyr 4ft x 2ft.

The Day After The Night Before! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

and as you can imagine, it isn't always quiet in there!

Atomic vs Major Mike! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

What You Having? by Dal Lee, on Flickr

AMMO ARMS 00 (1) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
AMMO ARMS 00 (2) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
AMMO ARMS 00 (3) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Hank 2.0 by Dal Lee, on Flickr

The Ammo Arms In full swing! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Intruder Alert! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

So, i kept this set for about a year, before I decided on a rebuild,

DBTAM 00 (1) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (2) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (3) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (4) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (5) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (6) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (7) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 ( by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (9) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
DBTAM 00 (10) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

DBTAM 00 (11) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

As some of you have guessed from my last comic, the 'Ammo Arms' is under a make over. I have extended the original design by an extra foot in length, making it now 5ft x 2 1/2ft x 1 1/2ft.


Fitted new inner walls



and started a spot of wallpapering Should look better once the glue has dried out













So soft! by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Roger the traveling action man (12) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Roger the traveling action man (13) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Roger the traveling action man (15) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Snap Shot by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Spade has his sights n Lola by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Barmaids in a spin! by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Snap Shot 002 by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Silent Thoughts by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Electra & James by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Pool for Kash. by Dal Lee, on Flickr

So, version stayed for a while, but I must admit, I did have terrible problems lighting it and glare from the lights. So the time came to rebuild again. The size it now stands at is 7ft x 2.5ft x 2ft.

Sadly, I never got around to taking any pics of the building process, except for a few, so here they are.




So here are some pics of the first shoot f the new pub. I do still have a few odds and ends to sort out, but it's now around 95% finished.

The largest change was adding led lights to the ceiling, which I have to say are fantastic! I might add a third set yet? but we shall see. The next job was too add the seating and finish off the small pieces of skirting boards. Its all starting to come together here,



"Hey guys, and girls of course, I'm Joe, the landlord of the Ammo Arms. At long last we are ready to reopen the doors.
As you can see, the bar is much bigger, we have new seating, new lighting and well pretty much everything is new!, let me show you around"



"As you can see, the pool table is back, we now have a security door and a raised bar.
Yeah, some of our pictures and posters are the same, but we didn't want to change everything..."



"Here, you can see our new stage, and look, it's Willie B, wo will be the opening act when we re-open"
"Hey Joe" smiled Willie,"We all ready to open?"
"Just about, but we still have a few minor checks to make before then, so we have a bit of time" replied Joe.



"Why not grab a guitar Joe?"



"You know, I know a few tunes myself" replied Joe,
"Cool, let's get started then!" smiled Willie B.

And so, with all systems go, Joe opened the doors and let in the regulars!!!











Jake and Goldie shoot some pool. by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!

The AMMO Arms scenes are so realistic that looking back through this retrospective is as nostalgic as looking through years of old photos from a real location with real people! So many good times, and a few bad times, have taken place here! So much rowdiness, so much fun!

The latest, just-completed incarnation is bigger and better – as with Jake's study, I did not think you could improve upon it, but improve upon it you have – but it will take a while before the new place develops the same history as previous incarnations. But after only a couple of weeks, it is well on its way to becoming just as legendary!

davidd wrote:The AMMO Arms scenes are so realistic that looking back through this retrospective is as nostalgic as looking through years of old photos from a real location with real people! So many good times, and a few bad times, have taken place here! So much rowdiness, so much fun!

The latest, just-completed incarnation is bigger and better – as with Jake's study, I did not think you could improve upon it, but improve upon it you have – but it will take a while before the new place develops the same history as previous incarnations. But after only a couple of weeks, it is well on its way to becoming just as legendary!

Cheers Dave, that really means a lot! It is great to know that the Arms holds so much fun to people who come and see the pics . I am sure that over time there will be lots more fun times ahead!

7 freakin feet!? That's just awe inspiring! I think the higher ceiling on the latest incarnation was the way to go, and that stage is such a great addition. Opening night is like a pop-culture who's who, and it's such a blast to see this huge cast together. Your photos have such an intimate candidness too that nails the feel of these wild nights. I can almost smell the beer and hear the roar of the band. Loving everything about this.

I couldn't have said it better than the good Reverend. Each version was quite an achievement; and each improved on its predecessor, as it should. Size, detail, superb. But a lot of it is also your work with all those characters and setting up their interactions and poses. While you are bound to realize these are action figures if you look closely (especially as some are of older, less realistic types), nevertheless the dynamic composition makes them feel real.

ReverendSpooky wrote:7 freakin feet!?  That's just awe inspiring!  I think the higher ceiling on the latest incarnation was the way to go, and that stage is such a great addition.  Opening night is like a pop-culture who's who, and it's such a blast to see this huge cast together.  Your photos have such an intimate candidness too that nails the feel of these wild nights.  I can almost smell the beer and hear the roar of the band.  Loving everything about this.

Thanks you! I agree, the higher ceiling allows for much better lighting , as did adding the led lights too. I am so pleased you enjoyed the pics! the troops usually have a get together every few months . I really enjoy doing these pics

GubernatorFan wrote:I couldn't have said it better than the good Reverend. Each version was quite an achievement; and each improved on its predecessor, as it should. Size, detail, superb. But a lot of it is also your work with all those characters and setting up their interactions and poses. While you are bound to realize these are action figures if you look closely (especially as some are of older, less realistic types), nevertheless the dynamic composition makes them feel real.

Thank so much! I think it's important to try and get eye lines right as well as the positioning, I don't always get it right, but it does add that small amount of detail, so pleased you noticed it . Even as a kid I had different figures mixed together, so I guess it's just been a natural progression to do it now with the more detailed figures. They are after all, all part of BAM-HQ.

Thanks guys for the amazing comments, really means a lot!

Ahh, wow, this looks incredible! I've been to enough pubs and gig venues to immediately recognize the kind of place this is supposed to be. Both versions looked great, but I can see why you wanted to upgrade, and the new lighting does indeed help. Absolutely loving the stage area, the bar, the pool tables, the seating... even the door to the toilets in the background, all of it. It has such an authentic set up and atmosphere, and all the tiny little details really bring it together. But what really sells it is all the figures! The crowd of all the different characters is just delightful, like the pub version of the Mos Eisley Cantina scene. It absolutely works because of how everyone is posed....so realistic to such a setting. People talking, interacting, some sitting, some standing, some gesturing, some drinking... just so well done! :'D

And I'm highly amused by Chewie getting so much attention from the ladies....

skywalkersaga wrote:Ahh, wow, this looks incredible! I've been to enough pubs and gig venues to immediately recognize the kind of place this is supposed to be. Both versions looked great, but I can see why you wanted to upgrade, and the new lighting does indeed help. Absolutely loving the stage area, the bar, the pool tables, the seating... even the door to the toilets in the background, all of it. It has such an authentic set up and atmosphere, and all the tiny little details really bring it together. But what really sells it is all the figures! The crowd of all the different characters is just delightful, like the pub version of the Mos Eisley Cantina scene. It absolutely works because of how everyone is posed....so realistic to such a setting. People talking, interacting, some sitting, some standing, some gesturing, some drinking... just so well done! :'D

And I'm highly amused by Chewie getting so much attention from the ladies....

Wow! thanks so much for the amazing comment! I am so pleased you like it, and also you noticed all the small details scattered about. The Arms can be a rowdy place but their all there to have a great night out and relax .
I suspect Chewie gets so much attention as he is like a huge tedy bear!

I love your pics of the Arms , nearly all have some humour attached to them , would like to see more of Chewie , he always makes me smile , seeing him hang out with the babes ....or is it the babes hanging out with him ?

Chip wrote:I love your pics of the Arms , nearly all have some humour attached to them , would like to see more of Chewie , he always makes me smile , seeing him hang out with the babes ....or is it the babes hanging out with him ?  

Many thanks Chip!

A hair debate! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

What a great looking place to hang out, the best part is that wookies don't play pool otherwise Chewie would be ripping people's arms off.

Theboo-bomb wrote:What a great looking place to hang out, the best part is that wookies don't play pool otherwise Chewie would be ripping people's arms off.

Really great pub and the build behind it is awesome. Great shots and depth of fieldwork create a sense of reality.

Stryker2011 wrote:Really great pub and the build behind it is awesome. Great shots and depth of fieldwork create a sense of reality.

Thanks so much! really pleased you enjoyed it! means a lot

A few more recent shots from the Ammo Arms

Working hard! by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Three female fighters! by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Concern by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Selfie time! by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Posing for the camera. by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Imagine if a huge, naked guy strode into this bar and intoned in a thick Austrian accent "I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle"

Seven Pillars wrote:Imagine if a huge, naked guy strode into this bar and intoned in a thick Austrian accent "I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle"

We have one of those, it's Uncle Bob, the bouncer

Your attention to detail always amazes me, Dal. In everything. I just can't stop loving the naturally chaotic scenes and the believably cluttered walls.

More cool photos. One of the best dios.

GubernatorFan wrote:Your attention to detail always amazes me, Dal. In everything. I just can't stop loving the naturally chaotic scenes and the believably cluttered walls.

Thank you Ian , you are very kind indeed. I always think that having things going on in the background makes for a great pic .

Stryker2011 wrote:More cool photos. One of the best dios.

Thanks Mark , really pleased you like the Ammo Arms, and enjoyed the pics

Really great shots; really capture a great sense of motion. My favorite is that second shot.

Stryker2011 wrote:Really great shots; really capture a great sense of motion. My favorite is that second shot.

Thanks Mark , they were great fun to do. In truth I only had a few figures topple. It just goes to show how great the centre of balance is with the TBL figures. I suspect, if I had used jointed figures, it would have been a lot harder to do

I agree, nice posing. Is that Elvis on stage?

GubernatorFan wrote:I agree, nice posing. Is that Elvis on stage?

Thanks Ian . Yeah, it is indeed Elvis, a barbie sculpt I believe. popped onto a jointed 1/6 body .