Meet AlphaDog, Boston Dynamics’ latest load carrying quadrupedal robot. This nightmarish fusion of machinery and the souls of abandoned canines can carry a payload of up to 400 lbs on 20-mile missions in rough terrain. It’s also extremely good at reorienting itself, looking as pissed as something without a face can as it does so, and the kicks that threw its predecessor, BigDog, for a loop are completely ineffective; shoving still works, thankfully. While it still looks like a monster from Silent Hill, at least this model doesn’t sound like a swarm of evil bees. Also, it kinda looks like an ATAT, which is always cool.
AlphaDog
October 1st, 2011Army Commando Costume
September 30th, 2011
Available at Target, the boy’s Army Command Costume consists of two pieces, the uniform and helmet. It’s made from 70% polyester and is available in small, medium and large sizes. My favorite aspect of this costume is the ‘Army’ tag; it’s a nice touch that lets other people know: “Yes, I am pretending to be an Army Commando this fine Halloween’s night. Candy, please!” There’s also something familiar about the camouflage that I can’t quite put my finger on…
Thanks to Gordon from Indy for the tip.
Ares Armor Range Trip
September 30th, 2011Range Trip from john lawrence on Vimeo.
Check out this video from Ares Armor’s recent Range Trip. The quality is simply amazing.
BCB Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before
September 29th, 2011This May Well Be The Best Thing Seen at Modern Day Marine. As you can see, she’s modeling BCB International’s Blast Boxers.
Zombie Apocalypse – Choose Your Kit
September 29th, 2011
‘A’ and ‘B’ are the clear choices. Just don’t feel obligated to wield those Berettas akimbo.
CardSharp 2
September 28th, 2011
A while ago I wrote about the CardSharp, a knife by Iain Sinclair that folds into a credit card shape, hence the name. This year, Iain Sinclair has released an improved model, dubbed the CardSharp 2. Although the CardSharp 2 shares many similarities with its predecessor, it now also includes a stiffer, non-slip armor rubber coated body and unique safety lock. Even with the enhancements, its still not effective for undead killing, but as a basic utility knife it’s pretty damn nifty.
“Son Of A Gun” Watch
September 27th, 2011
It just so happens that a large number of high-end watch collectors also love firearms. To celebrate this trend, Yvan Arpa for ArtyA introduced the first in a collection of firearms inspired time pieces, the “Son of a Gun” watch. Within a Stainless steel grade 316 case is the bezel and inner dial which looks like a target sight while the body contains six actual 6mm Flobert bullets wrapped in copper wire. Three .38 Special cartridges comprise part of the back plate. The watch also features ballistic style straps and is water resistant up to 50 meters. No word on pricing, but something this stylized can’t run cheap.
Cardboard Warfare 2
September 27th, 2011A squad from Cardboard Company is sent to locate and kill a Nazi Officer responsible for the deaths of countless American lives.
That’s the plot synopsis for Cardboard Warfare 2, a WWII short film made with a heavy dose of cardboard weaponry, equipment, vehicles, and bottles(?) combined with the finest special effects modern software combined with good ole’ creativity can offer. Sure, it’s quite a bit different than the original Cardboard Warfare, but it’s arguably more entertaining as a result.
Youtube channel of creator ‘pwnisher‘
The JawSaw
September 26th, 2011The JawSaw is a unique in that it’s a chainsaw contained within a blade housing. It features a weight of 8 lbs and a bar length of 6″, with an optional extender that increases the total length to 12ft. Also included is an auto tension feature and automatic chain oiler with oil level indicator. All features and technical aspects aside, it’s a freaking metal-toothed mouth that uses a chainsaw tongue to cut **** up! Make the housing a bit wider and we could be looking at the first practical zombie fighting chainsaw.
Zombie Ammunition For Your Zombiepocalypse Loadout
September 26th, 2011
Hornady makes a lot of different types of ammunition… the latest bullet they’re allegedly coming out with is their own proprietary brand of Zombie-fightin’ ammunition. Now, despite numerous claims that it’s the real deal, to be released in 2012, we’ve got no formal or official confirmation from Hornady that they’re really doing it. It could always be a bad ass example of excellent photoshopping and a great idea. Anyway, if they are making this stuff, kudos to them. They’re going to sell a ton of them just for the novelty factor.
No word of course if this ammunition will be ballistically superior when applied to a living opponent, but pretty much any piece of metal hurtling into your head at several hundred feet per second while spinning too fast to see courtesy of proper barrel rifling is sure to be a Bad Thing.
In any case, it will be perfect for the Attack of the Zombie Hippies, right?
This article is credited to BreachBangClear.com
NTOA Prize Pack Giveaway
September 25th, 2011
Chances are good if you read this page that you’ve already liked Tactical Fanboy on Facebook, but if you haven’t then here’s some great news: I’m choosing one random, lucky reader who has liked the Tactical Fanboy FB page to win the above prize pack. It’s full of the cool swag I got from NTOA last week. The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, September 27th, so get your like in if you want to win!
The pack includes:
– SORD USA Coyote Brown US Flag Cap
– Tactical Distributors Glasses Case
– Tactical Distributors Grip-It Luggage Identifier
– Tactical Distributors Camouflage Beer Cozy
– TRU-SPEC 9/11 Never Forgotten Wrist Band
– 2x A.L.S. Technologies Shot Shell Shot Glass
– 5x A.L.S. Technologies ‘Large Caliber Muzzle Protector’
– SureFire Logo Pin
– Tactical Tailor Spartan Patch
The Professional – Léon Figurine
September 24th, 2011
Because you can never have enough Jean Reno in action figure form. This highly detailed 1/6th scale figurine comes with an incredible amount of accessories: a Ruger SP101, a Beretta 92FS, a Smith & Wesson Model 586, a Smith & Wesson Model 41 and Springfield M1911-AS SASS, six grenades, a set of clamps/pincers, a folding dagger, a brown pleather worker vest, a grey woolly beanie hat, a dark grey long felt coat, a black longsleeve t-shirt, a white longsleeve t-shirt, a pair of black trousers, a pair of round glasses, a houseplant, a milk carton, a milk glass, and a pleather suitcase. The figure also features 10 pieces of interchangeable hands, 30 points of articulation, and a figure stand.
You can buy it here.
NAS Oceana Airshow – Sights and Sounds
September 24th, 2011Here’s some sights and sounds from the 2011 NAS Oceana Airshow. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate and most events were cancelled.
In addition to a wide variety of aircraft on display, Navy Reserve SEAL Team 18 and Special Boat Team 20 as well as Navy Riverine Squadron 3 were on hand.
Check out these shots from the pyrotechnics “demonstration.”. Due to the low ceiling, they couldn’t launch the demonstration sorties that would have shown how CAS works. During airshows they often stage pyrotechnics to demonstrate bombing.
A mockup of the X47B UCAS was also on static display. I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of the window kickers go up and tap on the skin as if they were going to ascertain some secret knowledge from their actions.
Wasteland Weekend: Get Your Mad Max On
September 23rd, 2011
It’s not too late to go visit the Atomic Café, Thunderdome, Wasteland Casino or Mushroom Cloud Lounge. With any luck you’ll have time to get a free mohawk.
Wasteland Weekend started today, but it goes through Sunday; it’s not to late to dunk your face in a bucket of fishhooks, throw some leather on, grab up your sawed off scattergun or crossbow and get down there. Go have some fun in the sun in the lovely Mojave Desert with the finest in fringe elements of a Mad Max loving subculture.
There are a lot of bands scheduled to be playing in addition to numerous events (an archery contest, Wasteland Games (including boomerang toss and gas can carry) plus, of course, multiple Thunderdome fights. There will also be some sort of sermon delivered around an ‘unexploded nuclear bomb’ on Sunday.
They are working toward an immersive environment. From the official website:
“Wasteland Weekend reserves the right to prohibit any vehicles, structures, or items it deems unfit for the look of the themed area. (Any unfit property can be stored outside the gates of the themed area in the general camping area or hidden from view.) We are trying to create a convincing 360-degree post-apocalyptic environment. We hope you understand.”
In addition to individuals, there are a number of “tribes” who will be in attendance. There are several, including the Petro Pirates and Dukes of the Nuke, but our favorite has got to be the Dystopian Slut Militia.
Wasteland Weekend is a relatively new post-apocalyptic event, but organizers expect it to be much larger than the 400 attendees they had last year.
One long weekend of booze, body piercings, pointy things, makeshift weaponry and metal, punk rock, industrial rock and cleavage. What’s not to like?
TacHacker – Schuyler Towne’s YouTube Lock Picking Course
September 23rd, 2011Schuyler Towne is a competitive lock picker, founder of Open! Locksport, professional security researcher, and… he really, really loves his locks. He’s released a 24 video lock picking course on the ins and outs of the subject, including needed materials, how to take apart and reassemble a lock, and how pin tumblers work, among other essential picking skills. It’s a extensive lock picking course by an expert lock picker that you can view for free. What’s not to love?
The Science Behind Gears Of War
September 23rd, 2011Gears of War 3 came out on Tuesday, and it’s a blast. A lot of the enjoyment has to do with the ridiculous weaponry, like chainsaw bayonets, guns that shoot living grenades and orbital laser cannons, and insane enemies, like the Locust Drones, Corpsers and the Lambent. Obviously, when you’re dealing with such fantastical elements there’s a (rather large) degree of implausibility, if not outright impossibility, you just have to accept, right? It seems that’s only partially true. According to this Gamepro article at least a few of those elements are somewhat plausible according to several PhDs. So, the chances of there being independently evolved Homo Sapien-esque organisms on another planet is greater than finding an underground Godzilla and raising him as a pet? Bummer.
Ka-Bar ZK Pestilence Chopper
September 22nd, 2011
Ka-Bar has developed a series of knives under the ‘ZK’ designation, which stands for ‘Zombie Killer’. One of these knives, the Pestilence Chopper, features a 10-1/4″ blade made from SK5 high-carbon steel, with an overall length of 15-3/4″. The handle is made of “radioactive” green textured GFN-PA66, although a replacement black handle of the same material is included. Each Pestilence Chopper also comes with a black nylon sheath and a back-up 5Cr13 stainless steel skeleton knife. Considering you can get a hold of a good military-grade Golok machete for a lower price, this knife is purely a novelty item in my book. In the Chopper’s defense, I’ve read its sharp blade is pretty good at clearing small vegetation.
TacHacker – Print Your Own AR-15 Magazines
September 22nd, 2011
Crank, a member of Thingiverse, has created a series of models that when processed through a 3D printer and combined together function as a 5-round AR-15 magazine. The models include the magazine body, anti-tilt follower, and floorplate; you’ll have to design your own spring since the creator’s was omitted for ‘safety reasons’. Considering a 3D printer kit can cost around $1200, and each mag takes roughly 2 hours to construct, it’s not the most cost-effective/efficient way to get a hold of magazines, especially with such a low capacity. However, if you’ve ready access to a 3D printer then keeping a few disposable emergency mags like these can have their uses. Say, during an invasion of the undead persuasion?
Obligatory warning: If you do decide to undertake this project you do so under your own risk. Neither myself nor the creator of this project is responsible for anything that happens as a result of using this magazine.
Czech EVO 3A1
September 21st, 2011Ján Lučanský, EVO 3 designer
Jtech Japanese Woodland Camo Sale
September 21st, 2011
Jtech is currently having a 20%-off sale on a selection of their nylon tactical gear in Japanese SDF Woodland camouflage. The sale ends October 2nd, so get yours while you still can.
Anybody See Contagion?
September 20th, 2011If you’ve seen “Contagion,” what did you think?
Me? I liked it. Overall, I surprised that the lights stayed on and that there weren’t any scenes with military personnel shooting looters or rioters.
Prince Harry The Action Figure*
September 20th, 2011
Hornby, a UK-based model company, is set to release a collection of eight 3-inch figures depicting British troops in Afghanistan along with various vehicles including tanks and helicopters. Interestingly enough, one of the troops being modeled is Prince Harry. More specifically, a famous picture of him on patrol in Helmand Province in 2008 is being used as the basis for the figure. Although his uniform and equipment will be featured on the model, his likeness will not. The collection will be available in February, 2012.
hornby.com
Original Story- Express.co.uk
*This figure does not feature Kung-Fu grip
Talk Like a Pirate Day
September 19th, 2011We almost missed it but our friends, the Mad Duo reminded us that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
It’s not too late to get in on the bloody, swashbuckling action. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Jib the jab, hoist the mainsail, whatever it is that pirates do. There’s a translator available to help, if you need it, and should you require greater inspiration, there’s a Facebook page. Feel free to talk like an old school pirate, but avoid speaking or looking like these guys:
You can also check the official Talk Like a Pirate official FLICKR photo stream. Be forewarned, not very many of them look like this:
If you like that, of course, you might like Hot Pirate Babes.
Thanks Guys!
NTOA – Oshkosh Defense
September 19th, 2011
This is the Tactical Protector Vehicle from Oshkosh Defense. Built on a Ford F550 chassis, it is designed to haul up to 8 officers around and protect them from threats rated up to NIJ Lvl IV.
Outrage
September 19th, 2011The latest film by renown director Takeshi Kitano, Outrage is about deceit and violence in the world of the Yakuza. Interestingly enough, it’ll be available roughly a month on-demand (October 28th) before it appears in theaters (December 2nd). My guess is this film isn’t going to appear in very many mainstream cinemas after its on-demand appearance. Even so, it looks pretty kick-ass.
