BLUE SACKED PILLOCK (MALE) - SIMPLETONICUS INDIGUM

[outlander]

According to earlier published reports, there was some sort of mishap during the off-loading of a shipment of taxidermalogical specimens at the customs docks nearest Wellington, NZ. It is unclear exactly what - if anything - occurred at that time. Part of the problem seems to be there are two "offficial" sources for any and all informative dispatches: The Weta corporation and the Dr. Grordbort's Laboratories.

It is difficult to determine what is going on and if the "situation" - such as it is - has been contained or is ongoing.

THINGS THAT ARE KNOWN AND CONFIRMED:

1) On January 19th 2010 a shipment of Venusian Insect-like carnivores tenatively indentified as "BLUE SACKED PILLOCK"s was off loaded from a vessel in NZ.

2) The customs inspection form regarding this shipment identifies the number of "specimens" as 50 (fifty).

3) Sometime in the early morning hours of January 20th 2010, there was a commotion at facilities owned either by Weta or by Dr. Grordbort's laboratories.

4) During the commotion, Emergency/Rescue vehicles were spotted arriving on site. In the aftermath of the commotion at least one Ambulance was seen leaving the site without lights or siren on.

5) It has been confirmed that a customs employee identified only as "Bob" was killed during the incident.

6) When Government Authorities arrived on site they were told that the "Blue Sacked Pillocks" were no longer present at the facility.

7) In an informal statement issued by artist Dave Tremont it was confirmed there has been at least one other casualty, an unidentified intern either at Weta or the Dr. Grordbort's Laboratories.

THINGS THAT ARE UNKNOWN OR UNCONFIRMED

1) It is not understood whether the Venusian Insects were alive or dead upon their arrival in Wellington, NZ.

2) It is not known whether the employees at Weta were involved in the clandestine transport of living xenobiological specimens, which is prohibited by International law and U.N. Treaty.

3) Due to the unfamiliarity of domestic observers with these Alien lifeforms, it is unknown if the creatures seen flitting about company property on January 20th 2010 were in fact Simpletonicus Indigum as described in the writings of famed hunter and adventurer Lord Cockswain or were in fact specimens of the less dangerous Red Sacked Pillock, a little understood but apparently lethargic and usually far less aggressive member of the same GENUS.

4) If pictures of an extremely dessicated corpse published on an underground website are actual photographs of "Bob" taken after the undisclosed "incident".

5) A Weta employee indentified only as WetaNZ VIP "Tim" has stated that one of the preserved specimens shipped out may in fact be only "mostly" dead which in turn has lead to speculation about whether that means this particular specimen may also be "partially" alive.


Any questions?

[Weta]

Clear as mud. And that is official (I think)

[CharlesSong]

[Quatermass]

the bomb disposal guy in The Hurt Locker!

HUZZAH! HUZZAH! Amazing, cool, wow. Pillock is the tops, by jove!
Arrived THIS morning, 2 days from NZ by Fedex

# 1 0

It is money well spent, it is, it is, it is.

First, I poked at the parcel with a broom, then I soaked the whole thing in a bathtub of water for 6 hours. Having learned from The Hurt Locker it took many, many minutes to open the package, carefully lift out the collectible NZ box stuffing and unwrap the long layer of bubble wrap.

Despite Tim's wish it appears to be a dead one and has a whacking great nail through it's thorax.

Beautiful piece, very nicely painted and framed in a quality wood shadowbox. I used to work as framer and this is excellently done with a small resin Dr. G logo attached to the front, two hoops on the back top edge for hanging. No paper certificate but the ES and signature are on the back in a notice stamped on the paper covering. Looks like the shop is still on edge after the Pillock incident as the stamp is a bit shaky but it adds to the ambience.

Thanks, Weta!

[Leonard]

Congrats QManTim! Glad it wasn't you who got the live one. This board wouldn't be the same without you

So, you're not tempted to hook up some wires & batteries to the little bug(ger) & go a biiit Fronkensteen on iiit?

[LOTR Fan]

Only fitting Q, that looks phenomenal; and you are just having too much fun with it!

[Beleg Cúthalion]

Congrats, Tim, on picking up one of the last specimens of the Blue. That live one that Other Tim is talking about is the last live one known in existence. Poor little bugger.

[CharlesSong]

Cheers Tim, phenomenal specimen Love your thoughts on the build from a framer perspective as well, just what I like to hear- quality quality quality

[Felmar]

Congrats, Q

pictures are fookin' hilarious

very cool

[Leaflock]

Congrats Tim!

Great photos, look like you had an adventure just opening the box.

So who's going to get the live one?

[Rook]

Nice one, Tim. I'm such a fence-straddler with this that it hurts me loins to think about it. Especially with all of those Weta dollars staring me in the face.

[theguru1]

Sweet and nice pics.
My friend got his today as well and is very happy with how good it looks.

Not totally sure it's fully dead yet, but if I don't hear from him again, I'll know why.

He got #2, btw.

[MTT]

Congrats. That is one magnificent artifact

[TreehouseFX]

you do? In magical flying hats?

[Portugueezer]

Wow Tim!!!!!

A very , VERY huge congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That looks simply amazing.......


Sent you a PM...

[HAC]

Congrats Tim!
Hope you didn't get dinged too much on Customa/brokerage, but no matter, that beastie is worth it!

Cheers
Harold

[Quatermass]

Risked my hands and eyes opening this. Must get a pair of goggles and tongs for next time. It looks dead but there were some funny noises that woke me up last night.

Thanks all for supporting my efforts at going broke. Thanks Greg and Weta, great little creature. Yes, it's fun, getting older gotta have fun!! Thanks for the comments, guys.

On the customs side of things - No duties, perhaps because it was declared a "Blue Sacked Pillock toy collectible made of resin and low risk wood made by Weta Workshop NZ". GST tax was only $20.37 on the converted Canadian $ value, and a ROD charge of $10.50 which I'm guessing is the brokerage fee. So much less than I expected and much, much less than UPS charges (which had fuel surcharges, filing fees, this fee, that fee). Less than $31, which is almost what UPS charged me on the Victory books (valued at $60). Can't say if this will happen in your country.

And Fedex found my address, beat their estimated delivery time of 12 noon even though there was a slight delay, and 2 days from NZ to Calgary. Susan had requested Fedex send me a tracking number which helped a lot.

Imma veree happee with the product and the service.

P.S. Packaging - tissue on the acrylic, stiff card on top of that, wrapped four/five times in bubble, cardboard on the susceptible side on top of that, empty space snugged with crumpled paper, sturdy box.

[HAC]

Originally Posted by Quatermass

Risked my hands and eyes opening this. Must get a pair of goggles and tongs for next time. It looks dead but there were some funny noises that woke me up last night.

Ah! a volunteer for my Righteous Bison .45-70 Gov't underbarrel addition experiment, then? (for those times when smashing those pesky particles requires a bit more "oomph")

Cheers
Harold