Hasta La Gadget!

Instructables settler PenfoldPlant traded Settlers of Catan’s flat board game for a globe. A modified truncated icosahedron, to be exact. The result is a multipurpose piece that can serve as decoration, a container for game pieces and yes, a playing surface, albeit one that’s not as convenient as the original.

PenfoldPlant calls his creation the Catanosphere. If it looks like a lot of work, that’s because it is. You’ll need lots of glue, nearly 500 small magnets and a steady hand for this project.

Also, as you may have noticed some of the Catanosphere’s spaces for the tiles are pentagonal, but the game’s tiles are all hexagonal. So you’ll have to make or print pentagon-shaped copies of the tiles as well.

The globe’s shape and the presence of pentagonal tiles also affect the game somewhat, though PenfoldPlant believes that you can still play with the exact same rules as the original.

Colonize Instructables to for his detailed instructions and notes on the Catanosphere.

I’ve tried playing the guitar on a few occasions in my life, but I always got frustrated with proper fret placement that I like to blame on my fat fingers rather than my lack of coordination. So when I saw these miniature guitar models from Japan, I realized that things could be a whole lot worse for me.

These 10 inch-tall Guitar Legend models from Media Factory are incredibly detailed 1/8th scale versions of authentic electric and bass guitars, from brands including Fender, Gretsch, Ovation and Zemaitis.

Each one is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but no detail has been left out – other than the ability to actually play them. Depending on the model, they include accessories such as tiny guitar stands and cases as well.

They’re available from Amazon Japan or Media Factory for ¥1,764 (~$17 USD) each, but the guys at White Rabbit Express can import them to other countries for you if you’re interested.

The new PS3 racing game Gran Turismo 6 lets players drive concept cars made expressly by automotive companies and other brands for the game. Honda is one of those companies, but it’s also using a newer form of technology to reach out to its fans. The Japanese automaker recently made 3D models of its concept cars available for download.

As of this writing the Honda 3D Design Archives features five downloadable 3D models, headlined by the 2013 Acura NSX Concept. You can also download the Fuya-Jo, the FSR Concept, the Kiwami and the toaster-like Puyo from the website. Not familiar with any of those cars? Check out this video:

Man, I need to step my daydream game up. Drive your browser to Honda 3D Design Archives and download the models.

[via TomoChan Store]

Even if you’re not an XKCD fan, I’m sure some of you have seen Randall Munroe’s irreverent Map of Online Communities. Martin Vargic – who makes maps in his pastime – was inspired by that webcomic strip and decided to make his own map of the Internet.

The Independent spoke with Martin and found out that the amateur cartographer drew the map in Photoshop by hand, aping the style of old National Geographic maps. Like Randall, Martin isn’t actually planning on mapping the entire Internet or even the entire World Wide Web, just the most popular sites as determined by website analytics company Alexa. Martin also told The Independent that he split the websites into the western Old World and the eastern New World.

Aside from the map itself, Martin also added related stats and other trivia on the edges of his illustration.

Travel to deviantART’s shores to see a high-resolution version of the map. Martin admits that it’s far from the final version and will be updated and polished. But if you want, you can order a print of the map from Zazzle; the price will vary depending on the size of the print.

[via The Independent]

Can’t decide whether you want a TARDIS dress or a Dalek Dress? Why not have both? This neat dress mashes up both. It’s like the TARDIS collided with a Dalek and now they share the same space.

This corset dress was designed by cosplayer Bewitched Raven and it is beautiful. It’s got a Dalek on one side and the TARDIS on the other side. The Doctor really should have fixed the de-materialization circuit. This is what can happen.

This dress has a ton of nice detail, like the single door handle on the TARDIS side, and the matching headpieces. It all comes together perfectly. Great job! How about a Cyberman mashed up with Dalek now? That would be awesome.

[via Fashionably Geek | photos: CONography]