2020 Round Up

 

I am afraid this will be a post with no pictures, but I thought a round up of what I managed to paint this year might be interesting. 

 

In January, when the world was a very different place, I set myself a target of 350 minis painted, and 1500 points scored on the analogue painting challenge points system for the whole year. 

 

Here is how I did:

 

January:

A good month. 108 Napoleonic French were finished. The vast majority of work on those happened in 2019, but because they were finsihed (Painted, based, flags added etc) in 2020, they count towards this year. I also finished a single Swedish infantry man from the great Northern war this month. 

Monthly Total: 109, Running Total: 109

February

A much slower month this time. First off the block were 10 spider riders for my goblin army and 2 German Spotters for my Bot Action force. I also added three mounted French colonels to the earlier three regiments to finish off that commission.

Monthly Total: 15, Running Total: 124

 

March

Some more commision work arrived this month - 84 Bavarians for the War of Spanish Succession. March saw the first 27 of these done. Alongside those, I knocked out 6 Black Orcs and 4 Napoleonic French. 

Monthly Total: 37, Running Total: 161

 

April

A fairly solid month, another 15 Bavarians done. We saw the first appearace of different scales, three 20mm Poish tanks, 15 15mm Romans, 2 Spear Chukkas and crew (8 minis in total) and 2 cadians done. 

Monthly Total: 43, Running Total:204

 

May

The remaining Bavarians were all completed (42 minis), and another 4 Napoleonic French. 

Monthly Total: 46, Running Total: 260

 

June

A month when it was all about my own stuff - a full unif of 24 15mm Romans, 2 VIkings and a German Puma armoued car - that had been half done for around 5 years so it was good to get it finally finished. 

Monthly Total: 27, Running Total: 287

 

July

Anohter month of mixed scales. 24 Front Rank Dutch Troops were done on commission, along with 12 Roman Velites and 24 union ACW infantry in 10mm (another new project!)

Monthly Total: 60, Running Total: 347

 

August and September

The usual summer lull was made worse by a mojo slump - I think it was post lock down fatigue and having had the kids around since March the desire to paint just got up and left. 

 

October

A very steady month, I only managed 16 union infantry in 10mm. But the mojo was creeping back.

Monthly Total: 16, Running Total: 363

 

November

Over 200 minis landed on my desk for variois commissions this month, and I did make good progress on them. But none were completed so the only models done were a German Pak 40 and crew (4 minis), a Napleoic french cannon and crew (4 mins) and 6 Napoleonic French infantry.

Monthly Total: 14, Running Total: 377

 

December

A strong month to round the year off - 1 15mm Roman infantry man and a singel mounted commander were completed and based together for a command stand. Another 24 union infantry in 10mm and 21 Irish Brigade troops were all done/ 

Monthly Total: 47, Running Total: 424

 

 So 424 minis and about 1735 points under the Analogue system. Easily my best ever year. Even if you strip out the commission work, I added quite a lot of stuff to my own collections and I find the commision work pushes me out of my comfort zone and gets me to the desk. Had I not had the big mojo lull, when I didn't do my own stuff or take any work on, I think I could have smashe 500 minis. 

 

I'm looking at a good start to 2021 as I have a lot of minis half done and another 80 or so pimed and ready - I want to get off to a flyer if possible. 

 

Finally, my targets for next year:

Painted minis - 600, any scale

Analogue points - 2000.

 

I shall try to get monthly updates up - hopefully with pictures! 

 

 

Bingo!!

 

As you have no doubt noticed, my last attempt to get the blog up and running failed miserably! 

However, one my friends contacted me the other week, saying he was starting hobby bingo for 2021. I was curious and gave it a look. Here is what it is:

Now, at first I looked at it and though while it was interesting, I initially dismissed any idea of doing it as not possible, as it's clearly tailored towards GW stuff, very little of which I paint these days. However, the more I looked at it, the more I thought I would give it a go. Even with historical stuff, doing units, hero's, vehicles and scenery won't be a major issue. The big struggles I see ahead will be Behemoths/Lord of war and kitbashed models. 

I shall try to get around the behemoths with some big stuff in my orc and goblin army and the kitbash stuff I shall worry about later down the line. 

All this will start in January and I will try and keep a monthly log of how I am going. I think this is a three way competition with my main rival being the Sachiel Returns blog!

In the mean time, Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year!

Blast from the Past

One of this years main projects has been sorting stuff out in the pile of shame. A lot of stuff has been sold on as I have been honest with myself about what I would actually get around to.

The main pile of stuff that has been cleared out has been my 40k stuff. As a former GW boy I had a lot but I have fallen out of love with the game itself despite several attempts on my behalf to reboot myself in the game. As a result over the last year or so I have purged most of my 40k.

Which leads me to this short post. The other day I was clearing the last few things out when I found these two at the bottom of a box:

My old paint scheme was fairly basic and these were already pretty much done. I almost put them on ebay but figured I may as well finish them off since it wouldn't take long. Here is the final result:

I stuck to the basic scheme and the simple basing that 2007 me used to use so they fit with the rest of the army.

This now means I have no unpainted 40k in my collection anymore. Actually, I think I have a half finished ork vehicle somwhere that I really must get done.

Progress wise the desk is awash with Bavarians from the War of Spanish Succession, some 15mm Republican Romans and a couple of Orc and Goblin Spear Chukka's. There all coming along at a fair pace so hopefully there should be some more posts this month. Fingers crossed!

Necromancy

It's been a while!

Nearly 2 and a half years as it turns out. Why, in these turbulent times am I revisiting my blog? To be honest, I am really not qute sure as to why, but I have decided make an attempt at blogging my hobby progress once again.

And what has the last two years of hobby bought me? Quite a lot as it happens. I have a hobby room set up and this year is seeing the final push to get it all finalised. I hope to complete it soon. However, it has been sufficiently equipped for me to be quite productive.

I have been painting a lot of stuff for myself and also taking on some commission work. New project wise, I started a Warhammer Fantasy Orc and Goblin army last year and there is a 15mm Roman Army in the works. I am also experimenting with other smaller scales and games.

For now, here are some pictures of stuff I have completed recently.

I recently completed three Perry Miniatures battalions of French Line Infantry for a client. Considering the amount of white in these, I was really pleased in how they turned out. The order also included three mounted colonels:

The same client has commission four War of Spanish Succession Battalions in 28mm. Here is the first all done and based, the rest are coming along nicely.

Finely, at the recent Hammerhead show I picked up three 7TP tanks in 20mm for my Polish. These are from Early War Miniatures and I painted them up straight away. With a 37mm gun they should give the Germans pause for thought.

And finally, a unit of 10 Spider Riders for my Orcs and Goblins. 

What's coming up? Well, there are more Bavarians, some geenskins and some 15mm Romans - and that's just the start. I am aiming for a ratio of one mini a day sp stay tuned.