2021 Roundup and Future

 

Another fairly productive year for me, lets have a look at the round up of 2021. 

Firs of all - what did I paint. The answer is:

376 Minis of all sizes and scales. So overall, down on 2020 by just over 50 minis. That I think is due to two things - there was a lot of 10mm in 2020 (quicker to paint) and my usual summer hobby slump was very bad this year. Still, that's over a mini a day so I can't complain.

Hobby Bingo wise, that gave me:

30 boxes complete - 300 points

5 lines compete - 250 points

For a grand total of 550 points. Sadly, I didn't complete the grid but that was never very likely due to the fact it contained kitbashed minis and scenery - not something I do very much of. 

Where do we go from here? Well, first off here is the traditional update on the Christmas Haul:

Gives you a very clear idea of what I want to get into next year. I have always wanted to do Lord of the Rings, though these will be for the mass battle "War of the Ring" rather than the skirmish game. I also want to start work on a personal Napoleonic big battle project. The main choice on that will be scale - 10m, 18mm or 28mm? I suspect, in true wargamer style, the answer will end up being all three!

I am terrible at keeping to targets and plans but here is my rough guide to 2022:

- Complete 600 minis (aim high!) 

- Do more of my personal stuff (of last years 376 minis, only 75 were for me)

- Get a games table sorted out finally.

- Buy less than I paint (even if the pile of shame only goes down by a few models, I'll call that a win!)

- Continue with two blog posts a month. 

Not grand ambitions for some, but for me, that's a good guide to work to. We shall see how long it lasts into 2022.

To all my readers - thanks for tagging along on my sometimes sporadic blogging. I hope you all had a good Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. 

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!

2016 - Half Way Point.

You may remember I tried to set myself a few goals for the year ahead back around Christmas. And since the 1st July marks exactly six months gone and six months to go, I decided to look and see where I was.

Here are my goals for the year and how I think I've gotten on with them so far.


- In terms of points using the above scoring system, I am going to aim for over 1000 points of painted minis.

Using the Analogue Painting system I wanted to hit 1000 points of painted miniatures. Sadly, at the half way point I don't think I've quite hit 400 yet. I've also noticed a dent in production now the summer months have rolled around the little boy has got bigger and more demanding. Still, with three months off work coming soon over late summer and autumn, I might yet catch up. Either way, I suspect I will beat last years total. So I count that as a work in progress.
 
- To complete at least two full 28mm Napoleonic battalions (so that's 48 miniatures done.)

Exactly half way on this one with a single battalion done. I am not sure when the second one will make its way up the painting queue but there is time yet. 







- I have my shelves of doom (full of unpainted minis, mainly dead projects that I refuse to sell) in my painting, taunting me from the corner. The total currently stands at 93 minis, so I shall aim to reduce this to under 60 miniatures by years end.

Least said about this the better. I haven't yet painted anything from the shelves this year, and I actually think one or two more models may have found their way out the painting queue and back onto the shelves so the numbers may even have gone up. Still, never say never and if the bug bites for some Skaven, High Elves, Orks or Tau, the number may go down. 








- General 28mm wise, I want to progress my two Bolt Actions armies, and move into at least one Ancients force alongside my napoleonics. I'd like at least two complete units for this ancients project.

So no progress on the Ancients, even though I have plenty of minis for them and I've only added one unit to my Bolt Action armies this year. But I am regularly gaming with a friend at BA so I may get the motivation to paint some more. 



- I want to start to gather 20mm forces for battlegroup games. No real targets on this, just want to see me making siginificant progress here.

I think I can call this one a success so far. The Poles are well on their way, and I have some Germans bought so that's all good. If I end the year with a singe painted army (i.e. The Poles), I'll call this complete. 




- 6mm wise I have two rough targets. In Epic terms, to buy no more until what I have outstanding is small enough to fit in to one box. Second, to move into historical 6mm. I know it's not for everyone, but it's a scale I have always had a soft spot for. It should also be fairly quick and easy to get armies together.

This is one with little progress. Some purchasing of historical 6mm has occurred but no painting. I haven't quite stuck to my promise of buying no more Epic stuff, but what I have bought is only small, so it's not all bad. And I've recently started getting the odd game of Epic in so the motivation might be sparked up. 


- Finally, bring my gaming table into action that I have in the garage. I've had this a few years and still not used it. 

The only one I'd call complete at the half way point. I'm pleased to say that the gaming has been fairly regular and steady, and more importantly nothing of mine that has touched the table has been unpainted! This is a big sea change for me, and I've promised to myself not to use any incomplete minis on the table if at all possible. 



I think you'll agree that progress is being made all round. I can't grumble too much when all said and done, the wife puts up with having a painting room and a gaming room, so I am blessed. And at least I do get some things done. Sure, I'd like more time for the hobby, but real life is demanding and has to come first. 

I have noticed my schizophrenic painting style seems to be calming down a bit. I am intending to work on projects rather than leap around all over the place. So at the moment, I am working on the next big chunk of 20mm Poles. Occassionally something will get pushed the front but they will be my focus - expect to see lots more of them this month.  

Messing Around with a Light Box

I decided a while ago that I need to improve the photos I take for the blog. I tend to find that even with lots of lights on them they are dark, especially in the winter when there is very little natural light around.

I know that a lot of people use light boxes so after finding a cheapo one on Amazon for £7.99, I took the plunge. The light box itself is just an expanding wire framed box with white cloth over it. I didn't get the set that comes with lights because I decided in the short term that I would see if I could use my daylight lamps.

After setting it up, here are the results:

Here is a comparison shot of my recent Skaven both how I normally to do the photos (top) and the light box one (bottom):

I can't personally see a massive difference, perhaps I need some better lights? Also, ironing the back ground cloths that come with the light box wouldn't hurt. The main positive is that it doesnt matter how dark and miserable the weather is, the light will be constant.

2015 Review, A Look Ahead to 2016

The last year has been quite a good one for me. I'll come to the hobby side in a minute, but generally; my daughter has started school and is thriving, I passed a promotion exam at work, and of course, I have a new son! All good.

Hobby wise has also been very good to me. I end the year with two Bolt Action armies on the go (one a pretty decent size), and dents made in several other projects. I have also started to try different games, made some good friends and got started in some other projects.

Painting wise, I decided to score myself using the Analogue Hobbbys scoring system. Because I am quite sad, I track what I paint and here is what I managed over the year:

28mm Infantry: 113 @ 5 pts each
28mm Vehicles: 4 @ 15pts each
6mm Infantry: 30 @ 0.5 pts each.

Grand total:
640pts

I like to think that is not too bad a year for me. As a slow painter, I think that is quite good. Certainly, it took me nearly 6 years to paint 200 Imperial Guard, so having done over 100 28mm minis this year is quite a feat. Overall I am pleased with progress made. 

So what will 2016 bring?

Too many projects no doubt! Here are a list of things I have been thinking about in the past few days to aim for. Some are quite specific, some more general:


- In terms of points using the above scoring system, I am going to aim for over 1000 points of painted minis.

- To complete at least two full 28mm Napoleonic battalions (so that's 48 miniatures done.)

- I have my shelves of doom (full of unpainted minis, mainly dead projects that I refuse to sell) in my painting, taunting me from the corner. The total currently stands at 93 minis, so I shall aim to reduce this to under 60 miniatures by years end.

- General 28mm wise, I want to progress my two Bolt Actions armies, and move into at least one Ancients force alongside my napoleonics. I'd like at least two complete units for this ancients project.

- I want to start to gather 20mm forces for battlegroup games. No real targets on this, just want to see me making siginificant progress here.

- 6mm wise I have two rough targets. In Epic terms, to buy no more until what I have outstanding is small enough to fit in to one box. Second, to move into historical 6mm. I know it's not for everyone, but it's a scale I have always had a soft spot for. It should also be fairly quick and easy to get armies together.

- Finally, bring my gaming table into action that I have in the garage. I've had this a few years and still not used it.


You can see I have set myself very few "hard targets" as I find these demotivating and unrealistic. I shall review where I am at the halfway point in the year, but I think it's a good framework to work to. In all honesty I will get distracted by something soon and it will all fall apart.

So here's to a great 2016. May your dice roll 6's and your painting hand be steady.

Projects, Projects, Projects.

I often consider it to be the curse of wargaming as a hobby - it's sheer variety. Of course, with most hobbies there are always more things you want, more kit, the latest gadget etc. But think about it. You don't have a totally different set of kitting needles for doing blue clothes to red clothes, for doing scarves over gloves etc. Nor does a golfer have a set of golf clubs for a sunny day, and another full set of clubs for when its a cloudy or a set for when he feels sad and a fourth set for his happy days.

Wargaming is different. What mood are you in today? Ancient greece today sir? How about a bit of English Civil War this evening? Micro scale tank armour anyone? Giant space ship battles? You get the idea.

We in this hobby are totally spoiled. Not only do you have different periods, you have the fantasy/sci-fi element (hereby lumped into made-up-stuff), the different theatres of war, do you recreate specific battles or do your own? Then throw in scale and the number of companies and you have a near enough infinite number of options. And of course, being greedy human beings, we want it all.

And that's why the other day I turned to one of my many projectgs and painted these:

Do I play Warhammer Fantasy Battle/Age of Sigmar? Nope. Would I like a couple of armies for it? Yep, sure why not. I have the beginnings of a couple of forces from a half formed idea some time ago to get into the game but life defeated me, as it is often does. My main problem is that the scale of my amibitions does not often match the time I have to realise it. A good illustration of this is if I list all the armies I have at least one model for and that I would like, one day, to have as an army:

Bolt Action Late War Germans
Bolt Action Late War Brits
40k Imperial Guard
40k Renegades
40k Tau
40k Space Marines
40k Orks
Warhammer High Elves
Warhammer Skaven
Epic Imperial Guard
Epic Orks
Epic Space Marines
Napoleonic 28mm Penninsular British
Napoleonic 28mm French
Battle Fleet Gothic Imperial Navy


Some of these are literally one model and an idea, some are hundreds of painted minis. I never say complete becuase I don't believe an army is ever complete.

On top of the above, here is a list of projects I will probably start reasonably soon:

Hail Ceaser Dacians
Hail Ceaser Late Romans
Bolt Action Early Germans
6mm Napoleonic Brits
6mm Napoloenic French
Modern Brits in Afghan/Iraq
Taliban/Insurgants
20mm Germans, World War 2
20mm Brits, World War 2

Why will I buy more when I am already surronded by half finished projects? I don't honestly know, I just realise that it is inevitable that I will.

So there we have it, the eternal curse of the wargamer - to have way too much to paint, but not able to stop yourself buying more. How do you guys cope? Do you always complete a project before moving on or are you in the same bracket as me and just keep buying?

As always, pop along to my facebook page The cardboard fortress,and give me a like for more updates.