Happy New Year!

May you all be happy, healthy, and safe in the coming year!

2022 Hobby Goals

Making the rounds on Instagram is something called an “ovelist.” Apparently it’s a sort of way to chart your hobby goals that got its start last year. Again, I’m all about jumping onto bandwagons and made one for 2022.

Some people are listing nine or more, but I’m keeping it simple at 6 (I know myself a bit too well). I pretty much have all the figures I need for these…got to whittle down the Pile of Shame! 

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing everyone a safe and healthy 2021! 

2021 Hobby Resolutions

 Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Take heart....2020 is almost behind us! 

You might recall that last New Year's Day I made a post with a lengthy list of hobby resolutions for 2020. It was ambitious to be sure, but I figured it was doable at the time.

Yeah...nothing on that list got finished. D'oh. 😑

So instead of potentially having a repeat of that for 2021, I think I'll just resolve to enjoy the hobby, paint more frequently, and just have fun working on the projects that strike my fancy. 

Oh, and to clean up the basement War Room too. I've been putting that off for a good while now, but my friend Mannie's toy soldier studio has been a real inspiration! I think it will go a long way in helping me to actually get started on the tidying up and organizing. I also have some ideas that I think will really add some nice character to my workspace.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Here’s to 2020! May it be a good and happy year, and the start to a wonderful new decade. As is our tradition now, Teresa and I are toasting the year with a bottle of our favorite beer: Duchesse de Bourgogne.

My goal for 2020 is to finally finish many of the projects I’ve started over the years. Instead of saying just that  I’ll finish painting the figures that I have, I’ll pick up figures and whatnot only if they’re related to a project. Wish me luck!

Decade Challenge: 2009 vs 2019

With the new decade upon us (depending on where you fall in that debate), I thought it would be cool and appropriate to take part in the 2009 vs 2019 challenge that's been going on. I'm featuring two figures from very different games, and with very different sets of painting skills. 

Lt. Gyles Durfee was painted back in 2009 and was part of my old 32nd Praetorian Regiment from back in the day. He represents the Praetorian Mounted Police and was an old "Fingers" figure from the out of print Schaeffer's Last Chancers set.

Captain William Bradford was painted up only a few months ago, and is a Zulu War British officer from the 56th Foot. Nicknamed the "Pompadour," he serves on detached service in Zululand with a number of different regiments. He was actually my Zulu War test figure and came from the Warlord British Line Infantry set. 

Sometimes I don't think I've made much improvement in my painting skills (especially since I didn't even pick up a brush from 2017 to late 2018). When I see comparison photos like these, however, I'm pretty surprised. Thinning my paints has helped a lot, as has using washes. I'm much happier with my faces too. Of course, there's always room for improvement and I intend to continue on with that into the new decade. 

My biggest goals for 2020 are to finish up the vast array of projects that I've had sitting around my basement half-finished for the last few years and tidy up my basement War Room as well (especially since I've found out there are a number of wargamers in my neighborhood and am beginning to connect with them).

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May 2019 be a great year for everyone! I know it certainly will be for us, as Teresa and I are getting married in about three weeks aboard the Queen Mary in California. Neither of us can wait!

Oh yeah, and here are the first Prussian Landwehr figures I’ve finished since late January 2017! 😁 From left to right, they’re metal figures from Calpe, Warlord, and Front Rank. I wanted to add a little variety since the bulk of 3rd Battalion are the same three plastic Warlord poses over and over again. The battalion’s drummer has been basecoated and shaded, so I’ll hopefully be finishing him up within the next few days. 

Meanwhile, work on the other battalions goes on....