Man Flu and 2012 project

Hi Chaps,

my sight is growing dim and I am fading fast as I write this note...bloody hell I have caught my first cold in years and its horrible! I had totally forgotten how crap it feels to be ill. Oh well its only a cold (men suffer more than women when they get this condition). Anyway being unable to do much I began thinking about how unco ordinated my hobby actually is, so I have formed a plan.

This year I kept a running total on how much I painted each month in a notebook-I also made a note of what colours I had used on which figures. Well next year I am taking this one step further with more detailed notes including the times and duration that I paint for, this should give me an estimate for the time taken on each model.

Pre planning (project management??) is also going to feature heavily and for the first time in 30 years of wargaming/painting I will have a project ready to go at the start of the year. Since I started blogging-and in turn gleaning all I can from every one elses blogs I have decided that 20mm is the only option  in what I can afford and what is available. Even today there was instant inspiration on The Angry Lurkers blog with some ruined buildings! http://theangrylurker.blogspot.com/2011/11/conflix-20mm-pre-painted-ww2-buildings.html

I hope you can all avoid the plague so that you can keep gaming and posting!

Modern figures 20mm.

Hi Chaps,

painted these and thought I would put up a pic or two. 20mm is fast becoming my favourite scale, its just a pity there are so few character type models but I think that this is changing slowly.

WW1 a work in progress.

Hi Chaps,

I thought I would place some pics on here of my 20mm painting (my eyes, my eyes etc..). Because of the process I have used it is fairly quick to produce a company of figures in just two painting sessions. No great care has been taken with these fellows as I want (plastic) boots on the gaming table, just three or four base colours followed by a wash_Devlan mud is the new rock and roll!!

The pictures are dark because its even duller than normal here in Cumbria...The next batch is well under way and a game with my son wont be too far off. If the Gods of finance are agreeable I will purchase some modern 20mm from Britannia miniature, I have not ordered from the new owner nor have I been to the website but Britannia used to do some excellent British army kit....

Thanks for looking.

20mm painting quality (my eyes...my eyes!)

Morning All,

I was looking through my stash of pictures (no not that sort) when I came across some that I had downloaded in the past-and this stuff is just 20mm figure porn....I have not been able to think of anything else! Now this has presented me with a couple of problems. Firstly my stuff is utter pants in comparison and secondly how do I learn to paint like this?

 Apologies to the man who created these works of art-I think the Napoleonic figure was done by an Italian chap? Anyway these are stunning.

Having had an almost religious experience at what can be achieved with 20mm I now may attempt to up my game from base colours and a diluted wash...I suppose its all down to what we are using the figures for? I am certainly going to spend a little more time on my 20mm figures and afford them a little more respect...I'm off to look for the blog that these pics came from for more inspiration. Have a good Monday.

Painting time...barristers and AK47??

Hi Chaps,

its been a busy week or two visiting my barrister and medical experts so my painting time is well down though I have completed a British company (Hat 1/72) and I am pleased enough with them. Next up I have the Hat Jaegers to paint and the artillery...interesting times to say the least!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-15443382

The link above will explain where my time is going-its pretty boring and depressing so I would'nt bother with it unless you are particularily interested in that sort of thing.

I was chatting to a fellow wargamer in Preston (The Metropolis) and we were discussing which scale and ruleset suits modern warfare best. I went for Chris Peers "At close Quarters" in 20mm my chum opted for 6 or 15mm and was open to try any ruleset. One thing we both agreed on (we have around 40 years military service between us) was that randomness must be a factor in any game...does that mean Peter Pigs AK47 ruleset is the most accurate?

Oh well, I will post some pics next time...I would like to discover what rulesets and scales you chaps use ...links to pics would be great! Thanks

Hat and Emhar order arrives!

Hi Chaps,

I can't believe its nearly 2pm! I have had a day of silence, glueing and sticking! I must say that the quality of both Hat and Emhar is outstanding! The Hat figures are particularily nice, they seem bulkier than usual 1/72nd scale figures which is great as I feel like I am actually painting something people will be able to see.

There are two companies of infantry (One German and one Brit) in the shed based with a coat of matt black and almost all the artillery is built...though it is a bit fiddly as I am no kit builder. It feels good to have a plastic mountain to paint but I dont think it will take too long as 20mm is pretty speedy.

Up to now no one wants the 28mm stuff that kick started my painting so I may put it on ebay...no one want to swap any of them for Contemptable little armies?? It would save me a lot of hassle as I find it hard work...

I have'nt applied any PVA glue to these little fellows...instead I will rely on the primer, paint and varnish to keep them strong-I may use PVA in the next batch though! hat industries are for me the best manufacturer in 20mm...Copplestone the best in 28mm...?

Great war...update

Sorry, I meant to include this heros work in my post today but I got distracted preparing vegetables and school uniforms...please have a look around this blog.

http://modusregmagnimomenti.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20Great%20War

Inspirational stuff indeed! Strelets figures are superb, I think they have the character of metal figures and look suitably chunky. Thanks for looking.