Merry Christmas (too early?)

Hi Chaps,
hope you are all well. I will wish you a merry christmas at this early stage-I do hope that you all remember to get yourself something! I have been very busy with lots of things and unfortunatley none of them are related to wargaming or painting. Indeed I have temporarily put aside my painting tray till the new year (though I am going to order some Hat Zulus).

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/9382852.Morecambe_Bay_Hospitals_Trust_under_fire__GPs__baby_death_dad_and_hundreds_of_patients_join_call_for_change/

This is one of the reasons I have been so busy...anyway do get drunk and indulge and do keep painting as it is addictive reading.

Thanks all.

WW1 Russian 20mm

Hi Chaps,

last week I visited my sister in Preston and so I took the opportunity to visit Transport models for a fix of Strelets figures. I know that these awkward looking miniatures are not to everyones tastes but I think that they are full of character. I have no idea why I chose Russian...maybe I can use them in a 1938 campaign?

Has anyone used 20mm with Black Powder? I was looking at the armies of Peter the Great etc (as well as Napoleonic) but I am just not sure how the 20mm figures would look bunched together...for around £30 one could get a flying start!

I ordered some vehicles from Frontline and the chap I spoke to asked if they were for a 1938 army...he went on to say that his company had produced the masters for some of the factions for the "conflict" in 20mm. I find this fascinating and will certainly be purchasing some if and when they become available.

These chaps are now all but finished...the bases have not been even started because the last batch of sand I collected from the beach was too coarse. On my next visit (its only a few miles) I will select the right texture and basing can then commence. Its a pity that the pics dont really do these fellows justice they really are little characters.

Thanks for looking.

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.