Hello it's me

After just over 2 years I've decided to re-start the blog. The CV-19 lockdown (albeit almost a year in) but as I'm permanently working from home saving hours a day commuting and not being knackered all the time I've had time for hobbying. And that means time to blog again.

Stuff on the table - March 2018

Here we go for March:

Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)

Revell 1/144th Me-262 (2016)

Artizan/North Star 28mm Dark Confederate Zombies x4 (2017)

Artizan/North Star 28mm Jackalope (2017)

Newline Designs 10mm Roman Hastati x31 (2016)

Newline Designs 10mm Celtic Warband x31 (2016)

The 10mm Punic Wars project is progressing steadily. The aim was to complete 30 a month so I'm slightly ahead on this. Similarly to this time last year I've been spending more time playing guitar than painting. But it'll even itself out as the year goes on no doubt. 

Stuff on the table - February 2018 UPDATE

Updates for Feb:

Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - no further progress

Revell 1/144th Me-262 (2016) - no further progress

Artizan/North Star 28mm Dark Confederate Zombies x4 (2017) - main painting complete

Artizan/North Star 28mm Jackalope (2017) - no further progress

Newline Designs 10mm Roman Triarri x31 (2016) - details painted, varnished, based, COMPLETED

Additional items worked on:

Newline Designs 10mm Roman Hastati x31 (2016) - cleaned up, primed, main painting complete

Newline Designs 10mm Celtic Warband x31 (2016) - started clean up

Purchases:

Enough Pre-cut premium bases from Warbases to base all the infantry for the 10mm Punic Wars project. Total expenditure for the month £10.18 - get in there!

Stuff on the table - February 2018

Blimey where did January go? Here's what's on the go for February:

Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)

Revell 1/144th Me-262 (2016)

Artizan/North Star 28mm  Dark Confederate zombies x4 (2017)

Artizan/North Star 28mm Jackalope (2017)
NewlineDesigns 10mm Roman Triarri x30 (2016)

Stuff on the table - January 2018 UPDATE

Here's what I got up to in January:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - no further progress
• Revell 1/144th Me-262 (2016) - assembly completed
• Newline Designs 10mm Roman Princeps x30 (2016) - painted, varnished, based COMPLETED

Additional items worked on:

• Artizan/North Star Dark Confederate zombies x4 (2017) - cleaned up and primed
• Artizan/North Star Jackalope (2017) - cleaned up and primed
• Newline Designs 10mm Roman Triarri x30 (2016) - cleaned up, primed, main painting complete

I've set myself the target of 30 10mm Punic Wars figures a month which means I should complete by October/November time. I'm slightly ahead as I'm just completing the details on the Triarri as we finish January. They'll be varnished and based ealy in Feb. Probably wise to switch focus and then gear up for another batch at the end of the month.

January Purchases

Privateer Press Cryx Bloodgorgers. These were an absolute bargain at £17.60 for a painted unit of 10. They retail at around £60! The paintjob is ok. I'll leave the metals and redo the skin and bases. 

6xArmy Painter washes. My stockpiled Citadel ones are finally running out so I thought I'd give these a go. I also restocked a few essential Vallejo paints and bought a set of Javis fine sable brushes to help with all that 10mm painting.

And that was it, quite restrained. I'm happy with what I've got on the go so no need to buy anything more.

First 10mm - Greek Hoplites

At end of last year I finally managed to complete my first 10mm figures. Here they are, a unit of Greek Hoplites from Newline Designs.

 

These were originally purchased back in 2015 as a test to see if 10mm were a viable option. During painting I got very fed up and they were banished from the painting desk to the drawer of shame. However, I had invested in over 300 10mm Punic Wars figures by that stage and realised I needed to grasp the nettle as it were and finish them off. 

After the basic painting was complete they sat there for ages while I mulled over how to do the shields. I initially looked at decals, but decided it would be torturous in this small scale. Therefore, I bought a set of very nice Sakura Pigma Micron Colour Pigment Fineliners which enabled me to do the shield designs. 

I then dithered about how to base them and was looking on the Warbases site when I came across the Minihammer range. As the only Ancients rules I own is the original Warhammer Ancient Battles set, these made perfect sense and I am really pleased with the consistency and quality of the bases. I've used circular Warbases for my Burrows and Badgers and Early War 28mm as well. 

Finishing this lot has set me up nicely for cracking on with the Punic Wars project which I first conceived in 2016. They'll be more of that later in the month and hopefully through the year.

Stuff on the table - January 2018

Happy New Year to everyone let's hope it's a good one! Here's what I've got on the go as we start the year:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)
• Revell 1/144th Me-262 (2016)
• Newline Designs 10mm Roman Princeps (2016)

I only have 28mm or 10mm figures outstanding at the moment having painted up all the 15mm last year. The plan (and we all know what happens to plans) is to crack on with the 10mm but also have a few 28mm on the go as well to give some variety. I find that when you'be been painting a smaller scale and then when you work on a 28/32mm figure they seem really easy to paint.

Stuff on the table - December 2017 update

Here's the final update for stuff on the table for 2017:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - no further progress
• Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016) - COMPLETED

Additional items worked on:

• Battlefront 15mm Panzer Grenadier platoon (Winter) (2016) - cleaned, primed, painted, varnished, based COMPLETED 
• Newline Designs 10mm Roman Princeps (2016) - cleaned, primed, started painting
• Revell 1/144th Me-262 (2016) - started assembly
  

And that's it. I'll do a summary of 2017 early on in 2018 and I wish everyone all the best for the new year and beyond.

Stuff on the table - December 2017

Here's what's on the table as we enter the last month of the year:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)
• Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016)

The Ravagore is virtually complete, just needs final assembly and details and a bit of work on the base. It's the last Privateer Press item that I have to do. I like to have one or two to work on a year but no more than that as they are really time consuming. 

The Stuka has been sitting there complete and waiting a paint job for a couple of months now. I also have a Revell and two Eudard 1/144th Stukas to be done. Annoyingly all of them are slightly different sizes. I need to make a decision on what to do with them.

Time permitting what with Christmas and everything, I'll start on some of the 10mm Punic Wars backlog and/or some plane kits and/or the 15mm Panzer Grenadier platoon. 

Stuff on the table - November 2017 UPDATE

Updates to the items in progress during November:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - no further progress
• Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017) - COMPLETE
• Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016) - painted and based, final assembly and details to complete
• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Maquis (2013) - COMPLETE
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015)  - COMPLETE

November was a good month. Completing the Maquis and Hoplites was a landmark as they were the oldest outstanding figures. They'll be a separate post about those hopefully but here's some shots of the Zero.

Stuff on the table - November 2017

Here's what's on the table as the start the month:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)
• Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017)
• Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016)
• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Maquis (2013)
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015) 

As we go into the last two months of the year it's all about trying to clear up the pre-2017 stuff. So the Ravagore, Maquis and Hoplites are the priorities for this month. The Maquis just need basing, so once I decide on a basing scheme these will be completed. The Hoplites are in a similar state but I also need to complete the shield designs.

The Ravagore has some awkward parts which can only be painted prior to assembly. This will be quite an involved process of paint a bit, assemble a bit and repeat. 

Current state of the Ravagore

Stuff on the table - October 2017 UPDATE

Updates to the October list:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - no further progress
• Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017) - underneath painted and shaded, top surfaces base coated and weathered. Just detail painting and decals to do.
• Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016) - some further prep work done. 
• Battlefront Miniatures 15mm USA WW2 Parachute rifle platoon (2016) - COMPLETED

The priority for the month was to complete the parachute rile platoon which was achieved. And here's some shots of the lads on their snowy bases. 

Additional items worked on:

• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Maquis (2013) - cleaned, primed and varnished, awaiting basing.
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015) - shield designs started (9 of 32)

These are the oldest figures that are outstanding. The Maquis were picked up very cheap from a Wayland Games stall at the Writtle Wargames show in 2013, with a whole batch of other Artizan WW2 figures they were selling off. I think it averaged about £2 a pack. I sold most but kept these, some partisans and the LRDG and i didn't really know what to do with them for awhile. Recently though I began to mull over an idea I had  about 6 years ago when I started to collect towards a squad level, early WWW2 game set in Nazi occupied Britain using AE:WW2 rules. This didn't go far but I kept some of the figures so I think I may resurrect this idea and the Maquis will fit well into this - they could as easily be British as French!. 

Stuff on the table - October 2017

A mixed bag to kick off October:

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)
• Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017)
• Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016)
• Battlefront Miniatures 15mm USA WW2 Parachute rifle platoon (2016)

The priority is the parachute rile platoon which is part of my North West Europe winter 1944/45 project. 

Stuff on the table - September 2017 UPDATE

Updated list for September:

Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - assembled

Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017) - assembled and primed, painting started 

Additional items worked on:

Privateer Press Hordes Ravagore (2016) - cleaned up and started assembly

Battlefront Miniatures 15mm WW2 Parachute rifle platoon (2016) - cleaned up and primed, painting started

I was away for a couple of weeks so not too much was done on existing projects. However, when I returned I got straight on with my winter project which is North West Europe winter 1944/45. 

Stuff on the table - September 2017

Here's the starting point for September and it's not much at all: 

• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017)
• Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017)

The Stuka was a lovely modern tooled kit which went together like a dream. The Zero is a very old kit and horrid!  Not sure how much will get done this month as I'm away for 2 weeks. I'm much more motivated hobby wise now though so expect a strong finish to the year. 

1/144th WW2 planes

Since my splurge on the Punic Wars 10mm project in August, I've been trying not to buy  anything that needs "doing". I've bought some books and some hobby supplies (varnish, grass etc) but no minis or kits. My resolution for the rest of the year was only to buy if it's a). something I've been searching for that's out of print/production and an example becomes available  and/or b). is something that's on the want list and is a very good price. Otherwise I'm trying to resist. 

Resistance crumbled last week. I really enjoyed making and painting the Revell 1/144th Micro Wings Hurricane and Bf-109E in the summer and I've been trawling eBay on and off for more of these little beauts having been outbid on a couple of auctions. However, persistence pays off and I managed to pick up these little lovelies for £2.00 each. And they met both of the above criteria...surely that's justification enough?

As well as being lovely classic WW2 aircraft all of these have a wargaming use. The Corsair and Hellcat have multiple applications. I could use them as support for my FEC forces in Indo-China or for the inevitable 15mm USMC Pacific force that'll be collected at some stage. The Stuka gives me a further option to the two Eduard Stukas that I need to build. That leaves the Me-262. Well everyone needs an Me-262 don't they? 

I realise that I've come late to this party and Revell no longer make these kits. I'd be really interested to pick up more and also if anyone has a definitive list of what Revell produced. 

Bf-109 and Hurricane

What's on the table - September 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Mouse Knight - COMPLETED
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H – no progress
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane – COMPLETED
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E – COMPLETED
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites - no progress

Bf-109 bouncing a Hurricane - Revell 1/144th Microwings

Additional items I worked on:

• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Adder Mage - cleaned and primed
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Otter Rogue - cleaned and primed
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Weasel - cleaned and primed
• Revell 1/76th Comet - main assembly complete, base coat applied

I more or less stuck to the plan for September completing my third Burrows and Badgers figure and the two 1/144th planes. I'm not going to say too much about these as I want to post separately on each. 

What's on the table - September 2016

Here's the list of what's on the table as we start September:

• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (bought 2014)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Mouse Knight (bought 2016)
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E (bought 2015) 
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane  (bought 2015) 
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Armoured Hoplites (bought 2015)

The Cromwell Pz IV is proving to be a pain in the rear which is why it's been an ever present on the What's on the table since I started in May. It's a resin kit with incredibly fragile turret schurtzen. All of the supports were either broken when I got it or have broken just by looking at them.  As is well documented on various forums, whilst producing lovely models Cromwell Models are a nightmare to deal with, so there's no chance of approaching them to get a replacement. In fact to get this kit I had to go through a third party. Additionally the model didn't come with the side schurtzen or with the supports on the model which is pretty poor as all Pz IVHs had them. So I'm going to have to do a fair bit of scratch building to get the model to look half way as it should. It's a real shame because the rest of the kit is lovely.

This is the smallest list of items in progress since I started the blog in May.  I'm on holiday for the first two weeks of September and this made me focus on getting things finished rather than starting anything new. When I return from holiday the goal is to complete the Mouse Knight and the two 1/144th planes but I don't envisage there to be much else that's happened when I publish the update at the end of the month. I really want to crack on now with my Punic Wars project. 

So until mid September...

What's on the table - August 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn – COMPLETED
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight - some progress, base textured
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Ferret Rogue - COMPLETED 
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Fox Brigand – COMPLETED 
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H – no progress
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV – COMPLETED
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz – COMPLETED
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane – good progress, just detailing and decals to complete
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E – good progress, just detailing and decals to complete
• Revell 1/76th Sherman Firefly – COMPLETED
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites - no progress

 Additional items I worked on:

• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites - additional 23 figures cleaned and primed

August was quite productive considering I spent a lot of time watching the Olympic cycling and gymnastics and Team GB generally being very impressive. How refreshing it was to watch what appear to be intelligent, normal, well-rounded people represent their country with pride, dignity and integrity.  The contrast couldn't be greater to the Euros debacle. Rant over and back to the important stuff.    

All of the 2014 purchased figures are now complete which is a milestone I'm pleased to have achieved. And for the first time since I started this blog I don't have any Privateer Press figures on the table. I love these but I take a lot of time trying to do them justice. For the time it took me to do the five figures that I've completed this year I could do platoons of 15 or 20mm figures. I've still got a Gatormen posse unit and the Carnivean/Ravagore/Scythean kit to do but they were 2016 purchases and are well down the schedule. Once I've completed the 10mm Hoplites that'll be 2015's purchases completed as well. I think that the blog is serving it's purpose of keeping me focused.

What's on the table - August 2016

Here's the list of what's on the table as we start August:

• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn (bought 2015) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Ferret Rogue, Fox Brigand and Mouse Knight, (bought 2016)
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV (bought 2014)
• Revell (Matchbox)1/76th Sherman Firefly (bought 2016)
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz (bought 2015)
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E (bought 2015) 
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane  (bought 2015) 
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Armoured Hoplites (bought 2015)

I only managed to complete the 2 figures in July.  For August my aim is to complete the Cromwell Mk IV, Sherman Firefly and Opel Blitz as a minimum and also make some real progress with the Oathsworn Miniatures figures.