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.

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.

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 - October 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (2014) - no progress
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015) - flesh areas painted
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Adder Mage (2016) - main colours blocked in 
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Otter Rogue (2016) - main colours blocked in
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Weasel (2016) - COMPLETED
• Revell 1/76th Comet (2014) - COMPLETED

Additional items I worked on:

• Artizan Designs 28mm LRDG (2013) - cleaned and primed
• Peter Pig 15mm WW2 14th Army infantry (2016) - cleaned, primed, fully painted and varnished.

We were away mid-month so I didn't do too much. The highlight of the month was completing the Comet, which the infamous Pz IVH aside was my oldest outstanding kit. You can read more about that on my post here.

I had a bit of a WW2 renaissance when I saw the lovely SBS Mike Owen figures for Gorgon Miniatures advertised on TMP. I promptly dug out the old packet of LRDG that I'd picked up for a couple of quid back in 2013 and started on them straightaway. I have been very close to getting shot of these on many an occasion, wondering what I was going to use them for as I don't game WW2 in 28mm. However, I am partial to Mr Owen's work and already had the matching pack which I finished in 2007. So they've now on the table and will be painted just for the joy of it.

Also, without really planning to, I  did a packet of Peter Pig WW2 14th Army that I picked up at Salute. I got these just to see if I could still paint 15mm what with the bifocal blues. Happy to say I still can and I'll do a full write up on these once I take some photos.

1/76th late WW2 British armour

Over the last few months I've completed three British tanks- Sherman Firefly, Cromwell and Comet in 1/76th scale. This was the first British armour that I'd done in this scale, my 1/76th collection being Eastern Front. I have done a fair bit in 15mm though.

It's been awhile since I completed a plastic kit and it took me a bit of time to get into the groove again. I made mistakes with each one, which I'll mention below, but overall I'm happy with the results of all three.

I built and painted the Comet and Firefly over the same period this summer. The Cromwell is the Airfix kit which I picked up in 2004 from eBay for about £5.00. It's one of the newer Airfix kits released in 2011, consisting of about 90 parts. I was really impressed with this kit having made a number of the old Airfix kits over the years. It went together very well, with little/no flash on the mouldings and made a very nice model. A bonus for me was the track moulding in one piece plastic rather than the old "rubber band" type. They worked a treat. 

Airfix Cromwell

The Sherman Firefly was another £5.00 eBay purchase. I bought it on a whim in May this year on the way home from work - the danger of smart phones! It's the old Matchbox kit re boxed as Revell. I like the old Matchbox kits. They're a good balance between being straightforward and not too fiddly to build yet still looking good for wargames purposes. This one went together without any problems apart from the very last part where I stuck the two main assemblies together without fixing the turret retaining ring. However, this self inflicted annoyance aside, it was another pleasing and successful build.

Matchbox/Revell Firefly

The Comet was bought back in 2014 at the same time as the Cromwell. Once again it was about a fiver and like the Firefly it was an old Matchbox kit re boxed as Revell. This was a breeze to build. I think this had a lot to do with having recently built the Cromwell and Firefly and I'd refreshed my skills. As seems to be the pattern at the very last I cut one of the front towing hooks off the sprue and it pinged across the room never to be seen. Mildly annoying but not the end of the world by any means. Of the three builds I think the Comet was my favourite. 

Matchbox/Revell Comet

I like to add a mix of putty, washers, old figures etc to the inside of my plastic tanks to give them a more weighty, satisfying feel. Obviously the best time to do this is during construction but I only remembered to do this at this stage for the Comet. For the Cromwell it wasn't too much trouble to fix as the turret is removable so I could pack it in. With the Firefly where I already had to correct the forgotten turret ring, I ended up drilling/cutting a whole in the bottom of the tank so with a pair of tweezers I could fit the turret ring and then I could pack the hull.  

I painted the wheels and associated parts of the Cromwell and Firefly as I assembled them. They got a base coat of Vallejo Model Colour (VMC) 924 Russian Uniform. The wheel rims were painted VMC 995 German Grey . I then painted the superstructure with a base coat of VMC 897 Bronze Green. This didn't give the colour I wanted so I repainted with Russian Uniform and applied a wash of VMC 890 Reflective Green or 894 Russian Green (can't remember which), Citadel Badab Black, VMC Glaze Medium and water mixed to the standard skimmed milk consistency. This added a nice depth to the Russian Uniform base. I then highlighted with Russian Uniform mixed with VMC 886 Green Grey to varying degrees and then a final touch of pure Green Grey on some areas.The final step was a dirty wash of Vallejo Game Colour Earth to the wheels and sparingly to the hull. 

The Comet was painted in exactly the same way apart from I didn't do any painting on the sprue and only painted the wheels when they were all assembled and stuck to the running gear. The other difference was I went straight to Russian Uniform for the base colour. Machine guns and tool heads were painted VMC Black base with a pencil highlight. Tool handles in some shade of Citadel brown I forget which. The tracks were given a base of some Citadel muddy colour with a drybrush of VGC Boltgun. Then they were washed with a Citadel Devlan Mud/Badab Black mix and then a bit more of a Boltgun drybrush. As a final finish odd areas were very lightly drybrushed with VMC  124 Iraqi Sand which has to be one of my most used/useful colours.

And that's it. I will add some stowage when I get hold of some and possible some markings. I don't really have a firm idea of what to use them for past the usual Normandy/Market-Garden scenarios for the Cromwell and Firefly and an East v West 1946 scenario for the Comet. But before I do that I'll need to get hold of some Brit infantry. 

What's on the table - October 2016

So we're into the last quarter of the year and here's the list of what's on the table as we start October:

• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (2014)
• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Adder Mage (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Otter Rogue (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers Weasel (2016)
• Revell 1/76th Comet (2014)

Oathsworn Adder, Otter and Weasel primed and ready for painting

Ah, the Cromwell Pz IVH bless it. Stlll there and still not much happening. I periodically inspect the ultra-flimsy badly fitting turret shurtzen, scratch my head and then put it back on the table again. It's a pity that overall it's such a nice model as I'd be tempted to use it as a wreck otherwise. I'm also tempted to hybridise it with an with a poor old Fujimi Pz-IVJ that has seen better days. If I put the two together I may get a half decent model.

The Matchbox/Revell Comet has been a nice kit to do and that should be finished this month. I think I bought it with an idea of a 1946 Red Army v Brits "what if" scenario. This will be the third British tank I've built this year and will do a write up on the 3 kits at some stage.

I'm still thinking about the 'Nam project, just finished reading Matterhorn and waiting for what Peter Pig release before taking this any further. I believe that PP are revamping their 'Nam range November time. I have a couple of packs of PP WW2 figures that I purposely bought at Salute just to see if I can still paint this scale so I'll try and fit them in during October which will help my decision making. 

I've also been mulling over finally redecorating and revamping the room where I do my painting and modelling.  I bought a filing cabinet off eBay a while back for the purpose of organising my 15mm and 20mm collection and it's sat there empty. With the weather and light changing I think it'll be good to start sorting that out. I'm also playing with the idea of seeing if I can find a nice old desk to replace my current uncomfortable painting table and chair. It's all towards the greater good.

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 - 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. 

What's on the table - July 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator and Cannoneer – COMPLETED - HURRAY!!!
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn – no further progress
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight, Ferret Rogue - no progress Fox Brigand – good progress, all base colours complete
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H – no progress
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV – minimal progress, 2^nd base coat applied
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz – no progress
• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane – minimal progress, primed
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E – minimal progress, primed
• Revell 1/76th Sherman Firefly – minimal progress, 2^nd base coat applied

 Additional items I worked on:

• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites - good progress, cleaned and primed

Titan Cannoneer

What's on the table - July 2016

Here's the list of what's on the table as we start July.

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Cannoneer (bought 2014)
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn (bought 2015) 
• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator (bought 2014)

• 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) 

The eagle eyed will spot that it's virtually the same list as for June minus the Pak 40 and picket fencing which was all I managed to complete. Whereas June was all about assembly, July should be a lot more pleasurable as I hope to get down to some proper painting. The aim is to complete any items that I bought in 2014. 

I have to admit that I'm itching to start a new project and have been looking into the possibilities but I'm trying to be good and not buy anything until I clear the table of what's in progress.

What's on the table - June 2016 UPDATE

Updates to the original list:

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator and Cannoneer - minimal progress, working on skin tones
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn - minimal progress, base coat of skin
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight, Ferret Rogue - no progress Fox Brigand - minimal progress, base coat of fur and jerkin
• Renedra picket fencing - completed
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H - no progress
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV - significant progress, assembled and base coat applied
• Airfix 1/76th Pak 40 - completed, pic with SHQ SS PAK crewmen below
• Airfix 1/76th Opel Blitz - good progress, assembled and primed

Additional items I worked on:

• Revell 1/144th Hawker Hurricane - good progress, assembled
• Revell 1/144th Bf-109E - good progress, assembled
• Revell 1/76th Sherman Firefly - significant progress, assembled and base coat applied

All in all June was a mixed bag of a month on the hobby front. On the personal front it was a month I'm pleased to see the back of. Early in the month we lost a much loved family member. And in the most extreme case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face" in history, the UK voted to leave the EU with a period of uncertainty now guaranteed. It certainly put my hobby angst into perspective. 

What's on the table - June 2016

• Privateer Press Hordes Titan Gladiator and Cannoneer (bought 2014)
• Privateer Press Hordes Satyr Shadowhorn (bought 2015)
• Oathsworn Miniatures Burrows and Badgers - Mouse Knight, Ferret Rogue and Fox Brigand (bought 2016)
• Renedra picket fencing (bought 2014)
• Cromwell 1/76th Pz IV H (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Cromwell Mk IV (bought 2014)
• Airfix 1/76th Pak 40 and Opel Blitz (bought 2015

This is what's currently sitting there in various degrees of completion at the moment. How much gets done depends on all those usual factors like work and normal life. Springwatch has started and then the Euros football starts next week so that;s already cut my hobby time down

I find it good to have some targets to help focus and I've being using a spreadsheet to track my collection for a number of years. Any new item gets logged and I track it through from purchase to completion. I'm currently working on completing all my 2014 buys while balancing it out with some newer bits. Once I get the 2014 bits done, the plan is to finish something within 18 months of buying it. I have got some bits pre 2014, but with those it's more a case of not wanting to part with them than really being motivated enough to get on with them!