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 - 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 - August 2017 UPDATE

Here's the updated list for August:

• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Toad Animist (2016) - painted, varnished, based COMPLETED
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Badger Mercenary (2016) - painted, varnished, based COMPLETED
• Battlefront Miniatures 15mm WW2 Japanese Hohei platoon (2016) - foliage added to bases COMPLETED
• Battlefront Miniatures 15mm WW2 USMC rifle platoon (2016) - foliage added to bases COMPLETED

A clean sweep this month - I don't think that's ever happened!  All things in progress as I started August have been completed. It's very satisfying. I bought some grass tufts to do the Japanese and USMC platoons and liked the effect, which overcame my natural tightness and I bought more to really fill the bases up. I've now gone back and added some more foliage to my Burrows and Badgers bases 

Additional items I worked on:

• Artizan Designs 28mm Partisan (2013) - cleaned up, primed, painted, varnished and based COMPLETED
• Zvezda 1/144th Ju-87 Stuka (2017) - assembled
• Minicraft 1/144th Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (2017) - assembly started
  

My order for the Dracula's America Nickstarter came earlier in the month than anticipated. Beautifully produced book and some nice figures. I opted for the Dark Confederacy posse and they look suitably grim. I was a tad disappointed with the book and think there could be much more background and options for the various posses, but maybe that will be covered in a later supplement. 

Stuff on the table - August 2017

Here's the starting point for August:

• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Toad Animist (2016) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Badger Mercenary (2016) 
• Battlefront Miniatures 15mm WW2 Japanese Hohei platoon (2016) 
• Battlefront Miniatures 15mm WW2 USMC rifle platoon (2016) 

The Japanese Hohei platoon and USMC rifle just need grass and foliage added to be complete. And then it really is time to tackle the last of my Oathsworn minis, the Badger and Toad. They've been looking at me for far too long on the painting table. 

I've bought in to the Nickstarter for Dracula's America with the Dark Confederates bundle. That should come in August so I have a good incentive to try and clear the decks for that. I have loads of suitable Old West figures that I can use for this so almost feel that I'm ahead of the game which is an unusual place for me to be. 

Stuff on the table - March 2017

Can't believe it's already March, here's the starting point:

• Newline Designs 10mm Greek Hoplites (2015)  
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Rabbit Heroine (2016)
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Toad Animist (2016) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Marmot Mercenary (2016) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Fox Huntress (2016) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Otter Mercenary (2016) 
• Artizan Designs 28mm WW2 Partisans (2013) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Badger Mercenary (2016) 
• Oathsworn Miniatures 28mm Burrows and Badgers Hare Warrior (2016)

A few of the above just need basing so they'll definitely be finished this month. All of my Oathsworn figures are now on the table. I really want to get them done by Salute as that'll be the anniversary of when I bought them. Having seen that Jo and Michael are releasing a whole load of new goodies that's a great incentive. 

The six Artizan partisans were picked up for a couple of quid a few years back. They're very generic rifle wielding figures that would fit into many eras. If I can find some muskets I may even shoehorn them into my make believe 19th century Old West collection. They're nice and easy to paint with a lot of character like all Mike Owen's figures.