Plans for 2016

Simply put would be to achieve more painted figures than 2015 and game more. The reality is with a 9 month old son, will be lucky to achieve targets already set for the year. These include:

• Macedonian Basic Impetus army
• Drop Ship Troopers for ARC forces in Critical Mass
• Recon Troopers for ARC forces in Critical Mass
• Moorish Archers for Impetus Army
• Moorish Cavalry for Impetus Army

Recon on current form that completion of the first two targets would be good any more excellent. 

So now to gaming and from the above list it should be fairly easy to see that both forms of Impetus and Critical Mass are on the list as are the following:

• X-Wing
• SAGA
• Swords and Spears
• Impetus Baroque (if released)
• Lion and Dragon Rampant

A good list to try and achieve a game per month for the rest of the year. Fingers crossed there is time to achieve this.

Now, as all is quiet at present, going to sneak a half hour at the painting table as time is marching on in the 6th Analogue Painting Challenge.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 104

A quick couple of pictures of the first work started on the Basic Impetus Macedonians; shown here are bow armed skirmishers and prodromoi. Figures from Foundry and A & A Miniatures respectively.

The archers are from Foundry's original range of Greek and at present may end up as a two figure stand instead of three. Will see how they fit together when fully painted.

Early stages on both of these bases and already behind on the draft schedule created at the start of the challenge, also pictured below.

Sorry, no spreadsheet fu here, just plain old scribbles of a painter and gamers mind. Sort of a very rough plans within plans draft here.

That's all for now

Cheers

Seasons Greetings to all

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping that everyone has a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

A beginning is a very delicate time.

Know then that it is the day before the 6th Analogue Painting Challenge begins and the preparatory work is complete. The brushes are primed and the painters are in the starting blocks. In the picture below lies the target for the next 3 months - a 28mm Basic Impetus Macedonian army.

The army comprises of the following:

15 cavalry figures - 1 x CP 6 Companions, 1 x CM 5 Thessalian and 1 x CL 4 Prodromoi
42 infantry figures - 2 x FP 12 phalangites, 1 x FL 8 hypaspists, 1 x FL 6 peltasts and  2 x  S 2  skirmishers.

The horses for the Companions are not shown here as they are still drying having been re-undercoated last night.

Now, nearly everything is starting off in the traditional black undercoat except that is a some of the peltasts that have been undercoated in a flesh base colour. Not sure how this will work out so will keep you posted on the results of this little experiment and the reasons why throughout the challenge.

In terms of points this lot will total 360 points if completed which is higher than the entry level posted for the challenge. Time will see how this fares.

Thats all for now

Cheers

Roll the bones

The die has been cast and along with a host of other miniature painters hobby energy, time and focus turns towards the 6th Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. The board is set and the pieces are moving towards the start date of December 20th. Follow the challenge, the side duels and general mayhem of this grand celebration of our hobby here.

There will be more to follow shortly.

Cheers for now

Lest We Forget

DULCE ET DECORUM EST

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, 

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, 

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs 

And towards our distant rest began to trudge. 

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots 

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; 

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots 

Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling, 

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; 

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, 

And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . 

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, 

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. 

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, 

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. 

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace 

Behind the wagon that we flung him in, 

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, 

His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; 

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood 

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, 

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud  

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, 

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest  

To children ardent for some desperate glory, 

The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est 

Pro patria mori.

Wilfred Owen

Back to the Brushes 103

Trying to sort out the painting table this weekend - have both Friday and Monday added to the rest days this weekend - with the aim to be able to return to painting throughout the winter months.

So here is the starting point:

As you can see this has been taken from above to show the full effect of not having any hobby time over the last six months. The idea is to completely tidy the table to bare wood and then move to the fixed table in the study. This will mean less painting time but it will be in a fixed location and hopefully this will allow some time to be spent with some brushwork. Hopefully...

The next picture is one of three stands of Arab/Moor infantry that are waiting on their bases being completed. They are all at the same point and have been at this stage since mid 2014.

They need a good brushing down as they are very dusty but again hopefully these will progress over the next few days. Its time they moved on to prevent any damage being done.

Will attempt to have more regular posting as well in the coming months

Cheers for now