2013 Round up

It's the traditional round up post. It been a funny year for hobby related activities  interrupted by significant periods of real life getting in the way - but hey you all have that.

Having a blast with the bloggers at Wargames Foundry

The Pro's
Massive expansion on the Old West Collection - it will be at an end very soon.
Worked out my own version of rules "Blazing Dice" based on Rules With No Name, Dusty Trails and playing it.
Took the collection on the road -to "Call to Muster" , "Wartorn" and "Blog-Con" , some really fine fun games were had.
I now have a new man cave up and running - with game area and work area. - Result!
Painted some 54mm figures - really enjoyed that
Invited to Curt's Annual Painting Challenge
Met up with Sidney Roundwood - I am inspired to do some WW1 toward back end of next year.
The blog went over 100,000 hits and 150 followers. Thanks all.

The Con's
Not enough games over the year overall.
Have not managed to get to the club night since July.
Bootleggers project going nowhere really- but always anticipated a "slow burn"
Sudan project going nowhere -
The mine project - stalled due to work and other DIY pressure - but its firmly back on the cards for the spring , been doing some planning over Xmas

Doug's darned Highlanders who taunt me every time I look at them , but they "refuse" to be painted - painters block with these lads now - i am just gonna have to force myself through them!
Google+ comments - seemed to narrow down the interaction - so i have reverted back to just Blogger.


2014 Plans
More games , meet up with friends, Spring Blog Meet up
Finish off any Old West related items by the summer.
start a WW1 project.
Revisit the Sudan - plenty of figures in stock to play with.
Paint some larger figures - just for the joy of painting
Do an odd bit of commission work - to keep the the hobby fund neutral.
Maybe run a summer "Terrain Challenge"

Anyway - until next year ! 

All the very best to you

Christmas Unwrapped

A day of chilling and relaxing yesterday. I spend a few moments reflecting on my colleagues at work keeping the county working , and the people impacted by the severe weather we have had.

After being treated to a wonderful dinner it was time to explore what seemed to be a multitude of gifts.

First up a superb effort by Secret Santa. The first elements of the mounted U.S. Cavalry for the Serenity collection.

Well done Santa.

Mrs D may rue the day these crossed the threshold... 54mm cowboys. A few more of these and I may have a viable game !

Some additional supporting material for future distractions.

What with Curt, Sidney and Byron showing off this , it is time to jump in. I have a project in mind to follow the battles of my own local battalion over the coming 4 years of anniversaries. (They entered France in 1915)

The 1/4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.

There is a great on line history of it , and I have visited the Western Front many times visiting the places involved.

An off the wall choice here , but it's a stage on from Old West and allows some elements of traditional RPG as well . We will see where this goes.

Next some reading material.

Some televisual entertainment

I enjoyed Hell on Wheels series 1 , looking forward to seeing what happens to the Swede.

It's not all Wargaming though...

A bit of music , I shall have to wind the Stones upto 11

And some more to add to my collection of Landscape photography books. I can lose myself in these for hours.

A thoroughly wonderful selection of well chosen gifts. Thanks to all my friends and family.

Right I am on cooking duties today.. Off to get the joint in the oven!

P.S. I am going to try switching off Google+ comments as getting fed up with it!

Merry Xmas 2013

Hi All

Just wishing a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Its been good to get back on the brushes lately - plenty more to do next year. 

Oh and my Secret Santa present has turned up - so I wonder what is in the bag!

Monument Valley in the man cave.

Just a little update , another part of the man cave is completed. I picked up a large picture of Monument Valley a classic part of old western films. It covers a large part of the back wall (its 6 foot x 4!) and will make a fine back drop to the games table. Its attached via velcro to the wall , which will even allow me to change it over for different scenes etc if i wish.

I had couple of questions re the Fort model shown a couple of posts ago, so here are a few with Gordon Pasha just to help scale it

So for those of you in Curts Challenge how is the prep work going on? I am ready to get to paint on stuff now i must say - just the last lot of Perry Sudan re-inforcements to tackle., Baggara Cavalry and metal Beja Foot reinforcements.

Win a compressor from Air Supplies

This good people over at Air Supplies are doing a give away.

It’s competition time at Air Supplies and they are giving you the chance to win an excellent Bambi BB8 Silent Air Compressor that’s ideal for model makers. All you have to do is show  your favourite model from your collection. Trains, Warhammer, Airfix, table top gaming, it doesn’t matter what the model is it just has to be one that you’ve painted, built or even designed.

Its a decent bit of kit if you have an airbrush.  just click on the image to go to their site ..