2 Steps forward

... and one step back.

+ Got those 6 dwarves finished and started on the next batch.

- Bought a command pack of two metal LOTR wood elves to make up some character models for the SoBaH warband.

Number 2 daughter joined me for the painting session and worked on the bretonnian archers I gave her. She tells me that she wants to paint goblins next which will mean a trip to storage to get her some to paint that I won't miss.

Bits and pieces

The LOTR elves got doused in Halford finest black car primer and I dabbed a bit of paint on some of those dwarves. Not the most productive od weekends but at least I moved things on a little.

On Saturday I also played a miniatures game against Daughter number 2. We drew at one game apiece.

Waiting for busses

... and then two come along at once.

The first batch of dwarves for the year are almost finished.

And they're off

There are slow starts and there are slooooooooooooooooooooooow starts.

A combination of illness, apathy and real life(TM) have prevented me for doing any painting for the last six weeks but last night I finally picked up a paintbrush.

Taking a break from painting shouldn't be so bad as long as I've been taking a break from buying miniatures too, only I haven't. At the beginning of the year I bought a box of GW LOTR plastic wood elves to split with my eldest daughter so I'm 12 miniatures down already.

Last night I prepped the Wood Elves and clipped them from the frames. These are destined to become another SoBaH warband when I've finished with them. After that I carried on painting the dwarves I started in December. Its a start anyway.

Its all go round here

The scale of the problem (2009 edition)

Following on from a similar post last year I thought I'd have a look at what remains in the lead pile.

28mm Scale Projects

Orcs and Goblins
System: Warhammer
Status: 300 or so figures painted, 50 more or so in the lead pile
Comments: Over 3000 points + options available for use. 40 or so models added in 2008.

Orcs and Goblins
System: Song of Blades and Heroes
Status: Completed in 2008.

Bretonnians
System: Warhammer
Status: 18 knights started, about 100 more models unpainted. No progress in 2008.

Dwarfs
System: Warhammer
Status: 98% unpainted, about 100-150 models in total.
Comments: At least they're assembled. Should be 2500-3000 points easily when done. Started work on them in December 2008.

Blood Angels
System: Warhammer 40K
Status: Still about 1/3 of the army unfinished.
Comments: Over 1500 points + options available for use. No progress in 2008.

SWAT teams and Criminals
System: Officer Down, about 40 models in total.
Status: 80% painted
Comments: The problem with this project is that it needs more scenery. No progress in 2008.

10/15mm Scale Projects

Aliens and Marines
System: Xenomorph
Status: In the post
Comment: A late 2007 purchase. About 40-60 models in total. No progress in 2008.

High Elves
System: HOTT
Status: Unpainted (48 points + options). No progress in 2008.

Wood Elves
System: HOTT
Status: Completed in 2008.

Undead
System: HOTT
Status: Unpainted. No progress in 2008.

Mongols
System: DBA
Status: Unpainted. No progress in 2008.

Later Muslim Indian
System: DBA
Status: Unpainted. No progress in 2008.

Later Achmeneid Persian
System: DBA
Status: 30% Painted. No progress in 2008.

Summary - there's plenty in the lead pile to be getting on with.

End of year round-up 2008

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

Well that was 2008. Yes I know that there's a few hours left but the PNKD has kicked in and I don't think I'll be doing any more buying or painting in the remaining time.

First off the headline figures (pun intended).
28mm
Miniatures Bought: 44
Miniatures Painted: 86
Miniatures Sold: 42 (all unpainted)

So in the 28mm category I managed to reduce the lead pile by 84 miniatures. If I hadn't succumbed to the lure of collecting an all female army then those stats would have been even better.

... or taking another view of this year's progress I have added two new units to my Warhamer Orc and Goblin army and replaced my old classic citadel giant with something a bit more imposing. I have also created a new skirmish force for Song of Blades and Heroes expanding my green hordes into yet another system.

15mm
Stands Bought: 0
Stands Painted: 34
Stands Sold: 12 (all unpainted)

On the 15mm front its all good news, nothing bought and two armies worth of miniatures painted up. The lead pile didn't quite dip by 46 stands as some of the stands painted were squigs that I'd made myself from greenstuff. The woodelf army I completed was listed as being 80% complete in my January the 9th post as well.

This year's 15mm painting effort means that I now have a new army to play with (Wood Elves) and I've expanded my Night Goblins so that they're a much more useable force.

What about 2009?
I've enjoyed trying to keep to the pledge and it has been quite effective at reducing the lead pile so I've decided to sign on for the pledge again for 2009. See here for details.

What didn't I get done?
To be honest I didn't get as much painted as I had hoped really. I have all my excuses lined up ... I moved house, things have been rather hectic and also my PNKD has been worse than its been for about 10 years or so. This is actually the first time I can remember tracking a year's output so I don't know how it compares with what I've accomplished in previous years. I still have plenty to work on and at the current rate I think I could carry on with the pledge until 2012 before running out of miniatures in the lead pile.

Thanks to all of you who have stopped by and taken the time to read some of my ramblings. See you in the new year.