Final finishes of the year! (Carl)

I finally managed to get the last of the 10mm Pendraken Haystacks and the five outstanding Termagants for my 10 model unit finished this month.

It was a bit of a last gasp affair with the Termagants but I was determined to finish the unit by year end.

These completions take my total completed models in 2023 to 52! A new record for me and I’m quite pleased with managing to hit it.

A bout of covid just before Christmas and then the mayhem and busy period of Christmas itself took out any chance of hitting 116 finishes so I’m still down against new purchases this year. But on the whole I’m pleased with the completions I’ve managed, I had several screaming diversions that didn’t actually make any new finishes materialise but did slow progress on actual works in progress.

Next year I’ll be attempting to focus on finishing projects rather than leaping around and getting nowhere fast.

Tyranid Termagants, Spore Mines & Ripper Swarm (Carl)

 It’s been a while since my last post mainly due to a random collection of work related fatigue, family life and ‘jobs’ that needed doing, but finally… I’ve finished a few more minis.

First up are the first half of a 10 model Termagant unit for warhammer 40K. These are the old two piece plastics from long ago. I’ve continued the paint scheme started with the Genestealers and it’s proving an interesting project working out how to balance the colour spread across the various chitin elements on the models. My models are spread across different decades of GW sculpting and the styling has been refined over the years meaning that what works on some models wouldn’t necessarily work on others. I’m working on the basis that a consistent colour palette will tie everything together rather than any particular placement on the models.

The next model is the third base for the Ripper Swarm unit (although they can operate as 1, 2 or 3 bases). This one is the new modern 2023 design. A current model in my collection! Shock moment.

Finally there’s two more units of three Spore Mines, a combination of old metal and plastic versions.

These models have been waiting weeks and weeks for me to finish their bases. Now they’re finally completed it takes my 2023 completions up to the heady heights of 40 models! A new record for me in recent years.

Day 1095 - a 3rd year of paint-on-brush (Nick)

Yesterday was 3 years since Carl & I started trying to put 'paint on brush' or as it is now, at least do 'something' every day.

Sadly this year I've had a lot of misses for one reason or another, I genuinely forgot on several occasions or was just too tired (let's blame old age) and a brief bout of COVID has led to a prolonged period of not doing much and the wheels have pretty much fallen off my wagon.

Carl has been doing much better than me recently and is on quite a roll, however my efforts at end of the previous year (again) mean that the last 12 months of doing 'something' every day have seen 54 finishes from me although the calendar year is currently only 3!

I do intend to continue the mantra, but it looks like I need yet another bumper year end - as always I guess doing 'something', no matter how little, is still better than doing nothing... I just need to put those wheels back on my wagon.

As I write this cruising down La Seine hopefully this short break is what I need, I have even brought some paints and brushes with me should the mood strike!

Pendraken 10mm livestock (Carl)

 

The latest addition to my completed miniatures this year are actually something I’ve bought this year. They’re these 10mm livestock (cows and sheep) by Pendraken Miniatures. Considering how tiny they are they’re lovely little sculpts. I’ve enjoyed painting them - I even dotted the eyes in on them! 

There’s also a single haystack there which was the first of several also from Pendraken. The 10mm miniatures I e bought this year are part of my project to produce a 10mm version of the Lucrum board game I released in summer 2022.

Blood Angels Death Company and Chaplain (Carl)

Earlier this year myself and Nick went to a 10th edition 40K Boarding Actions warhammer 40K midweek event at warhammer world.

After a hurried rebasing session on a few Tactical marines I needed to finish a few other models to take.

These are are a five man Death Company unit and a very old Chaplain to lead the Boarding Action force.

They were a bit quick so a light on detail work and minimal colour additions but they do the job.

Tyranid Ripper Swarms & Spore Mines (Carl)

I’ve kept some momentum going with painting the Tyranid force made up from various models kicking about on the mountain. I’ve managed to finish two Ripper Swarms and three Spore Mines.

These follow the colour scheme from the old school first edition Space Hulk Genestealers. There will be another Ripper Swarm and more Spore Mines eventually (I’ve actually bought a new Ripper Swarm  to add to the models from the mountain for this force).

Miniatures bought in 2023 (Carl)

I recently did a bit of a totting up of the miniatures I’ve bought over 2023. Compared to what painting I’ve completed so far it’s a sobering sight.

In no particular order:

Models bought 2023

Bad Squiddo:

4 x Viking archers

2 x Samurai Women

Horus Heresy:

20 x Marines

Age of Sigmar

1 x Aethervoid Pendulum 

1 x Chaos Lord

1 x Chaos Knight

Pendraken 10mm

2 x cottage/farm buildings

8 x Haystacks

10 x Livestock bases

Warhammer 40k

10 x Termagants

1 x Ripper Swarm

Warhammer Underworlds - Gnarlwood

9 x minis in two warbands (4 + 5)

Fenris Games

38 x Terrain Features

1 x wizard mini

Titan Forge - Bloodfields

8 x Vampire Hunters & Beastshape Tribe (4+4) starter box

This comes to a total of 116!

That’s a big ask to equal in completed models painted let alone getting ahead and shifting some off the mountain. It’s going to take some serious effort to get to this number between now and the end of the year!