2022 has been an odd year for me. I blitzed through a number of projects - mostly Napoleonic until July when my daughter bought me a Pendraken gift voucher so I diverted into Imperial Romans and then the Cold War and Arab-Israeli stuff came out and that diverted me further. I've not lifted a brush for weeks, being very, very busy at work. I think it is time for me to formulate my plan for 2023.
Obviously first priority is to "complete" projects already started:
- To paint
- Napoleonic Danes - 4 infantry battalions (300)
- Napoleonic Poles - found some extras so I can paint another 2 battalions (144)
- 1:2400 Napoleonic warships (about 30)
- 1984 British - infantry company (112)
- 1973 Egyptians - 11 BTR152s and 2 BTR40s to paint
- To buy
- Napoleonic Swedes (924)
- 1973 Egyptians - 10 BMPs
- 1984 Soviet - 10 T64s and 13 BMPs
- Battlescene buildings
Potential new or expanded projects
- Late Roman/Arthurian
- 1984 - American and Soviet artillery, recce
- Napoleonic Ottoman (held over from 2022)
- Napoleonic Portuguese, Spanish, French, Saxon or Italian
Depending upon Pendraken releases
- Ancient Indians
- BAOR
- Amazons
- Sci-Fi
- Whatever else
Pile of shame
- Ancient Greeks (?)
- Early Scots (561)
- Samurai (1108)
- 1:600 1944 Pacific War aircraft (120)
- 1:600 Coastal Forces (47)
I think I can clear most of the "to paint" list over Christmas. I have a fortnight off and no social calendar. The Swedes will take about 6 months to buy, so I should be able to start on the Pile of Shame in early 2023. I may start with the Early Scots, 'cos I can then justify the Battlescene pig pen and some of the other offerings.
Well it's a plan.
During 2022, I finished my collection of 10mm Indian Ocean forces for Irregular Wars.
I can now field:
* Portuguese.
* Hollanders.
* Tribal Africans.
* East Africans.
* Arabs.
* All three types of Indians (Mughal, Rajput, Vijayanagar).
* East Indies.
There may be a vacancy to add Ottomans (Or morph them from the Arabs and Mughals).
That's probably enough for plenty of play.
2023 priorities are (Pick some from).
* Play more games.
* Continue painting 15mm Dragon Rampant forces.
* Paint an extremely old Heroics and Ros French army (still bagged up).
* Concentrate on my shortfall of terrain and scenics.
Well it's all going very well. :^o
4 warships painted, BTRs base coated, first battalion of Danes, 7 more warships and a small village primed.
Delayed slightly by a trawl through the "get to these later" box and have painted a Cant 1007, a couple of SdKfz7 and 105mm howitzers, and a mixed dozen of flying horses and unicorns. I have no idea when I got the last, nor indeed why. :-\ Still they will be great support for the Amazons when they arrive.
FFL, Moroccans, Parthians. Tang a possibility, depending on whether Newline mean it; in that case also Yarlung Tibetan, which should be easy to proxy.
Well I am not going to list my "to paint list", or we will be here till Easter. I will simply keep this to what I am hoping to do.
I will continue to try and complete projects. That way I can stop looking at stuff for a particular army and the consequent extra purchases.
To complete
20mm early WW2 French. ( approx 30 figues and 10 vehicles)
10mm Wars of The Roses. (150. plus some rebasing)
15mm Rennaisance Ottomans (Complete army to rebase plus additional 100 figs)
10mm ACW ( large rebasing project approx 1200)
10mm FFL and Arabs (150)
15mm Assyrians (10 chariots and approx 60 figs)
After That Its onto projects that have been waiting some time
10mm BEF (bought in Pendraken 20 years sale in 2012)
10mm Early Russian
10mm Japanese.
I have also bought into an STL Kickstarter for Normandy Buildings - so I expect a 3D printer will be joining the projects for 2023
However, I am hopeful of getting a lot done as I am taking a voluntary release scheme from work so will be "retired" from 31st march.
15mm 1799 Russians
1/2400 Pre-Dreadnoughts
10mm - Loose ends for 1859 and 1866 Western Theatre
Other possibilities
15mm 1st Carlist War and Mexican-American War
Try and pick one thing and stick with it.
Whether that'll be 15mm sci-fi, 6mm Napoleonics, 6mm 1066, 10mm fantasy, 10m WW2 or something else entirely I'm not sure yet.
Also, to try and de-clutter some of the crap I have around here but not touched for years. (I think I said that last year).
Quote from: Raider4 on 25 December 2022, 08:48:41 AMTry and pick one thing and stick with it.
Thats good advice for life - and marriage :)
Started my Talavera project in 2022 which will keep me occupied through 2023 and beyond. Maintenance of the objective.
6mm Cold War Brits and East Germans. As part of this project, I've just received a stack of Timecast buildings for Christmas (plus associated clutter - skips, oil drums, wood stacks etc). I love the quality so am really pleased they are still going.
This lot will keep me going until I keel over. :D
Phil
Oh, where to begin.
To try to finish:
• 10mm Civil War - only a few units of foot to complete, but it's the cavalry slowing me down - there are only so many buff coats you can paint in one go before all the different shades of brown get to you.
• 10mm 1796 Austrians to oppose my French "Army of Italy" collection; quite a bit to do here.
• 10mm SWY Prussians – need to finish a few more cavalry and artillery units.
• 15mm Renaissance Italians – really just a few artillery stands, some light cavalry and then some command stands and 'stand-alone' flag bearers so that I can rebadge the army as either Papal, Neapolitan Spanish or Venetian.
• Terrain
To press on with:
• 10mm SWY Austrians – lots to do here with only a few units of infantry completed.
• 10mm Early WW1 – quite a few to paint here, but I really only have a little dabble now and then.
• 10mm British Peninsula – I just couldn't resist these when they came out despite being determined not to get drawn in.
• 10mm ACW – I've painted the Federal troops, although they are yet to be based, but haven't started any Confederates at all.
My aim for 2023 is to start no more than 365 new projects :)
Yeah. Probably good that you cut down.
Quote from: Ithoriel on 25 December 2022, 02:39:01 PMMy aim for 2023 is to start no more than 365 new projects :)
Just as well it's not a leap year :-*
QuoteAlso, to try and de-clutter some of the crap I have around here but not touched for years.
I thought about doing the same but she is good with the kids.
:D
Apart from the A4 of everyone else's projects:
Legion, a few extras
10mm Prussians (xmas pressie)
10mm Jewish Revolt
10mm Dacians
10mm Imperialists
Two and a half boxes of ASOIAF Night's Watch extras
28mm WW2 Russians and Vikings and 1745 figures that have been sitting round for yonks
Plus other stuff, I'm sure!!
Quote from: DecemDave on 25 December 2022, 03:19:14 PMI thought about doing the same but she is good with the kids.
:D
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52585675939_99763eed11_z.jpg)
This is how I spent my Christmas Day.
These Battlescale buildings are the cat's pyjamas. :D
Quote...
However, I am hopeful of getting a lot done as I am taking a voluntary release scheme from work so will be "retired" from 31st march.
Congratulations Orcs :-bd
Nobby :-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Nice one Nobby >:<
Quote from: fsn on 25 December 2022, 06:45:25 PM(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52585675939_99763eed11_z.jpg)
This is how I spent my Christmas Day.
These Battlescale buildings are the cat's pyjamas. :D
Very nice fsn - are they the 10mm ones?
Got some 6mm crofts and a watermill on the painting table at the moment that look very similar, but the mill has a scenic base moulded onto it.
Quote from: Orcs on 25 December 2022, 07:42:17 AMHowever, I am hopeful of getting a lot done as I am taking a voluntary release scheme from work so will be "retired" from 31st march.
Congratulations. Retiring was the best 'career' move I ever made. You won't regret.
QuoteCongratulations. Retiring was the best 'career' move I ever made. You won't regret.
This. Absolutely this. Paying off the mortgage was the most liberating thing I've ever done.
Although it's apparently now all
my fault the country is in such a mess.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64083802 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64083802)
QuoteTry and pick one thing and stick with it.
Whether that'll be 15mm sci-fi, 6mm Napoleonics, 6mm 1066, 10mm fantasy, 10m WW2 or something else entirely I'm not sure yet.
Alternatively, admit that wargaming & mini-figs/terrain are not actually my hobby, and just give the whole thing up completely.
QuoteAlternatively, admit that wargaming & mini-figs/terrain are not actually my hobby, and just give the whole thing up completely.
(https://media4.giphy.com/media/l3V0xtJ0n5IVjOyuQ/giphy.gif) (https://media3.giphy.com/media/AhYwpKplq4UGBhOdgS/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47ptkeycbhr9btvqwfvvamd85ji9k7k2rkg2mj81c7&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) (https://media3.giphy.com/media/Z5ULYTFVaL2Ok/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47oxwlug86xtqyfc83i7t4yshp8rk1wljmme7lj5mp&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
(https://media4.giphy.com/media/MFo8KWlViZX32/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47ivxyeko0wuix68q0g2uwgaygiwzfuqd6u2jucvxx&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) (https://media0.giphy.com/media/xT77XO5Eg1XIj3yXjW/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47ivxyeko0wuix68q0g2uwgaygiwzfuqd6u2jucvxx&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) (https://media4.giphy.com/media/NQRRqqkImJ3Da/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47ptkeycbhr9btvqwfvvamd85ji9k7k2rkg2mj81c7&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
I had originally planned to do forces for the French Foreign Legion vs Arabs á la Beau Geste using "The men who would be kings" rules alas in 15/18 mm when my butterfly of a mind was snagged by an unboxing U-tube video of the Flags of War Kickstarter for their new Border Wars rules and figures and as forces are not too big then because I am either a descendant of highland cattle thieves or border reivers with the monetary gifts of money for Christmas I am fighting the compulsion to dabble into this period too. Decisions, decisions, decisions! 1
The advantage with the FFL, apart from the distinctive uniform, must be that they're crack troops, usually on the table with machine guns and fortifications, so you don't need very many figures.
QuoteThis. Absolutely this. Paying off the mortgage was the most liberating thing I've ever done.
Although it's apparently now all my fault the country is in such a mess.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64083802 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64083802)
Well I agree with both comments! I retired at 56 to spend more time with my wargames :D
As usual though the media report looks like the solution makers just invent daft ideas rather than talk to early retirees to find out why they all went. All those I know did it because their finances were just fine thanks but were being hit by tax/pension policies that meant carrying on didnt pay enough (especially true for GPs I believe) or they had issues with their boss/company/workload. E.g. my old job needed youthful energy to work 12 hour days + email evenings and still zip around europe by plane or car for the next day.
All of the current striking groups are raising non-pay workload/recruitment/retention/organisation type issues which seem to be being ignored in favour of saying that's just to cover up being greedy. I wonder if that says more about the mores of the government/big bosses than the strikers.
People have choices . Its the work that needs fixing not the people. Needs to be sustainably attractive.
QuoteThe advantage with the FFL, apart from the distinctive uniform, must be that they're crack troops, usually on the table with machine guns and fortifications, so you don't need very many figures.
Using TMWWBK rules you normally use 3 x 12 figure units that can be rated good but there are lower rated units such as tirailleur Algerique and penal troops. Yes are rules for Machine guns and one field gun but the Arabs can have horsemen, camelry as well as fierce foot and captured Machine guns. so the 24-point rating works out to give a reasonable game. I have also seen games using tweaked Sharp practice rules for this period.
Quote from: fsn on 25 December 2022, 06:45:25 PM(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52585675939_99763eed11_z.jpg)
This is how I spent my Christmas Day.
These Battlescale buildings are the cat's pyjamas. :D
THats an excellent way to spend Chistmas Day. they look great
Quote from: DecemDave on 26 December 2022, 03:57:05 PMAll of the current striking groups are raising non-pay workload/recruitment/retention/organisation type issues which seem to be being ignored in favour of saying that's just to cover up being greedy. I wonder if that says more about the mores of the government/big bosses than the strikers.
People have choices . Its the work that needs fixing not the people. Needs to be sustainably attractive.
As a member of one of the recent striking groups. I can confirm the comments above. My company deals with a lot of secure contracts all of them 24 x7 x 365 days. All of them are "bespoke" solutions and require a great deal of local knowledge to deal with them in a proper manner. Each set of contracts has a dedicated team.
Management have now decided in the interests of costs that if 0ne of the five people is off the work can be covered by the other 4 people. Increasing workload by 25%.
They are also complaining they cannot recruit new staff or get people to transfer in. BUT new staff are on a new grade that is approx 30% less pay, have had terms and conditions halved and work more hours per week. Should you transfer in voluntarily from another part of the company your pay and conditions are cut down to those of the new staff - So why the heck would you transfer in?
Quote from: Orcs on 27 December 2022, 11:22:26 AMTHats an excellent way to spend Chistmas Day. they look great
Thank you. They did turn out rather well. :-[
- To paint
- Napoleonic Danes - 4 infantry battalions (300) 1 done, 1 on table
- Napoleonic Poles - found some extras so I can paint another 2 battalions (144)Found another 2 so 288 to paint; 1 on table
- 1:2400 Napoleonic warships (about 30) 14 done. I hate painting and assembling these things!
- 1984 British - infantry company (112)
- 1973 Egyptians - 9 BTR152s and 2 BTR40s to paint done
- To buy
- Napoleonic Swedes (924)
- Napoleonic Ottoman (held over from 2022)Back on the list.(908) :-\
- 1973 Egyptians - 10 BMPs
- 1984 Soviet - 10 T64s and 13 BMPs
- Unplanned
- Baldrick & horse (1) Done
- Sdkfz7 & 105mm howitzer (2) Done
- Civilian truck (1) Done
- Cant 1007 Done
- Battlescene buildings (10) Done
- Pegasii (6) and unicorns (6) Done
- Generic Confederation of the Rhine cassions (from Lancer) (12) On table
- 1:2400 ships boats (16) On table
(https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/002/256/NOT_AS_PLANNED.PNG)
I see the unplanned list is growing faster than both the others combined ;D
Yup. I'd love to say that I'm getting to the bottom of my "do it later" box, but I think it used to belong to Mary Poppins.
Change of plan. Giving up on BMP2s for the 1984 Soviets, and going for the BTR60 instead,
Firstly, I think the BTR60 is closer then the BMP2 to the FV432s and M113s in execution if not in design, hence making games more balanced. (This from the man who has a company of Soviets and a platoon of Yanks.) Secondly, the BTR60 looks like a beast.
This does not preclude a BMP2 alternative being secured at some point.
Or the M2 Bradley.
Or even the Warrior - even though it didn't come in until 1987.
1. Paint the Dragon Rampant 15mms from the foothills of the lead mountain.
2. Fill out my Irregular Wars contingents with baggage train and livestock objectives.
3. Proofread, test and debug my Irregular Wars scenarios.
4. Complete a draft of my gridded Napoleonic rules and playtest them.
I'm going to do something brave this year.
So far I track what I buy in terms of number of figures. This year, I'm going to add a "how much" column to my spreadsheet, and track how much I actually spend on this hobby. :-S
I shall include anything spent on Pendraken, other manufacturers, paint & materials, and reference books.
Wish me luck!
Quote from: fsn on 02 January 2023, 11:00:35 AMI'm going to do something brave this year.
So far I track what I buy in terms of number of figures. This year, I'm going to add a "how much" column to my spreadsheet, and track how much I actually spend on this hobby. :-S
I shall include anything spent on Pendraken, other manufacturers, paint & materials, and reference books.
Wish me luck!
That road leads to madness!
I'm hoping it leads to financial sanity!
X_X
What are you planning for 2023?
Wargaming wise? To take each day as it comes and to follow the butterfly wherever it leads me! :)
Very wise Grasshopper.
However:
(https://www.science.org/do/10.1126/science.aav3537/abs/butterfly_thumbnail_16x9.jpg)
What am I planning for 2023?
Getting rid of what's left of my stuff. Well, most of it. Keeping some of it, obviously (hopefully).
Not doing wargame clubs anymore, so just going to keep the gear I can use in solo games.