Hobby Update May 2025

 Well, another month has gone by. The year seems to be flying by. Gaming stuff was hit and miss. got a decent amount of painting done though gaming itself was sparse. Had a fairly busy month around the house outside of gaming with repairs and plantings but, its all good. So lets see how the month went.

Books

Finished a couple of books this month. First was this one.

It is an older book on Luther's early life through the Diet of Worms. While it is an older book, published in 1957, I found it, in parts, a very compelling read. 

Then there was this one.

The Midgard rules have really got my mind going in a different direction for some of the periods that I have figures for. Namely El Cid. But, also my interest in Arthur was piqued. I thought I would pick this series up since I like his Saxon Chronicles, and the Sharpe books so much. I have to say, I am not sold on this series after the first book. We will see how it goes over the other two.

Purchases

I have been keeping purchases lower this year. While tempted as usual, my self control has been greater. I did find a decent lot of FIW figs on Goodwill for a decent price. A box of French line, and 2 packs of Rangers all from Warlord, and a box of Perry AWI Brits, which are out of period, but I think they will do.

I also picked up the latest edition of Muskets and Tomahawks. I liked the first edition and decided to pick up the 2nd ed.  Figured they would be good for smaller scale skirmishes, outside the scale of Sharp Practice.

I bought the latest book  in Rick Atkinson's AWI trilogy. I rarely buy new books but I have been waiting for this one to show up, and did not want to wait.

Games

I was pretty busy this month so time for only one SAGA game in our league. Didn't go so well. I am thinking I really need to take the next step and track my opponents abilities better. Could have saved me a bit of trouble if I had. Live and learn! No pics as my army is still a work in progress. 

Painting

Got a decent amount done this month painted 225 figures. Mostly 15mm and quite a mix of stuff. I am wrapping up my Mexican American War project, so that is a bunch of odds and ends, though I do have some infantry coming up this month, mostly US. I finished mostly artillery, limbers and supply wagons in May. Also some ACW. I am wanting to do New Market, so of course I need some VMI cadets, and I found that I needed more cavalry dismounts. Outside of that, a couple units for my French SAGA army, some Alpini weapons teams in 28mm, and some 15mm Achaemenid Persians. I did finish up the basing on most of my Italian wars stuff, though I have some units to rebase still, which I need to get done this month. Here are the ones I finished this month.

This is almost the end of the project. I'll have the rest done in June. This is a mix of stuff, French, Swiss, Spanish, German, and a few Italians. The figures are as varied, being Essex, Roundway, Rank and File, Old Glory 15s, and Alternative Armies. Just about have this project done, just need to finish up basing on some stuff and it is done.

Well that wraps up this months fun. I'll see you all next time!

Hobby Update April 2025

 A third of the way through the year already! Wow! Time is certainly flying by. Last month was a pretty good month overall, and a good lead in to the nice weather months. So, lets see what I did this month.

Books

Actually finished a couple this month surprisingly enough after the three I finished last month. I usually have a gap but I was close to finishing one and the other was a shorty.

First up was this one

After watching American Primeval I wanted to learn more about what was touched upon regarding the Mormons and what was going on at that time. Wow, a lot! This is a well written and engaging book about the "conflict" between the Mormons and the US government, well, and anybody wanting to get to California. Eye opening, there should have been quite a few people dangling from a noose, but, there wasn't. Highly recommended.

Then there was this one.

Every once in a while, Instagram will lead me somewhere I did not know I wanted to go. That was the case here. There was a suggested post from a person talking about their struggle in getting their Korean citizenship back. She looked Korean, so I started digging to find out what the deal was, and found she had written a graphic novel about her experience as a Korean child adopted outside Korea, Sweden to be precise. It is an interesting and heart rendering story to be sure.  The ending was not particularly surprising but it was bittersweet none the less. The book really makes you think twice about what's really going on in these adoption centers. 

Purchases

Purchases this month were an eclectic bunch. First off I picked up the starter set for 02 Hundred Hours. I have to say that reading the book about the Bielski's motivated me to do some partisan actions. I thought that would be an interesting game to do that with, and it seems as though it is easily solo-able. 

Wargames Atlantic really has a nice selection of digital prints and I came across one of Basil II The Bulgar Slayer. I have been needing a theme for my Byzantines, and I finally found one. He came in this month from Strange Plastic WA's third party printer. I keep wanting to get a printer but I have held myself back. Not sure how much longer I can do that.

I had purchased some German Grenadiers that were supposed to be out of the box but a complete box, from Noble Knight Games off eBay. When I got them they were 2 sprues short. I contacted them and they handled it right away, sending me a complete unopened box of the same. Now I have plenty of troops to build my Spanish Blue Division.

I also picked up 12 of the new Wargames Atlantic Peasants to build some Ribauds/Brigans for SAGA Age of Chivalry. I like to have some options.

Some additional Bolt Action Items were the Armies of Germany book from eBay (many hobby stores have an eBay store as well), and a mix of British Airborne figures, dice, and pin markers from Goodwill. 

Then lastly I picked up the Warlord Chronicles set of books. I don't know much about Arthur, so I figured Mr. Cornwell's books were as good a start as any. I'm About halfway through The Winter King already!

Gaming

I did manage to get in a game last month! our SAGA league started so there should be a game every couple weeks. In addition I am planning on getting together with the MESBG group in a couple weeks. Things should be looking up in this area.

Painting

This was a very good month for painting despite being sick three weeks ago. You know, I've noticed, at least for me, its not that I get any sicker now that I'm older, but, it takes a good week to recover back to normal afterwards. Anyway, back to painting. Here is what I got done.

222 15mm Italian Wars figures

23 28mm Samurai

3 28mm Romans

The Italian Wars figures complete that project for now. I have what I need for Pavia, and most of what I will need for the rest of the scenarios. I will need to add some Italian foot but those can come later.

The samurai are just figures from my prodigious collection of unpainted samurai, and the Romans were to complete a couple command stands.

Here are some pics of the stuff I finished off with basing and flocking this month.

Silver Bayonet British

Silver Bayonet British

Silver Bayonet British

Silvar Bayonet British

Clan War Crab

Clan War Crab

Clan War

Clan War

Warlord Games mounted Samurai Box from Test of Honour

Same as above

The Silver Bayonet French

The Silver Bayonet French

The Silver Bayonet French

The Silver Bayonet French, the one on the right just screamed Haitian/voodoo to me.

Zenit Ashigaru

Warlord Games onna-bugeisha

Then my favorites, The Seven Samurai from Grey for Now Games

Kyuzo and Heihachi

Gorobei and Katsushiro

Kamari and Shichiroji

and, of course Kikuchiyo

Have no clue what this is, but, it was fun to paint

More Silver Bayonet British

Well, that is it for this month. It was quite productive and fun. I'll see you all next month!

Happy Hobbying!

Hobby Update March 2025

Well. here we are. Another month has passed, and so we have another hobby update. So, lets get started

Books 

Finished up a few books the first one was this

This is a collection of stories of the list survivors. The author does a good job of avoiding repetitiveness while keeping the stories intact. Most of the stories in this book are people who are not depicted in the movie or the original book, with the exception of the other Helen, not Hirsch, that was a maid for Amon, and the Rosner family. Outside of that it's all different people. It gives a whole new dynamic on how the list was made, and why people were on it. It also gives a bit of a different perspective on Schindler's legacy from those he saved. To some a beloved hero, to others a flawed hero, to a few just another Nazi, and some opinions in the middle. Definitely worth a read.

Then there was this masterpiece

The story of the fighting east of the Barrikady in Stalingrad. A very detailed, but highly readable, day by day account from the start of the German offensive, to the end of the Stalingrad pocket. Daily manpower and casualty reports, as available for both side, good details on the fighting, with great maps, some imposed over recon photos of the battlefield. A must read for anyone interested in Stalingrad.

And lastly we have another Ostfront book somewhat combining the two themes above

A nice little read to fill in the blanks on the Bielski brothers. Got me motivated to do some partisan raids using 02 Hundred.

Purchases

I did happen to buy quite a few figures this month. Sorry, no pics but here is a detailed account.

Picked up 12 Fireforge mounted sergeants for use in SAGA, probably get double duty as Crusaders and sergeants in Chivalry.

Picked up 41 Perry Koreans. I have been wanting to put together a skirmish game surrounding the strife of the princes in early Joseon Korea between Yi Bang Gan, and Yi Bang Won for succession. So I caught some on FB and nabbed them right away. They will be a great start.

I had bought into a KS that featured the Monkey King and those figures arrived last month. They were doing physical prints through a third party, and they did not come out to well. Lack of proper curing, bent weapons etc. They are working on replacements so we will see how it turns out. I am a big fan of the Sun Wukong character in the Journey to the West Saga. The characters in the KS were really cool, but they had left out Wuneng and Sha Monk unfortunately.  Wuneng with his muck rake would have been super cool. You can see the figures here

I picked up 12 Perry archers for SAGA Chivalry. Sometimes its easier to just get a couple sprues.

I also has placed an order with Alternative Armies for more Renaissance 15mm figures. I found I was short some Swiss, and some Italians, and I added in some Italian pike for good measure, hey, they were on sale. 82 figures total. 

Then I picked up some ACW figs from Stone Mountain. I am wanting to run a New Market battle, so of course I needed some VMI cadets. Now if someone just made a flag for them. And I was short some cavalry dismounts. Another 87 figures.

Gaming

Nothing much to report here. April should be the start of some gaming. Got the SAGA AOC league starting at the end of the month, and planning some MESBG in a couple weeks also. So, stuff to look forward to.

Painting

This month I got a decent amount done. I average about 200 a month, but I fell a bit short at 177. This included the following;

16 28mm Samurai

66 15mm Confederate

85 15mm Italian Wars

10 Silver Bayonet (British Unit)

Like I said, a decent amount but short of expectations. I did get a lot of basing done on my Italian wars project, here are the Imperialists first

The cavalry and general are all Alternative Armies/TTG figures, depending on when I bought them. The pike is all Mike Models. Most of these figures were painted 30 years ago, and originally based for Gush. Now rebased for Impetus. The small pike unit was recently painted using Army painter Speed paints, as were the back ranks of the other two pike blocks. Georg von Frundsberg was a recent addition as well.

I also have some Spanish

The top picture are Spanish lancers/gendarmes from TTG, the next pic we have Spanish Rodoleros from Roundway, and the last four pics are all Mikes Models. The pike, and the black and red painted shot were dome years ago, everything else, including a handful of pike were recently painted.

Here are a few Swiss/French/Italian

Top pic the front and back units are Roundway figures, the middle TTG/Alternative Armies with TTG command figures for all. The rest of the figures are TTG/Alternative Armies, my packs were all TTG but Alternative Armies makes most of these not, but not all. The shot in the first pic, and the French Archers in the second are all newly painted. The rest were done with the others and rebased for Impetus. I should have the rest of the Swiss, and most of the French done for next month. 

As a side note, most of the flags above, with the exception of about 1/3 of the Landsknecht flas, are from Pete's Flags. You can find him on FB or eBay.

That is it this time 'round see you next month!