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 February 2025

 I had set a goal for myself to post at least a monthly update, yeah, well, I was sick the end of January, then busy catching up from that. This time I am a bit slow but sort of timely anyway. So lets get started!

Books

I usually have several books going at once, typically 4, but currently 5. I did finish a couple good ones last month. First was Kearney's March by Winston Groom. A well written popular history of the period 1846-47. Lots going on with the beginning of westward expansion, and the Mexican War. If you are looking for some lighter reading on the period I'd recommend it. 

The other book was Schindler's List. I never like to get my history from movies, so after watching the movie again in January I picked this up off eBay. While the movie does follow a lot of details from the book, there is a ton more in the book to explore. Particularly several characters in the movie, and who they were composites of. Quite a good read for those with interest in The Holocaust.

Purchases

I kept these to a minimum in February. Mostly supplies. I have been trying to add a few bottles of speed paint because I am really enjoying painting with them, particularly my 15s. I did pick up the Bolt Action v3 rule book, I plan on getting into that sometime this year.  Another purchase was this 3D printed Italian villa.

At this point everything is loose so I'll end up using one of the buildings, sans porch, for the Mirabello in my Pavia game later this year.

I also picked up some Alpini Wepons teams for Bolt Action the Haleth and Hama box set for MESBG off an eBay retailer

I also found some Bolton Flayed Men on Goodwill

I'm not 100% sure what I am doing with all the GOT stuff I've picked up over the last couple years. I may try out the game, I may even do them for Midgard. We will see what happens. The figures are really cool though, and should be really fun to paint.

Gaming

This will be short, none. I have been kinda busy, and the last three weekends have been taken up with basing. Mostly what you will see next.

Painting

Painting in February went really well. About what I can expect from here till retirement anyway. I managed to get 196 figures painted. A bunch of odds and ends really. Had to take a break from my Pavia figs because I ran out of primed figures. I was able to prime again last week and got a couple boxes primed so I'll have more to paint for that project in the upcoming weeks. I did run out of primer so that's on this months shopping list.

It sometimes takes me a month or two to get basing done on figures that I have painted so this part will always be behind in that respect. First up, some Numenorians for MESBG

Isildur, Elendil, and a King of Men

A Last Alliance Army would not be complete without some Elves

Elrond

More Elrond

Gil Galad from Davale

Elven Guard by Davale

Of course there are more of the plastic Elves and Men, they just all look the same. The Davale stuff I got off Etsy 3D printed. I could not pay the prices for that horrid GW Gil Galad, not to mention the fact most of the spears break at the hands. This seemed like a better and more dynamic option. I am thinking my next ME army will need to be Mordor.

Next is the Spanish Unit for Silver Bayonet

I really enjoyed painting these. Mostly used something resembling the slap chop method. They are a mix of speed paint and acrylics. Then I also have a Ranger for Rangers of Shadow Deep.

He is a nice figure, that came with the last book they put out. It'll probably be awhile before I play either of these since I have no monsters. Had a good time painting them none the less.

I also did a few of the metal Alpini from Warlord Games.

These dudes are so easy to paint. It helps that the main webbing is the same color as the uniform. 

Last are some tanks for the Spanish Civil War

Minairons vehicles

Resin Panzer 1s

A Metal Pz 1. This sucker is hefty.

T-26s this one is captured and reused by the Nationalists

These were fun to paint, once I got things right. You see, the Pz 1s were all painted panzer grey. That is, till I saw a post in a SCW FB group showing them in a three color camo. After a little research I found that yes, they did use camo during that period. They turned out ok in the end. Just needed a little extra work.

Well that's all I have for this month. see you all next time!