Look closely, and you'll see that the second coat of acrylic gloss medium is still wet. That's 'Rolf' (Kirk Douglas) in the blue coat and 'Knut' (Richard Harris) in the straw hat by the way. 'Magnus' and 'Geir' (my flatmates when I was a student in Norway now quite a few years ago) flank them.
The Heroes of Boucharde are all done and waiting for my planned refight of Steve Hezzlewood's and John Ray's Boucharde Raid during Christmas Week. So, part of my pledge for the pre-Christmas Informal Painting Challenge organized between myself and several wargaming friends and acquaintances around the globe has been met. Sadly, it looks like I have run out of time to complete those blasted replacement infantry standards, which I also pledged to complete. These have only been hanging around here in one stage of completion or another since. . . yes, last January! Maybe I can get to those during Christmas Week as well? Time will tell.
On that note, it's time for a brief review of the year gone by and the new year ahead. 2017. Sigh. While the year saw a push to get the rest of my existing units rebased (a not insignificant task) with a grand review in September, a few games, and a Baltic German town center building boom in June along with a related article, it was a different story at the painting table. The year, in all honesty, was largely disappointing as far as getting new troops painted and on the table went. It was to have been, you might recall, the year in which I added to my cavalry arm in a major way with various units purchased, or given to me as gifts, for my 50th birthday and Christmas 2016. That was the plan in any case.
Sadly, real life had other ideas, and once plentiful free time seemed to dry up very quickly as we got into February and March of 2017. I suppose it could have been worse. After all, I have my family, health, a roof over my head, secure employment, and enough to eat, along with cats and coffee, so I really should not complain. There are many besides me who do not, and who lack much else besides. It is just a hobby we are talking about after all.
Suffice to say, I have decided to play it safe this year and have no grand hobby plans to share for 2018 other than to tread water until those times when I am able to have the very occasional game, or can sit down to the painting table and work on the as yet unpainted four or five regiments of cavalry horse and trooper castings. Or is it six? I'll feel like progress has been made if I can clear the decks of just two regiments of 30 figures each before this time next year. We shall see.
While time will be more limited during the next few days, I'll continue to check in here with more seasonal illustrations as well as the annual Grand Duchy of Stollen Christmas Message, featuring the beleagured Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II (who bears no resemblance to me whatsoever), his manservant Hives, and the usual cast of characters we have come to know and love during the last 11+ years of this blog. Can it really be? My, my. Where has the time gone?
Now, let's see if we can spur the Grand Duchess into making her wonderful Dresdner Stollen this weekend!
-- Stokes
Another quiet old illustration of Father Christmas that I find strangely calming in an otherwise chaotic world.
Comments
However, if next year is to be as hectic as is to be expected then my recommendation is to do a troop, or perhaps a squadron if you must, at a time, but no more. Small batches brought to fruition lay less heavily on mind and spirit than a large regiment needing hours on each stage.
In any event I wish a Very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
As for soldiers...little and often is always the way I find.
A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Simon
Jerry
Best wishes for the game with the new miniatures above and for 2018.
Applause,
Bill P.