Monday 23 March 2020

Lists, lists and more er,... lists.

 I think most people living in the UK will be feeling a bit like me, which is unusual given how I always feel out of step with the majority. Basically the whole virus thing is quite surreal and dreamlike but in a bad way. Ive been in isolation for 8 days now following my return from London in an effort to be a good citizen and because Im in a high risk group. Who would have thought insanity was high risk. [sorry just a bad joke really]
 Anyway like all good wargamers I've set myself a list of tasks to complete in the hope that the country will be recovered after Ive completed them. Ignoring my garden list and my writing list I will concentrate on my wargaming list. Initially I was just aiming to paint up the odd unit as fillers for my armies but as the reality has seeped in I've expanded that to include terrain, additional units and eventually a new small project, except I am waiting for the figures to be released.

 I would imagine a lot of wargamers will be trawling the internet looking for things to paint [ amazing how one ignores painting the odd room] I picked up a painted unit of Mini Fig renaissance crossbowmen which I repainted and added to to create a unit of Gascon crossbowmen. A lifetime ago John had a similar unit which I always admired, mine aren't as good as that but the figures are still very nice.
 I also purchased a badly painted ECW regiment which I have repainted as a Tower Hamlets regiment, yes its a bright red and not a brick red, but they would have looked right if they had been in the Alec Guinness film.
 As regards terrain. At probably the last wargame show I will attend in 2020, I bought three large hills from the Tree Fellas. They were a fair price but the wrong colour for my table, so I re did them as well. Finally I picked up a lovely renaissance tower which I touched up. The creator lavished a lot of love on the building which was scratch built. If my wife was to stand about for any length of time she'd probably get a coat of paint as well.
 The moral of the story is, keep busy where possible. A bit of advice I was given many years ago by an ex con was concentrate on one day at a time and ideally focus on one hour at a time if possible. Dont think about the months because time will drag. So using an old cliche, one step at a time my friends, and remember there are a lot of poor people a lot worse off than you and your toys.


24 comments:

  1. Sound advice even coming from a self-proclaimed madman, Robbie!

    Good additions to your growing ECW collection. Keep plugging away day-by-day and we will eventually get through this. Perhaps I should have been stockpiling TP and cleaning products rather than lead figures? Oh well. I have enough unpainted lead to last years.

    On the plus, more people now know what exponential growth looks like in action.

    Stay well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Johnathan, Im afriad its going to be a bit of a slog.

      Delete
  2. Well, the Prime Minister has just addressed the nation and basically told us to stay at home and is closing the non-essential shops ..... who would ever have thought that having a lead mountain might actually be something to be thankful about!

    Between that and the fantastic capability of blogs to act as a sort of glue or hub for the community, a small part of our well-being is already catered for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Metal Mountain Norm? Ive deliberately been scaling back on my unpainted stuff for a while now. I was hoping to focus on a couple of periods and simply sell the rest. Talk about lack of hindsight?

      Delete
  3. Sent home from work as you in the high risk group so painting FPW 15mm to start with. Stay safe mate.
    Dave.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A beautiful period to research Dave, and probably the nadir of military fashion.

      Delete
  4. Gotta go back to work tomorrow, pick up my laptop and a few folders and that's me done for 3 weeks. Got stacks to paint, no walls fingers crossed. Just gotta keep out the Mrs' way.
    I like the Tower Hamlets regt. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ray,I predict that some relationships will be tested pretty hard over the next few months. Ive always believed that what doesnt kill you makes you stronger but remember hide the sharp knives.

      Delete
  5. Wonderful colors and fantastic job on these units...take care of you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Phil, Ive been thinking I should 'do' some Scots?

      Delete
  6. Excellent stuff. Talking to people at work who used to make light of my hobby - many are now wishing that they had something to do with all their free time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its great to have a hobby like ours Paul. Throughout my life Ive found wargaming was the vital escape from reality that made coping with stress somehow a little easier.

      Delete
  7. I wonder how many lead mountains will be turned into mole hills in the next few weeks ? , stay safe , Tony

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Behind everything bad occurrence there is someone who has found something positive has happened. Ive often pondered about the thousands if not millions of unpainted figures strewn across this world, unloved and gathering dust. So its good if they now get a splash of paint and a base to stand on.

      Delete
  8. Lovely shiny toys Robbie...
    Like yourself I to am chipping away at the lead mountain... my only fear now is that I will run out of paint....;-)

    All the best. Aly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah paint Aly, I managed to leg it down to my local Boyes last week and buy up extra bottles. The thing Im short of is superglue? Anyone want to swop a roll of netty paper for a bottle of glue? The roll is barely used......

      Delete
  9. Your advice about focusing on each hour is sound. I would have said it's like eating the elephant in small bites but panic buying has meant there's a shortage of elephants. Nice units, especially the crossbowmen. Keep well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the idea of eating an elephant Colin, thats a good way to look at what is happening.

      Delete
  10. Wise words indeed... I'd suggest a careful reading of "Ivan Denisovich" will give us some guidance on how to wring value out of every minute... love the Tower Hamlets regiment (by hey I like "Cromwell") also a *very* nice watch tower!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Steve, like you I love Cromwell. Yes I know the history is a tad ropey but the 'look' is just about right as I imagined the war to be. And Robert Morley as Manchester, brilliant 'Tricky things stomachs' Classic.

      Delete
  11. I like the new additions and the words of advice. My Lead Pimple is in serious danger, so I keep to my modest target of 2 figures a day, which I seldom achieve anyway! Keep well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keep up the walks David, without the short burst of freedom I think my wife would have buried me by now.

      Delete
  12. Lovely Robbie, sage advice

    Cheers
    Matt

    ReplyDelete

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating