Hobby Spending - January 2022.

 

So an idea that I've looted from Confessions of a 40k Addict is to keep track of how much money I'm spending on the hobby in general.

This idea came about from talking with the Mrs about our respective hobbies. I always joke to her about crafting materials she buys and the amount of books she keeps buying (I think she's got over 2,000 in her collection which she's read, my bookshelf is nothing compared).

She said that I always seem to be getting parcels delivered from eBay, and I countered with the same about books from her Facebook Book Groups (some friendly banter, not an argument before anyone gets the wrong idea).

Also this is a good idea as having changed careers and now earning almost double what I did before, it is tempting to "splash out" constantly, even though we're meant to be saving money for house remodelling!

So I'm going to do an end of month post totalling up that month's spending and what it was spent on.

Now unless there is something of a really good deal, I am aiming for a budget of about £50 a month as I mainly need supplies rather then miniatures.

Also if I sell any excess gear I have, that money will go into the hobby fund as it's cash which has already been spent on the hobby and is being reinvested, this is what I am telling the Mrs, so...yeah!

At the end of the year I'll do a full total and see how much I actually spent throughout 2022 on the hobby.

January spend totals:

Pot of Earthshade - £4.55

Self-Adhesive Beads X2 - £3

Pack of XPS foam sheets - £2

Pack of Corrugated Card - £1.50

Metal Ork Deffdread X2 - £23.

Total for January - £34.05.

Budget for January - £50.

Plus/Minus budget - Minus £15.95.

So this month was mainly supplies, a lot of crafting materials for making armour panels and rivets with. 

Earthshade is ALWAYS needed and the Deffdreads are something I've always been looking for on eBay to match my Killa Kanz, but they always seem to be ridiculously priced. 

I dropped onto a series of auctions and the guy was more then willing to sell both at once.

They might need a little work, but that's part of the deal when buying second hand miniatures.

Until next time...

JanuWaaaghry - Kommando Mob.

 

Delicately parting the undergrowth, Boss Teefskar crept towards the unaware Guardsman on watch. He moved with a grace and silence which were entirely at odds with his species, as Orks are want to charge shouting at the enemy.

His camouflage greatcoat and backpack blended with the surroundings, he'd even go so far as to cover himself with soot to cover his green skin.  

Shadows played across the area as he drew a spot blackened knife from its sheath and prepared to take out the sentry. His suppressed Slugga hung from his hip, silent and unused for now, similarly with his Power Klaw which he kept deactivated until the attack had started proper.

Moving away from the shadows he clamped a massive clawed hand over the sentries mouth and spun him round. White eyes wide with fear met pitiless red eyes for a second before Teefskar dragged the blade across the sentries throat causing a gout of blood to spray. He caught the dead weight of the body and carried it to a hiding spot, then turned and raised his fingers counting down as the other members of his mob crept from the shadows.

"Lads, you'se know da plan. Get the bombs into place and rekonvine 'ere. You'se got five minutes, go" he ordered with a guttural whisper.

All the other four camouflaged Orks crept away, 'Korporal Kutta' covered with knives motioned for "Burna" to head towards his own objective.

'Slugga' moved in the opposite direction, hefting a Slugga in each meaty fist. Finally 'Da Scope' started climbing to get into position to provide covering fire with his heavily modified Shoota with its huge magnifying scope.

Teefskar twisted and snuck through the shadows like the rest of his Boyz and approached the fuel dump ahead. Stacks of stinking promethium barrels covered with camo nets stretched up Infront of him. He took the blasta-charges from his pack and began unwinding the fuses, placing them in between barrels and under netting making sure everything was hidden.

He has just connected the last wire to the detonator when he froze. Some instinct deep inside told him to keep as still as possible, fighting every Orky instinct to leap out and slaughter the 'Umies passing. He heard them chatting in their stupid high pitched voices and held still as one threw its used smokestick into the dump. As they left he picked up the stick and pinched the spark dead between his fingers shaking his head.

Moments later the Kommandoz had all gathered again where the first sentry was stashed, just as Klaxons began wailing at the lack of response from the dead guardsmen. 'Umies began shouting, raising their high pitched voices and causing snickers from the Orks. 

Teefskar silenced them with a glare, trying to count down.

"Free", "Two'z", "Wun, Ere we go ladz" he whispered before pressing down on the detonator button.

Fierce explosions kicked off across the Imperial forward base and screams started as Guardsmen were caught in the blasts.

The fuel dump, Artillery emplacement, communications mast and the command bunker all blew out in sequence and the Kommandoz all grinned at each other with another job well done and the fear they'd caused amongst their enemies. Let the others have their own ways to wage war, this was theirs and they were experts.

"Good job ladz, Kutta make sure to get Da Scope on our way out and we'll head back to base now, stick any 'Umie that gets in yet way, but don't get dead" Teefskar ordered and the Orks slunk away into the undergrowth once again.

*****

I asked in the Lootaboyz post about what I should work on next and both Dave and Chris suggested that I start with the Kommando mob.

These models are based upon the Kromlech greatcoat Ork bodies, which were a little armoured compared to the fluff, but worked for my purposes as I though Orks only going to war in their T-shirts were stupid. Especially so considering that they actively emulate their enemies in other ways.

I leaned heavily on the tropes of specialists within the mob, thinking of some of my favourite movies like Predator and The Expendables where each member of the unit has a specialist role within the mob.

So obviously Teefskar, is 'Da Boss' with his Power Klaw.

Pictured here as well is Korporal Kutta, is the knife specialist, he has three knives on the model, but I imagine he has an arbitrary number of knives secreted throughout his uniform and backpack*.

The next three are Slugga, who is a badass who dual wields pistols.

Burna, is the mobs close support member hefting his Burna to well...burn stuff.

And lastly, Da Scope, is an Orky sniper with the modified Shoota, as ridiculous as this sounds I love it!

I know I'm going to get asked how to make the suppressed gunz, so here's a little tutorial:

I take a steel rod (this one wrapped in plastic) and cut a section of about 6-7mm.

Trim the coating away for the last mm.

I add a 3-4mm section of plastic tube which fits over the now exposed steel rod.

Lastly I drill a 1.5mm hole 1-2mm deep into the barrel of the Slugga/Shoota in question.

You can go further and drill holes in the suppressor sheath, but I didn't bother as I liked the look.

Painting wise, these Boyz follow most of the same schemes as listed in the other JanuWaaaghry posts. The major difference obviously is the Greatcoats which are dark blue, this was painted using a base of Incubi Darkness, stippled with Thunderhawk Blue and washed with Earthshade. The red are a little darker on these 'Blood Axe' mercenaries so I used Khorne red instead of the bright Mephiston Red.

Next I think I'll finish off the loose members of the Lootaboyz and some Grotz I found in the bitzbox.

Until next time...

* Korporal Kutta is based upon my old Dark Heresy character. 

Fraser invited me to play the game and I agreed, provided I could play an Ork.

This was duly arranged and Korporal Kutta was born, wielding a silenced Slugga and an "arbitrary number of knives", he also had a set of night vision goggles and a Doks kit to heal people. He also ended up with a Jerry can of Promethium which I was going to use to set up a bit of a set piece explosion with one of the other players. Unfortunately the group never played again in that setting, so I'm resurrecting Kutta for this army, he may yet be promoted and lead his own mob in due course!

JanuWaaaghry - Lootaboyz and Spanner Boyz.

 

(I couldn't find the credit for painting this awesome piece).

With a loping run Ghurrob scaled the crest ahead of him, stumbling due to the weight of the Deffgun he carried and the huge amount of ammunition, spare rounds clattering to the floor as he and his mob ran. Grotz scurried gathering the lost rounds and throwing them into a tub they dragged behind them.

"Get out inta a line you zoggin' idiots" Krugmek shouted from behind them, shrouded in a haze of heat discharge as he powered up his Kustom Mega-Blasta. Kicking a grot through the air as he caught up with the Lootaboyz.

"Oi, Badkrak, I've no idea what da zog is wrong with your Boyz today. If you don't get my gunz firin' sharpish, I'll turn dis zoggin' thing on you! Bash some 'eads!" He shouted at the mob leader.

Badkrak turned and snarled at the swarthy Mekboy following them and turned with bared fangs looked over at his Boyz. Each carried the huge rig of a Deffgun, they stood legs braced for the kickback from their weapons.

Grotz ran to and fro making final adjustments that Krugmek called out, polishing aiming gubbinz and flicking switches. Ammobelts rattled as they were loaded and everything spakred with static caused by the build up of electrical energy as capacitors were charged up.

"Roight Boyz, let's show dat loudmouth behind us what Dakka we have. Deffgunz aim for the 'umies, Beamygunz aim for the 'umies wagonz. Got dat?" Badkrak shouted and got a roared response from his Boyz.

"Give 'em da Dakka!" Ghurrob shouted and held down the trigger of his weapon. A stream of sparks errupted from the twin muzzles of the gun and the glowing tracer rounds flew off in a huge arc above the enemy positions.

The ten Lootaboyz were unleashing horrendous amounts of firepower, most of it going above and missing the 'umies they were facing.

Grotz frantically ran between the Orks throwing handfuls of ammunition into the hoppers which were rapidly emptying. A few of the bravest were trying to grab the holding bars of the gunz and aim them down to hit the 'umies rather then miss everything.

Badkrak grinned as his helmet rattled upon his gnarled head. Next to him Ghurrob drooled in ecstacy as they were all deafened by the thunderous discharge. They started to try to aim and causing casualties amongst the Imperials.

An Imperial tank turned its turret and fired an explosive round which tore up the ground infront of them.

"Beamygunz, take out dat wagon!" Krugmek shouted and fired his Mega-Blasta in its direction. A bright ball of superheated plasma screamed it's way down the scree towards the tank, burning the ground as it went. 

Grotz covered their ears against the building whine of the Beamygunz as they charged and fired bright beams of energy which also burned an unfortunate grot who was too close to the muzzle.

Flaming furrows were carved into the ground and the beams moved as the Grotz pulled the Orks to aim at the tank. After another perilously close explosion cause by the threatening tank, the energy beams converged and disintegrated the front armour. A moment later they touched off something inside and the tank blew itself apart as its own ammunition went off.

Krugmek grinned as he watched his creations working blowing stuff up.

'Dis is da life' he thought, and fired another bolt of plasma into the air.

*****

The third post of JanuWaaaghry brings the Lootaboyz up to date with my Greenskins.

Five of these models were painted from scratch, just having their undercoat and orange rust layer applied for almost two years now.

Yes I started painting these Orks when I had my last Apocalypse game against Fraser.

But they're finished now, using the same colours and techniques as detailed in the Stormboyz post.

The other five miniatures were painted way back when in my old Goff paint scheme. I dusted them off with a makeup brush I had bought for drybrushing with, but have since used exclusively as a miniature duster:

And then added a few red and brassy details to bring them into line with the newer painted stuff, I think I'll do this with everything I painted up for Orktober 2020 to refresh the army and make it all look cohesive.

I have a number of choices of what to paint next and would love some input.

As well as refreshing the completed stuff I also have:

1. A third 20 strong Goff mob, or 2 10 strong Kult of Speed mobz (who will get Trukkz in due course).
2. A skawdron of Deffkoptaz, for the Kult of Speed (the old Black Reach ones).
3. A kustom unit of Kommandoz, wearing trenchcoats from Kromlech.
4. A Battlewagon of some kind, possibly.

Most of this needs to either be built or be repaired as I bought 90% of my Ork army second hand in joblots years ago. But it needs to be done, I'll also be continuing to build my Looted Wagon Tank Destroyer as I go, but something on the side is always good.

I look forward to hearing suggestions, leave a comment below.

Until next time...

JanuWaaaghry - Big Mek Badrek and Sparkit.

 

(art by Alex Boyd).

Lasfire whipped towards the Boss and his bodyguard as the Guardsmen targeted the largest threat approaching their position.

Earlier in the battle Warboss Gorgrok and his elite Meganobz had dismounted from their Battlewagon and carved a bloody path through the outer defensive line of the Imperials.

The ordinary Lasrifles were not doing anything other then making the hulking brutes angrier and angrier at the buzzing lights shooting last, but the threat escalated as a searing high energy beam erupted and cut through the armour of Okbok in a spray of sparks and metal shards. The pungent smell of burnt flesh and ozone filled the air around the Meganobz as they all hastily hit the Mega-Boosta buttons and surged forwards as their armoured suits diverted power to the motion rather then weapons systems.

"Oi, Badrek, you'd better get dat fing workin' before we get shot again or else I'll kill you dead!" Gorgrok shouted, leaning into a hail or lasfire.

"Working on it Boss" Badrek shouted back, slamming his hand on the power button to try to get the Kustom Force Field working again. Sparkit, his grot helper was desperately twisting wiring together where it had frayed, burning his fingers as he put his blowtorch down. His own fear of the situation allowing him to work fast and dextrous enough to twist the copper together.

"Work Fasta!" Badrek screamed, as Dagnazz had an arm sheared off by a partial hit from the Lascannon shooting at them. The Nob howled, but then cheered as he realised he'd only lost his Shoots arm, not his Klaw, so began to advance again.

"Try it now Boss" Sparkit wailed, and Badrek's meaty fist smashed into the power button. The air seemed to wobble and glow brighter for a moment. Gorgrok realised that he wasn't suffering impacts to his armour as they were bubbling in the air six feet infront of him, ripples of white light expanding from each stopped shot.

"Boss, watch this!" Badrek excitedly shouted as he fiddled with the buttons on his controller. The energy field surrounding them whined a little and seemed to condense so that things became fuzzy to see through.

The Lascannon fired again, but this time , instead of being absorbed, the energy was reflected back down the beam and exploded the weapon and it's crew in a blossoming mushroom explosion.

Deep booming laughter erupted from the Warboss' and the surviving Meganobz.

Gorgrok turned, he never normally lowered his voice below a shout, so raised it to bellow "Good work Badrek, now keep up!" 

The advance was back on...

*****

Continuing with Greenskin efforts for JanuWaaaghry, I've recently had this Big Mek in the paint stripper and repainted to match my newer stuff.

His Grot oiler there is a 3D printed model Duncan gave me last year, a really nice little thing and I love the welding mask.

The little blip on the eye piece of the Mek is actually a moulding injector port, which I had cleaned up but not gotten rid of entirely. I left it as I kind of like that it adds a central focal point to the big circular magnifier.

I wanted the KFF projection pylons to be a weathered copper look to add something to the model rather then more dirty steel. I carried this onto things like the levers and gauges on the backpack. 

Most of the painting was the same as the Stormboyz and Grotz I'd already finished, just that little Sparkit there got some Goff 'Ardboy checkers to his helmet as he works for one of the Warbands leaders.

Up next are five Loota Boyz, and I'll ask for suggestions for the next step once I've gotten those finished.

Until next time...

JanuWaaaghry - First Stormboyz and Grotz.

 

Like a lead weight one of the Stormboyz fell from the sky. He dug a furrow into the blasted ground before the Imperials trenchwork as his rokkit pack dug him deeper through the dirt before exploding.

Another mistimed the landing and impacted upon the firing step, his own unstable rokkit pack exploding and creating a hole five meters wide in the defences.

The rest of the mob were upon the Imperials, dropping like a deadly rain or green muscled killers. Sluggas firing as they came in to land, each firing a fist sized bullet most chewed away parts of the duckboards or firing step, a few found their targets and screams erupted from those not killed outright.

As he landed Boss Rukfang made sure to try to land on a 'Umie, he always claimed it made a sturdier landing surface to the rest of his Boyz. Truth was he liked to try to squish one before the Choppa work began. He'd seen Boss Zagstrukk do this once and aimed to emulate him ever since.

"Roight Ya Gitz!" He bellowed in his best parade ground voice, "Get ta work". With that he lashed out with his power klaw sweeping a couple of Guardsmen away as they were trying to bring their autocannon to bear down the trench. His backswing tore the heavy weapon in two, making it useless scrap, unless the Mekboyz could salvage it later after or during the battle.

He loped off ahead, the Orks curious gorilla type run making them heavy footed, but the huge rokkit pack making his footfalls even heavier so that they actively echoed back at his from the trenchwork. 

An 'Umie grenade was thrown around a corner and he ducked back. Young Grabitz wasn't as lucky and ran face first into the explosion, his body hurled over the firing line, an arm left on the floor.

"That all ya got?" Rukfang shouted and turned the corner to be met by a wall of lasfire. He shrugged most of it off, taking a few glancing wounds which cauterised straight away and ploughed into the unit firing at him. 

All beast now as his vision clouded red and his dreadful power klaw rose and fell in bloody arcs. Soon he was stood alone amongst a trench section filled with the corpses of his enemies, his mob moving in behind executing any he had missed.

"Boss, Boss, there's more of 'em over dere Boss" Nuggit, one of his Stormgrotz shouted in it's high pitched voice.

"Roight den, 'Ere we go!" Rukfang shouted as he and the rest of the Skyboyz ignited their rokkit packs.and surged forwards into the battle again.

*****

As mentioned before, JanuWaaaghry is the first of my project month's aimed at getting full projects finished, not bits and bobs.

We start with the Greenskins which I haven't touched since Orktober 2020, and quite a lot has changed since then.

To begin with, I painted up Gargot and Da Gitz, a mob of ten Grotz and a metal Gorkamorka Runtherd (they were called Slaver'z when first released).

Pretty standard for a mob of these diminutive guys, I just need to add twenty more to them to fill the mob out, just a shame Element Games were out of stock when I tried to order two boxes.

I used Nurgling Green washed first with Sepia and then over the entire base coated miniature with Earthshade to get the light green/olive skintone. In the Third Edition codex there was a section detailing how the older and 'Arder an Ork gets the darker green his skin tinges, so following that logic (and God do I love Ork logic) these weedy guys would be a light green.

Metals follow my usual rusty scheme of starting with Troll Slayer Orange and drybrushing Tin Bitz and Leadbelcher.

Abaddon Black for that classic Goff Klan look with some Mephiston Red detailing for variation.

Onto the next mob, and the one I'm most proud of so far due to the modelling involved.

These are the first five members of Rukfangz' Skyboyz:

Five Stormboyz, eventually I will have twenty done up like this, field-able in two mobs of ten or a huge mob of twenty. I also aim to get a hold of Boss Zagstrukk when I get chance as he's one of my favourite Ork models.

Metals and Goff colours are the same as the Grotz above, Skintone this time is Warpstone Glow washed with Earthshade to get that grubby unwashed look which Orks would definitely have.

This time around, as "Elite troops" they got a bunch of Goff 'Ard Boy checks on the shoulder plates and other locations. The dubious uniformity of Stormboyz was added by painting all the shoulder pads the same and the non-checker one with Mephiston Red.

The Rokkit packs got various splashes of Mephiston Red as well to emphasize the "Red Wunz Go Fasta" mentality, even though they're Goffs.

The twin Stormgrotz were an amusing piece to make as I was one Stormboy short, but had these two left over. They were both added to one base to make up the number of the mob.

Below is the last member of the mob, with distinctly more Red visible...almost looks like and Evil Sun!

A photo of the exhaust trails from the Rokkit packs. These were made by first forming a frame of Garden Wire and gluing it to a 40mm base (I considered smaller bases, but they'd be too top heavy, also I'll take a photo of this process next time).

I then took some Woodland Scenics Ground foam and superglued it to the framework:

Once the superglue had dried, I have it a few coats of watered down PVA to add strength, and once I can get some I'll add a coat of Matte Varnish over the top to seal it all together.

The exhaust was primed grey with the miniature, washed with Nuln Oil and Drybrushed Mechanicus Standard Grey and Ulthuan Grey.

The flames start at the mod point of the exhaust with Khorne Red and work getting lighter with Mephiston Red, Evil Sunz Scarlet, Troll Slayer Orange, Iyanden Darksun and finally Done Yellow near to the Rokkit.

Finally the lower parts were stippled with Baneblade Brown and Ushabti Bone to simulate dust kicked up by the forces.

I am really happy with how the mob has turned out and they are really the catalyst for the Orks being first on the list as the frames on the 40mm bases had been sitting in my wargame cupboard since I made them quite a while ago.

I've got a Big Mek with Force Field and Oiler and several Loota Boyz on the go now so they'll probably be up next.

Until next time...

JanuWaaaghry!

 

Dawn broke, the sun struggling to claw it's way through the clouds of pollutant thrown up by the armoured vehicles angrily revving their engines. 

Warboss Gorgrok looked around, glaring red eyes staring at any who seemed out of line, the last of his bodyguard were heaving themselves aboard their Battlewagon, suspension springs groaning under the pressure of all the Mega-Armour on board already.

His ears popped as pressure built and settled as Big-Mek Badrek fired up the Kustom Force Field he wore on his back, Sparkit, his grot assistant making small adjustments with a blowtorch to the mechanisms of the thing.

A series of explosions echoed from the humie lines and Gorgrok looked up to see a trio of Fighta-Bomma jets wheeling away, the prearranged signal for WAAAGH! time.

He shouldered his way in amongst his bodyguard, Badrek and Sparkit following, armoured panels squealing as they were forced to pass each other, Grotz scurrying around the wagon trying not to be stepped on.

"GO, GO, WE MOVE!" he bellowed, snapping his power klaw overhead for emphasis, he had no idea if he was heard. But the vehicle lurched with a clatter of track units and armour panels as the driver floored the accelerator.

The entire warband ploughed forwards towards the humies in their stupid trenches. Each slab sided vehicle was covered with jeering, yelling Orks hitching rides to the fight ahead, some which drew Infront of the warboss' wagon gesticulating with their hands at the slower vehicle. When the armoured assault had weathered the incoming artillery shells and closed with the enemy, the tank riders leapt off their vehicles - a few of the smarter Orks waiting for their rides to slow down. Within minutes the ridge line they were attacking was swarming with Greenskin warriors shooting and yelling, hefting Choppas overhead. Geysers of flame lit up the battle, unleashed by the Burna Boyz and high pitched screams added to the din.

Imperial tanks ground forwards from reserve, their cannons blowing great explosive holes in the Orks. It was too little too late, despite the carnage the tankers created, it was as if they were throwing pebbles into a great green sea as the living tide of Orkdom charged forwards again. Orks streamed forwards, dropping into trenches, slaughtering occupants of bunkers, burning out command squads and they cut down everything in their path. At their head Warboss Gorgrok lead the charge, his piston powered Mega-Armour crushing unfortunate guardsmen even as he cut down humie after humie with his power klaw.

An hour after the attack began, Rostern Ridge belonged to the Orks, beyond it lay the city of Sheebera and the wealth of plunder it offered.

*****

One of the things I've mentioned previously in doing Hobby Bingo 2021 was that I didn't feel I accomplished much over the year due to painting to fill the grid target that projects.

I want to address that this year and try to get stuff focussed down to finish.

To that end I'm starting with my first true love, The Greenskins!

WAAAGH!

(I don't know where this art is from, apologies to the artist, but it's a great piece).

I began my green career way back in 3rd edition of 40k*, when Andy Chambers redesigned them from the shooty-clowns of the setting** to brutal space barbarians. 

There was something about the horde charging forwards to fight, not caring about anything else which drew me in, that and the fact that they are a convertors/scratch-builders dream come true.

I'm going to build up my Orks using the 3rd edition rules*** which were my favourite.

I have plans to eventually run a campaign against my Catachans****, and possibly Deathwatch as the end result of this, so there is a genuine goal in mind.

To start with I've got a mob of 10 Grotz and a Slaver primed up, as well as a Big Mek with Kustom Force Field, I have some 3D printed Grot oilers to base up to accompany him yet.

There are 4 Stormboyz primed up to paint, the first member of that mob was a proof of concept model before I committed to doing 20 like it!

I've got something like 8 Killa Kanz to build and am partway through building a Looted Wagon.

Sitting in his box as a reward for those and anything else is Ghazkhull himself, the new Mega-Armoured version, not the previous one*****.

So strap in and enjoy the crazy world of the Greenskins.

Until next time...

-----

*Arguably the best version of 40k was 3rd transitioning into 4th, not full on 4th edition mind.

** Unfortunately Phil Kelly (who's rules were usually brilliant) turned them back into the clowns with the 4th edition book. Where he also handicapped them severely causing several people I knew at the time to quit playing them.

Seriously we waited nearly ten years for that book!

*** The blog isn't changing into an "Oldhammer" blog as I think that the miniatures today are far superior to the ones of yesteryear (apart from the lack of customisation options, but that just makes the challenge better!). Just that the rules, lore and general attitude of GW as a company were far superior then.

The setting was dark, the rules were great, White Dwarf was a must buy each month (I may do a post about that era of WD in the future).

I can't actually remember the last time I bought WD, couldn't tell you any of the staffers or their armies. 

And having played 9th edition, it's tight, but too wordy and assumes that everyone can keep track of an ever escalating number of command points, stratagems, special rules and the like.

**** Actually, nearly all my hobby goals for this year involve a campaign of some sort.

*****Pretty sure I have that miniature in a box somewhere too!

Incidental note:

A fair few of the images used in this post were from the Warhammer+ episode Old Bale Eye, I grabbed a few screencaps when it was offered for free last August. If anyone wants to set GW's lawyers onto me for it you're welcome to. It'll be well worth the money they'll spend shutting down my small corner of the blogsphere with my average viewers of 20 or so people 😁.

Hobby Bingo - December Recap...the Finale. Also a look towards 2022 projects.

 So we've reached the first day of 2022...not only has the second year of the covid plague passed, but also the end of the year of our Hobby Bingo challenge against each other.

Dave pulled a couple of last minute boxes out during December, Chris meanwhile has been lost in the warp ever since his house move,

I managed to crank out a few more finished units, but couldn't find the motivation or time to claim that last elusive Terrain box on the first grid.

The final scores for 2021 Hobby Bingo are as follows:

Chris - 1250 *

Lewis - 1140

Dave - 550 *

I don't know what Chris and Dave thought of it (maybe they'll add a comment on here afterwards) but personally it's been a good challenge and I've painted more miniatures in a single year then I ever have before, my finished total was 217 miniatures.

In spite of that though, I feel that I haven't actually accomplished much through the year as I've been jumping through units to fill boxes on the grid. So we've had Imperial Guard, Chaos, Trollbloods, Fantasy, Warmachine, 40k...a real mix of stuff and no completed forces to actually play a game.

For 2022 I'm deciding to make a project list and work through things, at least to a minimum level.

• JanuWaaaghry - Orks for a 3rd Edition 40k reader participation campaign**, this also features my Catachans who will need bringing up to a playable level and my Deathwatch whom will be using the Primaris models (for true-scale marines) but firstborn rules with some additions. (I also have a couple of part painted squads which I very nearly but didn't quite get finished during December, so they'll appear in due course through JanuWaaaghry as well).
• Project EoT - This is another 3rd Edition campaign I want to run, based off of the original (and infinitely cooler campaign) with the Chaos forces assaulting the Imperium. I've started on some Black Legion and Cadians, my Catachans and other Space Marines will also be used, this is definitely a long-burn project. This will be another reader participation campaign** much as the Orky campaign above.
• Terrain - I have the MDF city I bought NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO mostly built but gathering dust, that needs finishing!
• Horus Heresy - Fraser gave me a lot of Mk.IV marines back in the summer and I made a start on building up a Sons of Horus force whilst I was training during October. Things have slowed down somewhat, but I want to continue with the force, if only to game against Fraser when we visit. 
• Nighthaunt - I still have a ton of Nighthaunt on sprues and did start out planning a sort of civil-war campaign between different factions of ghosts. 
• Samurai - again I have a ton of Samurai era miniatures still on sprues and had plans for a massive Total-War style map campaign, but have taken a realistic look at what I was trying to achieve and toned it back. First step is getting a bunch of Ashigaru foot soldiers painted to field two forces.

Overall I don't think that there is too much on that list, in the scheme of things, the Nighthaunt and Samurai are the lowest priority, EoT forces will take the longest (simply from what is required), and I'm going to work on JanuWaaaghry and the City first as these will be useful to starting the campaign I have in mind.

I'm not going to set a total number of miniatures I want to paint over the year, just keep adding them up like this year and seeing if I can beat my total.

And much like Meatloaf below, the aim is to paint more then I buy, as we can't paint everything before buying new:

Until next time...

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* I implore you to head over to their respective blogs and take a look around, leave a comment and such. Everyone likes hearing nice words about their work, even constructive criticism if appropriate 😉.

** What I have in mind as a "Reader Participation Campaign" is that the battles will be fought solo using a set of solo-AI rules I downloaded from the solo wargaming group on Facebook.

For the Orky campaign, each battle will be from the PoV of a force chosen by readers of the blog. The results of the battle will determine several next steps and the readers will choose what happens and who they want the PoV from.

For the EoT campaign, I'm thinking of asking for volunteers to control a warband/company on the campaign map and play it using the rules published in White Dwarf for refighting the campaign amongst a small group, rather then the worldwide version of the original. This is very much being spitballed at the moment as I work things out.