A Small Start to the New Year

Finally my first post for 2015. Now, like many wargamers/collectors I have a lead mountain. Sometimes I do wonder how I can justify the many tins and boxes of unpainted figures, scenery and flags when really my hobby time is so limited.

1859 Austrian Command: 15mm Mirliton Miniatures

Add the fact that some of them are real gems that really do deserve a little "internet air time". A case in point are these Mirliton 15mm Austrian Command figures from pack "RAC017 Austrian Personalities".

They have been knocking around for a couple of years at least and I have so many more! The Crimean War, American Civil War, Ancient Greeks & Napoleonic Wars to name but a few.

So the plan for 2015 is relatively simple - reduce my unpainted lead footprint. 

Blog posts may be a bit random in their content but (apart from the Sudan project) I reckon I have enough figures to keep me very busy for the next 12 months without the need to add any more.

Jacklex Naval Brigade

 I could not let 2014 without at least one more post. Here are the only figures I have  managed to paint in two months, the lovely N1 Naval Brigade Sailor advancing. Times six.

Jacklex 20mm sailors from HMS Nostalgia!

I am going for "look good en mass" appeal, but with output currently at less than a figure a week it is going to take some imagination at the moment! 

However I am going to end 2014 on a positive note, they are finished and six more of their mates are prepped and ready to go along with a company of the Lincolnshire's. 

So, Happy New Year to you all and I will be back in early 2015.

With Jacklex on the North West Frontier

Jacklex 20mm British Infantry

 While I clean up the Sudan War figures I thought it might be nice to show some other Jacklex figures that I painted a year or so ago. These figures are painted, based and gloss varnished for a traditional toy soldier look. My plan is to use "The Sword and the Flame" rules...using my original copy bought c.1980!

For a history of the Jacklex range there is none better than here, at Vintage20mil.

Jacklex 20mm Pathans

I have over the years painted the Colonial, ACW and Great War figures. It is a real treat they are still so readily available from Spencer Smith. 

Back to (Old) School...

Another downside of having no hobby time (just a damn long commute and everyone asleep when I do get home) does mean the mind begins to wander. 

I have been following the excellent "With Pyjamas through the Desert" blog for some time now and have purchased the excellent Gilder based "Sand of the Sudan" rules. I am halfway through reading Harry Pearson's "Achtung Schweinehund!"  for the third time - still as laugh out loud as the first read.

This and other random thoughts and ideas have lead me towards the next "big plan". An Old School Sudan collection using the 20mm Jacklex figures available from Spencer Smith Miniatures.

I have also come to the conclusion that 20mm really is "my scale" and frankly I see no reason to dabble in any other.

Hopefully the first of the British will be up for show early December and not a wobbly lip among them!

Been A Bit Busy Lately

My new department was in a bit of a mess so I have had some long, long hours to put in at work.  Hopefully things will calm down soon and I can get a little painting time in, probably some Franco Prussian or Crimean War figures.

In the meantime here is one of the illustrations that hooked me into the 19th Century period.