Analogue Challenge Day 2

Well it's the end of work (probably) for me on Day 2 of the Analogue Painting Challenge and it's very clear that many of the participants will outclass me in both productivity and skill (click here to see what's been submitted so far - some really splendid stuff).

This isn't a surprise to me or a problem: one of the reasons I feel comfortable in the Challenge is that it's a challenge rather than a competition (this is not a criticism of those who are choosing to have competitions on the side).  I have set myself a target and I will go for that, while sitting by and enjoying the fun of those who are dueling.  As a novice, I thinks that's the right thing to do and well within the spirit of the Challenge.

So what have I been up to?

Day 2

Now I could pretend that the photo is so blurry because I'm adhering strictly to Rule 9 or for reasons of keeping tricks up my sleeve, but the truth is that I'm to idle to go and retake it (you see why I've knocked off!).

WIP

• 54mm plastic D-Day figures - which are a Christmas present for a nephew, so have to be done and wrapped by Sunday (fortunately, there are now half the number of these than originally planned)
• Various civilian figures for the first bonus round (those at least one of these might be submitted to the Favorite Character bonus)

More updates soon...

Saturday WIP #3

It's time for the weekly workbench picture inspired by Sofie's Paint Blog (she's up to No 6, I'm lingering at No 3).

'Twas the night before the Challenge, and all though the house not a creature
was stirring

For those of you who have read about the woodpile on Facebook, that's part of it under the blue tarp.

I've cleared away the unfinished items that won't contribute to the Challenge score.  The figures I received yesterday have been flashed, based and primed and are in the shed drying along with figures for The Wife's nephew.  I've got a plan for all of the bonus rounds, and I'm clear what needs to be done before we go away for Christmas.

Nos qui pingere salutant te!

The Danes Do It in Style. And 300 Up!

Long-term readers of the blog may remember my surprise at spotting a member of the British Diplomatic Service in court dress at at Pope Francis' inauguration, well it seems that the Danes do it in style..

By the way, this is my 300th post!

Reinforcements Arrive

Last week I was feeling a little miserable, so engaged in a spot of retail therapy.

When we came home this afternoon we found that the postman had hidden a parcel in the woodpile...

Clearing the Decks

In advance of the Analogue Challenge I'm trying to finish off all the half-done work on the painting table.  Hopefully between now and Sunday, I'll be able to share several completed groups.

So I present:-

Men in fezes

These were intended as my Cairo Police Special Investigations Division, but to me they don't look official or 1930s enough (I'm sorry, but when I see those flares and the facial hair I can only thing of Jason King and bad Roger Moore films).  I might go back to the original idea of adapting the Perrys' 1882 Egyptian Army figures.

In any case, I can submit them to the LAF Fezember Challenge.

Fish- or Lizard-men

Generic monsters of the men-in-rubber-suits variety.

Just for Ev!

This Week's Interesting Obits

Donald Featherstone (d. 4 Sep 2013)
Wargaming pioneer
Daily Telegraph 4 Dec 2013

I'm not going to bother linking to Mandela obits.  They're everywhere...

Click here to visit the obits page

Wednesday Welcome and Jiffy Bag Dance

Welcome to new follower Remco de Groot of Remco's Miniatures.  I hope you find stuff of interest here.

This morning I received a couple of parcels that demonstrate the generosity in the wargaming blogosphere.

The other week Dave over at One Man and His Brushes marked 100,000 hits and 150 followers with as give-away.  I was lucky enough to be one of the eight winners to get a prize.  In my case it was To The Last Round, an account of the British stand on the Imjin River during the Korean War.  I am assured it's a good read; I'm looking forward to it.

Earlier this week, I happened to mention on Facebook that Northstar Miniatures' December freebie would make a nice entry for the Analogue Challenge's non-combatant bonus round.  Almost by return, James of Exiles Wargames Painter offered to send me one, putting it in the post the next day.  A very nice gesture of the kind those who know James become used to...

I'm going to enjoy painting this one...

Thank you to you both.

Book Sale and Gift Promo

As some of you know, one of my side-lines is selling second-hand books.  I'm pleased to announce this year's December sale - there will be 10% off on all orders received during December (excluding postage).

So go across to my list of books for sale.  Currently you'll find a 19-page pdf of military and naval books.  All things being equal, I'll be adding the long-promised list of books on Exploration and Archaeology & History to 1000 AD later this week.  These will also be included in the December sale.

The image above is the logo of the Give Books Campaign, which aims to share the love of reading, support local booksellers and promote literacy.  For every #GiveBooks tweet, pin and online pledge to give someone a book 'for the holidays' they will donate a book to a child in need.  This seems a good thing to me.

This Week's Interesting Obits

The Revd John Graham (d. 26 Nov 2013)

Crossword Setter 'Araucaria'

Guardian obit, 27 Nov 2013

Independent obit, 28 Nov 2013

Scotsman obit

Click here for more obits of interest.

Books and Stuff

A regular round-up of my book news.

What I've read this month...

Cressida Cowell, How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel
Paul Vallely, Pope Francis: Untying the Knots

What I've bought this month....

John Carnell (ed), SF-2: New Writings in SF-2 - 50p
Arthur C Clarke, The Deep Range - 50p
H L Gold (ed), The Fourth Galaxy Reader - 50p

Journal of the Life Saving Awards Society, No 78
Alan Gallop, The Martians are Coming!  The true story of Orson Welles' 1938 Panic Broadcast - £3.99
Arthur Ponsonby, Henry Ponsonby: Queen Victoria's Private Secretary - £1.50
Graham Sleight, The Doctor's Monsters: Meanings of the Monstrous in Doctor Who - £3.99
Tom Steel, The Life and Death of St Kilda - 50p

An End to Dinovember

Well I promised a big reveal on the mystery object from yesterday's post.  Here it is.

It got the 'dinovember' label because I see it as a form of transportation to a Lost World which may or may not be At The Centre of the Earth.

I'm a little surprised that no-one spotted it after Michael identified it as a cone.  It just goes to show that no-one read this post...

EDIT

OK, I've done some playing about...

Can You See What It Is Yet?

Wednesday Welcomes

A warm Wednesday welcome to two new followers:-

• Bruno Lorang of Lonewolf's Welten, and
• Dan Vincent of the 50mm Game Room

Welcome Bruno and Dan!

In other news, I've now based as many figures as I can be bothered to do in advance of the painting challenge and I've also put some non-coms at the front of the queue for the first bonus round.  (I've still got to prime them...)

It's still Dinovember and I'm going to have to find some time for it in the next few days.  Perhaps
there'll be some news for my Saturday WIP round-up.

Saturday WIP #2

First, a welcome to peter.bonami of Peter's Cave, who has just signed up as a follower.

I'm really going to have to stop using Dastardly Belgians as villains...

Secondly, it's time for the weekly workbench picture (inspired by Sofie's Paint Blog).

Most of the hobby time this week has gone into having a look through my lead pile as, after signing up for the painting challenge I had the dreadful feeling that I hadn't got enough figures and would have to get some in.  I also had to consider how I could tell The Wife that I wouldn't start painting her nephew's Christmas pressie until 15 Dec!

I needed have worried as I'd forgotten that I bought a job lot as 'expendables' for honing my painting skills on (which is how I'm intending to use the challenge).  I might have to buy more khaki and German grey paint though!

The whole point was to work out what points target to set myself.  After a couple of day's vacillation I decided against going bat-shit crazy and have plumped for...

500 points

Before the challenge I've got to finish off my Sihks, the big game hunters and my Cairo SID unit.  They're all there in the picture, in the same state as I left them last week.

Have a good weekend everyone and enjoy the Dr Who Anniversary!

Another Welcome and a Giveaway

A welcome to new follower sebastofig of Back to the Minis.

One Man and His Brushes is marking 100,000+ hits and 150 followers with some fine books as prizes - go and check it out.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently - I try to do something about it over the weekend.

Wednesday Welcome

A big Wednesday Welcome to new follower Monty Luhmann of the Twin Cities Gamer - a very talented painter with a minimalist approach to lead mountains.

Hello Monty!

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

Well, I've signed up for the Painting Challenge.

As a newbie, I'm not quite sure what I've let myself in for, but it seems quite a fun way of setting goals for oneself and getting constructive feedback from people who know what they're talking about.  I'm not going to aim to set any records or win prizes, but hopefully by the end of the challenge my painting will have improved.

This Week's Interesting Obits

Mavis Batey (d. 11 Nov 2013)

Bletchley Park Code-Breaker

Daily Telegraph obit 14 Nov 2013

Albert Taylor (d. 1 Sep 2013)

Tracker

Daily Telegraph obit 14 Nov 2013

Saturday WIP

I had thought to post some photos of the painting table/workdesk as a Saturday regular, as suggested by Sofie's Painting Blog but I've been rather disheartened by this week's progress.  Despite my declaration to spend November on things Dinosaur, I thought to finish my Cairo SID members.  So far, these are far from successful (white suits anyone?), so I haven't done anything since Tues.

I had done some work on one of the big-game hunters though, so I suppose that's a nod in the direction of Dinovember.  Another is that I've taken advantage of Fat Dragon Games' 30% off sale (ends on Monday) to get a cardstock Mole (suitable for getting to Lost Worlds at the Centre of the Earth) for $4.19.  They also have a nice aerial steam carriage for the same price.  If you do go to rpgnow to check these out, make sure you also have a look at the free stuff!  I got some more of the Dave Graffam free building kits.

Fruit of the Kickstarter #2

Some of you might remember in that back in July I pledged on Studio Miniature's kickstarter for a Sikh Wars range.  It was over 400% funded and, as I pledged at one of the simpler levels mine was one of the earliest to be dispatched: it arrived earlier this week.

They're three rather nice Sikh officers -

The rest of the range is equally nice, but it's not my period.  I though these officers might fit in a Pulp setting as Mad Maharajahs!

In writing this post, I find they can now be ordered from their website for less than my pledge.  Obviously I hadn't got the point that kickstarter bargains only happen at the higher pledge levels or if you want to buy the add-ons...

One of the free figures at those levels was a Flashman.  I don't know if they'll eventually sell him for Mr Awdry to buy, but here he is -

The other Kickstarter I have outstanding was Oathsworn Miniatures Heroes.  They are proving to be models of good communication, sending us messages at every stage of the process.  Anyone interested in the process of designing and producing miniatures should  have a look at their updates for a masterclass.

I went a bit larger on this one.  Hopefully I'll have an update in February!