Monument Valley in the man cave.

Just a little update , another part of the man cave is completed. I picked up a large picture of Monument Valley a classic part of old western films. It covers a large part of the back wall (its 6 foot x 4!) and will make a fine back drop to the games table. Its attached via velcro to the wall , which will even allow me to change it over for different scenes etc if i wish.

I had couple of questions re the Fort model shown a couple of posts ago, so here are a few with Gordon Pasha just to help scale it

So for those of you in Curts Challenge how is the prep work going on? I am ready to get to paint on stuff now i must say - just the last lot of Perry Sudan re-inforcements to tackle., Baggara Cavalry and metal Beja Foot reinforcements.

Did you win? and the new man cave is up and running.

It was draw time for my give away for 100,000 hits and 150 followers. So first i just wanted to say welcome to all those new followers over the last few weeks. So with no further delay here are the results

Prize 1 - Gladiator Blu Ray  - Kev at the cabin
Prize 2 - Dieppe - Gary Amos
Prize 3 - Wagram - Peter Bonami
Prize 4 - Korea Edwin King
Prize 5 - Marengo Mike Hert
Prize 6 - Anatomy of Glory a popular choice this one! - Panzerkaput
Prize 7 - Mincemeat - Brendon Watts
Prize 8 - WW1 - Magpie Phyllion

Congratulation one and all - I hope you enjoy them as much as i have. So if you drop me your delivery address details - you can contact me via the link at the left hand side of the blog  I will get them out to you.

Finally I now have the new man cave up and running - it seems an age since i painted something.

nice new paint racks- i got hold of a couple of nail varnish racks - they are nicely tiered so its easy to see

Entertainment sorted with the wifi on ipad , and its connected  to a decent speaker system with a rather large subwoofer under the table.

I have sorted out a gaming / projects table - on trestles - its 6 foot x 4 18mm MDF nice and solid  - its in the corner at the moment while I sort out projects

talking of projects - here are few tasters for next year

first the mine project. Extras from Ainsty now ready to go.

second , the centre piece for my Mexican village - for a Marvelous 7 game perhaps at next years Blog -Con

Out in the country - a ranch house - with the imminent arrival of the U.S. Cavalry into the collection (Thanks to Galloping Majors new releases - and once painting proper starts for Curts challenge) - and extra Apaches there must a scenario of 3 there i think...

My friend Steve has handed over a fort - for one of next years projects...back to the Sudan or the Sahara..

This weekend has seen the arrival of the obligatory parcel from Warbases..

Right I am off to to do some prep work - and to try and crack off Doug C's Highlanders - before the challenge starts -who have been hanging around far too long!! It's good to be back painting with a size 1 brush rather than a 4 inch one!

Tommy Gunn & the man cave progress

After a thoroughly enjoyable weekend with fellow bloggers I came home ready for more projects. I have been working on the new man cave , getting some multi draw storage , some shelving above the desk, moving over the close work lighting , and some of the tools. The new large cutting mat has turned up too. I managed to get my large Tombstone poster up too.Next job is to go through all the various paints i have an throw out the ones that have had it and prepare a Christmas stock up list and get a paint rack sorted.

While part emptying the old man cave I came across some older projects. So here is Tommy Gunn from the bootleggers collection. Picked up ready painted at Scarborough earlier this year , just needed a little touch up work and another varnish- pretty sure he is a Copplestone casting.

and a new view of the man cave.

A new man cave..question for you

With the freeing up of a room in the house it is time to explore a new man cave. The old one is just too small, being in essence the 4th bedroom "box room" type.. I work in there most of the day doing the "day job" as I work from home and it doubles as my paint workshop and reference storage.

 The existing study/paint shop/library.

So I have a decent step up in size to room that is 2.4m x 2.4m - good light as well. It's had a lick of paint over the weekend - new light fitting . I also came across a nice desk and chair combo in "Staples" which was marked down by 60% - so went for that. So here we have the start of the "New Man Cave". A blank canvas. Oh and I still get the old room too.

So here is the question - what would be your essentials for your "Man Cave" - or indeed "Woman Cave" or "Hobby Cave"to keep Tamsin ,Sofie and Anne on side!

Next up in no particular order.

Large cutting mat.

Tool draw storage

Bespoke paint rack storage

Lead mountain storage

Shelving 

Figure display cabinet possibly

Audio Visual equipment

A temporary gaming table solution

Pictures - I feel a western theme coming on..

Photo backdrop.

So over to you...

And in preparation for Blog-Con this week - the toys are all packaged ready

And Ian and Lee's 6mm reinforcements

See you at the weekend if you are at Blog-Con