2021 Review and what's next in 2022

 

I've been reading a few other bloggers 2021 reviews, so I thought I'd chip in as well.

Year 2 of Covid as you all well know was just as bad as the first for everyone. I only managed to get 7 face to face games in, 2 of those we're practice games for Richard's demo game at Broadside, another was the game itself, which I took virtually no part in, so really it was only 4 games, which is a bloody pitiful amount if you ask me!

But saying that I think The Battle of Montenotte 1796, Richard's game at Salute was my highlight of the gaming year. It was great to get the Rejects together again and help play in such a great game.

Richard worked very hard getting it all ready for the unusually dated December Broadside, thing is he had an extra year to plan for the game. this should have been played in 2020, but who's counting!

Blog wise, I had my busiest year since 2013, with 90 posts, this was partly due to being furloughed for quite some time and getting lots of painting done, for the Painting Challenge instead of sitting in doors watching the TV and annoying the Mrs! Not sure I'll top 90 posts this year, but I'll give it a go, for sure.

Blogger numbers are definitely down again in 2021, I received 152000 visits, the no 1 place visitors came from was the US, followed by Sweden? Yeh Sweden? The 5th most popular was Russia, wonder if they were all our favourite bot sites?

My top 5 most popular post from 2021 are as follows....

1. Salute 2021 The Pics

2.SELWG 2021

2. The Battle of Bruk auf der Leitha

4. The Battle at Alara River

5. Imperialist Infantry 1683

Gotta say I'm pleased to see 3 of the 4 games I played make it in the top 5, the other The Battle of Chatham came in 6th. 

But even better was some of my figures made the top 5. The luvvly grey uniformed regt Baden-Baden in the Austrian Imperialist army for my Battle of Vienna 1683 project.

So onto 2022....

Pretty boring really, much of the same I'm afraid. I've entered the Analogue Hobbies Winter Painting Challenge once again, So it's gonna be more Donnybrook and more Haitian Revolution, with a few other bits and bobs thrown in for good measure.

I would like to start another new army but 1. Still not sure what that would be? 2. Haven't really got the dosh for a new army and 3. The Mrs would kill me!

So look out for more Donnybrook Imperialists and Poles and more Rebels and French for Haiti.

Posties organized a game in a few weeks, think its gonna be Napoleonics? So I'm looking forward to that. I know Richard wants to put on another game using his most excellent Revolutionary Wars figures and rules and I'd like to put a few games on as well, just gotta find the time that's all.....

Cheers everyone and thanks for your continued support and comments

Another 2013 Review!!

Well that's 2013 done and dusted, its been a bit of a crazy year, what with both me and Fran being made redundant from our jobs and then having to find a new ones. We've said it before and I'll say it again, we were very lucky, being able to paint at work for the majority of the last 2 years we were there. Back in June we joined the ranks of the normal gamers and painters, painting when we could, which for me was not very often and Fran's only just picked up the brush again and that's only because of the Challenge.
I had, what most would call a reasonable number of figures painted up during the year, but they were drastically down from the previous 2 years.
         
             2011             2012             2013
15mm   1546              2351            1013
20mm     119                 40                  0
25mm      24                  41                26

Buildings     0                 14                 12

My favorite unit of the year has to be The Earl of Levan's foot regt for the NYW.  (In the pic above) It's a Scots regt which you probably guessed due to their bonnets. Unfortunately its not been on the battlefield yet, but hopefully that will be remedied this year! I've added a WIP in 2013 page above, so if you're interested give it a look.
I counted up the number of games I had this year and was quite surprised that it was a lowly 13???? Which I'm very disappointed in, If I was to make a New Years Resolution (which I'm not?) It'd be to get a few more games in this year, and to put on more myself.
My most memorable game was back in January the ACW game The Battle of Snake Hill, the Union gave the dirty Rebs a sound beating, Fran being a dirty Reb made it all the more delightful!

My personal highlight of the year was The Rejects game The Battle of the Boyne at Broadside in June. It was a lot of hard work, but well worth it.

Another highlight was my and Fran's adventure up in the Northern wilderness known to some as Nottingham for the first ever Blog-Con, there we met up with several fellow nutters, for a weekend of fun, pi$$ taking and games! Also loads of Badger baiting!!

Not many down sides, I've already mentioned the loss of our painting heaven job, the only other was me and Postie having figures pinched from the Bring and Buy at Cavalier in Tonbridge back in February.......not a happy bunny!!


Plans for 2014

Afraid there are no real plans for 2014 except, get as many figures painted as I can! As you may have read now own Richard's NYW French army, which will be expanded, and will hopefully be finished by March. I'd like to get my Flodden army and FIW skirmish figures completed, but I won't hold my breath!!. I will be buying the new League of Augsberg skirmish ruleset Donnybrook when they're released this month and I may have to bite the bullet and buy some 25mm Warfare minis.....oh my wallet!!!!! I swore blind I'd never buy into another 25mm period, but as its a small skirmish game I may just go for it!!

WIP in 2012 A Review

The first painted unit of 2012

2012 was a very busy but successful year on the painting table for me, I managed to knock the guts out of my Nine Years War project and only have a few bits and bobs left to paint. Truthfully I don't really need anymore, but I must have got a little excited with my last Essex order so I may as well paint them up. I can't believe I'm actually going to finish a project. I've never managed that before.
In May I finished the last of Posties massive Russo-Japanese project and they've not seen the light of day yet!
Fast forward to November myself and Postie started up Battleaxe painting service, we've so far had 2 smallish commissions and are still waiting for a big one!
Anyway I'm quite pleased with the final numbers that were painted which are
    2012                          2011
15mm - 2351             15mm - 1546
20mm -    40              20mm -   119
25mm -    41              25mm -     24
Buildings -14

So as you can see I've far out-down last years totals
I'm not sure what 2013 holds for me, as myself and Fran will be losing our jobs pretty soon, so the painting will be hit hard, as we both re-join the real world!! boo bloody hoo!


15mm

NYW
Commanders
Schomburg and Schomburg x 6 - Link
Caillmotte and Ellenburg x  5 - Link
English
Horse
John Coy's Horse x 12 - Link
1st troop of Horse Grenadiers x 6 - Link
Sir John Lanier's Horse x 12 - Link
Foot
de la Meloniere Huguenot foot regt x 21 - Link
Du Cambon Huguenot foot regt x 21 - Link
La Caillmotte Huguenot foot regt x 21 - Link
Fitzharding's Dragoons Horse holders x 6 - Link
Earl of Bath's x 21 - Link
Sir John Hanmar's x 21 - Link
St John's x 21 - Link
Danish
Danish Foot Guard x 18 - Link
Dutch
Garde du Corps Horse x 12 -Link
Brandenburg Foot x 21 - Link
Nassau Saarbruken foot x 21 - Link
Jacobites
Horse
King James' Lifeguard  2 Squadrons x 12 - Link
Earl of Tyrconnel's Horse x 12 - Link
Sutherland's Horse x 12 - Link
Commanders
James II, Tyconnel & Lauzan x 10 - Link
Sheldon, Hamilton and Sarsfield x 4 - Link
Dorrington, Boissleau and Berwick x 4 - Link
Dragoons
Lord Clare's Dragoons x 12 plus 12 dismounted - Link
Lord Dongan's Dragoons x 12 plus 10 dismounted - Link
Foot
Boisseleau's Foot 1st and 2nd Battalion - Link
Earl of Clanricarde's Foot x 18 - Link
Earl of Antrim's Foot x 18 - Link
King James' Foot Guards x 42 - Link
Lord Bellew's Foot x 18 - Link
The Lord Grand Prior's Foot x 18 - Link
Maurice Eustace's foot x 18 - Link
Lord Louth's foot x 21 - Link
Irish Raperees x 24 - Link
Jacobite artillery and crew x 19 - Link
They all add up to a mighty 683 NYW figures, I must be keeping Essex Miniatures in Teabags!

FIW
French casualties x 15 - Link
British Work party x 14 - Link
English Wagons and Caissons x 10 - Link
English Artillery and Limbers x 16 - Link
French Artillery and Limbers x 11 - Link
Civilians x 58 Link
Quebec Militia x 20 Link
Indians x 30 - Link
Indians x 48 Link
Corps de Cavalrie x 10 - Link
Dismounted Corps de Cavalrie x 10 - Link
English Generals x 6 - Link
Royal Artillerymen x 16 - Link
Woodland Indian Villagers x 32 - Link
60th Royal American Foot x 36 - Link
The FIW was again put on the back-burner, with only 446 figures painted, but still a great number.

WSS
15mm Generals x 3 - Link
6 Generals painted up for Battleaxe Painting service

Russo-Japanese War
2nd Japanese Cavalry regt x 12 - Link
3rd Japanese Cavalry regt x 12 - Link
1st Japanese Cavalry regt x 12 - Link
4th Japanese Cavalry regt x 12  - Link
12th Japanese Cavalry regt x 12 - Link
Guards Cavalry regt x 12 - Link
6th Infantry 3 Battalions x 48 - Link
33rd Infantry 3 Battalions x 48 - Link
1st East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - Link
2nd East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
3rd East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
4th East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
33rd East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
34th East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
35th East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
36th East Siberian Rifle regt  3 Battalions x 48 - "
Russian Machine Gun teams x 8 - Link
Japanese Artillery x 18 - Link
Japanese Machine Gun teams x 32 - Link
Japanese and Russian Generals x 89 - Link
Russian Artillery x 24 - Link
The last of Posties yet to be used Russo-Japanese figures, I'm not quite sure how I managed to paint 1087 of these in the first 5 months of the year! I know Curt's painting Challenge pushed me a long here!!

ACW
ACW casualty marker x 64 - Link
More of Posties figures for his ACW collection, 64 figures.

Sci-Fi
Zombies x 20 - Link
Survivors x 11 - Link
Stargate SG1 x 24 - Link
Stargate Anubis Guard x 36 - Link
Zombie Survivors x 11 for Battleaxe - Not posted yet.
25mm Angel Gang - Not posted yet
Not really my thing, all of the above were painted to sell for Battleaxe.  107 figures

Fran's figs
20mm Russian Partizans x 40 - Link
Franonian Buildings x 14
15mm Zombie Horde x 21 - Link
15mm Hostages & Prisoners x 10 - Link
15mm Alien crew x 6 - Link
15mm Taliban x 28 - Link
I did a bit of painting for Fran this year 105 figures and 14 buildings.

25mm
Fran the Angry Bear - Link
Curt the Viking - Link
Botocudo Warriors x 5 - Link
Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp with Doc Holiday x 4 - Link
Viking Warlords x 2 - Link
NYW Generals x 2- Link
95th Rifles x 24 - Link
Only 41 figures this year, I think, infact I know there will be more this year!

54mm
Zulu Warriors x 4
24th Foot x 4 - Link
Well I don't plan on anymore 54mm figures but 8 is ok with me!

The last painted unit of 2012

2011 - A Review

Firstly I'd like to wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Year, to all you Waragmers out there may you all throw 6's a instead of 1's, except if your playing me of course!!


2011 was a great year for me,  I played only 19 games, which was a little disappointing, but I think I did well getting them games fitted in around the Mrs and the 4 brats!
Painting
I had a  very successful year painting in 2011, This year I've been trying to get my Nine Years War project kick started, unfortunately this put my FIW project on hold! But as you'll see by the list below, most of my painting was for other members of the Rejects, mainly the Megalomaniac Postie, and some for Fran's Operation Sealion project.

15mm

Nine Years War

English

O'Farrell's Scots Fuzileers x 21 Link

Generals x 16 Link 1 Link 2 Link 3

Fitzharding's Dragoons x 12 Link

Dismounted Fitzharding's Dragoons x 12
Clifton/Lesley's Foot  x 21 Link
Dutch
Waldeck's Horse x 12 Link
Guard de Voet x 21 Link
Heyden/Ittersom's Horse x 12 Link
Ginkel/Athlone Horse x 12  Link
Danish
Prince George Foot x 18 Link
Artillery Link

All in all 208 figures

FIW

55th Foot x 30 Link

Compagnies Franches de la Marine x 36 Link

Gorham's Rangers x 20
La Sarre x 28

The French Indian Wars took a massive bashing from the NYW and only managed 114 figures

The '45 Rebellion

Highland Cavalry x 12

John Roy Stewert's Lowland Scots x 12
James Moir of Stonywood's Lowland Scots x 12
John Gordon of Avochie's Lowland Scots x 12

These were for Postie to add to his 15mm Culloden period, which I painted years ago. 48 figures

Napoleonic 

French
French Generals x 18 Link
Russian

Dragoons of the Guard x 12 Link

Hussars of the Guard x 12 Link

Empresses Cuirassiers x 12 Link

Achtyka Hussars x 12 Link

Lithuanian Uhlans x 12 Link
Lancers of the Guard x 12

1st Jagers x 16 Link

3rd Jagers x 16

18th Jagers x 16

50th Jagers x 16

Lifeguard Uhlans x 12

Litovski Guard Infantry 3 x 16

Krenenchug Line 2 x 16

Polotsk Line 2 x 16

Ielets Line 2 x 16

Ekatermburg Line 2 x 16

Rylsk Line 2 x 16

Mormansk Line 2 x 16

Revel Line 2 x 16

Krenenchug Line 2 x 16

Russo-German Legion x 16

Russo-German Legion Jagers x 4
Russian Generals x 16 Link
8th Opelchenie x 16
9th Opelchenie x 16

An entire Russian army to go with the one he already had!!

Wurttemberg

Jagers x 16

Light Infantry x 16

Austria

Austrian Generals x 15

British

1st Dragoon Guards x 12

Hompesch Mounted Rifles x 12 Link
Engineers x 36

Prussian

1st Pommarianian Landwehr x 16

2nd Pommarianian Landwehr x 16
Spanish
Pioneers x 12 Link

These fine fellows as you can see took up most of my time as you can imagine, I would have liked to put more pics up of these and may well do so, during 2012.  828 figures

Pirates 

Assorted Pirates x 42 Link

Once again for Mr Postie, for his War of 1812 project, 42 figs

Russo-Japanese War
Russian Infantry x 60
Japanese Infantry x 64
Russian Infantry x 74
Japanese Infantry x 60

Posties newest project, (yes another one!!) 258 figures

Sudan Wars 

Sudanese Cavalry x 12

Sudanese Camalry x 12

Topping up another one of Posties projects, 48 figures

As poor Fran was in a, "I don't want to paint a figure ever again!!!!", frame of mind, (typical Lurker behaviour!!) he asked me to help kick start his Operation Sealion project, which I did. 119 figures

WWII 20mm

German

Officers x 5

BMW Motorbikes and riders x 4 Link

Fallschirmjagers x 77 Link, Link 2
Kreigsmarine x 16 Link
British

Royal Navy Landing Party x  6 Link
MP's and Motorbikes x 7
Generals x 5 Link
2 Mortar Teams x 8
2 HMG teams x 8 
Drivers x 4
Infantry x 45
25mm  

ECW

Col Richard Norton's Horse x 12 (Parl)

Can't believe these are the only 25mm I painted this year. An odd unit Postie had left in his box, for yet another one of his projects, he has a massive ECW army for both sides and we've never gamed with them!! 24 figures

So all in all that makes it 1546 15mm figures, 119 20mm figures and just 24 25mm figures.

So what's new for 2012

I don't plan (he says), for any new periods this year, I'd like to finish my FIW period and finish the rules I'm working for them as well. I've got quite a bit done already, but still want to paint far much more than I really need. 
On to the NYW project, as some of you already now, Richard and myself have now had two games of BLB2, but still need a few more figures to add to the game for a bit of variety. We both concentrated on units for the Flanders side of the Grand Alliance, but with the news of a Irish Campaign scenario book being worked upon at The League of Augsberg HQ, I'll be painting up units for both sides to use in conjunction with the figures that are already painted. I volunteered The Rejects to be test dummies in testing out some scenarios for the book, which I'm very much looking forward too!!!


This year myself and Fran, have been invited by Paul Darnell of Battles in Miniature, to Salute on 21st April and play, "A Raid on the Atlantic Wall by British Commandos", a WW2 skirmish game. Which were very much looking forward too!!! So if you see two fat blokes with glasses, one with ginger hair and the other an Elvis quiff, come and say hello!!!
Also I'm still in negotiations with the other Rejects about us as a group perhaps putting on a game at a show ourselves, I was invited by Leofwine Wargamerson, (surely not his real name, he heh! at least I hope not??), the Chairman of Milton Hundred Wargames Club, to put on a game at their show Broadside, on 10th June. so fingers crossed we may be there!!!!


Lastly I finally finished basing up some figures and sent off some pics to Curt for the Analouge Hobbies Painting Challenge. The French Infantry Regt La Sarre and a model of Fran the Angry Bear. Bothe these will appear on my blog in the coming weeks, but there's a sneak preview below.
I've been extremely busy these past few days, and I'll be sending some more pics off to Curt soon, some FIW casualty markers and some Russian Resistance fighters for Fran's Operation Sealion.


Well that's all folks!!


Ray

La Sarre

Fran, the Angry Bear