Half Yearly Wrap-up

Well the first half year has just flown by. As always for me at this time it is time to recap on the hobby work year to date.

 

This year has seen a bit of slowdown in actual figure work, in part because of a need to divert funds to pay for some other projects (holidays, home appliance replacements, etc) and in part because the really big projects like last year’s Crimean War and Carlist Wars projects have been completed (albeit for a few additions intended later this year to the Crimean War armies).

 

Much of the year’s focus has been on the preparation for our annual Tarawera weekend, of which the WWI in East Africa project is a part, and the desire to complete the Napoleonic Russians. Also completed is a small collection of Retreat from Moscow troops for my amusement that just proved irresistible. A slight diversion into Vikings and Saxons has added a little variety.

 

So what has been completed in the first half of the year?

 

Napoleonic Russians (Summer Dress)

8 x Mounted generalsJ

148 x Line Infantry

4 Guns and 8 crew

24 x Dragoons

 

Napoleonic Russians (Winter Dress)

18 x Line Infantry

36 x Peasants

32 x Jagers

54 x Opolchenie

12 Dragoons

2 Russian Napoleonic Guns and 8 crew

1 x Russian militia gun, 3 crew and limber

6 x Militia Cavalry

 

Napoleonic French (winter dress)

12 x Chasseurs a Pied of the Guard

54 x Line Infantry

 

Dark Ages

44 x Viking Hirdsmen

44 x Saxon Thegns

40 x Generic levy

10 x Generic archers

 

WWI East Africa

48 x German Askari

2 x German Askari HMGs and 6 crew

2 x German Askari artillery and 8 crew

1 x German foot officer

3 x German Mounted 

1 x Pom Pom Gun and 3 crew

1 x British Naval Officer

5 x British Navy Crew

 

Buildings

2 x Russian Winter houses 

6 x Dark Ages Houses

East African garrison post

East African Plantation House

East African Plantation out building

East African store house

4 x African Village Huts

East African general store

East African hotel

East African railway station

East African Wireless Station

 

Other Scenics

WWI East African Gunboat

3 x Retreat from Moscow pieces

57 x African bush pieces

 

Consolidating all of this, the totals are:

 

589 foot figures

57 mounted figures

14 pieces of equipment

74 pieces of terrain

 

Converting this to the painting points concept (where a foot figures is worth 5 points, mounted and equipment 10 points each and then allowing 10 points for every 1 hour of work on a scratch built item) the total for the half year is 6,465 points.

 

To display this breakdown graphically:

 

This compares to last year’s half yearly total of 5,305 points. While the buildings and scenic items needed for the WWI in East Africa have contributed strongly to the increase in points, the number of figures painted is relatively similar (a difference of around 100). This proved to be a bit of a surprise given that I had forecast (and have achieved I might add) a significant drop in purchases this year.

 

So what is on the horizon? Well there are still a few outstanding items for East Africa (a couple of jungle pieces and six to eight African huts). For the Russian Napoleonics there are two regiments of cuirassiers, one of hussars, a position battery and a horse battery to be completed. For the Dark Ages there are a couple of small units of archers. That is it for existing projects.

 

As for new projects, there is the War of 1812, where I will create an American brigade. I am also being strongly drawn to the French in Egypt. There will also be a small expansion of the Crimean War armies. But perhaps the biggest project, that will commence probably in November, is sorting out my wargaming set-up at home, which will entail the creation of terrain tiles.

So far I have only managed eight games: three First Carlist War games, one Franco-Prussian, one English Civil War, one War of the Roses, one Napoleonic and one ancient naval. It has been a rather poor showing from me, largely because I gave not been available for a number of Friday night games. I must do better in the next six months.