8 a week, that's all we ask

I have always had the attention span of a moth when it comes to painting. Even this blog shows my fluttering from one project to the next. but what if...

What if I could paint just 8 figures a week. in a year I would have over 400 figures painted. can you imagine such a thing. I might actually have enough figures to play a real game!

So here is my challenge 8-10 figures a week for the next year. I think I can do it. 6 weeks down only 46 to go! So here are this weeks 10 figures. more old glory Fusiliers. for a total of 6 weeks, 48 figures.

This weeks figs

I am turning into a veritable painting machine! I have never had output like this before. in fact in the 20 + years, 24 to be precise, this is the most I have ever painted including 15's! So enough self congratulations here is this week's French. 10 more old glory Fusiliers for a total of 38 figures in the last month.

I think one thing that has really helped is painting while listening to podcast. These seem to work much better at keeping me engaged and focused than music. And what better podcast then the Napoleon podcast. There are 50+ episodes lasting from 1-1/12 hours long and while I don't agree with everything they say.( I find the hosts to be rather Bonapartists) they are lively and and fun discussions.

1st battalion 40eme Ligne

First battalion is finshed sans the elite companies. with the pre 1808 organization of 7 line fusiler companies and 2 elite companies. a total of 36 figures.

I am going to do a historic organization and have chosen General (The future Marshal) Suchet divsion in Marshal Lannes V corps. A hard fighting corps that was in the thick of things at both Austerlitz and Jena it also was involved at Saalfeld.

And yet more French

Something is wrong, more finished French, what is happening to me, I am actually painting! Here are this weeks 9 painted figures. in 3 weeks 28 figures painted, enough for a whole battalion. Crazy.

A score on Ebay!

I have been going to used books stores since I was a little kid. The fun of the hunt and the thrill of the not knowing what you will find has always been a great part of the experience. I have had lots of great finds but one of my all time best coups came today.

With the start of the Internet most things are a click away. the fun of mystery has been replaced with the knowledge that any thing I can think of is probably available if I want to spend enough money.

Trolling through ebay I spotted a copy of David Chandlers campaigns of Napoleon for sale. I have always wanted a copy but it is generally in the $30-60 range. I have been to cheap to pick it up.

so imagine my surprise when I found a copy on the buy it now list for $19.00! and today it arrived. a near mint first edition! with a great dust jacket. life is good.

More French

Well, those that paint certainly know the dreaded doldrums when nothing is interesting and there is no motivation fora period. but I am having the opposite effect with the wind at my back and the excitement of painting is making it fun again. here are the latest finished figures. once again old glory 28mm French pre-1807. I really enjoy these figures. Great fun and lots of variation.

With all of the new Nap rules on the market it is something of a renaissance for Nap gaming. I am going to base these 4 figures to a base with what seems to be an emerging standard of 40mmx40mm bases. 1 stand per company. this will allow me to use either the rank and file rules by crusader or black powder of general de brigade. all of which I own. I will wait until the last 9 are finished before basing them. current total 19 figures done in 2 weeks. wow, that's something of a freakin record for me!

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In praise of Old Glory

I have seen a lot of postings on sites bashing old Glory by people that do not like them . First, I have to say to a large degree figure beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Anyone remember the old mikes models? They where definitely in the eye of the beholder. and if you don't like OG ,then you don't. However, I have to say I am generaly impressed with what I order. The Boer war line I felt was solid. Thier 1812 range I loved. Here are some napoleonic French pre 1807. When I first got these I was not really impressed with them and they sat on a shelf for the last several months. I finally pulled them out and am glad I did. they really painted up well and have a lot of character. I really love the NCO with the pipe in his hat and the bareheaded guy showing his war face ...ahhh. and in a day and age when 28mm guys are $1.90 to 2.30 apiece these are less then $1.00 apiece.

My long suffering wife ordered a small saxon army for me for my birthday. I have long wanted to do an 1806 campaign. so here are the first.