Sunday 6 April 2014

Clearing the Decks!

Introduction

We're going to Salute this year!  My boys and I will be visiting London for a few nights to do a little sight-seeing and to visit the biggest single-day wargaming event in the world.  It'll be quite the adventure for them, I think!

It's not the first time that I've ever been to Salute, but it will be the first time since I moved back to Scotland in 2001.  When I lived in Bristol, London was just a 2 hour train ride away and I would occasionally go there.  The last time I went to Salute, the show give-away was a Warlords "Demon Dice".  A few moments on Google suggests that this must have been the year 2000, so quite a few years ago...

Clearing the Decks

Now, here's a problem.  My workbench is already full of clutter and I think it's just possible that I might want to buy some fresh toys at the show next week.  There won't be anywhere to put new purchases!

I've tried to spend much of this last week in knuckling down and painting some of my existing models.  If I'm successful then that would free up some space.  I don't think it'll be enough, mind you, but I've got to try...

So, here are the results of my recent labours so far:

Actually, these figures aren't recently painted.  Rather, they're samples of previous work; I've got them out whilst painting more figures for the same forces so that I can match the styles and colours.  At least they don't need any finishing off before they can be put back into storage.

This quartet are almost done.  I need to add some grass to the bases and then varnish the models.  Neither of those tasks is very onerous, though it will probably take a day or two for the glue and sealant to dry.

This pair are a little further off from complete, as both lack some minor detailing.  The armed zombie needs the base to be finished, whilst the cavalier will get work on the hair and hat.  I should be able to complete both models without too much difficulty, I think.

Slightly more effort will go into the next trio.  Although large parts of these models are finished, they have a substantial number of details still to do.  Bases, shirt & tie, shields, swords, helmets, hair...

This group are even further behind.  They have most of their block colours done, but not all the big areas are textured, washed or shaded.  Obviously, details that sit on top of the block costume colours (belts, mostly) haven't been started either.

Finally, I might struggle to finish this set before Salute.  They have some of their base colours, but there are still large patches of undercoat, or perhaps colours that I'm thinking of changing.  Still, they are a long way from "just under-coated" and there is at least a slim chance that I'll paint them in the next 3 days.

Maybe I should just get on with the job, rather than sitting here writing about it?!

12 comments:

  1. That's great news Hugh! I'll be there as well, so perhaps we'll be able to meet up?

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    1. Yes, maybe. Clint's comment (below) suggests 1pm for all (?) bloggers to meet up. Failing that, I should be easy to spot :-) .

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  2. Don't forget the bloggers meet up at 1pm at Salute. Hope to see you there.
    We all have things we ain to finish to start again fresh after Salute........ I think you are closer to succeeding than I am!

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    1. That would be great. Is there a particular location for this meeting? It's a big show...

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  3. Oh, I'm really sorry I'm gonna miss it this year!
    It's interesting to see your approach to painting, I hate having things half done on my table (except for sculpting, but that's a long term thing anyway) and I can never paint more than one group of miniatures at a time.

    As for putting stuff somewhere, you can always put in in a drawer like I did with most of my last year's haul...the time passes by so fast :(

    And hey, I can see a dragon there!

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    1. Ah, I have so many things already part-painted. I made myself a rule a while ago that once something was put on the painting table then it would stay there until finished (no more shuffling incomplete models off into boxes!)

      Yes, there is a small skeletal dragon on the workbench. He/she is destined for my undead army for Hordes of the Things, though I've not made any progress on the beast for a long time. The model is really a bit smaller than I wanted for this purpose.

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  4. Awesome have a great time! Darn I was going this year but events have conspired against me!

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    1. It's going to be quite something, I think. I've done such events in the past, but that was pretty much B.C.E. (Before Children and Everything). Not a trip I make every year!

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  5. A fying critter, motorbikes and a lot of things in-betwwen - I spy westerners, moderns, saxons or maybe vikings, 17th century guys, an ancient flautist and a Sci-fi dude (for TRWNN, ATZ,SAGA, Witchfinder, Jason Warhammer or Doctor Who maybe) - that's one helluva diverse lot, so I'm going with you having the idea that variety is the spice of life !
    Good luck with finishing all these reinforcements and have a great time at Salute. Mt one and only visit to a Salute was many years before your own, but still great.

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    1. You've pretty much listed everything that is visible, I think :-) , though you may have missed the DreadBall teams in the small plastic box (upper centre). And even this isn't the full range of periods and genres that I'm covering. I think I may be stretched too thin...

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  6. I love to see other folk's painting tables. They always make me jealous of the amount of space they have. Best of luck on "clearing the decks" and making space for your new stuff. I hope you and the kids have a great time. I'm only sorry I can't make it to Salute.

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    1. Thanks, Bryan - although I wouldn't have described my workspace as particularly large. If yours is less than this then I really feel for you :-( !

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