Saturday 31 December 2016

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017...

Time once again for a What Was vs. What Might Be post. I quite enjoy reading other people's efforts in this regard and hopefully anyone who wanders past here today enjoys mine too...

So here's the obligatory annual round-up of:
  1. What I planned to do
  2. What I actually did
  3. What I didn't do
Just for once it seems parts 1 and 2 coincided. Hold on to your hats!

Finish the WFB Savage Orcs
Done and dusted! I managed to knock this one off quite early on in the piece, thanks in no small part to last year's Painting Challenge. I even managed to get an army gallery up on the blog as proof.


Finish the 40K Space Marines
Another one nailed! I added a couple of bits and pieces to the outstanding pile to boot including a bashed about Land Raider which took some repair work but now looks the business. These guys also received the army gallery treatment.


Finish the Epic Squats
Phew! I only just managed to squeeze this one in (i.e. two days ago!) but that still counts. The paint is barely dry on the last few miniatures and the army gallery will be along in the future as documentary evidence. It'll be a big one - I have nearly 9000 points worth! In the meantime here's the land train...


Finish ALL the remaining Flames of War
Done! The last couple of items have just been completed and submitted to the Challenge blog. That's the very definition of cutting it close but I made it! The biggest part of this was all the outstanding DAK infantry, support weapons and artillery.


Finish my extra Dystopian Wars Britannian ships
Another winner for dinner. Yet to get an navy gallery but finished none-the-less. I made a rod for my own back by picking up a load more of this stuff for a sing at CANCON but still managed to smash these out and finish off everything needing painting. I didn't much like the original aircraft carrier prior to painting but I'm a big fan now...


So that'a ALL FIVE major goals knocked off. I'm still pinching myself about that and wondering where on earth I found the time and focus to make it happen. If only every year was like that!

Side Projects
There was also a list of side projects in case I got bored with the above:
  • Orc Skirmish Warband
  • Frostgrave Warband
  • 40K Imperial Guard (Cadians)
  • Finish off the Necromunda collection (Delaque, Ratskins, Pit Slaves, Chaos Cultists, etc.)
  • 28mm French and Austrian Napoleonic skirmish
  • 15mm French Napoleonics
  • Runequest army for To the Strongest
  • Continue the Imagination project
Of all these only the Imagination project really got a guernsey which is hardly surprising considering. At least I did manage a good effort in that regard...




At least some of the other stuff is slated for this year's Painting Challenge so that'll put a further dent in the list.

Other work...
Lists aside, I managed to build and/or paint a fair bit of other stuff too when the "distractibility index" reached the high end of the scale.










Games & Peeps...
We had out first Antipodean Bloggers Meet-up which was great fun. If you can make it this year we'd love to see you there!


In between all the painting and modelling I happily managed to get in some cracking games with some wonderful mates. Pick of the pile was ECW with Paul and Alan...

Awwww..... Sad face!

...and Imaginations with Evan...

Awwww... Sad dice!

Plus there was plenty more with all the other C&G lads including some smashing WFB Sunday arvo games with Russ, fingernail chewing Flames of War with Cory, bloodthirsty SAGA with Nug and cracking 40K with Marcus. Thanks lads!

All up not a bad 2016. Hope yours was just a good...

Glorious Plan Millsy 2017

So what about 2017 then? This is a bit up in the air at the moment, largely because 2016 was such a raging success projects-wise. I hadn't anticipated being in a position where I have nothing major locked in. This isn't to say the lead pile is manageable (or even properly documented!) but it does leave me with options...

Warhammer Fantasy Empire
These guys have continued to amass through 2016 and I'm keen to make a start. Still thinking about colour schemes and snaffling up odd items so that might not happen but you never know.

Something new???
I've got 3-4 potential new projects rattling around in my head which have been on hold while I whipped myself to finish other ones. I might just let myself off the leash a bit this year and hook into one of these....
  • Bolt Action Kokoda Trail in 28mm
  • 55 Days at Peking in either 28mm or 15mm
  • 6mm or 2mm pike and musket, probably ECW


So that's it for another annual wrap. Before I go there's just time to wish you a Happy New Year from Evan, myself and all the C&G lads! Thanks for popping by. We'll see you in 2017.

Cheers,
Millsy



22 comments:

  1. I wish I could report similar progress, but alas, real life has a habit of pushing all that aside, and this year has been particularly hectic in this regard!

    As always, I can only reiterate my esteemed blolleague's best wishes to all our friends and followers. Happy New 2017, and let's hope it's a better one!

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  2. Top year. Always wanted to do 55 days in Peking, but a fantasy version. Can i suggest Studio Miniatures Marines as a start

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  3. A very productive 2016 - another vote for 55 days at Peking

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  4. A very productive and successful year Millsy! May 2017 be just as successful and productive :)

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  5. Well done old boy, you really put in the effort throughout the year producing fantastic results.
    Would luv to see your Bolt Action Kokoda Trail in 28mm project come to life.
    All the best for the New Year!
    Guido.

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  6. Fantastic year all round then mate - great to meet up a few times and play with your lovey ECW toys. See you at Cancon again next month!

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  7. A very productive year to get your main projects completed

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  8. Productive and effective, some wonderful realisations...such as DAK army, superb!

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  9. great review Millsy and boy did you score well on the project-ladder! On to an even more successful 2017!

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  10. What a tremendous year Millsy, it has been such a delight watching your progress. "I've got 3-4 potential new projects rattling around in my head", really? Only 3-4? :)

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    1. Funny you should mention that Sir Michael. I remembered a couple more not long after posting! :-)

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  11. Your 2016 was really splendid hobbywise!

    Enjoy New Year's Eve and have a temendous 2017 !

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  12. You really had a great year! It was a pleasure watching you pound through all of these projects. I look forward to seeing what 2017 has in store for you.

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  13. Fantastic work , and an absolutely incredible output for the whole year, Millsy. Really inspiring - particularly that incredible, amazing Motte & Bailey castle. Have a great new year, and look forward to catching up in 2017.

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  14. An awesomely productive year, Millsy. Remember to keep that Motte and Bailey for me to pick up... ;)

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  15. An awesome 2016 alright , hoping you knock it out the park on 2017

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  16. Such a tremendous output! Your 2017 should be exciting as well, with Empire leading the way. (and maybe it will even encourage me to paint some of mine!)

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  17. Great output! Excellent work :)

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