2013 Year Ending - My Hobby Review

And so 2013 is soon coming to an end. This will be my last post of this year. The year like last seems to have flown by. Maybe its just that I'm getting old or something.

Much like I did last year, I have decided to do a sort of summary and a comparison of sorts. So I pulled up that post and took a look at it. Numbers are fascinating sometimes, must be the engineer in me, I continued the Hobby Activity Log you can see on the right. The final tally:

                                        2013     2012     2011

Models Built/Converted: 258       258         225

Models Painted:               161        46           74

Models Purchased:           225      181         191

Tournaments Played:          3          5              4

Go-Kart Races Entered:     59       72             11

I don't know how I did that Models Built/Converted. I stepped up the painting a bit, with the help of a lot of Vikings, that I have yet to get a good camera to take pictures of and post on the blog. I somehow purchased more models, and the majority this year were not Games Workshop models, but were Gripping Beast once again. I played less, due mostly in part to the closing of our local game place and openning of one that I really cannot afford to be seen in. I somehow raced fewer races but attended more racing events. I most have lost count somewhere, but I did injure my back and busted up a hand pretty bad over the summer.

Now as I have said before, this was not intended to stroke my ego, but was more intended as a motivator and budget type of thing for myself. I have learned a lot by intentionally doing this. I started the blog back in April of 2009 and prior to that spent tons of time posting on forums. I believe it has capped some of my spending. My gameplay has dropped considerably, because of not going anywhere to play and then I'm racing during the best time of the year to be outside. I converted less minis, but built a ton of models mainly because of my work on Historical armies and the large size of them. My painting is lagging behind again.

Last year I raced the full season locally on the oval in the modern left turn only (LTO) racing go-kart, and won the track championship. This year I missed a 6 races on the oval and finished 5th in the points, with a few 2nd place finishes in the Feature races, but no win on the oval. That did not surprise me as I was more focused on the sprint tracks and vintage karting, and it took probably a month on the oval just get our new chassis figured out. I jumped into the vintage kart for some sprint track (similar to roading racing but a smaller scale) and won the at Springfield, which was extremely cool. My dad and I were pretty successful in the Vintage karts win 4 out of the 5 events this season and finishing 1-2 at our home state track. I also raced in my first grand prix street race, something that I will never forget.

Two tournaments played at Adepticon last spring in Warhammer Ancient Battles. I played the singles with my Vikings played pretty well. Then I teamed Mike Butcher, my Vikings with his Saxons, and we played well. That was good fun.

As for the blog, today we are at 278 followers compared to 254 followers last year at this time, and the blog had 181 followers in 2011, that has increased gradually, as I suspected it would. My blog list is growing, and my forum activity has decreased drastically and probably will continue to decrease even more.

I continued to develop my Youtube Channel which the videos are all about my racing. I added a helmet camera which turned out to be a great thing for my family and friends and I. Much of my family and friends cannot attend the races, especially the out of state ones and this has given them a cool experience. Its also helped me as a driver. So I purchased another camera that should have a bit better video, but I have yet to use it on track. I also started up a Facebook page for my race team, that will help with separating the miniature hobby from the racing hobby. Which I'm sure many of you are in favor of. But please take the time to "Like" our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Welte-Racing/505442252871148?ref=tn_tnmn
It helps with us attracting sponsors and such.

　

TOP TEN POST LIST:

2012 had the top ten viewed posts as:
#1 - FireForge Games - Teutonic Knights Review: 5,224

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/03/fireforge-games-teutonic-knights-kit.html

#2 - Nurgle infested Chaos Space Marine: 4,063

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/06/nurgle-infested-chaos-space-marine.html

#3 - Chaos Warriors to Chaos Space Marine: 3,518

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/07/chaos-warrior-to-chaos-space-marine.html

#4 - Gripping Beast Plastic Viking Hirdmem Review: 3,332

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/gripping-beast-plastic-viking-hirdmen.html

#5 - Something Different....Skaven War Litter: 3,058

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/06/something-differentskaven-war-litter.html

#6 - My Chaos Warrior Unit Beginning to take shape: 2,548

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-chaos-warrior-unit-beginning-to-take.html

#7 - Boba Fett Space Marine Conversion: 2,495

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/06/boba-fett-space-marine-conversion.html

#8 - Old Stuff Wednesday - July - Pre-Heresy Iron Warrior: 2,210

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/07/old-stuff-wednesday-julypre-heresy-iron.html

#9 - Space Wolf Scout Conversions: 2,105

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/space-wolf-scout-conversionsusing-chaos.html

#10 - Khorne Chaos Space Marine Conversion: 1,590

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/07/khorne-chaos-space-marine.html



So 2013 has the Top Ten posts as follows:

#1 - FireForge Games - Teutonic Knights Review: 8,261

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/03/fireforge-games-teutonic-knights-kit.html

#2 - Gripping Beast Plastic Viking Hirdmem Review: 5,640

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/gripping-beast-plastic-viking-hirdmen.html

#3 - Nurgle infested Chaos Space Marine: 4,726

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/06/nurgle-infested-chaos-space-marine.html

#4 - Chaos Warriors to Chaos Space Marine: 4,318

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/07/chaos-warrior-to-chaos-space-marine.html

#5 - Something Different....Skaven War Litter: 3,559

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/06/something-differentskaven-war-litter.html

#6 - My Chaos Warrior Unit Beginning to take shape: 3,500

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-chaos-warrior-unit-beginning-to-take.html

#7 - Old Stuff Wednesday - July - Pre-Heresy Iron Warrior: 3,238

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/07/old-stuff-wednesday-julypre-heresy-iron.html

#8 - Boba Fett Space Marine Conversion: 3,040

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/06/boba-fett-space-marine-conversion.html

#9 - Green Stuff Cloth Tutorial: 2,995

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/green-stuff-cloth-tutorial-space.html

#10 - Space Wolf Scout Conversions: 2,944

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/space-wolf-scout-conversionsusing-chaos.html

It appears people really liked looking at my review takes. I’ve been quite surprised by that. The other thing that is always shown is the popularity of Warhammer 40k, it is really quite unquestionably the most popular of the gaming systems and I really have not done anything in 40k for years. My Old Stuff Wednesdays are certainly popular as ever also, as they are routinely high in hits on a monthly basis, even though only one is in the Top 10, there are a number that are just outside of the top ten. And one of my tutorials climbed in to the top ten for the first time.

So there you have it once again, my blog. Good bye to 2013.

I am very much open to suggestions that you the readers may have, I don’t always ignore them.

WIP On the Desk: Chaos Spawn

Been awhile since I have painted any chaos and love of spawns returned me to the Chaos.  I often name the spawns something stupid, not sure what I will name this one, so if you have a suggestion, post it. 

 On this one I went a bit wild with the tentacles.  I had thought about painting them in a fleshy color and then thought they should have a bit of red in them.  So I used the Reaper Master Series Rosy Skin palate with Vallejo Model Color Red on the tentacles.  I went back over that with a GW wash.

I still have a bit to do on the model, still have the hooves, the axe, the pupils, gloss the eyeballs, blood effect on the head, along with the head's beard.  It's a fun model.

And while painting up the horns I put some finishing touches on this Centurion.  The Foundry models are so easy to paint, so smooth, with self-explanatory details.

 I think this Centurion is turning out very nice.  One I'm done with him and his Roman brethren, I'm going to be auctioning them off on Ebay.  The armor was 3-4 metallics and then washed with Secret Weapon's Soft Body Black.  Still have a few little details left on this model.

This batch is nearing completion, then I will move onto the next batch of 25 models or so, probably a bunch of Holy Crusaders, more Vikings and a big batch of Foundry Legionnaires.

Hope you all had a good Christmas.

WIP on the Paint Desk: Vikings, Romans, Chaos Spawn, Crusader, etc

Well really did not do anything tonight except paint a few rosy highlights, did nothing on these the last two nights, so its essentially what I managed to get done Sunday night.  A sort of grab bag of miniatures.

At this point most all of the colors are done, except for the Spawn and one of the Romans.  I've yet to do any washes to deaden the metals and get into the shadows and recessed areas.

The above mini is one of my new berserkers, a conversion of Warlord Games Barbarian.  I'm glad that I have begun to add a bit more rosy-ness to my fleshtones. I think its adding a lot more depth.

And below next to the berserker is another of the Warlord Barbarians done up as a Viking.  This one will go on the base with one of the Old Glory minis.  No shields yet, will do all of those later.

Below is one of the big batch of Foundry Romans.  They are pretty easy to paint, decent looking sculpts.  I'll be selling all of the Romans when I am done with them.

That's it for now, next up will be the washes, eyeballs, bases, blood, death and details.  Getting closer to having this batch done.

Saxon Lord Conversion

So what's the big deal, the Saxon character comes with a cape.  Well yea they have one or two capes in the kit.  Problem is that I'm using them for other things.  So back to Fire Forge bits box.

I simply cut off the neck area on the cap and adhered the cape to the Saxon body.  Got out the Greenstuff and redid the neck area.

And WHAMMO! A simple converted lord model.

WIP Off the Desk: Saxons, Barbarians, Chaos, Dwarves?, Vikings, Oh My

 Finally cleared these two hordes of figures off of my desk.  Got around to basing all of them, ready for primer after clear the other table of painted minis.  And THERE ARE STILL MINIATURES ON MY TABLE!!

I think its around 75 Saxons and Vikings, along with the other stuff, and my two very large movement trays for chaos stuff.

WIP On the Desk: SAGA, Vikings, and Romans

Injured my lower back last week, so I'm slowly getting to things, as I cannot tolerate sitting very long.  I've had a batch of Vikings sitting on my desk for a couple of months, and I have a whole lot of stuff that is in primer.

So I grabbed a variety of things and started in painting, basically at this point I'm just blocking in the colors and getting some highlights established.  Next up I'll establish all of the flesh tones, which are about 9-10 colors on the faces. 

New Warhammer Demon WIP for my Khorne Army

 Since I built my Khorne Demon army I've only made one addition to the army and that was a unit of OOP Blood Letters, the old beefed up metal models.  I've had this model setting on my desk for a quite a long time.

The ole Belakor model.  I thought it would look pretty cool in the army and have wanted to paint it for quite some time.  So I think it will make a cool addition.  I did not do any conversion work on it.  My old army is all mounted on smooth faux blood pool bases.  To prep the base, I sanded and shaved all of the relief off it.

Back when I built the army, I used pieces of cut up plasti-card for the bits of land, covered in HO Scale railroad ballast.  I had also added heads and demonic looking hands in the blood pools.

Angus Donald: Holy Warrior

I recently finished up reading Holy Warrior by Angus Donald, his second novel following the exploits of Robin Hood.  I'm someone that loves reading about the Crusades and have read a number of things on King Richard and the 3rd Crusade.  Angus has an interesting take on this Crusade with the twist of Robin the Earl of Locksely following Richard on crusade.  Its an interesting take on Robin Hood, refreshing to me.  In reality the story is more about Alan of Dale than of Robin Hood.  Is it great writing, probably not, but it was still enjoyable, and I think I will read the next book in the series.  And it does have a bit of historical note to it, even though it is fiction, and I like this period quite a bit.

What will I read next?  I'm not sure, I have no new books sitting on my shelf for the first time in many years.   I normally have a huge back log of things to read.  I'll have to figure that out.

Additional Viking Warriors for Saga, more conversions

 Well all except for the guy on the far right above.  That model is for objectives, since he is bound in chains.  You will see me using some capes which come from a Fire Forge box set.  I have blended the capes around to the front of the models.  The capes are flowing and definitely not something that I would use in my rank and file armies, but will add a nice dynamic to the SAGA models.

Old Stuff Wednesday - December: Butcher's Nurgle versus the Cerulean Templars

 I don't really remember when I had taken these, but its was in one of those classic battles between my Cerulean Templars and Mike Butcher's horde of Nurgle.

Very cool old stuff.

More Saga Viking Warrior conversions

So much like the first batch, this second batch got the hair treatment.

 I also added some pouches with green stuff.  Below is close up of some of the hair.  If you don't rush the joins at the shoulders, you should not have to do what I did with the GS smoothing.

WIP Viking Saga Warriors, Batch #1

The Gripping Beast plastic Dark Ages Figures are pretty cool.  They could be better though.  So thinking about what I needed to do for Bondi, Saxon Fryd, and such to make some SAGA warriors, I decided to add a number of things.  Most of the spear models are coming from my Saxon and Bondi rank and file models, but I also wanted to have some modeled with hand weapons for SAGA. 

And like the hearthguard I decided to model up a bunch with hair.  Then I had some capes from Fire Forge's knights to use also.  Why stop there, might as well add some fur.  You will also notice that the GBP Viking heads work with the Dark Age plastic models also.

My Second Batch of Saga Vikings

Not as much conversion work on this batch.  I did change out some of the clumsy looking hands on the Gripping Beast models.  These will fit in well.  I'm also basing everything in 20 mm squares, as I still want to use them in WAB and CoE, so no round bases for me.

Have a good Thanksgiving.

SAGA Fatigue Markers

I know that I'm going to need more SAGA Fatigue markers and stuff for marking in CoE, but this should be a good start.  These are Old Glory minis, I originally was going to use them on my movement trays, but they are just too small in scale.  More like 25mm scale.  Does not work well with the GB minis.

SAGA...My Viking Hearthguard begins to form up

This it the first batch of minis that I plan to use in my Hearthguards for Vikings, Jomsvikings, Anglo-Danes etc.

After building a bunch of rank and file guys for my WAB/CoE army, I moved toward making these a bit more individualistic in appearance.  This is just the first group of armored hearthguard, more of them to follow.

There is a bit of a variety with the some Foundry and Warlord barbarians added in to the mix.  I decided one easy way to make these standout is to add hair, must be my like of 80s hair band music showing up again.   I can not seem to grow it on top of my head anymore so I'll put it on my Vikings.

WIP On the Desk: I see Saxon winter work

 So quite awhile ago I started building Saxons.  The last couple of nights I've spent a little bit of time getting things based up to prep for priming this huge horde of Saxons and a few other pieces.

I'll probably spend a couple of months painting these and the backlog of other miniatures that I have.

Who invited the freakin' Dwarf, oh I guess he is one of the cool dwarves that I've owned for probably 10 years, think it is time it gets some paint. 

So there you are a lot of WIP.   The rest of the day will be spent on the karts.