Quarter 1 Week 11 Update: From the Jaws of Defeat!

Another week, another half Roman, half renaissance man on a horse. Welcome back to Hammer the Backlog, the weekly mini painting, accountability and productivity blog all about staying up late and getting up early to make sure you get all of your toy soldiers painted!

That all might sound a little bit dramatic, but with only two more full weeks to go this quarter and loads still to do, the crunch has well and truly hit me hard this week. So to add to that I also took a nice little three day holiday to Dingle with my lovely lady. As I am typing this I can confidently say that this week’s models are about 60% done, and I am going to be spending the rest of the evening getting them finished off to an acceptable standard. 

Since I have already made up this week’s scorecard, there can be no excuses! So if this week’s blog publishes at 11:59 on Thursday, you will know why!

SCORECARD

Despite the crunch (or because of it?) I managed to get a week in the green this week. Counting Bronzino on his horse as three models of effort and his two crewmen as 1 each, that is five models painted. At week 11, that gives me next week to paint the gun itself (2 points) and the crewman on horse pulling it (3 points). That will make the Dogs of War commitment for the quarter 100% complete. Hopefully I will then have the time to paint some bits and bobs in week 13, but I may well have to sacrifice my beloved bits and bobs week to finish the two battle report videos and get the end of quarter review/ next quarter planning video done for youtube.

If nothing else, this quarter has taught me that I have reached the limit of the scope for Hammer the Backlog. Without some major changes in my life (i.e becoming full time “fun”employed) I can’t keep adding new aspects to the project. So, model painting, instagram and youtube are my limits for the moment. I had half considered streaming too, as well as maybe making tutorial videos, but all of that can go on the back burner for future years.

THIS WEEK’S MODELS

It was a bloomin close one this week. Although all of the base colours were at least on the models before Thursday, I did spend all of this evening until about 20 minutes ago getting enough highlights and details onto these guys to call them done.

Bronzino himself is such a characterful model. A renaissance era set of armour, cosplaying as a roman legionnaire on horseback, with a peg leg! What more could you ask for? Maybe a big shouty expression and a red face! You’ve got it!

I went for a dark reddy metal again on this guy, once again bringing out my beloved chestnut ink. The official model uses a much more neutral brown as the recess shade, which I think also looks nice. But having his armour the same colour and style as my general makes his fit in with the overall scheme nicely.

The crewmen are great little models, running along after the gun carrying their supplies. The official scheme of green and cool white already works with my army, so there was basically nothing to change.

Basing them up with my usual medium sand and loren forest bases and they are ready to join the rest of the force. They look a bit sad at the moment without their all important gun, but that will be rectified next week.

THE DOGS OF WAR SO FAR

Here’s a quick look at the Dogs of War so far, minus the gun crew until their gun is ready.

This quarter feels like it has absolutely flown by, I must say. Bearing in mind in didn’t actually paint the dragon this quarter, but I did paint three weeks’ worth of Lizardmen command models for the battle reports!

NOSTALGIA

Since I finished the 5th edition starter set, expanded on the fifth edition starter armies with lizardmen command groups and grail knights, bought a few 5th edition army books, built a 5th edition Dogs of War army and recorded two 5th edition videos, I think it is safe to say I am a 5th edition fan, for the time being at least.

Being that focussed on an edition which has such clear start and end dates has some big advantages. For example, I know every White Dwarf which has interesting and relevant content for my favoured era. 

I was lucky enough to have a bit of time to visit The Gathering in Limerick this week, where I picked up a nice little bundle of second hand White Dwarfs from this era. Of particular interest are the launch issue for the Dogs of War, the issue with the rules for Lumpin Croop’s Fighting Cocks and everyone’s new favourite Bretonnina themed game, Full Tilt (Sadly, without the buildings and tokens). They are a lovely bunch of lads down at the Gathering, well worth a visit if you get the chance.

Well, lookit, I better get back to painting so that everything I’ve just written there isn’t a big lie! 

Thanks for reading all of this, you’re the best eggs!