As we enter the shadowy last two weeks of year 4 of Hammer the Backlog, join me once again to take a look at this week’s progress in the internet’s only* (may not be true) productivity, accountability and mini painting blog. The penultimate week of the year brings the last five models to be painted. Did I get them done, or are they still half painted on my desk, mocking my lack of commitment? And baldness? And that I could stand to lose about 10kg? Hey! Why is this getting so personal?
SCORECARD
Well, screw you, intro writer. Because none of those things were true. A full scorecard in the green this week, and the last little baby unit of the High Elf quarter finished. The blog may have been uploaded a little late, since there was a lot of finishing up to do this evening, but overall this was a relatively stress free week.
With the Shadow Warriors done, we can tick the quarterly target of:
One tray of high elves painted, photographed and online.
off of the list. I actually have quite a decent high elf force now, with the contents to the Island of Blood set, reinforced a little with extra ranks, a new war machine, a new elite infantry unit and a highly elite cavalry unit. If I had to guess, I would say that this puts me at about 40% of my high elf army painted. So I reckon I probably have 3-4 more trays of high elves buried away in the backlog. Year 5 maybe?
The next rock is
Year 4 Review and Year 5 Planning video online.
Which, now that I think about it, probably isn’t actually going to happen by the end of the quarter. The current plan is to bring the year 4 models into the studio this weekend to film the year 4 review video. That should then be edited by next Thursday for the end of year 4. Then, spend a week building, assembling and repairing the candidate models for the trays for Year 5. Next weekend, back to the studio for the Year 5 planning video, which I will have online in time for Week 1 of Year five. Does that all make sense? I think it does.
THIS WEEK’S MODELS
Five sinister shadow warriors this week, striking back against the sinister dark elves, from the shadows. The scheme of this unit was based on my friend Dr. Cadwell Jones’s elf urban ranger from a long since aborted DnD campaign that never got off the ground. He was described as an urban elf ranger with dark metal armour and hooded cloak, longsword and bow. I realised I could build him from the pile of shame. Although I never finished the model, he 100% inspired the look and colour scheme of these models.
One change I did make was to make the very bottom layer of their cloth armour white. This shows that deep down, under all of that dark and brooding, they are still noble high elves.
I am disproportionately happy with how these turned out. They are great, characterful, energetic models with just the right amount of detail to tickle my wickle.I think the female elf has a dark eldar head? Why? Dunno. 2012 Mick obviously had something in mind, but damned if I know what it was.
I think shadow warriors are my favourite high elves now? At least until next year! If you’ve ever wanted an example of the development of plastic elf technology over the last 30 years, as well as some fabulous scale creep, take a look at this.
Well lookit, here are all of the additions to the army from year 4. Full army shot next week for the end of the quarter.
IS THAT ALL?
No, it isn’t! I have a rare treat for you this week as Harry, one of the first to take a crack at using the Hammer the Backlog method to hammer his own backlog, checks back in with a guest blog. It should be up about ten minutes after this one. Be a bunch of great eggs and give Harry a like and a comment!
Hammer the Backlog 
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