December 2024 and year end wrap up

A very active hobby month. Besides the annual club Christmas game, I hosted a game at home for the first time...A Very British Civil War with the Combat Patrol rules. 

90 dark ages warriors

Some other highlights for the year:

I tried  Command and Colors Napoleonics like I have wanted to for some time. I enjoyed it, but it will not replace Field of Battle so I think I will sell off the two sets. I played the game with my original Kingdom of Katzenstein 15mm figures using the CCN rules on my HEXON terrain. First time the figures had been out in a dozen years!

The big purchase: a 3d resin printer. I treated myself to a retirement present and then got the assorted accoutrements for Christmas. This will become a 2025 extension of the hobby. 

The 28mm MDF pre-colored buildings from Micro Arts Studios were the other big purchase for the year. Built them all and have gotten them on the table a few times. I will look at more from their range. 

I updated my storage system to now have almost all figures stored in plastic containers with steel sheet/magnets. Only the Slaughterloo collection remains unmagnetized, but they are secure in RUBs. 

Part of my post-retirement clean up included some minor work in the basement. I took the opportunity to do some cleaning, organizing, and put down foam mats around the game table for insulation and comfort. 

My main focus on the miniature front this year have been the 28mm sci-fi Quar figures. Released in plastic and resin, they are fantastic sculpts with lots of character and lore. Lets the imagination run wild. 

As a filler project, I have been working on the 28mm generic fantasy figures...mostly plastic kits. I still need to finalize a clear direction for the project. I also finished off all of the on hand Burrows and Badgers figures (until the next kickstarter). 

PAINTING 

90 x 28mm Saxons/Vikings as generic fantasy warriors: 90

Total: 90

YTD: 528

GAMING 

1 x Club holiday game

1 x AVBCW with Combat Patrol with guests

YTD: 23

BUDGET

$192---, $11 Quar tribe subscription, $160 bases, $10 magazine

YTD:  $2004 (Sold: $440)

Plans for 2025

1) Next wave of Quar 

2) Focus on some terrain upgrades: trees, rivers, roads

3) Host a club game in Feb

4) Work on 6mm sci fi home brew rules with 3D printed figures

5) Spending <$2000, sell $500

6) Attend all 3 HMGS conventions

    Cold Wars (this one is a maybe)

    Historicon

    Fall In

7) Complete on hand 28mm fantasy figures

    a. Plastics

    b. Metals

8) Add to 28mm sci fi by getting select sprues instead of full boxes

PLANS FOR 2024

1- Attend Historicon:

-----Complete:  Attended

2- Spend <$2000:

-----So close!:  I did sell off $440 worth of items so met my goal on net.

3- >12 games:

-----Complete: almost double!

4- Work on projects: (focusing on adding to some smaller projects instead of a large figure count)

---a. Quar: start when released:

-----Complete: Painted first two groups, will continue in 2025.

---b. Burrows and Badgers (paint the last kickstarter, and order next!)- 26 figures:

-----Complete: all on hand painted, next batch in 2025

---c. Paint two batches of fantasy figures-49:

-----Complete: painted several batches, big jump on this project

---d. Paint one batch of sci fi figures- 21:

-----Complete

---e. Paint a AVBCW BUF platoon- 30?:

-----Completed 60

5-Put together the rest of the Battlesystem card terrain

-----Not Complete: I bought and built a big batch of MDF buildings. I may sell the Battlesystem. 

Purchase plans:

1) Quar when released...soon!: done

2) Next Burrows and Badgers kickstarter in Feb.: done

3) BUF platoon, need to decide on figures. look at historicon or order with Quar from Wargames Atlantic if BEF are released.: done

4) Several 28mm plastic Stargrave/Wargames Atlantic boxes (5).--- look at historicon, WA order: pushed to 2025

5) Some paints, brushes, bases.: Purchased

6) Maybe upgrade my trees, rivers, and roads: still in planning.

Project Update: 9 projects

Quar:

---Last Painted: June, 2024

---Last Gamed: Sep, 2024

Slaughterloo:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2023

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2024

28mm Fantasy:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2024

---Last Gamed: Feb, 2024

Burrows and Badgers:

---Last Painted: Sep, 2024

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2023

Pulp:

---Last Painted: Jan, 2023

---Last Gamed: Jun, 2020

A Very British Civil War:

---Last Painted: Oct, 2024

---Last Gamed: Dec, 2024

28mm Sci Fi:

---Last Painted: Feb, 2024

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2022

Fantasy 15mm:

---Last Painted: Jul, 2019

---Last Gamed: Jul, 2021

Kingdom of Katzenstein 15mm Imagi-nation:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2018

---Last Gamed: Nov, 2024

Commands and Colors Napoleonics

 I took my original Kingdom of Katzenstein 15mm imagi-nations figures out for a game for the first time since December, 2011. 

I have been wanting to try the Commands and Colors Napoleonics rules, so when I got a chance to pick up a set cheaply, I jumped on it. I could use my 15mm figures and the Hexon II terrain for a nice game board. I even splurged on a set of custom cherry wood dice.

I sued the Quatre Bras scenario with a few minor tweaks...Katzenstein defending in the British role. 

A fun game...the attacking Imperial forces won the day in a back and forth game by launching a powerful series of cavalry charges after their initial infantry assault was defeated. 

A fun game...but just not the same feeling as I have gotten with other rules sets.

I still think Field of Battle is my game (with honorable mentions to: Soldiers of Napoleon, Die Fighting, and Carnage and Glory). 

What now? I think I will sell off the games and reinvest in something else. 

December 2018

Closing out the year with continued progress on the VBCW figures. About 300 more to go...all primed and ready to go.

Christmas loot

VBCW figures...300 to go!

Vega Baja Musketeers...a commemorative unit for the time my National Guard unit spent in Puerto Rico for hurricane relief

VBCW battle in progress

PAINTING
53 x 28mm VBCW Figures: 53 points
12 x 15mm imagi-nation figures: 12 points
TOTAL: 65


GAMES
1 x AVBCW game


BUDGET
$50 in rules from Nordic Weasel. Some very interesting skirmish rules.

July 2017 and Historicon

Noah and I spent a few great days at Historicon playing in some fabulous games. My thanks to Peter and Miles for running these games for everyone's enjoyment; each won an award for their game time slot.  I am looking forward to next year in Lancaster.

I played in 7 games (including 5 with the Junior General). Had so much fun spending some father/son bonding over toys.

I only spent $50, well below my expectations. Paint, brushes and a can of Army Painter dip. I am still in shock from not buying any figures. I then fell off the wagon and bought a bunch of 6mm sci fi figures on the last day of the month.

A few pictures from the convention before my usual painting/gaming/spending diary entry:

DAK and Dragons...GM ran 9 games over the convention; we played in 3.

Fantastic table with the catacombs.

Italian Armor vs Troll

Beautiful layout

Panzer Mk III killing the Red Dragon

Noah leading some cavalry at the Battle of Ravenna

My kind of charge

Feel bad for those horses

2nd game on the same layout

Action shot. 

Pacific Island invasion with LSNC:WW2

Peter Anderson's FOB Battle of Raab

Turned the enemy flank and brought the game to a victory for the French in the end

Kudo's to our CiC, Luke, for pressing the enemy center...twice.

Operation Battleaxe in North Africa using 3mm PicoArmor.

My British 6th RTR were about to have a hard day. The unit bases are color coded to the dice...very nice. 

Germans in the distance on Hill 208.

Junior General giving me "the look" for this picture I sent to the Countessa. 

PAINTING
14 x 12 figure Katzenstein 15mm units: 168 pts
Total: 168 points

14 new regiments for the Kingdom of Katzenstein

GAMES
7 (all at Historicon)

Junior General and a friend playing Field of Battle in my basement

SPENDING
$50 at Historicon, $144 on 6mm sci fi = $194
$1228 for the year. $228 over budget...not good.
plus $1000 total expenses at Historicon with the hotel, gas/tolls, and food.
Budget: <$1000 plus Historicon expenses.

The Gathering Storm

It has been almost six years since the Grand Army of Katzenstein has taken the field against an enemy on the continent. While there have been several small colonial campaign around the globe, for a time, peace reigned and the country prospered. The rise of a new Emperor in the Imperium, Miroslav-the sixth of his name, and an unlikely marriage have set in motion events that could lead to war.

Miroslav's open belligerence to the break away kingdoms that once belonged to the Imperium is no secret. Since taking the throne, some whisper of poisoning his father, the new Emperor's regiments have brought several smaller states back into the fold. After a short, sharp war, Miroslav's legions have even occupied the Kingdom of Falkenberg right on the doorstep of the Kingdom of Katzenstein. Only the Mountains of Tobsk and the Katzenstein fortress in the pass stand between the bitter enemies.

Events further South, however, threaten to spark the next war. After a hundred years of constant skirmishing, the unlikely romance between the oldest children of the ruling houses of the Duchy of North Nitch and the Duchy of South Stich could bring prosperity to both minor states. There is even talk of the union resulting in a new Kingdom of Nitch-Stitch, an outcome the Emperor would not tolerate.

In anticipation of a possible conflict, King Yertle of Katzenstein has ordered that all regiments of the Grand Army parade for his birthday. He has even called on the colonial regiments to send field forces for a series of exercises in the homeland. Could this be too much for the Emperor? With his forces being reinforced every week in Falkenberg, might the Emperor strike first?

---With the "OPFOR" forces painted, and the latest expansion to my Katzenstein army done, it is time to get back to some horse and musket gaming. It has been almost six years since my last battle...December 10th, 2011. I will use the Field of Battle rules and I plan to use some battle maps from http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/bfinder.html There is an example of how to organize all of the maps to make a campaign map. This will help give some direction to the campaign.

June 2017, mid year review

Half way through the year. Good progress on my painting projects and a few enjoyable games under my belt. I am looking forward to Historicon next month.

Mid-year Review
1- Katzensetin OPFOR expansion: figures on hand, in progress
   a. Finish infantry by end of January---DONE
   b. Leaders in Feb---DONE
   c. Artillery in March---DONE
   d. Cavalry by end of July (Historicon)---DONE

2- Pulp: two batches of about 30 figures each (one from Christmas, one batch to be bought at Historicon)---One batch DONE; will not do another this year.

3- 6mm Sci Fi: this will be the big new project for the year ---the focus for after finishing the KoK expansion---Postponed until Katzenstein figures are complete

4- 28mm Zombies: if I need a change up and find some of the plastic kits cheap---Purchased figures

5- Attend some conventions: NJCon, Historicon...maybe even splurge for Cold Wars or Fall In---Historicon next month

6- Spending: <$1000 for the year plus Historicon; I have been saving my change for a few years and plan to cash in for convention spending---OVER SPENT, I will need to keep Historicon spending low

7- Gaming: Keep up on my solo pulp and fantasy gaming, expand my opportunities with gamers in NJ.---SOLO gamed a few times, need to reach out to the locals again

8- Fantasy Rules: next version with updated stats, magic, and custom card deck---Continuing to TINKER

9 of the 17 cavalry regiments for the Imperial Army

8 more regiments

14 infantry regiments for Katzenstein being recruited

PAINTING
48 x 15mm cavalry figures: 96 points
TOTAL: 96 points

GAMES
No games this month...I keep wanting to try out a Pulp Alley zombie game.

BUDGET
$6 for the month! (can of primer)
$1034 year to date.
$1000 for the year in my budget, plus Historicon.

May 2017

Good painting progress this month. I have broken the back on the imagi-nation cavalry figures, with just 6 units to go. I am on track to finish them before Historicon in July.

With that finish line in sight, I have to decide what comes next. I was thinking about four of my projects:
1- Finish final 14 units for Katzenstein
2- Start Zombies
3- Continue 15mm Fantasy
4- Start 6mm sci-fi

I have decided to finish the Katzenstein units. I started ordering the 14 units worth of figures today with the goal of completing them by end of the year. This will allow me to start a new campaign in 2018.

I may work on some of the Zombie figues as the mood strikes as well, at least enough to get some test games in. I am deciding upon a rule set with Pulp Alley, Advanced Song of Blades and Heroes, and Savage Worlds under consideration.

PAINTING
7 x 8 figure cavalry units: 112 points

GAMES
1 fantasy game

BUDGET
$324 for the month. I registered for Historicon and bought figures for the KoK. I also bought the Advanced SoBH rules and more Pulp Alley Cards.
$1028 year to date...so much for my budget! I will have to really watch my spending for the rest of the year and keep my Historicon purchases to a minimum.
$1000 for the year in my budget, plus Historicon.

April 2017

No too much to report this month. Painting was slow but I did finish 4 cavalry units and start 2 more before going away for work. I will need to pick up the pace a little the next two months to meet my July goal of finishing all 17 units.

A lucky turn of events (hitting the right numbers on the roulette wheel) turned into me blowing my budget plans. I bought a bunch of the Panzer Korps scenario books at a discount and then two lots of 15mm fantasy figures I saw for sale on TMP. Good prices all around, but that puts my budget plans in disarray.

PAINTING
4 x 8 figure 15mm cavalry units: 64 points
(will base them up and take a picture when I finish the next set of units)

GAMING
Zero...I even took down the unplayed zombie game I had set up. I think I will set up another fantasy game when I get home.

BUDGET
$593! for the month.
$704 for the year to date. I will need lots of discipline to keep under my $1000 budget for the year (minus Historicon).

March 2017

An early post to close the month since I will be traveling this weeks. Took a few days off at the beginning of the month from painting after the hard push in January and February, Picked things up over the last fortnight to finish the horses for the 17 Katzenstein project enemy cavalry units. I will start the riders in April with a goal of being done before Historicon in July.

The stables are full.

Last month I splurges using some of the money I got from selling unused figures and rules. I bought the zombie apocalypse survivor below, designed at www.heroforge.com

Neat software service that lets you design 28mm figures and have them 3D printed (I think they sub contract to Shapeways). Expensive, but a great item for a special occasion or character figure. 

PAINTING
0 points...I will get credit for the horses when the units are complete.

GAMES
0 again...still have a test game of Pulp Alley Zed on the table.

BUDGET
$128 for the month on my re-subscription to Wargames, Soldiers, and Strategy, and a batch of fantasy 15mm figures i could not resist for the price. I was doing so well trimming my lead stash.
Net: $111 for the year! Budget is <$1000 plus Historicon. I am in good shape so far.

February 2017

Still on track for my plans for the year.


PAINTING
16 x 15mm mounted leaders: 30 points
30 x 28mm Pulp Figures: 30 points
TOTAL: 60

I have also prepared 17 x 8 figure cavalry units to work on over the next few months. I will start with all the horses, and then work through the riders. This will bring the Katzenstein project OPFOR to completion.

GAMES
1 game of Skirmish Action at Maplewood Hobbies
1 fantasy game with a Commands and Colors mash up


BUDGET
Net: -$17 for the year;
I sold $200 worth of unused figures and rule books. I used these funds to get some supplies (primer) and a start on the Zombie project. In the end, I am at -$17 for the year!

Artillery and Leaders

Finished the artillery and leaders for my Kingdom of Katzenstein imagi-nation OPFOR..."The Imperium".

I am going to work on the 30 Pulp figures before tackling the cavalry.

January 2017

Fantastic start to the new year. I have tried to focus on getting 30-60 minutes a day dedicated to the hobby...painting, prepping figures, tinkering with rules, blogging, and of course, gaming. This has improved my motivation and output. The imagi-nation expansion is ahead of schedule.

PAINTING
48 x  15mm imagi-nation artillery figures and 12 guns: 60 points
120 x 15 mm infantry: 120 points
TOTAL: 180 points
In Progress: 16 x mounted leaders; 30 28mm Pulp figures

Next up: prep the 25 or so cavalry units

Fresh troops hit the field (except that the field seems to be covered in Orcs and Dwarves so they have to get their picture taken on the ready table.

4 field batteries, 2 howitzer batteries

GAMES
1 fantasy game

A fantasy game in progress with my Battlelore adaptation. I made my own dice using the left over wood blocks from when I made the LSNC dice. Simple pleasures.

PURCHASES and BUDGET
$0 this month: I do need some primer
Total for the year: $0
Budget: $100 under budget, Plan: <$100 per month; on target

December 2016

Closing out the year on a roll. Great month for painting, and I got in a game in my Pulp Alley campaign. I hope to continue my progress in the new year.

PAINTING
18 x 12 figure 15mm imagi-nation units: 216 points
TOTAL: 216 points
In Progress: 10 x 12 figure units for "The Imperial Army" in my Katzenstein project

GAMES
1 game Pulp Allley

PURCHASES and BUDGET
$287 this month: splurged on a whim (and there was a sale) to start the 6mm sci fi project
Total for the year: $967
Budget: $233 under budget, Plan: <$100 per month; on target