Onwards!

  Hello all, at this time of the year a lot of us bloggerists like to look back and review the whosums and whatnots they have completed or been a part of during the last 12 months. I would also do this but the past year was a bit of a bust hobby wise. It started ok, with pike and spud making an early appearance.

The pike (the beginning of a 15mm Italian wars project...more on this in a mo...)

And the spuds (the first part of a still in progress Turnip28 project).

   I then spent February piddling about with some tiny blocks of bumpkins:

 Some 2mm test bases for a fantasy pike and shot faff or other (note I did get 2 armies done but didn't blog about them).

 And then...

  That was about it until December, where I rebased one of the few finished units I actually completed in the year:

 New pikes, same minis, different bases.

 Ho and indeed hum. The year was not exactly a vintage one for blogging, real life well and truly got in the way and that's understating it quite a bit. However behind the scenes I have been more productive than it would seem. I have painted 2 full 2mm forces, a few 10mm forces to go along with them (2mm for mass actions and 10mm for skirmishes). I have all but finished my force for Turnip28 and built and undercoated a few more, I have also painted 2 small sci fi forces in 15mm scale for me and Sprinkling 3:the revenge to game with... I just didn't take pictures and was not in the sort of head space to want to write about it. I realise this sounds a bit like the school kid who really does have a girlfriend in a different town but can't offer any proof but I have been painting just to keep a grip on myself, the hobby time really has been a lifesaver this year.

  

  So that's the year that was ( that can well and truly get in the effin' sea), what's next year going to look like?

 Honestly? No flippin' clue but below is a list of projects that 1) I would like to at least do something towards, 2) will help my butterfly brain keep some kind of focus and D) be entertaining to read... possibly.

- I would like to keep on going with my 15mm Italian wars project. I almost have my 2nd pike block finished (swiss this time). I plan to paint small detachments for each force, maybe a pike block, shot unit, some artillery or cavalry etc that can be fielded together in whichever way I fancy ( such as the shifting alliances were during the period).  I intend this to be a slow burn project I can dip into as I reckon painting all those pike may well send me doolally if I do too many at a time!.

 (At least I've coloured mine in!)

- Finish my Turnip28 force and paint up the rest I have built and get them on the table.

 It's a great looking set of rules, and one I'm itching to get to grips with. Again I will probably dip in and out but hope to get enough done to get some games in by the end of the year.

- Crack on with more of my 2mm/10mm olde albilande bits so I can finally get some campaigns in my home brew setting done.

- I got given a copy of Xenos Rampant for Christmas which should be perfect for me and Sprinkling 3: the revenge to finally get some games in, this has school holiday project written all over it.

- The other rule book I got this year was the fun looking 

 A simple looking game for campaigning walking dead style ( groups of survivors competing over dwindling resources during a zombie apocalypse). This could be a great intro for the other folk in the house, I have ordered some red box 1/72 minis so we can build our own groups and use some of the boys toys for terrain into the bargain. Again this probably will be during the school hols.

 

These two boxes should let us build plenty of forces.

- Remake my paint set. Some of you may recall I made my own Paint set a few years ago. Well after quite some time I think I can do even better so plan to get a bit mad scientist and make a new one. This time tweeking the consistency of the paint and using a triad (base/shade/ highlight) system for each each colour or shade thereof a la Wargames foundry.

I have already ordered the dropper bottles I will need and have started to eye Mrs Sprinks paints with menaces.

 That should give me plenty to be getting on with, I'm probably missing something and will undoubtedly get distracted by umpteen new shiny things as the year progresses but you know what they say about the best laid plans...

  ...'till next time...

...

Well thats just ruddy spivving!!

  Hello all, just a quickie to let you know i have listed some more stuff on ebay, so if you are looking for a project to keep your self busy over this period of ...errr....oddness why not have a punt?. But before i show the lots its time for....

I,ve been on a bit of a 90's noise binge of late....

 You can find the following lots here on my ebay page (of  doom), please peruse at your convenience.

 30 Years war 1:72 Swedish cavalry. Most are Revell but i think the odd one or two may be Mars knock offs as i brought them in a job lot.

 Some Zvesda and Imex 1:72 Vikings.

 HaT 1:72 Gallic warriors.

A random mix of HaT 1:72 el Cid bits, some converted for fantasy gaming.

 I also have some Dark Alliance and Caesar fantasy stuff i could be persuaded to part with if you ask nicely.

 While i am in full on spiv mode i thought i would point you in the direction of the fantastic Silver Rain art studios facebook Art work page, its run by the Amazing Mrs Sprinks as a showcase for her work, much of which is for sale (commission work has been mentioned), Stuff like this:

Pop over for a browse and drop her a like or two if you are so compelled.

......'till next time.......

A public shaming!.

Yep, you read the title correctly.......but first:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Before there was grunge.....there was Mudhoney!!!.


  Right on to the naming and ruddy shaming (rant upcoming!).

    My wife, the Amazing Mrs Sprinks was right, there i have said it!. Do i feel better.....well, sort of!. 'but what was she right about?' i hear you cry, well Mrs Sprinks has often been known to proclaim the mighty maxim 'DONT YOU HAVE ENOUGH LITTLE MEN BY NOW YOU WONDERFUL, BUFF, KINDHEARTED EXAMPLE OF A MAN?' (she may not use those words exactly). My normal response being to don the metaphorical smoking jacket and quip 'My dear, you simply cannot have too many of these wonderful little toys, for there is much to explore. Dont worry your pretty head about such things' for the record this response was never finished in its entirety and always ended in '.OWW!!'.

 But i have finally come to the realization that she may have a point!. I know, pick yourself up oh fellow hobbiest and gurdle your loins, this next bit may require the use of smelling salts to plough through!. I had decided to sell off a few bits and bobs i was never going to get on the table to fund the purchase of some more 12mm goodness and to that end i decided it would be a good idea to organize my collection of 1/72 plastics to see what was surplus. I skipped to the hobby area (where Mrs Sprinks keeps the 'little men' out of eyeshot of visitors!) with a roll of plastic sandwich bags in hand to quickly execute said task and then put my feet up. Two hours later i had maybe sorted a fifth of my bits and run out of bags!. With hindsight this should have sounded the alarm in my head that all was not well. Another roll of bags and three days later the plastic goodies are sorted into sets ready to decide whats staying. It looked like this!:

Millie the Wronghammer hound included for scale!.

  It was at this point i realized i may have a problem!.

 So, it is with head bowed i admit i am a hoarder of plastic with far more minis than i will ever use, its no wonder i can never stick to one project with all this nagging away at me for a go on the table!. So the first step to recovery they say is admitting you have a problem. Check. The next one is to get ruthless and sell off the stuff that is surplus.! Lummie, that may be a huge task!. So i will be chucking a few batches of stuff on the 'bay to shift it in the next few weeks, looking to keep only what i will actually use in projects (and what i can realistically paint in one lifetime!). However there are two things i will do first. First, dear readers of this bobbins, is to show the bits for sale here first for you guys before they hit ebay. You guys put up with my cruddy blabbings so its only right you get first dibs (although i may be simply enabling some of you!). If you fancy any of it leave a comment and i will get back to you. Twhit:

Caesar Libyan Warriors

Zvezda Persians

Zvezda Austrian Pikes and muskets one full set on sprue and some odd bits.

Dark Dream Studio Landsknechts

Red box 16th cent Italians

Revell Normans

A f**ktonne of Mini Art Medievals. (my legs not included!)

Red box and Orion Turkish troops.

  The second thing is to say that if in the time you have been reading this blog you have seen any bits you think you would like feel free to leave a comment and i will see what can be done.

.......'till next time......

Thrifty git strikes again!!

Give 'Candy Apple Grey' a go too!.

  So the last few weeks have flown past but i have not been (completely) idle. You see, since i have got back into painting i have been 'borrowing' the Amazing Mrs Sprinks craft paints to get the job done. No point in buying miniature paints if i'm not convinced i will keep up with the splodging. Now this has not been a problem so far and has pushed my 'thrifty gaming' buttons but i have been noticing a sort of dry and grainy finish on the minis i have thus far produced. So i thought i would look into getting some mini paints to fix the issue.

 The mystical paint brands of Mrs Sprinks.

So i had a delve on line.......and had a ruddy heart attack!!, GAMES WORKSHOP WANT £4 FOR A BLOODY THIMBLE SIZED POT OF THE PISSING STUFF, THE CHEAPEST, ARMY PAINTER, WANT £20 AND CHANGE FOR A STARTER SET!!. WHATS IN THIS STUFF ANYWAY? FAIRY TEARS AND UNICORN FARTS??!!!!....ehum, yes well, you get my point. So i dug further as to why i should use mini paints at all when i had a fairly complete set of paints just lying around the house where i could swipe it any time. I mean, the Amazing Mrs Sprinks is managing to turn out work like this with the cheap stuff:

 So it must be good enough for a total pleb like me. Apparently mini paints have a finer pigment or something but many folks on line use the craft stuff for minis with very little problem. This was what i wanted to hear but did not solve the issue of the finish.......then some further digging on the subject turned up these vids:

 LOOKS LIKE I'M MAKING A PAINT SET OF MY VERY OWN!!!!!!!!!.

 So a few ebay orders later and i had the following:

It took a few attempts to get the mix of paint to medium right but not too much work (and there is a real nack to decanting thick paint into the thin neck of a dropper bottle). In an evening i had a paint set ready to go at a fraction of the price of the manufacturers stuff!!. I know what your thinking: 'Yeah but Sprinks, is it any good?'. Well glad you asked because oddly i have been using the stuff and i have to say it is great. As soon as you have a good viscosity nailed the paint becomes easy to work with and it covers really well. The 'chalky' finish has gone, replaced with a slight gloss sheen which is kind of old school and has a charm i rather like. And dropper bottles are the bloody nuts, so much control over how much paint you use, especially when mixing. Want the proof, here are the latest batch of minis for the £30 challenge thing:

Black Rat Co bows.

The wrong 'uns practicing for their next line up.

I also did a few units of Skirmishers:

Sneeky feckers.

As with the rest of the army these are 12mm troops from the rather fine kallistra miniatures.

 So thats the missile lobbers for the army done as well as all the foot, just some mounted troopers to chuck paint on and i should be done. Here's a group shot of the army so far:

The Black Rat Co assemble to conduct some form of prickishness or other (boo!! hiss!!).

So far the cost of the army is:  1.5 packs of Kallistra Scottish pike @ £9.00

                                                  1 Pack of Kallistra 100 years war Bowmen @ £6.00

                                                  4 Dark alliance army of the dead 1/72 (as 'ogres') @ 80p

                                                  1 Kallistra command stand @ nowt, they were free samples!.

                                                                                                                          £15.80 spent so far!.

.......'till next time.......

Mrs Sprinks, Legend.

   So today I turned 40, and my wife decided she would mark the occasion with the perfect birthday prezzie:

RRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

  Good ol' Space Crusade, one of the three games produced by Games workshop and MB games at the turn of the 90s (when i was just the right age for them). This versions not mint (but pretty tidy) but as far as im concerned its a box of mid life crisis the whole family can get into.....in fact me and the Sprinklings sprinted down stairs to get it out and set it up:

 One Space hulk, ready for raiding!.

And i found out what you call a collective of Space Orcs.....

........A conga of Orcs! (who knew?).

If your not sure what im babbling about check this piece of nineties bobbins for an idea:

  

     This may be featuring in future blog posts, i can feel it in me water!.......

......Anyway, till next time.......

When inspiration strikes!!!!

Its odd you know, one moment you are minding your own, taking a lunch break and watching the world go by. You pop online to see whats new in the world of whatever and lo and behold.......

Oooooh Ultima Ratio, what are you trying to do to me?!!??. These beauties are the new sets from this company, The guards of Cardinal Richelieu and Musketeers of the French King (pics in that very order). I like these lots, lots and lots in fact. And lots. The Plastic soldier review entries for both sets have just been posted so you can take a closer look here and here. 

  

They are based on the characters created by Alexandre Dumas and really fit the 'look' of his work and many of the films based on the Three Musketeers adventures. They fill a gap in the market that has needed filling for a while in my opinion, the only options up to now have been GerMans 'Musketeers of the French King' who suffer from brittle blade disease (they snap if someone so much as sneezes in the next room!!) and some sets from Mars which i will not suffer to have on these pages because like all mars products they are chubby faced stub handed blobs of flash and crap!!! (no really, 1:72 scale has some great sets from lots of producers but Mars are just..errrrgghhhhhhh!!!!, check out these 'beauties' if you need proof.......now go wash your eyes!!!!.

 So why am i doing a blog post about seeing some minis?, i mean most of us do just that most days, well it happens i've been itching to have a bash at these:

 Ospreys En Garde! rules by Craig Woodfield. These are full of Swash buckling goodness and attempt to replicate the fighting style of the age in table top skirmish form. Now for a while i have had ideas for gaming some fantasy style games in a alt-historical setting based on this period. Im thinking of doing some undercover espionage style games between state sponsored groups of treasure hunters, Spies and assassins, sort of a 'Dumas does Bond meets Scott Lynch' thing across 15th century Europe. A loose cast of  spies, evil masterminds, exotic wizards from far flung shores, hired thugs and underworld kingpins conducting a secret war in the cityscapes of the age. Characters such as the worlds greatest  gentleman lover and spy known only as 'the iron codpiece' and his valet 'Vivian'. The evil mastermind Dr Donavann von Jovi and the evil mystic FuTang- FuTong and his undead minions along with a the Criminal overlord known only as the king of Shadows, a man who's finger is in every bent scheme across the continent. Hence why i got so excited by these minis!!!!. 

         The Gentleman Bastard trilogy, a very cool setting, needs some games in it!!

 As always im drowning in plastic at the mo so if this will realistically get off the ground is unlikely in the short term but its great when you realize you could if you can just find the time.......now, how to convince Mrs Sprinks i need more minis?........... 

......Anyway, 'till next time.......

Merely a flesh wound....

Hello, just a quick post on the subject of wound markers. For ages i have been using dice to keep track of wounds/hits in games but playing with the kids has convinced me this may not be the best way (the amount of times the wound dice is picked up and rolled...!). So i have been searching for an alternative. I have looked at a number of cheap solutions to the problem (coloured dice, counters, card blood splatters among others) when i found what i think is the perfect solution!.

SKULLS!!!!!!!!!!

They are small skull beads i found on the bottomless black hole of time manors and money that is ebay for a very reasonable cost (you can find them here). At just 4p each they are they are a very cheap option and at 10x8mm i think they are the right size to stand out on the table without taking away from the spectacle of a game in progress. And they're so cute and cheeky looking!!.... 

How can you not love that (blurry) little face?

 I bought 150 of them, taking advantage of the 3 for 2 offer and after Mrs Sprinks laid claim to 50 of the buggers (soon to be a necklace im told, pulp cannibal chic must be the thing this season) i am left with 100 which will be plenty for any rule system. 

'Right, who was that?. No one leaves until i find out who twatted me!...'

Anyway, just thought i would share as im chuffed with these and they are recommended if you are looking for your own hit markers (recommended by a nob but well....)........till next time....