There’s lots about 2020 that I would rather not remember but happily, once again, my hobby has provided a welcome distraction and refuge from some of the more challenging times. I suspect that 2021 will be much the same as 2020, certainly for the first part of the year. Which means that I will have plenty of time for more modelling!
The year started off with two threads to my hobby. Finishing some of my Napoleonic figures and getting ready for the launch of ‘Nevermind the Bill Hooks’ and expanding my War of the Roses Army.
Royal Scots Command
The Royal Scots 3/1 Battalion was completed to finish off Pictons division at Waterloo and I also had a go at the Perry’s vignette, ‘A Hard Contest’.
For some reason, I also felt the need to add yet another model of Wellington to my collection!
Wellington and Wellington and Picton
Meanwhile, my WOTR army was growing quite quickly, with the addition of two units of light cavalry, some artillery and some personality figures I thought that I had completed the army.
The completed unit of light Cavalry
The Artillery section of my army.
Salisbury, Richard of York and Warwick
With the various lockdowns in place, my gaming time was much reduced. I think that I managed just four ‘Bill Hooks’ games and a couple of Napoleonic ‘Black Powder’ games this year. This led me to be less focused on gaming, more so on the modelling and painting side of the hobby. I started by painting the Dad’s Army set that I had had tucked away in the lead pile for some time.
Dads Army on Display Base
This in turn encouraged me to paint a small BEF force. I have no idea if I will ever use them, I just fancied painting them.
BEF section in their ‘movement tray’.
I have actually painted a full platoon of BEF, as well as the support weapons and a couple of tanks.
Matilda Mk1 and Vickers MkVIb
I also managed to be distracted into building and painting a couple of model ships:
HMS Victory and Mary Rose
and at last finished a 1/48th scale V1 flying Bomb.
Tamiya 1/48th Scale V1
The launch of ‘Never mind the Bill Hooks’ rules set, written by my good friend Andy Callan, brought me back to the Wars of the Roses and as well as adding a few more figures to my army, I also produced some scenery to go with the rules.
Hidden Ditch!
Wagon and Arrow barrow completed!
New gaming pieces for NMTBH’s.
Lord Callan with the first of his retinue.
I was distracted, yet again, by a conversation with Andy regarding producing a Fantasy version of Never mind the Bill Hooks – Never mind the Balrogs! This planted a seed in my mind and I find myself finishing the year painting Lord of The Rings Figures!
goblins!
High Elves and Men of Gondor
Although I haven’t covered everything that I have produced this year, I am pleased with my output. My general plan for next year is to produce a bit more scenery for my collection and to build a few more models rather than churning out more units. I may even get some more tanks added to the collection!
Matilda and Maus, undercoated and ready for finishing!
In the meantime, I would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year and of course Happy Modelling!
THE COMMERCIAL BIT
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Happy Modelling!