Saturday, 27 February 2021

As one door closes another opens!

This post might come as something of a surprise to some, although maybe not to those who have followed my shenanigans here the past 10 years or so. 

After 10 months of pretty intensive painting of 18mm Napoleonics, starting as a modest lockdown project that grew into a 1000 figure collection it's time for me to move onto pastures new. So in my time honoured fashion this beautiful collection is going under the hammer because the plain truth is that I have come to the conclusion that I'm no longer a wargamer, just a guy who gets a lot of pleasure out of painting model soldiers. 

I have made a video for YouTube as it's easier for me to do it this way and place the link in various FB pages etc before I have to resort to the dreaded eBay. From April 2020 to present here on the blog contains hundreds of images of the collection for perusal of close ups.


No doubt as I clear out all I presently own something else will take my fancy as I have no intention of stopping painting, but I may well simply paint to sell or on commission going forward and I still have figures for Old John and Gerry to finish off next. Oddly enough, having made this decision over the last few days I feel very happy about it, for some reason I have completely lost the ability to enjoy  wargames as I used to be able to several years back, for me the pleasure is in the planning and the painting. 

So, onwards and upwards. A couple of images of recently added bases of Bavarians and Prussian reservists. Also a couple of shots of the recently finished off bases of the 40mm figures which will soon be heading off to new owner, once I can figure how best to post/courier them! These sat on bare bases for the past year and I managed to get a really good match to all of the rest that I did back in Spain.

Cheers,

Lee.









18 comments:

  1. Hi Lee, you have sold and not regretted in the past, so this just follows in that tradition, plus you have had a year of sheer joy from them. I suspect the hardest part is trying to decide what to do and then once that point is reached, the decision brings a relief.

    There are a couple of new things that might take your painting fancy to throw yourself into, while also keep a gaming door open. One is the new Epic ACW set from Warlord Games and the other is the new SPQR 2 set, also from Warlord Games. They are worlds apart in terms of content, theme and painting challenge, but from what I have read, both seem nice ‘sets’ and are relatively self contained.

    Good luck with your sale, I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in your quality work.

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    1. Hi there Norm, you clearly understand my way of thinking! I had tried and tried to get a game going but fact is that I knew I would just much rather be spending the time painting more soldiers, that's where I get my pleasure these days.

      I have been casting around for something fresh but I keep coming back to those 20mm metal AB's late WW2, in which case something fresh wold be a British army as I have never done this before. Of course there would have to be an opposing German force :)

      The 18mm Napoleonics sold same day I put the video up, that saved me a load of typing.

      Thanks for continuing to to follow the twists and turns of my hobby journey Norm.

      Lee.

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  2. I’m shocked, maybe not surprised but shocked. This is a wonderful collection you have put a lot of effort into. The C&C, DBN rules I’ve always felt are a good compromise for individuals who aren’t quite committed to painting loads of figures but enjoy the odd game.
    I’m sure you’ve thought long and hard and I also understand having coming close a couple of times to doing the same thing.
    Hope the sale goes well and you can count me in for some commission work

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    1. Hi Graham. The collection is sold and I feel free to start something else, this is what I have done for years since losing interest in the gaming side. I have you top of my list for commission work, along with faithful Old John :) Thanks Graham.

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  3. Perhaps some old school figures and simple glossy painting styles next for a change - say Jacklex's ACW? Then when you've had enough I can buy them! ... ;o)

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  4. Hi Lee,

    I have dropped you an email old chap!

    All the best,

    DC

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    1. Hi David. Thank you, replied :) Good to know that you also understand the way my mind works in relation to the hobby. Taking a few days to think things over (the 18mm's sold quickly as I hoped they would) meantime painting for Old John, more lovely 20mm cavalry.

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  5. The figures look fantastic, I'm sure they're gonna make someone very happy!

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    1. Cheers Ray. happens every time, I spend months painting then get fed up with them!

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  6. Not a surprise, if a little sooner than I expected, gorgeous work and somebody is going to be very lucky to have this collection!
    Best Iain

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    1. You also know me well Iain :) I have long come to terms with this pattern of painting/selling/ starting again and it just works for me.

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  7. lovely collection, like many of us i miss gaming against pals, hopefully sometime we can get together
    stay safe
    cheers Old John

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    1. Hello John, got another 12 cavalry just about finished for you, will send a few pics over later today :) I'm sure the situation will change later this year.

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  8. No! Don't do it!!! *shocked horror*

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    1. Paul, it's what I have been doing for years now. I'm ready to begin again now :)

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  9. LOL - I'm with Iain - you are a superb painter, and you love the collecting/creating of a project.. so good on you... someone will love them, and you get the spondoolicks for a new project, that's a win/win... all I want to know is what will the new project be?? Like Norm, I'd love to see what you can do with those ACW epics..

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    1. Got it in one there Steve, I'm just a painter of model soldiers that can't stop painting :) I don't really get emotionally attached to anything I paint these days, but I can understand as in the case of your lovely AWI's that were gifted to you why you would never part with them.

      So what's up next? I have decided against doing plastic soldiers and cancelled my Warlord Epic order after looking at images around the interwebby, they just don't quite do it for me! That said the AB 20mm WW2's keep on calling me so maybe......

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