Winter is coming!!!

If you are a fan of a certain fantasy TV series you will understand the reference, but for many of us in the wargames blogosphere this has a far greater meaning because the start of winter heralds the return of the world famous Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. From the original idea of Canadian wargamers clubbing together through the dark cold winter months to pretend to be busy painting so the other half can't get them doing endless DIY jobs around the house (not true just my imagination....honest) to this the seventh edition, it has become the incentive for hundreds of mad painting projects that would otherwise sit in the lead pile.

I first took part as one of the 47 Ronin, when I was pipped at the post but an avalanche of points in the final hours from New Zealand.

I returned in the next winter with mad plans to paint three different Colonial periods and started on fire turning out loads of Afghan Tribesmen and Colonial troops

but then a month into the winter real life got in the way and I had a hobby shut down.
while I have been painting the odd figure or two since, it is three years since I turned out figures at that rate. So while I am picking up where I left off with this fantastic painting challenge I have set myself a reachable 1000 point target.
I look forward to watching the output from my fellow painters and hopefully offer support or/and advice where I can.
So to all my fellow Wargames bloging painters

Flag Football Pre-season games

I took my American Flag Football team up to Halifax yesterday (Sunday 20th) to play a couple of friendly games against team from our BAFA league conference (MEC Middle England). Due to a few of my players being coaches for University teams (Full kitted football) I was light on numbers. I have had to become a coach only due to tearing my Hamstring earlier in the year so I only had five players to call on. Our Flag is a 5v5 game so my lads had to play both Offence and Defence but I could not be prouder as they came away from the day with two wins.

25-22 Against the Leeds Samurai and despite our teams 2016 MVP Sergio de Paco having to leave game two with a fractured finger (at which point I changed from photographer to ambulance driver) the boys with the help of one of the watching Samurai carried on and took the second game 33-30. Was a hugly satistfing day with many of the aspects I have worked hard on with the team in training being put into effect.
If you are on facebook feel free to check out (and like) the teams page to keep in touch with all our efforts in 2017.
Cavaliers Facebook Page

Ready to get some serious painting done.

Spent the week putting my hobby room in order and very happy with the results.

New paint racks and storage draws

box's of prepped figures and a couple of box's of lead

a mobile paint desk so I can be more sociable

My plastic moutain and box sets

My board Games stash

Plans for 2017

So while I have been painting over the last few years its just been a bit here and a bit there, going forward I need to put a few loose plans in place so here goes.
1. Work my way through my Zombicide figures.
I have painted all survivors for seasons 1 & 2 but still have season 3 and the expansion Noisy neighbour's to do. I have the zombies from both the above to paint also.

(Black Plague is my Dads)
2. 40mm Napoleonic.
I have long planned to play the Two Fat Ladies Sharpes Practise in 40mm and have slowly built up enough French and British figures from the fine Perry Miniatures range. This winter I plan to paint these up, I will be putting real effort into these with fine scenic base's and well painted figures.

I will also be creating some scratch built terrain as the stuff I do have would be small for 40mm it will be walls and small bits maybe building up to a building or two.
3. Lots and Lots of new Board games.
I have several board games waiting for some love all the game I bought are figure based ones and many re released GW classics. I do have a few new kids on the block including Devils Run

The other games I have to work through are Star Wars (Imperial Assault), Space Hulk, Hero Quest, Rum and Bones, Blood Rage and a few more.

I also have a few games that do not need painting.

4. Warhammer Old School.
I am returning to my Oldhammer project I have Dwarves from several companies plus some old GW sculpts and I am painting my Dad's Norse which are old GW now Foundry sculpts. I might look to add some Orc and Goblins but will see how things go.

5. Kings Of War Historical.
after I found GW had killed WFB I was looking around the net to see what the kids are playing now and see that KoW has stepped up to the plate and that they have produced a historical version (I loved Warhammer Ancients) I picked up the rules and took them away last week on my holiday. I have to say the look fun and while I would not invest to build any 28mm armies I do like the idea of playing the game at 10mm so that is my plan ( I feel the rules use some of my favourite parts from an old historical set called Shock of impact).

6. Colonial 28mm.
I have all the Sudan and Zulu war stuff I had prepped three years ago still sitting awaiting paint so they will aim to be completed by the end of 2017.

7. Blood Bowl.
Oddly I bought several Blood bowl teams and start players last year with plans to paint in years to come but as the game is being re released this month might push these up the list and try and get them done in 2017

8. Keep myself chilled.
I have lots of other stuff in my life that helps keep me on an even keel, my wife Liz is chief among them and we celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2016 I also have my dogs (while 2015 saw us lose our first Scottie to cancer, we added another young pup). And most weekends I can be found on the side of various sports games armed with my camera.

So while I cant promise to be as prolific on updating this blog or in painting I do have plans to keep busy through 2017 and hope some of you will keep checking in to see how I am doing.
I hope to share some of my photography and news on my Cheshire Cavaliers Flag American Football team
Peace James Brewerton

What I've been getting up to!!

Well hello my old friend, my blog has been inactive so long I almost forgot where it was.
I on the other hand have been very busy. Shortly after I closed down the blog I was not in a fun place with work, being a Supervisor working nights with a boss I just did not understand took its toll and to cut a long story short I quit in September 2014 after 16 years at the same company and jumped to another (the term out of the frying pan into the fire is very apt) this led to a hellish 11 weeks before I admitted defeat and quit management altogether and returned to my old company as a Warhouseman. I have since spent the best two years of my working life I just show up do my job and take my money.
 So work is sorted but why have I been away from my hobby, truth is I returned to an old passion Photography and found I was rather good at sports photography so I have been busy chasing the action for these last three years.

But not only that I developed a passion for Flag Football (non contact American football) and with an inheritence last spring I created my own team the Cheshire Cavaliers who I coach and manage, we completed our first season of National competition in the summer and are building towards 2017 currently.
http://cheshirecavaliersflag.co.uk/

But this is a painting blog so I guess you want to know what I have been doing painting wise, the answer is not alot. I have got into board games and thr family enjoy regular games of Zombicide, I have several board games including the old favourites from GW SpaceHulk, Bloodbowl and Hero quest.
I have plenty of figures built up ready for my return to the hobby and in the last few months with my  Cavalier Manager duties easing I have been getting the brushes out. This is why the blog has been restarted.
I can only say sorry for the way I disappeared but the work stress had already started and was crossing over into the hobby. It was time for a clean break and that was what I did, I hope that my painting friends will understand and help me ease back into things.
Peace James