Traveling and painting in 2025 part IV

 

        Another Hilton Garden 10% bonus plus 2k a day. This place has a great desk lamp. Plus there is another you can move over. 

            I don't know why people build this fabs in place where only bears go to shit. I don't know why its two hours from an airport. Or that you have to stay in another town. Even worst they keep building them where it is cold. What to they have against palm trees?

            Delta, up graded both ways. Hard to believe an upgrade out of DTW. Normally I am one or two on the list. Out of DTW I am 20-ish. Holiday Inn with double points and 5k a day + 3k + x2 crazy point deal now.

            I got my right arm chewed upon. I went to care but they wanted me to report him. Snitches get stitches, I ain't saying shit. Refused care. Had to apply field medic skills.

                The lap cat of a dog ate me. Of course he is soo sorry now. Look at that worried face. I bet the asshole is wondering exactly how I will cook for him with one hand.

                Its my right hand. I cannot hold anything. No painting this week or next. I have back to back jobs. I got new travel brushes for the kit the day after that bastard ate me.

            No painting at night forces me to read the books I have been carrying around. Plataea because of Christian Cameron's series. The Samurai castle is my Aunt's book. She reads fiction by the author. And then Robert's, I have dad's hardback. Someone had to write this crap down. It is a mess to read. I have it on audio book also. Good on Robert for getting it done, but dam!

            You get free drinks. The liquor in the little bottles, shooters. The old dude next to me is getting  the shooter sealed, not in a glass. He then pockets it. The airline flight attendant never ask for or collects the empties. The dude ends up with 6. Mofo is smuggling booze! 

After 3 flights I could have 12-18 of the bastards stockpiled. How, how have I never thought of this? By the end of a week there would be 36 total in my bag?

Next week St Lucia. Then Little Wars! Followed by MIT, Boston.

THE MOUNTAIN

Bought = 88 + an army

Sold = 138 + 2 armies, 12 terrain

Painted = 109

28mm = 42

20mm = 0

15mm = 0

10mm = 0

Epic = 9

Terrain bought = 18

Terrain painted = 31

Printed Terrain = 27

Minis Printed = 0

Games 

Played = 1

Games hosted = 0

Books 

Bought = 0

Read = 6

2024

Bought = 739, 2 armies

Sold = 553, 29 detachments, 7 armies, box set

Painted = 556   

Little Wars 2025 games

 

            I am scheduled or have pulled tickets for

A Push of Pikes ECW for (Badge #262)
211 BC: Battle of Casutulo - 2nd Punic War for (Badge #262)
Gunfight Royal for (Badge #262)
Dakota Death Match for (Badge #262)         There were more ancient games and a Modern one I wanted. I was too slow to pull tickets.         I will be taking Tau with me. Why? No other reason than the army has traveled with me every where. My list FIRE WARRIOR CADRE [325] 6 Fire Warriors, 3 Devilfish, 2 Hammerhead Gunships (Fusionhead) FIRE WARRIOR CADRE [325] 6 Fire Warriors, 3 Devilfish, 2 Hammerhead Gunships (Fusionhead) ARMOUR SUPPORT GROUP [275] 4 Hammerhead Gunships (Ionhead), 2 Hammerhead Gunships (Ionhead) BARRACUDA SQUADRON [150] 2 Barracuda Fighters ARMOUR SUPPORT GROUP [275] 4 Hammerhead Gunships (Railhead), 1 Hammerhead Gunship (Railhead) ARMOUR SUPPORT GROUP [200] 4 Hammerhead Gunships (Fusionhead) FIRE WARRIOR CADRE [375] 6 Fire Warriors, 3 Devilfish, 2 Pathfinders, 1 Devilfish, Ethereal BROADSIDE GROUP [300] 6 XV88 Broadsides BARRACUDA SQUADRON [150] 2 Barracuda Fighters PATHFINDER GROUP [200] 4 Pathfinders, 2 Devilfish RECON SKIMMER GROUP [175] 4 Tetra, 2 Piranha RECON SKIMMER GROUP [250] 4 Tetra, 2 Piranha, 3 Piranhas

Epic Tau Vs New Sisters 3000pts

 

        Saturday Kal took Dave's new Sister for a spin. Nah Kal used the New Epic sisters list. I saw little to no difference in threat, area denial, or tactical capability. There are new fancy super heavies, the sister detachments can grow up to 12 stands, and the fighter planes are weaker. It was the same to me???

        I took the standard Tau list.

6 FireWarrios, devil fish, 2 Fusion heads 

6 FireWarrios, devil fish, 2 Fusion heads 

6 FireWarrios, devil fish, Pathfinders

Broadsides

Broadsides

5 Rail heads

6 Ion heads

4 Fusion heads

Recon 3 and 3

Cuda

Cuda

        Kal won the initiative round 1 and 2. I got it on turn 3. Turns 1 and 2 kal was failing orders. I was failing orders in 2 and 3. In the end I got TSNP and DTF.

            I used lanes of fire well enough. Cudas took the roll of AA. I had good combined arms. Shooting was less then 50/50. I need more marker lights and an SC. Failing orders was stacking me up and putting me in positions that I had to commit additional resources to save myself.

THE MOUNTAIN

Bought = 88 + an army

Sold = 138 + 2 armies, 12 terrain

Painted = 109

28mm = 42

20mm = 0

15mm = 0

10mm = 0

Epic = 9

Terrain bought = 18

Terrain painted = 31

Printed Terrain = 27

Minis Printed = 0

Games 

Played = 1

Games hosted = 0

Books 

Bought = 0

Read = 3

2024

Bought = 739, 2 armies

Sold = 553, 29 detachments, 7 armies, box set

Painted = 556   

2025 Yearly Plans and Goals 1st quarter report

 

        I will continue to sell off dust collecting bare minis. I will not be buying collections to piece out. I will avoid buying collections to cherry pick. If time permits, sell off all 15mm ACW that is beyond fielding Gettysburg. After that maybe an Epic army and the Forgeworld Epic models I kept as masters.

***Failure, I bought a collect, to cherry pick. 

***Success, Sold = 135 + 2 armies, 12 terrain

      The focus will be Anno Domini for terrain and minis. Nothing is needed.  

***Failure, A couple of minis and some terrain. Zero else.

  Port Royal is due after Feb.  

***Success, Port Royal delivered and I was focused on it before it arrived. Minis order, and painted. A very sort demo. I would expect Port Royal to get attention next quarter also.

        2nd will be 28mm SAGA followed by pirates.

 ***Failure, Pirate with Port Royal took over. SAGA has gotten the love. Audio books, Tyrant series is helping. But does explain the Greek army!

     I may restart 10mm ancients and some BFaS. 

***Failure, Nothing here.

The Great Sell Off part V

 

                    Since my father died, I am left to sell his collection. I know jack all about his collection, the value, or how to sell it. I don't know the market. Over the years he told me this and that. I did not pay close attention or memorize what he said. Now I sit here trying to sort it all out and get Mom the most out of it's sale.

                    In an effort to save my family from the circus the Great Sell Off. I don't want my kid or my wife to have to deal with the massive amount of soldiers I have. They know a few mates in passing. They don't know what anything is, it's value, or where to find buyers. I will be selling off everything I have never used, sat in a box since the NY days, and those treasures I snatched up, opened the box, and they remain in that same box.

        The remains of the Greek army I bought after cherry picking. I offered 1st to the gaming group. NO takers, off to eBay. Sold in 2 days the 33 painted minis and 6 shields cost me 38 bucks.

        19 bare metal Imperial Romans, Warlord plastic roman bits (20) and a Foundry Aux command (6) sold.

THE MOUNTAIN

Bought = 88 + an army

Sold = 138 + 2 armies, 12 terrain

Painted = 109

28mm = 42

20mm = 0

15mm = 0

10mm = 0

Epic = 9

Terrain bought = 18

Terrain painted = 31

Printed Terrain = 27

Minis Printed = 0

Games 

Played = 0

Games hosted = 0

Books 

Bought = 0

Read = 2

2024

Bought = 739, 2 armies

Sold = 553, 29 detachments, 7 armies, box set

Painted = 556   

SAGA shenanigans part III

 

    

                The last of the cherry picked. All Owl shields. The cloth , bronze, and horse hair was repainted. Then everything AP soft tone wash.

                Every one sealed and flocked.

                Mercenary Hoplites with Syracusans shield designs.

                Mount General for my roman army. He is resin. A purchased print. The Macedonian is metal from Aventine. The spear arm is plastic. The downed horse is Chocolate brown. GW Khrone red and Foundry Red coat series. Skin is Foundry North American Indian "B".

THE MOUNTAIN

Bought = 88 + an army

Sold = 91 + an army, 12 terrain

Painted = 109

28mm = 42

20mm = 0

15mm = 0

10mm = 0

Epic = 9

Terrain bought = 18

Terrain painted = 31

Printed Terrain = 27

Minis Printed = 0

Games 

Played = 0

Games hosted = 0

Books 

Bought = 0

Read = 2

2024

Bought = 739, 2 armies

Sold = 553, 29 detachments, 7 armies, box set

Painted = 556    

SAGA shenanigans part II

 

            Why do I buy an endless armies? Two reasons and I have a crack problem. After you collect for so long, you buy things just to buy things. That is number 1. Then there is cherry picking and stuff you hate to paint. Number 2 shit I want and cannot find and shit no one wants to paint. I want to paint heroes. Those minis with character. Not regular endless line troopers. 

Cherry Picked the rest for Sale

            These dudes I ended up repainting. I tried to save them with touch up. They still sucked. Only the spears were not touched. All rebased to circles.

    

    Some Athenian action.

            From the army I bought. Rebased and touched up unarmored hoplites. Athenian rowers. When Persia came Athens free the slave and those rowing the ship to bulk out the Phalanx. I will use these dudes as skirmishers.

        Another one for the army. Only rebased.

        

            These sorry bastards were purchased for 1 buck each at Cold Wars long ago. The paint job is crap. I won't strip them. The paint is not that thick. So right over whatever was there. 95% of them will be repainted. I have rebased the lot. The clothe is P3 bone base. The horse business is Red leather. The saddle cloths GW gore red. 

                By the head gear alone, these are Spanish troops. Then on the horse you see that chest strap. That is a Spanish only type deal. The Spanish of the time had a strict hard on for Red. They will get Red details!

                The cloth was painted P3 jack bone series. In the normal way with the base color wash. The red details on the cloth are historical for Spanish of the Republic period.    

THE MOUNTAIN

Bought = 88 + an army

Sold = 91 + an army, 12 terrain

Painted = 103

28mm = 36

20mm = 0

15mm = 0

10mm = 0

Epic = 9

Terrain bought = 18

Terrain painted = 31

Printed Terrain = 27

Minis Printed = 0

Games 

Played = 0

Games hosted = 0

Books 

Bought = 0

Read = 2

2024

Bought = 739, 2 armies

Sold = 553, 29 detachments, 7 armies, box set

Painted = 556