December 2025 hobby update

And that was 2025.  A really mixed bag of a year.  Too much serious stuff for my liking, but unfortunately it's one of the "joys" of getting older.  From a hobby perspective it was successful and I managed to finish quite a lot off and played a few games.  The end of year Ovelist updates (doing and gaming) give the detail if you're interested.  

Thanks to all those that read my blog this year and especially those that have taken the time to comment either here, on Facebook or on TMP.  I very much appreciate it.  I wish everyone all the very best for the New Year.

Completed 

Here's what I completed this month:

  • 18 Heroics & Ros 6mm Soviet Paratroops finished as Soviet Airborne for the Soviet-Afghanistan War.  This is a platoon of Airborne based for Force on Force/Ambush Alley.  This is a side project that spawned out of The Iran-Iraq War project, which was my main focus of the year.  I just need to work out what I need and buy the Afghans.
  • As I've done for eleven out of the twelve months of the year I spent some time on terrain.  I “winterised” a load of cheap trees and made a number of winter tree bases. which I'll write up in a separate post.  I was really pleased to get these done, and I'm equally pleased with how they've turned out

In progress

On the table as the month ends are:

  • Five 15mm Plastic Soldier Company M4A3s.  I added all the stowage and base coated these, with the intention of finishing them for the January challenge for the Battlegroup Facebook group.
  • 1/72nd Airfix Bristol Blenheim. Once I finished off the trees I've spent the majority of my hobby time working on the Blenheim, just enjoying doing a bit now and again.  I've got to the point where all the main assembly is done and I've started painting. 
  • 48 Baccus Franco-Prussian War Infantry.  I bought these to make up a new unit for my 19th Century French Armée d'Afrique.  This was a force I built up many years ago and when I bought The Men Who Would be Kings rules earlier in the year it inspired me to add to this collection.  I've  only just started, as the Blenheim has absorbed me, but I aim to knock them out in January. 

Gaming

  • I rounded off the year with a fourth game of Verrotwood.  The AAR is here.  Verrotwood has given some of my most enjoyable games this year, along with What a Cowboy and Midgard.

Ramblings, Reading & Research  

I've not got anything in particular to have a ramble about this month.  We're at the time of year when we all look towards what we may want to work on in the New Year and also reflect on what we've done (or not) in the current year.  To this end I've been working on my Ovelists and they'll be out on the blog early in January.

My historical reading this month was:

  • “A Legion Para in Algeria” by Peter Hoskings.  This is the story of Tony Hunter-Choat a young Englishman who joined the French Foreign Legion during The Algerian War.  It is based on Choat’s own diaries, with Peter Hoskings linking it all together with background information and the bigger picture.  It’s manna from Heaven for me as this sort of information is so rare in English.  A great read.

  • Although not a military book as such, my next read is highly recommended especially if you are an American Civil War gamer.  "Flags on the Bayou" is an historical novel by James Lee Burke, better known for his crime novels (of which I've read most).  I think this is his best work.  It's got some wonderful characters, his prose is at his poetic best and it almost made me think about gaming the ACW.  

Incoming and Outgoings

I've spent a bit this month.  Overall though I've spent a little bit less than in 2024 (I won't disclose the amount to preserve wedded bliss). 

  • First item to come in was Osprey Campaign "Rossbach and Leuthen 1757".  I read this a good few years ago and decided to buy my own copy as the library one seems to have disappeared.  I've got a few hundred Seven Years War figures to paint up and this will help inspire me.
  • I then bought the Lard Mag 2025.  This was an absolute steal at only £7.  The What a Cartel article alone was worth that.  It's full of interesting articles, scenarios and additions for TFL games.  
  • Battlegroup Italy came which was a very pleasant surprise.  Due to a lot of "previous" with PSC, I expected some drama/disaster and didn't think to see it in 2025.  However, credit where credit is due, they've delivered this time.  It's a lovely book on my joint favourite Second World War theatre so I had to have it.  They do make nice stuff and let's hope that this is the start of a better period for them.  I also got a nice little voucher, which I'll make use of in the New Year.
  • My last purchases of the year were made on a visit to the Factory Shop.  Since they closed my local branch down, I don't often to get the opportunity to see if they're got anything of hobby use.  I picked up a cheap can of spray primer and some washers for bases.
  • Santa delivered the last incoming of the year: a pair of Osprey Campaigns Dien Bien Phu and Yugoslavia 1941-1944; a 1/72nd Bearcat and a couple of pairs of modelling tweezers.  The fingers aren’t as dexterous as they used to be so these should be mighty useful.

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