October 2026 hobby update

October was a good mix of hobby activities  I used a fair bit of my hobby time to play (see Gaming below) and also continued chipping away at the project pile.

Completed

• Early on in the month I finished the 6mm Seven Years War Austrian Grenadiers from Baccus.  I'd started these in September and had put them to one side, as I wasn't enjoying painting them.  I'm pleased to say that I got over that once I'd applied myself and I got them done quite quickly.  I wasn't that fussy and I've now got four battalions ready in short order.  I use the same number of figures per unit as for larger scales (which I know lots of gamers don't see the point of), but it works for me.  It keeps costs down, means you actually get to play rather than be continually painting, is easier for storage and I can field more units in my limited playing area.  And what works for me is all I need care about. 

• I then turned my attention to the last of the 20mm buildings for the Anglo-Sikh Wars.  I'd built and textured this last month, so it just needed painting.  I tend to paint these simple types of buildings in a single sitting.  Using a mixture of craft and emulsion paints, which are quick drying, I start with the darkest tone and then add lighter colours, not even cleaning the brush between colours. 

In progress

The following are on the table as we end September:

• 6 mm Baccus Seven Years Wars Prussian Grenadiers.  I started on these as soon as I'd finished the Austrians.  This was a mistake, as I’d soon got the arseache with painting too many 6mm!  Once I could see some progress I felt better, and these are more or less done now.  

• I’ve been deliberating about how to organise my 15mm 16th Century collection into units.  I’d rebased all the rank and file pike and shot figures earlier in the year, but I’d left the command on round bases as I’d used them in skirmish games.  I want to play battles now so I’ve started rebasing the command to go into units. I need more figures, so I'll be getting out some orders to Essex and Eureka in November.

Gaming

I didn't play at all in September, but got three games in this month.  All three were really enjoyable with a fantasy game sandwiched between two historical:

• First off I played a game of Lion Rampant.  Set in 15th Century Spain, this was an all cavalry affair. A really enjoyable game you can read the AAR here.

• From 15th Century Spain, I returned to the Verrotwood for game 13 of The Awakening Campaign.  A hard fought game, you can read all the action here.

• For my third and final game I returned to 15th Century Spain for some more Lion Rampant action.  I used my full Fall of Granada collection for a 24 point game.  I played this right at the end of the month, so didn't have time to write up the AAR, which will follow in November.  

Incoming

I bought a few bits this month:

• I stocked up on some useful bits:
• 100 magnets from my usual seller on eBay (Spider Magnets).  Jesu, the price of things have gone up.  These 100 cost me the same as 250 cost me in 2023.
• Bumper box of tufts. I got these from WarPainter scenics.  I usually get my tufts from Tajima but thought I'd try these.  
• Two tins of Humbrol black enamel.  This is my usual primer for metals.
• 300 magnets from Amazon for the same price as the 100 I’d bought earlier in the month.  I try not to use Amazon but sometimes you'd be a mug not to.  However, you pays your money and takes your choice, and these magnets aren't as strong as the Spider Magnets ones.

• My final purchase was a copy of Warlord Games Pike & Shotte rules.  I got this off a seller on eBay for a very good price.  I've been looking at Pikeman’s Lament to play this period, but it just doesn’t represent 16th Century warfare as I want it, so I’m hoping Pike & Shotte will.  It's a lovely looking book anyway, and I was very pleased to find it has a Tudor section.

Ramblings, Reading & Research 

On to Reading and I've read just the one historical book this month:

• "Devil-Land" by Clare Jackson.  I've wanted to read this since it was released and I finally got hold of a copy through the library.  It covers English history as seen through foreign eyes from 1585 to 1688.  A fascinating read about arguably the most important century of our country.