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The Legion of the Damned on snow bases look great, I don’t think I’ve seen that done before and it’s a great contrast. The painted flames pattern on the one marine’s shoulder pad is excellent too, very classic, well executed color transition on such a tiny freehand detail.

Centurius is such a cool mini, always great to see him painted. Love the red to yellow gradients too, nice choice

Merry Christmas all, hope everyone has had a good day.

@mothsniper - thanks very much
@youwashock - the advantages of collecting for 30+ years!
@Zambro - cheers, not sure how legal it is - but rule of cool works as it isn’t really for gaming!
@Nevelon - thanks, it was my first real foray into that painting effect a couple of years ago and I’m super happy how it came out.
@ph34r - thanks, it worked out better than expected, they are meant to tie in with my Ultramarines who are either grass or snow so it was an easy decision!
@gobert - yeah he is a great model and hasn’t aged too much!

Not too much painting update from the past week as I was needing to get things ready for Christmas (two kids and toys to build!!). I did manage to get quite a way through these tanks, a few touch ups and details to pick out and then they should be good to go. Then it will be on to marines and guardians. And prepping the Santa haul!!

Merry Christmas! Nice progress on the mini tanks

HOBBY UPDATE
With the end of year approaching I thought it was probably time to start thinking of doing a little round up on where I have got to this year. Overall I'm going to say it has been one of the best, most productive and enjoyable years on record. Life is good, my son was born at the start of the year, I'm in a happy place, I think I have managed to establish a good balance on things, hobbying is going well. I have painted more, based more, finished more miniatures this year than ever before. I have a means of putting the models on display now and I feel quite proud of them all. So it is all coming together quite nicely!

In terms of goals, for the year I think I have done ok (I’m ignoring any Christmas presents as this will just add a layer of complication I don’t want to consider!)
• Painted models - I have done well - 54 painted for the year which just beats my target (of 48), I think I will increase the number for next year and push myself a little. Hopefully there will be less distractions so it might be doable.
• Buy more than I paint - I think I smashed this one out the park... oh no wait that should be paint more than I buy. Well the combat patrol magazine has made sure that didn't happen, but ignoring that for a minute I think I accomplished the goal having only directly purchasing 23 models this year (44 if you include gifts). If the combat patrol is included then there is an additional 105 on top of that which makes it a big failure! For next year I think I should set the goal of only buying 5 sets / models, and see how I go from there, cause I have plenty to do so I just now need to get on with it - and I'll save a few pennies doing it (lets hope 11th isn't a big release!). I’m also planning on cancelling the magazine subscription now – I don’t need any further armies or models from that set which will also help things.
• Base 30 models - done done and done, at the last count I think I had completed over 120 models so a big woop on that one. I think I have a few more historical to get completed but nothing significant - so I might change this one to add transfers to the models for next year, same target number.
• Update the blog regularly - well given this wasn't a SMART goal (and deliberately so) I can say I have updated it semi-regularly, with the odd lapse here and there. I'm amazed by the number of people who have looked at it and commented on it so far, its great connecting with other folk and getting the feedback (compliments or advice).. So kind of completed ish. I'll keep it as a goal for next year as well just to keep me honest.

I probably need to set myself a few defined goals of what I want to get done for next year to give me some direction. I think off the top of my head the following will be targets:
• Complete the veteran vanguard squad (yeah the one I started the blog with many moons ago!).
• Complete one tactical squad and finish the two devastator squads (that will leave me three tactical squads to go!
• Complete the Eldar guardian squad (I'm almost 50% there so shoudl be doable!)
• Finish 5 characters (likely Ultramarines but I will leave it open)
• Finish 1 vehicle or large monster (or both)
• Complete 2 titans and finish the epic marine company

That seems a good selection of things to do - whether they all happen is another thing but that will put me in a good place with the majority of the 2nd company completed. And it isn’t to say I won’t be doing other things as well, as there is at least a terminator squad, termagant / genestealer squad and tau team that really want to be progressed as well.

Sounds like you’ve had a good year, baby and plenty of painted minis! What more can you ask for!?
What was your favourite mini to paint and favourite now it’s painted ?

Yeah it was a good year - and if i was wishing for anything it would be to get paid more for working less and have more free painting time but one can only dream!

I enjoyed painting the flaming swords on the librarians, and the farseer quite a lot, but I think the Parasite of Mortex was my favourite strangely enough, different to everything else I've done to date, quite a simple paint scheme and a nice model.

And now that I have had a few minutes spare, I've done the year (2025) in pictures - as it is so much better than just words! I'm not going to bother trying to collate a picture for all of the models I have properly based, needless to say there are a few and once I've got the army finished I will do a group shot.

Quite the year! Well done.

Good stuff. The Terminators and the Parasite really stand out.

Nice collages! That Farseer steals the show for me

Beautiful group pics. And grats on getting this all done with a newborn in the house - no mean feat!

Any more LotD stuff on the horizon? They came out fantastic.

Thanks guys (and/or gals).
Getting the little guy to bed early helps with free time in the evening, but it is a struggle! Helps the misses likes having relaxing baths sometimes.

@youwashock - thanks, the claws were a pain to do but I think they came out really well
@tzurk - no more LotD planned at the minute unfortunately.

Managed to get quite a bit done today, it helps having over a foot of snow outside and having to work from home with no commute (although it is disheartening clearing the 4inches of snow off the drive way four days in row). I got the Victrix guard as a Xmas present from the misses so they were constructed today (photos to follow tomorrow). I had a spare primaris champion model so I used that as a base to create an additional model from the kit - the squad now mirrors the old 3rd (maybe 4th) edition squad of an ancient, champion and 2 guard.

With the “in-laws” up helping transition the little guy to nursery I also managed some evening painting as well. I finishing the epic predators and leman russ tanks, then managed to make a start on remaining 5man tactical squad and also putting a base coat on a few other models (2 librarians, a standard bearer, Tigurius and 2 vanguard veterans). Both the standard bearer and a veteran had lost the metal tab on their feet, so a bit of gorilla glue was used to fix them down - I was going to use super glue them, but it isn’t strong enough sometimes. Sounds a drastic measure I know but it has worked well and some creative basing will help to hide my sins!

The photo below isn’t the best but once I have more progress I’ll provide a better update!

And the painting table

 JordySteve wrote:

@Tinylegions – Good effort, whats your plan for getting it finished? I think I have two tactical squads unbuilt, and a few more squads unpainted, and I need to catch up on my characters!

I just saw this, apologies for taking so long. I broke them up into three blocks or batches, and to break them down further of either a full squad or two combat squads at a time,(Bikes combat squads count as one round) with vehicles in a block of like 2 or 3. Working on other things now actually, so this is a definitely a "when I get to it." project.

As promised here is the completed Victrix builds!

TinyLegions wrote:

 JordySteve wrote:

@Tinylegions – Good effort, whats your plan for getting it finished? I think I have two tactical squads unbuilt, and a few more squads unpainted, and I need to catch up on my characters!

I just saw this, apologies for taking so long. I broke them up into three blocks or batches, and to break them down further of either a full squad or two combat squads at a time,(Bikes combat squads count as one round) with vehicles in a block of like 2 or 3. Working on other things now actually, so this is a definitely a "when I get to it." project.

No problems Tiny, don’t worry, time gets away from us at times. I’m finding it easier and more approachable to break things down a little rather than looking at a mass of troops and get depressed at the number I still need to do! It’s working so far so will see how long it lasts!

Today’s offerings to the hobby gods!

Managed to get these cleaned and assembled. The blade guard box were a gift last Xmas (oops) - and they have been bolstered by three lieutenants to make the squad up to a full 6 man team (although not sure I agree with this new fad - much prefer squads of ten or five - not sure why they have decided to change seems very uncodex to me!)

They can now move into the “to be primed pile” and await sunnier weather before progressing further!

I love the picture collages of 2025 progress, nice work throughout Mr Steve.

Cheers Ragsta thanks very much.

I some how managed another productive day, however it does just add to the pile of models that’s needs priming, but given the previous days build I thought it was a good opportunity to do some parallel painting in future and clear something else from the pile of shame.  Now these have been in the cupboard for about 20 years so it is about time that they got some loving. 

Painting progress was slow, but got the blue complete on two librarians and now basing in the remaining colours. These models are almost older than me and are from a classic time when books were carried into battle. I think they are lovely sculpts and will be a nice addition to the libraries when finished. 

And finally (sorry for the separate posts but I've been doing this in my phone and I haven't figured out how to interspace photos and text yet!).  Here are the completed epic tanks, all based and ready to be added to the display case. A few more marines to go and the epic Ultramarine contingent will be finished.  The base for the demolishes ties in with the other leman russ tanks (and the titans) whilst the Predators are progressing through a similar ruin to the Vindicators.  When/if I get round to doing some buildings they will be in a similar style to that which I used on the bases!

Well something went wrong today and there was a minor xenos infestation, thankfully it wasn’t too bad an incursion, but a number of larger creatures escaped into the priming area. Hopefully they will be easy enough to put down but for now they are roaming free.

And in case you haven’t guessed they are support for the tyranid combat patrol (maybe can’t call it that now)!

I should say it gonna be very strange combat patrol with Tyrannofex in it

Oh, I see you also have a GW archaeological dig as well. I periodically excavate mine for projects.
I have a Skulls Iwo Jima Diorama waiting in mine for over 20 years.

Heavy metal!

I like how the Librarians are shaping up and I look forward to seeing Calgar and the boys painted.

@kabaakaba - lol yeah your probably right, not the kind of thing you want to bump into unexpectedly! Tbh I don’t know the rules / limitations for combat patrol are monsters verboten?
@Tommygun1918 - yup that’s right, I dived into aladdins cave to see what wonders could be unearthed. I think there are a few more treasures in there that I will try to get through but they generally interfere with other ongoing projects (like finishing the company - which was the original goal when I started the blog).
I’ve finally managed to get hold of the Iwo Jima diorama as well (I think it is a great miniature), after many years of searching (and waiting for a reasonable price). It does fill me with a little dread thou trying to get all those arms arranged and then painted!!
@youwashock - heavy metal indeed, although not as bad as the old dreadnoughts - they are lethal weapons when dropped!

Yesterday’s painting effort was surpringly productive, kids were in bed early, house was tidied, partner was reading, so managed a solid couple of hours at the painting station. First priority was the librarians and it was finishing off the details on them, scrolls, books, chains, etc, before deciding how I was going to paint the swords. On the last two librarians (see pg 1) I had painted flaming swords which I really enjoyed so I went down that route again. I find that it is a fun little challenge, made a lot easier now i have a bigger range of paints to transition between and a wet palette to work from. I am happy with how they turned out and they got the thumbs up from the misses! So they can now move to the pile that needs to be based, which will likely happen when I get the rest of the tactical squad done (although I do seem to be finding excuses to work on other things!).
After the librarians I added a few more colours to the standard bearer, another fee thin layers of white on the banner, gold on the pole and then tidied up the blue. He is now probably ready for dry brushing the armour and getting that finished before I do any more details (or layers of white!)

You’re really going the full range of the latest sculpts and the oldest lead. Looking good!

@Nev - I think I’m just showing my age more than anything else, some of the old stuff just has more character - but is about half the size of some of the new models. Having said that the victrix are quite nice!

Managed to get a few layers on tonight, focused mainly on the standard bearer to try and get him done. In doing so I realised I don’t have a thin enough brush (OO doesn’t cut it) and I don’t have a steady enough hand even if I did have a thin enough brush (or probably good enough eye sight but the magnifying glasses help with that)! But all you can do is try and then tidy up your mistakes when you make them (and learn which colours/ layers to do first and which to do last)!

I have to say this model does confuse me a little. He is holding a banner, but has a tactical shoulder pad, and the banner looks “non-company” specific. So what is he- a company bearer or a chapter bearer? In the end I’ve decided to go down the company route, figuring that he must have proven himself in a tactical squad and has been promoted up from there. So he will have less bling and be more of an average trooper!

Alternatively, the old ancient just got killed, so the nearest tac marine picked up the banner for the remainder of the battle/campaign. There will be time to sort out promotions and insignia once back on the battle barge.

Some lovely old metal models there.

Always liked the skullz standard bearer (on reflection think I have one buried in my plastic/metal treasure pile somewhere...), as Nevelon said field promotion makes sense!