So the post before last was me bleating about what a tough year 2024 was, with no wargaming activity other than some limited time at the painting table. The lack of posts since then, one game of Sharp Practice aside, is an accurate indicator that the last 12 months weren’t a huge improvement. But not no improvement (grammar).
Aside from that one game back in January, I got a second game in at the last moment by inviting myself round to PatG’s place in Ottawa and refusing to leave until we had a game of CoC2. Ever the gentleman he obliged, and much merriment and learning (my first ever game of the new edition of Chain of Command) was had. He’s such a good host, he even let me win, though I only achieved this with the ungentlemanly manoeuvre of calling in a mortar barrage when he had roughly handled all four of my rifle sections.
Elsewhere, still no shows attended, but having made half a dozen trips to Calgary this year, on the final one I did sneak some time to pop into The Sentry Box, Canada’s largest wargames store (it says here). Just browsing the shelves was a joy, filled as they are with stock that ranges from the very latest thing in wargaming figures to books published before even this old dog was whelped. The notoriously wobbly shelves beloved of such stores did deposit a couple of boxes of Stargrave plastics in my sticky paws.
I have no real plans for them, but I have accumulated quite a collection of modern/sci fi plastic figures in 28mm simply because I like the kitbashing opportunities. I’ve already assembled a few and they go together so easily even my clumsy paws make a decent fist of it.
At least until regular trips to Calgary started taking up so much time, I did get some painting and modelling done. As teased in last year’s missal, the first project was an armoured train for my inter war forces. You can read all about the build here, and I’m rather chuffed with it (geddit?) Pushing myself to engage in this kind of project, none of your new fangled 3D printing for me, is exactly what My Year With Charles is all about.
Apart from that, I fulfilled another long planned project by tooling up some Airfix astronauts…
…and giving them an objective to fight for.
Since then, their opposition (40+ figures converted from Revell Modern British Infantry) have languished on the hobby desk while real life gets in the way. Given these figures are for Scenario 25 and I still haven’t played Scenario 10, there’s some catching up to do.
Plans for 2026? Don’t make me laugh! Obviously I want to play more games, but have no real idea of how to achieve that…meanwhile I’ll keep painting in the odd five minutes that opens up. Every year I decide I will take a trip back to the UK for the Partizan show, and every year it proves too much of a challenge. This year there will be quite a gathering of reprobates from The Outpost forum where I hang out, including members from New Zealand and the Midwest, so my excuses are wearing thin.
So, another 12 months, more whining from the paint-stained pooch and a lot of good intentions. Still as long as I’m having fun, and I am, I must be doing it right.
Right?