Tuesday 6 January 2015

Projects for 2015

With 2014 firmly in the books it's now time to lay down the plans for this year. As usual I like to set myself some official goals to help with the motivation. However, last year this trick did not really work as hoped as I mentioned in my review of 2014, so for 2015 it's time to focus and get back on track – no more procrastinating!

For this year, I have set myself some rather strict, but hopefully manageable goals:

Italian Wars French



After last year's failure, no more excuses, I will finish my planned starter force for this army during this year. Simple as that.

Håtunaleken



For our Lion Rampant club project, I will add the next couple of units to my host to bring the total points up the regular 24. The current plan is to do some more mounted knights and a unit of foot yeomen with mixed weapons (allmoge). I also plan to do a mounted and an unmounted version of the leader of my host – i.e. the king Birger Magnusson.

Great Northern War



Ever since leafing through my parents' copy of the classic "Karoliner" at age 10, the image of these iconic Swedish soldiers has been firmly planted in my mind. When the new club project for the GNW was announced, I naturally signed up to paint a unit. Our plan is to put on a display game at the Lincon gaming convention in May, so there's a strict deadline to paint to which always works wonders for my motivation.

Operation Winter Storm



I have long been wanting to do some serious WW2 gaming, preferably on the eastern front as it's such a fascinating theatre of war. The ferocious fighting – on all levels of operation, from the large scale to the small scale – and the horrible conditions both sides found themselves in, give the whole thing an almost mythical air. After purchasing this excellent scenario pack for Chain of Command, I knew I had found the perfect project to get started on some eastern front gaming.

The plan is to do everything required for the first 14 (of 22 in total) scenarios during 2015: paint up all the models for both the Germans and the Soviets and make all the terrain. I'm looking at doing this project in 15 mm, which has a number of benefits such as low cost, quick painting time, lots of suitable models from different manufacturers available, and the fact that I already have most of the German infantry needed (although unpainted). There's also some of the club's terrain that can be used which will save me some work.

I have a somewhat sketchy plan to eventually "upgrade" to playing at company level, using the I Ain't Been Shot Mum rules, by expanding the forces some time in the future. This is a rather long-term plan though, so it won't happen this year.

Well, these projects should keep me sufficiently occupied during 2015. Now, all I have to do is stick to the plan and not get seduced by all the fun distractions that inevitably pop up along the way – always the greatest challenge of them all!

23 comments:

  1. Looks like an interesting year to come.
    Best of luck.

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  2. I am looking forward to your progress.

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  3. I shall look forward to your GNW project with interest!

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    1. Thanks Ray! It will probably be one of the first to be finished due to the deadline.

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  4. The Italian Wars and GNW will be watched with interest:).

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    1. Cheers Steve! I hope I won't disappoint you ... ;)

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  5. Lots to keep you busy this year, looking forward to reading about your progress.

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  6. It seems you've got a good balanced mix of periods and scales here, perhaps averting the much feared painter's block! I'm very happy you choose the Eastern Front - it's often neglected, but holds some mammoth battles and in my opinion the deciding factor in WW2. Time to pull out the classic "Stalingrad" movie again :0) Tell me when it's time to game, I'd love to play some Chain of Command!

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    1. Thanks Sören! I'll be sure to let you know when it's time to play.

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  7. Italian Wars French...finished? We'll check! Great projects anyway...

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    1. Haha, good call Phil! Seems I have to step it up one notch just for you. :)

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  8. Best of luck with your plans Jonas!

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  9. Many exciting projects to follow with interest!
    I hope to see more of your beautiful Italian Wars.
    The Göransson book on "Karoliner" was a very inspiring read in my youth as well.
    Also, your WW2 project sounds very interesting. I would have opted for 15mm myself had not my gaming buddies already chosen 28mm for WW2. Chain of command seems to me - at least on paper - like the most fun ruleset so it is a good choice. Will you go for a winter theme? I'm focusing on the siegfried line 44 in the west and East prussia 45 for the East for my platoons, so staying away from the snow. But only just - and it is very tempting.
    /Mattias

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    1. Thanks Mattias!

      Historically, at least as I understand it, in December 1942 it wasn't yet "full" winter in the areas covered by these scenarios. So I'm thinking I won't go full on winter basing but more of a mud/dirt look with some patches of dead grass and just some light snow. I think it will look very nice indeed!

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    2. That sounds great. All out winter with a snow white board is very difficult to make visually interesting in my opinion. Especially if the troops wear snow camouflage.
      Your approach sounds like a good one.

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  10. I agree that the "Karoliner" book is a very good read. I remember reading that book at the age of 8-9 and becoming completely obsessed by the Caroleans for a few years.

    And according to me do a real Carolean wears a kapurs and not a tricorne!!!

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    1. Cheers! About "Karoliner", being at an impressionable age I particularly remember the part about the field surgeon ...

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  11. Some great projects there and a couple of goals the same as mine. Will look out for your Italian War progress for inspiration.

    Good luck with the plan.

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