Year in Review: Figures Painted

When I look back to the beginning of 2023 (see 2022 Year in Review: Figures Painted), my main painting goals were,

• Continue expansion of the 18mm SYW/WAS project to include more armies. In addition to Spanish and Piedmontese, field a British/Hanoverian army.
• Build a 15mm Prussian Army to allow expansion of the Franco-Austrian War collection to the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars.
• Continue work to expand the 25mm Biblical armies including Sumerians, Hittites, Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians.

I did not specify a particular target figure count to attain but my goal is often to shoot for 1,000 in a year.  It is a nice round number and a good goal.

As you will see, the expansion of the SYW/WAS project sped ahead on track.  Unfortunately, the 15mm FPW Prussian Army never left the starting blocks and Biblicals only saw a few additions.  I mentioned the possibility of beginning a Trojan War project in 2023.  That, likewise, never made it out of the starting gate.

So, what did I manage to accomplish on the painting front in 2023?

Well, I managed (but just barely!) to cross the 1,000 figure threshold in 2023.  As they say, it was a near-run thing.  Final tally showed 1,015 figures painted.

Monthly Totals

As the chart below shows, 2023 started off with a bang with more than 100 figures painted in three of the first four months.  After that, productivity plunged.  I never regained the 100 figures/month mark again.  As seen from the red bars, the 15/18mm SYW project saw most of the action at the painting desk.

Figures painted by month

Totals by Era and Scale

Switching from the monthly bar chart to a pie chart, the total effort given to the SYW project is clear. Nearly 76% of all figures painted (767) were in this period.  Few other periods saw much attention besides the 136 ACW figures mustered out. 

Total figures painted by era - actual

When the number of figures is translated into painting points (where larger figures and different troop types are assigned more weight), the picture does not change much.  The exception is that the 25mm Biblicals show up as their own category from the "Other" grouping.  Still, even with this translation, SYW comprises about 75% of all painting effort.

Total figures painted by era - painting points

When the counts are broken out by figures size (scale), it is no surprise that the emphasis on painting 15/18mm SYW figures tips the scale to that figure size.  The chart below illustrates that 82% of all figures painted fall into this classification.

Total figures painted by scale- actual

As noted, one of the 2023 goals was to focus on fielding more armies for the SYW project.  The plan was to field armies for Piedmont, Spain, and Hanover.  

Did I stick to that plan?  Yes!

The graphic below shows that all three of the nations saw action at the painting desk.  Piedmont fielded 261 figures, Spain saw 204 figures added, and Hanover saw 262 figures march out.  A handful of figures for other nationalities marched out too. 

Total SYW figures painted by nation

So, on the first count of bringing more SYW/WAS figures to the table, I call this a success.  For the other goals, I missed the mark but there is always another year to make up lost ground.

Looking Ahead

What do I foresee for the painting desk in 2024?

While 2023 focused on mustering out troops for the SYW/WAS project, 2024 will likely see more of the same.  With a large stock of lead for this project remaining, I could easily carry on as in 2023 especially fielding more French, Hanoverians, Piedmontese, and Spanish.  Perhaps, British and Jacobite contingents will work their way into the painting queue in 2024?  I could foresee expanding this project to include yet another theater of operations.

2023 was clearly the year of painting SYW in 15/18mm.  2024 ought to show a little more diversification by returning to some work in 25/28mm.  There are lots of Biblicals to field including a possible start to a Trojan War project.  Besides, Trojans could give my Hittites someone else to fight.  What about the long delayed FPW Prussians?  Perhaps this is the year for them?  

The path forward requires some more thought.

Dialing back the painting effort seems reasonable for 2024.  I set the target at 750 painted figures.

Lastly, the graphic below shows that 2024 marks the 30th year that I have been tracking my painting production.  While I began tracking in 1994, 1995 was the first full year of results.  I have been at this for a very long time!        

What are your painting plans for 2024?