While still playing catch-up on one too many fronts, I amassed enough short painting sessions to post a second Hanoverian foot regiment. This time, Regiment von Hardenberg marches out to take its post in the storage box.Like the previous regiment in this push (von Sporcken can be seen here), von Hardenberg is composed of 22-foot figures from Old Glory led by a mounted Eureka mounted colonel. With the arrival of von Hardenberg, that brings the total Hanoverian foot regiments up to ten. Without digging too deeply into The Lead Pile to confirm, this may exhaust the supply of unpainted Old Glory Hanoverian foot. May exhaust but I am not quite sure. The Lead Pile is a bit disorganized at the moment with packets and boxes of figures spilling out onto the floor and overflowing the cabinet placed beside the painting desk. Nearing 700 figures painted, thus far, in 2024, gives me pause when I look at the piles of figures awaiting their turn at the brush. Based upon the realization that The Lead Pile looks no different with 700 fewer figures, gives little hope that this mountain can be conquered any time soon. Well, likely not in my lifetime. As stated by others before, I expect to die trying...
Has any reader been hit with this sobering thought of late?
Next up on the painting desk sees a return to 28mm Sumerians, 15mm FPW Prussians, and the start to a small SYW British Army to augment the Hanoverians. I think there are a pair of Walloon Guards awaiting their turn at the brush too. Of course, plenty of other figures as well. I also have just about enough primed figures to last through a long, cold winter. Still, I better prepare some more just in case.
Another great looking regiment Jonathan. As for a lead pile, I think I am one of the lucky ones, no more than a few hundred figures to get done
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil! You are one of the lucky (and reasonable) few. Well done!
DeleteAn impressive painting output, regardless of the backlog (and with good results, too!). When I hit early retirement, I had those thoughts about the lead pile, which was substantial (and there were boxes of lead I had not touched for decades). So, I retained just enough raw lead to round out what I had and dumped the rest (I have plenty of collections to play with). But painting was never my prime interest. If it were, I would have kept the figs to always have something to do.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ed! My painted figure count will be down this year but right in line with my January goals so that is a success.
DeleteI have yet to jettison figures that I may not get to painting. I suppose that I unrealistically think that all of the figures can see a lick of paint before the brush is pried from my hand. I still enjoy painting so I will press on.
More lovely Hanoverians, and that total is creeping up for the year. I think I have completed a few hundred figures more than I have purchased this year which is a net gain on the lead pile and a source of satisfaction. Probably upwards of 25,000 unpainted still to go. At the current rate of just over 1,000 a year it might still be achievable, although I really want to start on some of the terrain I have which will slow things down.
ReplyDeleteAt the back of my mind I am hoping my rate will lift once I am retired from work, but then knowing I have limited hobby time due to work commitments means I am probably much more productive in the limited time available than I would otherwise be.
Thanks, Lawrence! I am way ahead on the Purchase/Paint ration this year. This is the first year that I actually tracked such stat. Keeping this number as a constant reminder has greatly curtailed purchases this year. I mean, I only bought about 100 figures? Unbelievable.
DeleteI do not expect that my unpainted total reaches your heights, but I could very easily be wrong!
Another fine addition to the SYW collection, trundling along nicely there Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir! Trundling along...
Delete700 figures! Jonathan that's not to be sniffed at.....poor elves! ☺
ReplyDeleteThe sobering thought of how much time I have left v what I want to do, has been a preoccupation for a while.....
At times, it's a spur to getting stuff done, at others a sisyphean boulder that is just depressing....
I have a list of all the periods I want to finish and even start. I should rid myself of stuff that will never get done, but can't (not yet anyway).
I have worked on finding a faster painting method I'm happy with. I kid myself that imminent retirement will allow me to finish stuff, but also secretly dread developing some age related infirmity that will handicap my painting and modelling.
Faced with all that, I try to take it a day at a time and aim to do something at the weekend....
Neil
I used to joke with my wife that I needed two lifetimes: one to paint and one to game. I am slowly realizing that is not likely...
DeleteHaving retired four years ago, my thoughts were similar to yours. I figured that I would be churning out huge quantities of painted figures. Instead, my gaming picked up markedly and painting has either stayed steady or declined. Taking it day by day is a solid and defensible approach to tackling The Lead Pile.
But you ARE churning out huge quantities..😀
DeleteNot as many as in years past, David!
DeleteWell that started out positive (another nice unit) and ended pretty negative with thoughts of mortality and unfinished business.
ReplyDeleteI'm picturing the scene in 100 years when something like poor Sandy Irvine's lower leg and boot were found. "Geneticists have confirmed that the remains found on Mount Lead are those of famed wargamer Jonathan Freitag. Global President, Taylor Swift IV, has sent her condolences to figure manufacturers."
Very funny, Chris! I store all of the lead in the basement so there is no undue stress on the structural integrity of the house.
DeleteGlad you approve of the latest Hanoverian!
Another nice OG unit Jon!
ReplyDeleteAs you will recall, I do not have a huge lead pile, although I certainly have more unpainted figures now than at most times in the past.
I don't worry too much about what the future brings....the fact that, by the time both my parents would have been my current age (62), they had passed away, means I don't have any expectations....mid 80's would do me probably, although, who knows if I will get there?!
Thanks, Keith!
DeleteI know that you run a lean operation but I recall times this year when boxes of figures seemed to be arriving at least weekly. Hopefully, you will have plenty of time to paint them and get them to the table.
Great looking figures Jonathan. I must admit I thought that von Sporcken and von Hardenberg were made up names. I need to read up on the Hanoverians 😁
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the size of the lead pile, just worry about running low. Imagine the horror if you opened your unpainted figure cupboard and found it empty!!
Thanks, Ben! Perhaps I should provide a photo of The Lead Pile and ask if running low is a possibility?
DeleteMore Hanoverian loveliness Jon, another very nice OG unit. Your painting total for the year is very impressive, the lead pile is always a thought for most of us, in my case I am going to start getting rid of projects that are never going to get done, that's the plan anyway!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donnie! How do you assess whether or not a project never gets done? I don’t know what I don’t know and I am always the optimist.
DeleteThat is the big question Jon and when I find an answer I will let you know!!
DeleteYour Hanoverian troops are the bomb! I like your "fit to put in the box, " comment...it reminds me of the " another fine dust catcher " comment made by Charlie Sweet back in the '70's.
ReplyDeleteI have been working under the assumption that any day this side of the dirt is a win. Lead belongs in the cellar. It is ballast for one's dreams of conquest. We must all find a level of painting and play that suits ourselves. Tailor your purchase plans around your next favorite campaign and resist ( yes I said it) new toys, no matter how shiny.
I am halfway through my final troop planning and painting for my idiosyncratic requirements. The biggest bug bear to progress is rebasing, a whole lot of bother to many.
I will end my Carlist War project in about 30 figures. My 20mm Polish WW2 will take over 3 years to be settled.
I realize that I probably won't add to my 20mm RCW units unless I settle on a rulebook for the period. I could go on, but play, paint and keep blogging!
They all sound like first world problems to me.
Thanks, Joe! Yes, every additional day is a win in my book too. Knowing that you have reached "final troop planning and painting" phase is quite a milestone. That horizon for me is still obscured by clouds.
DeleteClouds hide the shattered landscape of dreams. :-) All I really know is that I also want to play more than plan & paint in the next decade. And maybe even have better photos in my AAR'S.
DeleteI have two examples of how project creep have affected my own game plans. But I think I will leave them to be blog entries.
I anxiously await your project creep peek.
DeleteLovely looking unit Jon and as usual your productivity is impressive as to my final demise I have no plans. I have noted that I am less keen to buy figures at the moment as I do have a lot of projects on the ‘go’ or in the pipeline. I am also more aware that some collections are close to reaching a sensible limit. Will I paint everything I have, I doubt it unless my wife finds a way to stop me buying anything else for the next 10-20 years. But I enjoy collecting and painting. Because a large amount of the lead pile has been purchased secondhand and therefore very cheap it is incredibly hard to sell on as its perceived value is high to me at least ?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt!
DeleteMany of my collections have reached that "sensible limit" too. This year, my goal was to extend that fledgling sensibility to cutting back on new purchases. With only about 100 figures added to The Lead Pile in 2024, I made a step toward realizing that goal. Like you, I enjoy collecting and painting too although painted numbers are in decline this year. Selling figures painted by my hand is incredibly hard. I rarely do it. There is some sentimental value in the toil put into the effort.
Beautiful looking unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michal!
DeleteMy health problems earlier this year did indeed give me pause to think where am I going with all this stuff. I stopped buying for several months, unlike most wargamers I only buy what I paint and paint what I buy before moving on. I have come to the conclusion however that I have reached my limit, no more new periods, I will continue to add to what I have, maybe refubish some and work on terrain.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard that before George 🤔
DeleteI think we have all heard that before!
DeleteThe regiment looks great and your work rate is phenominal. Keep chipping away at the mountain, you'll notice its visible reduction in due course.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard! You know not how high The Lead Pile rises...
DeleteA fab looking unit Jon. When can we see a game using these luvvly looking figures? There's nothing wrong with a lead pile that doesn't seem to end. I mean what fun would that be?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ray! Good question on the appearance of Hanoverians. Perhaps I can find a battle to bring them to the table after I exhaust Shiloh? On the Lead Pile, what fun, indeed!
DeleteAnother splendid looking unit Jonathan…
ReplyDeleteAll the best. Aly
Thanks, Aly!
DeleteJonathan - the chimaera of new projects will just not go away (I think I'm pleased to say); I caught a new bug about 3 months ago which has completely undermined the paint: purchase balance this year - I'd thought I might have gone positive this year. 🙄 Not much beats that initial enthusiasm, research, planning and... Would be delighted if I make 700 this year; I might make it. KR Andrew
ReplyDeleteAndrew, the call of new projects is constant although in my case, with less volume. This is the first year I actually tacked buy v paint. I will be positive this year if I can stick to plan!
DeleteAnother nice unit! As to the lead pile, I am reminded of the diet/health advice to 'Eat less, move more'... I'd say 'Buy less, paint more'. But if 700 doesn't touch the sides, then 'STOP buying, keep painting' might be better...
ReplyDeleteThanks, David! I have bought only 100 figures this year. That is nothing compared to other years! I need to paint more, for sure...
DeleteI need to do this as well.
DeleteMany of us could use a little more discipline.
DeleteExcellent work as always Jon! One thing we were discussing at the CWD show was the leadpile, our increasing ages and how much longer we will be able to paint to a level we would be happy with. Something for a future post on my Blog...?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve! The size of The Lead Pile and mortality are always good topics for discussion. Looks like you had a good day out at CWD.
DeleteObserving the grenadiers I would order them to look in the direction where they are marching. I hope that there are no holes in the ground. ;-D Difficult to paint the grenadiercaps in this scale.
ReplyDeleteQuite right, André! For grenadier mitres, I offer only my impression.
DeleteI’m going to buried with my lead mountain so I can finish them in the afterlife.
ReplyDeleteSeems reasonable to me!
Delete