Models are next!

Taking a count

     We're in week 2 maybe of the covid-19 death plague so I'm turning lemons into less lemons by entering all my kits into scalemates.  For those who don't know, scalemates is an online cataloging site for modelers to keep track of their kits, extras, books, and paints.  You can bring up all the aftermarket parts for a certain kit and make sure you aren't buying something you have hidden away.  It's paperwork at the beginning but once the data is there it's easier to see ways to use it.  So after going through 4 totes and the storage shelves I come up with a grand total of 367 "kits"!  There is some wiggle room since conversion parts and diorama items are sometimes classified as kits, so it's not 367 actual "build the model in the box" kits, but it's still a lot.  What to do?  Here's a snippet of the books I have on hand for modelling and gaming reference.  Most of my "regular read" books are upstairs and not pictured. 

Reference books, part 1

Reference books, part 2

     While work continues on my models I also have been chugging through the lead pile, and I'm getting within sight of finishing off my pygmies and modern Somalis from Brittania (there are still more modern Africans to paint).  My method of basing when I get enough to make the change in table set up worth it is the way to go for me.  I can paint without clearing the bench and breaking out all the terrain glues and material; I can set a day aside for that once I get enough.  Well, I had enough done and my cookie tray was filled so here's what is done, done (all 28mm):
Friend Duane's minis - 2
Vietnam - 1
Copplestone Russian Civil War (RCW) Whites - 6
Foundry pygmies - 23
Brittania Somalis - 15
RPG minis - 12
Scatter terrain - 18
decorative items for the table - 12.

Pygmie force

Somalis, almost done!

Acheson walls

Old glory Africans and TAG Vietnam

The start of my RCW forces and some goods from Mantic

RPG minis including a rock monster and 2 devils for Dracula's America

The quarantine continues....

Making Headway

     So I'm into week 2 of the "safer at home" quarantine and I'm actually getting a lot done.  Who would have guessed that "hobby time" is really similar to "safer at home"?  I've primed up a lot of darkest africa minis and I challenged myself to finish something substantial so I am pushing to finish the last of my Brittania 28mm Somalis I purchased years ago and have poked at for a while.  I'm down to my last 5!  Next challenge after that is done will be the rest of my modern africa forces, mostly irregulars.  Now for the stuff I've finished!  More buildings were completed which not only clears room in my model room but also starts to bring down my mdf pile. 

Charlie Foxtrot Russian house

The Wild Geese set's airport terminal

Another piece of Mantic's Mars Attacks ruins.

A couple of Mantic wells from their terrain crate.

That's it for completed things.  I only count minis once they are based and put in a box, that means 50 guys are going to be showing up on here along with some more scatter.
     Seeing people post FB pics of games got me moving to clear of the RPG gear, since we aren't meeting face-face, and start putzing around with my rules.  I read a lot of rules but don't play them so they don't get a test drive normally, but that's changing!  I set up a small African village that will be my test bed for modern rules, starting with Skirmish Sangin.  This will be a solo game focusing more on mechanics and process than scenario balance.  It also gave me a push to pull out my modern Africa figures and see what I really have, and what I can finish to finally put a cap on one period's forces.

Overall view of the table

My africans! Nam SF on upper portion.

I'm going to use my 'Nam SF minis as the attacker and I'll pull out enough irregulars to make it interesting.  In the second pic on the lower-right are my Brittania Somalis, going clockwise are Eureka ZANLA, hostage minis in the field, some somalis I got off TMP  (tan round bases) and in the center by the tree are my TAG African forces.  Way on the left by are some more Brittania Somalis, civilians this time.  The huts and foliage were made by me with the exception of a couple of trees.  The cars are diecasts from Menards.  The market stalls are Mantic and the well is an Acheson piece.  The pig sty is from Things From the Basement's Russian village set.