Santa's little helper

Year after year not only the festive season approaches but two wargamer community ventures as well 'Secret Santa' run by Ian Willey and his helpful wife and 'Santa Clause' run by Chris Stoesen. As the two years before I decided to participate in both projects and bought the gifts for my targets at Crisis last weekend.

Anyway this brought back into my mind that I haven't posted some ideas for my personal Santa until now. I apologies the delay but somehow the question of what to get for my targets displaced writing my own wishlist.

It's difficult this year since I'm more or less contended with my lead pile. I've got spare figures for nearly all the periods I'm in but nevertheless there are a couple of gaps:

'Secret Santa' and 'Santa Clause'

Three days of Christmas and one day of recreation have passe and finally I get around to reviewing the wonderful time. It started with Christmas Eve which we spent with my parents. A wonderful evening with a rather early church service because of our young girls, a nice dinner with roulades and shining eyes because of some nice presents. More on that later...

The following two days belonged to our families. We spent Christmas Day at my in-laws and Boxing Day with my family. Although I really love to have my sister, aunt and parents around it was a relief to return home on Saturday evening. Yesterday was a very welcome chance to relax a bit. In addition to the Christmas stress one of our girls passed her cold to me and thus I wasn't too much in a good mood.

Anyway back to Christmas Eve. In Germany it's traditionally this very evening when the presents are handed over. Thus I was lucky enough to unwrap no less than three hobby related presents. First from matchlessly generous Mrs Monty. My dear wife made me a present of a new airbrush gun. It's the wonderful Harder & Steenbeck Pro Evolution Silverline. It has a solvent-resistant body and gaskets and bears a fine 0.15mm nozzle and comes with an additional 0.40mm nozzle. A very short first test with it was excellent. Only that I have to practise my humble airbrushing skills now...

Christmas mail - Old-fashined ?

Meanwhile I'm in my very late thirties and for some time I've been realising how much our society is changing due to the incredible technological changes of the last decades. During my youth we felt satisfied with our own telephone connection and a single family colour TV. We had three television programmes and watching films, sports or game shows with the family was a real event on Saturday evening. It was usual to cultivate written correspondence and recurring school projects liaised pen friendships. Now times have changed and our technical capabilities to gather and share reached a nearly uncontrollable extend. Although I use the merits of modern EDP day by day privately as well as profesionally sometimes I get an uneasy feeling with that. Despite all its advantages this stunning progress changes our manners and our ways to deal with each other. Conversation via internet, short messages and such means is geared to speed rather than to empathy.

Maybe it's this special season of the year that makes me ponder about such things. Therefore I cannot praise the efforts of Chris and Ian along with his Cath enough to set up the 'Secret Santa' and 'Santa Clause' campaigns. For me it's a wonderful occasion where our virtual community and our real world come together. Maybe that's what makes the wargaming community so special for me.

Christmas mail from Monty's Manor

Besides the gifts for my counterparts I decided to spread some Christmas cards. During the last twelve months I became acquainted to a couple of hobby fellows beyond the usual wargaming chitchat. Thus I decided to use the old-fashioned way of pen and paper to send them a short 'hello' and some sort of 'thank you' or 'carry on'.

Sounds old-fashioned and outdated, doesn't it?
But from time to time yours truly feels really well with being an old fogey.

Enjoy Christmas season!  *** formal 'Merry Christmas' will follow of course. ***
It doesn't harm to slow down a bit or maybe turn the tune louder for 'God rest ye merry gentlemen' or 'Good King Wenceslas'.

 

 

'Secret Santa' is early this year.

It has been silent on my blog for the last week. Not because yours truly was lazy but because my work had to be kept top secret. *** Please whistle James Bond theme now or listen here *** As some of you fine fellows as well yors truly was reckless or generous enough to enter the 'Santa Clause' venture again. Thus the four tin soldiers I stipulated took my whole attention lately. Meanwhile they are finished and I'm hoping that my 'Santa Clause' counterpart will appreciate them. I'll follow his blog with greatest curiosity now.

On Saturday I received a parcel which rose my spirits: 'Secret Santa' is early this year. His gift arrived unscathed and gives a mildly rattling sound like small metal parts hitting thin plastic blister caverage. Hopefully he or she didn't enclose any bone china. In that case the sound should be very worrying.

The gift itself.

Anyway let me send you a big Thank you very much ! in advance. Of course I handed the unopened parcel to unbribable Mrs Monty who will take care for it until Christmas Eve. Luckily in Germany handing out the presents at Christmas is slightly earlier than in most anglo-american countries...

Santa's Little Helper (2) - Ideas for 'Secret Santa' venture

My apologise for the absence of my usually regular weekend update. I'm still working on the Plancenoit houses and since Crisis will take place at the next weekend I'm in a rush now. Thus I didn't manage to take photos and post them here. I'll catch up on that later.

But besides the upcoming show there's another thing occupying my mind. As last year I'm participating in the 'Santa Clause' campaing as well as in the 'Secret Santa' venture run bei Ian and his dear wife Cath. The latter asked us participants to post some kind of whish list to help our generous donor. Thus here's what yours truly might be in need of:

Last chance to enter 'Secret Santa' !

Simultaneously to Chris's 'Santa Clause' venture Ian from 'The Blog with no Name' fame is organising 'Secret Santa' again. An equally wonderful campaign between bloggers but with some different rules. Actually the present is slightly more pricy with £15 but delivered unpainted. Anyway have a look at Ian's invitation to get an idea if you're interested: Here.

Yours truly is boundlessly happy to take part in the venture again. I'm really looking forward to roam the Crisis wargaming show looking for a nice gift for my Christmas target!

It seems our virtual wargaming community is really special. People giving presents to each other although just knowing the virtual Alter Ego of their counterparts is everything but ordinary. I'm really glad that I've found my way into this bloggosphere and I'm looking forward to many joyful years though!

If you want to join the bunch don't hesitate to go to Ians last call: Here.

Next week I'll deliver some idea for my very own counterpart in the same manner as for the 'Secret Santa' venture. You'll spot some overlaps I presume.   ;-)

Santa's Little Helper (1) - Ideas for 'Santa Clause' venture

The festive season is coming nearer and therefore two tireless bloggers are organising yearly ventures. Ian from 'The blog with no name' is running the 'Secret Santa' campaing while Chris from 'Wargamer's Odds and Ends' is maintaining 'Santa Clause'. Chris closed the enrollment in early-October and all the paires are matched. Now each participant has the task to get one or more figures for up to £5 for his (or her) counterpart, paint them and post them until Christmas.

Luckily I found a nice set of Warlord Games miniatures which will hopefully appeal to my target fellow. I'll get them at Crisis in Antwerp and afterwards have around five weeks to paint them before they'll make their way to the UK. Should be no problem...

Anyway our host asked me to put some kind of wish list onto my blog to give my benefactor some hints. But let me place first that I'll appreciate any piece of work showing that the creator put his efforts into it. One of the dearest pieces in my collection is a small vignette which I luckily won in a friend's raffle a while ago. Although I don't have a single figure matching it I always appreciate to have a look at it and the wonderful greeting card that came with it when I pass by my glass cabinets.

Thus 'Santa' shouldn't agonise too much about finding the perfect addition to my collection. Just find something you'd like to paint and present!

But anyway as asked some recommendations:

28mm Modern Warfare:

Sometime this winter I'll focus on this interesting topic. Until now I have some mordern British by Empress and a two or three Hasslefree modern troopers. In case that 'Santa' share my interest in the modern Afghan theatre of war maybe one or two suitable insurgents or militia fighters would be nice. Of course any other matching range would do as well.

By the way for skirmish gaming miniatures I prefer 5 Cent coins as bases. They are 1.7mm thick and have a diameter of 21mm. More or less the same size as British pennies.

My first painted modern trooper (link)

28mm Napoleonics:

A constant topic on my workbench. Last year Santa's present was a top hit for that. A wonderful RHA howitzer which is excellently painted and perfectly useful for me. No need to compete against that but in case that 'Santa' has a partiality for Napoleonics there are a couple of gaps in my collection. Somehow under the radar I'm working on a French brigade. Actually the 1st or 2nd Brigade from D'Erlon's Corps at Waterloo. Until now it doesn't have a command base and I haven't planned one yet.

In case that 'Santa' chooses this task a 60mm circular base would be perfect. But please without colours. They will be carried by the regiments.

28mm WW2:

Another project that's keeping my attention constantly. Currently I'm woking on some British Paras and Desert Rats as regular readers of my humble blog know. But as soon as both platoons are finished I'll probably turn to British Expedition Force or Homeguard. Maybe 'Santa' wants to give either of them a start. Warlord Games and Wargames Foundry are providing a wonderful range of Home Guard / Dad's army figures. Perhaps 'Santa' would enjoy to paint one or two of them.

One of Wargames Fonudry's charcterful Home Guard set sculpted by Alan and Michael Perry

28mm War of the Roses:

Somehow I fell into this project after the Perry twins seduced me with their excellent plastic boxes. Besides that my efforts are rather limited so maybe 'Santa' wants to take that line and add something to my slowly growing collection. Either some civilians or a command base might be his choice then. For the latter I have no real favourite but my archers are bearing the colours of York. Thus one of the Yorkish leaders would be most suitable. Maybe accompanied by a standard bearer to simplify recognition on the battlefield. Although my other WotR figures are based on 21mm coins a larger vignette would be finde as well.

My Yorkish bowmen (link).

And besides that?

Anything 'Santa' appreciates. Actually scenic elements like carts, animals or civilians are most useful for any table but mostly badly underrepresented. So ther'd be a lot of room in all my projects for such elements. Beginning with the Dark Ages, over WotR, AWI, Napoleonics and right to WW1 and WW2 I'd apreciate any kind of useful bits and pieces.

Well then... I hope give's a good bunch of ideas for 'Santa'. As you see I mentioned some pieces that could be based on multi-figure packs beyond £5. Consistent with the rules I don't expect 'Santa' to acquire those but perhaps he or she has some spare figure that do the job.

By the way Ian hasn't closed the list for 'Secret Santa' yet. So if you want to jump on the train don't hesitate to go to his blog: Here.

So let me finish with a matter that is close to my heart:

Anything is appreciated 'Santa' choses to put his efforts and time into.

Many thanks to "Santa Claus" and "Secret Santa" !

This year it was my first time in the "Santa Claus" and "Secret Santa" ventures and thus I was really curious what my counterparts sent me. Luckily both parcels arrived in time and I opened them on Christmas Eve which is the traditional time for handing out the presents in Germany.

And from both gifts I was pleased beyond all measure.

Many, many thanks 

to "Santa Claus" and "Secret Santa" !

"Santa Claus" painted this awesome Royal Horse Artillery howitzer for me:

Crikey! What a gorgeous gift!

The set is a perfect choice for my collection since I have all the other sets I need for a complete battery but didn't own the howitzer until now. And besides that it's extremely well painted. Unfortunately I don't know the generous donor but many, many thanks this way! In case that he (or she) would be willing to reveal his or her identity I would be delighted to get to know the colours which were used to adjust my very own RHA figures.

"Secret Santa" was likewise generous. He or she sent me two sets of Great War Miniatures representing a British WW1 13pdr Mk. I gun and an appropriate crew of 6 men. Really the choice I was hoping for when I presented my wish list a couple of weeks ago. A perfect addition for my WW1 Tommies.

The late war crew I got. (picture from Northstar)

The gun with ammunition wagon and early war crew. (picture from Northstar)

But more important for me was to please my counterparts. Luckily I read on their blogs that they received my gifts in time and that they were rather pleased about them.

Last but not least many, many thanks to the organizers of both projects. To Cath and Ian for "Secret Santa" and to Chris for "Santa Clause". I'm looking forward to 2015 and hope that they'll start the ventures again. I would be delighted to take part again.

(Secret) Santa is early

Actually it's busy on my workbench but unfortunately nothing to present yet. My six miniatures for the Cold bonus round of Curt's painting challenge are about to be finished but unfortunately I'll not be able to present anything else this week.

A pity not to use this free to publish anytim week but more than those six men are beyond my possibilities I'm afraid.

However a couple of days ago the postman brought a very nice package. Secret Santa was as good as early and sent my very first Christmas present this year. It's very hard not to open it for the next two weeks but of course I'll endure that somehow. Anyway the rattling sound the parcel makes is really promising. It sounds like a couple of metal parts... Hopefully it's a couple of figures or a little kit which Secret Santa put in and not only on piece. At least after shipping it's a more than one piece...

Irreleveant what's inside:

Many, many thanks to Secret Santa !

And by the way a short notice to Chris and Ian:

My gifts for "Secret Santa" and "Santa Clause" are on their way and should arrive just before Christmas at the aimed fellows.

Santa's little helpers...

During the last weeks Ian and Chris took enrolments for the annual Christmas campaigns "Santa" and "Secret Santa". During the last years Ian and his wife managed both of them but because of the growing number of participants and to avoid confusion Ian gave the Santa Clause campaign into Chris's trustworthy hands.

Anyway I nearly missed their roll calls but luckily got tickets for both campaigns at the last minute. And here's what it's all about (for the few who don't know...):

"Santa Clause"

Rule number 1:
To enter you need to either have a blog or be a regular follower of this blog (or Ian's) already. This is to give confidence to all involved that everyone will follow through to the end. If you have a blog and don't follow this one it's OK to join in.

Rule number 2:
The idea is that each person involved buys a figure or figures to the value of less than £5 and paints them up to fit in with what the target blogger wargames or collects. Best would be some kind of command for the bigger scales but maybe a unit or two of such as 6mm or a building or... you get the idea.

Rule number 3:
Please try to send out your items so that they will arrive by December 20th in plenty of time for the big day. I will send out who you have on September 16th.

Rule number 4:
Please post on your blog about your participation. The more we can get on board, the more fun for all of us.

Rule number 5:
This is not intended to be a cheap alternative to Ian's Secret Santa^TM. Instead it is a great opportunity to send and receive something that will be special BECAUSE it's a one off from a fellow blogger. Not that you have to limit yourself to something useful, feel free to paint up something that will just sit aside the painting desk or study etc and just give pleasure. 

So after all I got my target a few days ago and it's locked. The person I have the pleasure to paint some figures for is a fellow wargamer who is following my blog for some time as I do with his blogs. Actually I would love to give more hints about this noble fellow but I should keep my mouth shut to avoid ruining the surprise. Anyway the parcel will have to take a long journey so no time to waste !

"Secret Santa"

Actually the same rules apply as above but this campaign is not about a painted miniature of any kind but of a present (of course hobby related...) for about £15. Each participant will send one as well as receive another.

Ian is still taking contenders for this project. So if you want to join the bunch then hurry up and sign in!

However I'm really excited of being a part of both prjects. I love the idea of digging into one's hobby and find an item he hopefully is in need of. And as for "Santa Clause" I like the idea to give someone time, effort and hopefully pleasure as a present much more than the little amount of necessary money...

Many, many thanks to Chris and Ian for running those ventures. And to all participants, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do !