Wednesday 27 January 2021

Junk Build Flying Machine 4.0

 So for a couple of weeks now, my children have had the Lego down in the lounge, and have set up a little town on the all-purpose table. Every evening I decide the effort of moving the Lego is not out-weighed by my desire to paint/build. Last night, however the Lego was gone. So it was hobby o'clock. 

I didn't want to actually paint, and have a collection of junk that I have been eying up as possible spacecraft for a while now, so decided to go for it. 




This is some sort of glasses cleaner with the spongey cleaning pads removed. I had to cut the brush off, which extends out of the rear and stick some greeblies on. There are small paper squares to give it the panelled look, and a few other bits. The fin out of the back was a last minute addition, which I am not sure about. I think it gives this more of an atmospheric flyer look, rather than a space faring craft. The long protuberances are for carrying large, heavy-duty cargo.



This is going to be some sort of landing/unloading bay. My new junk-build fits on it. I again just wanted a rough looking, industrial/frontier looking sort of outpost. 

Monday 4 January 2021

2020 in Review - Goals and Dreams for 2021

I think I have had a really good year so far. Lockdown has been lame, but led to some really productive moments. I have enjoyed junk-builds and terrain making. I have collected a few larger bottles to start making space craft with. Below is a collection of my other thoughts:

1. Battlegroup

I finally managed to get Battlegroup (Overlord) to the table, after owning the book since April 2013. It is an outstanding set of rules that simulates exactly what I want from a WW2 wargame. I have been very pleased with it, and I enjoy sitting and planning our armies so that, while playing solo, I can have a little bit of randomness regarding the forces. I am disappointed in myself for not playing it since September again, but I am just so sick of solo gaming, but now in another Lockdown, I have no-one to play with. Rest assured, I will be building towards this again though, and aiming to attend an actual club when Covid allows. 

2. Songs of Blades and Heroes

Managed to get this to the table. I feel like this might be the way forward for my solo gaming. Short skirmishes with some of my Reaper miniatures. Maybe a bit of fantasy RPGing. I don't really know. I don't have much terrain though, and don't want to go building 28mm buildings.

3. 5 Parsecs from Home

I dabbled in this earlier in Lockdown. It is a nice set of rules for solo RPGs, but I again didn't follow through with a string of games. I feel like I am still looking for something, and think that thing is a real life opponent. Honestly, I reckon this is it. My hobby goals have floundered and my productivity is not great. Mostly due to not having someone to play with.

4. Horizon Wars

I played a couple of games of this. I have old, barely started campaigns that have languished for years. I like the narratives it creates, but I wouldn't mind trying out some new rulesets. 


2021: What do I want? What will I do?

I am not sure really. We are looking to move house, and while that excites me, and I will have a small devoted space for painting, I won't have a large double garage like my dad had. I think I will be waiting for a child to move out to bag myself my own gaming room. I basically want to survive the year, build a few spaceships, paint some miniatures, and at some point get some games in with real people. More likely than not, I will get sucked further and further into World of Tanks Blitz and end up neglecting my painting.