Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: mellis1644 on September 18, 2018, 08:42:03 PM
-
OK the lead pile may be getting out of hand...
I know I have bought various models (and even groups of models for specific projects) but when I check the lead pile I can't find them. The pile is too big and my hiding places too many for my own good.
Problems of a 'wargaming magpie'. I know a comment would be to sell some of these old projects items but I want to do them all, so I just need to get some more completed.
I guess I'm not alone in these issues, or at least I hope I'm not...
-
No way around it. Stop buying until you get a project done. The overwhelming majority of gamers are unable to do it, but it's worth trying.
-
Yeah - the problem is the one I want to do I can't find. lol
I'm actually pretty good at getting though painting (not great but ok) BUT my gaming dreams are bigger than my painting skills...
-
Nope, I have about 25 unpainted minatures, not counting my 40k stuff wich I stopped playing and as such am likely to sell off.
Been back in the hobby for 1 year now with a different game system.
About 5 miniatures painted in that time, yeah I'm not the fastest or most dedicated painter.
-
I will get round to finishing those original RT-01 plastics....
-
I have to stop myself now. I've abandoned more projects than I've ever completed, because I get distracted too easily.
Projects that are well advanced (they never actually finish of course) are - WW2 British Para platoon, dark age Norse-Gaelic raiders, Oldhammer bits and pieces (Ugezod's Death Commandos are actually finished!).
Stuff that has been barely started or is still on hold includes - WW2 British & Commonwealth in Burma, Crusades Hospitallers, WW2 British & Commonwealth 8th Army (1:72 plastics), Napoleonic British (1:72 plastics), Zulu War British (1:72 plastics), Napoleonic British 28mm, Oldhammer Regiments of Renown (various), British Celts (1:72 plastics) and Wars of the Roses.
Projects abandoned - ACW Confederates, ECW Montrose army, ECW Covenanters, WW1 British in Palestine, Ancient Nubians, Spartans, 100YW English, Spanish Conquistadors, 30YW Swedish, Napoleonic Portuguese, Prussians & Dutch-Belgians (1:72 plastics), Romans (1:72 plastics), WH40K Imperial Guard, WH40K Orks, WH40K Tyrannids, WHFB Orcs & Goblins, WHFB Chaos Beastmen, WHFB Bretonnians … possibly others I've forgotten.
When I honestly look at a pile of lead and decide it's giving me no pleasure to see it there, all judgemental, I get shot of it. It actually feels very cleansing to free myself of the burden and allow the toys to be appreciated. Then the trick is to make sure the projects I have don't grow.
Too much.
-
Cubs.
Is right project management is the trick. Like most I've projects that are years old(okay decades) I'm in a slightly different predicament I've barely bought figures in years and the ones I have are specifically related to existing projects.
Unfortunately my lead pile grows every week. As it's more of a 3D record of works and re usable bits.
Personally I'd recommend you take a weekend and get organised. Sort every thing into periods and kits etc.(Then be honest with yourself .)
Three piles. Definitely will,Then- if I finish the first pile,Then- If I finish the second pile. Then once thats done . Actually be honest with yourself. Piles two,and three are actually... Not a cat in Hells chance.
I have to admit I just went through my Dwarf miniatures draw.To find a figure to paint for the painting party . The Mrs wanted to look through the dwarfs once she realized how much the one I'd just painted was worth. I was begrudgingly compliant with more than a hint of blind panic lol.As theres over thirty years worth of collecting in one Draw( Never going to tell the mrs just how many other draws of figures there are in my workshop :D)
-
Yes, I must say, I've kept on the rails with only two active projects (Pulp & Mage Knight Fantasy - MK is dormant but has a larger pool of unpainted figures), and one project I'm not allowed to start until I'm much further along with (40K 28mm Inquisi-Pulp). But in spite of having so few projects, the pile of unpainted miniatures still grows!
At least I've been good about not buying anything for 40k which I can't get later. I only have 4-5 figures, and those only because they were an especially rare offer, one-time-only, or other such restrictions.
-
Don't stop buying things you like if you can afford it.
Just don't forget to get a dive into your pile ( or room, or basement, shed, holiday resort or whatever ) is you catch a challenging new rules set and get those classic figs out you've always liked but never got to put to good use. It's a hobby, should be both challenging and relaxing, to to be taken too seriously :-).
-
I was unemployed for a number of months over the summer. No income and plenty of time gave me a good chance to sort out the lead pile. Made a good dent in a number of projects, cleared out some obvious non-starters. Of course I didn't completely paint everything! Now I'm working again, so I am back to impulsively purchasing stuff that I no longer have time to paint.....
-
unless you have at least a Tonne you don't have a problem. ;)
-
I have had kebab years for a while back on track so able to buy shiny. Lots of projects and bits and bobs in Last couple of years. I tend not to worry, if it stalls, there is not interest in the game with mates etc, flog them, swap them but use cash to round out an existing project or pick up a new one. For me I try not to make it a job , there are no killer deadlines in a hobby nor should there be. If for a demo then leave plenty if time but don't solely do that project.
Recently my partner has been ill so I sat for 12 weeks alone in evenings, with the wandering mind I jumped about, painting 8 of one type of mini, them switch to another. If I got into the swing of things kept going with another batch. If not don't feel you have to complete before moving on. One thing I found by doing this is I might have 2 or 3 units part painted, going back to them weeks later you find very quickly that these all are finished off as you aren't faced with the huge task of starting from scratch
-
I have been painting without buying any new figures for about 3 years now. Haven't even hardly put a dent in my lead pile. Well I have bought a odd figure or 2. the last figures I bought were some Gringo40s about 3 years ago, and they have all been painted. Thinking about getting into some Tonkin & Dhomey figure soon though.
-
Being a wargamer should be a recognised condition giving the entitlement to at least 3 months time off work a year. This would enable lead piles to be kept to acceptable minimums, giving relief from the oppressive burden they can potentially cause lol
-
unless you have at least a Tonne you don't have a problem. ;)
This.
I’m about to move for the last time and that focuses the mind a bit, so I’ve been flogging off some stuff, might get it down to two tonne lol
-
Heres what helped me slow down. I moved after living in the same place for almost 30 years. When I realized I was going to need a second truck just to move my lead pile (painted and unpainted) I devested some and committed to slow my buying of new figs. Now I am focused on two basic projects. Pulp and Cowboys and I have most of what I want so figure purchases are rare.
The reason for the unpainted stuff is often because I painted enough to play the period and what was left to paint were the "it would be cool to have" units or figures. The other thing is buying new armies that I hope to play one day. I still have plenty I could not give up and it still remains unpainted go figure lol lol lol
-
Oh!
Wait!
You're supposed to.... paint... 'em? ???
We're also moving house in a few weeks and yeah, I feel a bit guilty for all the neglected shinies that I am having to box up. I can't see myself getting rid of any, and since The Boy is showing some interest these days I can at least use the "but we're bonding!" excuse...
-
lol using that one. Be warned it will soon be "what do WE have I can take to games night?"
-
I found most of my missing items, so panic over on that side although I am missing one rules book I was after. :)
But yes I keep saying I'm buying for retirement, as the lead prices rise (and kick starters tend to be good deals) and storage costs are ok - well that's my excuse anyway...
-
I keep seeing stuff and thinking, "Gosh - that looks cool!" and buying it, with a paint plan, some historical or sci-fi research, and so on.
But, life gets in the way of painting. My wife gets so annoyed she actually requested that I start drinking, abusing drugs, gambling, or go get another girlfriend, as any of these vices would cost less and take less time away from her and the kids.
Go figure.
-
The Mrs and I took up golf a few years ago... Now, that is a hobby which eats time and money. Lessons, driving range session and the all afternoon games.
After that the Mrs did not complain about the costs or time but storage gets the occasional comment. ;)
-
Well, either I'm still an absolutely cracking Tetris player, or my painting area and gaming room have TARDIS-like properties, but impossibly, I'm still able to find a nook or cranny to put my newest shinies every time, and have been for decades.
And as long as my hobby stuff does not overflow that appointed room, my wife does not mind. She has zero interest in my hobby, but has accepted it, as it was already part of the package when we met. But this also means she has no clue of just what kind of monetary value is stashed up there; probably enough to get our daughter through uni when the time comes (but luckily we already made other arrangements for that, so the mountain can rest and grow undisturbed).
On the other hand; I recently learned that the house has begun to show an ever so slight lean on the side where I do most of my squirreling, so there may be a loophole in dimensions up there, but mass is apparently still retained.
What really worries me though, is that I recently came across an apparent (small) start of some project I had no recollection of ever getting! So how it ever ended up in my room of holding is an absolute mystery, and a slight warning to maybe take it easy on the acquisitions for a while.
I have every intention to start and finish each and every project I ever bought into (except that one mystery ziplock bag; what IS up with that?), it's just that the dimensional rift I'm taking advantage of for my storage is limited to three dimensions only, which leaves me with not enough time.
Let's just hope I'll make to retirement, so I can start making serious dents in the mountain. But that will create its own challenges as I've already learned: painted miniatures, when properly stored and/or displayed take up exponentially more room than unpainted miniatures and sprues... ::)
-
(https://i.imgur.com/npKtBwp.jpg)
-
lol lol lol
So true!
-
I don't like to think about it. If you stare into the Abyss for too long, the Abyss stares back at you...
-
I suggest completing a detailed inventory of all your unassembled/unpainted stuff, ideally a spreadsheet lol. I am not particularly scientific but then I would suggest using the following formula.
(T x H) + A
T = Total of reasonable time allocated to each inventory item to complete, bearing in mind things usually take twice as long as you think they do especially if there is a learning curve involved.
H = Average hobby time expressed as a decimal fraction of, say per day so for example ½ hour = 0.5/24 = 0.020833
A = Your current age
I would suggest if the answer is in excess of 80 then maybe it is time to consider prioritising and offloading items of least interest lol
-
I know what you mean... About four years ago I realised that I had around 2,000 unpainted AB Napoleonics. But the Waterloo bicentennial was just around the corner and then I decided to finally paint up the Austrians for 1809. All in all, I painted around about 2,000 AB Figures for those projects, so no problemo! :)
I recently did a stock-take... It seems that I now have around 2,000 unpainted AB Napoleonics... :o
What went wrong...? >:(
-
There seems to be two groups on this. It's the same with friends in the local group as well.
* There are those of us in the 'aspirational camp' - where we have loads of projects, they may grow or shrink but realistically we know we have too much and live with it, for various reasons.
* The realistic camp who purge and keep the project and lead mountain under control.
I'm much more in the aspirational camp but at the same time there are limits even to what I can stand. Still without the dreams and the hobby I'd be a lot less happy person so you know what I'll just keep on going down my little dreamer camp of all these projects.
I know I have a bit of addict/collector/completist tendencies so that does not help either...
-
Since getting married, over 20 years ago, I have been actively down-sizing.
If we take a file-box (of figures) as a unit of measure, I have 'moved on' over 120 units,
added to this I have placed brakes on my purchases (fewer figures, though this has meant I can
occasionally buy the pricier figures).....
So how come there is no spare space in my Man-Cave????????
As others have said, it is a hobby. It should not stress you out.
It does help to have an understanding wife.
-
There's a Star Wars snowspeeder conversion thread on the go at the moment - http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=112006.msg140079
In it, I posted that the snowspeeder I had was a different scale, so I ordered the one the chap is converting.
On its arrival on Friday I was deboxing it when a few neurons started to fire, thinking this looked familiar. There's a small clear acrylic base with it, and this in particular was tickling the back of my mind.
I've kept a note of all hobby purchases for many years now in google calendar, so I did a search. Lo and behold, in November 2015 I bought two of them direct from the Disney store for the princely sum of £7.95 each (the new one was £19.99)
Not only that, when I went to put in away this morning, the box staring me in the face said "Star Wars Speeders (Disney)" on the label.
The lead pile is more than big enough without buying things I already have. Sadly, with the passing years and all the fun things age brings with it, I suspect this won't be the last time this happens o_o
-
Been there, mate.
Many times!
lol lol
Look on the up side:
It does make for a nice speeder and now you have a few.
:D
-
On the bright side, I was looking for something in the loft this morning and found a figure I forgot I had - LE1 Space Ork - link (http://www.solegends.com/citle1990/numbered/le01spaceorc/index.htm). He's primed, but never painted. Also in the pile was the snotling sawmaster from the LE25 Dwarf with Inferiority Complex set (the dwarf was painted up long ago) link (http://www.solegends.com/citle1990/numbered/le25dwfstilts/index.htm)
So being old means I have loads of really cool old figures, I just forget which ones lol
-
On the bright side, I was looking for something in the loft this morning and found a figure I forgot I had - LE1 Space Ork - link (http://www.solegends.com/citle1990/numbered/le01spaceorc/index.htm).
I love that figure!
Result!
:D