Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Good, The Bad, And The Fugly


Happy New Year to one and all!

With 2014 fast approaching, the goal of averaging two posts per month has been met with this, the twenty-fourth post of the year.

I'm tempted to stop right here. While achieving my post goal with a post that says nothing more than, "Cool, I met my post goal" may appeal to my inner comedian, it hardly makes for compelling reading. (Sorry inner comedian. Better luck next year.)

Instead, I offer a few thoughts on the highs and lows from the past year.


The Good 
  • Blogging : I've enjoyed taking a more active interest in my own blog and those of others. Seeing what other members of the community are doing is a blast in its own right. Plus, it's often just the kick in the ass that this terminal procrastinator needs to get on with it.
  • An Embarrassment of Riches : These are wondrous times in which we live! It seems as though every time I turn around another miniature company is offering a new, shiny object that I can't live without. Case in point: RuneCast Miniatures - a new company whose first few minis were hard (as in impossible) to resist. 
Welcome To The Lead Pile
  •  Windsor & Newton Brushes. I finally broke down in 2013 and spent a little more for some decent brushes. The difference is like night and day. 

The Bad
  • Second Verse, Same as the First; Bound to Be Better... Unless it's Worse : One word says it all... BONES. I might easily have gone for two words, in which case BONES would have been preceded by a colorful expletive. Forgive my lapse. Please feel free to insert the expletive of your choice. For more Bones related frustration see my rant from earlier this year.

    The Fugly
     
  • The Never Ending Story : I'm still waiting on my rewards from four crowdfunding projects. Two appear as though they will experience minor delays.  The other two are currently overdue by six months and approximately a year respectively. It's enough to sour one on the whole shebang.

Here I might continue with a peek at what I'm currently working on but my inner comedian informs me that one should always leave the audience wanting more. With that in mind, I'll conclude simply by saying, Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night.

6 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you Sir, I have taken great inspiration from your creations and look forward to many more in 2014.

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  2. Happy New Year mate. New Shiny toys seem to come out weekly must resist! Looking forward to see what 2014 brings us hobby wise!

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    1. Thanks, Simon.

      Resist you say? Unlikely. Resistance is futile.

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  3. Happy new year Finch...!

    Which brushes from W&N did you do with in the end? I'm getting fed up with Kolinsky Sable not keeping a point!

    Chris

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    1. Happy New Year, Chris.

      I went with W&N Series 7 (the regular versions, not the "miniatures" which have shorter bristles) 00, 0, & 1. I've read that the bristles on the 0 have a tendency to split down the middle when loaded with paint and, sure enough, that has been my experience too. The 00 & 1 are better behaved in this regard and have proven very useful.

      The 1 still looks brand new while the 00 is showing some wear. Curiously, when I went to buy a replacement, the art shop (where I bought the original) sold me a useless, balding thing that bore little resemblance to the first one beyond the handle. I promptly returned it. The only other one they had in stock was in the same sorry state.

      I'm hoping that the first was the typical W&N 00 and the others were just a couple anomalous clunkers.

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