Cruel Seas: "It's a wrap"

 Another project bites the dust.

I'm now rummaging through my shed, updating my spreadsheet and looking for 'low hanging fruit - tasks that can be completed relatively quickly i.e. 12 Heavy Gears get painting priority over my ~100 Warlord pike and shot.... 

I've painted at least ~700-800 minis this year (admittedly to merely 'acceptable tabletop' standard) with 205 in the last fortnight alone. About 600 yet to go in my unpainted lead mountain....

Raumsboote - a kinda minesweeper/patrol boat. I'll come back and tidy the camo later - but the main thing is it is playable.

Fairmile D's - my favourite WW2 naval vessel. Pity it would cost me $120+ for another pair... the pricing on Cruel Seas makes GW look like a thrift shop.

Some Higgins and Elco PT boats to co-operate with the British. I left off the masts as they are stupidly bulky but will probably replace them with a pin - later. My over-riding mantra is "is it table-ready - now?"  - I often come back and pretty up bases and add details in later on.

My 2023 focus was on making playable, self-contained projects - painted minis, suitable terrain, fun rules - and clearing the lead mountain of unpainted minis, which stood at 1200+

A few self-imposed rules:

1. No new minis until you have painted DOUBLE that in old, existing minis

2. New minis must be painted within a fortnight. If you can't, you bought too many.

3. No new projects/genres until you have completed ALL minis from another project/genre (preferably similar). Purchases should preferably complete an existing project or a game you play a lot (MESBG etc)

4. A dozen minis per week (steady progress, but not a punishing chore)

5. Tabletop standard - basing can be basic, you can always come back to mini later if not 100% satisfied.

 "Can I play with this mini, does it look cool on the table yet?" not "Is it perfect" Is it a playable toy or a Golden Demon winner?

6. If you buy pizza, you have to build terrain with the boxes 

A suicidal ram in a recent Death Race game. Both cars exploded.... This is a game that is amazingly cinematic but kinda slow; 3-4 people with a simple car each is what I'd recommend. Go to page 3 and have a look at the "steps" a player makes in a turn. Despite my caveats, I strongly recommend the game for the cheap fun it'll inspire collecting and kitbashing Hot Wheels.

A few things I've found helped in my painting marathon:

Swap painting locations - I have 3 painting 'spots' and a moveable paint tray

Swap paint projects (1800s Venice -> Death Race car wars -> PT boats). Try new paints and brushes.

Excel spreadsheet to monitor finished/unfinished minis (look at this BEFORE ordering any new toys)

A brief painting session each night after my kids are asleep

Cutting down on layers (i.e. why paint a leg seven times? Undercoat->wash->highlight->tidy/detail if needed.)

Watch topical DVDs (Battle of Britain prior to Blood Red Skies, etc)

Ensure you play game/s with completed projects

Recording progress