Aside from personal stuff going on over the last month+, one of the other big reasons I haven’t posted for awhile was needing to go out into the shed, clean up the gaming table, and set up this lot of stuff for the photos.
Despite the fact that it was supposed to be Jewel of July, I spent much of the first half of the month getting models from The Tray and D&D models done, as well as working on scenery pieces for Dave Stone’s Winter of Scenery Challenge (as you can probably see!)
Unfortunately, the latter half of the month saw some Shit Go Down which has rolled into August, and so much of my painting and blogging mojo got trashed, so I did the only thing I could do for the Jewel of July challenge – I changed the rules and extended it into August as well. At least there are a few models in July’s set there that will easily qualify, but I did want to paint something cool especially for the challenge. I guess I’ve got a week left?
As noted with yesterday’s post, there are a couple of models in this round-up that didn’t get their moment in the sun in a post, but I’ll get that sorted soon enough. There is rather a lot there at least, and given how many bits of scatter terrain I got done over the month, it ended up being the most productive month ever – in terms of numbers. Though it’s pretty important to bear in mind that the vast majority of the number is made of bits of scatter terrain and many of the figures are pretty simple D&D models.
How many pieces in total, you ask? That would be 104 completed in July. So added to the 128 I got done from April-June it gives me a running total of 232 models.
We’ve gotta be real here though – this kind of number really showcases the inherent flaw in simple “model count” systems that we tend to use to track our progress. Those orange traffic cones in my pics there “count” as one model each and so have the same “value” as a tank or an Imperial Knight, which in a lot of ways, is, you know, bullshit.
On the other hand, it’s not a competition, and none of the challenges I’ve ever run or have participated in have been presented as competitions. It’s entirely about motivation and community. Motivation for the self and for individuals, and the support that we give one another as a little online community of model painting geeks (and book reviewers and artists). So, you know, getting those 25 little orange cones that have been sitting there that I really didn’t want to paint got done mostly because of the motivation of Dave Stone’s challenge and also partly because it lets me notch up 25 more models done for the month/year/etc. Motivation!
Anyway, on we soldier and see you tomorrow. I’m still trying to catch up on all of the many, many blog posts the many of you have been posting. In this situation it means a lot more likes than comments, and also that posts will be missed. But c’est la vie!
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Wow matey you have done well to get all these done! Well said about the community.
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Thanks Pat. When it becomes a competition is when I don’t bother. Plenty of opportunities for competition elsewhere in my life. 🙂
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For some reason seeing those classic dark elves placed in the ruined tank terrain piece really works for me! great round up, and a fantastic result!
As you say it’s easy to get lost in the ‘model count’ that can end up prioritising snotlings over tanks, for example, if you goal is purely numerical. For me I find it’s nice to break up the pace by having terrain pieces or larger models to paint alongside the smaller guys.
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Thanks Dave! And yeah, the numbers for me are literally a method of self-motivation. if I can get a set of simple scatter pieces done that bumps my total by 12 or 25 that just gives me the little endorphin hit that I can then use to keep me going and onto the next piece. Also a good way to motivate myself to get all of those little shitty bits of scatter done! – I just needed something exactly like Dave Stone’s Terrain challenge to give me the kick up the arse to get started on them. 🙂
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Brilliant round up, and well done for getting this lot completed 👍
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Thanks Steve. It was a pretty productive month, all things considered….
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Excellent Az Man. 🤘🏼
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Cheers, Homie!
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Crikey, that’s a lotta good stuff when you see it all together! 🙂
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Thanks John. This month won’t have nearly as much, but there’ll still be a solid amount of terrain at the very least!
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A fantastic group shot of a lot of productivity, totally agree that the community support and drive to finish is far more important than it being competition, that’s a whole other rabbit hole to fall into ! LOL
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Thanks Dave – I personally don’t seem to have enough time to answer blog comments on my own blog in a timely manner, let alone keep up with everyone else’s blogs, let alone the round-up posts still owed from last year – getting into a competitive type of painting is the last thing I need or would be able to keep up with right now!
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Another very productive month!
Cheers Roger.
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Thanks Roger!
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On we soldier indeed 🤘
It’s really great seeing these roundup pics of yours, man!
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That is an impressive haul.
Wish I had that much mojo. Don’t sweat how you count it- the photo speaks for itself imo.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Not sure why, maybe it’s late…but I’m now picturing GW selling that lot as one big boxed set, I’m not sure what you would name it, but would sure be a riot. Oh, maybe that’s it “Riot RAIDERS!!”.
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Nice haul for July! I’ve been plodding through, but as usual, nothing like your output. I figure as long I’m staying steady, and mostly liking it, it’s all good. I like those traps, and I know I’ve seen them…but I think they are out of stock now, will have to look them up again. Keep at it with your mad skills man!
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What a cracking haul mate, more in one month (by a considerably margin) than I’ve managed all year. I know what you mean about counting everything, regardless of size, as a single model, it’s sometimes not the most accurate system is it. I keep a count of everything I buy and everything I paint (just to try and keep on top of the growing pile). I should get the Chaos Knight finished this month but I just bought 22 Blood Bowl snotlings, which makes my totals for this month look awful – but if I take as long to paint each snotling as I did to paint the knight I’ll be 167 years old by the time I’m done. It all balances out though, and generally it’s a good system, but sometimes it does give odd results like that. Anyway, painting 25 traffic cones may not be quite the same as painting 25 Imperial Knights but it’s still damn impressive. 🙂
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That’s a pretty impressive tally even if you discount all the little stuff like traffic cones. Let the numbers work for you, not the other way around – it’s your hobby after all.
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I don’t track how much I paint in a year but I doubt I could ever hit the 100 mark. You’ve certainly smashed it this month and should be proud. Really impressive work and you know you’ve accomplished a lot when you have so many things to cram into the shot that you need the mat to serve as a decent background 🙂
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That is very impressive! And reminds me, I was hoping to finish up some pipes before the month is over…
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Hey, it ain’t bragging if ya do it! Count them all! If it gets your endorphins up, all the better. Wish I could be as productive as you are.
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