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| Minden Miniatures from the collection of Charles S. Grant. One could spend hours gazing on this tableau. |
I found this paragraph on Barry Hilton's League of Augsburg blog:
League of Augsburg Blog
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I work on the assumption that some of the emotions and thoughts I experience are common to several, perhaps thousands of others. When I am working on a wargaming project or painting a range of figures I get a very deep sense of engagement with the activity. It is all I can think about. In idle time I am making lists and planning what to buy and paint next. I search out information, make little painting schedules, all the time trying to beat my self imposed targets. I look at the models again and again, set them up in rows, watch the collection accrue into something more substantial and marvel at the sense of joy I obtain from doing it all. I often tell myself it's the best work I have ever done.-- Barry Hilton
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1) Getting a deep sense of engagement with the activity-- Guilty as charged. Once I start on a project I get very focused and zero in on the project to the exclusion of other historical periods. If my home library lacks books on the subject, I start firing off orders to Ken Trotman or On Military Matters or Caliver Books to remedy the short fall.
2) In idle time, I am making lists and planning what to buy and paint next -- Yep, that too. I have a one hour train commute to and from my job and I often find myself pulling a small Moleskin journal out of my briefcase and start drawing up army lists and orders of battle and deciding how many figures should go into a battalion, etc.
3) I search out information, make little painting schedules, all the time trying to beat my self imposed targets -- my journal has lists of painting schedules. For example, if my new army will have 12 foot and 4 cavalry units in it, then I jot down a weekly or monthly painting schedule to figure out when my new army will be completed.
4) I look at the models again and again, set them up in rows -- This has developed into a very bad habit. I will set the troops out onto the game table for either a review or for an actual game. I will move around the table examining the various units, stooping down so that my eyes are at table level for the best view of the regiment. I can do this for an hour or more. It becomes a problem if I pay a visit to the game table late at night, and before I know it, the clock reads 1 or 2 am in the morning. It can make for a tiring day the next day. Lots of coffee or Diet Coke are the only remedy. Kids, do not attempt to do this at home on your own.
5) watch the collection accrue into something more substantial and marvel at the sense of joy I obtain from doing it all -- This is the fun part, watching the army grow. At first it is only one regiment of infantry. Impressive but lonely. Then a second and third unit are completed and I now have a brigade. Once the brigade is ready, I will paint a couple of field artillery pieces and crew. Then one brigade becomes two brigades. Now the project begins to look like a Wargame army. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and develop a sense of what the final product will look like.
I think that Barry's paragraph correctly encapsulates what the planning and building aspect of the hobby are all about. We all make our little lists and while away spare time thinking and day dreaming about the whole thing.
It brings to me a sense of calm, contentment and accomplishment and sometimes I actually think that this part of the hobby is more enjoyable than the gaming part.
What do you think? Please feel free to add a comment at the bottom of this thread and let me know what you think.
