It took a couple of weeks, with fragments of time spent here and there sorting and counting and entering information into a database, but I eventually completed it to my satisfaction. It's about 99% accurate, I reckon. There are a few estimates, especially around the number of boxes of artillery, but it's good enough for this black duck.
Click on the image to read the summary report.
I like this 'analysis' of the summary: ~16 000 total, ~4 000 painted, leaving ~12 000 to paint. If I say that I can do, on average, 10 figures a week (perhaps an overestimate?), that is ~500 per year, so I only have 24 years of painting there!!!
The 'e' word comes to mind... after I get the 16 boxes on back order from Tactics (hey, three of them are for Mark). Of course, that does not include temptation of the new ones in the pipeline from Strelets, Hat and now Waterloo 1815, plus some boxes of Yreol's 'RIP' series to use as markers for Impetus. That's it though... unless I 'need' to get some more Mongols to make a reasonable army...
[Of course, I did not count the 15 mm French and Indian, nor the 5 mm and 2 mm Napoleonics (or the 1/3000 Navwar ships, but there are only 16 of them)...]
Anyone else have a tale of a counting?
Nice try! I don't track the number of unpainted figures I have. To do so would simply reinforce my "perception" that I can never paint all that I have now. Why make it a reality?
ReplyDeleteI do, however, keep a close track on painted figures.
Jon's painting analyses with multicolor charts are worthy of an MBA (and his outut seemingly rivals that of Fernando eneterprioses in Sri Lanka! :-)
DeleteA deep bow in your general direction, Jon!
Thank you kindly, Peter! Glad you enjoy the graphics!
DeleteWise man!
DeleteI can but envy you! By the way my Spanish are arriving in a couple of days from Australia... That should add to my count a little!
ReplyDeleteOf course, it represents nearly thirty years plus recent large 'windfalls' c/- Mr Hine and Mr Soffe (two of our 'benefactors').
DeleteWe picked up our Hat Spaniards as part of my most recent, 'final' purchase. They look great. I suspect that you'll paint yours before mine though as the list of French, and a few British-Allied takes priority. Mark may give you a run though...!
Wow that's a mountain to climb!
ReplyDeleteMy "counting story" is a whole post alone on my blog, maybe one day.
Happy counting Sir!
best wishes, Jeremy
Brilliant Jeremy, had me laughing aloud on the morning walk!
DeleteLost count after some paint & sell eras in the past 6 years.
ReplyDeleteI sold/gave away some 15 mm figures that I was never gonna paint... made way for more 1/72nd!
DeleteThe problem with this analysis is that the naked truth stares you in the face, isn't it? Naked, being the unpainted lead, of course. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have always been a rather disciplined buyer and painter. My painted figures are on the order of 10,000 (just shy of 6,000 of them Napoleonics now), and I'd estimate the unpainted at under 1,000: about 350 Napoleonics, 300 Renaissance, 100 HYW, and less than 100 Ancients. Throw in a few 1:1200 sailing ships and some space ships for good measure. Clearly I need to start a new period... NOT!
Impressive painted / unpainted ratio Peter. Are you sure that you are a wargamer? haha!!
DeletePart of the justification for massed purchase is that quite a number of 1/72nd sets have become unavailable (except occasional second-hand offerings), so we get 'em while we can. Mind you, more than a few metal manufacturers have gone to the wall, or changed their scale/sculpting significantly too, haven't they?
Hi James - thats impressive. Bit of time on your hands there mate? I have always found that talking about and discussing your unpainted figure numbers to other wargamers is akin to talking about old girlfriends with your wife - a recipe for mockery. Far too many on my plate James (28mm Foundry and Front Rank mostly, oh and all those BA kits...dont forget the Sudan...then theres those Marlburian.Oh dear...
ReplyDeleteIt was time that I 'should' have spent painting!
DeleteThere is a moderately serious side to this though, given modern lief expectancy, will I ever be able to paint them? Current answer is 'yes'. Yippee! That means that I could get some more, but only if 'needed', of course...
[You'll have noted that I left your analogy well alone]
Hi James - it seems to me that you should get painting your ACW next!
ReplyDeleteNot that you are biased in that regard Ian…! :)
DeleteThey are in the planning for post-2015, along with Charles the XII’s Swedes. By then I hope to have the Romans in good shape and hopefully some Macedonians done too. Of course, ’Napoleonics' will always be in the mix, with Ottomans and early/Republican/Egypt campaign French in the offing once the current list for 1813-15 is completed!
I was tempted to go and start counting, but it would do me no good. I have a stupid amount of unpainted figures, partially painted figures, half finished armies and a lust for more figures in yet more scales, periods and basing for unique rule systems.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Carlo's comment. There's this one set of figures I had, little beauties they were, I will always remember the first time I opened the packet and...
Rule One: never agree with anything that Carlo says! :)
DeleteHonestly, I could never get myself to count my unpainted stuff. My estimate is that it will take me close to two decades arleady and I am in no mood to find out that I underestimated (which I am very sure I do)! :-)
ReplyDeleteJust keep producing those beautifully painted figures Burkhard!
Delete