Sunday 17 January 2021

A new year...

 So here we are again... welcome to Inso's World.

I just thought that I'd share a bit of news. Not only have the 2 Sgts and 3 Junior Officers been sent off for casting:


Click the Pic!

... but Macrocosm Miniatures are currently running a new Kickstarter for a bunch of my sculpts:


The mortars aren't my work and I think there's an odd head or two that aren't mine either... but it's a great way to add a few troopers to your Space Dwarf army.

Over the next few weeks/months, I will be working on a Standard Bearer, Heavy Flamer Trooper, Medic and 2 Senior Officers... and after that, a bunch of Lasgunners and additional Comms Troopers... but I am focusing on the first batch for now.

In other news, I am isolating because I have got COVID-19 at the moment, with a mild cough so I am hoping that I can get things done and not get particularly sick... fingers crossed, eh?

See you from behind the mask!



Friday 1 January 2021

What a year 2020 was.

 Hello and welcome to Inso's World. I'm sorry that we are in the confines of a bunker but after the year we've all had, I felt that a bunker would be the best place.

So... 2020.

I'll start with the inevitable COVID bleating. It's been tough for us all. Everyone has been touched by the repercussions, lock-downs and restrictions that have rocked the world. I'm not going to say too much more, other than reflect my hopes for a better year in 2021.

BREXIT. The UK is now alone again. I, along with everyone else here, am holding my breath to see how this will affect us. I predict quite a few stark realisations and some shortages of things (short term) that we are quite used to having. I was a remainer... but now we all just have to deal with the new order and get along with it, the best we can. We must all be positive and try to make the best of it.

Health. I went mad this year. I've been in therapy for a year and am finally getting back to being myself again. It was a journey but it was necessary. The only thing I will say is that, if you are feeling depressed or anxious and you are in the depths of something you can't control... talk to someone. It helps and may reset you. At the worst, it's a shared problem. At best, it could erase the problem and help you get back to a better place. 

Physically, my frozen shoulders have stopped hurting so much and I have recovered about 80% of the mobility in them so that is great news. 

Work has been wonderful but challenging. Dealing with the death of our residents has been hard but a privilge. Luckily, COVID wasn't a factor because we have worked really hard to keep it away from our setting... it was Dementia that did it... and with Dementia, there's no getting out alive. 2020 took a heavy toll on many residents who have been there for a long time.

In other areas of life, things have been up and down, with a few personal losses (family and friends) and some new friendships.

My hobby has been one of the things that has consistently helped me to both hide and achieve. The biggest news is that I am working with my friend Chris, at Macrocosm Miniatures, to create a range of Space Dwarfs... so far I have sculpted and converted about 20 miniatures and am continuing to sculpt more for the range. Chris has been creating Kickstarter projects for them and they are also available in his shop. From the beginning, this project has always been about me, creating an army for myself... with the added bonus that other people can buy the troops as well. As a result, in between the sculpting, I have been trying to paint a few as well... and I have plans for a company sized army but need to continue sculpting, in order to get the right miniatures to achieve it.

Here are a few images of what I have finished/started painting:




Click the Pix!

Here are a few of the latest sculpts:




Click the Pix!

In addition to the range of miniatures, I have also been trying to put a few things together for my other Squat army and have managed to convert and paint a few vehicles... some of which had been sat for ages, waiting for some love:



Click the Pix!

I've also managed to get hold of a few kits that I will probably share at some point... but needless to say, they are awesome!

My Bike is still awesome:


Click the Pic!

But my other one hasn't changed and is still waiting to be worked on... maybe 2021 may finally be the time to start on it.

What will 2021 hold for us all? Who knows... but I know that I'll be facing it with a saound mind and a little more positivity than last year. 

What do I have planned for my hobby? Well, I hope to continue building the range of Space Dwarfs and hopefully get some painting in, when my sculpting muse is away.

Finally, I wish everyone a better 2021 than 2020 and hope that you all get through, unscathed. Everything else is going to be a bonus.

See you from the beginning!