Time Calculator

Because work and other stuff often get in the way of our hobby, I use this little formula, in a continuing effort to rationalize most things in my life, in order to get more out of the days and nights: If I know I can get a part of a project done before going to work or going to anywhere, it is then easier to get started. And of course, finished. Because of the serial-killer planning table below, I can estimate almost exactly on the minute how long a step takes in the process of making a bunch of models into miniature warriors ready for the tabletop.

A little caveat before the Time Calculator[TM]: I am not - really not - a good painter, I do not strive to be one either, so I am not trying to teach anyone anything here, just tell (anyone slightly interested) how I go about doing my painting.



Time Calculator – from Sprue to Table
I almost never do less than eight models a time, normally twenty-four models in each sitting.

1) Basics (despruing and cleaning). 2,5 min/unit. This I do sloppy whilst listening to any of the following podcasts: D6G, 40K Radio, World's End Radio (dead?). Used to listen to Podhammer, the favourite, mainly becuase of how little actual warhammer-talk there was :)
2) Undercoat (with can). This I can do just three meters from where I generally do the hobbystuff so it takes no more than a minute per model. Whilst they dry I have my coffee and watch Family Guy or similar show.
3) Basecoat-painting (first two colours, one colour on each model until they all have that one - often the metallics first). I am slow and this takes around 2-3 minutes per colour, so 4-5 minutes per model and two colours.
4) Then the base get some wood workers glue + sanding). Less than 1 min/unit.
5) Continue painting when bases are dry. Perfect time to start or revisit another project. Painting here just includes: Wash and watch paint dry. Takes barely a minute per model. Except the drying.

So, around 10 minutes for a basic miniature. Add another five for the rest of the colours, just a few tidying-ups. Of course, it may differ very much from model to model, sometimes the basics can take very long time (like the infamous Warriors of Minas Tirith who were in a terrible shape) but then the painting may go smooth instead. So, to make a 24-man band of warriors, it takes me six hours, most often spread over two days. If they aren't done within two days it may take up to a year before they ever get that last little work. Fin (or "sluut" as we say in the cold north).



About Rohirrim and Dunlendings
Annatar enlightened me on the simple geek-fact that Rohirrim and Dunlendings aren't related which I previously stated. He correctly said that, other than the general relation of different cultures of men there are no special relation between the above. He is of course correct, I somehow mixed them together since the Rohirrim were accused of stealing the Dunlendings lands.

I shall quote, freely translated back to English from a Swedish version of a British booklet:

... have a complicated origin. On orders of Cirion, reich-steward [or just steward?] of Gondor, they settled in Rohan, at that time known as Calenardhon, in app. 2510 [Det stod "TÅ" i häftet... ? Betyder det "Second Age"? Ingen aning... ]. The north-men got the land area because they had helped defeating the people-from-east Balchoth.
   Between year 1977 och 2510 [TÅ] Rohirrim's ancestors, Eotheod, lived in the northern part of the river-valley of Anduin. --- blah-blah-blah, and then it continues with: " ... Before year 1857 in TÅ they were called Eothraim and lived south and east of Mirkwood.


Congratulations to...
... the young Starcraft player and winner of 2012 DreamHack EIZO Open Marcus "Thorzain" Eklöf!