From way back: photos of first hobby efforts.

My wife was looking through some old photo CD-ROMs the other night and came across a folder containing shots from the very first batch of figures I ever painted, waaaay back in December 2005.

This find seemed like a good excuse to reminisce about first starting out, and some of the changes that have occurred.

The shots on this album are the only known photos of me painting, and I didn't even know about these until the other night.  The figures are from the Chariot/Magister Militum Polybian Roman and Later Carthaginian ranges.  I began with 2 DBM starter armies and built up from there, and Richard at MM was really helpful to a newbie.  If I remember rightly these figures were then £1.85 a pack; they are now £3.00, but the DBM armies still give a surprisingly good discount.

Other nerdy things to note: these days I mount figures on card in groups of 4-8 rather than individually.  I actually use lighting, and even lift the figures up to my face  rather than the other way around!  I also use the hobby room instead of the lounge.  We have had three kids since these photos were taken and the lounge is now a little too messy to be shown to decent company...

Amusingly enough, I seem to be employing the lid as a paint dish here.  I still use Tamiya and Mr Color paints occasionally (then ￥100, now c.￥150), but they are mostly supplanted by Turner Acryl Gouache.  My choice of brush has not advanced much, however.

Lastly, I have considerably less hair now than I did then, and am probably about 5kg sturdier.  But we won't dwell on that just yet...

Look at this for sublime artistry!  Close observation will reveal the signs of early experimentation with a 'magic (brown) wash' on the hastati at the back there.  It is not clear whether it did any good or not.

No, it didn't do much!

Ah, such innocence in this low angle shot!  We have a better class of digital camera now.  Sadly, that Junior Boggle box has gone the way of all flesh...

An intriguing morning-after clue to how I became 5kgs heavier?

But on a more positive note, I no longer indulge in my other 'head out to the balcony every hour and light up' hobby, so perhaps it all evens out!

So, there we go.  I had a wee chuckle looking at these, and I hope you will too.

Oh, and before I go, here's a shot showing today's postal goodies, just to prove that some things haven't changed!