If you thought your leadpile was big...
...then check out this one: http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2009/10/daunting-stage.html An earlier post tells you that the contents of this pile, all of which were purchased in one go (so that's why my Renegade order took so long to arrive :lol: ) totals approximately 1,500 infantry, 200 cavalry and 8 elephants. :mental:

Yikes! If I owned that lot I would actually give up painting for ever. Not sure why he's basing on what looks like balsa though – is that wise? Great painting though and what a project.

That's about two grand's worth, counting an infantryman as £1 and a cavalryman as £2.50; and that's without even considering the elephants! I hope he got a discount!

Could be basswood, balsa's far more capable brother, can't tell.

That man is a planner - I love the way he appears to have divided the bases to show the placement of figures and allow for spear overhang. If you can afford it, a big hit like can be is cost-effective - but being me I'd worry about giving up half-way through.

So is he, read the blog.

Somehow, I don't feel so bad about 3-400 unpainted Russians now . . . :lol:

Not bad, but i think Chris is on course to trump him with his Austrian stockpile... http://itinerantwargamer.blogspot.com/

That basing material looks like marine ply, very popular in the seventies and eighties with gamers. Its a pig to unbase figures from when re basing. I do like his very elegant storage solution. Nice shelving and protection from dust. Hmmm, Argos here I come.

I look at Olicanalad's blog often, its a real source of inspiration some of his Italian wars and crusades stuff is really inspoiring I wondered just how daunting he'd find this

Yes, it's intimidating, but as a plastic nut I tend to do the same when I settle into a period. However the cash investment is a lot less.

i started basing on balsa once. As soon as i applied my grout on the base it warped into something resembling one of those skateboard ramps which curls up at both ends. Never again - steel for me

I love the way he appears to have divided the bases to show the placement of figures and allow for spear overhang. I am seriously thinking of following his basing technique for the First Crusade - large bases of 60mm x 90mm which allow for spear overhand and contain 3 figures for heavy cavalry, or 4/5 for light cavalry, or 6 infantry. The end result if very impressive. Factord against are incompatability with other rules/gamers and the sheer space these large bases require (this guy has a table that's even bigger than that of the Perries!).