So last month was a bit of a dull one. Blog-wise anyway, real life was very much full of activity. We're now coming up on 8 weeks of have two kids under two and let me tell you it is no picnic. Absolutely wonderful in many ways, but also the most exhausting thing I've ever known. Three to four hours sleep a night is doable for a bit but eventually.......well eventually you fall asleep in a presentation at work because the chair is comfy and they've dimmed the lights.

The question is though, following the write-off that was June, have I managed to do any hobbying? Happily I can report that the answer is yes! There's been some incoming models again - the launch of AoS 4.0 has me excited for that system and so I've added some stuff there. Slightly more stuff than expected thanks to some fairly rubbish work from a retailer who finally cancelled an order after weeks of hounding, only to send me everything out anyway. Normally I'd contact them and return the stuff but after the frankly shocking and rude customer service I'd received up to that point I was in no mood to correct their error for them. Long and short of it is that while the Models In number is a little high this month, it's not cost me anything like it should have done which makes me feel a little better about the whole thing.

In terms of models painted? Well not a bad return this month actually. I've continued to focus on the two armies I've been enjoying painting the most recently - Ad Mech and Solar Auxilia. For both armies I've got their schemes at a point that I have a system and I can easily do them in short bursts. I don't have to dedicate 2-3 hours hobby time to completing any particular section, for the most part it doesn't matter if it's only 20 minutes at a time. The exception is the oil/enamel washes near the end, but even they can be done quite quickly now. The biggest time sink is the drying time unless I crack out the hairdryer.

First up this month then was the SA. Specifically some Big Axe Dudes. Yes I know the volkite is better in game - and I will definitely be adding some of those in the future - but this is one of those rare occasions where there's a cooler option than CHOOOM. The storm axes are simple awesome so that's where I started.

Seriously cool models and I'm increasingly moving from my SA being an allied detachment to them being the lead with an allied Legion force instead.  Yes I know the bases need rimming, but that's a job that'll happen across the army when I feel like doing a mind numbing tax 50-60 times in a row.

I also converted and painted a pair of medicae. Again, not the "efficiency" choice - a 6+++ that only works up to S5 isn't going to make a huge difference - but they're cool and add some variety to the infantry. And let's be honest, Heresy isn't about peak competitiveness. To me, it's a system that - like Necromunda - should be lead by narrative and Rule of Cool.

Then onto the Ad Mech. Nothing too exciting going on here. 10 more Skitarii since even with the welcome changes to the codex, they're still important for several buffs etc.

And I also painted up a babysitter for my robots. Not happy with the eyes on this guy. Will likely redo them at some point.

So there we have it. Back in the hobby swing and I'm pretty happy with the month. August sees one release that I will find difficult to turn down - the Mechanicum battlegroup. I know they can't be used in 40K and I've already got Legion and SA models for heresy.....but just look at them! Even if I resist early on, once that Thanatar comes out then that might be the end of my fight. It's a model I've adored for years and one that I will find a place for. Even if it's just looking pretty on a shelf.

Finally let's run the numbers for July:

Models IN: 49

Models OUT: 28

JULY TOTAL: +21

YTD TOAL: -73

Hmm the slide continues after hitting triple digits a couple of months back. Going to try and paint like a madman in August. Assuming I don't just melt in this heat!