Beat The Backlog! Hobby decluttering challenge 2025-26

[Lord_Ikka]

July Finished 
Beginning of month added 15 SM (Cpt Ventris, 2 Captains, 3 Company Heroes, 4 Victrix/Bladeguard, 5 Sternguard)
(Leadweight 144 -> 159, models 77 -> 92)
Painted- 1 Ash Wastes Outrider, 20 Necromunda security troops, 6 non-board appropriate models
End of month additions - 6 non-board appropriate models
End of month totals
Total Leadweight - 159 -> (-27 + 6) = 138
Total Models - 92 -> (-26 + 6) = 72

 

 

Not bad this month, even though I added quite a bit of models between my SM and some more BT stuff for a new unit. Next month I should be getting paint on the SM and finishing off another 7 non-board appropriate models at a minimum, which may put me below 100 leadweight/50 models left, which I will be very happy about.

 

Edited August 1, 2025 by Lord_Ikka

[Grotsmasha]

Geez I'm behind ... I'll look to update here over weekend

[Beaky Brigade]

Sorry to be a little late for my August pledge, as previously posted I did paint 21 models in July ahead of time!

 

I've been so exhausted lately, having a sit down at the PC to do a long form post has been beyond me. I could have posted on my phone but I wanted to do it right  

 

July Target: Complete 21 WIPs to tabletop standard (16 traitor guard, 5 bullgryns) 

Result: 

 

Starting lead-weight: 279

Models Painted: -21
Models given away: - 1
Models Purchased: +1
 

End of July lead-weight: 258!

I'm gonna set a very modest target of - 8 lead-weight for August, as I'm a good chunk into it, and have been enjoying assembling half finished projects to add to a big 'ready to undercoat' pile, so I may not get the brush out. I'm also thinking of another round of clearouts when I get to things I can't think of a use for and can't be motivated to paint for its own sake. 
 

The model I bought was an impulse purchase, but it was Sly Marbo at a FLGS, which I did not expect to find. I guess he's always hiding in the shadows at the back of the shelf.... 

 

August Target:

 

“The adepts of the Administratum have completed their cogitations and I, BeakyBrigade, bear a Leadweight of 258 upon my mortal soul. I pledge to make every effort to reduce this to 250 by the dawn of September, through the toil of painting and the catharsis of philanthropy and rogue trading.

[Lord_Ikka]

August Finished 
Beginning of month added - none
Painted - 2 non-board appropriate models, 1 Capt Ventris, 2 Tacticus Captains, 3 Company Heroes, 4 Bladeguard/Victrix Guard, 5 Sternguard
End of month additions - none
End of month totals
Total Leadweight - 137 -> 120
Total Models - 71 -> 54

 

September, I will be painting up Gulliman, some more TC non-board appropriate models, and maybe a Transcendent C'tan

[Beaky Brigade]

Belated end of August update:
 

Starting lead-weight: 258

Models Painted: 0
Models given away: - 13 (2 vehicles and 1 figure)
Models Purchased: + 20 (3d printing commission) 
 

End of August lead-weight: 265 (+7)

Net gain of 7 lead-weight in August, I decided to commission some 3d printed infantry, and tried to offset this by giving my friend some Space Marine minis I don't intend to use in a project.

I'll try and rollover my target again!

“The adepts of the Administratum have completed their cogitations and I, BeakyBrigade, bear a Leadweight of 265 upon my mortal soul. I pledge to make every effort to reduce this to 250 by the dawn of October, through the toil of painting and the catharsis of philanthropy and rogue trading.

Edited September 7, 2025 by Beaky Brigade

[Lord_Ikka]

September Finished 
Beginning of month added - 37 minis (Votann- 20 Hearthkin, 5 Hearthguard, 3 Pioneer hover-trikes, 2 Einhyr Champions, 1 Khal, 1 Uthar, SM - 1 Bladeguard Captain, 1 RPG SM, Inquisitor Greyfax, 2 Plasmacytes)
(Leadweight 120 -> 163, models 54 -> 91)
Painted - Gulliman, Bladeguard Captain, RPG marine, Inquisitor Greyfax, 7 non-board appropriate minis
End of month additions - 1 Kapricus, 2 Sagitaurs, 3 non-board appropriate minis
End of month totals
Total Leadweight - 163 -> 178 (Going to count the Kapricus as a calvary model I guess?)
Total Models - 91 -> 86

 

Sadly frater, I decided to start a new army in the Votann, so my pile that had been growing smaller has now grown larger. Luckily I already have a paint scheme in mind for them and they don't look like especially complicated models to paint, so my normal speedy painting should doo fine in that case. I also got the final three models for an end of year painting competition from a FLGS, it's a diorama category on a max 8" x 8" base. So in October I'm going to be working on my diorama minis, the plasmacytes (just to get them done, they'll be quick), and a Votann or two to make sure my scheme will work, as well as building all the space dwarves I've got. Going to be a busy hobby month.

[Beaky Brigade]

Belated end of September update:
 

Starting lead-weight: 265

 

End of September lead-weight: 265 (+0)

 

I have build a large number of models, but not whet my paintbrush. I have cleaned up and based 20 3D printed infantry, assembled a Chaos Dwarf Blood Bowl team and built another 10 traitor guardsmen.

 

I'm soon running out of things to build so surely it must be painting time this month! I'll set a modest reduction target.

“The adepts of the Administratum have completed their cogitations and I, BeakyBrigade, bear a Leadweight of 265 upon my mortal soul. I pledge to make every effort to reduce this to 260 by the dawn of November, through the toil of painting and the catharsis of philanthropy and rogue trading.

 

 

Good luck everyone! 

[Lord_Ikka]

October Finished 
Beginning of month added - 9 Steeljacks, 1 Kapricus, Iron-Master and crew, 
(Leadweight 178 -> 195, models 86 -> 101)
Painted - 2 Einhyr Champion, 1 Kahl, 1 Uthar the Destined, 2 Plasmacytes, 2 non-board appropriate minis
End of month additions - None
End of month totals
Total Leadweight 195 -> 187
Total Models 101 -> 93

 

Getting a new army utterly screws me up for this challenge, but I'll still carry on. I mean, I'm still technically under the amount of leadweight/models I started with in Jan (started with 194/131, now at 187/93), so progress? Still, this was my worst hobby month of the year, only 8 models finished total, which is kinda disappointing- most of my hobby time was spent building Votann rather than painting.

 

Anyway, for Nov I've got five non-board appropriate models to get done for a diorama contest in Dec, plus the first of my bigger TC models, and for this forum I'll be working on a minimum of 4 Necromunda Spyrers for the Jokaero Challenge. I will also try to start airbrushing the mass of Votann I have to at least get down their main armor color, which will allow me to paint them up quickly in batches in the next few months.

Edited October 30, 2025 by Lord_Ikka

[Lord_Ikka]

Nov Finished 
Beginning of month added - none
(Leadweight 187, models 93)
Painted - 4 Necromunda spyrers, 3 non-board appropriate minis
End of month additions - 10 Hearthkin, 3 Thunderkin, 1 Memnyr Strategist, 2 Kapricus
End of month totals
Total Leadweight -> 187 - 7 + 20 = 200
Total Models  -> 93 - 7 + 16 = 102

 

Sadly I have moved back up to over 100 models and over my original leadweight that I had in the beginning of the year 

However, I have finished 226 models this year while only added 180 to my pile o' potential, and I'll count that as a win (until I get some Xmas gifts, and my Night Lords project minis...). The other spot of good news is that the majority of my new models happen to be my Votann (62), and I'll be speed-painting them come January so that will make a wonderful start to my decluttering of the next year. I'll have a couple of big, Plodding Along vows for the 12MoH which will take away a bunch of clutter and keep me motivated (as my competing rate seriously started to lag in the last couple of months). Anyway, on to next month and finishing off this darn diorama!

[Beaky Brigade]

I'm sorry I missed updating in October and November, I have been busy building yet more models, but not gotten into my painting groove.

I have been building a magnetized Baneblade / Shadowsword / Stormlord for a friend, who in turn is going to paint it for one of his friends (long story!) but as a consequence of this I have been gifted a load of AM kits to add to the pile of shame :D 

Though I am sincere about continuing to attack the backlog I will formally pause updates until the New Year because I need to re-audit the collection, and also because I'm not quite ready to start painting yet, so I can't sincerely reduce the backlog in line with the original intent of the challenge. I didn't want you to think I'd given up or lost interest though.

 

I have been enjoying the building I have been doing, and have not been spending significant sums on new kits, so I feel I'm enjoying the hobby in a positive way, and ultimately I hope that's what I intended when I started the challenge!

 

2026 has to be the year of 40k army painting I hope! I'm actually having to look through my boxes to find things to build...

[Brother Argent]

Well, the last six months or so have not existed hobby wise for me.  At least not 40k wise.  My free time is even more limited then ever before and I have been spending a fiar bit of that time I've had working with timber in my finally finished shed.  2025 has been a really bad year for me mental health wise and even the new job I started to hopefully turn that around hasn't worked out in my favour.

 

I am somewhat lost in a lot of aspects of my life.  I am hoping to exert what little control I can on some of these things and start to make progress back into the hobby.  

 

I'll do a recount of things and hopefully, with a bit of self control, get back into this next year and actually make some forward progress rather then backwards like I did all last year.

[Firedrake Cordova]

Sometimes life gives you challenges. Sometimes painting minis helps us deal with those challenges, and sometimes it doesn't. When it isn't helping, accepting that they have to be put to one side for a period is the right thing to do (as you have) - they'll still be there waiting for that coat of paint when you're in a better place, which hopefully you will be soon, @Brother Argent.  

[Lord_Ikka]

Dec Finished 
Beginning of month added - 
(Leadweight  -> 200, models  -> 102)
Painted - 5 non-board appropriate minis, 1 Brohkyr Iron-master and crew
End of month additions - 1 Grimnyr, 2 Memnyr Strategists, 1 CSM Lord w/Jumppack, 1 Master of Executions, 1 Warpsmith, 10 Warp Talons, 10 Raptors, 10 Chosen, 5 Spyrers, 2 Caratids, 1 Necromunda vehicle, 8 non-board appropriate minis
End of month totals
Total Leadweight -> 200 - 10 + 56 = 246
Total Models  -> 102 - 10 + 52 = 144

 

Well, I started off at leadweight of 175 and total model count of 131. I managed to paint 236 models this year and at various points had my total pile o' potential down to under 60 models, so I think it was a good year. I didn't plan on starting basically two new armies (CSM and Votann), so I think without the deluge of new models in the last three months I might have done better, but I'm happy at where I'm at and ready to really start bringing down the count now (speed-painting 60-ish Votann models should do it!). Anyway, see everyone in the new year!

[Grotsmasha]

Scrolls back through thread .... April  

 

A lot, A LOT, has happened, I think I will just summarize.

 

I started 2025 with a Leadweight of  1,760. I purchased or was gifted 148 models throughout the year. I painted 56 of my own models and otherwise sold or traded away 174 models, reducing my overall Leadweight to start 2026 to 1,678. An overall reduction of 82 models, not amazing, but not terrible.

 

For the 2026, there's nothing really big on my hitlist. I'll probz try and grab WQ: Darkwater if funds and opportinuty collide, and should Hatchete's Combat Patrol release in Oz, I'll sign up for that. I'd love to say I'll be keeping up with it but I'd be fooling no one.

 

 

“The adepts of the Administratum have completed their cogitations and I, Grotsmasha, bear a Leadweight of 1,678 upon my mortal soul. I pledge to make every effort to reduce this to 1,600 by the dawn of January 2027, through the toil of painting and the catharsis of philanthropy and rogue trading".

[Brother Argent]

Well.  Here we go again.  After a horrific year Hobbywise last year I am trying to get things motivated and moving this year.  I have made (again) a commitment to not buy anything model wise (except maybe some deathwatch guys and maybe something as a gift to myself) till I get through some of my backlog.  I have some models soaking in paint stripper since last year and other still in shrink wrap since the early 2000s.

 

So, 

“The adepts of the Administratum have completed their cogitations and I, Brother Argent, bear a Leadweight of 916.7 (I Decimelled Terrain) upon my mortal soul. I pledge to make every effort to reduce this to 900 by the end of January 2026, through the toil of painting.

 

Hoping to half or even completely reduce this by the end of the year but I am being realistic.  Still about half of the models on my Leadweight are to be repainted or stripped so maybe there is hope.

 

I suppose at this point the hope is just to actually paint.

 

 

 

[Lord_Ikka]

2026 Starting Leadweight/Models
Votann army - 3 Memnyr Strategists, 1 Grimnyr + CORVs, 30 Hearthkin, 5 Hearthguard, 12 Steeljacks, 3 Thunderkin, 3 Pioneer bikes, 4 Kapricus, 2 Sagitaurs, 1 Land Fortress
Leadweight -> 95, Models -> 66
CSM army - Lord w/Jumppack, 1 Terminator Lord, 1 Master of Executions, 1 Warpsmith, 10 Warp Talons, 10 Raptors, 10 Chosen, 10 Terminators, 2 Obiliterators, 5 Havocs, 10 Traitor Guard, 10 Cultists
Leadweight -> 71, Models -> 71
Random 40k/Necro - 3 Legio SM, 4 Victrix guard, 2 Daemon Princes, 5 CSM characters, 10 Spiderken + 3 spider bases, 5 Spyrers, 2 Caratids, 2 Necromunda mercs, 3 full-size Necromunda vehicles, 1 Necromunda bike, 6 Ash Wastes spinewyrms
Leadweight -> 69, Models -> 46
Non-board appropriate minis - 40
Leadweight -> 40, Models -> 40
Total Leadweight -> 275, Total Models -> 223

 

I think I've tallied up all of my Xmas bounty/current in-transit purchases and removal/reductions correctly. So this is my starting point for the year, which is....a lot more than I thought. Went on kinda a spree the last few months grabbing up stuff for my new Votann and WB/NL armies. My goal for the year is to complete both of the Votann and CSM armies, while throwing in some of the random 40k things and non-board appropriate minis as painting breaks here and there. I don't foresee purchasing a lot of new models, as I have two entirely new armies to paint plus models to finish up for TC/BT/Voidfighter, but then again I didn't plan on buying the last two armies I did either...

 

“The adepts of the Administratum have completed their cogitations and I, Lord_Ikka, bear a Leadweight of 275 upon my mortal soul. I pledge to make every effort to reduce this to less than 50 by the end of December 2026, through the toil of painting."

 

Edited Monday at 05:09 AM by Lord_Ikka