Friday 20 March 2015

From DaveD - Sudan - Ambulances, Baggage and Cavalry (150 Points)

Yup - still at the Sudan stuff. No point nuke - just a gentle nudge across the finish line.  Here we have 2 Ambulance Camels, baggage camels, (Castaway Arts) 3 mules, two handlers, a  walking camel , and laid down one (Connoisseur Miniatures - preparation for the Camel Corps)





My last unit for the challenge last year was a unit of 12 Baggara cavalry -  it seems appropriate to finish off by topping it up with some more - in this case another 8 figures (Perry Miniatures) - and I decided to rebase them (the pereniall wargamers bugbear) all mixed in altogether onto larger bases.






It has been a wonderfully focused, productive winter season. I really enjoyed the side challenges with Millsy -  though lets not hear any more from MC Hammer Mr Mills - I had to resort to 



 Millsy - here is a present  - Enjoy




 I ended up with far more painting time than I initially thought this year due to a lot less day job travel interference, which was a real bonus. The armies for the Sudan are certainly more then large enough for gaming with now. I will be putting on a large game at the Wargames Holiday Centre at the end of October - bringing the Sudan back to life there has been a long term aim. This is year 4 in the challenge that figures for it have made an appearance - I think I can say there wont be any Sudan figures in next years challenge (hmm Zulu's there's a thought..wait ... wait... stop that thought...)

So here is the Mahdist army painted over the last 4 challenges - ready for trouble.





The Imperial forces stand at 3 infantry brigades and cavalry brigade - altogether i reckon i have about 300 figures left to finish the whole project off over the summer.I shall get a picture of them all on my own blog when the project table (see below) has been cleared !

As for what next ? Given the lead mountain had been reduced to a mere mole hill it has now been seriously topped up , and the wallet has taken a serous bashing - a few supplier have been made considerably richer. Next up is Nile steamers, and the Camel Corps- all freshly delivered.



Thanks must go to Curt (and of course Sarah!)  for organising and herding the various cats to allow all this to happen - you're mad - in a wonderful way.

To my fellow Challengers it's been a feast of eye candy - with a host of workman like, creative, off the wall unusual entries . Flying carpet wars, clockwork monkeys, LotR, wonderful pulp entries. So many to choose from.

Thanks also to our sponsors for encouraging and rewarding our little corner of the blog-o-sphere.

For those of you attending Salute this year I shall be at the meet up - arrangements are all sorted

So for another Challenge year - its goodby from me! At this point we traditionally hand over to Ray Roussell to carry out a sandbag manouvere... so duck you lot.


From Curt:

A majestic final entry Dave, make no mistake.  You can take a final lap (on your favourite camel) with the gold laurels of victory firmly on your head. 4138 astounding points.  I sweep my hat in the dust. Bravo to you, my friend!

Thanks for your kind words Dave, but I have to say its you and all the others in the Challenge that make this such a wonderful event to host.  

Congratulations again Mr. D!!


23 comments:

  1. Fine last entry Dave! A victory well deserved. Massive painting effort and to a great standard too!

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  2. My God I cannot believe how much you got done and how well done it was... you have workshop of elves turning these out for you right? Like Curt I bow and sweep my hat in the dust.

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    1. Now if only I had some one to help me? Imagine how much I would get done

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  3. Bravo sir, bravo! A fabulous final entry to round off a truly astounding Challenge for you. :)

    I think that next year you should focus on wet and space navy stuff so that us lesser mortals don't have to spend so much on dust masks! ;)

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    1. Thanks Tamsin..hmm ships... Perhaps coastal forces.. Although I do have a hankering to do The Raid on St Nazaire.. In big style..

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  4. Brilliant. The massed figures do look remarkably like a still from the 4 feathers film. I can almost feel them swaying like a flock of starlings

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    1. Cheers.. It is certainly looking impressive out on a table that is for sure

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  5. Mahdists! Fousands of 'em! Fantastic work Dave. 4100+ is an amazing accomplishment, were they all 28mm?

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    1. Thanks ..Yep.. Every single one of them... However they were not Napoleonic!

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  6. Watching the fight for the top spot has been a blast. The fact that all of the big hitters were producing such quality to go with the quantity was amazing

    Ian

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  7. Bravo, bravo! What a spectacle, thanks for sharing it with us all arm D

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    1. Cheers Phil, I would love to get you involved in some play testing later in the year

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  8. Truely impressive force! My favs are your converted Brit cav and the Bengali lancers. It'll take a day just to get the first turn movement and firing done with that lot! ;)

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    1. Thanks.. Yes the Lancers are certainly my favourites

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  9. Thanks Dave. I'm a massive Queen fan and I consider that getting of lightly by comparison. :-)

    I ran a good sprint I reckon and cleared a few hurdles before you but the marathon is yours by a massive margin. Congrats mate, you truly are a machine.

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    1. LoL..it's been a cracking few months, thanks for making it so enjoyable

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  10. Well done Dave, that was some serious work you managed to get done!!!! See you at Salute!

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  11. Cheers Ray.. Look forward catching up with the gang

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  12. Wonderful, I love the setup on those ambulance camels! And those group shots are awesome, just the sort of thing we all love to see. And congratulations again on the achievement! :)

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    1. Thanks Mark.. If you were not battling with Hungarian braid .. Who knows!

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  13. Brilliant entry and what a site, those massed troops duking it out over great terrain. Thanks heaps for sharing your journey to the Sudan with us! Can't wait till your steamer leaves for Africa ;-)

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