From LeeH - 6mm Punic Cavalry (90 points)

These are my first batch of 6mm Carthaginians from Baccus entered into the Challenge. I'm also working on several units of infantry but the cavalry muse was with me so these got finished first. Baccus list these as Libyan Cavalry but in the TtS! army list they fall under the broader description of Punic Cavalry. Later on I will try to find some of the famed Numidian Light Cavalry but for now they are alluding me in the catalogue.

I just about finished these in time for submission today, thanks to a long session on Sunday and the tolerance of a very understanding wife! There is method in her madness because I think after 25 years of marriage she has realised that painting keeps me happy and a happy husband is also a docile husband!!

I have mixed feelings about how these turned out. I like the colourful shields and the waterproof pen I use for the shield designs is once again proving its value and utility. The pen writes best straight onto the acrylic paint but needs to be sealed with a spray varnish to avoid smudges (don't use a brush varnish as it can make the ink run). I'm less happy with how the white leather armour turned out. The ink wash I applied has made the armour look a bit muddy for my liking and I wish I had taken time to reapply the white highlights again after the wash. Still, its a lesson learned and a mistake I won't make again.

So I have just about managed to get my first Carthaginians into the Challenge but they most definitely won't be my last. I have already started on my next submission and a possible entry to one of the later bonus rounds, and all despite simultaneously working on a 1:1 scale bedroom. I wonder what the points would be for that project...ah of course, its Terrain so doesn't count!

Seventy Two 6mm cavalry should net me 72 points so I'm starting to make headway towards my 300 point target. I have a lot of infantry to work on next and although there are more of them they are worth half the points of cavalry...so I'd better stop typing and get back to my painting desk.

These Carthos look fab Lee - nice work on them, particularly the hand-penned shields. Doing individual designs by hand at this scale definitely deserves a bunch of extra points, which I will award with pleasure.