From Dallas: Plague Marines in the Armoury! (45 points)

The Armoury requires models wearing armour... and ceramite counts, right? Once again a delve into the unpainted figure stash unearthed these metal 40K Plague Marines from a Golden Age of Games Workshop. These five will join a rather sizable Nurgle Space Marines force in my cabinet.  

Two Marines with bolters here - a standard Chaos Marine bolter at right and a Heresy-era Phobos pattern piece at left.

Melta-gunner here with an... interesting mutation on his right arm.

A couple more Marines with boltguns to finish off the group.

Several different patterns of backpack but that's OK... after ten thousand years there's bound to be some mixing and matching. The models were basecoated with Caliban Green and heavily highlighted with a mix of Deathworld Forest and Steel Legion Drab. They were washed with Agrax Earthshade and re-highlighted with the DWF/SLD mix, to match the others in the army painted years ago. The bronze trim is Brass Scorpion.

I hadn't painted any new models for this army for quite some time, but this is a little preview of something bigger that will be coming along for a room on the third level of the Dungeon...
 

From ScottC to Byron M: Armory submission - Spider Tank (48 points)

This is a one of a kind - 15mm scaled Spider Tank. The STL file was obtained through thingiverse and printed by Byron M. I purchased a relatively large 15mm sci fi force from micropanzer games and wanted to paint them in a Mass Effect Geth inspired paint scheme. Byron was kind enough to print some excellent sci-fi armor for my force and as he was my invitation to this excellent hobby challenge I felt it was appropriate for me to dedicate my admission piece for him. Hope you like how it turned out Byron! - The file was very easy to assemble (legs printed separately) and was an absolute joy to paint. 

This particular figure actually printed at a smaller scale than I had anticipated and thus became my canvas. 

I used the geth colossus for my painting inspiration and although it is on a war-torn styled base I wanted to keep the pristine look of the geth pearly nature to the figure. I had some excellent feedback from friends to add the rubble to the base and I think it looks very cool - as if he annihilated this little building and is moving on to his next victim.

Top view:

Rear:

Left side:

Right side:

The figure is based on a 60mm base - pointed as a 40mm vehicle: 25 points 

Chamber bonus: 20 points 

Late Edit by Tamsin: 

There was some confusion with scoring of this entry. It was in fact a 15mm vehicle which scores 8 points rather than 25 points for a 40mm vehicle. The duty minion (who I shan't name) had managed to miss that as well as being a Curtgeld entry, it was also for the Armour chamber. The corrected scoring is as follows:

1 x 15mm vehicle @ 8 points

Armoury Chamber @ 20 points

Curtgeld @ 20 points

Total = 48 points

From ScottC: Giant Flies - Hatchery submission (50 points)

A faint buzzing noise is heard in the distance... as the adventurers approach they see an oncoming wave of giant flies!

Up next is 20 Giant flies for rangers of shadow deep. Simple dollar store Halloween flies, painted and based on plastic fork tip flying bases. 28mm in scale.

Points: 

28mm Giant flies - pointed at 1/2 of a 28mm figure due to the simplicity for a total of 50 points

From Barks: One witch, two witch, red witch, blue witch (35 points)

These are two mage figures from the Descent boardgame- she is the same person, but one is 'good' mode and one is 'evil' mode.

I'm learning with Contrast here, and thought I would do these figures with a rattlecan zenithal primer from black to white. However, the pale colours (particularly flesh tones) don't cover the dark shades at all, which I should have anticipated. It looked adequate, but not the effect I wanted. I was able to salvage them, however, through more conventional painting.

If you can't handle me at my worst...

... you don't deserve me at my best.

2x 28mm figures: 10 points

Teleporter use: 20 points

Sorceress Bonus: 5 points

Skullz: 2

From TomG - Shaun the Sheep Had It Coming! - The Shrine - 25pts

After a successful burst of hobby productivity, I bring you my second entry of the day, with this ancient priest, mid sacrifice, trying to please the gods and enjoy some tasty mutton after the ceremony. The miniature was a freebie given away with the release of the SPQR skirmish game from Warlord Games, and was very nearly the entry prize this year, but he fitted the Shrine setting too well not too silly his services there. 

I wanted to distinguish between the warm yellows and reds used in the knife, tunic/toga and his skin, from that of the sacrificial sheep, but it was harder than I thought. My initial fear was the the white wool would completely blow out the colour composition of the model, leaving a desaturated and washed out effect. However that wasn't the case, simply by changing up the texture and going for a more muted brown/off-white tone.

I attempted to add this texture to the sheep but selectively adding rough patches of highlights, then highlighting again with another semi random attack pattern. ,I ed with this were the dark horns and hooves and the sheep no longer detracted from the priest, and instead helped the model "pop" as some might say.

Although the model is made of an odd soft resin plastic, which made clean up harder, the overall finish was fun to create, and allowed me to practice yet more on my journey on perfecting painting yellow. Long way to go yet but I'm happy with this one.

Points -

28mm Infantry = 5pts

Challenge Bonus = 20pts

Total = 25pts

From TomG - Ork2 D2 - The Orcs' Pit - 25 points

From a race so foul we find them in pits, to a film character so rude every single word he speaks is censored with a beep or whistle! 

It was at this point I realised I had met my Challenge goal of 500pts, so I now intend on smashing on through the Chambers as they've brought me so much joy already! 

So, as I continue through the Chambers of Challenge, I finally had a reason to paint up this chap, having hung up my Warhammer 40k boots for good with the most recent release. A superb sculpt, from I believe to be Scibor miniatures, this ork certainly seems to have got himself an interesting outfit. 

The painting of this chap was a mix of my favourite hobby past time, painting orc skin, to trying out different weathering effects. I mostly stuck to stippling and washes, but I managed to add in an enamel rust fluid from AK Interactive and a pool of GW Nurgles Rot for the green ooze on the rear of the base. 

In keeping with the lore to 40k, and trying to stick to a vaguely R2D2 colour theme, we've got a lucky blue lid and wrist bands. The bands were a fun treat to paint as dyed leather, initially working up through blue highlights, then switching to Vallejo Cork Brown to add the cracked edges of the leather beneath. 

For the hand pads, they were initially a lot cleaner, but after a happy little mistake they ended up looking suitably corroded and scuffed up. The barrel added an interesting feature with the plug at the front, and although it was tempting to have blood or slime coming out of it, oil ended up making more sense. 

I did try to get as vibrant an orc skin tone as I could, simply just to contrast with the muted and desaturated tones of the metallic surfaces. All in all, my favourite piece so far, and I hope you like it too.

Points -

28mm Infantry = 5pts

Challenge Bonus = 20pts

Total = 25pts.

from RayR - Haitian Revolution - The Generals 20pts

 

For my next entry into the Challenge I've gone back to Napoleonics. The Haitian Revolution to be precise! 

The English General on the right is from Trent Miniatures.

While the Haitian General is from Front Rank. Apart from his head!

The figures is actually a French Officer/General, I can't find him on their site? 

I chopped off his head in true French style and replaced it with  a Trent Minis head to represent a black officer, either fighting for or against the French.

I painted the English General up with green cuffs, I'm not 100% decided if he's from the 39th Foot of 69th, who were both pretty unhappy to be sent to Saint Domingo at the time.

These fine looking fellows will add 20 points to my total!

From PaulSS: [The Guardroom] Vicious old lady (25pts)

The Guardroom: This chamber-challenge is to paint some donut-munching, soundly-sleeping, or professionally competent guards.  Bonus points for painting things they might be guarding, as well.

I don't think that there could possibly be anything more competent at preventing the thievery of the common soldiery than a vicious old lady with a stick backed up by her slathering hound.

This great figure is the second part of the Egg Collecting set from Eureka Miniatures that I painted a few days ago. The dog has a pail of eggs and as well as her stick the old lady also carries a basket of produce to be guarded from the thieving blaggards passing through on their way to Mont St. Jean

There is a single 28mm figure with the location bonus for a total of 25 points. 

28mm Napoleonics Duel Totalizer: 14 mounted, 55 foot

From MikeF - The Tomb - Shameless points mining continues with Hero Quest tomb - ??points

 Apologies for the excessive number of posts, but I likely won't be able to post for another week, so I thought it best to get it done while I can. The final chamber in level 2 is The Tomb. I decided to paint this...tomb. The model is from Hero Quest. I played around with some rust powders and lahmian medium from GW. I think it worked pretty well to give his armor a bit of an aged look.

I can't remember the points I was awarded for the rack I painted at the beginning of the challenge, but it should be equivalent to that. As with the rack, the base is the original cardboard one.

Now on to level 3!

From MikeF - Oubliette - Imperial priest - 25 points

 For the Oubliette I'm to paint something forgotten, or from a long forgotten project. This is the last model for my inquisitor warband and he represents this long forgotten project. I purchased most of these models years ago when codex Daemonhunters came out and they've enjoyed varying levels of attention over the years. This Imperial Priest model has a history of neglect. It's gone through several cycles of basing, priming, debasing to cannibalize the base and then tossing it into the bits box, only to re-discover it years later and begin the cycle all over. This challenge has finally motivated me to get it done once and for all.

You definitely wouldn't want to miss mass with this guy running the show!

The completed Inquisitor Warband

From MikeF - The Shrine - 40k Imperial Preacher - 25 points

 After skipping the Orc Pit, I've landed at the Shrine. This requires I paint a cleric or similar. Continuing with the Inquisitor warband theme, I've completed an Imperial preacher. Everything in 40k is over the top and the Ecclesiarchy is no exception. This model is holding a staff with a burning brazier on top connected by hoses to a backpack gas container. I suppose this is to provide adequate lighting while reading verses from his holy tome, but I suspect that it doubles as a flame thrower for use against heretics, non-believers and people needing the 'Emperor's Peace.' When painting the model I was initially confused by the over coat. I thought it was armor at first, but after painting it I realized that it flowed seamlessly into the sleeves of the model. Turns out its a large padded coat and likely heat resistant. Sorta like an asbestos coat. |Additional protection comes in the form of welders goggles and oven mitts! This was my first attempt at a painting fire and moderately happy with the result. I'd put it in the 'good enough' category.

Best way to turn pages when wearing oven mitts.

From DrQ: Orks in the Armoury (40 points)

Having been swamped by a week of work meetings, I'm finally able to post my submission for the Armoury!

Nothing I have in my painting pile is really big on armour right now, so I went in the orky direction of "the best defense is a good offense." I present four heavily armed Ork Boyz with Big Shootas.

One in 10 models in an Ork Boyz brick can swap out their regular weapons to be armed with the more powerful Big Shoota. So I've already accidentally started painting my second unit while still working on the first. This might mean I'll need to touch one of these lads up later, since I plan on changing the shade of one of the colours for each unit. For now though, they all go together.

Not too much else to say on these boyz. A little more extreme highlight on their arm wraps than I had done previous, but still a pretty muted and dirty scheme. 

I was hoping for more progress for this post, but I got sidelined by work and the slow assembly of my Arkanaut Ironclad sky vessel for my Kharadron fleet (that's my personal big goal for this hobby challenge).

As far as points: 20 total for the four boyz, and 20 for the challenge area comes to a total of 40.

Now off to the Hatchery where I hope to paint something truly eye-catching from my backlog!