From GregB - Borgio The Besieger (10 points)

Borgio the Besieger, ready to lead a mercenary army on a Warhammer Fantasy Battle table!

Welcome all to AHPC XVI. Great to be back with so many veterans - and also nice to see a number of new participants joining us this year! I am very much looking forward to sharing the next three months painting with all of you! For my part, I open this edition of the AHPC with a character figure that will join a project I commenced in AHPC XV - an old-school Dogs of War army from the distant days of the fourth edition of GW's Warhammer Fantasy Battle. This is Borgio the Besieger, and he is here to wreck your sh*t. 

Yet another classic 28mm sculpt from the Perry brothers. The Dogs of War were one of the best ranges GW ever released.

Borgio is a military legend in Tilea, a veteran of a great many military campaigns, nearly all of them successful. He rose to lead the Principality of Miragliano, and ruled "rather tyrannically". He was popular with his mercenary soldiers, but disliked by his many rivals among the noble classes, although was notoriously difficult to kill. Multiple assassination attempts ended in tears - for the assassin - until one day he was finally stabbed while in the bath. Such a fitting end to a Tilean legend.

Close up of Borgio's giant mace - fashioned from a cannonball that "nearly" killed him during a siege at Remas!

His battlefield kit speaks to this reputation. That huge mace? Apparently fashioned from a cannon ball which nearly killed him. I suppose he resorts to smashing people with it AFTER he has run enemies down with that lance? His "Monstrous Mask" helm causes fear among his enemies, and his glorious armour brushes aside even the worst blows - even those, it would appear, which arrive courtesy of cannons!

Massive mace AND a lance. Because of course!

I made a decent start on my Dogs of War force in the last Challenge, and this year I am hoping to really fill it out. I've been working through the fall to get the models based and primed, and over the next couple of months I am planning to bring more Regiments of Renown into the battle line!

You can run...but you can't hide...

For scoring purposes, we have a single 28mm mounted figure, good for 10 points, and a chance to get on the board!

GregB

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Greg, it's fabulous to welcome back a Challenge grognard AND one of our daily Minions. 

This is a suitable opening to your Challenge this year as I know you have loads of vintage Dogs of War models waiting in the wings. Borgio was a titan of the Warhammer Fantasy lore and you've done a magnificent job on him here. I really like how you've done his gilded armour and glowering face - the very picture of a successful mercenary general. 

I have very fond memories of your original DoW army as that is how we first crossed paths many years ago! So it's wonderful to see you doing a reprise of that storied force for us to all enjoy. Well done dude. I very much look forward to seeing the next famous unit from Tilea emerge from your hobby desk!

 - Curt

(On behalf of) RhysH - Mantic Dragon Lord and Thegn on Frostfang (20 Points)

I'm posting this entry for Rhys. He's going with a snow theme for his Mantic army for Kings of War.

This first entry is an elf lord on a dragon. The elf is metal and the dragon is PVC plastic, pretty wretched stuff, really.

White dragon with blue frost on it on a snow base.

Blue scales on the spine and the spans of the wings.

Side view with more blue.

Rhys informs us that of course white dragons have red eyes.

His next entry is a Northern Alliance Thegn on a Frostfang. This is a really cool model, which Rhys loved working on.

Face on, you can almost smell the bad breath.

The skull on the Thegn is red so he'll stand out from the rank and file of the army.

Rear view, running across the ice.

Side view. That's a very large axe.

This is two 28mm mounted figures for 10 points each = 20pts.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Rhys!

What a magnificent set of beasts and riders! Of course, it only tracks that frost dragons would have red eyes, but the crimson skull on the Thegn rider is quite bold indeed. As you say, he'll definitely stand our in the ranks (only helped by the monstrous beast he's riding!). I also like the armour and barding. As a suggestion for a future model, perhaps you can try some bronze accents to pull-out the edging and rivets. I find it makes the metalwork a little more interesting and varied. Give it a whirl! 

Terrific work Rhys! 20 points in the bag towards your Challenge goal. Well done.

- Curt

From AaronH - 10mm Epic Warpath Marauder walkers (12 Points)

This entry is just two 10mm Marauder walkers. These are for Mantic Games' Epic Warpath game, which seems like it will be a lot of fun. I backed their Kickstarter and got the Marauder and GCPS armies (Orks and Imperial Guard). 

There's a lot of detail on these for 10mm. They are plastic off a sprue.

These are mostly just yellow and metallic. I hit the visors in blue and they have a wash and some highlighting. Quick and easy but that's what you need when you are painting a whole army of 10mm.

The back view. These are three part models; body and two arms. The only real way to get variation is by how you glue on the arms.

There are six of these in the starter army. For no reason other than head cannon and variety I'm doing three clans. Yellow, red and blue. 

I really like the character of these models. Some of the lines in this system don't appeal to me, Asterians for example, but these guys are pretty awesome.

This is 2 x 10mm vehicles for 12 points.

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This also hits the Big Stompy Robots side challenge for an additional 2 points

14 points total.

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Fabulous work on these mobile suits/robots, Aaron. The yellow is wonderfully punchy, which is what you need for these smaller models. Epic stuff is so awesome, no matter what the setting or period - it just looks cool. I hope we get to see more from this force from you in the coming months.

- Curt

From PeteB – Snowball Fight – 54 mm – 22 Points

This is my second participation on the Challenge and it already looks I’m creating myself a tradition. Last year I started with a Christmas village figure, and this year I do the same. Now it are two figures from the company Magic Village, and what you see is a snowball fight between Lady Sarah, Curt and Huckleberry. A postcard with the seasonal greetings is added in the back.

Lady Sarah, Curt and Huckleberry!

The idea came when I bought the male figure and it reminded me on a picture that Curt added himself in my first post in the previous challenge.

 He mentioned that Lady Sarah took the picture, but here you can see what was really going on.

After that the battle started! No action pictures were taken! Here some more pictures from the figures that are around 60 mm high (base not included).

I hope the dog looks a bit as Huckleberry.

And here is how they looked before I did some brushwork on them. 

And the man with shovel came to visit them! 😉

Points: 2 x 54 mm foot figure = 20 Points

The Cost of Entry

As Curt asked, I mention it here and like last year I’m still giving a monthly donation to “Doctors Without Borders” and once a year I do a donation to an organisation called “Consortium 12-12”, and it unites 5 humanitarian organizations that coordinate their fundraising in Belgium during serious crises or natural disasters.

Merry Christmas to all of you and your families! 

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Pete!

This is really a wonderful entry - I'm delighted that Sarah, Huckleberry and I were your muse for your opening entry this year AND that it's an extension of year's as well. You're now well on your way to a bespoke Christmas card snow village. Sarah looks fabulous (as usual) and I appreciate the red parka, winter pants and the (increasingly) grey beard. Terrific work! 

Also, thank you for the donation to Doctors Without Borders and Consortium 12-12. Both very worthy charities.

Now, I look forward to some Hoth SnowTroopers and an AT-AT for next year. ;) 

22 Points (with a couple added in for Huckleberry). Well done Pete and a very Merry Christmas to you as well!

- Curt

From AaronP: Keep It Simple SkullForge (40 points)

Hey everybody. Long time lurker, first time poster. I wanted to get out of the gate with a quick and simple project. 

The Front

I quite like the game BlkOut. If you've not played it its a 28mm(ish) sci-fi spec ops game. Its quick and easy to play, is easy to list build for and has some cool official models. The best thing, of course, is that the rules are free to download from their website so you can try it yourself with some proxies. 

The worst thing about it is its a niche American game and I live in Australia. For whatever reason the postage costs from the US to Down-Unda are ridiculous; cost of American farmed toad mucus for the stamps maybe. This means that beyond the starter team I picked up at Cancon from a company that used to stock it in Australia (and now doesn't exist), it is expensive to get here.

The Back

So I have done what any self-respecting Aussie does when the price is too high, I pirated it.

Kidding, kidding (I always think 3d printing feels like piracy).

What I actually did was print myself some proxies from SkullForgeStudios that I though looked BlkOut enough to qualify for Task Force Boon. Their standard military-esq uniforms made them super easy to paint, and the fact that I don't do anything fancy with my BlkOut bases made them easy to finish.

Task Force Boon Assaulting my next project, with a second secret project half hidden on the left.

Now that I have some points on the board, I can look at finishing off some elves for my KoW army.

So Task Force Boon should get my 40 points if I understand correctly (5pts x 8 28mm models).

Thanks all, have fun.

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First, Aaron, welcome to the Challenge! 

I've not heard of BlkOut, so I'm very curious to give it a peek. I definitely will not cast stones on printing proxies as I'd have to bin most of what I've collected these past four years. Shipping is getting ridiculous and we won't even start on the knock-on effects of the Orange Man's tariffs. So, well done on you. 

The squad may have been a quick job, but they definitely look the business. Is that some sort of drone/droid with them? I like the boxy profile and the desert tan is a good look for it. Well done!

40 points it is! A nice opening volley as you head towards your target. Looking forward to the upcoming 'Secret Project'! :)

- Curt

Kent G - Fellbeast from Lord of the Rings (pts 30)

This time we have a fellbeast from Lord of the rings

I have to admit I’m not used to painting let alone holding something this big 

And found it hard to paint the dark parts of the wings

Sorry the photos aren’t the best I’ll work on getting better for next post

 For this chap 5pts for the rider 28mm

20pts for the beast a

5pts for the base

Thanks Mills for the help in working points out as I couldn’t figure it out.

Total 30pts

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Wow, that is truly a magnificent beast (and rider)! Well done Kent. I do like the blue-grey of your fellbeast's underside. It gives a nice contrast to the dark grey spines and the leathery wings. A very nasty piece of work. Lovely.

I agree with Mr. Mills points assessment. 30 it is!

- Curt

From DavidB - The Khan's Fist- DavidB (25pts)

 Hu- Black Thunder

It only took a couple of days, but I finally got a few troops completed. I have also populated my desk with far too many minis once again! ;) The White Scars were a bit of a challenge to photo properly, but besides 30k, I shouldn't have too many more this season. I picked these up a couple years ago and they did not get assembled and primed for awhile. I am still quite fond of 40k, but I admit that these gave me a little buyer remorse. Over 60 bucks for five guys and the scars could easily need another 15 of them to make them more useful. I couldn't help but compare to other games and miniatures and realize that for 10 bucks less, I could have a 30 man platoon for Bolt Action and Warlord Games does not have stock issues and supply problems like 40k. Still, I do love the White Scars and love playing 40k. These do bring me joy, but I may have hit the limit for new White Scars. 

I used a zenithal highlight from my airbrush, then I used apothecary white contrast paint to shade the white armor. Instead of using army painter fanatic paints, I used the army painter airbrush white triad paints to even out the splashed on contrast paint and clean up around the red trim, leather, and gold on them. I like the airbrush paint as it is very thin and is able to shade the apothecary white contrast paint in manageable coats so I do not lose the zenithal highlight or the painting sorcery of contrast/speed paints. These lads will hit the table in games, but a good half of my joy in the hobby is the model building and painting and this is by far the least stressful way I have found to make nice white uniforms/armor. It is just bonus that the process isn't labor intensive.

Plain white armor is very boring, so I did find (like the other White Scars I have) places to add some red trim so they are not just white space marines. In the "offical" paint guides, White Scars have a red chest aquilla, but I am more a fan of them sporting gold chest eagles.

I also gave the Sgt and the plasma gunner additional red markings in keeping with the space mongol aesthetic and also remind me that they have the spicy plasma guns. I used the old standby industrial hazard stripes as they do look pretty sharp with the clean white armor... I also imagine that the Admech Priests absolutely enjoy selling chainswords in any option the customer wishes... you can have black with yellow stripes OR yellow with black stripes as the God Emperor intended!

The sculpts and details on these miniatures are really quite good. My favorite one is not the Sgt or plasma gunner, but the one trooper obscured above by the Sgt's power sword. His pose is crashing forward using his armor and space marine stature to absolutely body someone with his own self. Almost like whomever he is hitting isn't worth his chainsword, or a pistol round.

5 spacemarines for 25 points

11 skulls

and one squirrel

edit*

center is my favorite of the bunch

changed lighting a lot, but still cannot quite capture the white armor.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, David!

I love seeing you back with your White Scars, even though they are the 40K version. :) Your tidy brushwork really does them great servies especially with cutting-in the red 'facing colours' and the Henry Ford black and yellow chain swords. I agree, the shoulder charging chap is the best of the litter - definitely saving on pistol rounds and chain links. All this being said, I can see your trepidation in expanding the squad further given those extortionate prices. But who knows, maybe Santa may have something for you under the tree! 

25 points for your opening gambit. Well, done David!

- Curt

Man-Flu Slowing Things Down.

Hi All,

Apologies for the slow day in posting, folks. I've been struggling with a nasty case of the flu and its really taken a wind out of my sails. That being said, I'll still be posting entries, just in slow motion. Stay tuned. 

Thanks!

Curt

From AlanD: Sending a Message (20 points)

Hello all! How lovely to be back in your company again, and welcome to those who are new to the Challenge.

My hobby time this year has been dominated by Prussia! Prussia ! Prussia!, as I slowly but steadily paint a force for the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. Two things have spurred this focus along. One has been playing Soldiers of Napoleon, a set of rules that I absolutely love. However, I can thank (blame?) the Challenge, and specifically Benito, for starting me off on this Prussia project. It began when I had the great pleasure of meeting up with him in Madrid in 2023 and visiting the incredible hobby shop Atlantica Juegos, a hotbed of temptation if there ever was one. I walked out with a box of Perry Prussian infantry, and here we are.

Anyway, to start off the Challenge this year, I present to you two Feldjaegers, galloping under fire to deliver orders. The figures are Calpe, now produced by Gripping Beast. Expensive they certainly are, but I have a smattering of them throughout my army as command figures and characters here and there.

With a satisfying 20 pre-Christmas points, I shall wish you the joy of the season and tidy up the house. Perfunctorily.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Alan!

It was wonderful to meet up with you on the Antipodean Paint & Chat at the Challenge opening. (Though I regret that I was not too talkative as I was concentrating on getting my welcome entry done. I promise to do better next time!)

Well, if you're going to do Napoleonic Prussians in 28mm you can't do much better than Calpe, even if parcelled out here and there. What wonderful models, and you've done a magnificent job on these two troopers. I particularly like the messenger who is looking pensively over his shoulder. I imagine a French hussar hot on his heels, sword poised overhead, trying to cut that particular line of communication. I've not looked at 'Soldiers of Napoleon', which of course means I'll be shopping for a copy immediately after I finish this as I can't help myself from buying rules (especially those I know I'll never play). It's an addiction, really. I need help. No I don't.

These two will give you 20 points for your climb to your target. I look forward to seeing more in the coming months!

- Curt

From AndrewG: Law, Order, and the Undertaker (15 points)

Tap, tap…is this thing on? Okay! Hi everyone, my name is Andrew and let me start by saying thank you very much to Curt et al., for the kind invitation to participate this year. This being my first time doing the challenge, I set my own bar relatively low with a modest 300 points goal.

My own painting objectives over this winter are twofold. First, complete some small warbands for various skirmish games as my local group tends to play a lot of these. Second, add some more units to my ongoing big battle projects, specifically the Battle of Northampton in 1460 (Wars of the Roses) and the Battle of Bunker Hill/Breed's Hill in 1775 (American War of Independence).

My first entry is a simple one and consists of a couple of 28mm Old West characters which I can use for skirmish games such as What a Cowboy or Dead Man’s Hand. I bought these over a decade ago at a show in the US, and they’ve been sitting in the pile of opportunity since then waiting patiently for the paintbrush.

 

 

From left to right – a Wargames Foundry character (Judge Guthrie Prentice dismounted), the 2012 Partizan Show figure (No.15) - ‘The Undertaker’ - sculpted by Mike Owen, and an Artizan Gunfighters figure representing ‘The Bad’ in the Good/Bad/Ugly set. These will form the core of my law-and-order folks, soon to be challenged by a couple of gangs which I’m currently working on.

I find Western figures a joy to paint – the colours are simple, yet small touches can add some nice variety to an otherwise dull palette. The Undertaker’s waistcoat for example done in purple betrays the fact that his business is booming and he can afford some nicer threads. For the other two, functionality is the key. Simple clothes that hide dirt and a long day’s work.

I painted the figures with a range of Vallejo and Army Painter paints. I started with a black primer and then worked up from there, using colour, washes, and quick highlights where appropriate. The bases are simple plastic 2mm thick rounds. The basing materials consist of tufts from Vallejo scenery and Quicksand basing paste from Legendary Paints, over which I add a highly complex mixture of the free sandy grit that collects at the end of my driveway every spring before the dust cleaners go by (if you live in Canada and suffer winter road conditions, you’ll immediately know what I’m referring to). Once dried, I gave it a wash of Army Painter Warpaints Soft Tone to bring it all together. A bit of Vallejo Flat Earth covers the base rim.

Finally, I do two coats of varnish to protect the miniature for play. Done and dusted and ready for the table!

Claiming 3x 28mm foot = 15 points to get things rolling.

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First off, welcome to the Challenge, Andrew! It's terrific to welcome new people into the fold of Challengeristas. 

These gunslingers look terrific and compliment each other wonderfully even though they are from different sculptors. Very neat and tidy brushwork, and your basing is equally on-point (what did we ever do without tufts?). 

This trio will give you 15 points to work towards your target. Well done! I look forward to your upcoming entries over the next three months. 

- Curt

AaronH - Imperial Storm Troopers (60 Points)

This year I'm going to try to get through my nemesis, Storm Troopers. I've been collecting Star Wars Legion since it came out, six or seven years ago. I've painted a fair few models for it but I've always been intimidated by the Storm Troopers (and Scouts and Snows). As an aside, I only play this game with painted models. It forces me to paint up models I want to use. So no Empire up to now.

The tray of potential, waiting for the Challenge start. This is approximately 135 war dollies.

I assembled and primed everything and laid it out to be ready for the Challenge. I've found other bits since this picture and added them to the tray.

Storm Trooper wash on the left. Fresh off the factory on the right.

I started with a flat white prime. I then cleaned up the spots I did a bad job of priming with more white. I then hit these guys in a batch manner. 12 models. 12 sets of lenses, then 12 lines above the lenses, then 12 mouth snouts, then 12 weapons. I had to do the black undersuits one at a time since every model is different. I then dry brushed gun metal on the guns and put some sombre grey on the high points of the black. I touched up everything with another bit if white and then everyone got washed in storm trooper wash. As you can see in the picture above it knocks back the white, emphasizes the details and makes the armor look more lived in. I really like the affect.

The 12 man unit. I have 3 heavy weapons in here, as well as the optional five man upgrade.

The back shot. 

And now the closer ones in focus.

In Star Wars Legion you get a base unit of four dudes that you can then add on weapons and specialists to, getting you up to a potential unit size of 10. There's one more heavy weapon that I don't have a model of, so is not included.

This is 12 x 32mm infantry models = 60 points.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Aaron!

It looks like you have a veritable battalion of Stormtroopers ahead of you, and what better way to work through them than the Challenge! I quite like the final result that you've achieved, with these looking like hard campaigners with little time to keep their armour white and shiny. Question: What do you use for your 'Stormtrooper Wash'? I'm sure there are a few of us that would be keen to compare notes. :)

This large squad of 12 will give you 60 points for your climb up the points ladder. Well done!

- Curt