From BrianC: A couple of dogs, Romans, I-Kore Minis(VOID), a HUGE Rumbleslam mini and a druid (160pts)

Hello! I was able to turn in one more entry before the deadline! WooHoo! Okay, I'll be quick!

Here are some Warlord Games Imperial Romans(20) 

Here are some really old minis from I-Kore (VOID). I was trying to go for a Cyberpunk agent/police look. Oh well, either way, they will be used for some kind of Sci-Fi miniature game. Ha!

I finished the last member of the Rumbleslam Human wrestling team! This dude is a 54mm miniature!

This challenge motivated me to finish this team:

Okay, next is a couple of Bolton's dogs from Game of Thrones.

Lastly, a Warlord Games Celtic Druid. I would like to enter this mini in Dante's Paradise Fourth Sphere: The Wise. They were looked upon as a wise man or sage in their tribe. They toss the bones and look to the stars and teach lessons from experience.

Thank you so much for this challenge! I can't wait to return for the third time! 

Take Care all and awesome job with your painted minis! 

POINTS:

28mm x 26 = 130pts.

54mm x 1 = 10pts.

1 Circle(Wise) = 20pts.

TOTAL = 160pts.

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Maybe under the wire, but still excellent work Brian. That's a terrific unit of Early Imperial Romans (like stormtroopers and Napoleonic French, you can never have too many). Those VOID figures take me waaay back so it's great to see them getting some due attention. Can't go wrong with some doggos. But my favourite has to be the Celtic Druid figure. I really like his beard and staff (great groundwork too).

Well done Brian and I hope to see you out for the next edition of the Challenge.

- Curt

 

From ChristopherS: Caesarian Romans (60pts.)

Sliding under the door with my last post! For a long time I've wanted to do Caesarian Romans in particular the Wargames Foundry ones as I always really liked them and to this day still consider them the best out there. I don't know why I never got around to doing them, but finally acquired some in a trade with my friend Mike. 

Once I started painting them I was having so much fun, I ordered a large amount of them in a Foundry sale which is only really how I can get them with the price increases, shipping and customs and all. Since I paint pretty slow by the time I need more miniatures some sale is bound to be happening. I suppose it's that way for many of us metal miniature painters as I still paint relatively few plastic and resin miniatures for many reasons that are commonly known like assembly, heft etc.

Somebody gave a great description of the Foundry Caesarian Romans looking like they are fighting on rugby pitch which translates to brutally fighting in a no quarter given or asked toe to toe manner which will really contrast well to the sophisticated look of my Hellenistic opposition I have planned. Plus Caesar vs Pompei , Spanish, Gaul and Germanic tribes and Spartacus Slave revolt all sound intriguing to do as each presents a completely different game. 

Lately I've been putting all my Dark Ages and Ancients on single bases and using blue tack to hold them onto movement bases which holds surprisingly well. I hate re-basing and I don't like sabot bases either and this seems the best solution for me to keep pace with my changing taste in base sizes I seem to go through. For example These bases are 120mm x 60mm, but I'm thinking of trying 100mm frontage to get a quicker start on gaming which won't be an issue as all I need to do is buy new movement bases rather than any dreaded re-basing.

I decided to give them a look that says they have been fighting for some time so I gave some with shield designs and others with just red to show not enough time to paint their shields as the next fight is already coming up. They are all in red to show a bit of a veteran status and one off the more experienced units.

Well that brings my challenge to end and not very many units to show for it(typical for me) plus my commenting fell off a cliff so sorry about that. That's 12 28mm miniatures for 60pts I believe.

Thanks for viewing!

Miniature Company- Wargames Foundry

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Having painted about a hundred of Ceasarian Legionaries in the past few years I can appreciate these and the wonderful detail you've gone to Christopher! The deep red, battered bits and variation between their kit give them a really dynamic look (BTW I went with 120mm base frontages also- I liked the space it gave me to be creative in the basing)

A fabulous way to close out your challenge - well done!

- Paul

From JohnS: More Spanish Heroes (50 points)

As the closing time looms I have managed to complete ten more Spanish for my Peninsular War army.

 

 

A mix of Perry and Brigade Games (with perhaps an Offensive Miniatures officer on the right) these ten militia were actually a lot of fun to paint.

I like my armies to consist of individuals, not all the same figure in the same pose. Militia units give me a chance to scratch that itch.

Every figure is dressed differently, with a range of equipment but I have tried to tie them all together with pops of the Spanish national colours of red and yellow. I can just imagine these two officers walking into a cantina and saying "Hey you, you're in the army now. Do you want the hat or the sash?"

I must mention the basing. Our regular gaming buddy Gavin is a big fan of Peninsular War games and has created an enormous batch of Gav's Special Spanish Basing, made up of a host of "secret" ingredients. He has gifted us regulars with a 2 litre bottle of each. It may take some time to use up!

Thanks to the regular chats with the other Challengers (organised by the Magnificent Millsy) I have achieved a Personal Best this Challenge. They don't call me Slowpainter for nothing!

10 x 28mm Infantry @ 5 ea = 50 points to finish

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These Spanish militia look magnificent John. I really like how you've made each unique yet managed to maintain a consistency so the look like a unit when brought together. That secret mix of Gavin's looks the business and with two litres you'll have a lot of arid basing ahead of you.

Finally, congratulations on achieving a personal Challenge Best this year. I'm delighted that it provided you with good impetus for getting models off the paint desk and on the game table. Bravo!

- Curt

From RichardM - One last trip around the Mahdists with the big man himself (146 points)

Early this week when I saw how close I was to 3,000 points I delved back into the box and pulled out a number of other figures to get me over the magic number.  Nothing in the number other than it is a number and a quiet challenge I had set myself once I passed my 'official' target.

At the same time I thought I would take the opportunity to do a base for the big man himself - so here is my interpretation of the Mahdi.

While still 10mm Pendraken figures, this time the three mounted figures are from their Ottoman range.  The Mahdi and the camel kettle drummer (I have no idea if they used kettle drums :) ) looked fine straight from the bag.  But if you look close enough you may notice the Mahdi's personal flag holder has an Ottoman Bork on his head.  The two foot figures are from the Sudan range and have appeared in many of my Mahdist foot units.  

For the flags, I have tried to do an interpretation (because of size) of images in an article in The Mahdist Wars Source Book by The Virtual Armchair General.  The green flag on the mounted figure is described as the Mahdi's personal flag which was captured in 1899 at Um Diwaykarat where the Khalifa was killed.  The flag being held by the foot figure is based on one that is on display at the Khalifa's house in Omdurman and was captured in the Battle of Omdurman (again from the Source book).

Then the bulk of the points that will get me over 3,000 come from these two mounted units.  Both are further bases for unit types already seen in the challenge. 

I have finished off the Mahdist light cavalry with these 20 figures spread over four bases.

Then I have more Mahdist camels with five bases of 25 figures.  Previous camels were done in the white jibbah with their coloured patches and this time I used more earthy tones similar to those I used on the Hadendowah and Nile River Arabs.

The points work out at:

Mahdi command stand - 3 * 10mm mounted and 2 * foot  = 11 points

Light Cavalry - 20 * 10mm mounted = 60 points

Camels - 25 * 10mm mounted = 75 points

Total = 146 points

What a great challenge - I've loved it.  I'd like to end by reiterating my thanks and comments in the last post.  Thanks all.

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Wow, fabulous work Richard. You've had a terrific Challenge.  I have to say that whenever I've looked at these figures of yours I'm often tricked into thinking that they are a larger scale. The Mahdi looks suitably imposing and the two units of cavalry are very impressive (especially the camels). Magnificent brushwork sir. I look forward to your Challenge wrap-up to see all the work you've done.

- Curt

From RayR - Retreat from Moscow - 23rd/24th Chasseur a Cheval Sledge 35pts

 

Its finally here, my last post of this years Challenge, I'm chuffed with all I've managed to get finished, but also gutted for what I didn't manage to get started. Including the figures in the post. My plan was to have 1 unit of 4 sledges. Perry's make 2 sledges, 1 walking and this one running. But the 2nd running sledge has been out of stock for ages, only coming back last week, so it scuppered my plans.

I started painting this back in January, but held off finishing it off until the other sledge turned up, but as time ran out, I thought it could be my last post.

"During the Retreat from Moscow, Colonel Marbot seeing that

his regiment, the 23rd Chasseurs a Cheval, was falling apart,

decided to dismount them, use their remaining horses to pull two-man peasant

sledges easily found in local villages. The 23rd formed up with the

24th Chasseurs a Cheval to create a sledge born brigade. At night

these formed squares which were frequently used by Marshal Ney and General

Maison for shelter. Each man was ordered to have two muskets to enable them to

resist attacks with ‘the liveliest musketry"

from Perry Miniatures website.

https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/fn-177-marbots-two-man-sledge-galloping-retreat-from-moscow-1812/

I really can't wait to get a unit of these out on the tabletop.

I've got to thank Curt and Sarah for all their hard work in putting the Challenge together and running it, also thanks to my favorite Fin, Teemu, for putting up with me since December, as well as all the other Minions and fellow Challengers and commenters who helped drag me along.

As for the points 5pts for the 2 figures and horse = 15pts

and 20pts for the sledge, making 35pts altogether!

Thanks!

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A fantastic final volley, Ray. These are such characterful models and you've really done them justice with your brush and basing. I have both variants in my collection, but I think I like your rendition of this one better. 

Thank you for joining in with us again Ray. I very much look forward to your wrap-up photos and your upcoming games with Lee. Bravo to you for sticking with this fabulous project. Well done!

From MartijnN: The last post (The Inconstant, The Ambitious) (137 points)

Phew. Managed to get my 6mm cavalry and artillery done just in time. So here are my last figures for Challenge XV:

These are five bases for my Blucher French force. There is a brigade each of dragoons, cuirassiers and chasseurs a cheval, and a both a foot artillery and a horse artillery battery.

Horse artillery and foot artillery

A brigade of Chasseurs a Cheval

Cuirassiers and Dragoons

They are all Baccus miniatures.

There was one Circle of Hell left to visit, Treachery. I had a great idea to paint up a 6mm figure representing the Count De Bourmont, a French Géneral de Division commanding the 14th division, who deserted to the Allies on the morning of the 15th of June, 1815. However, I also had an idea for the first two Spheres of Paradise, so I had to get my priorities right. Having done enough Circles, Paradise was in reach!

So, for the Inconstant and The Ambitious, as must surely be a shock for anyone who followed me along during this Challenge, I have painted two Iain Lovecraft figures. Here is the wobbly old King, representing the Inconstant, and his just a little too eager son, the Crown Prince, representing the Ambitious:

As you can see, the old King likes his liquor a little too much, and his crown is tottering as a result. I will leave it up to you to decide if he is either eagerly reaching for or desperately rejecting the cup his son, who thinks he has been waiting for the Throne quite long enough, is offering him."Come on, dad, one more won't hurt, right?".

They are 3d printed figures. I really love these Lovecraft figures, they are so full of character. I will probably never find any use for them, but they are fun to paint!

And I also painted a log cabin. No points, just for show (and hopefully help persuade Curt to let terrain back in next Challenge 😉). It is a very bad photo, it is a lot more colourful in real life. Very simple paintjob, but I am pleased with it:

So I made it to Paradise in the end. Scoring is easy I guess:

66 6mm cavalry @1 = 66

7 6mm guns @1 = 7

28x 6mm foot @0.5= 14

2x 28mm foot @5= 10

2 Challenge locations = 40

For a total of 137 points. 

Thanks for looking. I'll leave the formal thanksgiving for the wrap-up post, but thank you all for the support and the encouraging comments. I am already looking forward to Challenge XVI!

Martijn 

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What a lovely last post Martijn! I particularly like your Napoleonic French Horse Artillery, but have to laugh and admire your Inconstant and Ambitious. You've been a great booster of Lovecraft's miniatures and these two are worthy additions to your collection. The cabin looks very nice and cozy. Who knows, perhaps my heart (or head) will soften to terrain for next year. :) 

Last but not least, thank you so very much for serving as our Friday Minion. Your comments and support were well received and I very much enjoyed your grand tour of brews and spirits that can be found in the Low Countries. I hope we can imbibe a few in a future visit (along with a rousing rematch of SAGA)!

- Curt