From AdamC "Milady de Winter" (5 points)

Hello AdamC (aka Fencing Frog) back after a year off because of family obligations. Mind you those obligations aren't any less this year but I feel a bit more on top of most of them and maybe I need the distraction of the challenge more this year.

A friend of mine wrote a set of rules called Plum and Blade  it's quick play and based on the best of the swashbuckling genre of both books and film.  I'm happy to say I got a mention in the dedication for my input on historical fencing methods.

I don't remember the manufacturer it might be Blue Moon but do recall it was lady de Winter the femme fatale of the Three Musketeers. I like her balanced stance, if she doesn't trip on it her long gown will hide her footwork (which can throw a male fencer off as I know form personal experience).

Historically a fair number of noble women did in fact learn fencing and could be quite dangerous.  I did her dress in deep sky-blue, the shading isn't all would like but I didn't want her looking Dirty.  Gold lace, red slashed sleeve complete the look and she has heavy leather gauntlets to protect her hands.  

She's a single 25mm figure for 5 points getting me off to a start.  

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Adam! It's great to have you with us again.

Milady de Winter looks the business, especially sporting those formidable gauntlets. I like like how you did her puffed sleeves and gold accents on the gown. A beautiful and dangerous character, to be sure! Will there be more figures for 'Plum and Blade' coming up in the Challenge? It's such a colourful period to work in.

5 points for your return to the ranks. Well done!

- Curt

From GavinB Wrapping up the Walking Dead (10 points)

    This is my 2nd Year at the challenge, all though I must admit I have suffered from the serious infection of Painting Mojo Loss, but I am going to try to fight though it, and hopefully I will have a swift recovery...

    My mom and dad got me the Walking Dead All Out War Collectors Edition from Mantic Games last holiday, I am almost done with it now, over a year later. I usually paint a survivor and a walker at a time, so here is Brian Blake (the governor) and a walker in an apron. I'm not particularly happy with how Brain turned out, the shading was pretty bad on pants. But I feel good about the Walker.

POINTS:

2- 28mm foot figures: 10 points

Happy Painting!

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First, welcome back to the Challenge, Gavin!

I understand being in a painting slump as I've really not picked up a brush since last March, but I usually find that once you have a few figures behind you it all comes back with a gusto.

These two characters from The Walking Dead are excellent, but I agree that the walker really stands out. You did a terrific job on the decaying flesh and her gore-spattered apron. Yeeash. 

20 points to start towards your Challenge target. Well done!

- Curt

From TeemuL: Peninsular British (20 points)

This is the start of the 24th Warwick unit for my Peninsular War project. These are plastic Victrix minis and I already have painted two 24 strong units of these, so I'm getting used to these. The brushwork is a mix of Contrast paints and basecoat & wash which seems to work ok and is quite fast.

My research is bit lazy at this point, my source is mainly the Victrix box and choosing 24th as this unit was a bit random selection, but here we are. I painted 66th previously and their cuffs are a bit lighter green than these. In the future I should get more in-depth sources for my project, especially when I start buying and painting cavalry and artillery.

I've been painting something every day and I have more entries in the pipeline, but I really need to speed up in order to make a decent approach towards my points goal. I just realized that usually lots of my points come from Challenge locations, so this year might be very difficult for me. :)

This is not quite a squirrel, just 20 points, but it will be in a near future. Yep, 28mm miniatures are worth 5 points, so this is 20 in total.

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Like these hard-bitten fellows you have for us, you've been in the ranks for years. Welcome back to the Challenge, Teemu! 

Being an archivist by trade, I find your more laid back approach to historical research quite refreshing. :) That being said, I think these Warwick fellows look great, and I especially like the vibrant green facings complimenting their red coats. Sartorial comments aside, I'm sure they're eager to have more of their comrades around them as a few of these poor chaps have been knocked about a bit. I look forward to seeing the entire battalion in all its glory.

20 points for your opening volley! Great work, Teemu!

- Curt