From SteveG: More ancients (165 points)

1. Antiochus III The Great. 28mm. Basileus of Seleucid Empire. Solidified his crumbling empire in campaigns from Bactria o Thrace. He sadly, came up against the growing might of Rome and came off 2nd best at Magnesia in190 BC. He even employed Hannibal Barca after his exile from Carthage but failed to utilize his military genius to the full. If he’d been willing and able to do so ancient history may have a vastly different flavour. Model from Aventine w head swap from Victrix Heavy Greek Cavalry set. Relic Miniatures also make a nice looking version of this character.

1. Boii Gallic Spearmen. 28mm 3D printed by Battlecat Miniatures. Unlike most companies that make generic “Gauls” , Battlecat have elected to make a series of specific tribal national groups. The Boii caught my eye as they are clad in linothorax armour, which is rarely associated with Gauls. Being from northern Italy they were likely more heavily influenced by Etruscan and Italic cultures than their Transalpine gallic relatives. Nice figures, each of which is unique. Only detractions are the fact that each figure is fully formed, which makes painting some parts hard to access ie behind their large shields. These shields are all identical and don’t lend themselves to the use of transfers. Also the facial features are a little soft and the helmets have only a few variants. I’ve therefore swapped about ½ of them for heads by Victrix, Wargames Atlantic and Warlord Games. Boiorox ( king of Boii) is a Victix fugure. His banner bearer is modified and the flag is based on the Boii icon from the excellent computer game mod Europa Barbororum II.

2. Chariot by Warlord Games ( I think). It's been knocking around my cupboard for a decade. Finally painted up and it looks pretty good.

1. Illyrians by Gripping Beast. 28mm metal “ old school” figures. Light on detail, not very interesting poses and odd proportions such as huge heads. All in all mediocre minis that I’d not recommend. Despite this I enjoyed getting them painted up. Resin Warfare will bring out some superior 3D printed 28mm Illyrians in 2026.

SteveG

From Millsy:

Oh wow! This is even better than your first entry Steve. So much to like about this from the banner to the shields to the clothing. You've packed in so much detail I'm wondering how you managed it all in just a week mate.

If I was forced to pick a favourite it would be the Gallic command stand. Absolutely smashing. I think this may well prove to be one of my favourite entries of the whole Challenge from my charges.

Well done indeed. 140 points seems like a paltry return. I'm awarding another 10 just for effort and going the extra mile literally everywhere including the basing. You also miscounted the foot (didn't include the chariot crew) so that bring you to 165 all up. Brilliant!

Cheers,

Millsy

From Curt: Challenge Cut / Voting Closing Soon / Big Milestone

The Ten Thousand

Hi All!

Here we are, almost a month into the Challenge and we've already seen so many fabulous submissions from people all over the globe. It always amazes me what this great community of hobbyists can do. It's such a pleasure to be a part of it.

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Don't be part of the cut...

While we on the topic of time, we are fast approaching the dreaded 'Challenge Cut'. For those who have not yet submitted an entry, you have until 11:59pm next Wednesday (CST) to get in a submission. Of course we'd prefer you submit on your regular Minion Day, but we will allow 'free fire' on Wednesday to get you in before the deadline. So, wet your brushes, open that paint pot, and show us what you got - we don't call it a challenge for nothing!

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Also, just as a reminder, the voting for our first theme 'Empire' closes on Sunday at noon (CST). So if you've not yet done so already, please check out the gallery of amazing theme entries and cast your vote for your favourites!

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Finally, I was just checking under the hood on the blog and realized that we have just past 10,000 submissions to the Challenge blog. This includes Challenges V through to today. 10K entries. Astonishing. Truly a milestone for the event that I am very proud of. Bravo to everyone who has been a part of this over the past 12 years!

Now, let's get back to our brushes as we still have a little over two months still ahead of us.

Have a great weekend!

- Curt

From AaronP: Pikemen are (mostly) ready! Also More KOW (260pts)

Pikemen are finally done. Mostly done. I still need their flags and I am about to move to Sydney for just over a month so I don't want to order them yet.

Ah Yes. Out of focus Pikemen   

So here is the sob story time, and the charity declaration. Part of the reason I signed up for the the AHPC was I needed something to focus on while I wait for the 2nd of February. This is the day my daughter will be born and then rushed to ICU as she has something called Transposition of the Great Arteries. 

Its a weird condition. She will require an operation on her heart in the first week of life, (her heart is wired wrong and they just switch the two arteries around), but once that is done apparently she'll be fine. Yearly check-ups, but other then that normal life. Like any surgery there are risks, but the prognosis is really good and the likelihood of anything terrible happening is really low. But I am scared.

The AHPC has been a great way to keep me focused on something positive during my down time when I am not looking after my wife and 3 year old or working. So thanks.

I will be donating to the Westmead Children's Hospital and to Ronald McDonald house. Westmead is where our daughter will be cared for, all covered by universal health care, and RMH will be providing us with accommodation and meals while we are away from home. Amazing services and amazing support. 

Anyways, look how awesome the pike block looks with the musketeers from last time.

At first I wasn't sure if I liked them or not, but I put them away for a couple of days and got them out again and now I love them. So that's cool.

Also, check them out in Hedgehog...

Ok I also promised KOW. So here are some Silverhelms or whatever they are called in KOW.

With that, everything that I had printed for KOW is now painted. Over a year of sitting in a tub. Now that my printer is working again I guess I had better print up to 2000 points.

OK so points wise;

7x28mm Mounted = 7x10 = 70 points

38x28mm Foot = 38x5 = 190 points

Total 260 points

I have have now painted everything I had prepared. I guess I need to prep some other stuff.

From Millsy:

I'm really sorry to hear about your daughter Aaron. There is nothing harder as a parent than having a child so unwell. There's a real sense of helplessness that chews away at you. Thankfully she's in great hands and should make a full recovery and live a long and healthy life. That you've found some solace in the Challenge is great to hear and it's just the kind of thing proves every negative commenter wrong.

Regarding your minis, that's a proper pike block indeed! Masses of tightly packed troops flanked by wings of shot really sells the flavour of the period. The levelled pikes are something I don't do and when I see this I wonder why I avoid them. Formed up in hedgehog they look absolutely smashing!

Cracking work. Looking forward to what you do next. Sending positive vibes to you and the family mate.

Cheers,
Millsy

From AlanD - More Landwehr! (180 points)

This week's entry is a repeat of last week - a battalion of Prussian Landwehr. Millsy, feel free to cut and paste your previous comment! Like the last lot, they are a mix of Warlord, including a nice command vignette, and some of the new 28mm figures from HaT. These are the 4th battalion of the 1st Silesian Landwehr.

I had a very odd experience painting these. Have any of you painted in your sleep? One evening I was painting while very overtired, nodded off, and woke up with a start. The next day, when I looked at the figures, I found I had weirdly daubed yellow paint on the hands of a whole bunch of them. Strange. Hands were duly repainted the more traditional flesh colour.

So that's another 180 points, and definitely time to take a break from painting Landwehr. Here's a final shot of the two battalions together.

From Millsy:

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Very nice indeed Alan! I've been waiting to see these for a while after hearing you talk about them on our paint and chat sessions. They certainly don't disappoint mate.

The yellow cap bands and the variations in coat colour really make these look the part of better quality troops as they were in the later war. No ragtag mob this!

180 points added to your tally and I can't wait to see them in person.
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Thanks mate, that saved me 10 mins :-P

Cheers,

Millsy