From RichardM: Spanish Guards, Cavalry and assorted regional troops (188 points)

All Spanish this week - and as with all of my posts these continue to be 6mm Adler Miniatures.  Flags are either home made (copied from images on internet and manipulated) or from Tiny Tin Troops in this case.

I'll start with two regiments (four battalions) from the Spanish Guard.  These are the Guardias de Infanteria Españolas (Spanish Guard Infantry) with their purple Coronela colour and the Guardias de Infanteria Valonas (Walloon Guards) with their Sencilla colour with a blue field.  

The Spanish Guard were initially under French command in 1808 but pretty quickly returned to the 'good' side of the conflict.  Various battalions (of which there were four in the regiment) fought at battles including Ocana, Medellin, Albuera and Badajoz.  The Walloon Guard included action at Bailen, Somosierra, Medelin, Ocana and Albuera.  

There is little to no difference in the uniform between the two regiments - especially at this scale.  However, for the keen eyed among you, there are a a few Grenadiers with their decorated flames on the bearskins in the command company bases.   

 

Spanish Guards to the left and Walloon Guards to the right

These are followed by three regiments of Spanish Heavy Cavalry - the 2nd de la Reine, 3rd del Principe and the 4th del Infante.  They have similar uniforms with sky blue, red and white facings respectively and saddlecloth trim varying depending on button colour.

Next are four battalions of Spanish Infantry in various uniforms.  From left to right in the first photo there are the Los Voluntarios Distinguidos de Cadiz, Regimento de Luarca, Voluntario de la Milicia Urbana de Zamora and the Regiment Muerte (Death).  The flags for these battalions are random ones I had on the sheet from Tiny Tin Troops (and one of them is upside down!!).  

Los Voluntarios Distinguidos de Cadiz

Regimento de Luarca

Voluntario de la Milicia Urbana de Zamora

Regiment Muerte

Finally this week I have two battalions of Spanish Light Infantry with their tarleton helmets and green jackets.  

If you're interested in the huge variety of regional Spanish Uniforms then the book I have used is amazing for inspiration.  At this scale I can get away with slight variations on the figures used to provide a close match to the uniforms worn, e.g. the top hatted figures are Austrians and the Light Infantry in their tarletons are early French Revolutionary

Points

Four battalion of Spanish and Walloon Guards each of 24 figures at 0.5 points per figure = 48 points

Three regiments of Spanish Cavalry each of 24 figures at 1 point per figure = 72 points

Four various battalions of Spanish Infantry each of 24 figures at 0.5 points per figure = 48 points

Two battalions of Spanish Light Infantry each of 20 figures at 0.5 points per figure = 20 points  

Total: 188 points

From Millsy:

Gasp! Surely it's not more 6mm Napoleonics from your Richard? You never cease to amaze me!

Cheap shots and sarcasm aside these are typically beautiful and painted as well as I could ever something equivalent at 15mm. Volunteers in top hats are something of a rarity and definitely worth calling out especially when decked out in snazzy red and yellow crimson and gold as Richie Benaud would likely say.

Top work as ever mate. 188 more points for your tally, once again composed of a LOT of wee men.

Cheers,
Millsy

From StuartL: A Group of Lone Wolves (25 Points)

Hi all,

    Another short post from me this week. Work has been taking its toll and I have had barely enough time to paint, let alone chase squirrels. (An update to the Squirrel Duel is coming though). 

    This week I have managed to finish 5 models for my Space Wolf army for Warhammer 30,000. These minis are a mix of 30K and 40K parts from various different kits. There are some 30K armies that look fine just using the basic figures, and there are some that benefit from being a bit more thematic. I believe that the Space Wolves fall into that category.

    These models represent Deathsworn, an elite assault unit made up of somewhat mentally unstable, cold blooded killers, even by the regular genetically-enhanced murder-machine standards of Warhammer. Their rules are pretty good in 2nd edition 30K, as they synergize well with the Space Wolf Legion rules, which are all about getting stuck into combat quickly. 

    I've had comments before about my Space Wolves blending into their grey bases, which they clearly do. However, that is the basing scheme I chose for all my Heresy armies, so I guess I am stuck with it. 

    Five 28mm scale infantry should get me 25 points closer to my challenge target. It's not much, but it helps. They also come with 17 skulls for that duel and a squirrel point too.

    My ongoing duels information:

Skulls - 239 (+17)
BSRoD - 17 (+0)
Squirrels - 15 (+1) - D&D Animals, 30K Militia, Plague Clowns, Afghans, Robots, Anglo-Saxons, Medieval Polish, Clan Smoke Jaguar, 81st West Africans, Undead, 10mm FPW French, Daemons of Khorne, Modern Vehicles, Turnip28, Space Wolves

From Millsy:

I don't often miss stuff I've sold but when I saw these Stuart it made me think about my old metal Space Wolves and I do still miss them. Maybe it's the Viking aspect, or all the skulls and pelts, there's just something so appealing about them.

Great brushwork on these mate, especially the power weapons and shoulder decoration which both look awesome. They definitely have an "elite" feel to them.

25 points more towards your target. Good stuff.

Cheers,

Millsy

From AlanD: Prussian Grenadiers (150 points)

At the end of last year's Challenge, I painted a single base of Napoleonic Prussian Grenadiers, with some left over Perry line infantry I had. The main difference between line infantry and grenadiers in 1813 was that the latter had moustaches, and as grenadier battalions were composite units formed from the grenadier companies of line infantry regiments, they did not carry banners. So, in what I hope is the final batch of Prussian infantry that I will paint for a long, long time, here are the other 5 bases to complete the battalion.

Apologies to Millsy for having to try to say something original about these. 'Certainly do the job' and 'samey' are both totally acceptable comments.

My progress is a bit slow this year, despite being on leave, as I've been caught up doing 1:1 terrain jobs like ripping up carpet. But with these 30 figures putting another 150 points on the board, my goal is in sight. 

From Millsy:

Whilst I appreciate the sympathy for a long suffering minion there's no need to apologise Alan.

There's plenty to like about these fine chaps. You've really nailed the Prussian blue I think, and the difference from the grey trousers is enough to show they are two colours, but without going too dark of light on either colour to ensure that. The drummer is particularly good, I always struggle to paint drums cleanly and you've managed that in spades.

Well done "finishing" your Prussians. I look forward to seeing them on the table at some point and I'm sure there will be more to minion somewhere down the track.

150 more points for your tally mate. You're within sight of your target with plenty of time to spare. Nice one. 

Cheers,
Millsy

From DaveD - Bolshevik Cavalry , Maxims and Infantry (135 points)

This week's offering is yet more addition to my growing Bolshevik army. Anyone would think this was supposed to be this years project - but it wasn’t. But hey ho. It’s got them done. Most of these only needed basing this week, good job as I have been floored with the lurgy over the weekend and early part of the week.

First up 6 lancers . I made the lances from a suitable gauge piano wire cut to length and the point created with a carborundum disc attached to the mini drill . These have had a little solder work done to make sure they are attached properly in hand - no superglue failures here , in some cases it is also tacked to the stirrup .Lancers without a means for them to keep hold of the the thing grinds my gears , so I have created the strap around the lance and then around the arm using some garden twisty wire strpped of its plastic covering. This wire is flexible and strong for its thickness, its  also nice and cheap.

And now with the rest of my 1st Cavalry Army 

I feel I want to double this at some point , but not for now.

I had previously made up a single tail pennant to add to some of the lances . So I thought a horseshoe with the number inside would do nicely. 

 

I have also designed a full standard for them 

 

Again these are Copplestone Castings 

Next up is a Maxim gun for the sailors .

Some thin brass rod snipped into small pieces and added  as spent cases 

Finally a last unit of infantry in the classic budenovka hat . 

So with the sailors it gives me 6 infantry units, 3 MGs, 18 cav, 2 field guns with transport and command, commisars etc . I have some slightly out of period other vehicles, which will do service for now until I replace with something more in line with the period in due course.

It’s also proving difficult to get them all in shot now 

Points - all 28mm

6 x Cav = 60

Infantry x 13 = 65

1 gun = 10

Total 135 

Just my newly arrived Tachankas to sort . 

***

More commie bolsheviks! It's like rats...there is never just a one or two...I expect nearly every Challenger will relate to your sentiments about how these figures were not intended to be a main effort for this edition of the Challenge, but it just sort of worked out that way. Those often end up being the best projects! I have certainly loved watching it come together, and the crammed-in group shots at the end just underline what a triumph it is. 

Some fantastic work on the lances and small conversions. I would never go near soldering gear myself (for reasons of public safety) but I totally relate to having that maddening feeling of a missing little bit for the kit - in this case, the rest for the lances. It's the little things in this little hobby of ours, right?

Well done Dave!

GregB

From Iain W: 28mm Austrian uhlan regiment no 1 Merveldt (125 points)

This is a unit of Uhlans ,regiment no 1 Merveldt for the 1809 campaign based on the Perry plastic British light dragoons in the later uniform with overalls mounted on Warlord ECW plastic horses and with a mixture of Victrix and Warlord lancers arms. Their czapkas are Victrix wth more of a campaign look, more like this Rick Scollins illustration

The next unit will have full dress.

I always liked the rather business like uniform of the Uhlans. I might well use this unit as the Brunswick Uhlans for an 1809 campaign Ive been thinking of depicting the Duke of Brunswick's small force fighting its way to the coast, I already have the French provisional dragoon unit and have three primed Westphalian infantry units, its more should I use my nephews Peninsular Brunswick units or should I go with 1809 correct units?

Straight forward scores, 12 x 10, 120 points

All the best 

Iain 

***

Wow Iain, I just love to see Uhlans!! Czapskas always look so great. I can see why wearing them on a battlefield became a terrible idea over time, but it just seems like we should still be wearing them to meetings and such. Right?

I also love this post because your long opening sentence fully captures the beauty, energy and somewhat nutty commitment that comes with the Napoleonic aspect of the hobby. Perry, Warlord, Victrix...a mix of bits...all to get that look that one feels is not only more accurate, but feels right. 

They painted up lovely, and totally look the business. I am awarding five extra points for the Airbus-level complications in the sourcing of the bits and making it all look sharp. 

GregB

From JamieM - Northern Alliance for Kings of War (95 points)

This weeks submission is for some troops and a character for my steadily growing Northern Alliance army for Kings of War. Whilst spring is tentatively raising its head early in the UK (after approximately 93 days of rain), it is still winter and so a good time to paint snowy figures.

This first set are Pack Hunters. Much like my previous entry, these are humans living in the frozen North and they carry bows to hunt. In packs, one assumes.

I went for bone bows for the most part because there is a lot of brown on their furs and so it’s a nice spot colour.

I went for red for the arrow feather as it seemed like it would pop and perhaps there’s something to having feathers the colour of blood?

This forms a regiment for Kings of war and are a unit of troops allowing fun stuff to also be taken. Like this fella.

A chimera with a rider. I swapped the axe they carried for a spear - I mean, how on earth are you going to get close enough to hit someone with an axe when you’re on top of this thing?!?!?

From the back you can see it’s a delightful mix of creatures. And there are two things that struck me as especially brilliant about this model. The first is that one of the heads is a goat. Not a bird of prey or wolf or anything, a goat. I should imagine it’s quite a handy head to have whilst not eating your enemies in battle as it increases the range of food the beast can eat a hundredfold!

The second thing is the entirely practical saddle harness. It was only whilst painting this model that I realised that as the sculptors of mythical beast riders don’t have reality to stymie them, they can sculpt entirely inadequate harnesses and nobody can tell them they’re wrong. Not so the sculptor of this bad boy - this is the kind of harness I’d want if I were to ride a three headed mythical creature into battle! There’s no way those straps are coming loose.

Photo of them together. For points I was going to go with 15x5 for the 28mm pack hunters and claim 20 points for a vehicle for the chimera and rider?

***

Brilliant work Jamie! While I maintain a sort of vestigial addiction to the classic Warhammer style "one-base-per-model", I think "Kings of War" is tremendous and the multi-based figures make a whole ton of sense. Your archers highlight all of the charm one imagines that comes with life in the high arctic - colourful furs, lovely bows etc. Bone-coloured bows make sense, as one imagines bone might be the primary material available to them to construct the bows in the first place! 

But the Chimera steals the show! What a lovely beastie - and the commentary about both the goat-head and the totally safe harness is spot-on. I'm sure he is just lovely to ride, be that into battle, or into town for a quick latte at the cafe. "Can I pet the goat?" "No, dear..."

Your scoring proposal finds merit with me - 95 points for you!

GregB