From AlanD - More Goths than a Cure Concert (200 points)

I've had a funny old challenge this year. I've been on long service leave (amazing - can recommend), but instead of painting masses of figures, I've used a lot of hobby time to think about some big projects, reorganise some storage and that sort of thing. Some of this is KenR's fault, as listening to his very entertaining Yarkshire Gamer's podcast has boosted my enthusiasm for the 'Reet Big' wargame, rather than the large skirmish sized battles I usually fight. As a result, I've been doing that thing that should only be attempted on long service leave: rebasing. My plan has been to use 50mm square bases to build up armies that can be used for To the Strongest, Impetus, Soldiers of Rome and other rank and flank ancients games I'd like to have a go at. The hairy blokes here will be used as Heruls, Gepids, Goths and whatever else seems appropriate.

Of the figures here, only 40 were actually painted in this year's challenge, so I'm claiming 200 points please Tamsin. They are a mix of Westwind, Footsore, Gripping Beast plastics and Wargames Atlantic, and I'm pretty pleased with they way they look en masse. I did have one varnishing disaster as 10 figures turned white when I sprayed them, thanks to Sydney humidity, but I managed to same them by recoating them with gloss and trying again under better conditions.

This will be my last submission for the challenge this year as I'm off to Madrid for a holiday. Thank you Curt and the Minions for making this madness possible, and to all the challengers (challenged?) for the inspiring entries you all keep coming up with. Especially those involving turnips.

They certainly look great, Alan! Sorry to hear that this will be your last entry of the year, but I hope you have a wonderful break in Madrid.

Tamsin

Richard P - 28mm Arab Archers (60 Points)

A couple of 60mm x 60mm bases to add to my growing 28mm Arab army for Impetus/To the Strongest. Figures are from various sources, mainly from a very generous donation from a fellow club member who gave me a load of suitable infantry and cavalry figures that were originally painted in the 1980's. I have tried, where possible, to keep the original colour schemes from 40 years ago.

From EvanH - Sun Dome Templars - The Rank and File (45 points)

Yes, it's back to Glorantha again for the rest of the Sun Dome pike detachment (well, maybe not all the rest, but certainly the elite heavies at the centre of the line).

"Where's your linothorax, you 'orrible little man?"

Oh dear, it looks like an unfortunate recruit is being shown the error of his ways by his Hekatontarch; a proper Sun Dome Templar is equipped with a helmet, a cuirass, a shield, a pike (regulation size, soldiers for the use of), and greaves, whereas Private Outis here has clearly forgotten his body armour. Looks like they'll have to put him at the back of the phalanx again...

The Aventine Miniatures range of Tarentine figures has been perfect for the more technologically advanced Gloranthan military units.

The elite pikemen of the Cult of Yelmalio are now complete. There's a bunch of others still in Undercoat Limbo, but their less ornate kit means they'll probably be fielded as militia. Stout chaps, but not the sort you'd hire to take a strategic hill. They're more like Dad's Army.

These fellows, by comparison, are all kitted up to the nines, as befits a famous heavy infantry unit  (well, except for that one on the right - he'll be doing guard duty out at the Old Sun Dome ruins for the next two seasons, I know it!). The shields were painted freehand, mostly with the Truth Rune beloved of the Cult, but I varied things a bit with the Fire/Sun and Light Runes as well.

So here's the unit ranked up on the Warbases sabot base for "To the Strongest!" Thanks to Millsy for the idea; this way I can use them in skirmish or RPGs as well!

What's with the three vacant spots at the front though? That's for the command group from a couple of weeks ago, so here they are in their rightful place;

It was hard to find time to get these guys done now that I'm back at work, but these lovely sculpts really repay the effort. And it's the first actual unit I've competed in ages, which is nice.

Still got a lot left in the lead pile though - stay tuned!

Ev

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Fine work again Evan! As I contemplate another miserable winter day here is the Canadian Prairie, I must say the idea of this "Sun Dome" is very compelling.  As is this other notion you mention so briefly in your post - this so-called "summer"....

I won't need to resort to any Truth Runes to tell you this all looks very lovely and is a fun read.  And I continue to be impressed by how sharp all these mass units are looking even with sabot-type basing. Excellent work all around - that will be another 45 points for you. 

I, er, strongly suggest following up to ensure you get your points, as the Google Spreadsheet is working about as well as these things ever do...*cough*....

Greg

From Millsy: Mounted Hospitaller Sergeants (90 points)

Hi All,

As promised here's another instalment of mounted troops for my Crusader army. This time it's a unit of mounted Hospitaller sergeants in their iconic all-black outfits. Choice bro! Once again the miniatures are all from Fireforge Games and comprise a combination of parts from the Mounted Sergeants and Templar Knights box sets.

I'm getting to the point now where I could probably paint the heraldic stuff in my sleep *. The biggest challenge is deciding something is good enough and resisting the urge to do further touch ups and tweaks.

Another 80 points for my total and another mouthful or DaveD's dust in our side duel. I like to think I'm sitting pretty up here on the moral high ground. Yeah that's it.

Next up? You guessed it, more mounted troops. Thankfully for everyone, especially me, there's only 2 more units of troops and 4 command stands to go...

* That would be an absolute blessing!

Cheers,
Millsy
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This is getting to be bigger than Ben-Hur! 

So let's see... 80 points for the figures, another 8 for the handpainted shields, and we'll round it up with another two points for the pennons and caparisons because I'm still in a good mood after getting back from my holiday (don't worry, depression will soon set in and I'll be back to my usual grumpy self).

90 points to the gentleman in the black and white surcoat!

Ev

From Millsy: Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (45 points)

Hi All,

The Crusade (against unpainted lead and plastic apparently) rolls onward with the start of the mounted component of my army. I very nearly finished a unit of Hospitaller sergeants too but the mounted elements are taking a long time to get right with all the hand-painted heraldry.

Anyway, here we have a unit of Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, resplendent in blue, white and gold. A lovely colour scheme and one that I enjoyed thoroughly. The miniatures are all from Fireforge Games and comprise a combination of parts from the Mounted Sergeants and Templar Knights box sets.

One thing I find odd in the box set is the mix of caparisoned vs. bare horses (3 vs. 9 per box). The result is unless you buy a load of boxes it is impossible to make units of entirely caparisoned horses when using multiples of 4. Oh well...

So another 40 points plus whatever the Gods of Handpainted Heraldry deem my unworthy efforts to deserve in recompense for hours spent slavishly doing what a sensible, well balanced individual would do with decals...

Cheers,
Millsy

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Millsy, another splendid unit towards the completion of your Crusader army (as if such a thing can ever be said to be 'complete' - "One more unit of Turcopoles, just one...")

The handpainted heraldry (and I'm apparently a 'God' of this pantheon, so watch it, mortals!) plus the matching caparisons and pennons definitely merit bonus points; five points seems a fair reward for the amount of work you put in. I'd be putting in a call to LBMS for a batch of decals myself, but then I'm extremely lazy!

Well played, Sir!

Ev

From Millsy: Mounted Crusader Bishop and Bodyguard (21 points)

Hi All,

I'm making good progress with the mounted contingent of my new Crusader army. Unfortunately I'm still a way short of finishing the first mounted units, largely because I got sidetracked by this entry - the first of my command stands.

This chap is a mounted Crusader bishop from 1st Corps miniatures, painted up as a Hospitaller order and ably supported by a couple of chaps from Fireforge Games taking a crucifix on a stick for a walk. Not much more to say about this other than I had to force myself to call it finished.

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Next up (assuming I can maintain my focus!) is a unit of Hospitaller sergeants and a unit of Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Cheers,
Millsy

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IT'S DA BISHOP!!

Lovely bit of work on this, Millsy. Looks like His Grace is a bit of a Church Militant... but as long as he uses only blunt instruments to make his theological points, he's in the clear!

It's vignettes like this that are the icing on the cake of a tabletop force - the basing and sense of movement are top-notch. So that's 5 points for each foot soldier, 10 for the Bish, and another point for the splendidly evocative base.

Now let's take a look at your next entry for the week; we'll just move it away from the Bishop, as I'm not sure sorcery is exactly A1 theory with his lot...

Ev

From LeeH: Hannibal's Gallic Allies (60pts)

After expanding the ranks of my Polybian Roman Army last week now its time to add some extra muscle to my Carthaginian army under Hannibal. The most famous of the Barcids, Hannibal always seemed to be outnumbered but he made up for it by gathering disaffected and outright rebellious roman 'subjects' and turning them against Rome. The march from Spain had severely depleted his army. Some estimates suggest that as much as 75% of his starting strength was 'lost' to battle casualties, garrisoning of parts of Cisalpine Gaul and disease (especially during the harsh Alpine crossing). 

When he arrived in Northern Italy Hannibal faced a region of Gallic tribes that had been brutally subdued by Rome and were naturally reluctant to turn on their powerful overlords. However after he had routed an army under Publius Scipio at the Battle of Ticinus nearly all the Gallic tribes switched to the Carthaginian cause. 

I already had three of these units painted but wanted the option to field more (I can take up to six using the army list in To The Strongest). I bought enough miniatures to build two more units. These are Deep units and can therefore take a lot of damage before being destroyed. The army list also gives me the option to upgrade some to Veteran units, making them even more formidable. 

Again I tried to match the work I did before but this time I think my color pallet for the shields was a little different. Some variation is fine and will enable me to easily see them if I do go for veterans. I can always argue that they are from a different allied tribe to the last lot. I also painted a dozen mounted commanders and heroes for my Gallic units. The bases of two are commanders and the singly based figures are heroes. These can be represented on the tabletop with a token but I'd rather have a figure instead. 

96 infantry plus 12 Mounted figures in 6mm should get me another 60 points and puts me firmly on my way to my target.

From DaveD guest grognard

They just keeo coming Lee - hows the old eyes doing!  Once again these hit the mark of a great mass effect - i am really looking forward the end of challenge shot!

60 points it is!

From AlexS: Ancient Warriors (497 Points)

Hello everyone, my name is Alex and I from Russia. Soon the most important holiday for my country is the New Year. We will rest for a whole week, gather with our families and visit each other. Therefore, I decided to make a large number of miniatures and give myself a rest.

Today I present to your attention a few miniatures for the period of antiquity. They are made for the game by the wonderful rules of Simon Miller "To the Strongest".

First, four legionary squads and a very courageous hero.

Secondly - the replenishment of Pyrrhus in my army - archers, light and medium infantry, cavalry, and again very brave heroes.

Finally, third, strange. Two military vehicles - a catapult and a battering ram, which will be used in scenarios where it will be necessary to make a sortie from the besieged city. Chariot of the Celts. I specifically put a dog on the base, because I know that among the participants of the event there are many dog lovers. Next - a detachment of female gladiators. This is completely unhistorical for the period in which we usually play, but my friend from Moscow, Konstantin, made delightful miniatures and I made a squad of them. Well, the last base - to display the camp of some Hellenistic army (maybe Ptolemy).

General view:

And here is a general photo of my collection of ancient armies. These are Rome, Celts, Italians, Greeks and Hellenistic warriors. Most of these miniatures are painted during past Challenges, and I want to say thanks to Curt, who holds this event, to thank the minions who have worked with me in past years - Greg, James and Michael, you were very attentive and kind to me, and thanks to everyone, who took and takes part in this event, you inspire me with your work.

Points:
Inf: 80x5=400
Cav: 4x10=40
War machine: 2x10= 20
Chariot (as vehicle)= 20

total: 480 points

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Whoa! Well, it had to happen sooner or later: The first of the point nukes have been dropped! 

Absolutely amazing work Alex. I love the potpourri of periods on display here. My favourites have to be the Republican Romans and the dog with the charioteer (yes, count me amongst the unrepentant dog lovers in the crowd). 

As to points everything looks great, but I scored the chariot body as a vehicle and then separately add the various crew and animals. So, 37 points for the chariot unit (including a couple points for the loyal pooch).

Stonking work Alex! Now, go and enjoy the New Year!

From Millsy - 28mm Holy Order Crusaders (126 points)

Hi Everyone!

It's GOOD to be back. This is my seventh Challenge and every year the anticipation seems worse than the year before. This time I've done far more prep than I would normally have done and that possibly made things even worse as I've not touched a brush since late November.

All that changed a few days ago and I've now knocked off my first entry of the year - 24 crusaders for a combination of SAGA and To the Strongest!. These are from the Fireforge Games plastic Foot Sergeants boxed set. I've not played with their kit before but I have to say I've enjoyed every minute of the process of assembly and painting. They are well crafted, well proportioned and have loads of variety especially when mixed with mounted sets from the same range.

Hospitaller Sergeants armed with bows
These were FFG for the most part but kit-bashed with bow arms and quivers from the Perry Miniatures Wars of the Roses infantry box set. A perfect match for size and pose. The banner pole is pinched from a Warhammer Empire knights box for variety. Shields and surcoat details are hand painted.

Technically speaking I can't use these in SAGA as the Milites Christi faction only allows for crossbows but I'll just proxy them as if they were armed correctly.

Kingdom of Jerusalem sergeants with crossbows
Straight from FFG kits with no kit-bashing apart from the kite shield with boss
which is pinched from a 1st Corps set. Shields, surcoat details and banner are hand painted.

Templar sergeants with crossbows
Straight from FFG kits with no kit-bashing apart from a sword or two pinched from GW Mordhiem sprues. Shields, surcoat details and banner are hand painted.

And here's the whole lot together. I do intend to add some static grass, tufts and small bushes but I want to see more of the army complete to gauge the right amount. I want a pretty austere look and I tend to overdo this sometimes so I'm deliberately holding back.

Next up will be some command stands plus a couple of units of sergeants and knights with hand weapons to round out the foot for the army.

There'll be a lull now while I spend the next 8 days on a beach in North Queensland. See ya later suckers in the Frozen North! :-)

PS. Apologies for not commenting on anyone's entries so far. I've been jamming the painting in between work and family stuff. I will be going back and looking at all your amazing work over the next few days.

Cheers,
Millsy

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Welcome back Millsy! I hear Santa brought you a new zippermask and something nice in vinyl (and we're not talking records). You must have been very, very bad boy this year - time to make up for it! ;P

These crusaders are just terrific. I've not tried anything from Fireforge myself, but everything I've seen on the Challenge looks great any your's here are no exception. I really like the slight modifications you've done by swapping in some Perry details and the brushwork is up to your usual high standard. Personally I like the groundwork as it is as it gives the impression of them fighting in The Levant. Perhaps just add a few brown and gold tufts to give it that arid look? I'm sure whatever you chose it'll be great.

An impressive 126 points for you as your opening Challenge sally (with a few added for the mods and hand painted livery). Well done Millsy!

From AlexS: To the Strongest! (205 points)

Hello everybody! My name is Alex and I'm from Russia. On February 24, the world championship on the game "To the Strongest!" will take place. Unfortunately, the team from Russia will not be able to come. But we decided to make a little event. This will be a great game for an interesting script, which one of our players wrote. And then on Monday, I learned that more miniatures than I have for this scenario. And then I urgently picked up the paint and brushes and started to work ... And here are the results of my work: Cows, Roman velites and Roman general, psiloi, phalanx, heavy Hellenistic cavalry.

I really hope that the event will turn out to be interesting. Special thanks to Simon Miller for his excellent rules.

 28mm inf 29 - 145 pts

28mm cow 4 - 20 pts

28 cav 4 - 40 pts

total 205 points

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Great to seeing you flying with the brushes again Alex, brilliant stuff!  Another great entry full of character and some great looking basing too.  You be careful with those sharp looking pikes.