From Lorenzo: 1st Schlieswig Holstein War - Rebel Chasseurs plus History (68 points)

Next up I have completed some more of my forces for the 1st Schlieswig Holstein War. This time they are the Rebels - these were the German speaking people living in Schlieswig Holstein that was ruled by the Danish Monarchy as a Duchy. With two parties claiming ownership, against a background of mass european unrest, war ensued. 1848 was a decisive year for Europe as a whole.

When the war started no one was quite ready so the rebels who were supported by members of the German Confederation acquired some uniforms from the member states. This was important as their own supplies were of course the same colour as their opponents.

These Chasseurs are equipped in part with German style uniforms. This shako was only adopted by Prussia in 1854 for its own Jaeger. Notably they seem to have acquired some old Hanoverian British style water bottles! The figures are British Crimean Light Infantry by Strelets and are in their chunkier style. Like many 1/72 plastics which can vary from 20mm to 26mm! they always look better painted. I used basic vallejo acrylics along with some citadel contrasts on the brass fittings as a trial which i like and will probably try again. Notable with this war was the use of cockades - these figures sport both the rebels blue white and red cockade and the yellow/gold, black and red cockade of the German Confederation. One of the wargamer benefits of an unplanned rebellion is that standing instructions on equipment might not be honoured. This gives the painter freedom which is just as well because there are no complete ranges in any scale for the 1st (1848) or 2nd wars (1864). Which brings me to books. As the theme is libraries I thought I would dwell on the books I have found useful in my hunt for wargaming ideas about the Schlieswig Holstein Wars. First up has to be Ralph Weavers Partizan Historical Guide No9 "The Armies of the First Schlieswig Holstein War 1848-1851". This is most definitely the place to start. The guide gives brief details about the history before devoting most of the book to the armies along with some potted campaign sections.

I have found it an excellent and inspiring book. The bibliography shows the limitations of the print sources - but given many are German and Danish this guide as firmly anchored in my view. Another partizan guide called Uniformology No9 (again) covers the broader armies of 1848 European Revolutions. It does help give another flavour of the German confederation uniforms. Recommended.

Finally for 1848 Nick Svendsen published through Helion "the first Schlieswig Holstein war 1848-1850". This is an excellent all round history of the conflict as a military event. It covers the course of the war, the generals, the navies and armies as well as operations. It includes a good selection of old prints alongside new uniform illustrations which compliment those of the two other books. If you need more then the web has quite a bit on the naval side of things if you just search "first Schlieswig Holstein war". Finally for the 2nd war, where the Confederacy defeated the Danes in 1864, there are a lot more books available and often the war is covered in Franco Prussian (1870/71) and Austro Prussian (1866) war histories as they followed soon after: Plus Bismarck and Molke cut their teeth on the Danes, honing their political and logistical capabilities to make effective war.

Taking the library theme just a step further here is a book recommendation. I have found that reading about 1848 revolutions and rebellions reinforces the point that history for most people is quite stereotyped with constantly promoted themes. So finally I would recommend anyone looking for something different about the English or rather British Civil Wars can do no worse than read Anna Keay's the "Restless Republic". Straight off it is not a book about the wars as such but what followed them. That said I found it a really fascinating read. It is published by William Collins. Here is my map so far

Finally I reckon I have met the history task so claim 20 points plus the 12 figures at 4 points each. Grand Total 68 points. 

Sylvain: I am impressed by all the books you are referencing. The bonus location of the library you are claiming is supposed to be about "local history", but you are so passionate about the subject that I feel that you made it part of yourself. Your work on the uniforms is detailed and colorful. This is a great submission!  

 

From DallasE: Full Stride to the Finish Line! (100 points)

Well, here we are at the end of another Challenge, and I thought I'd save a Big One for the free-fire zone, just for fun. So here it is - Canis Negris, a 40K-scale Warhound Titan of Legio Krytos.

This is another 3D printed model I got from the same chap who printed me Apostolus Tenebris, the Reaver Titan I painted earlier in the Challenge. The Warhound is an awesome model too, and also adheres pretty stringently to the "Codex Look" of Warhammer 40K Titans. Sometimes it's better to do as the great Harry Flashman was advised once upon a time: "lick up the honey, stranger, and ask no questions."

Anyway, the Warhound was quite a bit less fiddly to assemble than the Reaver. One thing I did, though, was to grind down the neck somewhat as it stood too proud of the carapace as cast. I like the hunchback look of Titans and a sticky-out neck is not for me. Of course the weapons look grand, don't they? Turbo-laser Destructor and Plasma Blastgun for the win. There's also a Vulcan Mega-Bolter that will make an appearance farther down the page.

One of the shinguard armour plates has some wonderful cast-on detail which I customized to my own build.

Plasma Blastgun!

Rear view of the Warhound. Some nice cast-in aquila detail on the panels. 

Vulcan Mega-Bolter taking the place of the Turbo-laser.

Standing beside the Reaver.

As for scoring... I reckon at least 80 points is fair for this monster, and I'll take 20 as a bonus for the "Books" studio. I haven't read a ton of Warhammer 40K novels (many of them are dreck and merely "bolter porn") but I LOVE the work of Dan Abnett, his Eisenhorn and Ravenor books are fantastic, and "Horus Rising" (the first book in the Horus Heresy series of 400+ novels) is sublime. But one of my all-time favourites of his is "Titanicus", a novel about engine (Titan) combat in the 41st millennium. It goes into great detail about how the god-machines work with their "mind-impulse units", sarcophagi full of amniotic goo, etc. but doesn't forget the PBI either. The descriptions of Titans from an infantryman's point of view are awesome, and all the details he includes about the Chaos titans and their sirens wailing scrapcode just bring so much life to the setting. Great book and one I would LOVE to see made into a movie.  

So that's it for me for this Challenge, I'll shout out my thanks to the Minions (and especially my Minion, MartinC) and especially to our hosts Mr. Curt and Lady Sarah for putting this whole thing together.

See you at the wind-up!

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Oh man, this is fabulous, Dallas. The Warhound is by far my most favourite Titan design. I've always admired the implied menace of it's stooped, lupine silhouette it's powerful dog's legs and formidable weapons. So cool. The green and cream livery is excellent, and ties in nicely with its sister Reaver. I'm also totally with you on Abnett's 'Titanicus'  -  it would make an amazing movie.

You've had a great Challenge Dallas! Thank you for showing us your winter's efforts of wonderful miniatures. I hope you'll join us for the next edition of the Challenge.

- Curt

From TeemuL: Drows [Books] (40 points)

"I guess you have heard the news? Warner Bros has bought the rights for Lotr and, well, we aren't Warner Bros... I though we already had the rights and everything was ready to go, but this is show business. But not be sad, I have already fixed the situation, almost. Instead of directing Murin and Drar adventure movie in Middle-Earth you will be directing Murrin and Drarr adventure movie in Forgotten Realms! Yes, we almost have the rights for Dungeons & Dragons, and some small adjustments later we are ready to go. The worlds are pretty similar, elfs and dwarfs and orcs and so, but we need some dark elfs, or drows. And we already have here the first wannabes, welcome!"

This post almost didn't exist. It was Saturday morning when I realized, that after painting loads of Lotr minis, I hadn't visited the Books studio! And I didn't have any primed. Luckily I had primed these a couple of weeks ago and they fit the Books criteria, so here you are.

These three are (from left to right) Yvonnel  Baenre, Dinin Do'Urden (in Drider form) and Jarlaxle Baenre. Painted rather quickly with Contrast paints, but these plastic board game minis, so not very high quality. They will do though, and I'm quite happy with the cobble stone basing, which I have used on all of my Adventures of Drizz Do'Urden Board game minis - it sets them nicely in the dungeons or streets.

And here is the final map. I have some primed Soviet SPGs for Historical Drama, but no time to paint them. I have couple of Matchbox cars for Arthouse, but they are still in the packages... I had some ideas for Gift Shop and I could have created something for Yellow Brick Road, too, but originally I was supposed to just quickly go around the Studios and not complete everything, but then I got obsessed with bonus points. :)

As for points, these are all 28mm minis and I'd say Dinin is mounted, so 10 for him/her (in the lore driders have no sex apparently) and 5 each for the others. And 20 for Studio, total of 40. I'll create a wrap-up post next week, but now it is time to go to bed. Have a nice and energetic final hours!

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This is wonderful brushwork, Teemu - so vibrant and colourful. I really like the skin (carapace?) tone of the Drider and cobblestone effect is simple, but works very well. I'm delighted that you got drawn in by the themes and enjoyed their various challenges. We'll see what we can dream up for next year for you.

- Curt

From SimonM: Panzer IVs by "Battlefront Miniatures" + Books Studio Bonus (44 Points)

These three plastic 15mm Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks are sold by “Battlefront Miniatures” and can be found inside the company’s “Hit The Beach” starter set for “Flames Of War”. The models consist of three basic armoured vehicles equipped with "Bazooka Skirts", and will form part of a larger Panzer IV Tank Platoon for my German Beach Defence Company.

The medium tanks were assembled and glued straight onto some large bases before being re-primed with a double coat of "Vallejo" German Grey after an unsuccessful attempt to paint them with a camouflage colour scheme. They were then all washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" German Grey. Thinking the miniatures looked a tad bland and uninteresting, I subsequently gave them a lighter dry-brush of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey.

With the basics completed, I decided to 'pick out' a few of the models' details such as spades, stowage, tow-cable and extra pieces of tank-track using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil" or "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. In addition I painted each Panzer IV's machine gun and rear-situated muffler with "Vallejo" Gunmetal and shaded these parts in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and Agrax Eathshade respectively.

I also pigmented the tank's tracks with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and daubed them with "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh so as to help blend the muddy caterpillar treads into my basing palette once 'drowned' in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally, I applied some decals across the Panzer IV's using the guidance given in the excellent hardback book "Colours Of War" by "Battlefront Miniatures".

Having previously used Sarah's Limousine to travel to the Books Studio I thought these historical pieces would be perfect to bag my second Blue Pass by tying in to Cornelius Ryan's non-fictional book "A Bridge Too Far". As I'm sure you're aware this book was later turned into a marvellous Oscar-nominated motion picture by Sir Richard Attenborough.

Three x 15mm scale Vehicle = 24 Points

Books Studio Bonus = 20 Points

Total = 44 Points

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Excellent work on these workhorse panzers, Simon, and a nice tie-in with 'A Bridge Too Far'. I actually liked the look of your early camo efforts, but I can understand wanting to try something different if you just weren't feeling it. Will you be doing more in this period?  I hope so.

- Curt

From GeoffreyT: Books [Books](55 Points)

Hello Challengers,

The studio I enter is about books.  Books that would make a good movie.

I will start with a classic book that went to film.  Asterix in Britain by Goscinny and Uderzo.

This character is the British Chieftain, "Mykingdomforanos" raising a cup of hot water to the success of the mission.

This book was written in 1966 made into a film in 1986.  Fortunately I have a copy of the book on my shelf for reference.  The miniature is by "Metal Magic"

Next we have a miniature from a book that has been onto the small screen, in two different TV serials.

This model is inspired by, but legally distinct from Worzel Gummidge.  It is made by "Slave2gaming".

I wasn't a fan of the show, despite featuring an excellent actor, Jon Pertwee.  I always felt a bit ripped off when I saw the show as I would have preferred if Jon was doing a Dr Who episode.  Obviously I didn't quite get how TV worked at that age.

Next is a medieval crossbowman.  A home sculpted one.  He could be William Tell, or he might not be, who can tell (badda-boom).  William Tell's story was first written in the White book of Sarnen (1474) and his story has been translated into numerous more recent books as well as film (1960).

Not sure he would have had bare arms. Probably would have had sleeves for that era.  So maybe he is actually a fantasy crossbowman instead.

Finally we have 4 characters from a little known book series that might make a good film, The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954-1955)

The four hobbits are Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin.   They are all from Citadel miniatures Lord of the Rings range from 1985.   These miniatures pre-date the 2001-2003 movies, so don't have the well known style characterised from those films.

In all we have 7 28mm scale miniatures.  However 4 are half sized, so probably would count as prone.

3 x 28mm foot = 15 points

4 x 28mm prone = 10 points

1 x Books bonus = 20 points

Total = 45 points

From here I have completed every studio but the directors chair, for which the snowlord has assinged me a special task.

Goodbye until then

Geoff.

From TeemuL: In Finnish book the chief "Mykingdomforanos" is called "Veribigbos", but I know many of the names are different in different languages. Very fine British gentleman, but are you sure it is hot water in the cup, not warm ale? You have accomplished a very nice cartoonish style on him, good job.

Worzel Gummidge is unknown to me, but looks interesting, a scarecrow? William Tell I know, nice sculpting. And the hobbits are great, very characterful, and I belive we have scored hobbits in full points in the past, so I will continue that fine tradition. If anyone argues, I'll say the points are awarded from the hand painted shields. :)

From Brucer; Detour on Lady Sarah's Limo to the Books Studio; Dracula and Vampire Hunters; (65pts)

I've found myself in between projects and life, and I admit gaming has been intruding into my mojo.  I fell away from my approximate hour a night at the paint table and it shows.  I decided to simply grab some miniatures from the pile of opportunity and do some odd items.   

LIMO:

I think I read you could wonder through previously completed studios to new realms and rather than take advantage of this I had another female character to summon the Lady Sarah's Limo to save my feet the wander.  Here is another Foundry Miniatures civilian figure with babe.  Had done this early on in the challenge and saved for a Limo ride.  She was done mostly with contrast paints.  This figure turned out a little grainy, but as an objective or just a civilian wondering the table she will do fine.

 

Books Studio:

To shake off the malaise I looked around and found a blister of excellent miniatures.  Not sure they will ever be used, but when purchased I loved the figures.  From Bad Squiddo Games and the sculptures are Gary Morely and Gus Kearns.  

I'm submitting these Vampire Hunters as a bow to the Bram Stoker book Dracula.  I think the figures have the dress and style of the age.  These were fun to paint and are great miniatures.  

Here is my take on the stalwart vampire hunters.

The first figure is obviously the religious leader of the hunters.  Dressed in dark clothing and carrying the holy water vials.  He is armed with a vicious looking blade (for taking heads I imagine) and holy symbol able to function as a stake for coup de grace.

The next hunter looks to fill the investigator roll, seems to have the pattern English cloak.  Sporting a tie, hat, plus a hammer, with stakes for the difficult staking jobs.  

 

The next looks like he hales from the US as he sports the revolver and a rendition of the bowie knife for close work.  Again, civilly dressed, with vest and tie.  

Next is a brawny lad from Wales I'm guessing.  Any dandy, when sporting a hand and a half sword needs a cape to be able to walk about in public.  The bowler is a great add to this gents dress.  

Points:

Limo Ride            20 pts

25 mm figure          5 pts

Books Studio        20 pts

4 25 mm figures    20 pts

Total                       65 pts

Minion Miles: I’m getting a real Hammer Studios vibe here - and I like it!