From Curt: Dutch Red Lancers for 'Hawkin's Hill' (155 Points)

Sarah's Balloon sets me down upon picturesque 'Hawkin's Hill'. Here, our pal Phil asks us to finish something that we've had sitting around for three years or more.

Looking through my out-of-control lead stores, I'm ashamed to say sourcing figures for this task was nooo problem at all, in fact it was more about prioritizing what I should do. Actually, as it turns out, it was no contest at all, as I've had something needing to be done for a very, very long time. So, I present here a regiment of Napoleonic cavalry, but not just any unit, but the 2nd Regiment of Guard Lancers, the 'Dutch Red Lancers' whose uniform is perhaps one of the most beautiful from that sartorially splendid period.

This post is special to me for a few reasons. 

First it's Napoleonic themed, which is wonderful in of itself as Napoleonics were my first 'wargaming crush' and I haven't done a proper regiment for ages. To me, the period is the most beautiful example of Paper, Scissors, Rock. In it, none of the martial arms had complete dominance, making for some very exciting military history, and the uniforms were the perfect blend of ostentatious beauty and brutal function. 

But, for me, the most important aspect of these particular figures is their background.

I received these models 10 years ago as a thank you gift from my very good friend Greg for standing up as a groomsman at his wedding. Yes, this year Linda and Greg will celebrate their 10th anniversary (congratulations you two!) and so I thought it high time to get these figures properly attended to before another decade slips by.

Sarah and I met up with Greg and Linda for a few days during their honeymoon in Paris. During our visit Greg and I spent a wonderful day at the Musee d'Armee at Les Invalides, where I think he became bitten by the Franco-Prussian War bug (such beautifully curated displays, wow). The museum also had a gorgeous example of a Dutch Lancer uniform which, in turn, prompted this gift of miniatures.

While I typically enjoy working on Napoleonic figures I absolutely dread painting cavalry, especially from units as ornate at the Dutch Lancers. True to form, these were complete swine to work on, with all their varied colours and intricate uniform detail. They almost gave me fits. I started them in the first week of the Challenge and barely managed to get them completed for our final run-in. And I still have another dozen of them waiting in the wings! (Earmarked for your 20th anniversary, Greg!) Well, all this being said, I'm pleased with how they turned out and they will be a wonderful addition to my French cavalry contingent. 

As an aside, during the past few days while I've been working on these, I've been listening to Bernard Cornwell's 'Waterloo, The History of Four Days, Three Battles and Three Armies'. I have to say I'm surprised at how crap it was for the most part as I really enjoy his fiction. Sadly, I found it very derivative of other, better written histories, and on the whole it read as an unabashed Wellington love-fest. It was actually pretty hard to take at times. It certainly doesn't hold a candle next to other recent monographs such as the brilliantly written 'Waterloo' by Mark Clayton (which I highly recommend to anyone interested in a balanced perspective of that campaign).

Anyway, forgive my self-indulgent book review. Here are the Dutch Red Lancers, all done and ready to skewer the enemies of the Emperor. 

Greg, thank you very much for these wonderful figures! The unit will be a wonderful memento of your wedding and of the great time we had in Paris!  

-Curt

***

Oh WOW, dude, these are truly breathtaking, just fantastic! It has indeed been ten years, and time has sure flown by. Paris is such an amazing city, and the Musee d'Armee was an incredible thing, and super cool to be able to visit it together with you. 

(And of course, I should note here that my wife of 10 years, Linda, is an incredible woman...I have no idea how she tolerates me, but I certainly consider myself blessed). 

I was moved as soon as I saw the post title, as I immediately recalled these figures, and to see them painted is just so great.  Your brush skills on them are top-shelf, just inspiring stuff, and the unit looks incredible.  I can certainly relate to how long a unit like this can take to finish - particularly cavalry.  But the results are beyond splendid. Seeing them makes me immediately want to crack out the 28mm Napoleonics for a game! 

Naturally this also makes me think of my wedding and of our time visiting in Paris...so just awesome, an excellent aspect to the hobby. Any time I see 28mm Napoleonic figures, I think of you and Sarah. It's a reminder of the ties we share beneath the hobby...many people might assume, with all of the painting late at night, that this hobby is about being by yourself, when in fact the opposite is true...each figure in my collection is inspired in some way not only by my (many and varied) interests, but the friends who will eventually join the game when the project is ready - in days, weeks, months or years.  Those friendships are with me when I sit late at night at the painting table, and I'm sure it is the same for other participants in the Challenge.

Well done my friend - I've added some extra points for the Challenge location, and just generally awesome paint job on one of the coolest-uniformed units of the Napoleonic era. Stunning stuff, thanks for sharing this (and thanks to the other Minions for leaving it for me to post).  I can't wait to see them live on the gaming table.

GregB

From AlexK: Hawkins Hill and a long, slow slog into the Arab-Israeli war (38 points)

So for Hawkins Hill I need an entry from a project over three years old, I really only have one project that fits this brief and its my stop/start tank forces for the Arab-Israeli wars. I generally get one or two tanks done a year for this and it has been really slow going, I'm not sure if its even something I want to game when all said and done, but I do like the models and it may well end up just being a painting project over a wargaming project.

So for my entry I present a 15mm T55 painted up as part of the Syrian forces involved in the 1973 war. It is a Plastic Soldier Company model and was nice and easy to finish and paint up, it goes well with my IS III from last years challenge I think.

Points wise I think its 38, 8 for the model and 30 for Hawkins Hill and that should be enough to get me to the Snowlords peak I hope.

This is a lovely figure and you've done a great job on it. The drooling blue Snowlord awaits. Gird your loins

From NoelW: Hold Your Horses: Hawkin’s Hill: (25 points)

We scramble down the hill as quickly as we can, pleased to have escaped O’Grady’s Diner with no more than one casualty. That’s a pretty good result for us.

There’s the sound of horses ahead, and we see a battered old shed, or possibly the offcuts from a woodcutters’ jumble sale, where a couple of horses are hitched. A man in a hat is grooming one of them affectionately.

“Hello,” I say. “I wonder, can you tell us the way to Cook’s Crevasse from here?”

The man moves his mouth, but no sound emerges. Still combing the horse’s mane, he gestures to his throat with his other hand.

“I think,” says my recently elevated sergeant, “he’s feeling a little hoarse”.

I pick up one of the planks piled against the shed and berate him gently with its heavier end.

“I know you like your jokes to relieve the tedium, my dear recently elevated sergeant, but if you're not careful, you're going to feel a lot more than a little bored.”

Everyone laughed when I told them I was going to be a comedian.

They’re not laughing now.

---

Just a small offering today. 

My Cape Wars collection began several years ago. The Xhosa were well developed in about a year, but the Brits have languished in the way of most wargaming enthusiasms. However, the Challenge challenges me, so I've already previously posted a unit of Cape Rifles, who were basically mounted infantry, so they needed troopers to look after the horses. One of these horseholders is painted in an approximation of their uniform, the other more neutrally dressed as a Boer. However, both could easily be used in several different contexts. Figures are Perrys, of course.

Score: 28mm: 2 horseholders, 3 horses: 25 points

Cool stuff. I do like little wars, esp in Africa. 

Martin

From SebastianR: Catching Air On Hawkins' Hill (40 points)

The engine roared as we reached the edge of the mound and departed, the tracks running freely in the air. My stomach lurched and my bag left the seat as my driver whooped with joy. We cleared the crevasse and the tracks slammed into the dirt; the suspension on the road wheels absorbed the shock, more or less, but I was still almost thrown out of my seat.

We tore into the dirt and continued to drive into the foothill below Hawkins' Hill.

My driver had promised a quick ascent, but he hadn't mentioned anything about the smoothness of the ride, and his vehicle was as dated and oddball as the rest of the equipment on this island. It appeared to be the remnant of some long-ended war, designed by a committee who did not understand what it was like to be shot at.

Nevertheless, I'd heard rumors of a significant badger infestation, and hadn't wanted to fight my way through them. From time to time I spotted their spoor or the shredded carcass of some beast which had wandered into their territory.

***

Finding a miniature prepared at least 3 years ago was harder than I expected. I had some Para jeeps, also in 15mm for Flames, but they already had a base coat, and not just an undercoat. So here we are; the spotter carrier for... I want to say... the 25-pounder battery? Now entirely worthless with the latest edition, but still.

 

Again, for technical reasons the mini will be flocked at a later date - as well as have anti-shine varnish applied.

 

All in all, a simple paint job, one that I've applied to most of my WWII vintage British vehicles.

From my previous run in the Challenge I make that 40 points. 30 for the challenge, 8 for the vehicle and 2 for the chap in the drivers seat.

***

Nice work Sebastian. It was great that you managed to excavate something for this location.   can't speak to the utility of this vehicle in any current edition of the Flames of War rules - but if they are not that good, I wouldn't worry, you can expect a new version of the rules should be along any time now. :) 

40 points it is, well done!

From StuartL - Challenge Island Safari Tour.- 26th January (72 points)

Welcome back to the Challenge Island Safari Tour.
As much fun as it has been to spend time atop Snow Lord's Peak, it is time for all of us to begin the descent back down the mountain. On behalf of all the C.I.S.T.ers, I'd like to thank the Snow Lord for sharing his magnificent home with us and for eating less than half of our group. And really, what are a few gnawed off limbs in comparison to the view from up here?

Anyway, it's time we were off, so we're taking the easy route down and heading for Hawkin's Hill. The hill itself is famed for it's strange time-space distortions and people visiting it have been said to encounter time lost wanderers from a bygone age, specifically 3 years ago.

What is this? Staggering forth from the misty slopes of Hawkin's Hill, it appears to be a group of Anglo-Saxons.

Slightly disoriented from their sudden time skip, the leader explains that he and the others were recruited to take part in a re-enactment of the Battle of Fulford in 2017, but for some reason were left behind while the rest of their mates went forth to do battle with some dastardly Viking types.

After giving the anachronistic wanderers directions to a nearby C.I.S.T affiliated guest house and promising to contact them if a proposed re-enactment of Stamford Bridge ever gets off the ground, we bid these stragglers adieu.
With the peak to our left and the island behind us already explored, the tour will head West at first light to an infamous Gulch I think.

----------

These Saxons were originally going to be part of a community project in my local gaming group. Sadly I ran out of time (or I had too many models... no, that doesn't make sense, it was definitely a time thing), so was unable to get everything done. To represent my Saxon's humble Christian roots, they are wearing quite drab tunics, with a bit of colour around some of the edges. The only bright points on them are the shields, where I have stuck to painting simple cross style patterns. They are based for Saga and I have some movement trays to use them for other systems like Hail Caesar.
The minis are all Gripping Beast plastic figures and are easy to paint up. I think I have about 200 or so of these chaps and the less armoured Dark Ages figures from the same range painted, as well as a few Vikings, so at some stage I'm going to try and get my local club to do a Stamford Bridge game.

Anyway, these 8 fellows should score me 40 points plus the 30 from Hawkin's Hill for a total of 70 points.

These are very nice. I do love Saxan shields so you get a bit of bonus there

MartinC

From NoelW: Hawkin’s Hill: The Italian Job (143 points)

We can see the Snowlord’s Peak in the distance as night falls. It’s so dark we can’t see our intentions in front of our faces. But we know as long as we’re travelling up hill, we’ll have reached the peak by daylight. So we bend our backs and plod wearily on.

Surprisingly, the mountain is neither as steep nor as arduous as we’d imagined. Clearly our many struggles in the mysteriously varied terrain of this island has left us fitter than we thought we were, and we're patting ourselves on our backs at how easy this supposedly inaccessible mountain turns out to be.

Dawn clambers the shoulder of the mountain behind us as pink as a flamingo made of Turkish delight. In as little as fifteen minutes we realise that we’ve actually climbed no more than a few hundred feet, because, over there, is the actual mountain. We’ve merely struggled up a toehold of the foothills. There are miles of rugged terrain still to cover before the full ascent. 

And directly across the valley is yet another obstacle. Stretched in our way is another army, none of whom look too friendly. Dressed for the desert, they’re probably lost, but we’re not going to stay and find out.

Discretion being the better part of valour, we’re heading further west. A creaky sign leans in the wind. On it is perched a vulture, pointing without absolute no hint of the sinister towards O’Grady’s Gulch.

---

I thought I’d begun my WW2 Italians about 3 years ago. When I looked at my records (yes, I keep records!) I found it was nearly 6 years. Perhaps it's time to finish them.

So here are 20 Perrys’ Italians, including heavy mg and mortar. 

I really like these figures – but then I really like just about everything the Perrys make (currently I’m trying to convince myself that I have absolutely no interest in the War of the Triple Alliance in South America, Alan Perry’s latest project. But am I listening to myself? Why should I – no-one else does!)

Scoring: 17 figs @ 5 = 85 points, 3 prone figs @ 2.5 = 7.5 pts and 2 not very large crew served weapons @ 4 = 8 pts + 30 pts for Hawkin’s Hill = 130.5 pts. (So 131?)

A very nice force indeed. i do like your prose by the way, keep it up. According to the rules guns are guns and get 10pts each so an extra 12pts to your tally gives 143.