From TomM: From London to Shangai (58 pts)

Well, a bit of a mixed lot for this weeks entry, as I did some work on a project I had put aside for this challenge... as well as one that probably will be in boxes stored until challenge 9 should I manage to seduce me a spot then.

So let's travel the world!

The first batch of the entry are more 10mm ECW from the Lancer Miniatures range, this time in the form of a complete infantry regiment.  Mixed pike & shotte, the regiment is supported by a demi-culverin for some extra deterrent towards any opposing forces.

I really like Kieran`s sculpts, and think this was one of those "gems" sometimes hidden on Kickstarter.  With more and more big companies using Kickstarter as their pre-order platform, there are those small operation on it as well which at times churn out lovely figures for a good price, or even some oddities that you just want to have.

The pikes themselves are metal rods, and I can say first hand they hurt like hell when you accidentally put your hand on them...

The second part of my entry is this 28mm Chariot from the Shang-Zhao range of Curteys Miniatures (seems like the first time one gets posted, I just had to add the tag X-D ), now under 1st Corps banner.  I think I bought this almost 12 years ago or so, and I don`t actually know why anymore, probably some fantasy project or such.

But as we get older, our interests start shifting, and I bit the bullet that I will be building a Shang dynasty force for Mortem et Gloriam (well, if their Chinese army lists re-appear on the site, then I know what to order because while they are in the index, the actual lists aren't in the pdf's) and try and introduce those rules over at my club.

I really like the facial expression on the charioteer to be honest, he has that whole "umpf, you posh dandy" look next to the noble...

So points-wise, if I counted correctly, this should mean for this week:

31 infantry models in 10mm (12 pike, 16 shot, 3 crew) @ 1 point each
1 crew handled cannon in 10mm @ 2 points
1 vehicle in scale 28mm @ 15 points
& 2 28mm crew @10 points

This should further add a nice 58 points towards my challenge goal... and keep me on schedule.

Thanks for watching!

From Ray

Another great entry Tom. Its great to see some historical figures from you. I do like the 10mm ECW figures, they look excellent and the pikes do look very sharp, I'm sure I can see blood on the top of a few???
I've never bought any Curteys Minis before, they too look really nice figures, shame it took 12 years to get the chariot painted though. Every gamer has a few of those older hidden gems locked away in a box somewhere!!
I've changed your version of points, you forgot to add the 2 crew on the chariot, so your total is 58!!

From TomM: 10mm New Model Army Dragoons

On this most jolly of days, I had the benefit of being able to paint the whole afternoon and get a third entry done for the Challenge.

Not that I`m a painting maniac, those small scales tend to paint quicker then large models, but the GF is knocked out from last nights foodfest, and the fact she is a night shift nurse... so I`ll have the coming night all by myself as well with Gettysburg and the Dr Who special on the tele, and my brushes to keep me company.

But I get lost in chitchat... this entry is upping the scale a bit, as I went from 6mm of my previous entries to 10mm this time.  Around July I supported a Kickstarter from Lancer Miniatures, for a force of 10mm English Civil War models.  It got funded with a nice margin, and when it arrived I decided to put it to the side (like, about all my Kickstarters actually) just for this challenge.

You know, in case I would ran out of miniatures... *cough*

The first unit I painted as such for the army are these Dragoons, 4 to a base and 16 in total.  I am going to make the whole force for the New Model Army, yet decided on a fairly generic Parliament flag in order to not restrict the Dragoons to a specific battle or scenario.

It are rather lovely little sculpts in my opinion, and they are a great joy to paint.  I`m taking the Challenge as a way to get some forces either rounded out (my epic for example), or to start and perhaps even finish other project, like these little guys.

On to the next batch of models... before the time draught hits and my turn-out will invariably suffer from it ;-)

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Yes, I tell Lady Sarah that the bursting 'Lead Shed' in the yard is a contingency if I ever run out of miniatures in the house... The 'arched eyebrow held in frank disbelief' is a frequent feminine facial expression in our household...

Great work, Tom! I saw this Kickstarter when it came out and was sorely tempted. Your brushwork has kept them in good stead. I especially like their buff coats and the steel of their lobster helms. Do the upcoming pikemen have empty hands for brass/steel rod, or do they have cast-on pikes? I ask as I have a hangup about 'bendy' pikes. The old 12mm stuff from Musketeer Miniatures that I inherited have cast-on pikes which makes me crazy, having to clip them out, drill out the hands and then replace with brass. Anyway, first world problems, eh.

32 points to add to your total, Tom. Well done!