From JohnS: More Spanish Heroes (50 points)

As the closing time looms I have managed to complete ten more Spanish for my Peninsular War army.

 

 

A mix of Perry and Brigade Games (with perhaps an Offensive Miniatures officer on the right) these ten militia were actually a lot of fun to paint.

I like my armies to consist of individuals, not all the same figure in the same pose. Militia units give me a chance to scratch that itch.

Every figure is dressed differently, with a range of equipment but I have tried to tie them all together with pops of the Spanish national colours of red and yellow. I can just imagine these two officers walking into a cantina and saying "Hey you, you're in the army now. Do you want the hat or the sash?"

I must mention the basing. Our regular gaming buddy Gavin is a big fan of Peninsular War games and has created an enormous batch of Gav's Special Spanish Basing, made up of a host of "secret" ingredients. He has gifted us regulars with a 2 litre bottle of each. It may take some time to use up!

Thanks to the regular chats with the other Challengers (organised by the Magnificent Millsy) I have achieved a Personal Best this Challenge. They don't call me Slowpainter for nothing!

10 x 28mm Infantry @ 5 ea = 50 points to finish

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These Spanish militia look magnificent John. I really like how you've made each unique yet managed to maintain a consistency so the look like a unit when brought together. That secret mix of Gavin's looks the business and with two litres you'll have a lot of arid basing ahead of you.

Finally, congratulations on achieving a personal Challenge Best this year. I'm delighted that it provided you with good impetus for getting models off the paint desk and on the game table. Bravo!

- Curt

From RayR - Retreat from Moscow - 23rd/24th Chasseur a Cheval Sledge 35pts

 

Its finally here, my last post of this years Challenge, I'm chuffed with all I've managed to get finished, but also gutted for what I didn't manage to get started. Including the figures in the post. My plan was to have 1 unit of 4 sledges. Perry's make 2 sledges, 1 walking and this one running. But the 2nd running sledge has been out of stock for ages, only coming back last week, so it scuppered my plans.

I started painting this back in January, but held off finishing it off until the other sledge turned up, but as time ran out, I thought it could be my last post.

"During the Retreat from Moscow, Colonel Marbot seeing that

his regiment, the 23rd Chasseurs a Cheval, was falling apart,

decided to dismount them, use their remaining horses to pull two-man peasant

sledges easily found in local villages. The 23rd formed up with the

24th Chasseurs a Cheval to create a sledge born brigade. At night

these formed squares which were frequently used by Marshal Ney and General

Maison for shelter. Each man was ordered to have two muskets to enable them to

resist attacks with ‘the liveliest musketry"

from Perry Miniatures website.

https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/fn-177-marbots-two-man-sledge-galloping-retreat-from-moscow-1812/

I really can't wait to get a unit of these out on the tabletop.

I've got to thank Curt and Sarah for all their hard work in putting the Challenge together and running it, also thanks to my favorite Fin, Teemu, for putting up with me since December, as well as all the other Minions and fellow Challengers and commenters who helped drag me along.

As for the points 5pts for the 2 figures and horse = 15pts

and 20pts for the sledge, making 35pts altogether!

Thanks!

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A fantastic final volley, Ray. These are such characterful models and you've really done them justice with your brush and basing. I have both variants in my collection, but I think I like your rendition of this one better. 

Thank you for joining in with us again Ray. I very much look forward to your wrap-up photos and your upcoming games with Lee. Bravo to you for sticking with this fabulous project. Well done!

From RayR - Retreat from Moscow - Mixed Infantry & Cavalry (60 Points)

My penultimate post in this years Challenge, and guess what?

More figures my and Lee's Retreat from Moscow project!

All the figures bar 2 are from Perry Miniatures.

The Commander, second left is a Front Rank figure and is my last figure in the Challenge that has had some conversion work, I've added a small cloak and a scarf which is holding his bicorne on. The Sapper 2nd row far right is the second non Perry mini, but I'm not sure who made this figure and if he is indeed a French figures??

Any ideas???

The rest of the figures are from pack FN169 Dismounted  Cavalry Skirmishing, my favourite is the chap in the middle, painted up as a Trumpeter of  the Dutch Lancers of the Guard. This is what I love about this project, you get the chance to paint up figures and uniforms that you wouldn't normally do.

Then you have the red crested French Carabinier, firing 2 pistols, what a great figure to paint up!

Lastly the usual rear shot!! I wasn't going to paint up the figure sitting firing behind a fallen friend, as I'm not sure how to fit him into a unit, because of the base size?? So he might end up as a piece of scenery or perhaps an objective marker?

So to the points, 9 figures for 45pts, then 2 figures on one base, one kneeling and one laying, so I'll give in to tonight's minion to decide the final score, your never know I might even get some bonus points for the conversion work? Cough!

____________________________

Terrific work Ray - such a colourful and varied project - a real treat for the eyes. Let's add 7 for the two figures and another 8 for the conversion work, so 60 points total.

- Curt

From LeeH: Partizans ...or very angry peasants (80 Points)

My last entry for the Russians seeing off the French invasion are a couple of groups of very angry peasants. I’m calling them Partizans but essentially the Tsar ordered the whole state to rise up against the invaders. So alongside the regular army were up to 200,000 militia, the Opolochiene, some of which I painted a few weeks back. But civilians were also encouraged to harass, attack and frankly murder any French stragglers they could overcome. Talk about a hostile environment!

These models are from Perry Miniatures and I have based them as two units of Partizans in an irregular formation. They have a mobile deployment point that could potentially pop up anywhere. Not that I expect them to be any good against formed regulars, but for harassing stragglers or lone commanders, they will be ideal. As you can see I have also managed to paint another wagon, this time a simple two wheeled cart. It is stick in the rutted road, frozen in place and has been abandoned. 

 

So this is my last batch of figures for the challenge and I have to say I have had a great time painting my first 28mm army in probably 30+ years. Would I do it again? Probably not. I have enjoyed the challenge of painting this scale and breaking into Napoleonics for the first time. And I have really enjoyed collaborating with Ray on this project. But I have spent more money on this army than the last half dozen 6/15mm armies combined. And now I have to find a way to store them because they are taking up the space of four smaller-scale armies. I will find space, and I will play with these but I don’t think I will be dipping into 28mm again, except for the occasional lone figure…and more cavalry for this army at some point. Famous last words I’m sure, I’m convinced Ray has another project up his sleeve to tempt me with!

Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, Ray & I will bring both sides of this project together for a combined wrap-photoshoot and an ill-advised adding up of how much we have spent. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if our combined spending on this project exceeded £1000… and we haven’t even really started on the terrain yet. For comparison, my last three 6mm armies came to £96 combined. 

Scoring: 
12x28mm foot = 60 Points
1x28mm Vehicle = 20 points

(Total = 80 Points)

I just wanted to end by thanking Curt for running this event once again. It has become a staple of my hobby year and I'm always blown away by the quality and quantity of miniatures challengers produce in just three short months. I also must say thank you to the minions/judges for their tireless efforts. Well done to everyone who has taken part...we are nearly at the end, then we can have a rest while we plan our painting projects for next years challenge!

 

 

Sylvain: I have been watching the progress of your amazing Napoleonic project over the Challenge. Don't even worry about the money, it's all well "invested". And look at the final result, a brilliant collection of miniatures that will bring hundred of hours of fun! Have a great in-between Challenges rest of the year! 

 

From TeemuL: All the rest Circles [The Contemplatives] [The Fixed Stars of Faith, Hope and Love] (100 points)

Here I am again with my dictionary, it might be complicated when English is not the first language, but on the other hand it opens the door of possible misunderstandings - accidental or not. :) The Contemplatives - probably a word I have never heard or at least used - means "the reasonable thinking person" in the Challenge description.

I'll quote Wikipedia page of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington:

"In late 1814, the Prime Minister wanted him to take command in Canada with the assignment of winning the War of 1812 against the United States. Wellesley replied that he would go to America, but he believed that he was needed more in Europe. He stated:

I think you have no right, from the state of war, to demand any concession of territory from America... You have not been able to carry it into the enemy's territory, notwithstanding your military success, and now undoubted military superiority, and have not even cleared your own territory on the point of attack. You cannot on any principle of equality in negotiation claim a cession of territory except in exchange for other advantages which you have in your power... Then if this reasoning be true, why stipulate for the uti possidetis? You can get no territory: indeed, the state of your military operations, however creditable, does not entitle you to demand any."

Sounds like a reasonable thinker to me, some might agree even without that quote. For my slow growing Peninsular War project I needed some commanders and Perry Miniatures have a set with couple of persons involved there, one being Duke of Wellington. I guess I'm not able to use him in the "real historical games", since the mini is from Waterloo era and most likely very different to what Wellington was like in Peninsular War, but at least it gives me a possibility to practice. He is on a round base with two Victrix plastic minis.

He is accompanied by Earl of Uxbridge, Henry William Paget, from the same Perry set. Unfortunately I have mounted him on Picton's horse, which has a tiger pelt... More historical errors from me. :) Picton didn't participate in Peninsular campaign, but was part of Waterloo. I guess I'll paint him a bit later and use as a nameless commander. I don't know about the story of tiger pelt or the umbrella, but I guess I'll find some information later on, when I research more. Uxbridge is on oval base with one Victrix officer.

After all these historical errors I can't declare myself as a contemplative, but I claim the bonus points from Duke Wellington. And yes, the Victrix minis on these command stands are painted to match my existing units for British. But no flags yet.

That was fifth Circle in Paradise and enough to complete the Theme Challenge, but since I happened to have this Pawnee set from Black Sheep Miniatures by Warbases, I painted them and move to the next Circle, "The Fixed Stars of Faith, Hope and Love." I'm not sure if Pawnees really had any hope, but that was all they had and they did fight for that. I believe my claim is valid.

I painted them with old "Tanned Flesh" paint from Coat d'Arms which I found quite nice. The leather parts are Flames of War Khaki 988 and then all over Reikland Flesh Shade. Mohawks are black Contrast paints. I guess I'm used to using mixed supply of paints? :)

These 5 Native Americans will meet the previously painted 7th Cavalry in several skirmish games - I hope, may be Sarah the Shootist will appear with other gunslingers, too. I think I need some pioneers, gold diggers and wagons. And those tumbleweed balls going here and there with the wind!

And the points then. All minis are 28mm, 2 mounted and 8 on foot, that is a total of 60 points. Two locations for additional 40 points and we have another 100 points. I wish I had this productive days and weeks in December, January and February...

 

 

Sylvain: I hear your pain when it comes to express yourself in a second (or third) language. But even if it's "imperfect", the act of communicating is always beautiful and worthy. Your (last?) entries are very colorful, literally and figuratively. And congratulations on completing so many levels in both the abyss and paradise! 

From JohnS: At the Sharpe End (40 points)

Continuing in my random historicals Stretch Goal today I am visiting the Peninsular War.

Anyone familiar with the Sharpe TV series of the 1990s-2000s will recognise a few of these Riflemen and their trusty Spanish allies.

SB himself is not among this lot. He is with another group that is partially painted so not Challenge material. These five include two officers (Sweet William and Lord John) and three Riflemen including a Chosen Man.

These miniatures are from Brigade Games and are very finely sculpted and were quite a pleasure to paint.

Accompanying our Rifle heroes are three unnamed Spanish Militia. Bad Things always seem to happen to these poor chaps so it is best if we just refer to them as Brave Spanish Martyrs 1, 2 and 3.

The Spanish are from Perry Miniatures.

These eight figures will be added to my large Peninsular War collection of British, French and Spanish (plus a few Portuguese) that started as a couple of Sharp Practice armies and have grown considerably over the years.

8 x 28mm Infantry @ 5 = 40 points

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How wonderful that at last I get to minion one of your posts John! Great to see you expanding your retinue to fight that despot "El Guapo", who has plagued so many of our tabletop adventures!

A doubty looking bunch of riflemen able to swat a gnat at 300 yards no doubt, but my favourite is Sweet William, who I always found to be a rather engaging character in the books. His appearance in the TV Show also reminds me of a tabletop opponent you and I regularly see across the table John! (sans eyepatch of course)

Well done - that puts you ahead of a certain other challenger at this late stage of the game... 

Can Mssr Alan pull one of of ze bag or have you got him pipped at ze post????

- Paul

From GavinB: A Mixed Bag of Goodies For My Final Submission of the AHPC 15... (40 Points)

 This has been a really fun 1st painting challenge for me, and Greg, you have been an excellent minion, and always have such kind, thoughtful things to say about the miniatures that I've painted, thank you. It has been a real pleasure to participate here and show fellow miniature painters my okay paint jobs! As mentioned in the title, I painted like, 4 different genres of miniatures for this post!

First we have an extra unit of perry archers to add to my Salisbury retinue, There is not a whole lot of things to say about these little fellows besides the fact that they were a blast to paint, because in my opinion painting infantry in the wars of the roses is very fun, though many would disagree.

I attempted a new method to painting faces, I'm fairly happy with it!

Next On the list we have The knight class from the board game adaptation of the videogame Dark Souls, now, there are three kinds of people, the ones who absolutely love the Dark Souls games, the ones who hate the Dark Souls games, and the people who have no idea what Dark Souls even is! I am really proud of how this knight turned out, I tried a lot of wet blending techniques going from dark up to light shades of metal on all of his armor bits!

Another Knight! I was cleaning up my hobby desk one day when I found this little metal 28mm crusader looking miniature that I had bought a while back and decided to paint him up! I did not paint him to look like one in particular, I just had some fun painting random colours on, I guess he could be a fantasy fellow for D&D or Rangers of Shadow Deep.

And lastly we have Lee from The Walking Dead All Out War Collector's Edition, and probably the best character from all of the walking dead, followed closely by Clementine of course!

And that is everything for my final submission of the year! But looking back at previous challenges It seemed like people all made a wrap-up post showing everything they painted during the challenge after It was over, but I am really not too sure how it all works, so... maybe Ill see you all again one more time before next winter! 

POINTS TOTAL:

8 28mm foot figures for 40 points!

Happy Painting!!

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Hi Gavin - glad I could minion your last entry of your first challenge. Congratulations on getting to the end - many challengers don't make it on their first try!

As a WotR aficionado myself (and there are many others here) I appreciate. One can see your love for the period in that you strung their bows - impressive!!! And yes your new face technique looks good. Amazing what a few cheek, nose and chin highlights will bring out on these lovely sculpts.

I like your other models too, and the Templar Knight looked familiar. I went back through my files and found that I painted the same one back in 2019! Your splashes of colour really bring him to life - may he fight valorously for you on the tabletop!

40points well earned and congrats again on completing your first challenge! :-)

- Paul