From AngusW - Native American Indians (Pendraken) (116pts.)

Painting cavalry has seemed like a never-ending task since the start of the challenge. I had hoped to paint 100 US troopers and 200 native Indians as part of the AHPC. While I have managed the US troopers I've still 81 native Indians in the box to paint.

Here we have my final native Indians of the challenge. As usual, I blocked out all the colours, slathered them in Army Painter strong tone (and accidentally the living room carpet) then went back and added a few highlights. I had meant to paint 60, but I miscounted and only painted 59. So I only based 58.

The pictures never do them justice, but they look good on the tabletop.

58 x 10mm cavalry @2pts each = 116pts.

From Millsy:

These look great Angus! There's something about massed native cavalry that makes me hear the sound of hooves and the screams of the charging warriors. These are a fine addition to your previous posts and will give the US troopers no end of trouble I'm sure. Well done!

From AngusW: Native American Indians (Pendraken) (120 points)

 With the US Cavalry trooper now complete they need some opposition. I've bought 200 mounted native American Indians so I thought I'd try and paint 3 batches of 60 to get the bulk done. Painting 60 at a time did not sound a lot until I started.

I don't like painting horses and I don't like painting flesh. These seem to have taken a long time to complete. With the end of the challenge looming I have the next 60 undercoated with the aim to finish with an AHPC points score comfortably over my target.

60 x 10mm cavalry @2pts each = 120pts.

Sixty horses at a time? Ouch! Your efforts have paid off, these look great. Only got to do it another couple of times!

Barks

From AngusW: US Cavalry Troopers and Infantry (Pendraken) (40 pts.)

If you have loads of cavalry you need some horse holders! For now, these horse holders and their dismounted troopers are the last of the US Cavalry for my Pony Wars project. 

Next, I have 60 Indians started, it has taken me three nights to paint horses. As usual, when painting cavalry I lose the will to live painting horses various shades of brown.

20 @ 10mm Infantry @1pts each = 20pts.

16 Horses & 4 Holders @ 10mm @1pts each = 20pts

Losing the will to live is character building. We're just jealous you're only losing it 10mm at a time. I do hope the end result was worth it! I do like your horse-holder mini vignettes.

Barks

From AngusW: US Cavalry Troopers (Pendraken) (60 points)

My US Cavalry 'Pony Wars' force continues to grow. This batch was much more pleasurable to do than my first 100 cavalry troopers. At least with a small number to paint the end always seemed more achievable.

We have here the command units to go with all the cavalry from my last post and two units of dismounted troopers. 

I found my lightbox, the smaller number meant to could at least get them in it with two photoshoots. 

Currently working on the horses and horse holders and another dismounted unit. After that, I'm starting with the native Indians. A large box of them arrived this week from Pendraken.

40 x 10mm Infantry @1pts each = 40pts / 10 x 10mm Cavalry @2pts each = 20pts

The cult of 10mm grows! They are looking really nice, with all the pennants bravely fluttering. I can't wait to see your natives. What size bases are you using?

Barks

From AngusW: US Cavalry Troopers (Pendraken)(200 points)

In an effort to try and reel in my daughter and her friends I've chosen this winter to focus on getting together enough figures to play 'Pony Wars: B Troops Ain't Coming Back'. After wrestling with which scale to choose I decided upon 10mm (Pendraken is local to me, I also feel like I'm helping the local economy plus Leon is a lovely chap).

To start the challenge I thought I'd get the bulk of the US Cavalry done and masochistically set off and did 100 cavalry troopers. To be honest, that many in one go became a bit of a grind. I think I'm going to do batches of 50ish next time.

The biggest problem I have with them has been taking pictures. 100 troopers will not fit in my little lightbox thing. I have attempted three photo shoots to take the pictures, they have all turned out disappointing. I tried my DSLR with flash, without flash, with LED lighting, with natural lighting and finally just with my iphone with the troops under the natural night.

The pictures below are DSLR without flash and have been through lightroom to try and take out the orange hue cast by the light.

100 x 10mm cavalry @2pts each = 200pts.

That's a very impressive squadron! I hope we get to see more of your Pony Wars. A big bite like 100 cavalry all at once can be a grind, but it is rewarding once done.

Barks

From MarkB: Custer’s Last Stand (85 points)

Hello all,
So far on my burning, pillaging and looting tour of the Painting Challenge Island I have made my way along the historical path and reached the delights of Benito’s Brook. The challenge demanded a last stand... so what better way of fulfilling this than one of the most iconic last stands in history? Custer’s last stand!

The US Cavalry figures are mostly Dixon’s miniatures although Custer himself is a glorious Artizan sculpt that came free with the old Warhammer Historical Blood on the Plains book. All are 28mm. I positioned them all on a 60mm MDF base facing at all angles as the Sioux and Cheyenne braves close in to count coup and finally finish them off!

To fight against the doughty 7th Cavalry I needed some Indian braves. These fine Foundry figures painted up really nicely. I particularly enjoyed doing the Appaloosa horse and the vivid warpaint to contrast with the muted duns and browns in the Native American clothing and horses.

The warpaint was fun to add. I’m not sure if it will really protect them from all the bullets that Custer’s boys will be dealing out? But maybe their ammunition is running out and their fire is slackening by now?

I thought the iconic Appaloosa horse really needed attempting. I’m going to try and do a few more variants on these as they make an interesting and eye-catching challenge to paint.

The Sioux are closing in for the kill. Custer looks remarkably steadfast considering the situation!

Last of all a dramatic warrior society brave resplendent with sash so he can peg himself to the ground to display his bravery.

So in total 5 x 28mm foot figures = 25 points

3 x 28mm cavalry figures = 30 points

Benito’s Brook last stand challenge completed = 30 points

Grand total = 85 points

I will continue the looting tour on to O’Grady’s Gulch where I already have treats in store for you!

I recall as a youngster reading the Ladybird book about Custer's Last Stand, and had a feeling that somebody would reproduce it for this island location. Excellent work, Mark, and an interesting choice to give Custer a dark brown buckskin jacket - all the images I've seen show it as more of a yellow brown, but the dark colour does work nicely.  85 points well earned!

TamsinP