From JP: Dead Man's Chest Vignette - Ral Partha Legacy - Greed (55 points)

 Some of you may recall that last year I entered this vignette:

I am back this year with another Ral Partha Legacy vignette sculpted by Tom Meier. I just can't resist these throwbacks to my youth. This one is called Dead Man's Chest and I am using it as my Greed entry courtesy of the Sarah heroine.

For those of you who followed the adventures of Fineous Fingers in the early Dragon issues, this may ring a bell in terms of style and situation!

This was a sizable challenge for me in terms of detail,  choosing colours and patterns to give me what I hope does justice these wonderful figures.

I am claiming the following:

3 x 25mm figures                                                15

4 pillars and each pillar's quarter of the floor     20

Greed                                                                  20
                                                                            55 points

Martin, if you feel my claim for the pillars and their quarter of the base is too much, shave away!

Thanks for looking folks!

Oh yes, I remember last year's vignette very well. And this one is just as spectacular, JP! The vibrant colours really bring this piece to life, and the painting is immaculate as always. I love those pillars with the ranks twisted about them, and the treasure chest, and the floor details...  A great scenic vignette! I'll go along with your calculations, so 55 points it is. 

Martijn

From JP: Ral Partha's Idol Theft! [New Acquisitions] (65 points)

 This is a new acquisition, I have long been a fan of Tom Meier's vignettes and thought I would never find them again. Enter Jacob, owner of Ral Partha Legacy, who has allowed me to revel in my teenage delights of D&D!

I will start out with an unabashed shout out for Ral Partha Legacy. Jacob sent a parcel of vignettes from the US to me in Belgium. UPS didn't do a great job and it went walkies - permanently. Jacob diligently tried to track the parcel down, when UPS just shut the file, so to speak, Jacob recast the three vignettes I ordered and re-sent them to me at no cost (we are still wrangling as I want to contribute and order more!). They arrived two weeks ago.

The castings are superb! Clean, fine details, animated and each tells its own tale. Thank you for the superb service and perseverance Ral Partha Legacy. Firms like this allow me to continue enjoying the hobby.

I puzzled how best to assemble/paint the model - 7 pieces and all 25mm - super fine detail, a tiny bit delicate. I played around a bit with it and came to the conclusion I really should paint each part separately and then assemble them. Sounds obvious, but I have bad experiences from painting parts and putting it all together afterwards, even with good prep work.

I decided that the idol should be painted, as I have seen in India, that was key to adding extra life and colour. There are no washes, only brush and dry brush - I was afraid washes would take away from the end result. Here is the outcome:

I am still hunting for a base that is 65mm in diameter as well as a 'dome' to put over it - if anyone has recommendations, pray tell!!!!

Points... not certain! I'll give the following a try:

6 x 25-28mm figs 

(2 whole humans, 2 whole skeletons and a number of partial skeletons)    30

1 x idol as a 40mm figurine                                                                           7

1 x hobbit as a 15mm fig (on top of the idol if you missed him!)                 2 5

New acquisition                                                                                            20

Possible total:                                                                                                59 62

Once again - I would not normally get off my duff to paint a vignette so quickly - so thank to the Analogue for pushing me along!!

It's your stand-in minion Martijn again. Wow, JP, what a fantastically cool vignette! I am very happy you got in the end, for I would not have wanted to miss this contribution for the world. Great choice, and great painting too! You have managed to bring the whole scene to life, and I love the painted idol! I think you are being modest on the points side, a 28mm hobbit is still a 28mm hobbit, and I will round your total up to 65 for special coolness. And even that seems a little skimpy for this magnificent entry. However, that's what it is; 65 points for you. Well done!

N.B. Please mark your entry in the title, I almost missed it. And a map would be nice to!