From RichardC: We're putting the Band back together (225 Points)

We’re putting the Band back together.

Now those film buffs amongst you will recognise the quotation from the wonderful Blues Borthers – to me, the blues not only means a host of wonderful guitarists, but also the Grande Armee.

For the Musician bonus round, I painted up 8 Imperial Guard Grenadier drummers and their Drum Master – for my last submission to the Challenge, I present the rest of the band.

The scene was inspired by the painting of the revue at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel by Bellange. Not only could I have the Band, but also include some of the French Top Brass.

Led by Drum Major Jean Nicolas Senot (1761-1837) (- a smashing miniature by the way), the band, together with a Sappers formed the Tete de Colonne.  

Playing a variety of instruments including the bassoon, hautbois, cymbals, jingling johnny, flute, serpent and (that most martial of instruments), the triangle, they provided the accompaniment for the great parades of the First Empire. 

The band, sappers and Senot are, like the drummers, from warlord. These are really nice characterful figures, and pretty east to assemble (although the bassoon was a bit dodgy). My only quibble was with the two cymbal players. All my reference material (Rousselot, Bucquoy, Joineau, Osprey et al portray the black musicians in an oriental style uniform. Warlord has them garbed in identical style to the rest of the band.

The high command are a mix of Front Rank and Perry figures, and include the Emperor, Berthier, Lannes (in the red uniform of Colonel General of Swiss troops), Nansouty and an ADC. I also included Bessieres, painted earlier in the Challenge. Sadly, Gringo40s Murat didn't quite get finished.

The Arc is a Sarissa Precision MDF kit, and those eagle eyed (and old enough) can spot the quadriga from the Airfix HO Romans set (the figure with it is from the Atlantic gladiators set).

There are 8 sappers; 21 bandsmen, 1 drum major, 1 conductor, 6 mounted figures.  

Warlord, Front Rank, Perry, Sarissa

Sadly, this attempt at a points bomb arrived 30 minutes after the deadline. Still, it was fun to do. I didn't even get the chance to base it properly.

Hopefully, next year, real life (and hospital) won't interfere too much.

Cheers,

Richard

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Sorry Richard, I'll let you in after closing, but I'm just too tired to write anything right now. I'll catch you up in the comments later. :)

Curt
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From RichardC: The windmills of my mind (30 points)

Now I have to say, I do like a nice windmill. I can even go as far to say that the Long Suffering Briony and I have a house a few hundred yards from a Sussex post windmill.

I bought this model from Grand Manner a number of years ago – intending to populate it with the Foundry set of Napoleon and his staff. It has remained in a cupboard ever since. As Curt has decreed that terrain can be submitted, I decided to dust it off and finish it.

It is a really nice resin kit, apart from the sails. These are only detailed on one side, and needed to be fretted out (thankfully, this counted as preparation, and had been done a long time ago – a bum-numbingly boring task). I did consider using plastic card to create slats in the sails, but after a couple of test pieces, I realised I valued my temper and sanity more than a fully accurate model!!! I did have a mishap, and one of the sail arms broke – however a pin and glue job sufficed to fix it. 

The paint job was straightforward, with lots of washes and dry brushing. The basing is not complete, as I hope to revisit the mill in about 10 months time (Curt’s good offices willing), as part of the 9^th Painting Challenge.

I have added a figure of Gaspard Gourgaud the Emperor’s Officier d’Ordonnance as a scale reference (he was 90% already painted before the challenge, but it was nice to finally finish him). As an aside, I once met Baron Gourgaud – a direct descendant - at the Napoleonic Fair in London which my old friend Rod Gander helped organise.

The mill is 9” high + a further 3” for the sails, and is 4” by 4” – I shall leave it to my esteemed minion to work out a suitable points tally when he gets back from watching the rugby in our local pub!!!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Michael A – my minion, and indeed all the other minions for their hard work and dedication throughout the Challenge. It is not as easy a task as all of them make it look.

Now for the final cavalry charge (well, rather slow amble to be more accurate) to the end of the Challenge and my Curtgeld.

28mm terrain, Grand Manner

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Well I don't know, you wait an age for a post from Richard and then two come along at once!  How splendid is this Richard; what a great model.  Whilst I love my 4Ground windmill, this is rather lovely and you have done a splendid job with it.  Looking at the dimensions, I think that it would fill a terrain cube, but to be on the safe side, I have awarded a cube and a half.  Now I thought you had some bandsmen to paint? 

From RichardC: For two special ladies (15 points)

A very small entry, but one to keep me going until a somewhat larger effort in a couple of days.

The wife of my esteemed minion, together with my beloved other half (aka the Saintly Mrs Awdry and the Long Suffering Briony) share a love of animals, and one particular beastie is close to both of their hearts – the Highland Cow. For those of you who like looking at photos of "the real thing", here is a Facebook link to the genuine article - https://www.facebook.com/ChaterFold/

Here is my take on the long-haired hippie of the bovine world. A family of Highland Cattle. They are from Warbases, and I picked them up at last year's Salute. I decided to paint them in a winter setting as this time next week, we will be in the Highlands of Scotland, in a nice pub having a wee dram of something single and malty whilst the wind blows snow drifts against the back door.

I shall leave it to Michael to allocate the points.

3 x 28mm animals; Warbases.

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Very nicely done Richard and I'm sure the ladies will be delighted with your rendition of these fine beasts.  I think a straight 15 points for these, but you must try and complete your other project before Tuesday!  Best of luck in the Highlands and looking forward to catching up when the thaw comes! 

Flight - or the bonus round that never was: From Richard C (30 points)

The subject for the first bonus round didn’t appeal at first. My interests pretty much end with the 19^th century (I did consider a member of Napoleon’s Balloon Corps, but even I draw the line at too many Napoleonics!!!). I did make model aircraft in the dim and distant past – Saab Drakens F14 Tomcats were particular favourites. 

I then thought wings – you need wings for flight. Why not something winged, Greek and mythological? No, I’ll leave that to a later submission.

Instead, I plumped for something with wings that was a little more martial. Back in the 1970s, I added a Polish Winged Hussar from Minifigs to my ever-growing lead pile. Ever since then, I have always had a soft spot for these colourful chaps - indeed, my good friend and Minion Michael A painted an old school Winged Hussar by Hinchliffe a couple of years ago.

An order to Warlord games saw the three figured landing on the mat, quickly followed by pennants courtesy of Battle Flags. Reference material came in the form of the Osprey Warrior series book on the Hussars (a last minute Christmas present from the long-suffering Briony). The pennants are from the fine folk at Battle Flags.

I was originally going to base them as fighting in summer, but I then re-watched Alexander Nevski, and thought that a charge through the snow might look good. I therefore went for part of a charge at the Battle of Pitschen (Byczyna) which took place on January 24^th 1588.

Sadly, real life got in the way, and I missed the posting deadline. So these must constitute not only a normal post but also my first post

– although looking at the entries for that bonus round, my interpretation may have got me in, but the superb standard of the entrants would have put mine to shame.

3 x 28mm cavalry figures from Warlord.

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Welcome aboard the good ship Challenge VIII mon brave!  Sorry that these missed the the 'flight' round, but happy to see you on the scoresheet with a solid 30 points, bravo Sir!