From HerrRobert (Robert H): Exfiltrate the island (15 Points)

Finally, my last post! I'm escaping Challenge Island via Sarah's Balloon:

For the fare, I have a suitable espionage themed entry:

This is yet another Spectre Miniatures figure, their Task Force Nomad undercover operator:

Unlike others, I painted her exactly as she is depicted in the catalog, though her headscarf is a more vibrant purple:

As a "special figure," I stole Curt's basing idea and put her on an octagon. That way, she will stand out on the tabletop.

So, another five points, bringing me to my target, almost all of which was done in the last 48 hours!

To celebrate, we will be serving mimosas on Lady Sarah's balloon, for it is morning somewhere.

___________________________________

Oh, you humbugged me on this one. I have this very mini and have been dying to paint it. Such a great pose. Great job Robert! I especially like her headscarf. (I also really like those buildings with the great archways - where are they from?)

As this was your third trip on Sarah's Balloon I've given you another 10 frequent flyer points. Also, as I added all your locations you have actually exceeded your target - Congratulations!

Wow, that was an amazing whistlestop tour if there ever was one! I'm happy I could minion you through it all Robert. Thanks for taking the time to put all these entries together! Hope to see you for the next edition.

-Curt

From PeterD Balloon Ride to Reidy's Reef (5 points)

Got some bad lighting going on this morning possibly.  Her face didn't seem that dark, but maybe I should  go over it again.   These ladies are very good at pointing and giving directions!

Tamsin is correct and I am planning 5 posts today although my geography is addled today. I'll blame it on my brain being occupied with working out how to teach actuarial science via Zoom conferences.  Best bet is video conferences from my Uni office using the chalkboard to solve my fairly complex statistical problems.  Wish me luck!

Another Bad Squiddo figure from the Women of WW2 range for a balloon ride to Reidy's Reef.

Wife asked me what was in her handbag.  I'm not sure but she's clutching it like it's holding something  important.

My first two ladies from today in a finger pointing contest.

Five points for the figure no points for the 5th balloon ride!  



Well, I was right until you decided to add a sixth post (Yes, dear reader, Peter is going for six posts today. Plus that collaboration he did with Paul and Miles.). So, three more to come...

That's another great lady to hitch a balloon ride with. On to Reidy's Reef!

TamsinP

From PeterD Home Front Lady for a Balloon Trip (5 points)

It's the last day of the challenge so I'm running the table with whatever I could finish up last night.  Next up is this lady for a Balloon ride to join up with Miles and Paul...

This is another of the lovely Bad Squiddo women of WW2 range that I picked up in January.  I've really enjoyed this figures.

I think that she could give Aunt Jane a good run in a scowl off.

 

Lots of subtle details on this very sensible outfit - the belt, the buttons and the satchel.

Smile and nod boys, smile and nod

This is my fourth balloon ride and 4 is 1 mod3, so no extra point here.  Just 5 for the figure.



He's back with his second of five entries for today. Great figure Peter!

TamsinP

From JonathanO: Cartimandua - Queen of the Brigantes (35 points)

I need to take a flight in one of Lady Sarah's balloons.  Also taking this journey to keep an eye on her tribal lands is Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes and ally of Rome.

Don't cause any trouble, or Queen Cartimandua will hand you over to the Romans!

 ******

This is a 28mm miniature from Bad Squiddo Games.  Painted for future use in games of Infamy! Infamy!

Destination:  Fran's Fjord, please!

And he's back with his third (but I strongly suspect not final) post of the day. What a great figure.to hitch a lift on the balloon with.

TamsinP

From TeemuL: Balloon to Millpond (26 points)

"Ooooh, what a nice treasure!"

"Now let's go home!"

"...but how?"

"I can arrange you a lift with Sarah's trusty balloon, but only to Millsy's Millpond, I have some business there."

"Pond, eh. Not the beach we are looking for, but a right direction anyway, thank you my lady."

 

So the Challenge is somewhat completed and it is time to start the journey back home (not like Noel did it). First let's take third balloon ride to get some extra points with this fine lady, Games Workshop classic from 1987, but no idea in which pile I get her. She has a huge sword, might end up in the Greatsword company (once I have one). Some metallics and contrast and she was ready, I painted her at the same time as the dwarfs. I didn't have time to do proper research who she is, but I will at some point.

Then some bubbles (first time) to get even more extra points!

And then some terrain. I always liked to have some campaign specific terrain in my games. Here's Sarah's Hot Air Balloon Pumping Station with the landing area! But I have no game to play with these... :D This was inspired by the junk creativity from Alex. I realized immediately, that I have plenty of the same junk available, as long as my son drinks his smoothies and eats his easter eggs... The rest is balsa wood and foam between thin cards (finnfoam in Finnish) on a compact disk (it feels like Atoll again). So thank you Alex for the inspiration!

 

 

After I created the Awdry's Atoll piece and then the sign for the Mudry's Mesa I was trying to create something for each location I visited, but I run out of time. But I did manage to create these for Sarah's balloon, there should be no balloon without a proper pumping station and landing pad, right?

 

So, let's take a balloon ride to Millsy's Millpond before the Challenge ends.

It goes to eleven, of course

Points then.
5 for the figure
10 for the third journey
5 for the bubbles (no champagne, just British dry apple cider)
6 points for a bit less than a 1/3 of the terrain cube (the station is 5x4x3 and the pad is just a base (CD) really)

And finally a house built by my son. We built these together. I gave him some help with cutting and gluing and in general design. He painted it himself with his crappy brushes and crappy acrylics in a fraction of time I used. He is 4 and half, I'm almost 42...

Well, Teemu, it's not a Friday but you still get to have your post minioned by me! Great figure and smashing terrain pieces. I'm absolutely certain that Lady S does need to top her balloon up with hot air after all that dashing to and fro across the island (and even through time and to other continents and even into dreamworlds) for some of my trips.

TamsinP

From StuartL - Challenge Island Safari Journal - 18th March (265 Points)

Greetings implacable C.I.S.T.ers,

Today we're heading to a little known spot on Challenge Island, the site of the Challenge Island Airport, or at least a field where a hot air balloon can land.
Joining us on our visit to the trip are the Challenge Island Reenactment Society, here to faithfully recreate the bygone days of when the American Continental Army defeated the dastardly British. As I am sure every red blooded hatted patriot knows, the Continental Army defended the airports of America and prevented the British from using these vital transportation hubs.

Here we can see the Reenactors in their replica uniforms preparing for the event, forming up as their fore-fathers did many years before.

The American War of Independence shaped the modern world as we know it today, though numerous historians often debate the turning points in the conflict, the truth is that the British were not prepared for the war in any way.

When the colonists stated that there should be "No taxation without representation!" The British leadership scratched their heads in confusion.

"So... they are okay with being taxed if we let them have politicians?" said one British general.
"I'd gladly pay more tax to get rid of them to be honest," said the second.
"It must be a wind up. Nobody would actually want that," said the third.
"Agreed!" said the other two generals. "Let's have some tea and wait for all this tomfoolery to blow over."

And so began a conflict which changed the course of history and gave rise to some of the most memorable battles of history. The JFK International campaign. The Battle of LAX and of course, the great siege of Chicago O'Hare.

Sadly, not all of the reenactment group appear to be enjoying their day out. Mrs. Mosswell came along with her husband to show her support for his hobby and to enjoy the tropical delights of Challenge Island. In an effort to join in, she has donned settler's garb from the 1770's and helped out around camp. Mr. Mosswell however has spent most of his time chatting with his friends and fellow hobbyists about the minutiae of musket drill and the correct way to wear the 1781 issue canteens, leaving his better half thoroughly ticked off.

In an effort to cheer herself up, and to get away from dozens of middle aged men mucking about in fancy dress, Mrs. Mosswell has decided to take a trip on Lady Sarah's Balloon. Fran's Fjord is only a short hop away and it sounds quite exotic, so maybe some time spent enjoying one of the island's beauty spots will brighten her mood. 

Have a safe flight Mrs. Mosswell.

----------

Ok, I'll admit, the American War of Independence isn't a conflict that I know a great deal about. Apologies to any American challengers from my tongue in cheek view of one of the key points of their history.

Back before Challenge IX, a friend suggested that we work together on a new historical project and eventually we settled on the AWI as something neither of us had done before. It helped that the Perry Brothers had a wonderful range of minis to work with. My friend was planning to order the minis in September 2018, but that date quickly fell by the wayside and so did October and November. He promised to order them before Xmas and I had hoped to get my part of the project done in Challenge IX. In the end, I ended up ordering the models myself in summer 2019, with the intention that both my friend and I would get the first units done and on the table in early 2020. We did manage to get in one game of Rebels and Patriots from Osprey, but my friend is leaving the area in a couple of weeks to take up a new job 350km away. Suffice to say, this project has not been one of the more successful ones. Still, I have the start of an army done and more minis to work on for when my friend comes to visit.

For the challenge I have painted:

40 Infantry (there are 42 models and an officer in the top picture, but two of them were done as a test before the challenge and the officer was done before Challenge IX) - 200 Points

1 Gun with 4 Crew - 30 Points (Is that correct?)

1 Disgruntled Housewife - 5 Points

Plus 30 Points for my first trip on Sarah's Balloon, stopping at Fran's Fjord.

That should be 265 Points I think.

You think correctly! That's a good looking set of Rebel Scum - sorry! Wrong game system! We've had far too many SW Legion posts! - continental army troops. Poor Mrs Mosswell though; she tries to show an interest in her hubby's hobby and gets abandoned in the camp.

TamsinP

AdamC: Princess reluctant to take a balloon ride. (23 points)

The HMS Unicorn ran around on a sand bar, Captain Pullings assures me he’ll be able to get her floated on the next spring tide but for now I need a ride to Sander's Sand Dunes.

This “figure” is from an Old Glory set of Medieval peasants a princess being carried off (against her will it seems) by some plunderer.  I did the plunderer in no descript colors so he can be from several back grounds.

The Lady is done up in a reddish purple that makes a great color for royalty and her clothing is set off by gold bands at the edge of the material.

Now once we can get the young lady off the ship and on to the balloon, we can load the troops for Sanders Sand Dunes…

Then it will be time for St Patricks day Beer (for latter its before noon right now).

Ok off to the Sand Dunes.   Points I am not sure if this figure should be counted as one or two 25 mm figures so I am going to say 9 point.  This is my 3^rd balloon ride so that’s 10 more points plus another 5? for the picture of the bubbly beverage that comes to 23 points but adjust as apropatre.



As DaveD is up to his neck with CV19 planning at work, this is a free-fire minioning day, so I'll be looking after things for a few posts.

Those figures (that figure?) will certainly make for some nice mobile scenery in games. As for scoring, I think what you've suggested is quite fair and I'll even allow for a Paddy's Day beer to be counted as "bubbly".

TamsinP
Senior Flight Attendant

From PeteF Sarah's Balloon: Shieldmaiden Warriors (30 points)

These four shieldmaiden's are from Bad Squiddo's 2018 Kickstarter. I primed them for Challenge IX. I got a few done back then and started some more (berserkers) - which were finished between Challenges. The slingers were completed in February (second balloon flight). There are four more (hearthguard) which will probably have to wait until after Challenge X - but who knows with all this isolation time at home?

The goal is to paint an all shieldmaiden army for SAGA Age of Vikings and Age of Magic. I love the Bad Squiddo sculpts - lots of character and room for decorative touches. I didn't paint tatoos on any of them yet but I'm thinking of adding some ink each time they win a battle.  A friend gave me a few V&V resin shieldmaidens - these are assembled and ready to paint but they are very brittle and have already lost some braids. Gripping Beast make some shiledmaidens and I may try them next - if anyone knows of any other manufacturers that make lady vikings that would fit with these let me know.

This is my third trip in Sarah's Balloon and I can't decide where to land - so if it's OK with the pilot we'll do a quick tour of the Island and come right back to Rousell's Sandhill. I'm celebrating the flight with this bottle of cider for the champagne points (not claimed on previous flights). Four foot figures for 20 points plus the champagne and 3rd flight bonuses for a total of 35.

By Paul:

Blackberry cider? sounds putrid! And you dare claim it to be the equivalent of the drink of Kings and Queens? What kind of bounder and cad are you Sir? Pistols and dawn you fiend! You'll be lucky if I dont take points OFF you overall...

Fortunately you've done a great job with the feisty lasses, so I'll let you off with a warning this time...