From MikeW: 28mm Scots Renaissance, Dark Ages, Lizardmen & 40k Orks (265 Points)

With my 'production line' stalling last week due to other commitments, there is definitely a knock on effect this week, as I restock many of the work in progress items that I have on my workbench. Thus a smaller output go finished to post this week, in the expectation that there may be a bumper next week. Also what I lack in numbers hopefully I give back in such a weird mix of subjects, although unfortunately the 4 Lizardmen do not register for the Squirrel challenge - which requires 4 figures!

28mm Female Survivor and fare for Lady Sarah's Limo!

Once again I will open up this post with a fare for Lady Sarah to take me to the Fantasy Lot, this is in the form of a 28mm female survivor armed with a bow. Not just any old bow but what appears to be an Olympic specification target bow! The figure is from Warlord Games, via Wargames Factory.

Another view of the 28mm Survivor

At the Fantasy Lot I have painted 4 x Warhammer Mounted Lizardmen, this is a lot of figures that I obtained from eBay and these will be used to supplement a similarly painted unit I did some time back as part of a previous Challenge, this will take the unit strength up to 9 figures. 

The Four Lizardmen of the Apocalypse!
(Arguably there are eight of them!)

Another view

Whilst the new figures are certainly more dynamic than the older ones and I suspect there has been  little scale creep, they do fit in well together. That said, I think I actually prefer the older figures to these new ones, as the quality of the sculpt of the 'mounts' are much better n my opinion.

Close-up of the Standard Bearer, with skull on the banner

War Axe armed rider

For the mounts I went with a blue under side and a green scaly upper body, the riders had yellowish underbelly and a similar green scaled upper body.

Spear armed rider, with skull on the saddle

Club armed rider, with skull on the saddle

Final shot with one of my existing Lizardmen riders (far left),
this nicely compares a older figure with the newer ones.

Next on my list of output this week are 10 x Scots Renaissance Billmen / Halberdiers. Once again sourced form eBay, where originally converted Wargames Atlantic Conquistador figures, glued to square bases and with some kind of 'ancients' head affixed, then marketed as City Guards!

Unit of Wargames Atlantic Renaissance figures decked out as Billmen / Halberdiers

Close-up of the Rear Rank

Same for the Front Rank

I have removed the bases to replaced with nice round MDF counterparts and I replaced the heads with some more appropriate Renaissance versions from my spares box. The figures were already undercoated in light grey, I simply added the same to the heads and then painted and based these little guys in my normal manner

Four Dark Ages figures found in the lead (ad plastic) pile

Another view

And another view

It wouldn't be right not to have a batch of Orks to present, however, as it stands this is the penultimate batch to share. I have a group of these little green guys to get completed next week an also some Killa Koptas for the future, after that the basic army is done. Yippee!

This week's 40k Orc Batch!

A large number of Big Boyz / Boss figures this week plus a great looking WarBoss, as well as some finalBoyz and a few Grechin.

Closer view from the left

And from the right!

The WarBoss was a real pleasure to paint, I use my usual methods to paint but was really pleased with the colour and finish of the loincloth on this figure. On top of that the finish on the Power Claw also came out well in my opinion.

My favourite figure of the batch, a plastic WarBoss,
with skull on his left shoulder

I added exhaust fumes on this figure - as he has a fuel driven power Claw, I've finally decided that I like this as a finishing touch but will not go and refit all previously painted figures - or for that matter any I do in the future. Practicalities mean that the ;fumes; pull off during game play, so I will limit it to a few stand out figures.

And the rear view, note skull on the ground.
Also see exhaust fumes coming form the Power Claw

An a final view of his weaponry

There is a group of Six Big Boyz / Bosses in this week's batch. These form the WarBoss' Bodyguard but can also be used as unit leaders in their own right, as needed.

Three Big Boyz with Hand Blastas and Choppas.
Centre & right hand guys have skulls on their back banners.

Three more Big Boyz with a variety of weapons

A quick conversion here was to add a Jet Pack to the back of one of the Boyz, this is a metal sculpt that I've had knocking around my bits box for 20+ years now, finally I have put it to use. I'm pretty sure that there's one more, if I can find it! 

My other favourite figure, one of the Boyz with a looted Jet PAck

He obviously was somewhat careless with his right arm at some time in the past!

Only four Grechin this week and one final guy next week - I unexpectedly found him in the ready box yesterday.

Interesting comparison of two Gretchin figures,
to the right an older metal figure and to the left its modern plastic counterpart.

Another two Gretchin, both plastic

Also another Grechin Herda in the batch, added to the done pile!

An Ork Grot Herda, with Power Whip.

Just a few Boyz, this week - 9 in all and finished in usual manner.

Four more Boys with Choppas and Hand Blastas.

Another four Boyz with various weapons, skull on hilt of guy second from left.

Finally an Ork with Tank Busta Mine

Next week? Hopefully 40k Orks, Dark Ages, Landsknechts and the 17th Century Officer I didn't bother with this week.

POINTS

28mm Female Survivor                                                     5 Points

Lady Sarah Bonus                                                            20 Points

4 x Warhammer Mounted Lizardmen  @10Pts ea            40 Points 

10 x 28mm Scots Renaissance Foot @ 5Pts ea                50Points

4 x 28mm Anglo Danish Infantry @ 5Pts ea                    20 Points

22 x 40k Orks @ 5 Pts ea                                                110 Points

TOTAL                                                                             245 Points

SIDE DUALS

Codpieces & Feather                                                           +50 Points

Skulls                                                                                    +8 Points

From TeemuL: A varied entry this week, again, by MikeW! First things first, I'm not part of the Squirrel Side Duel this year, but it might be enough to paint 25 points for a squirrel, not 5 minis, so you might get a squirrel there. Better verify with Squirrelmaster. Second thing, you forgot the 20 bonus points for Fantasy Studio, I'll add them for you even though Third thing, you forgot your map. :)

The lizards on lizards look good, but I'm with you, the older lizards look better. And the Ork Grot Herda looks terrific! And good job salvaging those ebay finds.

From Mike W: 28mm Dark Ages and Scots Renaissance plus more 40k Orks and others (375 Points)

Another week and another post! Really got into the swing of things now and feel that I can push on to my personal target with some confidence, despite some looming days lost down to work travel requirements!

Visiting the Book Studio, this week!

Before this week's batches, I'm evoking another lift in Lady Sarah's Limo to take me to the Book Studio, where I'll be perusing copies of Bernard Cornwell's 'Last Kingdom' series about King Alfred's resistance to the Viking invasion of England. The Vikings below will be the subject matter for this special bonus!

Lady Sarah's Limo Fare - Female Survivor with RPG7 Rocket Launcher

The fare that I'll be using for the lift is another female survivor, this time sporting an RPG7 rocket launcher, no doubt effective against multiple Zombies but likely to attract a lot of unwanted attention when used.

Another view of the same.

First off the bench this week are some more 28mm Dark Ages infantry, all plastic and  a mix of Vikings & Normans, 27 figures in all - 10 x Vikings and 17 x Normans. These Norman figures seem to be a mixture of Victrix and Conquest Games figures, whilst the Vikings are all seemingly Victrix. As a way of a change, 10 of the Norman figures have been given round shields, instead of the usual kite shield I have been using to denote at a glance which side each table top figure belongs to. 

This week's Dark Ages Batch, a mix of Vikings, Normans & Bretons.

The rationale behind this is threefold, in practical terms I purchased these figures pre-built and that 's how they came! However that give a couple of use options for me - they can be used to help denote Norman allied units such as the Bretons OR I have read that many Anglo Danish warriors were virtually identical to their Norman foes. Either way they'll be used to bulk out the infantry ranks as needed, another anomaly with this batch is that they are all unarmoured - albeit that a couple wear padded leather coats. For the Vikings these will be good for Stamford Bridge!

The Viking contingent, mostly axe armed with a couple of swordsmen.

More Vikings, in various attacking poses!

The painting method was the same as earlier batches in this challenge, although I did experiment with some Citadel contrast paint on some of these. Namely Snakebite Leather,  Militarum Green & Skeleton Horde, these were used on some figures to block in their tunics or trousers & leggings.

Another 5 Vikings, I must say that I do like the figures with the fur hats!

I was quite impressed with the 'Snakebite Brown' paint, it covered well and gave a good shading effect, 'Militarum Green' also worked pretty well but I was disappointed with the 'Skeleton Horde' - a light brown colour that didn't work that great in this context.

Some Norman types, right most has leather armour.

Bretons, with round shields

More Normans with Kite shields

Figures were based on a new supply of MDF bases in my usual manner.

More Bretons

And a final batch of Bretons, all in Leather Armour.

Next up we have a new batch of 20 x 40k Orks, fresh from the depths of space. As previously mentioned these are a fun diversion that I have been working through - you'll be pleased to know that I'm more than half way though my Orky pile of primed plastic & metal!

This week's batch of 40k Goodness...

From a slightly different perspective

This time we have an Ork Warboss, plus a Bos sin Power Armour alongside a number of regular Boyz with Choppas, Hand Blastas and Heavy Blastas.

The Warboss carries a rather angry looking squig and a hefty Blasta / Burna Combo gun.
His helmet horns are pretty impressive as well! 

Another view of the Warboss, possibly with a better view of the squig.
This figure is a venerable metal piece. He has a skull on his necklace.

Ork Boss in Armoured War Gear, sporting a nifty Skull as headwear.

Side on view of the Armoured Ork, showing his Heavy Blasta / rocket Launcher Combo

Two Boyz with Heavy Blastas

Two more Grechin to try and control the Orkish beasts!

Four more Boyz with Heavy Blastas

Another three Boyz with Heavy Blastas

Three Boyz with Choppa & Hand Blasta.
Central guy has a skull on his sword hilt

Four more Boyz with Choppa & Hand Blastas

Finally this week I have a batch of 17 x Scots Renaissance Pike to allow me to field my first Scots Schilton for the Marion Wars project. Almost all these figures are a mash-up of Wargames Atlantic Conquistadors and Warlord Games ECW infantry. I have another box of Conquistadors that I'm currently building and basing but they won't be ready for a couple of weeks yet - assuming all goes well.

17 Scots for their Spear & Pike Schiltron

Another view of the 17,
which includes 2 x Billmen, 1 x Drummer and 14 x Pike / Spear men.

Within the pike block these is a drummer (newly created as part if this group) and two billmen, their metal bills are from Perry Miniatures.

Five pike with weapons at ready

Most all of the figures are combinations of Warlord Games ECW and Wargames Atlantic Conquistadores. Left figure has a WA arms, second left is entirely WA. The drummer is a WG torso with drum and arms from the spares box and a WA hat. Right is entirely WG with a WA sword.

 

Five more pike & bill men, with a mix of heads and Perry Bills.

Again WG figures with WA heads and some arms

In the of the shiltron pictured below, I have added 8 figures from the test batch painted earlier in this challenge, making the unit up to 25 figures

View of the completed Schiltron, with figures completed earlier this challenge

Another view

Final View

I have also created two new,  Two Handed Swordsmen, based upon Warlord Games ECW Armoured Pikemen with Wargames Atlantic arms and swords added.

POINTS

27 x 28mm Dark Ages @ 5Pts ea                         135 Points

20 x 40k Orks @ 5Pts ea                                      100 Points

19 x 28mm Scots Renaissance Foot @ 5Pts ea      95 Points

Lady Sarah Limo Bonus                                         20 Points

28mm Female Survivor                                            5 Points

Book Studio Bonus                                                 20 Points

TOTAL                                                                   375 Points

Side Challenges

Codpieces & Feathers                                            +95 Points

Skulls                                                                        +3 Points

From TeemuL: That's an impressive output again, Mike! You really seem to have found the joy of miniature painting again, that is wonderful news. This Challenge does some miracles, doesn't it? The Scots renaissance minis look great, the absolute favourite of mine! And the Skeleton Horde paint, it is very light, it is almost white. Looks more colourful in the pot. I hope you find some good use for that. And you have a good pace to reach your Challenge target, good job.