From ValeryN- Two Dianas (16 Pts)

So, I'm slowly starting to "roll in" to IX Challenge. For a start, a little work - "Two Diana". This is not a novel by the French writer Alexandre Dumas:

but two self-propelled artillery pieces from the Rommel African Corps.

The "Diana" was a conversion of the Sd Kfz 6 5-ton half-track tractor mounting the captured Soviet 7.62cm gun (FK 36(r)).

605. Panzerjager-Abteilung had its anti-tank ability strengthened just before Rommel’s attack on the Gazala Line in late May by the arrival of the Diana.

Fitted with captured Soviet guns, six of these vehicles arrived in late January 1942, and three more in February.

These models were partially collected from me for several years, so, unfortunately, the gunshields were lost. But even in this form, they will replenish my German army on the "Flames of War" gaming system.

Great work, Valery! Russian guns on German armour in North Africa to back up the Italians- a very cosmopolitan entry. I like the weathering, and wouldn't have noticed the missing gunshields if you hadn't pointed it out. 15mm AFVs are now worth 8 points, so that is a satisfying 16 points!

Barks

From ValeryN Soviet tanks (18 pts)

Greetings to all!

Last time I almost did not post messages here. Alas, the work swallowed me up. But I still made an effort and painted three tanks to cross the line of 1500 points.

Thanks to everyone who has been with us these three amazing months!

-------------------------------

From SidneyR (stand-in Minion) - Yet more fantastic work, Narval! Well done again - these are a perfect final post - beautifully finished, fitting perfectly with your many other great submissions in this Challenge.

Your output over these three months, and your friendship and contribution to the Challenge has been wonderful. I can only hope we will all see so much more of your splendid collection as your forces grace your wargames table. Another well-deserved 18 points here, and huge congratulations on making the 1,500 points line!

From ValeryN: German Grenadiers - Second part (166 points)

A two month ago I was already laying out the first half of the miniatures of the German infantry from the starter of the third edition of gaming system "Flames of War"("Open Fire"). Now it's time for the second part.

There are 83 miniatures*2 points = 166 points.

--------------------------------------

That's really an impressive paint-bomb, Narval!  And when one thinks that's just the second half of the force, it's even more remarkable!  They fit together wonderfully well as a force, with your skillful basing bringing each of the component units together.  There's a lot going on, and I love how we can pick out the special weapons and anti-tank teams in the mass of grenadiers!

Super work, and another 166 points towards your very impressive total!  A great way to bring you into the final week of Challenge VIII, Sir!

From ValeryN - Fifty Shades Darker (24 points)

Hello everybody!

Unfortunately, last week was not too productive for me in terms of painting miniatures.

Today I bring to your attention the continuation of the theme of the Germans for the early war. These are the four tanks Pz-IV from the company "Zvezda", painted for 1941. They bear tactical signs of the Third Panzer Division of the Germans.

4 tanks with 6 points = 24 points.

-----------------------------------------------------

These are splendid, Narval!  They will look perfect alongside the other German and Soviet vehicles and artillery you've been painting.  I can well understand other things diverting from painting-time, but four Panzer IVs in a week is still a fine and enviable output, Sir!  And not just painted, but with perfect decals as well - top work, Narval!

One of the great things about Panzer IVs is how versatile they can be on the wargaming table.  I have a sneaking suspicion that these fine models will see good service in your armies from Italy to Lake Ladoga, and from Brest to the Volga, no doubt.  

Great work, and a thoroughly well deserved 24 points!!

From ValeryN - Fifty Shades of Gray (84 Pts)

Hello everybody!

I thought that for a long time I had not posted here.

In my German army for the Flame of War there are more than 50 different trucks and cars, but all of them are painted yellow and camouflage. That is for the period 1942 - 1945. But in the early period, I have almost nothing. And I decided to change this situation.

2 Sdkfz7, 7 Kfz15 and 5 Kubelwagen - 84 Pts

----------------------------------------------------------

And what a stonking entry to get us away this Monday morning, Narval!  We have missed you greatly since you posted the tank destroyers a couple of weeks back.  But this fine collection more than makes up for it.  Every army needs a collection of transport, not least to ensure that there is more than enough vehicles to block that all-important bridge on your table!  

Well done with the two Sdfkz7s, which look terrific -  really nicely done - not only practical, but very attractive as well.

And another 84 points to add to your outstanding total, Sir!!  Keep it up!

From ValeryN - Tank destroyers (168 Pts)

Today's portion of my painted miniatures will be fully devoted to the means of fighting tanks. They are here for all tastes:

These are soldiers with anti-tank rifles...

...sappers with "Molotov cocktails"...

...and the soldiers with captured by the Germans fausts:

And of course I could not do without armored vehicles - self-propelled guns SU-122:

Here 72 soldiers - 144 points and 4 vehicles - 24 points. Total 168 points.

_______________________________________________

Wow... another fantastic and ferocious haul of Soviet weaponry from you, Narval !  Another tremendous entry.  These troops will strike terror into the hearts of any panzer crewman, I'd be sure!  I love the massed anti-tank rifles, and the captured panzerfausts.  Given as the German handheld 'schrecks' and 'fausts' seem to cause havoc on every WWII table I ever play on, it's only fair that you give your Soviet forces some captured ones to turn the tables!

Terrific work, and particularly so since you reached your target of 1,000 points without us properly celebrating!!  1,000 points is an incredible achievement for any painter in a Challenge, and to do this in the time you have done it (before week seven) is really spectacular.  So congratulations, Narval.  Keep those brushes painting away and we'll see if you make it to the big 2,000 by the end of the Challenge!  Here's another 168 well-deserved points towards that total! Well done, Challenge-buddy !!

From ValeryN - A lot ... No, very, very many guns! (430 Pts)

Hello everybody!

My name is Valery. I live in Russia and I'm crazy about guns. You could say "I'm a cannon freak".

Most of all I like painting cannons!

So, let's start with the smallest. This German anti-tank gun PAK-36. In the war they wore the nickname "Heeresanklopfgerät" (literally «army door-knocking device»).

Over time, in the German army they were replaced with guns PAK-40. For the long barrel and for the fact that their shells painfully stung, they received from the Russian tankmen the nickname "snake".

On the Russian side of the front there was a response to the "snakes" - this is the famous ZIS-3, which was called the "ratsh-boom". German tankmen said: "You do not have time to hear the sound of a 'ratsh' shot, how the "boom" in your armor will immediately happen".

If the 76-mm ZIS-3 could not penetrate the frontal armor of the Tigers and the Panther at long distances, then this task was not bad solved by the anti-aircraft 85-mm cannon

Now let's turn to more significant calibers. This is a 107-millimeter cannon of the 1910/30 model. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was in large quantities in the corps artillery.

By the end of the war, a powerful 160-mm mortar had appeared in the arsenal of the Red Army. This weapon proved to be so simple and effective that it still is in the arsenal of some countries (for example, North Korea - it is possible that they like to play Kim Jong-un before breakfast).

Well, we finish our artillery parade with another era and another scale (28mm). This is a Russian howitzer from the period of the war with Napoleon of 1812-1814:

Total, if I was not mistaken, in a scale of 15mm 30 guns * 4 + 140 crewman* 2 = 120 + 280 + 400 points And at the scale of 28mm gun + 4 crewman * 5 = 10 + 20 = 30 points. Total 430 points.

_____________________________________________

Oh my gosh.....I mean...WOW.

Now, deep in the recesses of my wargaming mind, I do remember something about Russians liking a lot of artillery.  Hmmm.... something about a Grand-Battery at Borodino, perhaps... And something about the artillery onslaught at Kursk, I think.... 

Valery, my dear friend, all I can say is that the reputation of the Russian wargaming community for being well stocked as regards artillery bombardments is in very, very safe hands.

What a ground-churning, cordite-fuelled, ear-drum-splitting, cannon-cascading entry!  I love it.  It's like "artillery", and THEN SOME....!

Well done indeed for amassing, painting and basing such a very fine entry.  Just terrific quality and quantity here, which is mind boggling.  I mean, you all of us at the PAK-36s - that's a fine entry in their own right.  But the rest .... well, fantastic work.

I do, I confess, particularly like the Napoleonic howitzer.  Lovely work on the brass barrel, and that green shade of the uniforms is just about perfect in my book.

A tremendous entry, and 430 well-earned and impressive points to add to your already very considerable total.  Congratulations!