From StuartL - Spider-Woman - Lady Sarah's Star Yacht - 35 Points

Hello again,

For my second post for the free fire period, I have painted up a Spider-Woman. No, this isn't a character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but one from Japanese Mythology. 

The Jorougumo (lit. Woman-spider) is a spider like creature from Japanese legends that can shapeshift into the form of a beautiful woman. There is a common breed of spider over here in Japan, (and I believe in parts of the US now) known as the Jorou-gumo (or Joro Spider), that is a large, brightly coloured spider that is perhaps the origin of the myth. While the spiders do look kind of creepy, they are harmless to humans and only prey on insects. The mythological version is not as benign and lures humans to its lair to devour them. 

The model is from Reaper Bones and was fairly quick to paint up. Assembly was made a bit easier due to the flexibility of the Bones material. Each of the legs has a peg on the foot that slots into the base. If this model were made of metal like Reaper's usual figures, it would have been a lot trickier to line things up.

I will be using this model to pay for my passage on Lady Sarah's Star Yacht (I hope Lady Sarah doesn't mind a few cobwebs in the cabin), which will take me back to Solaris. I have already finished off all my planet related entries, but I had some alternative models for a few of the planets that I decided that I would paint up anyway.

Following the theme of Japanese culture, what could be more appropriate for the themes of deception and illusion than a pair of Ninja?

These two stealthy assassins are from Zenit miniatures in Spain. I picked up a big box of used Zenit figures a few years ago and I have been very slowly assembling and painting them. The figures are very well cast, but tend to be very delicate, with small connection points between parts.

So, for 3x 28mm minis I should be able to add 15 points to my total. This is also my first trip aboard the yacht, so I can claim 20 bonus points there, for a grand total of 35 points.

I hope to be back later in the week with some more minis. See you then.

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Good grief, more spiders! 

Seriously, that is a very interesting figure, Stuart, and I like the way you've painted her with the white garments juxtaposed against the creepy spider legs. I did a Jorougumo a year or so ago from the Rising Sun wargame. Very cool mythology. The Ninja look excellent as well - I especially like how you've done their black garb. Great models those.

Well done Stuart!

- Curt

From Barks: Descent monsters (95 points)

I'm determined to complete the core set of Descent boardgame miniatures before the end of the Challenge. Contrast to the rescue!

I do have a soft spot for goblins, but the zombie wolves are wonderfully gory.

19x 28mm figures: 95 points

From Barks: Trapped in the spiders' lair (48 points)

Come, brave adventurer- step into the lair and see if you can find what became of your comrades...

There's a few things going on here: spiders from Reaper Bones, simple cobweb markers from Thingiverse, and the webbed adventurers, pits, and useful clip-together modular rocky wall sections are all from Printable Scenery. The pits are on 100mm bases, the spiders on 25, and the swarms on 30mm. The mat is from Cigar Box.

The spiders and swarms are Contrast Templar Black over white. The walls are grey and white drybrushing over black. I really should have gone for the monochrome Chamber...

I petition for 8 points for the spiders, 20 points for the scenery, and 20 points for the Hall of Traps.

Skull-o-meter™: 1

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Nicely done Barks - that is creepy as hell. I love the atmospheric 'view through the hole in the wall' shot too!  A great collection of mischief

Cap'n Wednesday

From ScottC: Spiders - Pit of the Pendulum submission (180 points)

 Our lonely hobbits stumble into the Pit of the Pendulum and trigger the attention of a multitude of spiders!

These ants and spiders are a dollar store pickup around halloween. They came in little baggies of 50 a piece and I knew would make excellent minions for a rangers of shadow deep spider force. These are based on 25mm bases and are 28mm scale.

These gems are the GW Goblin wolf rider miniatures from the old battle for skull pass starter set. I have had these spiders sitting in a bin for about 10 years and finally had a reason to bring them to life. I wanted to base my colours on a more realistic colour palette with some hints of fantasy. The spider webs for all of these spiders are used dryer sheets and while they appear a little dense, I believe they turned out great! These are on 40mm bases and are 28mm scale.

These spiders are meant to represent GW mirkwood spiders, they are in fact dollar store spiders that came in a bag with several other different bugs. These big guys are on 60mm bases and are 28mm scale.

These little guys are reaper miniature spider swarms. Big momma has yet to be painted but they look well enough to fit the part. These little guys are on 25mm bases and are 28mm scale.

It has been an excellent challenge painting some more earthy toned fantasy creatures. I actually have a Chilean rose hair tarantula so I was a least mentally prepared before I had done my research. These figures are all 28mm in scale.

Points:

10 Ants - likely half of a 28mm figure = 25 points

10 Little spiders - same points as the ants = 25 points

4 spider hatchlings - same points as previous = 10 points

3 mirkwood spiders = Likely 54mm foot figure @ 10 points a piece = 30 points

10 giant spiders = 40mm foot figures @ 7pts ea = 70 points

20 bonus pts for challenge submission

Total: 180 points

From BrendonW: Goblin Sharpsticks Legion (210)

36 x Goblins, 1 x Chariot pulled by two giant spiders, 28mm, Games Workshop, Plastic.

and 2 more sneaky Goblins.

This enormous unit is based on the dimensions required for a 'Legion' in 'Kings of War'. A 'Legion' is symbolic of 60 infantry. Like the previous Sharpsticks Horde I went with rocks and barrels and so on but also a crazy idea to include a leader Goblin in a chariot.

I had spotted two wheels and two side pieces in my bit's that I had kept from long ago and thought these would be perfect for a scratch built giant spider pulled Chariot and this was the project for those bits. The great aspect about being involved in a Challenge is to sometimes do exactly that. Challenge myself to try something.

My initial idea was a small chariot pulled by a single spider. However I dove into construction and ended up with a small but wide platform. In retrospect I knew immediately if I had made the angle less it would look more like a single animal pulled chariot but, this was try as I go building and not much planning involved apart from a quick sketch to cement my brain wave. Perhaps even taking off some of the length of the side pieces would have shrunk it as well. So change of plan to make it a two spider pulled boss chariot. I found some more bits and added the wheel blades and the front pointy piece. Everything else on the chariot is just sprue carved up and the platform is a Renedra base. The Chariot rider is a converted plastic Goblin who did have a small Squig instead of a shield and a sickle type blade that went on a previously completed Spider rider leader looking git. I decided that two gong bashing noise makers walking behind this Chariot to announce his presence would fit the bill.

I hope the presence of the chariot does not confuse people as to what this unit really is. Goblins with spears and shields....and lots of them. That's unit number five completed for project Goblin Army.

The two Goblins not on the base I glued onto the previous Sharpsticks Horde to increase the bodys.

The term for the size of this unit (Legion) Reminds me of a 'KREATOR' songs lyrics....

"We are LEGION! United in Hate!"

So go and play some high quality German Thrash Metal.

Cheers from Brendon

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Whilst being a Minion can be quite time consuming, normally at a time that you just want to get on and paint your own things, it has been such a privilege to be the first to comment on some outstanding ideas and Brendon this project of yours has been one of the finest!  Another cracking post and the sight of the Legion is just magnificent.  I am awarding 5 bonus points for general battlefield clutter and conversions so a total of 210 points to your tally, bravo Sir! 

From BrendonW: Goblins on Spiders and a Goblin Wizard (76 points)

7 x Goblin Cavalry and 1 x Goblin Wizard (28mm, Plastic, Games Workshop)

Hello. This submission is a Goblin Cavalry Regiment and a Hero for this growing Army... one Goblin wizard. A smaller unit than last weeks post but a slow down was going to happen as I have actually been working on next weeks submission at the same time. I am sure many of you overlap units in this way. When I was creating the layout for this unit I originally planned for 3 across the front but changed my mind near completion and opted for four across the front instead. I went with the brave Goblin leader intelligently leading from the rear again. While these are all conversions the leader has had a sickle looking weapon replace his spear to break up all the spears. The base includes a Perry shield that is painted to match my Red & Black human army and a small Renedra Barrel.

And here is the first Goblin Wizard for the Army.

Lastly here is the Army so far.

Cheers from Brendon

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I just love these spiders Brendon, the texture on the bodies is just perfect and seeing the army massed at the end is just superb; what a sight!  Again your palette and clever basing ideas really help to tie everything together and give the army a wonderfully 'natural' feel.  Another well earned 76 points, I have added a bonus point for the battlefield clutter. 

From BrendonW - Goblin Cavalry (126)

12 x Goblin Cavalry (28mm) and a dead Dwarf.

This week I present a Cavalry unit to increase my forces for project Goblin Army. These units as most of you would know are probably three projects. The Goblins, the spiders and the large Unit Base. However they all come together at the end. I placed the rider with the strange sickle sword on some rocks leading from the rear which seems correct for Goblins that have a game rule called "Yellow Belly". All of the spiders have become hairy by gluing Flock onto them. I avoided the faces and legs.

Some of the riders I had originally glued to the spiders which did not make it easy to re-paint them. Much easier to paint riders and mount as separate pieces. As a general guide to mount these old GW Night Goblins onto the Spiders it requires chopping off the bottom of them. Use the very lowest part of the hanging belt as a guide. Some Goblins require further cutting to make the lower part a little narrower and it helps to cut off a wedge from the lower back area to help them nestle back further. I did cut some spear points off and repositioned them but its not really noticed in the unit...but I know. The Barrels on the base are a Renedra product and the Dwarf is from Mantic and painted in colours to match my existing Dwarf Army. I did have a plan to place 14 ridrers...then it was 13 riders...but I think 12 is OK in the end.

Cheers from Brendon

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I just love these Brendon, what an awesome unit!  The basing, conversion and little extras just combine perfectly to make a truly unique force, really well done Sir!  I have added some extra points for the prone dwarf, conversion and basing taking this entry to 126 points, cracking stuff Brendon.  

AdamC- Spider to Hunt (15 points)

 Well folks seemed to like the last spider I did and I was able to finish this guy up tonight so here he is to creep into your dreams.

 I don't know who made this guy, its another piece that Chris Rett gave me for his Monster Hunt game for Huzzah!con. So some kid will hunt it down and get to keep it... if he or she can kill it. I went black and then yellow green because I thought it looked like a really nasty spider.

I dry brushed the abdomen to bring out the texture and give it a very spidery look.  Its ready to eat hobbits, dwarves or anyone else it can get in its web. This seems a little bigger than 28mm maybe 35mm so I will leave the exact scoring to Peter.

One last post from Adam and it's a beaut if you're into spiders.  I'm scoring him or her as a 25mm vehicle so that's another 15 points for you.  Some how I think of it as a her, since most of the nasty ones seem to be female.  Regardless of who made it, it's a lovely arachnid.  I like the yellow spots and high lighting and you've done well with the basing.    

So that will be our last post for the night and I'll sign off and hand over control to Tamsin.  It's off to bed for me if I can avoid the giant spider dreams (thanks Adam)