From AdamC - an IJN Surprise (26 Points)

This entry is a surprise to me.  I used part of my tax refund to order a squadron of Imperial Japanese Navy ships for task for US ships to scrimmage.  Naval games are fun and at 1/2400 scale very portable making them a great set to have in reserve for those nights when another game falls through. I was stunned when these arrived yesterday as I had only ordered them on Friday from Panzerschiffe. Needless to say they are fast to paint up needing only a little scrapping.

 First up two Kongo class ships some call them Battle Cruisers others Battleships they were a British design but were rebuilt in the 1927.

The First is the Kirishima  which went up against the USS Washington
(part of my US fleet) and lost of Savo Island

Her Sister ship Hiei  was sailing with Kirishima on that fateful night.

I did my best to research IJN color but found only a few pictures so these colors are highly speculative. Above is the Hiei the dark gray on the lower deck is to distinguish her from her sister ship

Note the Lighter gray on the Kirishima' main deck.

The preferred view of a Japaneses battle ship from the USN perspective (moving away)

 Cruisers carried the bulk of surface combat in the South Pacific I have 2 Light Cruisers (on the flanks) and 4 Heavy Cruisers in the centre.  The IJN frequently had cruiser Squadrons made of different classes so each of my six cruisers is of a different class

 Agano was a class that was launched after the start of the war and was one of the most  modern designs.  8 Torpedoes in centre line tubes give these guys a dangerous punch.  The 9 152mm main battery guns are smaller than their US counterparts but still dangerous

 Nagara an older class from the 1920s by the second World War she is almost an large destroyer with 7 140mm (5.5 inches) guns along the centre line.  Again 8 Torpedoes provide the main punch.

 Takao here we have a true heavy weight with 10 Eight inch guns (in 5 twin turrets) and 16 Long Lance Torpedoes.  This is the most heavily armed cruiser in the IJN the ship was perhaps a bit to top heavy for its size.

Aoba and older and lighter design with 6 eight inch guns (in 3 twin Turrets) and again 8 torpedoes.

Furutaka similar to Aoba (a few years older) with the same armament.

Mogami The Mogami Class takes the prize for most egregious and blatant violation of the Washington Naval Treaty.  This monster was said to be under 10000 tuns but was actually 13000 and while designed with 6 inch guns they were replaced with 8 inch guns.  They also had 12 Long Lance Torpedoes.   Like the Takao it suffered form a top heavy design. Ships of these classes were active in the water off Guadalcanal which is the era I find most interesting for gaming.

 4 Matsu Class Destroyers  Once again I have painted the different sections of the super structure or deck a darker gray for identification. These are a War time class built to counter Sub but Destroyers are small enough at this scale you can use them for other classes... just squint and they look right trust me.

So I don't know how Curt will score these.  There are 2 Battle ships 4 heavy and 2 Light Cruisers, and finally the 4 destroyers for 12 ships of 1/2400 scale in all. I don't know if I will base these as I have found the bases of my US ships nothing but a hindrance.  Any way since when I ordered them I had no idea they would arrive in time to be used I am happy to take what ever Curt judges to be the right number of points.

  
From Curt:

Nice! We play a lot of microscale naval in our group so seeing these makes me smile. I find Panzerschiffe's stuff to be fairly minimalist but their castings seem to capture the salient details of the ship silhouettes.  I particularly like the tone of yellow you used for their decks as understand that the Japanese used a linoleum material for their upper decking. Very cool.

What rules are you using for your naval games Adam? We use General Quarters III and Fleet Action Imminent (for WWI) and quite enjoy the game they give. 

Great work!

From Milesr: More 28mm US Marines (70 Points)

I managed to complete 14 more US marines for my Bolt Action Marine army.  This is likely my last submission this year unless I can get home early enough tonight.  I'm chairing a board meeting later today so I guess I could just cut it off early - hmmmm fiduciary responsibility vs more painting time - that's a tough question....

These are all metal figures from Warlord and a few other manufacturers whose names I can't remember!

 First up is a .30 cal ammo bearer and machine gunner firing "Basilone" style.  John Baselone was a Marine sergaent who won the Medal of Honor at Guadalcanal firing a .30 cal on the move.

 Seven Marine riflemen - armed with 4 garands, 2 bars and a shotgun

A 60mm Mortar team.  I'll scratch build both 81mm and 105mm mortars to give some extra firepower options.

Lastly a marine sniper team.  The spotter on the left is sporting a captured samurai sword so these guys have seen some action.

Finally, a picture of the full Marine force - 48 figures and a tank - not bad production for 4 days.

I would be less than candid if I didn't say I'm kind of looking forward to switching from painting figures to making terrain.  Three months of intensive figure painting has been great but I think I need to have a bit of a change of pace!

As hinted above, I have one more potential submission but it will likely require a very late night tonight and I'm just not sure I'm up for it.

This year's Challenge has been a grand ride and I'm very grateful for both Curt and all the participants who make this such an enjoyable event.  For Curt the best way I can express my thanks is to borrow a phrase from my Navy friends and say a very hearty "Bravo Zulu".


From Curt:

48 28mm figures and a tank in four days!? That is awesome work Miles. I love the figure firing the .30 cal on the hop - very hardcore.  I think we need a final photo of all the stuff you managed to get done since the Challenge's start. I'll check over on your blog in the coming weeks to see if you come up with the goods.

Miles, you've consistently been one of my best supporters and a great promoter of the Challenge and I cannot thank you enough (for example, Miles sent me several pounds of excellent dark roast coffee early in this year's Challenge to keep me awake and on my toes). I've always enjoyed your incredibly varied entries, and even though I cannot fully appreciate your penchant for 1:1 scale 'fast attack combat furniture', I hope you will join us next time the AH Challenger sets sail.  'Roger Dodger.'

From JuanM. The last one... (25 Points)

Hello, my friends.

Here we are, finishing The Challenge and I have a lot of figures to paint! This has been, again, a fantastic experience, to share with all of you this hobby.

I would like to add a final entry, but I´m not sure if I´m going to have enough time, so this one can be the last one:

This is a Battle Honor/Kitney Miniatures 28mm US Paratroops Officer. I am looking for suitable and nice models to prepare an US Platoon for "Chain of Command", and these models are really good; smaller than other more modern, but nice.

A bunch of true "heroic scale" 28mm kids from Haslefree Miniatures. Fantastic models, full of childish character and really useful for my Fantasy project.

The Governor, from Pulp Figures; another of their excellent models. He is going to be the British Commissioner in Bolo Bolo, waiting for the end of the Japanese Mandate in the near archipelago and the independence of the island. He is also a great source of information... 

And this is all. I think this is better to finish now my participation in The Challenge. As I have said, this has been a wonderful experience. Thank you a lot to all of you and, especially, to the tireless Curt.

Cheers!!!

From Curt:

Ah, a lovely final entry Juan. It's funny I've not seen a Battle Honors figure in the Challenge for quite some time so this is a breath of fresh air. That paratrooper sculpt is quite nice - I look forward to seeing more of these on your blog in the coming months. The kids are painfully cute but I have to say that my favourite of the batch is The Governor with his somewhat dainty parasol and light green suit. I'm sure he'll prove to be a pivotal  character in your South Pacific pulp game Juan.

It's been brilliant to have you in the Challenge again this year Juan. Your entries, while frequently small in scope, have always paid off big in their quality and execution. Until next year!

From ScottB - 5 x 15mm Panzer III M (30 Points)

Well I managed a little more time to work on my own stuff, with no more 54mm Anzac or Turk stuff showing up just yet...

So I have managed to get this last entry done, just under the wire... and as the saying goes... and now for something completely different...

 Well OK not completely different ...but I haven't painted much of this stuff in a while... ;-)

So here we have 5 Plastic Soldier Company 15mm scale German Panzer IIIM.

I have done them in my typical style of 3 colour German mid/late war camo...

The Panzer III in all its incarnations was pretty much a workhorse of the mid war period and was still seeing action later in the conflict... it went through several upgrades over the course of the war, both to its armour thickness, main gun armament and side armour Schurzen plates to help protect the weaker side armour against infantry fired anti-tank weapons..., the Ausf M being one of the later most upgraded versions...

So this little platoon of tanks will give me a little extra versatility in my German forces both in Mid war and Late war settings.

Here's a close up of the command tank... Decals by DOM.

Just like to finish off by saying I've had a blast this year, really enjoyed it, though must admit I'm feeling a little burned out now by this time, especially with the Anzac addition to the Challenge this year for me... but its nearly over and the end of March is not that far off.

Thrilled I reached my first target, even if it was with a little help from the bonus round points, and pressed on through second target and will finish just shy of my final target, but I am pretty stonked with that :)

Thanks for all the kind comments and votes for the bonus rounds... and a big thanks to Curt for managing all the madness! I don't know know how you manage it, and paint and have a life outside of the hobby!

No doubt I'll see you all again next year...so this is ScottB...signing out...

From Curt:

Ah, it's very nice to see you return to your 15mm WWII stuff Scott. You've done some lovely work on these. I've always liked the look of the M variant of the Pz III - with its centerline cuppola, bolted-on armour upgrades and the long 50mm gun - it has a honest workmanlike aesthetic about it. A great design. You've also done a wonderful job with the camo and the weathering looks excellent as well. 

I'm delighted to hear that you've had a good Challenge this year Scott. You definitely wowed us with your various LotR/Hobbit entries - providing a huge amount of inspiration to those of us collectng the models and/or who loved the films.

Best of luck with your participation in the Gallipoli exhibit - it's a one-of-a-kind opportunity so enjoy it!

From SanderS - Out with a Splash! (194 Points)

Dear Ladies and Gents,

This, I guess, will be my last Challenge post. Let's start by saying that I have enjoyed my first Challenge immensely and would like to thank you all for the kind reception amongst you I have received.

Now I know I have not been replying to a lot of your posts like others have, but "real life" often plays up and will not permit me to do what I want to at any given moment. That said the level of the work displayed within these hallowed blog-pages is of an enormously high standard and I for one would certainly pay good money for an Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge Annual, just like CMON does one each year, yes even if my stuff is not included within it ;-)

My last contribution is a tribute of sorts. Way back, before this epic journey had even started, Ben (of Monsieur le Rosbif and Johnny Frog fame) asked to see my 1:72 Bavarians painted and even though I did not finish them within the confines of our little side duel, I have done so now in his honour.

I have painted up two regiments. One faced red and one faced pink. It seems that in the earlier part of the Napoleonic Wars the Bavarians had more different facing colours for their line infantry regiments, but switched to red, pink, black and yellow in the later half of the conflict. Or possibly my reference is mistaken.

Anyway I have a large brigade made of HäT figures of which one regiment was finished and one still has to be painted. These two I have done up simultaneously and I like the look of them. They will add some flavour to my French armies and bulk them out at the same time.

The total of these 48 painted miniatures should bring me an additional 192 points, with these I have gained my target of 1300 points set for the challenge and I can rest back happily in my comfy chair with heaps of newly painted mini's in the showcases around me.

Well I wish everyone a very nice ending of the Challenge and would like to thank our kind host Curt for the extreme effort he has taken to service this great event!


From Curt:

Wonderful! An excellent send off for your Challenge run Sander and you hit your 1300 point target. Well done!

I've always like the look of the Bavarian powder blue, especially when it's set against a nice contrasting facing colour. As such these fellows look very smart indeed and I like that you've dedicated them to your 1:72 side duel that you had with Ben. A worthy sentiment.

A 'Challenge Annual Retrospecive' eh? It sounds like an interesting idea. I'll have to mull that over to see what could be done.

Thanks again Sander, it was a real pleasure having you with us for this year's madness and I'm delighted that you had a good time.  

From SebG: Rushing to the end: 15mm Ancients, a fair bit of them (180 Points)

First of all, thanks to Curt for organizing this challenge, and also sorry for having so may bonus rounds. I had the minis prepped and primed, but sadly always missed the deadline. I'm also currently painting the Curtgeld, which unfortunately won't appear here. I had misjudged the amount of work I had to do with my new job, and sadly never found enough time to paint.

Anyway, for my second and last regular entry, I present you a lot of 15mm Ancients for Art de la Guerre. First, 26 Romans from Essex and Old Glory. The Roman mounted officer had been painted before and therefore won't count. Amongst those 26, 22 are legionaries with their shields handpainted. They can be used as allies, or rebellious Romans.

Next, we have 6 Sarmatian horsemen, from Forged in battle. Always a treat to paint.

Next, 16 hoplites, fron FIB, with LBMS shield decals.

And next, a lot of Thracians, from Forged in battle: 14 skirmishers, 10 of them having shields, with LBMS decals.

And 12 footmen armed with the dreaded romphaia

They have been bloodied already last week, and they won! No one messes with the Thracians!

Hmmm, if I hurry, I might publish one last entry...


From Curt:

It's great to get a visit from you before we drop the curtains Seb! 

These units look fantastic! I especially like the Romans with the dark shields - they look like very bad lads. Ooh, and the chaps with the romphaia look to be a nasty lot as well - I like them on their irregular basing and great work on the shields.

Also, congratulations on getting them bloodied AND with a victory under their belt (a rare occurrence with any new figures it seems). 

I look forward to perhaps one last lunge from you Seb - dig deep!

From ClintB - NSL starships (98 Points)

Well finally after a mammoth struggle I have managed to get part of my New Swabian League (NSL) star fleet done. Firstly let me explain the different bases. Your normal bog standard run of the mill flying base is supplied with each model (sometimes in metal) but these really are very likely to get knocked over very easily as the star ships are VERY top heavy. And as I bought these ships second hand (Assembled but not even primed) most of the flying stands were superglued on or snapped off with the plastic plug still inside them. As I knew I was going to rebase them this was not an issue for me originally. But when It came to doing them I was sweating and swearing and not having a good time. Therefore I have decided to go with the ones that I can. Where flying bases are glued on and just not likely to budge no matter how harsh my language got I have now left them in place but put them on my hand cut and polished 3mm thick black Perspex bases! No not ideal but good enough to get them in the Challenge and stop me throwing them round the room as I throw my toys out of the pram once more.

The unpainted 28mm figure is just for size comparisons, no other reason. But she will be the next figure I paint!

First off a "Erzherzog" Class superdreadnought. (A very heavy model) Above

 Above there is a "Wien" Class light Carrier

A "Prince Hienrich" Class assault Transport

 2 "Keil" Class Light Cruisers.

 Then a "Graf Spee" Class battleship Above

 2 "Frankfurt" Class escort Cruisers

A "Van der Tann" Class Battlecruiser.(above but the unpainted figure has gotten bored and wandered off!

And Finally (for this Challenge)

A Civilian Transport ship (Brigade models) pressed into service as fleet logistical support. Yeah that's right a bullet magnet target for all the other players.

I will leave the Corvettes, Frigates and destroyers to follow after the Challenge finishes. So Only 10 ships but at least on stands that don't fall over with the slightest breeze.


From Curt:

Very nice work Clint! I really like your use of the red horizontal lines partitioning the various segments of the ships. What does the bright green tower thingy signify? Is it the bridge? Hey, as these are 'New Swabian League' ships perhaps the green domes are the ships' amphitheater for the requisite 36 hour-long Wagnerian operas. :)

I remember when these models first came out thinking that the bases they provided were far too wee for the large metal castings they were meant to support - it must have made you completely bonkers working with them always toppling over. I like your large black perspex bases as they frame the miniatures nicely.

How many more do you have yet to do Clint? It's shaping up to be a very nice collection.

Well done.