The Thing that Haunts You in Your Bits Box, MartinC (390 Points)

We all have a bits box, mainly fully of Perry plastic heads. When you open it does one thing stare back at you and say "Use Me. Make something cool out of me." Mine contains 6 Perry metal ACW gun barrels - when you buy a cannon you get 3 barrels.
After years of pleading I finally used them. Warbases sell a 6lb Napoleon cannon with limber for £4 with a metal barrel, I have one. A quick email conversation with them, they are lovely people to deal with, and I could buy the carriage and limber for £3.50. So I bought 6 sets. Limbers need horses so I bought some from Irregular miniatures at the York Show. The horses came with no tack so I just added a some side pieces.

They are not perfect but I like them. I now have 7 extra guns, I laugh at Napoleons grand battery.

All guns need crews

ACW Union crew - various manufacturers

Rebel Crew

Afghan crew - out of a pile of scrap DaveD gave me. Pretty crappy figs but they will do a job

Sometimes horses aren't available to pull cannon so oxen will have to do

Ist Corps Oxen - the horns were separate and a bugger to fix in place

I've have been painting a lot of other random things.

1st up some Northstar Africans, 2 cool witch doctors and a Zulu type

The one on the left is reversible

 I have finished my Back of Beyond Afghans for now. This maxim gun is by Empress and is fab

 It comes with a sniper

 Next a Northstar Boer - another nice fig

Nearly finished. Back to Warbases. These 2 Lancia trucks are really cool and come as flat packs. They are a doddle to put together. I added a Lewis gun and an M1917 Browning, both by Pulp Miniatures from their deck gun pack 

Vehicles with weapons need crews and I bought these at the York show. They are by Reiver Castings, not the best but very useful

Obviously if you have crews then you need vehicles to put them on

The trucks are from the flea market and had been previously painted so don't count here. I did add steel paper to the flatbed bit and magnets to the bases of the figures and guns to keep them in place. The 2 guns are an undersized 2lb AT gun from Britannia and the taller one is a 37mm deck gun from Pulp that I bought with the guns on the Lancias.

 Finally I bought this old school witch with massive boobs as a job lot from the flea market.

In case you haven't noticed she has massive boobs and is naked under the apron.

Right now for the maths bit

7 cannon and limbers - I reckon 15 pts per set - 105pts

12 horse and oxen and 1 Mtd Boer = 130

15 artillery crew = 75

3 Africans = 15

1 Afghan maxim gun and a sniper = 25 (inc 2 prone figs at 2.5 each)

1 witch = 5

2 Armoured Trucks = 40 (I think)

10 vehicle crews = 50 pts

I'll leave it to Miles to decide about the 2 cannon on the back of the trucks but they were pretty simple so 5 each would be fair

So that is about 415 I think. Luckily I have the maths minion on Monday so Miles it's time for creative accounting. Can we go with Enron before somebody checked their sales figures and not after. 

MilesR: My gosh my head is spinning - so many different subjects, so many points and the witch is something that once seen can not be unseen....  You are a productive but evil man Mr Martin.  

I did score the horses and oxen as single figures (not mounted cav) which is what we've done with similar subjects this year.  Your math above totals to 445 and my tally nets out to 390 with the big difference being lower points for the horses and two trucks.  Never-the-less a most impressive points bomb, but the witch, the witch will cause nightmares..

Very nicely done.

From TamsinP - Last of the SYW Russians (106 points)

I think KenR and IanW will have been waiting for this post with a sense of trepidation - my final 15mm SYW entry of this Challenge. Now they will know how many points they need to paint in the final three weeks to catch up and overtake me in our side duel!

I did use the right flock this time!

Yes, this post is the end of my 15mm SYW Russians for now. To be honest, I'm glad to have them out of the way and ready to take the field in one of our club's big bank holiday games.

Let's start with the infantry.

Bjeloserskiy Regiment:

Kegsgolmskiy Regiment:

To assuage my megalomania, there are another thirteen infantry regiments that fought in the SYW to paint. And the Corps of Observation for earlier battles, so this is not the end of my collection.


Generals:

I might have gone a bit too far with highlighting their cloaks, but they still look OK.

I had two spare cuirassier troopers, so decided to add them to bases as "lifeguards" for a couple of the generals - maybe some princelings who are favourites of the Empress.

All the figures here are from Essex Miniatures.

Now, scoring, let's see:

36 foot @ 2 points = 72
2 hand-painted flags @ 1 point = 2
8 mounted @ 4 points = 32
Total = 106

This might be my last post of the Challenge. My father passed away on Friday and I may be otherwise occupied over the next few weeks and not be able to complete anything. Certainly nothing major, but possibly some small groups of 28mm figures just to distract myself.

MilesR: Very sorry to hear about your Father's passing.  I know I speak for all of your fellow Challengers when I express my deep condolences in this difficult time.  Your mini's are superb, as usual, but that's not really the important thing now.

North West frontier. (Clint B) (100 pts.)

Well in a moment of madness (or sanity if you just happen to be a wargamer) I have managed to complete another 20 figures. All 28mm and a variety of makes, Copplestone, foundry, Empress being the main ones though.

I wanted a very rag tag look to them so no two are dressed the same or in the same colours, yes a green turban might on one figure be the same shade of green as another's tunic, but you get the idea.  Mostly I have attempted to have a subtle colour variation. They do after all want to look individual and not that they went shopping all on the same day at the same store.

While they are not for the Film bonus round (That is a group project) they could LIKE so many wargames figures be IF I so chose!

All the best Clint

MilesR:Great looking figures to accompany a classic film!  Bravo Clint!

From LeeH - Divisional Support Units (36 points)

This week I have three British units that would have seen service in the early to mid war period of the North African campaign. These will be used as divisional support for my A9 Cruiser company I finished last week. First up is a squadron of Valentine II Infantry tanks. These models are by GHQ and as such have an incredible level of detail. They really are a beauty to behold. The Mk I version of this tank was in service throughout Operation Compass but the rushed production and design meant this version was plagued with problems. The next incarnation of the Valentine was the Mk II although this came a little late to feature in Operation Compass is did see service later in 1941.

Next some Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars. The original vehicles were developed in South Africa using a Ford 3 Ton Truck Chassis and a four wheel drive train kit produced my Marmon-Herrington in Canada. At the outset of war these some of these vehicles saw service with the British in North Africa and when the Mk II version (with a shorter wheelbase and improved armament) became available these were also used. These models are also by GHQ and again the details are incredible, even down to riveted armour.

Next I have a battery of 25pdr guns with Morris Tractors to pull them. The 25pdr is one of those iconic weapons that was so good that its service life extended far beyond the second world war and was still being used by the British Army into the 1980's. When I started work on these models I had run out of the right bases and in desperation put them on 40x60mm bases instead (normally the tractor would be mounted on a separate base from the gun and its crew). I actually like the look of these mini-dioramas and may experiment with these bases a bit more in future. These models are from H&R so not quite as detailed as the GHQ stuff but more than adequate for this scale.

In case anyone is wondering, I didn't paint these units in the Caunter camouflage pattern I used for my Cruiser company for two reasons. Firstly these are Divisional support units, in other words they come from other regiments and therefore wouldn't necessarily adopted the same scheme as the others. Secondly these are all units that have a bit of longevity in game terms. Valentines, Marmon-Herrington's and 25pdrs can be found on the North African battlefield well into the Mid War period and long after the A9's of my cruiser company would have been retired from service. I therefore didn't want to tie them down to the early war period by given them a camo design that was being phased out by mid to late 41.

By my calculation this lot should net me a tidy 36 points (8 for the valentines, 8 for the Marmon-Herrington's and 20 points for the 4 guns, 16 crew and 4 tractor vehicles and trailers).

MilesR: Your North Africa collection is becoming very impressive - what rules to you use?

From AlexS: Affair of honor. 5 points

In the summer I was presented with a a miniature Nathaniel Garro, and when he saw that the announced duel on painting miniatures 30k, I decided it would be a good idea to take part in this duel. This will give me the opportunity to paint this wonderful a miniature and send it to the winner. I wonder who it will be - Greg? Iannick? Jamie? In any case, I'm going to the post office to buy a box to send. Hopefully the winner will enjoy my job.

1 inf - total 5 points

MilesR: What a great 40K oops umm 30K figure!  Your Honor is, indeed, intact

His Royal Highness Prince Ukoomba (Clint B) (12 Points)

As an AK 47 player (Peter pig rules) one of the things I needed to do to change from AK47 to "AK47 Reloaded" the updated rules Was to have a leader and entourage on the table. As my AK force is centred around a "Dictatorship" with |Royal pretentions I needed a suitable pompous figure and a single stand of body guards. At the recent show (Cavalier) I was able to pick up the required figures.

A total of 6 figures INCLUDING the dead general. Dictators do not last very long! All 15mm size painted and based to go with my whole AK47 force. The figures are by Peter Pig and are based for the game, on 30mmx30mm for the dead figure and 30x40mm for the other two stands which also needed a lable.

A small addition which should (I hope) finish the army of at least until I decide I want some cavalry....

All the best Clint




MilesR: A great way to start off Monday!

Philosophical Godzilla Proves Monday is the Best

Even when philosophical Godzilla ponders about the greatness of Monday, it's state of superiority can not be denied.  The week is no different as we've got 11 posts falling on you like a blacksmith's hammer.

What's on tap

- an unnatural submission from Mr 1:1 Sudanese Campaign collector

- A witch that will give you nightmares

- More SYW goodness

- Micro tanks in the Western Desert

- A points bomb that creates a new points leader - Boom!

- Deadly Assassins

- 30k Goodness

- Guys with long pointy sticks and steel jackets

- Northwest Frontier adventure

- an African dictator with an unfortunate power transition outcome

- Imagination nations in 15mm

- something that seems inspired by the movie "Williard"

Oh yeah there's a stats update coming Tuesday and here's a spoiler - Monday is looking pretty darn good compared to the other days of the week.

Just saying....

From AlanD: French Regulars for FIW and Curtgeld (65 Points)

From Curt: This one from Dux came in later Saturday evening, after Dave had signed-off, but I wanted to get it posted so Alan can keep his painting mojo at a keen edge.

Paul O'G and I have started a campaign of Sharp Practice set in the French & Indian Wars. Last Wednesday saw Paul send a probing force of Rangers and Indian allies towards a French outpost, managing to burn a French hut before they were seen off by the arrival of French reinforcements. Needless to say, both sides claimed victory, but this skirmish can only be the prelude to our main forces clashing.

To bolster the French forces, another group of regulars from the La Reine regiment have arrived from Quebec (aka my painting table). The figures are from the Conquest Miniatures range also released by Warlord Games.

Also this week, I have finished my Landsknecht looter for the group Curtgeld submission being put together by the merry men and woman of our gaming group. He is unbased at present until all his friends are finished. Hope you like him, Curt!

And now, back to marking historiography essays...

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Your French reinforcements look excellent, Dux. I quite like how your groundwork helps mask the socket marks of the movement trays. I have a bunch of unpainted Minden figures and after seeing yours here I'd like to see how they'd work with the Conquest casting.  I like the thought of Quebec being your painting table, Alan. Just steer clear of the Plains of Abraham - very bad karma for those wearing white. :) 

That Landsknecht looter is marvelous! I like the buff colour peeking out of his slashed doublet and his striped hose falling down around his calves.  By the look on his face, the purple rug he's toting is probably holding a few months wages. I very much look forward to seeing him with the rest of his mates. Thanks so much!