From TamsinP - 15mm Ancient Germans (278 points)

 

The Adventures Of Oscar: Time Traveller, Slayer of Squirrels and Very, Very Good Boy

Chapter 2

In which our hero escapes from the jungle but not back to home...

Row! This isn't Daddy-Curt's hobby room, but it isn't the jungle. Now let's see where we are. It's a bit cold, but not as cold as home. There are trees that look like home. Hmmm, maybe there will be squirrels here for me to slay?

Row-ray! There are! At least I think they are squirrels - hiding up trees - check!; look a bit like a fat rat - check!; bushy tail - check!; grey-brown fur - not check, they're more of a reddish-brown. Are all squirrels grey? They are at home, but maybe not in other places. I think they must be squirrels.

Row-row-row! Row-row-row! Row-row-row! Row-row-row!

Row-ray! That's four squirrels slayed!  Not bad going. Felix will be jealous of me! Now, let's explore and see if we can find some more. Maybe there'll be some over this ridge. Hmmm, a clearing - not likely to be squirrels here...but there are lots of men. With beards! Daddy-Curt has a beard - maybe he's time traveled and is with them? Oh, probably not - I have Tamsin's box so he can't be.

Oooh! They have sticks and are throwing them. Daddy-Curt throws sticks for me - I like the "fetch" game. I wonder if these men will play fetch with me?

Row-row row-row-row-row!

Errmm, they don't seem happy to see me. Some of them are running at me screaming and shouting! I think I'd better scarper, quick-smart! Great - a bush, I think I'll just hide in here and press a button on the box to get me out of here - maybe I'll get back home this time.

Ruh-roh - looks like I'm back in the jungle again...

Back in 2020 I bought "Infamy, Infamy!" from the Too Fat Lardies and planned to do it in 15mm using multi-figure bases so that I could also use the armies for Art de la Guerre. Towards the end of the year I had painted up enough Imperial Romans and Germans to field most options for Infamy, but the forces were too small for ADLG. I ordered extra figures at the start of 2021, which then sat in a box until November when I began prepping them, my plan being to upgrade both armies to ADLG size during the Challenge.

Having finished the first batch of WW2 Japanese last week, on Monday I started work on the 15mm ancient Germans. As I wanted to ensure variation of clothing, shield and hair colours I decided the best approach would be to paint everything at once. The only hitch with that plan was the number of figures - 139 of them. But I cracked on regardless. 

While I was waiting for a wash to dry, I discovered another potential hitch - I was all out of the 30mm x 40mm pre-magnetised bases I'd need for a lot of them (and also for other batches of figures due to appear later in the Challenge). As Tony from Tiny tin troops has stopped selling the bases, I needed to place an order with Warbases. To my horror, I also found that I was out of self-adhesive magnetic sheet and had to order some of that as well. The magnetic sheet arrived on Wednesday, but I was worried that the bases wouldn't arrive in time - luckily they arrived on Friday and I could get them ready for basing the figures.

Light Foot Javelinmen

These four bases take me up to the maximum of six.

Heavy Swordsmen

These take me up to 18 bases - the maximum allowed is 24, but taking that many wouldn't leave points for much else.

Medium Swordsmen

Five of the bases have six figures, the other three have seven figures. Ideally, they'd all have had seven or eight figures, but I didn't have enough (too many broken ankles, spears and swords during shipping and prep - they have very weak joints).

In theory the list allows for 24 of these bases (assuming no heavy foot are taken), but in reality these eight bases will probably be all that I ever need.

All the figures are 15mm from Lancashire Games.

For Scoring:

139 x 15mm foot @ 2 = 278 points

Total = 278 points

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Well, I'm happy that Oscar managed to get himself out of the way from these wild Germanic fellows. What an absolute horde! I'm glad you managed to get your basing logistics sorted-out as they look superb all mobbed-up, charging forward. I especially like all the varied colours and the irregular positioning of them on their bases - it really reinforces their undisciplined but individualistic character. Bravo!

- Curt

From GregB - 40k Raven Guard Outriders (45 points)

Space Marine Outriders move out for the gaming table.

More Raven Guard? Sure - more Raven Guard! Here we have a unit of Outriders - Space Marines riding cool motorbikes. Motorbikes with guns! And great big exhaust pipes! And they still have chainswords, because of course they would still have chainswords! And still have heavy pistols too! Because war everywhere! Right?

There are twin bolt rifles mounted on the bike, but of course it is more fun to hit people with your chainsword, right?

These are multipart plastic models from GW's "Indomitus" box set, the introductory 40k set for the 9th edition that issued a couple years ago. Or maybe a year ago? Who can tell. Whatever. Anyway, these were slightly tricky to assemble. In theory, these are push-fit kits, which should not require glue. But of course we all know "push-fit" stuff is mostly a fantasy, and it in fact the push-fit aspects made the kits harder to assemble, not easier.

These big, chunky bikes are fitting rides for the large Primaris-sized marines.

But whatever the trouble with the assembly, I love the look of these models. In fact, I have really enjoyed  all of the Marines from the "Indomitus" box. These bikers continue the theme and feel of just-the-right-amount over-the-top look for the new "Primaris" marines. Look at these bikes! The huge tyres! The massive exhaust! Not just one gun, but two - PLUS the weapons the Marine himself still carries!

Officer with a "beakie" helmet, as always...although his original helmet is clipped to his belt - there was no way to remove it. So he is all about safety!

As always, there was one Marine without a helmet, and as always, I hate that, so I swapped it out for a helmet. Of course, he still has his OTHER helmet pinned to his belt. So the guy has two helmets - one on his head, and a spare. Safety first, right?

For scoring, I am hoping we can score them as "mounted" Primaris-scale figures, at 14 15 points each? If so, this would be 42 points...but as ever I defer to the wisdom of my minion - the points shall be whatever they shall be! Cheers everyone. 

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All I can say from seeing Greg's posts this past month is that you get a LOT of fun out of this Indomitus box set. Great work dude! I love these bikes and I continue to be impressed with your choice of armour colour for your Raven Guard - it's such a refreshing change from basic black you usually see. Now, you just need a Death Guard marine helmet mounted on the front fender of one of these hogs to set it off nicely...

- Curt

From Millsy: 28mm Oathmark Revenant Undead (195 points)

G'day All!

I'm back with some more undead to follow on from my ghouls last week. These fine reanimated fellows are the (mostly plastic) Oathmark Revenants from North Star Military Figures and they are simply a joy to assemble and paint.

They are pretty much OOTB with only one head swap on the metal hero with the two handed mace. I gave him a plastic head as the metal one looked weedy even for an emaciated animated corpse. It's hard to inspire terror when it looks like you had a run in with a head-shrinking pygmy shaman on the way to war.

I wanted 40 miniatures in total so I needed the equivalent of another 4 infantry model as I only bought 36 (one box of plastics and 6 metal characters). I'm currently kitbashing Revenant spares with the Fireforge Games Living Dead Knights to make some Revenant heavy cavalry and that kit comes with a couple of undead hounds which conveniently fill up the remaining spaces. Winner!

The paint scheme is a more complex attempt at Kev Dalliamore's efforts from the North Star Magazine. I love all Kev's work but in this instance I wanted a bit more variation in shades to I've mixed in some browns and greens, plus highlighted a lot more, especially the faces.

Finally, the banners are handcrafted from a light, open weave fabric kindly sourced by Mrs Millsy. At scale it would be ridiculously rough, and is probably what Necromancer jocks are made from which would explain the constant rage and wish to destroy everything.

All up we have the equivalent of 38 x 28mm infantry models = 190 points, plus whatever Curt deems  to be appropriate for flags made from recycled underpants. That should take me past the halfway mark to my 1,500 point goal and that's with less than a month of the Challenge gone. Happy Days!

Up next, skeleton undead and Revenant heavy cavalry or maybe more Death Guard, plus a few diversions I reckon.

Cheers,
Millsy

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Oooh, these are quite fabulous, Millsy. From their wonderfully nasty skin tone (and I say that in a good way), to the aged patina on their armour and shields, they very much look the part of a hardass undead unit. Good call on using the pooches to fill the rinks! I also really like the fallow groundwork, and that fell banner should rightfully instills fear, especially to those who know where its fabric was sourced.

Brilliant work Mr. Mills! 

- Curt

From Barks: Forest Knights (Babylon 5)(51 points)

Low budget fun at Babylon 5! These chaps are from Hungry Troll and were able to be knocked over in a day. They complement AHPC X’s grail knights.

They're pretty tall, on 25mm bases...

... and the leader is a little taller.

Is he unarmed?

A herring!!!

4x 28/ 35mm: 20 points

Babylon 5: 20 points

Slowpainter’s ABC: K is for Knights

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The blue tide continues with these wonderfully characterful figures that somehow remind me of some film who's name escapes me right now. Ni matter. Great job on the weathered helmets and the manky cloaks. Love the antlers. Remember, don't say 'it'.

Oh, and points have been adjusted to reflect their taller size.

- Curt

From GregB - Plague Marine Hero (1 point)

The final remains of Larpdouche McPus, great Plague Lord of Nurgle.

I know fellow Minion and veteran Painting Challenge participant Millsy has been putting some of his considerable painting skills and valuable time towards work on some of GW's "Plague Marines", their vehicles and allies - all followers of the Chaos God "Nurgle". I wanted to recognize his efforts by painting up this tribute figure, a Plague Marine hero known as Larpdouche McPus, a noted Plague Marine Commander in the 40k setting.

Just think how scary this guy would have been if he had not joined a cult that rewards its followers with exotic, fatal diseases!

What do we know of McPus? Well, Imperial records offer several clues. Prior to joining in with the Nurgle cult, McPus was a medical sales rep, selling ivermectin and anabolic steroids to the population of Catachan. As with many deluded cult members, he worked his way into the Nurgle cult by volunteering with the local Green Party on that world, demonstrating the requisite mental acumen one would need to be an active part of a warp cult that rewards you with fatal disease.

Larpdouche McPus was all set to be the greatest Chaos Lord seen in the segmentum - the Raven Guard were even called in to bolster defences! But of course, as we have already established, Nurgle rewards his moronic followers with fatal disease. McPus and his dread company were last seen dissolving into their component atoms following a religious ceremony. This backpack from his armour is all that remained. The segmentum was safe, and the remains of this Nurgle cult were managed by fourth class waste servitors, while Raven Guard were rerouted to deal with actual problems elsewhere elsewhere in the Imperium.

I hope Millsy will enjoy this! It would make a fine religious relic for his Nurgle plague collection...maybe? For scoring, this remnant of a Plague Marine should fetch maybe 1 point? It will be up to Curt. Cheers!  

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Hahaha! Too good, Greg. I knew as soon as Millsy submitted the entry with the backhand to the Raven Guard that Mr. Burch would have an appropriate, and measured riposte.

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/01/from-millsy-28mm-erin-celtic-myth-sarah.html

I wonder if this will begin the war of 'The Backpack Smack'? 

In the healthy spirit of escalation, I'm going to raise Greg's point estimate to 5. :)

Now, back to you Millsy...

- Curt

From Barks: Eldar Rangers (Vulcan) (65 points)

I've always liked these classic Jes Goodwin sculpts, and found these on eBay. I like the lime green and white scheme of the Biel-Tan craftworld, and painted their coats as reversible. I'm sure they've been dwarfed by scale-creep since they were first produced in 1989!

I was googling for inspiration and found fellow-Challenger Nick's rangers. When the tears cleared from my eyes and the despair lifted I copied his wraithbone weapons.

9x 28mm: 45 points

Vulcan: 20 points

Slowpainter's ABC: J for Jes Goodwin

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Yup, I'm of that vintage that when I think Eldar, I think of Jes Goodwin's brilliant sculpts of the late 80s. Excellent work Barks. I love the multi-cam cloaks with the winding, thorny vines, and how they wonderfully set off the Rangers' wraithbone weapons (great gems too!). 

But not a skull in sight, buddy - that makes me a sad panda. :(  You. Must. Try. Harder.  I suspect a skull bomb is in our future, folks.

Stay tuned as Barks has another entry in the wings (antlers?).

- Curt

From DaveD: 'Nam - Anzacs, MACV-SOG & M113 APC - 97 Points

Its my 3rd challenge post focussed on my 'Nam project . Moving away from the US forces I have picked up the recently released Anzacs by Full Metal Miniatures plus a radio operator from The Assault Group and these have now been completed . Like all of these recent 'Nam releases from various manufacturers they are very characterful and a joy to paint.

Next up comes my small Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Special Operations Group team - 4 special forces in a more complex striped camouflage - "Light Weight Density pattern" - these are by The Assault group again .

Next is a single M1113 APC with commander and 3 riders - again this is an Assault Group set 

15 x 28mm = 75

1 x 28mm commander - 2 points

1 28mm vehicle - 20 points

97 points 

I think that enough green for a few posts - time for something else next week I think 

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Fabulous work Dave! Those Full Metal and Assault Group sculpts are excellent and you've done an amazing job with them with your talented brushwork. I also quite like that M113. I know it's really hard to sex-up one of these tracked boxes, but you've done a marvellous job with the decals, crew and weathering. All this Vietnam goodness aside, I look forward to your new endeavours. 

- Curt 

The First Cut is the Deepest

Happy Sunday All! 

I would think that few things give you greater clarity than having to look up at one of these. ;)

We have a great roster of talent for all of us to enjoy today. Already I see that Dave, Greg, Kerry, Millsy, Barks and Peter all have submissions sitting in the hopper, and I expect more as the day moves along. I'll post a few before I hit the hay and will resume after I get my beauty sleep (yes, I plan to sleep in a bit).

On an administrative note, we are now have five days until the Challenge Cut. *cue ominous music* Right now, there are 21 people not on the scoreboard, so I'm really hoping that we'll see entries from these folks over the coming days. In order to help things along, we'll open up Friday as a free-fire for those participants who need a little extra time to submit an entry before the 11th hour.

Have a great day!

- Curt