From PaulSS: Challenge XVI wrap up and next steps!

I've really had a really productive time for Challenge XVI, the Barons' War collection got a significant boost with not only combatants.

But also lots of townsfolks and vignettes.

Plus a load of period terrain pieces.

An unexpected addition to the ACW forces landed in late February when I ran out of Medievals.

The first two Bonus Rounds saw a few more 5mm Napoleonic French to add to last years and a Hot wheels for Gaslands.

The third bonus round saw an entirely new project with a 10mm Vampire force for Midgard.

This undead force bloomed in the final weeks of the challenge and saw me as a late comer to the Skull Duel overtaking the established order and taking the skull!

With the challenge over it was time to clean the gunk off the brushes and give them a bath!

They did not get to rest for long, I wrapped up the last few units of undead and added some themed terrain for them.

The 10mm Midgard adventure continues, needing an opponent for the undead I've now started on an Imperial  force!

Really happy how Challenge XVI panned out for me.

The Nominations and Voting Poll for AHPC XVI's Challengers' Choice!

Hi All!

Below are the nominations (in alphabetical order) for Challenge XVI's Challengers' Choice. Feel free to follow links to view the nominee's source submission (or body of work). Afterwards, please visit the voting poll to submit your top three choices in order of preference. 

AdamC: WWII Naval Project

BruceR: Once more into the Breach

BruceR: Black Coach Vampire Lord

BruceR: Warmaster 10mm Project

ChristopherS: Pyrrhic Epirote Phalangite

Curt: 30K Kill Team

Curt: Banksy's Resistance in Greyscale

Curt: Villains for Devilry Afoot

DaveD: Bolsheviks

GregB: Axehole 2.0

GregB: Onward to Orleans

GregB: Dogs of War Entries

KenR: Obwalden & the Rear Rankers, Swiss Pike

KerryT: Body of Work

LeeH: Winter War Soviet BA10

LeeH: Winter War Soviets are Ready

MarkG: Russian Civil War Armoured Train

MartinN: Fallshirmjager and Firefly

MartinN: Sigurd Fafnir's Bane

MartinN: Body of Work

PaulOG: Galactic Gals

PaulSS: The Danse Macabre Marches On

QuinnM: Tree Lord

RafaelO: Warmaster Lizardmen

RaulM: Black Seas HMS Indefatigable

 

RayR: Finnish Medics

RayR: Polish Winged Hussars

RichardM: 6mm Spanish Napoleonics

Voting will be open until midnight Friday April 17th and we will announce the results for the roundup that Sunday (19th).

Thank you!

- Curt

From PeterA: AHPC XVI Wrap Up

AHPC XVI Production

I've finally got to posting up my AHPC XVI production, the main delay being I've kept painting stuff! After a pretty barren 2025 painting-wise, the Challenge really got me enthused and painting again, and that has kept being the case since the end of the Challenge, so a big, big thank you to Curt!

I started with some ECW Dragoons from Bloody Miniatures; I had hoped to get more done, but got sidetracked!

Then we have the start of the Irish War of Independence project - a mixture of Footsore Miniatures and Gripping Beast.

Next up was the Cartel project for Haywire - a mixture of 3d prints from Black Hills Games, Combat Octopus and Turnbase Miniatures, plus a couple of die cast toy Land Rovers.

Last of all in 28mm were some old Zombiecide minis for Haywire: Outbreak.

Then in 15mm there were some Modern NATO infantry (3d prints from WarDaddy Studios) and two Russian AFVs from Flames of War.

And to round it all off, 3 Dreadnaughts for The Horus Heresy  in 15mm-ish; these are all 3d prints.

So, a grand total of 110 miniatures:

92x 28mm figures

10x 15mm figures

3x 28mm vehicles

2x 15mm vehicles

3x 15mm Dreadnaughts

Which means the challenge for AHPC XVII has to be to paint at least 100x 28mm figures!

Once again a massive thank you to Curt, Sarah, Dave the Sunday Minion, and fellow participants for their companionship, encouragement and kind comments; AHPC XVI was a real joy thanks to you all.

All the best for the rest of 2026 - stay safe and well and I hope to see you again on Dec 20 2026 - only 257 more sleeps!

From Curt: What I Did During Challenge XVI

Hi All!

Well, the dust has settled on Challenge XVI and I've taken the requisite number of days to unplug, dust off, and take stock. 

I knew that with three weeks away on vacation over February and March I had to be realistic about what I could complete. 

Of course, me being me, once out of the gate, I became like a deranged racoon on meth, distracted by ALL the things, ALL the time. 

Nonetheless, I'm still happy with what I managed to get across the line. 

Here are a few things of the few things:

Challenge Trolls

30K Kill Team

A Mischief of Mice for 'Burrows & Badgers'

Villains for 'Devilry Afoot'

Thirty Years War Bohemian Pike and Shotte

Assorted Sci-Fi Scoundrels

Not in the roundup: Banksy's Flower Thrower in Greyscale

Not in the roundup: A Priestly Scholar for Greg

_____________________________________________

So, another successful Challenge with much hobbying and hanging out with excellent people. What's not to like, right?! 

Damn straight. :)

Stay tuned for the nominations for Challengers' Choice along with the poll to vote for your top three submissions. 

Thanks for dropping in!

Curt

From BruceR: Sweet XVI End

As the challenge ended I had packed up my wee men to take to AdeptiCon and as the wrap ups were appearing couldn't make myself dig them out for a photo.  

Upon return, after 11 hours in the car here is my end of the challenge pics.  

I'm surprisingly happy with 10mm figures and I think I will continue down this road or heavens forbid smaller, 6mm?  Not sure.  

Again, thanks to Curt, Sarah, Minions, with a special salute to Sylvain the Wednesday guru.  

I joined the Skull duel as a first time dueler and had a great little side.  Tip of the hat to Paul Scrivens-Smith who did the Danse Macabre into the win. Also, a nod to Teemu, who thought I was done and I found the black coach with a few skulls to add and slipped by him on the inside lane.  Well done Teemu.  

First, proof of AdeptiCon:  (I squint when trying a selfie)

 I had a blast as usual.  Painted lots of minis and enjoyed communicating with all over the different periods and assortment of toy soldiers.

Be well and hang in there.

Bruce

KenR - Challenge 16 Wrap - Its all about the Pike !

 

Another year and another great Challenge, my first as a retired gentleman ! I always find it hard to get all the figures I've done into one photo and this year was no exception. I set a hefty target of 2500 and fell a bit short with 1700 ish but I'm more than happy with the overall output.

The big project was the 28mm Swiss Pike Block (and a bit), 128 figs for one complete Block and 32 more figures to make another block upto 128 figs. Stuff like this is not for the faint hearted but the end product is well worth the effort. The figs are from Perry, Steelfist and Petes Flags. The flags (to confuse everyone) are from Flags of War.

In addition to the Pike I added a group of 48 Spanish Cavalry to the Italian Wars collection, these figures are from TAG with Flags from Petes Flags. I painted a small group of 6 Cavalry in between each larger group of foot figures, something I've been doing for about 6 months prior to the Challenge. I've found it a great way to have a Palette refresh and keep momentum going.

Outside of the Italian Wars I added a few bits to my ongoing Plancenoit Project, a Battalion of 32 Prussian Landwehr along with some Prussian Guns. I also did some French Command Stands which was a surprise to me as I usually forget to do them until after an army is finished 😅  All figs are Perry

The final group of figs were some 28mm Gripping Beast Arab Cavalry for the Crusades which were done in a couple of small batches as mentioned above.

That leaves me to just thank Curt once again for organising this wonderful event and all the other participants for being so friendly and supportive.

I shall be donating to my chosen charity which is the Bradford Burns Unit Trust. For those who don't know I support a football club in the UK called Bradford City. Tragically during a match in 1985 one of the main stands caught fire and 56 people were killed, nearly 300 were injured. As a result of the fire a specialist unit was set up in Bradford and the knowledge gained and research done there has helped to develop new treatments and techniques to help burn victims across the world.

Hopefully I will see some of you around shows in the UK or you might tune into my Yarkshire Gamers Reet Big Wargames Podcast every now and again, either way I hope to see you back on the start line for Challenge 17 on 21st December 2026.

Until then, Sithee 

Regards Ken 

The Yarkshire Gamer

From PeteB - Challenge 16 Wrap-up

Thank you Curt, Lady Sarah and the minion for organising this challenge. Again it was great fun and I'm already making plans for the next challenge. And I'm happy with what this challenge is painted in scales 20, 28 and 54 mm.

Two figures are missing in the group shot, but they are at their new home in Germany. My friend was very pleased with them. Pictures of them here.

This is the final count for this challenge:

- 20 mm = 21 figures and 6 horses

- 28 mm = 3 figures and 1 horse

- 54 mm = 20 figures

And a cat and a dog! 😺🐶

Thanks for watching!