From Millsy: More Late Romans (260 points)

G'day All,

I'm back with a somewhat delayed second batch of Late Romans after my first batch in the Empire bonus theme round. I've been crook with a virus (thankfully now mostly behind me) and these are a week late as a consequence. Thanks to my very kind minions, several of whom checked in when I was MIA and the stalwart DaveD for providing covering fire.

This time I've moved on to some auxiliary infantry with supporting archers, and some cataphracts with a general. These are all Gripping Beast plastics again, serviceable enough but not as nice as some of the metals from other manufacturers. Still, they do the job well enough and were significantly cheaper.

Cataphracts

It's taken me over 30 years of gaming to paint cataphracts. Having been on the receiving end plenty of times, typically to my detriment, it was past time I corrected that omission. The metallic aspects were quick enough to paint but all the coloured detail then bogged them down and took much longer to finish. I sometimes find that frustrating when something looks 90% done but is in reality only halfway there. No shield transfers was a bonus though!

Auxiliaries

Not sure I am happy with the pink clothing but too much off white undyed wool was something I wanted to avoid so here we are. I'm doing another unit in either light blue, green or brown so we'll see how that goes. Suggestions would be welcome! Two of the archer stands are top ups for units I didn't have them for hence the mismatched edging colours. I've managed to find some shortcuts on the basing so these weren't as tedious as my first entry. Apparently you can teach this particular old dog at least some new tricks.

12 x 28mm cavalry = 120 points
28 x 28mm infantry = 140 points

Total = 260 points.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,
Millsy

***

Glad you are back on your feet Millsy, and treating us to some more wonderful Romans. I love Romans! I think you have found the perfect description for Gripping Beast's plastic late Romans - "serviceable" indeed - they do the job, they don't hurt the bank balance too much, but they do...leave a lot to be desired. I tried working with them a few years back and stumbled, as they were just...meh...but every alternative I explored was too much $$$, so I may yet be back to them... 

Such issues can, however, be overcome with excellent painting and basing, and both are clearly in abundance here! They look great - and I particularly LOVE to see Cataphract-type cavalry, as it is just so cool, and I'm sure it will be on the giving end of those heavy cavalry attacks for a change. Great work, and a great example of how the whole effort means so much to the finished product on the table. 

260 points for you too!

GregB

From DaveD - 15mm WW2 Winter stuff (15 points)

By way of a palette cleanser I have slipped this little piece into the schedule this week.

Here we have an 88mm Pak 41  Not the usual 88mm types 36 or 43 . This was in my late friend Scotty's pile of potential so I decided I would move this on and add to the winter collection. 

It was a simple rattle can dark yellow base and used the AK paint pens for camo finished with a dark brown oil wash. 

I ended up creating cobblestone pattern on the gun base using milliput, bonkers. 

Some AK snow gel added to finish 

In addition I have also completed some non-scoring terrain pieces. These are from the Conflix range made by Bachmann a model railway manufacturer. They have just had a winter brush and some snow gunk added and job done. 

I picked these up from a local supermarket bargain bin - 4 for £10 ! Result 

 

Points :-

4 15mm inf = 8pts 

1 x 15mm gun =4pts 

Transport wheels - 3 pts ?

Cheers 

D

***

The winter of 2026 in eastern Canada to date has been an absolute 20-pounds-of-sh*t-in-a-five-pound-bag experience. So when I tell you this winter stuff is slightly "triggering", I mean that as a compliment - you have nailed the look and, more importantly, the "feel" of the winter with your efforts once again.

I suppose one way to keep warm would be a fire an 88mm AT gun! Very nice work on this later-war tank-killer. 

I think three points for the bogeys makes sense - so that's 15 points all-in. Very nice!

GregB

From GrahamB - Italian Wars Swiss Pike Block (253 points)

I finished painting these a couple of weeks ago but hadn’t got round to making the flags until recently. Then I suffered from technology challenges and was not able to upload photos for a couple of weeks.  

I have been interested in the Italian Wars since the late 1970s and the fabulous Hinchliffe Italian Wars figures by Hinchliffe sculpted by Peter Gilder as featured in Battles for Wargames magazine.  A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to win several eBay lots of vintage Hinchliffe and Connaisseur Italian Wars figures.  2025 saw the release by Warlord Games of their Death and the Landsknechts Pike and Shotte supplement and several of the scenarios therein prompted me to increase my Swiss from a contingent to an army, and this is the latest addition to my Swiss.  This pike block inspired by my long-gone Hinchliffe 1970s collection comprises veteran Hinchliffe, Connaisseur and the odd Minifigs figure.  Unlike my earliest Italian Wars collection from back in the 1970s, many of these figures have been converted by the use of Perry metal heads, Perry plastic and Wargames Atlantic Conquistador components to make a unit of Swiss from the Canton of Grisons. 

The unit comprises of 9 stands of 4 pike including 3 flags, 3 stands of 3 double handed weapons, 4 stands each with one skirmisher and a separately based figure for the blood flag.  The 16 stands depict one Large pike blocks under the Pike and Shotte Italian Wars rules and represent the unit upgrades of heavy armour, halberds forward, aquebusiers forward and a blood.

So 36 pike, 9 double handers and 5 skirmishers = 50 figures @ 5 points each plus 3 flags at 1 point each gives a total 253 points.

***

Well, that is quite the pack of chaps with long, pointy pikes! There is something deeply awesome about a miniature pike block on the gaming table, and when you factor in the splendid setting that is the Italian Wars, I totally get the appeal of the setting! I nearly been trapped into it myself - and submissions like this from Challengers don't help me stay focused, that's for sure. 

Glad the technology challenges have been sorted, at least for now. 253 points for you!

GregB

From DaveD - Bolshevik Cavalry, Campaign Characters and Vehicles (112 points)

The last of the current tranche of Bolos is the mounted arm. Six new cavalry to add to various mounted command that I have will make a unit of 10. 

The latest six figures completed to round out the unit to 10. 

The usual oil wipe method on the horses which was done pre-Xmas.

 

Joined with their mates this time 

 

And here is their first battle 

They then ended up besting  the opposition and being in control of the opposition baseline 😆

That’s  them a long way across the board - Huzzah - harassing Andy’s artillery - run away Andy!

Here is the full force so far . I am waiting the last few packs of things being delivered. Ok, maybe two orders worth now, having just added extra Bolshevik Lancers. 

And on a positive note my next order has just been dispatched, so more to be added to the paint pile. 

Next are a couple of characters for my ongoing "BoB" Campaign. 

Comtesse Renarde - The White Vixen. Born in Lille to lowly stock, became a courtesan in the Romanov court. Last seen heading east to Omsk with a stash of stolen jewels sewn into her corset. 

Randolph Winchester Jr . Scion of an American arms family. He’s been in search of Yetis in Tibet, but has his sights set on racking up his tally of Bolsheviks. 

Figures are by Ironclad Miniatures which are now part of the Pendraken stable and will be going back into general production shortly. These are some truly great character minis in the catalogue. 

Next is a 3d printed truck, carelessly left around by the Brits. 

I have also picked up a 3d print of a Schneider 155 "Long Tom" artillery piece . That will also do duty with my Bolos. I need to sort out some extra crew - the ones show are for the smaller field gun. But for now it gives me an option of more bang for my rouble if I swap it out.

3d print from Actual Size Miniatures 

And finally, HMS Nessie. For our current running BoB campaign the British Persia force had shipped a submarine across land , it has now been assembled and launched into the Caspian Sea. Well so far it had only been rumoured. Now it exists. 

This is a 10mm resin set just going back into production at Pendraken. It’s 200mm long. 

Scored :-

6 x 28mm Cav =60

1 x 28mm gun = 10 

28mm Foot x2 = 10 

28mm Vehicle = 20

10mm large Vehicle/Vessel=12

***

This project has been a real treat Dave! As I mentioned at the outset of the Challenge, any game system where you can mow down Bolsheviks is one I really need to take a look at. Your cavalry looks really sharp and I know they will continue to make an important contribution on the table top - after all, the Kulaks won't run themselves down, right? 

I also enjoy the back story of the two characters - while the whole notion of the "imported" submarine is just terrific. 

Slight points correction - comes out to 112 points, but all good - I suspect you'll continue to blow past the painting totals as things continue. 

GregB 

From RhysH - The Fellowship and a dinosaur (55 points)

This week Rhys has the Fellowship of the Ring in plastic from GW and a resin dinosaur from a new game that one of our local Colorado guys is developing.

All nine of them. I think this is some of Rhys' best work.

Aragorn, one of Rhys' favorites. 

Rhys loves this guy in a all of his forms. He's really good in game, as he should be.

The other four big folks.

I think Rhys nailed the shield on Boromir. I like his better than the one I painted.

The four hobbits. Rhys likes Pippin the best, perhaps because he can be taken in Minas Tirith but it's hard to say.

Rhys has wanted the Fellowship for a long time so getting these painted is a definite mile-stone for him.

Next up is a resin dinosaur from a game under development here in Colorado by Joseph Ritzer. He's had quite a few different creatures sculpted and cast in resin and is demoing it at local gaming conventions. I looked for a page for the game but he doesn't appear to have it up yet. Rhys was not really a dinosaur kid but he liked the game and loved the models, and Joseph is a genuinely nice guy. 

Swampy base and dirty dino.

As you can see these are nice, clean casts with good detail. 

I think I'll try to get Rhys to work with washes next. He takes advice better from our friends but we'll see how it goes.

I with I'd gotten a side-by-side with the Fellowship, but Rhys whisked the dino off to his room as soon as it was painted. It's the size of a 28mm monster so that's how we'll score it.

That's 9x28mm Fellowship = 45 points

1 x 28mm Monster = 10 points

***

Great work Rhys - your wok on the Fellowship really highlights the progress you continue to make in your painting, and there are some fine results here. Even better, surely, is that feeling of having completed one of those "oh, I have always wanted to get this!" sort of projects, such as the Fellowship from the "Lord of the Rings." I paint a lot - I love it, after all - but when you get one of those sort of projects finished, there is an extra charge, providing further motivation to keep painting, and just a nice little jolt when you see the models on a shelf - or, even better, a game!

That dinosaur is a large one, for sure - I hope things come together for your friend's efforts to develop a game!

That will by 45 points for you Rhys!

Greg