Cast your Votes for your Favourites for 'Toy Story'

 

Hi All!

Due to an unforeseen circumstances the voting poll for 'Toy Story' was slightly delayed, but it is now is available. Hooray and Huzzah!!

Please follow this link to review the submissions for the 'Toy Story' theme and cast your votes for your three favourite entries.

Also, as an FYI, the scoring for the entries will be completed this weekend with the points roster updated.

Thank you for your patience!

Curt

From GeoffT: Fantasy miniatures (67 points)

Hello Challengers,

This week I have a group of varied fantasy miniatures.  They are a mixed lot scavenged from bargain bins, nice miniatures left over from the 90s.  I collect and use these in miniature agnostic skirmish games such as Frostgrave and its variants.

We have three K’dillians by Harlequin miniatures.  These are Egyptian style crocodile men, close enough for snake men in “Ghost Archipelago” game.  There are four “Avalanche men” from Legends of the five rings game, not quite sure what they will be for yet, I did their skin like blue scales, but is supposed to be rocky.  A Gnoll by Reaper miniatures, a quite a big one, will be a great Gnoll chieftain for “Rangers of Shadow deep” which features Gnolls as the predominant bad guys.  Then we have five figures from Grenadier miniatures.  There is a hatchling dragon, a devil, a sea troll, a troglodyte, and finally a shape changer, who is a wizard/cleric on the front and a lizard man on the back.  I don’t know if the shape changers natural form is be the lizard thing, or if it is changing from a lizard to a wizard or something. Will be useful figures for sure, and I am glad to give these long forgotten beauties some life.

There are 13 figures, 12 of them are 25-28mm sized for 5 points each, the Gnoll is 40mm for seven points, making a total of 67 points.

Kind Regards

Geoff

From Millsy:

What a cracking collection of fantasy miniatures Geoff! A real mix of old school and newer models which all look equally good and which demonstrates how a top paint job can elevate a miniature and help it mix with others from different lines and even ages.

I really like your saturated colours on these especially the blues and greens. The red vs. green on the shape changer is an interesting way to represent the ability. Mostly you see before and after representations of shape changes, not captured mid change. So cool!

Lovely work all round and well done indeed mate.

Cheers,
Millsy

From Richard M - Peninsular War 6mm Confederation of the Rhine dump (162 points)

I've only got Confederation of the Rhine troops to show this week - all fought for the French in the Peninsular, albeit at different times in some cases.

All together 

Firstly there are four battalions of Nassau troops with their green uniforms and rich yellow colours.  These are the 1st and 2nd Battalions of both the 1st and 2nd Nassau Regiments.  In the main the units are uniformed identically, except for the Grenadiers.  In the 1st Regiment, they were meant to wear leather helmets with a caterpillar crest - but were only able to acquire enough for the 1st Battalion.  Consequently, the 2nd Battalion has been painted with shako and red plume and epaulettes.   Then in the 2nd Regiment the Grenadiers used brown colpacks with red bags.  The other neat thing with their uniforms is that they had buff straps - I've used a buff / yellow colour but given their size it is hard to see.

Leather helmets for the Grenadiers on the left of the photo

Colpacks for the Grenadiers on the left of the photo

Then we have the two battalions of the 4th Baden Infantry Regiment.  Nothing much to say about their uniforms but I do like their yellow focused colours.

These are followed by one half of the 5th Confederation Regiment.  These are the Anhalt Battalion with their colour that looks like a pineapple on a white field (from a distance).  These again have a pretty simple uniform but I think the pink facing and shako pompon set them apart.  The other half of the 5th Regiment is the Lippe Battalion but I have found conflicting information on their uniform and am questioning whether I have the correct figures.  I'll hopefully resolve that in the next week or two. 

Don't look at the colour bearer's superglue face

I have kept the white uniformed troops until last.  These are two battalions from Cleve-Berg.  My reading suggests that they did not take colours to the Peninsular - but mine did not get that instruction.

Keen readers of my entries will recall my comment last week after posting a number of white uniformed battalions, that I needed to find a way to add some depth to the white.  

I had some good suggestions from Iain and Tom regarding possible use of speed paints as a way to deal with this.  I did a test with some Citadel Contrast Colours and Washes as well as Army Painter Speed Paints and Washes.  I have decided to use Army Painter Blinding Light Speed Paint for when I want a colder white colour and I will use Army Painter Soft Tone Wash for warmer Austrians white uniform.  In all cases these are over an Off-white basecoat and then I use pure white for the straps.  I'm not sure this all comes out too well in the photos but it is sufficiently noticeable on the desk / table for me to persevere with the extra steps. 

The other liberty I have taken with my Confederation troops is with regard to state of uniform - it is all over the place.  All written accounts and also the wonderful plates from Bob Marrion show them as disheveled with whatever they could find to wear.  I have tried to replicate this in some instances with different coloured trousers and no shako cords on some units.  In other cases I have done them with shako cords and plumes.  Sometimes all mixed up.  Based on nothing more then the figures I am using (eg: I couldn't bring myself to cut off the plumes on the Nassauers) as well as whim.

Points

Pretty simple this week, 9 battalions each of 36 figures at 0.5 points per figure = 162 points

From Millsy:

More 6mm goodness Richard! Will it ever end? If our regular chats are anything to go buy not for a long time yet.

I think you've really nailed the look of troops who were treated with some disregard in terms of both their quality and equipment. Despite the fact so many fought for Napoleon he only ever really treated them like he was doing them a favour by letting them fight. Colpacks on infantry are something I love to see, they're just so different from more typical elite headgear for foot troops.

Really looking forward to seeing the massed ranks of all your 6mm stuff in late March. Great work mate as always.

Cheers,

Millsy

From AaronP: Gnomes! (100 points)

Hello again,

I am running out of things to paint... especially things I have brought with me to my current home away from home. 

My 15mm ECW project for ADLG-R (I think I got the letters in the right order) is going well. I am going to wait to post them until they are finished mostly cause I haven't done their bases. I need to bring some static grass from home.

I am returning home on Friday, so I'll dig around and see what else I can find to get paint onto. 

Enough preamble

Gnomes

I have been sitting on these since they came out; the Gnome Bloodbowl team. Also, who know Gnomes were part of the Warhammer Fantasy deep lore??? 

Anyway, I though the minis looked fun to paint, and I love playing stunty teams for their ridiculousness. There are probably enough Stunty teams now to run a Stunty only league and have some variation. 

So points,

I assume the Gnomes still count as 28mm despite their diminutive size?

14 x 28mm platers = 70 points

2 x trees (54mm?, they are like 80mm tall but also super easy to paint) = 30 points [Edit Millsy]

So 90 points? Does that work?

Also I keep forgetting to do labels, so sorry about that. I did some this time.

Thanks

From Millsy:

You can't fail to love a gnome! Blodbowl is such a great game, still going strong and the whimsical nature of it combined with absolute mayhem is part of the appeal. Stunty teams are the prefect example of that.

Really nice work all round Aaron. I like how you've varied the bark colour on the two treemen in partciular. 20 points seems a paltry return so I've thrown another 10 in to make them 15 each. Your numbering on the bases is a great solution to remembering who is who vs. trying to write a name.

100 points it is mate. Bring on the stunty league I say!

Cheers,
Millsy

From StephenS: Late Roman Archers (30 points)

G'day All,

It has been a little while since my last regular post, life and all that, but these little guys have been ready for the last few weeks.

Nothing too fancy, just six archers, plastic 28 mm figures from Victrix. I really like the miniatures they produce, the poses are great for individual basing. Though I have heard getting them to rank up on larger bases can be challenging.

All up, a tidy 30 points to tide me over until next week.

Cheers,

Stephen

From Millsy:

Good to see someone else knocking out some Late Romans, especially someone I game with. It seems to be a pretty common theme this year for some reason!

I've not got any Victrix stuff to date but it might be how I expand now. I very much like you tunic colour choice especially. I've been contemplating what to do with my next batch and this may be the way I decide to go based on how good these look. The red edging is a nice accent and your basing sets them off perfectly.

Great stuff all round and a sold 30 points added you tally. Nice work mate.

Cheers,
Millsy

From KentG: 28mm Ronan (5 pts)

This week is just a wee post, Sadler I have had to start a large commission 

which means I have to stop painting my own, 

The figure below is the last in a footsore Ronan set

I decided to give this set away, so it is currently flying 

To the other side of the world.

Here we have the complete set of figures

Points 

1 x28mm foot 5pts

From Millsy:

Kent! Is everything OK at home? Just one miniature from someone so prolific is so much of a departure from business as usual as to cause concern!

Jokes aside, this right up to your usual standard. Great colour choices, sweet blends and a very expressive face. Lovely work mate.

Cheers,

Millsy

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