From EvanH: Better Late Than Never... 28mm Santa Snowman Slayer (5 points)

Oh, My Giddy Aunt, the weather here has been hotter than the proverbial hobs of Hell. If this keeps on much longer, I shall have to move house. Preferably to Antarctica.

And so it was, Gentle Readers, that I found myself unable to sleep this morning thanks to the hot and steamy conditions. I hauled my worthless carcass out of bed and shambled into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of ice water, and sat at the paint bench (which normal humans call a 'breakfast bar' - how droll!) to finish off my first entry in the 7th Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

Amazingly, after a mere five hours of fitful sleep, I actually completed a figure.

"Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!"

This is Scibor Miniatures' Santa Snowman Slayer (or is that 'Sleigher'?), one of their characterful range of Dwarven seasonal figures. He'd been languishing on the North Face of my Lead, Plastic and Resin Mountain for a few years now, and I promised myself that 2016 would be his year. And now it is (just)!

I love Scibor's work, and my favourite entry from last year was one of theirs; the Chaos Dwarf Admiral with Panzer Duck.

Now here we have a bit of a conundrum. Yes, that's 5 points on the board (look out Alex, I'm gaining on you...), but given the snowy (dare I say Frosty?) conditions in which he finds himself, and his grave expression, I venture to hope that this may be my first salvo in the Antipodean Frostgrave Duel between myself and my illustrious adversary Millsy. I'd have no problem fielding him as a Barbarian hireling...

But does our Duels Wallah agree? Will I draw first blood in the Frostgrave Duel, or is this a fridge too far?

Stay tuned...!

Ev

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Ooh, that is a cooool figure Ev (no applause, please). I particularly like the 'Ho Ho Ho' tats and his festive slippers. I have a fondness for the Scibor line as well - so amazingly well sculpted and often a bit whacky. 

I wonder exactly what Frosty's did to cause such an extreme reaction from Ole Nick? Hmm...

Ah Haaa! Did it have something to do with Mrs. Claus? It has been reported that the words: 'That carrot for a nose is not the only impressive thing about him...' was heard through the door as he was leaving the house with his axe. :)

Frankly, I think this is a perfect opening gambit for your Frostgrave duel with Millsy. What says you Mr. Mills?

Great work, Ev. Welcome to the glorious points roster!
 

From SteveB: Heretic 40K Chimeras and Hellhound (45 Points)

So week two has been slower than expected, between holidays, snow storm and extra shifts at work I've had less time to paint, plus too sore to hold a brush steady. Despite all of that, I did manage to finish the two imperial guard chimeras and hellhound. Hopefully more progress next week.

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Great work on these Steve! I really like the orange stripe down the center and the crew-improvised Chaos markings. I gives them that wonderfully generic Planetary-Defense-Force-gone-bad look to them.

45 Points for your tally. Good job and I look forward to your next entry.

 

From SimonM: "Black Tree Design" Doctor Who & The Horns Of Nimon (25 Points)

"Welcome to Skonnos, my friends."

These five 28mm metal models of the Nimon are manufactured by “Black Tree Design” and can be bought as code DW428 from their "Doctor Who" range. Large, black-skinned humanoids with bull-like heads, "similar to the minotaurs of Earth's myths", this parasitic species first appeared in the December 1979 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Horns Of Nimon", and quickly demonstrated their desire to enslave the citizens and soldiers of the Skonnan Empire.

"Welcome to the new home of the Nimon race - the next step in The Great Journey of Life."

As all five of the single-pose miniatures were cast with their hands at their sides, I tried to mix their poses up a little bit by slowly prising their arms out to various degrees with a modelling knife. The figures were then primed with "Citadel" Chaos Black, dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Charred Brown and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Nimon WIPs - From dry-brush and wash, through to having its loincloth 'picked out' with gold

Having finished the basic layers, I then applied a double coat of "Vallejo" Gold to the Nimons' loincloths and had their clothing subsequently washed with Strong Tone Quickshade. The  extra-terrestrial energy-drainers' eyes were 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Whilst their horns, capable of shooting deadly beams, were painted with "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and finally dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre.

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More crazy Dr. Who stuff for which I have no cultural reference. Still, I think they're terrific.

The Horns of Nimon 'quickly demonstrated their desire to enslave the citizens and soldiers of the Skonnan Empire'... Well, being that these Nimon chaps are like minotaurs with a S&M fetish I'm not surprised the folks from the Skonnan empire were not keen on the idea.  A planet of Millsy's on the other hand? Not a problem, love the horns.

Seriously, very nice work Simon. I particularly like the contrast of the horns and gold loincloths to their ebony skin.  Will there me more Dr. Who beasties in the Challenge this year? I hope so.

Well done! 

  

 

From ValeryN: A Trio of WWII Soviet KVs (18 Points)

Hello everybody! 

My first job for the Challenge - 3 heavy tank KV-1e for my army of the USSR from Flames of War gaming system.

From the beginning I took up painting just behind a few units, but I realized that it is better to do them one by one.

Red stars, tactical numbers and the slogans on the turret - a decal from Battlefront Miniatures. 

Unfortunately, the inscriptions on the far tank contains an error - there is one extra letter "k" :)

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First, welcome to the Challenge Valery - it's great to have you with us.

What a lovely trio of KV beasties.  I'm very similar to yourself, in that I often paint figures one at a time instead of in an assembly line. It's a bit of a slog, but nothing gets missed and it's nice to get something done in a shorter period of time.

These KV's look great, and the decals, no matter how misspelled, add a sense of authenticity about them.  I'm sure these will cause no end of problems for your opponents in your future games. 

Well done!

Curt

You leave the place for 24 hours...

Okay, I chased down some rebels to a desert planet, cut the ribbon at a new sausage factory, er, I mean an orphanage, cancelled Christmas and took a call from a grovelling, low-brow, incompetent named 'Trump'. 

Oh, and I still had time to take my wife out for her birthday. 

So what's be going on here? Yikes, what a MESS!!

Kidding! 

Thanks so much for taking the tiller Millsy. I'm back at the con and preparing to release the next wave of submissions.

Oh, and is this your leather mask?

From KenR: 28mm WW1 Indian Infantry (195 points)

Here comes entry number 3!

A 28mm Battalion of Woodbine Design Company Indian Infantry for my British Empire Forces for the WW1 Campaign in Mesopotamia.

The unit has a two figure Command Section and 4 x 8 Fig Coys, each containing a Sgt, a Light Machine Gunner (if you can call a Cauchat a LMG !) and 6 Riflemen. Added to that is a HMG stand with three Figs.  So a total of 37 figures at 5pts a piece or 185 pts.

We use the Toofatlardies rules for our Mesopotamian Games and it has become our traditional Xmas Game, so these Figs will roll straight off the paint table into action as we have a go at the Battle of Ctesiphon from November 1915.

Next up on the paint table are some more 15mm SYW Saxons but I will hold these back and base the 4 remaining battalions I have in one go, so my next entry will be some bits and pieces of WW1 stuff I want to clear before I do my "Armour" entry.

Happy New Year Everyone.

A mini points bomb of wonderful Indians! There's plenty to love about these Ken but I think the best part is the skin tones. I really struggle with non-Caucasian skin tones and have the greatest respect for people who can get it right. I like the restrained basing too - perfect for the intended theatre.

Judging by the look of the setting for your photos the upcoming game will be a visual treat to say the least. Lets hope these chaps do you proud in their first outing on the table sir.

You neglected to cost out the crew served weapon so these are actually worth 195 points.

Cheers,

Millsy

From PeterD - 28mm SYW Highlanders (30 points)

First post for me in this year’s Challenge, late to the game but I really didn’t start painting until Boxing Day.  December 20^th brought not only the start of the Challenge, but my mother in law, my daughter home from Uni and a pile of papers courtesy of the final exam for my Financial Mathematics students.

I got fairly well organized (for me) this year and figs prepped and primed and set to go on the day and actually started three different projects on the morning of the 26^th.  These 5 SYW 28mm Highlanders are the first project off the production line.  The figs are from the Perry Brothers, from their AWI range.  I love these figs and have morphed several packs into SYW units when possible.  The Highlander uniform didn’t change much between 1763 and 1775 so this was an easy morph.  I filed off the shoulder wings and that was it.  There are some other anachronisms but they don’t stand out much.  The AWI uniform had lapels on where the SYW uniform had none on thars, but they had heavy lace and the actual lapels underneath don’t stand out when the lace is painted.  The cuffs on the figs are probably not quite right too, but uniform info on the SYW is much sketchier than later periods and invites a lot of free interpretation.

I did this group of 5 as a test group before going Full Monty (or Full Sylvain which may be more appropriate) on the unit.  The plan is to build a fully British force for Sharp Practice using new figures, during the Challenge.   I have FIW figures for a British force already but they are old and many of the figures I used are problematic.

 

Overhead view

It had been 15 years since I did a unit of highlanders and this was the first time I’d painted the great kilt as opposed to the small kilt or trews of the colonial era figs.  I am pretty happy with the results, and quite pleased with both the kilts and the red and white hose.  For the tartans I go fairly minimalist approach, going for the right look from 2 feet away or more. 

As for the unit, the British Army raised several highland regiments for the SYW, which were disbanded at the end of the conflict.  The regiments were shipped to North America, the Caribbean, India and two were sent to Germany.  The 87^th Foot (Keith’s Highlanders) was raised in 1759 and a detachment shipped to Germany later that year.  The Colonel was a relative of the Prussian Field Marshall Kieth. 
 

Close up of the Officer

To quote the excellent Krosnokraf site (the goto site for SYW info, do your self a favour and get lost there for a while):

In 1760, Ferdinand of Brunswick was so pleased by these Highlanders that he requested to complete the initial detachment to a full regiment. Accordingly, 5 additional companies were raised at Perth and shipped to Germany to join the 3 former companies.

Highland units were used as a light troops or raiders. The men received little formal training other than to advance with the bayonet. The soldier's backgrounds, extensive cattle raiding in the Highlands, made them well suited to their role in Germany. The unit was often combined with the 88th Campbell or Highland Volunteers and both were heavily engaged in petite guerre operations gaining a fearsome reputation.

I find it interesting how the highlanders were used in different theatres.  In North America (and I expect other colonial theatres) irregulars were common and they were used as line infantry.  But in Western Germany regular infantry were a dime a dozen and it was irregulars that were needed.  It’s kind of like the Highlanders were not quite European, but more civilized than North Americans!

Bad lighting but a front on view

What's not to love about a man (or five) in a bonnet and a kilt? You're appealing to the Scots blood in my veins with these chaps Peter. They are absolutely smashing and I look forward to seeing more as your Challenge efforts continue.

I have the greatest respect for anyone who is willing to tackle a tartan or plaid so kudos to you for your efforts on these chaps. 25 points for the miniatures themselves and an extra point per man for the kilts and hose...

Cheers, 

Millsy

From SidneyR: Don Fernando de Torrescusa, Marques de Girona (49 Points)

I hope you’ve all had a great Christmas, and are enjoying the holidays. I certainly have, although it’s been pretty frantic with visits to relatives, visits from relatives, a late near-Christmas Eve finish to work, spending time with the family… and so on. All events which seem to be planned precisely to prevent any time at all sitting at the painting table! That being said, I didn’t have great ambitions for the Christmas holidays - I’ve been there so many times before - great, elaborate plans and then achieving very little!! So this year, I thought for the Christmas holidays I’d just attempt to make a start, and a small start at that, on my Challenge contribution.

Let me explain a little about the figures below:

In the Autumn of 1688, the Lords of the Free City of Laarden, positioned between Brugge and Antwerpen on the Flemish coast, sent an emissary to the Spanish Court at El Escorial, just outside Madrid. The small party of Laarden plenipotentiaries, drawn from the five great noble houses of Laarden, had been given the task of seeking military support and financial assistance for their city’s expected involvement in a new conflict which almost everyone in the Spanish Netherlands was anticipating would start with the commencement of the 1689 campaigning season. While the Laarden plenipotentiaries were proud of their city’s independence in the turmoils of the frequent wars in the region between France, Spain and The Dutch Republic, they were pragmatic enough to realise that an alliance with the Spain was likely to be critical in securing their city’s survival in any future conflict.

Ever magnanimous, and sensing an opportunity to forge a profitable alliance with an important Flemish city, Count Oropesa, one of the leading advisors to the sickly King Carlos II recommended the immediate despatch of a Spanish military envoy to Laarden. 

Don Fernando de Torrescusa, Marquess de Girona, a veteran of numerous battles against the French, was selected for the mission. Don Fernando, although elderly and recently retired to his Castilian estates, was considered by his beloved Tercios as being a “soldier’s soldier”, as well as being a skilled diplomat. He was therefore a promising choice to negotiate the recruitment of a force of Spanish and Hapsberg allies to complement Laarden’s own militia and other Flemish and Walloon regiments gathering at the city itself during the winter months.

For our purposes, Don Fernando’s greatest legacy is perhaps his journal, which appears to have been written by him between December 1688 and March 1689. Commencing with details of his journey from the heart of the Empire to Laarden, his journal goes on to describe his experiences in Laarden in recruiting troops, skirmishing with outlying French patrols and preparing the Laarden forces in winter quarters for the campaigning season of 1689.

Extracts from Don Fernando’s journal will be irregularly appearing on the Roundwood’s World blog in the next couple of months. But for now, here is Don Fernando, cantering over the Flemish dunes with a small detachment of supporters drawn (perhaps) from one or more of the Flemish or Spanish regiments slowly assembling in Laarden. More optimistically, those with good eyesight can see the commencement (in 2mm) of Don Fernando’s forces, comprising a regiment of caracoling Spanish Horse, a battery of bronze barrelled Spanish artillery, two detachments of trayne guards and a 2mm version of Don Fernando himself and his personal baggage landing on a snow-bound Flemish coastline. 

The 2mm figures are from Irregular Miniatures. The large scale version of Don Fernando and his compatriots are Dixon Miniatures and Wargames Foundry (with a fair bit of conversion), with the reluctant baggage pony being from Midian Miniatures.

(45 points - depending on the 2mm scoring!)

I was wondering if we would see more from your wonderful Free City of Laarden project this Challenge and I'm happy to say that's the case. I just never get tired of looking at your work Sidney and this post is no exception.

The 28mm miniatures are wonderfully painted and as always tell an interesting tale both in terms of the backstory and the palette used. What I really like is the 2mm stands though. So much detail at such a small scale! I'm seriously tempted to try this period at this scale and it's you and Curt who are the chief reasons for that being the case.

By my reckoning that's 49 points to kick off your Challenge. More Laarden please!

Cheers,Millsy

From SteveM: Surfin' Bird... DUKW (52 Points)

SteveM here, I'm back this year after missing last year and it feels good to be back. You'll see items painted for my own collection, for gifts, for commissions, and maybe even the Flames of War army I'm scheduled to do for the Nova Open charity raffle. The first entry is the WWII DUKW used by the US to transport personnel and goods.

Scale : 15mm (1/100)
Mfg : Battlefront Miniatures
Product : ubx24
Material : Metal and Resin
Paints: Automotive primer, Vallejo Model Color, Windsor &Newton Oil, AK enamel washes, AMMO paint, AMMO pigments, gloss varnish, matt vanish
Details: 2 DUKWs and 20 passengers

These vehicles were used for beach landings in the Mediterranean, the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, and then inland on road and river crossings. Some usage highlights include their first battle on the assault on Sicily. They were used again during the invasion of Salerno on September 9, 1943.  The last amphibious operation of the DUKWs during WWII was the famous Rhine River crossing at the end of March, 1945.

Also used in the southwestern Pacific, DUKWs were used in New Guinea and Bougainville in 1943. They played a prominent role in the invasion of the Philippines. They were also invaluable in the capture of Manila. They supported the landing on Iwo Jima, as well as participating in the final battle on Okinawa.

and for the title reference song  'the bird is the word'

regards,
SteveM.

It's good to have you back aboard the good ship Challenge sir! I say that not only because these are quite beautifully painted and weathered (which indeed they are!), but also because your level of technical and historical detail appeals to me in more ways than I can count. If only we were all so, informative exacting and precise...

I suspect this is the first time we've seen a DUKW, let alone a pair. They're a fascinating piece of kit both from a real life and a modelling perspective. There's a load of detail on these and you've picked it out nicely I mist say.

52 well deserved points for you Steve. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!

PS. Thanks for the ear worm. Not. :-) 

Cheers,
Millsy