From Curt: Agnes Baker - 'The Waitress' (35 Points)

Hi All!

As I need to traverse the island for a future entry I've prepared this lass as my transit fee on Sarah's Balloon. 

This is Agnes Baker, one of our favourite characters in Fantasy Flight Games' series of Cthulhu-themed games. As a backdrop I've included Agnes' character card from 'Mansions of Madness', but she is also featured in 'Eldritch Horror', 'Arkham Horror', 'Elder Sign' and the 'Arkham Horror - The Card Game' (Yes, I am a bit of a Cthulhu fanboi, er, cultist).

To many, Agnes is just a simple waitress, working shifts at Thelma's Diner in Arkham, but little do they know that behind that placid demeanour Agnes is in fact a powerful reincarnated witch from ancient times. In the game Agnes is quite kick-ass, using all sorts of nasty arcane magic, and with the right 'build' can be quite the combat monster.

This figure is from the 'Mansions of Madness' boxed set, which produces its characters and monsters in a semi-soft plastic. They can be a little hit-or-miss in definition and mold quality, but Anges is one of the better ones. I painted her to resemble the art on her character card and chose to use a fairly punchy colour palette to help players spot her on the tabletop.

I have few other ladies from Arkham waiting in the painting queue, but I'll need to be judicious in doling them out for my anticipated air travel (sort of like AirMiles).

Where will I be going for this balloon journey? Hmm, I think 'Bromley's Butte' looks quite interesting and is reportedly supposed to have great views of the Island - I'll have to do a... reconnaissance. See you when I land!

-Curt

From PeteF: Dark Age Warrior Blowing Horn (30 points)

A couple of weeks ago I asked the Winter Challenge Facebook group what I should paint for the prize/entry for Challenge X. "Dark Agey Type Blowing Horn" got the most votes so here he is. I'm not making landfall with this entry as I have something in the works for my first couple of Island Entries.

The figure is from Gripping Beast and came with a blister full of mixed dark agey types so he could be Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Dane, or something else. He got a shield of a dragon eating itself - a  gripping beast. I love the Gripping Beast company - they produce nice chunky metal miniatures and very affordable plastics. I play SAGA with a group of friends and plan to add to the SAGA armies over the course of Challenge X.

If you don't know much about SAGA - it's a skirmish game with 30-70 figures per side. There are different universes that use the same core rules: Age of Vikings, Age of Crusades, Age of Magic and Aetius & Arthur. It's more gamey and cinematic than a historical simulation - each faction gets a "battle board" and rolls dice at the beginning of its turn to unlock special abilities on the battle board. It's fast and fun and a great excuse to get the toy soldiers on a table and roll some dice.

A single 28mm figure for 5 points and (I think) 25 bonus points for the prize entry. Good luck to everyone with this winter's brush wielding - may your ferules remain clean and your paints run smooth.

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Now, if I was wanting a 'Dark Agey Type Blowing a Horn' (and I just may) this would be the dude. Just look at this guy: He has a bespoke tail-eating snake on his shield (very posh), he's walking through flowers (sensitive dreamy type) and, get this, he even has eyes! He's the absolute bomb (but this is the Dark Age so, 'He's the absolute Great Axe'). :)

Welcome back to the Challenge, Peter, it's great to have you with us again. This guy is brilliant and will make a wonderful prize for a Challenge Island adventurer who survives the trials of SnowLord's Peak.

30 points for you, sir! Now, let's see what you have up your sleeve for your landfall.

-Curt

From PeterA: "His Shield Was Red" (90 Points)

Good Day Ladies and Gentleman and welcome to this leg of the Challenge Island Safari Tour (aka 'C.I.S.T.'; my apologies for the vulgarization). Over the coming days we shall be following The Path of History. However, I am duty bound to remind you that the itinerary is subject to change and, quite possibly, delays*. Please ensure that your seats are in the upright position, your seat belts are securely fastened and a healthy supply of your beverage of choice is close at hand as we pass through the temporal distortion gateway en route to our first stage on the Safari - Sander's Sand Dunes.

If you look to the left you will see that our escort through the dunes, oft stained red it must be said (with what, we will leave to your fevered imaginations), is drawing alongside: Erkenbrand, the Lord of the Westfold of Rohan. You will see that he is accompanied by 5 of his stalwart Riders, and all are bearing the famous red shield that marks out the Eoreds of Erkenbrand. They will remain with us until we reach the second stage - Millsy's Mill Pond. Although Erkenbrand is an hospitable fellow, we advise against the over-imbibing of any mead that is proffered**.

These 6 figures are all from GW Lord of the Rings range. To give you an idea of how long they have sat in the pile, Erkenbrand is a metal figure; no grotty finecast on safari thank you! The plastic Riders of Rohan are noticeably smaller than more recent releases but they do look nice en masse (I have another 30 or so; perhaps a few more will get done during the Challenge?). The banner is an old one copied from one of the rule books that came with the box sets released when the movies came out.

Anyway, this should net me 60 points for the figures plus 30 for completing a stage on CIST - next stop - Millsy's Mill Pond!

* if anything shiny is observed
** unless you really want to - in which case, I don't mind if I do! Cheers!

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Peter! 

Your Horse Lords look terrific and I both appreciate and admire the vintage metal Erkenbrand - Finecast can get stuffed. I also like how you've made him a tad brighter than the others, reinforcing that 'he's a bit of a thing' in Rohan.

90 points will place you nicely for the next leg of your journey. Well done!

-Curt

From Barks: No one expects this entry! (45 points)

There are three steps in my red recipe:

1. Vallejo Scarlet Red spray
2. Wash with 3:1 VGC 73.206 Red Shade: Army Painter Strong Tone
3. Black lining
4. Highlight with AP Pure Red and VMC 70.909 Vermillion

Four! There are four steps in my red recipe:

1. Vallejo Scarlet Red spray
2. Wash with 3:1 VGC 73.206 Red Shade: Army Painter Strong Tone
3. Black lining
4. Highlight with AP Pure Red and VMC 70.909 Vermillion
5. An almost fanatical devotion to the Snowlord

Five! Oh bugger...

Cardinal Ximinez

Cardinal Biggles

Cardinal Fang

Hello everyone, it is great to be back for another Challenge! 

These figures are from Hungry Troll, and are 35mm. They were a bonus for a Kickstarter, and I can't find them on their website.

They are my entry for Sander's Sand Dunes, which has to have a red component.

3x 35mm figures 15 points

Challenge 30 points

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Strange, I have an odd affinity to your Four Step Red Recipe...

These models are terrific and your brushwork is spot-on, Barks. Well done mate. I hope Hungry Troll decides to issue these at some point as I'm sure they'd be very popular (Cardinal Biggles kills me).

It seems 'Sander's Sand Dunes' is a popular Christmas holiday destination. Your math is correct and you can strike inland with 45 points under your belt. Well done Barks!

From JasperO: Gunboat Diplomacy (66 Points)

I always try not to be the worst sucker for the 'new and shiny', but Warlord's Black Seas models got me right in the feels. They are not so big that I get visions of my dad building his Billing Boats Wasa model over a period of years, not so small that I get feelings of inadequacy (and foreboding about handling) when trying to put rigging on those absolutely lovely Langton Miniatures ships.

I completed several ships and brigs together before this year's Challenge started, but the introduction of Challenge Island suggested an easy project to start with. 'Douglas' Shallows' are, presumably, not very accessible for the Third Rates currently on the stocks - they would have too much draft. Gunboats, however, would not have such issues and have the added advantage that I could actually finish them quickly enough to complete and post before GuyB and MarkB. We're not competitive of course, but it'd be nice to mention on the next WSS podcast...

The models are the Warlord Gunboat Squadrons (each base represents one) in 1/700 scale in resin (base with ships) and metal (masts with sails). Points though, I'm not very sure about. Hence the diplomacy in the title. Is that negotiable? :-D

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Oooh, those are really quite fabulous, Jasper. I've managed to quickly look away whenever I've seen an advertisement for 'Black Seas', but I think my will is crumbling. 

I really like the groupings on the bases and how you've done both the water and sails. Very clean work and evocative of the period. Just looking at these little ships brings great memories of all those Aubrey/Maturin books I devoured while avoiding writing papers in university. How do you find the rules? Inquiring minds want to know.

As to points, hmm, let's pitch them close to how we've scored 1/600 modes in the past. That would place them around 12 points per base, making a grand total of 66 points, including the bonus for completing 'Douglas' Shallows'. Well done Jasper!

From MartinC: For Joshua (200 Points)

This is my 1st post of the Challenge and true to form I've painted an entire 10mm Lizardman army. This is part of the For Joshua project set up by James of this parish and MadTin Hatter fame. The link to the project can be found here. This is a very noble cause and I would like you all to go and visit the site, please.

The project will build a massive 10mm fanatsy battle using Pendraken 10mm figs and will tour the shows in 2020 before being raffled off.

For my part I decided on a 10mm lizardman army from Pendraken, who offered us a generous discount.

The whole army - note I still can't take photos

So I primed them green, I even used spray paint, and started painting them yesterday morning. Today they are finished and varnished.

3 wizards on brontosauruses. These dinosaurs didn't come from Pendraken but in a cheap bag of dinosaurs for a friends daughter

The missile troops, archers, slingers and crossbow lizards

The cavalry, lizards on Allosaurs

Spearlizards

Lizardmen warriors

These were great to paint and the casts are really detailed.

Scores on the doors

124 foot = 124 pts

12 cavalry = 24 pts

8 lizards on 3 massive dinosaurs = about 24pts

Grand total = 172pts.

Right, so now i'm off to find a map to an island. Good to be back.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Martin!

This is an amazing first entry for an excellent and worthy cause. (AND all done in the past day - wow.) 

So much to like about this entry. The lizardmen warriors, the cavalry on the wacky Allosaurs and the stonking lizard wizards(!) on bespoke brontosauruses!! Jeez Louise that's pretty darned cool. What a characterful force, which I'm sure will fetch a good price through the upcoming raffle. Martin, you'll have to give us some details on the raffle so those following the Challenge can participate. 

Due to the nature of this entry I think it needs a points bump as it's a gift for a wonderful cause, so let's put the total at an even 200 points. Well done, sir.

-Curt

From AlexS: Prizeman and his Dog (35 Points)

Hello all. My name is Alex and I am from Russia. I am very glad that I am once again taking part in this wonderful event. 

My miniature today is a board game survivor and his dog. He re-opens a world that has changed. It seems to me that this miniature is very suitable as a prize for someone who explores a mysterious island.

I also begin my journey in exploring this magical island. And I'll start with Awdry's Atoll, because his work has always been for me a source of inspiration and an example of how to engage in a hobby. I thought for a long time about what I would do with his task and the answer came to me in a dream (Russian ideas come in a dream, have you heard about Mendelev?). I hope that Mr. Awdry will be pleased with my work, which was inspired by his work, which he did a long time ago.

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Ahh, it's great to see you again Alex from Russia! Welcome back the Challenge.

I really like your tithe figures. Really, who doesn't like a good dogo, and that adventurous fellow looks to have a physique that is more in line with many in our hobby - packing that little extra for those lean times. :) Good beard too! 

Now, that disc, nut shells and bark has me more than a little intrigued. I wonder what you'll come up with using that lot. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the completed piece, as I'm sure MichaelA will be as well!

35 points for you debut on the scoreboard, Alex. Well done!

-Curt

From MartinN: Ludi incipiant (60 Points)

Another year, another challenge! I'm pretty happy to have joined this years extravaganza again, the 6th time running if I remember correctly. To start things off and ease myself back into painting after several weeks, if not months, away from the painting table I decided on a Gladiator by Crusader Miniatures.

I rather like the new 'Challenge Island' format thus couldn't resist to join in in the fun. As a place to make landfall‚ Sander's Sand Dunes‘ seemed like a good spot from where to explore the island in the company of a red clad Gladiator. Always a good idea to bring some muscle along when landing on a foreign coast, eh? Heading along the  Path of History‘ towards‚ Where X marks the spot‘ should be straight forward enough, but taking advantage of the one or other flight by Lady Sarah's Balloon Service could also prove to be a worthwhile distraction. After all the journey is the destination.

And as I'm a cheeky sod I'll also maximize the effect of my first foray into the heart of Challenge Island by offering up my trusty gladiatorial companion here as the entry fee to be paid for this most worthwile of endeavors. He's a brute of a man, but somehow I got a feeling, that it might need brains to claim the final prize.

So, this first submission to this years challenge should net me a rather handsome number of points by my reckoning:

- 5 pts for a single 28mm miniature
- 25 pts for the entry fee
- 30 pts for completing the ‚Sander's Sand Dunes‘ quest

60 points in total if my math is correct. As for whom I'd like to reward this miniature to I'd love to give it to the first fellow participant who's painting up a Gladiator himself. Failing that the first person having submitted a 'Roman' themed entry.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Nick!

Wow, you've treated this brutish fellow to your 'usual' beautiful brushwork. Nice and vibrant, with a few cuts and scrapes to show that he's been out mixing it up. I'll make a note to keep track for the first Gladiator or Roman entry - in fact, upon seeing this lovely figure I may have to get something cued up right now! 

In the meantime, Sarah Airways looks forward to booking your upcoming trip across Challenge Island. 

60 points for you, sir. Well done, Nick!

From LeeH: Happy Bazookamas! (5 Points)

My first entry to this year's challenge is an alternative take on Christmas. I like to think this guy is taking aim on the over-commercialisation and excess of the season... or maybe the radio station that keeps playing the same f'ing songs over and over and over again.... Yes I know, Bah Humbug!

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy Christmas - socialising with friends and family is one of the highlights of this time of year - but when the 'season' starts in the shops in September, I'm more than a little fed up with it by December. My colleagues - bless em - like to have the radio on in the office and by now I've heard enough Christmas songs to last a lifetime.

The model is from Wargames Foundry and is rather large 28mm, actually standing 30mm tall. Just for good measure, I put it on a resin base to make it a little taller still. This was a quick and easy first entry that has kept me busy between a much larger submission (in 6mm) for later in the week.

That's it, my opening shot. Good luck to everyone taking part in this year's event. And despite my previous grumblings, I really do wish everyone a very Happy Christmas. 

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Great entry, Lee! I especially like the 'they've been naughty' HE prezzies poking out of his satchel. 

I can very much appreciate the sentiment of this figure. The Good Lady Sarah works in the retail sector and I think this vision of Santa is at the forefront in her mind when she, with her beatific smile plastered to her face, has the umteenth shopper tell her that their Christmas has been 'absolutely ruined' because her store doesn't have such-n-such in stock anymore. This is why I make sure we have lots of aged Scotch, sweets and 'legal medicinals' stocked at home for when she's medevaced out from the Holiday Front Lines each day.

BazookaSanta will give you 5 points to mark your debut on the Challenge roster, Lee. Welcome back!

From PaulO: Camel Caravan (70 points)

Abdulla musters his caravan and prepares to depart his home (terrain not part of the submission)

My first entry for this year's challenge comprises my first ever Ships of the Desert! I've painted them up for use as a scenario objective or for baggage elements in Crusades era gaming, though they would also work with some Beau Geste type French Foreign Legion gaming in North Africa, or amongst the Redcoats in Afghanistan.

These doughty chaps are also my first step onto Challenge Island. I was hoping to be the first to unload camels onto Docherty's Docks, but instead of being first-est I will content with being the most-est thus far: I hope the harbour master is content with them!

These lovely models are from Castaway Arts in Northern Queensland (http://www.castawayarts.com.au/) - this makes them Australian Camels! Did you know that Australia has approximately half a million feral camels?  Introduced in the 19th Century to support exploratory expeditions, species of Bactrian Camels and Dromedaries now live wild in the Outback. Indeed, Australia now has a thriving live export business selling stock to the Middle East!  Perhaps these are the first Australian camels to be exported to AHPC :-)

Army Painter Desert Yellow undercoat worked well for the camels, followed by a wash and some highlights. This saved quite a bit of time and let me focus on the colours and patterns on the bagge to bring the group to life.

Great to get my first entry in before the Christmas mayhem begins. Points wise I suggest that these count as 4 x mounted figs noting the stowed baggage and rider for 40 points, plus the 30points for a Challenge Island location.

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Haha! This is absolutely brilliant, Paul - love it. Sarah and I just read an article about Austrailian feral camels. Wow, who knew?! And I love that you folks now export them to the Middle East. That's just bonkers.

I really like your colours for these and will be shamelessly stealing your recipe for my upcoming stab at these. I also really enjoy the vibrant colours of their baggage and the the clothes of their drover. Brilliant.

70 points will put you in a nice position for your debut entry. Cracking work, Paul.

From PaulsSS - Marxist Che lands at Sanders Sand Dunes (60 Points)

I've been on a moratorium on buying new lead for a few months now, so had a dig in the lead pile and found a Che Guevara model that was given away by Wargames Illustrated at Salute and Historicon in 2014

It's rather a nice model and was and a simple paint job in his combat gear.

Che will be my prize figure for the Island and has they don't get much redder than Marxist Che I'll start off at Sander's Sand Dunes and shall be declaring the Peoples Republic of Challenge Island and forming a revolutionary committee to ensure that the plans for the capitalist exploitation of Challenge Island are thwarted and their running dogs sent scurrying.

Sorry, got a little carried away there....

Looking forwards to the coming weeks on the island with you all.

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Haha! What a fabulous figure (the lit cigar is a great touch). I really like your take on having Che for Sander's 'it must be Red' challenge. Well done Paul! 

'Viva! Hasta la Victoria, Siempre!'


...and a very tidy 60 points for you, sir. Nice one!

Now, off to eBay to see if I can nab one of these for myself...