From MilesR: Challenge X a Retrospective

Here's what I did done paint for Challenge X.  To be honest, I've got mixed emotions about my output as it did fall short of my "secret" goal but still was a sizable contribution at 3,475 points and just above my public target of 3,000.

 For some strange reason, Curt demands we include a picture of ourselves in these posts, and I am complying with this grand image of "Serious Miles" resplendent in my Quarantine ensemble of sweat shirt and maybe sweat pants - who knows what I'm actually wearing under the sweat shirt.

Given the level of real world interferences this photo, entitled "Flummoxed Miles" is likely a more accurate representation.  This winter has been a difficult time as I had to take off most of February to care for my son who has a chronic medical condition and then there was this little virus thingy in late Feb/March.  I am deeply grateful to my fellow minions for taking up the slack as I shirked my duties a bit.  On a much more positive note, Sean is doing much better and has found a job that he likes as a Data Scientist for a healthcare company.  As for the coronavirus, where all in the middle of that fight and while I've mastered conducting board meeting while painting via a foot controlled mute pedal.  Peter D has seen me do something similar while driving and well, it isn't pretty (board meeting not painting while driving).  I'm an investor in early stage companies and I expect at least 30% of my portfolio to go belly up over the next few months.  Others will do well but that's part of the investing game.  We will survive this economic pause but it will be painful.  I'll probably do a few posts on my blog about the crisis and stop taking up valuable real estate here.

How about some close ups of what I painted?  First up is my Arab Conquest Army from West Wind.  There is a similarly sized unpainted Early Byzantine Army (also from West Wind).  Yarmuk, anyone?

Past Challenges for me have been dominated by 28mm figures but that didn't happen this year.  I did paint up some WW1 related items German Sailors, BEF and a Mark IV tank but that was it.  28MM just accounted for 19% of this years point totals.

I do like how the tank came out.

The biggest category this year was 15mm Napoleonics where I filled out the ranks I need to run my fictional NOLA campaign - Napoleon invades the US.  The campaign has been a blast and is currently in turn 9 of 12 and the there is a second large battle to be had.  For obvious reasons the campaign has been suspended.  Actually, a few of the troops painted this year are missing as they're involved in the upcoming fight and are in the wooden boxes you can see at the end of the table in the first few photos.

Also pictured are the 6 Russian battleships that were part of my contribution for the Battle Of Tsushima project.

Another shot of the Nappies.  There are US, Austrian and Russian troops.

A last minute addition is going to be fun new project - the Russo-Japanese War in 6mm.  I'm really looking forward to getting these troops on the table.

The item I am most proud of this Challenge is the Jungle Terrain, which I think came out wonderfully.  I know that a little self congratulatory.

I cant wait to use these in a game and may stage an online game as it will be awhile before my club reconvenes.

Curt's refurbished jungle terrain.

Some arbitrary close ups

I've got some left over materials and will likely make up a few more stands. 




My total Points distribution was:

Challenge X Points Distribution:
		Points	Percent
15mm Napoleonics		1,028	30%
15mm Ancients		758	22%
Russo-Japanese War		525	15%
28MM WW1		490	14%
Terrain		425	12%
28mm Fantasy		165	5%
30 Yrs War		84	2%
Total		3,475	100%

Thanks again for a wonderful Challenge experience.

Be safe

Miles