Last year I started this post with Big Chris saying: "It has been emotional!" Well this year kinda felt more relaxed. At the start I had all these plans and goals set for myself:
- visit all Island locations.
- finish my Indian Mutiny forces
- Paint some Napoleonics in 1:72 as a tribute to Curt
- Paint most of my prepared Dark Angel forces
And so on, and so ad nauseam...
None of this all actually worked out as it never does, but I wasn't bothered by that... so what happened?! I honestly do not know but I do realise that our beloved Challenge isn't about getting the most points cost what it may cost (No Noel it isn't!) it's about the comradeship that Curt so eloquently described in his Red Lancers post.
I think it was Miles who pointed out that we have been missing Millsy this Challenge and that his absence is sorely felt. He is of course entirely correct in this but personally I have really missed my usual partner in crime: Lord Awdry, Michael I do hope to see you during the next Challenge!
Before taking a look at all the painted stuff, I would like to take the chance of thanking everyone involved in this Challenge for making it the paint-fest it always is: you my fello Challengers for all your brilliant work, inspiration and encouragement, the Minions for their sterling efforts in keeping the train on it's track (even Peter and Badger-boy!) although I do think Tamsin deserves a special mention because she kept track of everything pointswise behind the scenes and I think she has managed yet again to reply to ALL entries posted, the Lady Sarah for putting up with us and letting us use her balloon and of course the Great Blue One, The Lord of Snowdrifts and Avalanches of White Metal, Curt!
So what did I paint? well this:
Of course some stuff is missing: the Gloomhaven figures are with Mark by now and I forgot to add the Awdry's Atol contribution...
Arthur's stuff is mostly to the right of the pile:
Now what are my conclusions regarding this Challenge? Okay so I have painted quite a few things that have been clogging the painting desk for a long time. The GI Joe helicopter, the Death Watch Marines and the Viking Characters foremost amongst them.
Another conclusion is that Challenge Island is really cool and perhaps even better than the previous theme-rounds, but I feel a bit of a fraud getting 30 points when entering just 1 figure. So in future I will try to prevent this.
I have learned a lot of new skills during this Challenge mainly putting together my Ender 3 pro (my newest bestest friend) and painting all those Star Wars Legion figures really gave me an opportunity to get to grips with all kinds of different sandy colours and weathering.
As is tradition I forgot to take a picture that includes both me and Arthur with the painted pile but I'll rectify that like this:
Me preparing to start the Challenge Island Tour.
The lad and myself at Hamley's in London with Optimus Prime and look I am wearing the same shirt as in the other picture!
Anyway lot's of stuff is going on over here at the paint desk so I will keep going for sure. That said the lock-down/ quarantine is really upsetting my schedule since as a teacher I am supposed to teach via Google Meets and am now giving video-lessons quite a lot: I hate that! But oh well let's just wait and see.
See you guys at the other Challenge or else next year, keep safe, healthy and painting!
Sander and Arthur!
