AlanD - Terrifying Descending Blades Wielded by Big Hairy Men (60 points)

 Hello everyone, and ahoy, Cap'n Wednesday.

Despite the fact that any minute I'm about to become obsessed with the Russian Civil War, I've been chugging along painting up more Victrix Dacians for Infamy! Infamy! There are eight in this entry - an archer and seven armed with the murderous Dacian falx.

A lot has been written about the scary Dacian battle scythe. The falx probably evolved from what was originally an agricultural implement into a curved or hooked two-handed weapon, sharp on the inside of its curved blade. It has similarities with the Hellenistic Thracian rhomphaia, but seems to have really scared the heck out of the Romans at the beginning of the second century AD during Trajan's Dacian Wars. Indeed, it is interesting that the image of a single or double-handed curved weapon often appears in Roman art as a characteristic of the Dacians; on coins, on Trajan's Column, and on the Adamclisi Monument in modern Romania. The falx really seems to have lodged itself in Roman minds (geddit?), as well as forcing some changes to Roman armour design, such as extra reinforcement on the tops of helmets and the use of manicae, or arm protection. 

Perhaps cheekily, I also present these as my entry for the the Pit of the Pendulum in the Chambers of Challenge. I give you swishy descending blades that terrified the Romans. If the good Cap'n agrees, that should give me 40 points for the figures and another 20 for hacking my way through the challenge room.

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The Cap'n likes a good blade and while a cutlass or boarding pike is more my style, I can appreciate these dirty big choppers. Coming at you at speed would appear to be the pendulum of doom indeed! 60 points it is then.

Cap'n Wednesday

From StuartL - Too Many Duels - 60 Points

Hello again.
For my second entry for today, I have some side-duel related pictures to post. Rather than make multiple posts for small submissions, I figured that I would save some time and get them all up together.

First up, a pair of Warhammer 30,000 Imperial Fists. I am not doing an army of these models, but a forum I am a member of has an Imperial Fists themed painting event running and I intend to submit these minis to it. (AHPC gets the first look at them, naturally). These two will serve as special characters in my games of 30K at some stage I suppose.

These five minis are Gripping Beast's plastic Anglo-Saxons. I currently have a large Anglo-Saxon army already painted, so these will simply be added to the pile. I really need to get more Vikings and Normans done for Stamford Bridge and Hastings scenarios. Maybe in the next challenge.

Last year I painted a small force of AWI continentals for Rebels and Patriots. When I started that project, I bought masses of minis from the Perrys, including some metal militia figures, with the goal of fighting the Guilford Courthouse scenario at some point. The Perrys do some great figures and these were a lot of fun to paint. As a rule, I prefer to paint figures in uniform colours as I can batch paint them very easily, so I wasn't particularly looking forward to this batch. Now that they are done, I'm pleased with how they turned out. I still have a load more of them to paint, but I doubt it will happen before the end of the challenge.

Anyway, 12x 28mm minis puts an extra 60 points onto my total for today.

As these are the first entries for the AWI and Dark Ages that I have posted, they net me two Squirrels. The marines are neither a unique entry, nor large enough to count for that side duel though. As GW minis they do add 10 points to my GW duel and the guy with the back pack mounted symbol is rocking 5 skulls all by himself. 

My running Duels totals:

GW Points - 806

Skullz - 451

Squirrels - 15

From StuartL - Sharks in SPAAACCE!! - 120 Points

Hello again.

The challenge is a great motivator to get stuff done for projects that have been languishing on the shelf for a while. As I find myself getting back into the Warhammer 40,000 setting a bit more, I have dug out some of my previously started forces and worked to give them a bit more paint. Being a bit of a marine fanboy, (not the new Primaris though, not my thing at all), I have long been interested in the Badab War part of the game lore. As a brief summary, 4 chapters of marines decide that they don't want to pay their taxes. The Imperium isn't having this and sends the bailiffs, in the form of more marines, to collect. 

One of the chapters fighting for the Imperium is the Space Sharks, or the Carcharodons Astra to give them their fancy name. In the original background they wore camouflaged armour and their symbol was a black shark viewed from the front.

In the later retelling in Imperial Armour Volumes 9 and 10, their armour was portrayed as being a mix of greys and white, and their chapter logo became a curled shark in profile. They were shown to have pacific island-esque iconography on their armour. I have done my best to free hand both designs onto the armour.

With a name like Space Sharks, the chapter has a reputation for bloody frontal assaults, which I have tried to represent with blood splatter on the front of the armour and weapons. Tamiya Clear Red is great for this kind of thing and is well worth picking up for all your gore related needs.

And here we have all 24 of the models lined up. Rather than paint the models by unit, I have instead just dragged out a large pile of minis at random to paint up. As I don't like to play with unpainted plastic (The irony of painting grey plastic grey is not lost on me), I figure that having a bunch of half painted units will encourage me to get the rest done sooner rather than later.

Anyway, 24x 28mm minis puts 120 points onto my overall score and also onto my GW minis side duel. Between them they are sporting 72 skulls, which also adds to my side duel. As I have previously painted models for different 40K armies, these sadly don't qualify for a Squirrel point.

My running Duels totals:

GW Points - 796

Skullz - 446

Squirrels - 13

From Gary Amos: AB Prussians (16x2pts, 1x4pts = 36 pts)

After much delay and buggeration, I've attached the latest unit for the Challenge. It's 1^st Battalion, Prussian IR11 Schoning, comprising 16 foot figures and 1 mounted figure (haven't counted the cannon ball).

Big delays for a variety of reasons, but this unit entailed some messing around as it's a scratch outfit built from figures which were part of another project which I swerved and, unusually for me, I didn't have enough to make a tlddly little battalion. So, being on the parsimonious side, I've gathered together odds and sods and donated a cannon ball ;O). The unit will form part of the advance guard of the division when it gets to the table, which doesn't reflect any actual structure used at the time, but will be useful in a game.

Anyway, here are the two surviving photos (yes, I'm that bad at photography):

 Well, as some people wanted more photos, I've added a few:

 

 

From MartijnN: Trolling the Pit of the Pendulum - Finally! (27 points)

 

I had been following the development of 3d printing for some time and had even backed some Kickstarters for digital files, even though I did not yet actually own a printer. Last December however I decided to take the plunge and bought an Anycubic Photon. Actually installing the infernal machine a few weeks ago and then getting it to work was not entirely self-evident for me though. I have had more failed prints than I care for, although the successful ones were very satisfying!

While wondering how on earth I was going to get through the Chambers of  Challenge, however, I remembered my Kickstarter files and decided to try some experiments.

Thus I now proudly present my first painted self-printed figure. It is a rather terrifying troll to get me through the Pit of the Pendulum. This figure is from the Scourge of Valtan Forest Kickstarter. The print itself was moderately successful; I think it is a bit soft in some of the details, and the base is not entirely as it should be, but I it works for me and I am still amazed at the fact that one is able to print figures of this quality, at home!

It is a rather modest paintjob. I undercoated the figure in white, but not in an even coat. Using contrast paints  that meant that the different underlying shades made for a rather uneven effect on the skin, which I quite like. A quick wash and a drybrush to finish.

So there we are. It is nominally a 28mm figure, but as it is a large creature I will claim it as a 40mm figure. So 7 points for the troll and 20 for the Pit and the Pendulum should add 27 points to my total. On to Golem’s Haunt!

From PeterD NYW Jacobite Cavalry in 10mm (20 points)

 

The second post from me today and another unit from the Campaign in Ireland 1688-1691.  This is Sutherland's Regiment of Horse from the Jacobite side.  Jacobite Horse were aggressively handled and gave good account of themselves during this war.

These are Pendraken figures is 10mm and they are very nice indeed.  I love the movement in the poses, which are the sculpts as used in the Warfare 28mm range just downsized. I'm planning on using Beneath the Lily Banners from the League of Augsburg with these two bases representing a squadron sized unit.  In BLB it would be 2-3 28mm figures per base and I've gone with 5 10mm figures using the same bases.

Uniforms were less regimented in this early ear so both sides fielded foot and horse in both red and grey coats.  I've done the unit tables in a pale green for the Jacobite side which looks yellow in my light box. There was to be flag on the pole in the back rank, but that's lost in the pile of my basement carpet so a replacement will be added later.

I need to go over the officer's face with a drybrush as the wash took too heavily and he looks like a Nazgul!

I also need to work on my basing  at this smaller scale but overall I'm pleased with the results.

That's 20 cavalry in 10mm @ 2 points = 20 points for the unit.

From: AngusW - 28mm Cows for Chamber of Darkness - 40pts

 Continuing my theme of painting more fluff for the table I embarked on some Friesian Holstein cows. I think they are probably from Warlord, but I got an unboxed sprue from ebay.

It's odd how you look at a cow then when asked to paint it, it's really tricky getting it to look right. In retrospect, I would have done sheep.

Next into the Larder...

Score: x4 28mm cows = 20pts + The Chamber of Darkness 20pts = 40pts in total

From LeeH - Oubliette - Undead Standard Bearer

This old figure is the last survivor of a lost army. The first wargame I played was Warhammer Fantasy Battle, back in the late 80's and early 90's. It was a logical choice for my group of friends because we were all committed D&D players so trying out a Fantasy wargame wasn't as big a step as it would seem. The first (and only) army I built for this rule system was an Undead Hord which included masses of shambling zombies, skeleton warriors in rusted armour, undead horsemen ready to sweep across the battlefield and even a Zombie Dragon that set me back a lot of money. The thing that made my army stand out was that of my group of 8 friends, I was the only one who fielded a fully painted army. Indeed most of the time I played against entire forces of grey unpainted miniatures (the horror!).

As a group, we only played this system for a few years and eventually, we moved on to other games and one by one we sold off our armies, mine included. I regret not keeping a few pieces of this army even if, looking back, the panting was shockingly poor. Then I recently found this model and realised he had somehow missed the cull, and survived in my collection long after his comrades had gone to another home. When I saw the Chamber of Challenge entitled Oubliette, I knew instantly what I was going to paint. 

I actually had four of the same model (no idea why I bought four) so this Grenadier figure from 1991 will go on display with his unpainted companions. Because he's the last survivor, and a reminder of my earliest days wargaming, I also made a small terrain base for it using some spare resin scenery I bought and didn't use in the last challenge. 

(Scoring: 1x28mm figure + CoC Bonus = 25 points)

From Mike W - 12 x 28mm Mexican Fulisiers, The Alamo 1836 (60 Points)

In the first if this week's posts, I present 12 Mexican Fusiliers from the attacking force at the Alamo. I have quite a big 'Alamo' collection, covering this, the Texan Revolution and I'm starting to dabble in the later Mexican American War as well.

Figures in their pack before undercoating

These fabulous figures are from 'Boot Hill Miniatures' and under my own home brew rules, this represents a company of men (8 figures) plus command elements that will help a player to control and motive the unit.

Completed Company of Mexican Fusiliers

I undercoated the figures with a linen shade and then dry brushed white, red trim was then added to the jackets to give a representation of Mexican Summer Uniforms that were present in the Alamo Campaign.

Helmets were painted black, as were boots and bayonet scabbards. Flesh tones and hair were then also added along with oily steel and brass buttons and badges etc.

Four Fusiliers, all marching

A couple of figures ere then given light brown trousers, to break up the informality of the unit.

The other half of the company

A watered down Army Painter Dark Tone was then used to shade all uniform areas, with undiluted Dark Tone used on muskets and helmets. Flesh tone was used on skin areas before allowing to dry and completing with matt varnish.

The Company Command figures,
left to right: NCO, Standard Bearer, Drummer & Officer

I used a Mexican National Tricolour for this Standard Bearer, taken from a flag seen on the internet.

Fine sand and dried grass tufts were used to finish off the figures.

POINTS

12 x 28mm Figures @ 5 Pts ea = 60 Points

from PeterD Miss Roundwoood and her Prize Laarden Hen at the Hatchery (25 points)

For my hatchery post I present another of the Landgirls from Bad Squiddo's Women of WW2 range in 28mm.  This is Miss Roundwood and her prize larded hen.  Miss Roundwood is rather eccentric and has developed an interest in the Laarden breed of chickens having rescued a clutch of chicks with the help of a  family of Belgian refugees.  

The Laarden breed is related to the Braekel and noted for it's strong character.  Laarden fowl have played an unusually prominent role in the history of Laarden and its environs, especially during the Wars of the late 17th century.  The birds are nicknamed the De Vichet breed in "honour" of a certain historical character,

This is another great figure from Bad Squiddo, lots of character in both Miss Roundwood and the chicken.  They both seem inordinately round of themselves.  I am reminded of the old joke asking what's the difference between a proud hen and a lawyer.  Well the proud chicken clucks defiant and..

Veterans of previous Challenges will recall that Sydney Roundwood's Laarden vignettes often included local fowl, although strangely not yet this year.  Perhaps the war with France has isolated the town and restricted supplies to the point that anything edible has ended up in the stewpot.   I will say that I never though I'd be googling "Heritage Chickens Breeds of Flanders".

I believe that's 5 points for the figure and 20 for the Chamber please.

From SimonG: In Honour of Curt's First Submission - A PigMan for the Orc Pit (27 points)

Inspired by Curt's very first submission, and bringing back memories of the pig-faced-orc Army I used to own 40 years ago I offer the following delightful pig man!

Once again this is a Black Rose Wars/Novo Aetas 38mm PVC figure from Ludus Magnus Studios and like the harpy he again seems to be in service of the Madonna (how odd?) -- painting her face was one of the most enjoyable parts of this paint job. He's a good 38mm tall but almost as wide and certainly that deep!

Overall this was an exercise in working flesh tones, which is certainly practise I needed. Thankfully he's not complete anatomically but I'll spare you a shot of his undercarriage! He does seem to be a bit of a dandy with his spiffy hair so I hope the colours I chose do him justice.

I did start off trying to use my brand new airbrush and had some success blending different tones but soon reverted to more traditional brush techniques.  I did however have success using the Vallejo Model Air paints applied via brush as their super milky consistency made them very easy to mix and blend to get smooth gradations. I also learned the value of a deep purple for outlining and shading -- a great lesson!

Once again lots of fun painting in ways I would not normally try so thanks again to the Chambers of Challenge for pushing us out of our normal comfort zones.

I think that adds another 27 points to my total which is getting surprisingly close to my target. Maybe time to finish off my 10mm GSFG force next so I can move on to the Brits (airbrush time again for that camo scheme)