LeeH - People of the Veil - Tuareg Berbers of the Algerian Sahara (64 Points)

My big project for Challenge XII takes me to the inhospitable rocky desert of Southern Algeria in the first few years of the 20th Century. Here the indomitable French Foreign Legion battled with Burbours and Arabs from Morrocco and the Algerian Sahara in the largely lawless region (at that time) known as the Sud-Oranis. So that is the historical context of my new period but there is also the fictional, romantic context displayed in dozens of films from Beau Geste to March or Die. I love these old films and I’m looking forward to learning more of the actual history of the period as the project develops. I fully expect the romantic image and the reality to part ways pretty quickly!

This is my 8th Painting Challenge and I’m usually known for painting 6mm armies. This time, however, I’m shifting up to 15mm and most of the figures I have bought for Challenge XII are by Blue Moon and sold by Old Glory UK. I think I have pretty much cleared them out of their stock having purchased a lot of what I needed at Salute and then put in two subsequent ‘top-up’ orders by mail (the last of which, arrived yesterday). I’m starting with some of the Touregs to ease myself into the project.

I will be using these with The Men Who Would Be King's ruleset and these sword-wielding fellows will be Fierce Tribal Infantry Units of 16 men each. I have yet to find any suitable figures for leaders but that’s the beauty of the challenge, there’s plenty of time to revise that starting target upwards!

I’ll be taking a few days off to recover from what has been a tough week running up to Christmas. Work has gone crazy the last couple of weeks and I have a stinker of a cold (another Christmas Tradition for me) so I’m looking forward to putting my feet up and sleeping off lots of food and wine. I’m off work next week so hopefully, I will get a load more painting done before the New Year arrives. I will refrain from saying "let's hope 2022 is better" because that's pretty much what I said about 2021 last Christmas and I don't want to tempt fate! 

(Scoring: 32x15mm Foot = 64 Points)

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Oooh, these are fabulous, Lee. What a great period to get into. I quite like the look of these Touregs, especially those blue-clad chaps. Very nice indeed. I'm also admiring how your bases blend nicely with your desert mat. Where is that backdrop from?  I'm looking forward to seeing this project develop over the coming months! (I have a bunch of French Foreign Legion, but have never taken the plunge. Maybe your fine efforts here will spark me (takes note on Blue Moon's offerings).)  

Great work, Mr. Hadley! Now, go and shake that cold with some rum and sweets. :)

- Curt

From PeteF: Woodland Indians - First, it's the Mohicans - Istvaan V (60 points)

Istvaan V is Betrayal; Heretical/Heretics or Loyalty/Loyalists and this group of Woodland Indians fits all of these, depending on where you stand. They are Revolutionary War era Native Americans - but could be used for French and Indian War skirmishes too. Most remained loyal to the Crown, likely calculating it was in their interests as they were promised protection of their land and trade.  Most of the Eastern Woodland Indians were forced off their land and resettled in faraway Oklahoma.  Even  the Oneida "Stockbridge Indians" who sided with the revolutionaries had most of their land illegally taken from them by the early twentieth century.

The figures are from Warlord Games "Liberty of Death!" box of plastic AWI goodness - a few years ago I got this box for a steal on EBay (a theme in my over zealous collecting of many more miniatures than I can paint) and then added to the AWI pile with a rash purchase of almost a whole 'nother Liberty or Death from someone on The Miniatures Page. They are the old Wargames Factory sculpts - from the 90s? - not really the best - Wargames Factory was very keen on lots of straps and crinkles (advantage of crinkles - they take a wash). You can have fun with the variety of poses and weapon options.

If they ever see the gaming table it will probably be for Rebels and Patriots - it's been a while since I played any AWI - other periods/shiny objects have supplanted it over the last year or two. They were assembled and primed two (three?) challenges ago and completing them has renewed my interest in a Revolutionary War game.

These were quite challenging to paint - the skin tone took many attempts and is probably still a little too much on the dark side. I've had to buy a nail varnish shaker as many of my paints have settled and separated. My eyesight isn't what it was - even a year ago - so I'll need to up the strength of my readers before Challenge 12 is out!  

The Shelf of Hope

Looking a bit lonely

Eight 28m figures.

8x5= 40 points  + 20 points for my first outer ring planet = 60 points. 

Squirrel Points: 1 (Total: 1)

Skulls: 0 (Total:0)

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Great work Pete, on these, 'the first patriots'. These figures seem to be pretty good models from the somewhat chequered Wargames Factory stable.  I like the poses you've assembled them in, and your excellent paintwork really does them proud.  I also really like your 'Shelf of Hope' - great motivation that. Funny enough, yesterday I cleared off a space on our fireplace mantle for both Sarah and my efforts this year. We'll see how it goes.

So, back to the Minifig Napoleonics, Pete? I'm looking forward to seeing some of those units this season.

Welcome back to the Challenge!

- Curt

From Curt: French during the 1812 Russian Retreat (45 Points)

The Caprica challenge asks us for something that depicts either an ambush or something that is doomed. I think the Great Retreat of 1812 fits the latter category quite well, so I decided to add a few more models to this slowly growing collection.

These are all Perry metals, and in my opinion, some of the best work they've done. These figures skilfully capture the utter desolation, the complete despair of these men trying to fight their way out of frozen Russia. Brrr! Just looking at them makes me want to turn up the heat and put on another pair of socks.

I have to apologize as my iPhone camera struggles with the grey and white of my snow bases. I finally had to shrug and give up.

Hmm, I'm thinking that these figures would be great for a Silver Bayonet scenario - perhaps a story built around ferocious Ithaqua pursuing a group of cut off French and Russian infantry... Excuse me as I dash to get my notepad!

These five poor frozen poilu will give me 25 points, plus another 20 for Caprica's theme while also checking-off one of the twelve project objectives I've set for myself this year.

1. French Indochina
2. 10mm Fantasy
3. Moonstone
4. Malta
5. Italian Wars
6. Sisters of Battle
7. 28mm Napoleonics
8. Spanish Civil War
9. 28mm Modern
10. 20mm WWII
11. Retreat from Moscow
12. Dungeon Crawl

They'll also give me one Squirrel Point and count as 'R' for Retreat in our Alphabet Soup Challenge - 3 letters down, just 23 to go (yiiikes...). Win!

- Curt