From Mike W - XII Challenge Wrap

I don't know about anyone else but since the end of this year's challenge I have slumped and almost gone dormant for the last week weeks on the painting front! Fun as it is to do the challenge and trying to get as many figures painted as possible - it is mentally and somewhat physically draining!

My batteries are now recharged and I'm tinkering with figures, I have a unit of Late 7th Century 'German' Infantry to add to my Polish forces for the Siege of Vienna and I have succumbed to the lure of the fabulous Warlord Games Black Seas models.

By way of recap of this year's output I guess it'll be remembered for the insane number of Zombies that I was able to churn out, these were huge fun to do and the sculpts on the figures were done with such humour and skill that it really did seem to be easy to paint these.

I'd saved-up these figures over the best part of the last year with a view to doing them in the Challenge, simply prepping each figure and undercoating ahead of time (as rules allow). I used the same approach with one of my of the main themes of the Challenge - Dark Age Infantry - be it Anglo-Danes or Normans, or the Irish that I will be using in all periods from the Dark Ages through to Elizabethan times.

Some Victrix Housecarls

And many more Victrix Normans

However once the adrenaline kinks in I was surprised at how fast I was able to get through my reserves of prepped figures, vehicles and equipment. By mid February, I had worked my way through my reserves. I had to conscript in all sorts of other half begun, half thought of projects to keep the production line moving...

Two units of dour Scots Covenantors were completed!

Hence the move to Arab Cultists, Medjai and other factions for an Egyptian Undead campaign game I'd been mentally toying with. I had my seemingly endless supply of Warhammer plastic to fall back on as well - The Lizardmen Army that I had once collected figures for but never painted - is now pretty much done. 

Arab Cultists - a mini project I'd been thinking about for ages! 

The countless Orcs and Goblins still keep popping out of the woodwork (sometimes quite literally) and now have me thinking that I may do some kind of OldHammer Bring and Battle game at the club sometime soon....

A unit of five Saurus Riders on Cold Ones

Classic Warhammer Orc Boyz

By the time I got to the WWI figures - I was desperate to keep the 'war machine' turning - quite apt for the period!

So I set myself a 3,000 points target - I smashed that and recorded 4,601 - I can't see how I could beat that yet it seems it's only the 12th best total for a challenge - I salute those who can do more!

As said at the time - Great Fun. thanks to Curt, Peter D and all the minions who make this work and roll on next year, hopefully I'll remember to book a place and I think it'll be my 6th Challenge! 

Looking forward to it already....