From SimonM: German Beach Defence Grenadiers (Death Star)(50 points)

For my fifth post I thought I would move on from Skaro and visit the nearby Death Star. This meant painting something involving Hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence, and I immediately thought of the opening to “Battlefront Miniatures” D-Day German Forces in Normandy, 1944 army book which I have been using so as to assemble a Beach Defence Grenadier Company.

In it (the somewhat controversial author) Holger Eckhertz is quoted as saying “The Concept Of The Allies actually invading Germany seemed unimaginable…” and this phrase quite neatly reiterates the conceit of the Third Reich’s leadership during the war when the likes of “Marshal Goering proclaimed that our industrial areas would not be subjected to a single enemy bomb,” and Adolf Hitler declared “It makes no difference at all which place [Churchill] chooses to land [on the coast of France] because it will only be a matter of luck if he remains nine hours ashore!”

Resultantly, I decided to pigment the beginnings of a second 15mm Beach Defence Grenadier Platoon for “Flames Of War”, consisting of a (three-figure) Unit Leader MG42 team with Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon (as I do like my "WYSIWYG" whenever able), and three (four-figure) MG42 & K98 Rifle teams.

As with all my other “FoW” German soldiers, the figures were initially super-glued onto wooden strips, before being primed in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded using “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Their details were then ‘picked out’ predominantly using “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, Gunmetal, Buff, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Brown and a series of “Citadel” Shades.

I also pigmented a couple of camouflaged helmet coverings using a “Vallejo” Heavy Brown base layer, followed by some sporadic splodges of Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna. These were then washed with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, and then highlighted back up with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, of Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna.

Hopefully this latest AHPC entry will provide:

15 x 15mm German Grenadiers – 30 Points

Death Star – 20 Points

Total – 50 Points

I wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding 'Holger Eckhertz', if that is even his real name, and Battlefront getting involved as well. Your selection here at the Death Star is perfect. I can't imagine what it would have been like to garrison the beaches- as secure as you are, it is only a matter of time...

Barks

From JezT: Dark Ages 28mm (35 points)

 Hi All 

Second post and a second squirrel as I switch to "Dark Ages" as a genre. Here I have Basic Impetus Anglo Danes and Norman armies, originally used in Saga so have the sabot basing style. 

First up are a couple of Gripping Beast Housecarls that got missed out of the original army painting. 

 

Recently been reading about the Battle of Brunanburh  - 937 which features on one side King Athelstan and a classic Anglo-Saxon army. From the Basic Impetus army list creating this army effectively means means the Anglo Danes lose the double handed axe housecarls and there are a lot more General Fyrd infantry. Or very temptingly instead of four General Fyrd units you can opt for a single veteran "rock hard" mercenary unit of Vikings. Effectively a choice of one unit fighting value 6 or four units with fighting value of 3. 

What would you choose? 

I went for the Vikings especially as I was able to get some free second hand figures off my brother! 

Not sure of figure makers - Foundry? Think 4th from left is Gripping Beast

Slight conversions to make chainmail instead of quilted armour on some

Decided to base the Vikings rather than sabot, especially as these were bizarrely already mounted on a two pence piece. Five figures fitted nicely on an Impetus base - the sabot figures are only four to a base but as a veteran unit think five are better. As a bonus this unit also has its own buried Viking hoard of 2p pence pieces. 

In total 7 figures so 35 points. 

Cheers Jez

Nice work on these. I am ploughing through Cornwell's 10th Century fiction and am looking forwards to his Brunanburh. It is one of those historic important battles about which very little is known!

Barks

From Nick: 20mm Soviet Sappers and Casualties (50 points)

As many others here, I‘m sure, I‘m a completist. When there’s a option in the force list, no matter how obscure, my brain goes into overdrive and I‘m off to look where to source that particular option from. Luckily enough since my switch to 20mm with my WW2 painting I‘m generally spoilt for choice. But there are still a few things I can‘t find or not in a configuration/ style I like.

That’s where 3D printing really comes in handy. Chance is someone out there has the files for what you’re looking for. Same with these Soviet Sappers/ Engineers. 

Figures are originally 28mm files from mr3DPrint available on wargaming3d.com. I scaled them down to match my AB miniatures and surprisingly enough it worked rather well. Some of the equipment is admittedly a little flimsy and some minor bits broke off as I‘m rather ham fisted at the best of times. But still I quite like them a lot and they painted up nicely. Should maybe get me a resin that’s a little less brittle nonetheless.

Helmets/ heads and hands are somewhat on the larger side, especially when compared with their AB brethren directly, but not more than usual with wargaming miniatures. I’m still quite surprised by the quality my cheapish 1st generation Anycubic Photon is capable of. Good enough for any wargaming miniatures I‘d say.

Next we have a batch of 10 Soviet casualty markers by AB Figures. A little macabre maybe but I love casualty markers. I tried to make the skin look more corpse like and like to think it worked out surprisingly well.

Points wise this submission consists of:

5x Figures upright/ kneeling = 20 points

12x Figures prone= 28 points

Total: 44 points

Lovely work and some good action poses on these sappers, Nick. I think casualty figures are an important part of a game's tabletop appearance. I'm not in love with half-points for prone so will round up to 50 points.

Barks

From SamuliS: Spanish monster hunters (Sarah's Star Yacht & Babylon 5) (80 points)

Time for my next entry to what  is shaping up to be quite a trendy subject in this years challenge with my first band of monster hunters for Silver Bayonet. Here is my version of the Spanish starter warband that has already been painted a few times for the challenge by other talented participants! Decided to start with them as I've always kind of wanted to collect some Spanish Napoleonics, but never really got around to it as our clubs games have mostly focused on other campaigns than the Peninsular. And white uniforms always look so dashing (and horribly impractical).

Really nice sculpts with well defined detail and minimal cleanup required. These were quite a breeze to paint and really left me itching for some more. Might have to buy a blister or two of different spaniards to enlarge the group a bit for some other game systems as well.

With this entry I'm going for a double on the quadrant map with first a short voyage on Lady Sarah's Star Yacht with a landing at Babylon 5 for some low budget fun. The whole setting of Silver Bayonet seems to be like a storyline for some penny dreadfuls with supernatural horrors besieging our heroes. Seems fitting as cheap horror and adventure fiction got their start not long after the Napoleonic period where Silver Bayonet takes place.

 

8 figures in 28mm scale and two stops on the star quadrant comes in at a nice 80 points extra for my tally. I seem to be doing a lot better in the challenge than I originally anticipated, though gathering points from the star quadrant has certainly helped in the effort!

I am enjoying all this Silver Bayonet action much more than I had anticipated! You've done these Spaniards proud.

Barks

From DallasE: 28mm Panhard 178 Armoured Cars (Solaris)(60 points)

 

Here are two Panhard 178 armoured cars in "28mm" scale (honestly not sure if they are 1/48 or 1/56)... they're from STL files found for free on the Internet and printed for me in resin by Challenge participant ByronM. Thanks man! 

There are a few different paint schemes I've seen for these vehicles so I chose the one that had the most aesthetic appeal for me - this happened to be on a diecast model formerly sold by "King and Country", purveyors of painted toy soldiers in 1/35 (54mm) scale.

The scheme is basically Steel Legion Drab and Castellan Green/Camo Green, outlined with a mix of Castellan Green and black-grey. 

The numerals are decals from my decal folder, and the roundels and number plates were painted freehand.

I'm pretty happy with the models, as they were much much less spendy than the resin version sold by Warlord. The only weak spot on them is the wheels and tires - I think the tires should have a bit more "balloon" to them. Pretty good for a free file though.

These "Pan-Pans" will be good for the early-war scenario being planned by fellow Challenger FrederickC. They should be effective on the gaming table too, packing a 25mm AT gun in the turret - enough to make a Panzer I or II jockey think twice.

I've journeyed to Solaris for this submission, as the theme of "Deception, Illusion" works on a few levels... I love the French early-war camo schemes that worked their illusions by hiding these vehicles in the wooded French terrain. Perhaps some "self-deception" was evident in the design and production of the vehicles as well - as it turned out, turret production capacity lagged well behind that of the hulls, and ultimately General Gamelin determined that these light cars were ill-suited to modern battlefield conditions and planned for their replacement by heavier Panhard AM40Ps.

So for points:

2x 28mm vehicles: 40 points

Solaris bonus: 20 points

Total: 60 points

That's a long shot at Solaris, but I am being spoiled with ACs today so am in a generous mood. Nice camo and good work on the freehand markings as well.

Barks

NB Don't forget your labels!

From DallasE: 1/56 Puma Armoured Car (Vulcan)(43 points)

 

The debate rages on over what vehicle scale is "correct" for 28mm models. I've always been a proponent of 1/48, mainly because my infantry is based on thicker GW-style plastic bases, and these just look more "in-scale" with larger 1/48 vehicles. However, there are some vehicles you just can't find in 1/48, so for these I turn to 1/56. This makes sense to me because without similar 1/48 vehicles to compare, the size of the 1/56 vehicles looks OK. Makes sense? Good...

Here we have a 1/56 Sdkfz. 234/2 "Puma" armoured car from Warlord Games/Italeri. I note the Italeri connection in particular here because this model is truly a 1/56 scale model kit, not a purpose-designed gaming piece. The vehicle's suspension is extremely well detailed and full of tiny parts that reward care in assembly.

 

Painting was more fun than building, in this case, although assembly took only one evening. The model was painted in a classic 1944 German three-colour scheme, with Zandri Dust, Doombull Brown, and Castellan Green washed with Agrax Earthshade. Tires were painted Vallejo Worn Rubber, a really great dark-grey colour.

Decals were supplied by Warlord with the kit and worked fine. After application the model was lightly weathered and matte spray varnish applied.

The kit even includes a commander figure. I had momentary indecision over whether to paint his uniform Panzer-crew black or SP-gun crew field grey - apparently armoured car crews were spotted wearing both - but opted for Panzer black after all.

I travelled to Vulcan for this submission for the "Something Logical" component. While German armament production was often not very logical, I think they nailed it with the Puma for a couple of reasons. First, the turret was adapted from the cancelled "Leopard" VK1602 recce tank. Second, the vehicle was a quite modern "monocoque" design with the armoured hull serving as the chassis, rather than the armoured body being bolted to a frame as on previous designs. And last, logic prevails with this recce vehicle as it has two driver positions - front and rear - allowing the vehicle's radio operator to speedily extricate the Puma from danger by reversing out of dangerous situations.

Points:

28mm vehicle: 20 points

Commander: 2.5 points

Vulcan bonus: 20 points

I had a 1:72 Puma as a kid; it is a lovely design. The choice between 1:48 and 1:56 would drive me batty... I'll accept your Vulcan logic about the logic of Vulcan. The Spreadsheet o' Doom has rounded you up to 43 points.  

Barks

From DaveS: Forces of Florence (180 points)

After I finished my French force, I promised an early 16th Century Florence army.  I picked this simply because it had Landsknechts in it.  Then I did some reading, and it turns out that Florence of the time was a very interesting place.  As well as the home of Machiavelli, who instituted considerable military reform, it was also a place where there was much more freedom than was customary for women.  It also turns out that it has a pretty flag.

The first 2 bases that I completed were the heavy cavalry.  These are based on the Perry plastic men at arms, and have a flag that is made in the same way as the ones for the French, using layers of foil.  This time, I used a home printed decal to add the device.

Next, I painted some handgunners, who in this system are a skirmish unit.  These were made from a combination of the Warlord Landsknechts and Perry European mercenaries.

Finally in this batch, we have a unit of the citizen militia.  These were part of the reforms that Machiavelli instituted, and were made of men picked from the populace of each district, and then given harness and either halberd or boar spear.  When I first planned this unit, I expected to have to cut down pikes and attach halberd heards to them.  However, I realised that the Landsknecht Zweihander box from warlord also includes parts to make a dozen polearm armed models.  So using selected bits from that kit, the arms, and again parts from the perry kit, I managed to make the unit without too much cutting and gluing.

 This gives me 10 cavalry and 16 infantry, all in 28mm.  This equals 180 points.

Coming up next, I will hopefully finish this army over the next week or so.  There are also a few bits for 15mm chain of command US that I need to finish.  Because I like to ruminate on my projects before starting them, I am also planning an English Civil War royalist army, which I will hopefully get done in this challenge as well.

A simple and effective colour scheme! I'm impressed at how quickly you pivot from project to project.

Barks

From AlanD: A Project Completed in the Snows of Klendathu? (200 points)

I've had a great start to the Challenge so far this year, and this entry sees me (largely) completing my first project. I say 'completing', but you know how it is... Maybe just another tank or two?

But for now, my Romanians are (largely) done. Not only that, but I've completed my modest target of 500 points, which means I can set my sights on my 'real' target for the year. At the start of this challenge I was 1309 points shy of 10,000 total career points, this being my 8th Challenge, so that's what I'm going to aim for.

For now, we have 3 Romanian T-3 tanks - similar but subtly different to the version of the Czech tank that the Germans called the Panzer 35(t). Some of these were still being used by the Romanians in 1944-5, and you have to pity the poor sods who were supposed to use them against T34/85s and (from August 1944) German armour. Annoyingly, when I bought three of them as a special deal from Great Escape Games I overlooked the fact that they come with buttoned-up turrets, whereas buying the tanks individually means you can get them with open hatches. The three tank commanders I bought will just have to wait.

Next, some transport from Rubicon models. The Soviet truck still sports its Russian snow camouflage, although the Romanians have painted over it a bit so they can add national insignia to the doors. The Sdkfz 10 is one of about 30 (from memory) that the Germans gave the Romanians in 1942. German equipment was usually left in its original colour, so the Panzer Grey under the snow camouflage gives a bit of contrast to all the green. These Rubicon models are gorgeous, by the way. Even the tyres bulge ever so slightly where they rest on the ground, a tiny detail which gives me great joy.

Finally, a few extra bits and pieces of support in the form of an anti-tank rifle team (I'm unsure what type of rifle it's supposed to be), a Bohler anti-tank gun and crew, and a forward observer team, preparing to call down wholly inadequate artillery fire on the advancing Red Army.

For this entry I will also continue my peripatetic wandering around the Quadrant. From Cybertron, I'm travelling up The Great Abyssal, back to the outer ring. I'll finish my Romanian project (for now) at Klendathu, because their partly unwilling attack on the USSR was truly an invasion that went terribly wrong, as the four casualty figures attest.

 

Points for this entry are confusing me a bit. I think prone figures are worth 2.5 points each, but some of the figures may or may not be prone... Barks, feel free to exercise your judgement!

So:

5 vehicles - 100 points

Maybe 4 'whole' figures and 10 either prone or driving vehicles - 45 points

Crew served weapons - 10 points for the anti-tank gun, unless the radio of the forward observers counts as well? Gunners would certainly consider it to be a powerful weapon 😊

Klendathu bonus - 20 

Total - 175 points

I, too, get confused by prone figures and drivers. Let's call it a round 200 with a completion bonus. Is a project truly completed until you've treated us all to a group shot?

Barks