From PeterD: An 'Umble Abode and Other Buildings for Terra (50 points)

Last post of the day as I clear off my workbench.  I've been to my requite four planets on the middle Ring so can move one.  First stop on the Inner Ring will be Terra and a home theme.

I have an 'humble Dark Age house and barn plus a rather more substantial church.  All are 28mm pdf kits from Sarissa (but you knew that I was going to say that).

First up is the 'humble abode itself.  I need to trim my thatching a bit.

Works for my Arthurian, El Cid and SYW tables.

Next up is a timber barn or workshop.

Every time I use teddy bear fur, my wife threatens to glue big google eyes on it.

Last up is this Saxon/Norman church.  It was intended for the later Saxon era, but does look a lot like the early Saxon churches dating from the 6th century.

It should do fine for El Cid games and for SYW games set in the Saxon duchies too.

I didn't do the interior, but there was a set of inner doors entering into the main church.  These became the gates of my ring fort.

Not much to say here and I've blathered on too much today.  Great kits, they were fast easy and fun to assemble and put together.  My terrain cube-calculator puts the church at just over a cube and the two smaller buildings together at just over a half cube.  Let's say 1.5 cubes for 30 points and hopefully 20 for Terra for a home for the peasants, a home for their animals, and a house of God. 

_______________________________

Great work Peter! You've obviously had a very productive week, which is great to see. I like both of these buildings, especially the long, more ornate windows in the church. Just as a suggestion with the thatching, you could try thinned white glue to bring down the cowlicks. :) Once dried (and hardened) it would also allow you to put on a wash to give the thatch to give it a bit of depth. 

Another two structure to add to your growing Dark Age collection.

- Curt

From PeterD: Sub-Roman British for Noel's Comet (50 points)

My students and family can tell you that I could give Noel a run for his money on verbosity, but hopefully I keep this within everyone attention span.

Love the Sutton Hoo helmet and the Draco.

Back in September 1980 I started University and a new FLGS opened up in Halifax, in a location that was at least not too far off my walk home.  The FLGS turned out to be run by Ross McFarland of the Battle Game of the Month blog, With MacDuff to the Frontier rules and servant to the world's most superior looking wargaming cat. Ross' store was short lived, my university career lasted 5 years as a student and 20 years as an instructor (with a 15 plus year interlude in between) and we still keep in touch.  We have gamed in the past on my visits back to Nova Scotia, and were hoping to do so again at Christmas, but Omicron put the boots to that idea.  We should try a Zoom game.

The chap on the left is from a Pictish command pack but fits in with the unit.

One of Ross' projects at the time was Late Roman/Sub Roman Britain, a project which I've returned to in my recent Beowulf gaming.  I have another 6 figures from a Sub-Roman rulers comitatus.  These are Gripping Beast 28mm figures and most are from their Arthurian range.  Some of the facial details has gone soft, but it's kinda like painting old minifigs which is pleasant nostalgia in its own right.  As is my way I freehanded some noble headed shields and bodged together a flag using Celtic clip art and MS Word.  

I'm quite happy with the cloaks.  I think that the Pictish fellow is supposed to have a mail coif but it works as ringlets.

In digging through the family photos recently, I found some pictures from a Convention game that Ross ran at Dalhousie in 1987 or 1988, which I am sharing below.

Ross resolving combat on the Pratzen.  The vibrant cloth is still in my basement.  I remember that it was fall when I bought it and the salesgirl at Fabricland asked if I was going as a Frog for Halloween.

This was an Austerlitz scenario featuring Soult's assault on the Pratzen and the defence of the Goldbach (40K players will need to google this).  It was fought using Ross' home-brew rules, 15mm figures and at a 1:40ish scale with individual casualties.   The next year I ran a Jutland scenario using my home brew rules and 1/3000 scale Navwar ships. Ken Reilly you're not the only one who can run crazy big games. 

Struggle for the Goldbach crossings.  We achieved an impressively historical log jam.  Those are my white and green coated Italians masquerading as French on the defence and my Russian infrantry.  

Ross and I were chatting about this game via his blog comments recently.  He gave the French commands to the most experienced players (I was Marshall Soult) and the Allied commands were given to newbies who didn't know the history.  The Allied column commanders were told to follow written orders based on the actual orders of the day.  As a way to simulate historical fog of war and command confusion it worked the charm.  Ross reminded me that the problem was that the newbies figured they'd been set up as sacrificial offerings and some of them left the game in huff.  I had not recalled that aspect, but then again it was 35 years ago and I was rather busy directing St Hilaire and Vandamme.

I still think that it was a great achievement and I have fond memories of those big games are played with small figures in the 80s, as well as the small games that we played with big figures (54mms) in the 90s and 2000s.

Points wise that 6 28mm figures for 30 points and I hope the yarn ents me another 20 for Noel's Comet.

_________________________________

A great post Peter, and a wonderful bit of nostalgia about past games and good friends. 

Your sub Romans look excellent, and your hand painted shields and banner do the trick. I quite liked Ross' novel approach to simulating the superiority of the French at Austerlitz, but I can also sympathise with the annoyance of the opposing players upon figuring out they were being used as ill-informed dupes. Granted, while perhaps not the best at making friends, one could argue that Ross' 'rules mechanic' had the hidden benefit of nicely simulating the final collapse of the Coalition at Austerlitz. :)

- Curt

From MilesR: Submission 3 - More 10mm Madness (490 Points)

 Well it's time for another long and rambling post about my journeys through the solar system.  Here's a shocker, it's still mostly 10mm stuff.

Let's first return to the outer ring and visit the last planet I need to check off - Planet Vulcan.  Pointy-Eared ehs?  Well how about a unit of Elven archers mounted on Mooses and based for Warmaster sound?  Elves on Mooses?  These must be Canadian elves.

The figures are from Magister Militum and while riding a moose is very whimsical, the figures themselves are pretty awful and I really don't recommend them.  Well at least they are the start of a 10mm Warmaster army but I think the rest will be 3D printed.

Planet Vulcan is 20 points and 9 10mm cavalry brings the the to 38 points

With the outer ring now complete, it is now time to return to the second ring and resume our trek.  First up is the planet Pelandra and its Oceanic theme.  Hmm what might fight an oceanic theme? 1/600 scale ironclads and in this case 5 of them:

There are 2 French Ironclads (the grey ones at the bottom of the pictures - The Couronne and Algesiras.

to accompany the french ships there are 3 ocean going British Ironclads - the HMS Minotaur (the long one in the middle), HMS Achilles and HMS Royal Oak.

All of these models are 1/600 scale and are 3d prints.  I commissioned the files via Patrick who runs a business called East Coast Ironclads and provides a very wide range of Civil War and now more stl files.  His work is superb and I highly recommend him.

The sharp eyed and critical amongst you may say - hey these ships are rigged.  You're right.  I ordered some etched brass ratlines which have yet to arrive.  I will rectify the rigging situation ones the supply chain gods smile upon my pending ratline order.  Please accept my most sincere apologies. 

Last time we counted theses as the equivalent of 28mm vehicles (20 points each) so 5 nests 100 points and 20 more for the planet.

The next planet to visit on this excursion is Arrakis and requires a tribute in desert form - how about some Bedouin mounted arches and light cavalry for the Manzikert project 

15 bases of Turkish/Arab cavalry

6 Bases of generic Seljuk medium cavalry, armored in Mail with short lances

5 bases of Bedouin Light cavalry with javelins

4 bases of bedouin mounted archers.

15 bases, with 4 figures each totals 60 mounted figures or 120 points.  Add the planet in and we get to 140.

The next plant on todays hit parade will be Corsucant, which requires an imperial theme.  Nothing feels more Imperial to me than some more Byzantine  Bucellarii and Cataphracts:

7 bases of Bucellarii - heavy mounted archers.  

3 bases of Cataphracts.  Both the Bucellarii and Cataphracts are 10mm Pendrakken figures and are a lot of fun to paint.

That's a total of 43 Byzantine heavy cav for 86 points plus another 20 for the planet, which totals 106 points.

While not related to a specific "planet", I did paint up 3 bases of Gnolls for my growing 10mm scale Warmaster Orc army.

These are Magister Militum figures and are pretty chonky boys coming in at 17mm high each.  I'll be using them as a heavy infantry options.  there are 15 of these gentlemen and I suggest scoring them as 15's so thats 30 points.

With Corsucant now checked of the lists, I've got 5 second ring planets so should now be able to move into the center ring.  The planet will be Krypton and its Super hero submission will be none other than the Seljuk leader Alp Arslan:

It's just a command stand, but Alp Arslan is depicted in the white funeral shroud he donned the day of the battle

Alp's base has 4 foot and 1 mounted figure for a grand total of 6 points plus 20 for the planet.

The total for today's submission is:

Vulcan (Canadian Elf mtd Archers) 38 points

Perelandra (5 ironclads)    120 points

Arrakis (Turk Cav) 140 points

Gnolls 30 points

Corsucant (Byzantine Heavies) 106 points

Krypton (Alp Arslan) 26 points

Total: 490 points

The progress to date, I've just about down with what  needs to be painted for the Manzikert game - perhaps another 10-12 mounted Seljuk bases and and a few more Byzantine heavy Infantry.

You might see a lot of 3mm ww2 stuff and some terrain next submission.

_____________________________________________

We've not heard much from you during the Challenge, Miles, so it's good to know that you're still beavering away with your projects.  Another whistle-stop tour of the planets, excellent... Love the Canadian moose cavalry. Otherwise there's so much to take in here, so I'll simply say, great work on this horde of models, Miles!

- Curt

From PeterD: Pigs and Other Swine for Vlogsphere and Sarah's Star Yacht (65 points?)

First of three posts for me today.  I could have contracted the painting content into one or two posts, but the middle stop on my journey is Noel's Comet...

First up is a short hop from Coruscant to Vlogsphere.  One of the proposed themes for this planet is Bureaucracy and I present the Burgermeister Ruprecht Von Wichtiguerin, accompanied by his flunky nephew Ernst, the regrettable offspring of his unfortunate sister.  For his part Ernst knows that he should have done better than take the job from Uncle Ruprecht, but law and business are hard work.  Besides it's lazy work that keeps him in bier and Strudel and leaves him his evenings free to moon over the lovely Katja down at the Schnitzel Haus.

 Figures are 28mm from Wizkids and might actually find use in a Seven Years War tabletop.

Hear ye, hear ye to his excellency's decree.

There is quite nice detail on this figure, although the clothing looks way too late for the standard DnD campaign settings.  Ruprecht is looking exceedingly self important here.

My wash gave Ernst a pleasantly grubby face but I'll have to go back and revisit the lacework.

My next stop is Noel's comet, which requires a trip on Lady Sarah's Star Yacht.  I have a couple of Land Army Girls (or land women of a certain age) with piglets as long as Sarah doesn't mind the smell.  Figures are from the Bad Squiddo games Kickstarter that I backed a couple of years back.  Pig farming is not quite as glamorous a role as a lumber jill, but they are very nice figures.  I really cannot say enough about the Women of WW2 range, there was a lot of research, respect and love that went into these figures.

The drab and grubby clothing required fairly heavy handed shading which looks fine a a proper distance.  I did try to give Miss Piper (see below) a pair of shiny black Wellies. 

Miss Piper and her little swine Ray.  The sculpts have mangled to capture a certain pride of accomplishment in the faces.   

I have not named the other lady pig-wrangler on the grounds that the other women in the challenge live locally and therefore can easily track me down and hurt me.

Points wise the base is four 28mm foot figures for 20 points.  I am not sure how to score the pigs (are they animals or equipment?) and two of them would count as prone, but maybe 5 for the set of three.  Plus I am hoping for 20 points for Vlogsphere and the Star Yacht.

_________________________________

 

Haha! A great post, Peter. I very much like Rupert and Ernst in their blue, red and gold livery, in fact I have the very same pair primed and ready to go on my painting table. As you've beaten me to the punch perhaps I'll do an alternate vision of them in an upcoming Challenge. 

Nonetheless, I think the stars of this entry are the pig farmers, especially Miss Piper and Ray the Pig (though I think you need to go back and give her ginger hair). I think it was very wise to keep the naming to people that are not on this continent. 

The pigs seem to be like crew served weapons, but I'll adjust as you suggest. :)

Good one Peter!

- Curt

Men in Tights - From Kerry T ( 250 points & 1 maybe 2 Squirrels)

Robin Hood, Robin Hood,riding through the glen

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men

Feared by the bad, loved by the good....

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood

Morning, Afternoon & Evening all

This time P is for Personality

Robin & a few of his merry men and of course maid Marion

As usual I just about bit off more than I could chew again this week and am hurriedly putting the finishing touches to this my 9th entry, having completed the flocking a few minutes ago just as bedtime approaches here on Sunday evening in NZ

This time I've made a return to Footsore Miniatures Barons War range, a lovely set of figures sculpted by Paul Hicks

Choosing a personality is a difficult choice as there are so many wonderful options available from a myriad of manufacturers. My initial thought had been to paint some ECW leaders but this would only have meant completing a few figures and not making much of an inroad into the leadpile. In the end the prospect of painting a larger number of figures told and I decided to get some of my Barons War figures completed. 

Even then there were a number of other personality figures that I could have chosen from but unfortunately I'd already made a start on two of my favorites in the range - Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales and  William Marshall before the challenge had started.

Another possible choice was Phillip Marc Sherriff of Nottingham but who'd want a baddie eh?    

These are from the figures listed as outlaws and include a few extras like gamekeeper and Poacher

The not so hairy one is Friar Tuck, with Little John to his right

This drab lot are from the peasant levy range

As is usual with my approach I plunged into the project without too much careful planning and consequently need more basic troops like spearmen, crossbowmen and bowmen (the ones I have are already painted).

Consequently the Sheriff doesn't have any of his own baddies and rogues.

As a result some of the Foot Sergeants I have were hurriedly painted and used in the scene above though these are of course in the liveries of Llewelyn ap Grufydd and William Marshal, being intended for use with some of my other retinues. These men, being mainly decent upstanding Welshmen would, I'm sure never be seen dead in the service of such a rogue as the Sheriff of Nottingham

Shield transfers courtesy of Citadel Six Custom Design Range

So adding things up I have

1 Mounted figure at 10 points

A cart which I'll count as an artillery piece @10 points

46 foot figures @ 5 points

(There are 52 figures in total but I've not counted 6 figures and the 2 carthorses as these were started pre-challenge)

I think this gives me 250 points and at least 1 squirrel possibly 2 (1 for the outlaws and 1 for the sergeants?)

 

Its just as well that I didn't attempt the 14 villagers that I thought I could manage as well! or I'd never have finished)

And so with that its goodnight all

__________________________________________

More lovely work from you, Kerry! Really, who doesn't love Robin Hood? What a wonderful band of rogues and scoundrels you're treating us to here. While the character figures are magnificent (maid Marion and Little John are particularly brilliant), I do love all the foot sergeants in their red and yellow livery - very sharp those.

Smashing stuff, Kerry!

- Curt

The Skull Duel Update

Skully McSkullface continues to tally all your skullz. Here's the butcher's bill to the end of Friday 25th Feb:

1. Curt 474
2. Millsy 229
3. DaveB 142
4. StuartL 108
5. GregB 75
6. Sander 25
7. TeemuL 17
8. Barks 8
9. PeteF 1

Curt's lead remains precarious; a skeleton horde or skullicious terrain piece could topple him. The tussle for a podium place remains tight.

Notable Skullz:

MikeW's orcs 

More of Mike's orcs

Samuli's Karla von Kill

MikeF's classic assassins have skulltastic details

Millsy's Gaslands hotrods

StuartL's shaman

Honourable mentions/ not quite skullz

Ray's Phantom. I happen to know he has Skull Rings to punch evil-doers

ChrisW's pulp ladies
I'd be very surprised if there aren't silver skullz on their uniforms.

Skull of the Week:

Ray's Vodou

Happy painting!

Barks