From DallasE: Tentage and Stowage (30 points)

OK, so this week we're wheeling out some more oldies - some tentage that's been sitting unpainted for nearly 15 years. I got this set in a trade I think, it came with a bunch of sandbag walls that were themselves painted years ago, but I never got around to the tents.

Man they were easy to paint too - prime back and a basecoat of XV-88, drybrushed up with a couple of lighter tones. I reckon they'll be good for pretty much anything from the Great War onwards, and maybe even earlier, if you just use the smaller windowless wall tents.

As far as points, this is about 6"x6"x6" (the ruler in the pic is 6" long more or less) so 20 points.

In addition, I painted a whole mess of AFV stowage bits. These are destined to stack up on the decks of the AFVs I'll be doing up for the Western Desert, and probably on some Shermans and such for NW Europe as well. They're from a company called "Value Gear" on eBay and are pretty great. I reckon these are worth about 10 points, there's something like 40 pieces of stowage there. 

Tentage (1 cube) = 20 points

Stowage (40 pieces) = 10 points

Total = 30 points

Thanks and take it easy all!

Looks like you've let these tents mature just right. Don't want to do them too soon! Useful pieces for many settings, as are the stowage bits.

Barks

From AngusW: Native American Indians (Pendraken) (120 points)

 With the US Cavalry trooper now complete they need some opposition. I've bought 200 mounted native American Indians so I thought I'd try and paint 3 batches of 60 to get the bulk done. Painting 60 at a time did not sound a lot until I started.

I don't like painting horses and I don't like painting flesh. These seem to have taken a long time to complete. With the end of the challenge looming I have the next 60 undercoated with the aim to finish with an AHPC points score comfortably over my target.

60 x 10mm cavalry @2pts each = 120pts.

Sixty horses at a time? Ouch! Your efforts have paid off, these look great. Only got to do it another couple of times!

Barks

From AlanD: Bloody Nice Miniatures (105 points)

Like many other right-thinking people, I fell in love with the new range of Bloody Miniatures. At present there are only 32 figures available, with more on the way, but they are perfect for adding character figures to your ECW armies or providing a characterful skirmish force. That's what I'll be using mine for, and I hope to use them for Pikeman's Lament.

I rapidly painted the first 8 this week as members of the New Model Army. Not my finest painting, and I had a lot of trouble with the photos, but I hope you get the idea that these are really cool figures! 

Having lulled you into a false sense of security...

...here are some more Romanians!

I have been enjoying my Romanian project, and my tendency to completism has been kicking in. This week I've added a Pak 97/38, one of the hybrid guns designed by the Germans in late 1941 when they were freaking out about T34s. Specifically, the gun was assembled from captured French 75mm barrels with Swiss muzzle brakes stuck onto German Pak 38 carriages, and they fired captured French and Polish ammunition. They saw service from mid-1942 until the end of the war, some ending up with the Romanian army.

I've also painted a couple of loader teams. These are handy additions to an army in Battle Group, giving a gun the chance of an additional shot each round as well as providing more crew, and thus resilience. Completism also involved me painting a bloke with a flamethrower and his mate.

19 figures and a gun gives me 105 points, which takes me past my target of 1309 points for the Challenge! As a result, I have reached my aspirational target of 10,000 career challenge points, from (I think?) 8 challenges (or maybe 7.. I'll have to check). Time to break out the bubbly.

Noone expects the Romanian army! Good work on these- was the FrankenPak effective against T-34s? I'm sure we'll get to see more of your Bloody Miniatures in the coming weeks- can't wait! And congratulations on your career achievement!

Barks

From GeoffreyT: Champions of Chaos (Challenge XII Star)(60 points)

Finally we reach the Challenge XII star, where I must paint Champions of chaos, and add 'tasteful' photographs of their escapades. 

This has been a challenge in more than one way, my brushes are wrecked and it becomes incrementally harder to make a point on one, or find a half decent corner of brush to use, let alone think of a tasteful story.

I tend to wreck my brushes, so use cheap Taklon ones and replace them regularly.  This is the dirty dozen I am currently working with.  The liner brush is the only one usable anymore.  Stuck with doing terrain only until I venture out for some more.

I also do other nefarious things like use unthinned paint on a dry palette, I probably would do better if I practiced correct technique, but hey its a hobby, so I do it how I like it.

Oops, perhaps this photo just crossed the line on 'tasteful'

Here is the group of miniatures that the mangled brushes produced.  This range of figures is my all time favourite.  I should have done these first when my brushes and motivation was good.  But then that would not be a challenge then would it.  All from Citadel miniatures "Realm of Chaos" range circa 1987.

Back in the day, I loved the chaos warband rules released for realms of Chaos.  They came with the books 'Slaves to Darkness' and 'Lost and the Damned'.  At the time they were quite unique, with greatly unbalanced forces derived from random rolls for Chaos Champion and warband generation, and equally random advancements.  There was a mini campaign system where you could progress until you became a demon prince, a chaos spawn, be dead or even undead, with death or the chaos spawn option most likely.   You also had the option of using your randomly generated warbands as a unit in a full scale army.  It was really innovative stuff and brimming with depth.  

First we have two Champions of Khorne (the god of blood and gore), in their traditional black, red and bronze.   They had pointy ears, I was going to use them for planet Vulcan until I found a different option.  All these chaos minis are based in the old style, so I can add them to the 100 odd I already have collected this range over the last 35 years.

Next is a bug-like Champion of Slaanesh (the god of pleasure and pain).  Back in 1987 these guys were painted in pastel pink and blue combos.   This bug-man is a bit brighter than the old school style.

Next is a Champion of Nurgle (the god of disease and decay), in rotted browns and green.  I find this combo hard as I like bright colours, and it is hard to get a good contrast between areas in murky colours.  Nevertheless I was most happy with how this one came out of the bunch.

Finally a Champion of Tzeentch (the god of change) on a flying disc.  I have based him like cavalry as I have a bunch of these I run as a unit when the need for WFB arises.  I don't like see-thru flying stands, so I use a rock pile or dead tree sculpt to lift it up from the base.

Tzeentch is usually done in big colour contrasts.  I like contrasting colour areas as it makes delineation between areas possible without black-lining or deep shading.

This one has a bit of sci-fi action on this back.  The realm of Chaos characters had a bit of crossover between fantasy and scifi.  The fully sci-fi 'chaos marine' ones from '87 are great too, but rare as hens teeth.

Now for the escapades.

***

Once upon a time, there was a powerful wizard, Simon the wise.

Simon delved deeply into magic, and used an ancient artefact to commune with great powers.  Unfortunately the powers were too great, and Simon was turned evil, and transformed into Simon the many-coloured.

War was coming, and the great daemon Sore Ron commanded Simon to his side.

Ron: "Build me an army worthy of the Snowlord"

Simon worked like a demon (sic) and turned goodly creatures into evil

"Have at you longshanks"

"What !!?, longshanks ???, I have no legs you idiots.."

                                        KAZAAAAM !!!!

He turned unpainted into painted...

                                           PA-CHOW *

The wise and goodly peoples held council.  The Grey Wizard informed the council of the corruption of Simon the Wise.

Half Elf: "Our list of allies grows thin"

Man: "You have my sword"

Dwarf: "...and my axe"

The gibbering horde grew, and none could withstand them.

The goodly people retreated to Realms Keep for a final last stand.

"so it begins"

All seemed lost, until dawn on the third month, when a bright light appeared on the horizon, and a new power appeared, turning the tide of the battle.

"Hello Darlings..."

                                                                    FIN

***

4 Champions on foot = 20 points

1 mounted champion = 10 points

Bonus for Challenge XII Star = 30 points?

A Squirrel for 'Realms of Chaos'

Veni Vedi Blogi

Geoff.

*hard core painting nerd reference

I have judged your entry... and found it worthy. Congratulations on achieving your Challenge! You've done a great job on these doomed warriors, each a different style. I enjoyed your story, which was a nice retrospective, and hope there is a sequel! Your labours have calmed the Snowlord's savage heart until next winter.

Barks

PS Your brushes look like mine... I was worried I was going to have to surrender my nerd card, but I got the reference. Phew!

From GeoffreyT: The last one (Xanth)(60 points)

At last I have reached the last of the pre-defined planet based objectives, Xanth.  I was going to use the theme of never ending to cover the issue of scale creep, but felt better of it, and have gone for the key phrase "Unique Talent".

Cacofonix the Bards musical skills are indeed unique, unfortunately they are not appreciated by all.

This miniature did not get painted with the previous batch of Asterix figures I posted for Noel's Comet, because he was a poor casting, with the front foot and half the base missing.  Therefore he was delayed as I took time to sculpt in the missing parts with green stuff.

I decided to build this planet on a theme of the miniature left behind.  For various reasons, good and bad, one or more miniatures from a batch seems left behind to habitate the bottom of cardboard box.  

So I scraped around in boxes and found some projects where I had left one behind for a reason.  Some recent, some older.

Next we have a Copplestone Castings Spy, from the same set of the two spies I posted for Solaris.  This guy came in a second hand lot with the others, but his base tab was cut off.  I was undecided how I would base him, on a flat or raised base, so he got delayed.  The plunge was made and here he is.

The next chap is one of Beowulf retinue that I posted for Glorantha.  28mm from Eureka miniatures.

I lost his shield and spear, so he was put aside.  I found some spare stuff for him and here he is.

An old plastic shield by Citadel, and a bronze wire spear.

Next I have an AWI British Officer (28mm Crusader miniatures).  When I got a my first AWI stuff, I had no idea why some blokes were randomly holding a spear, when their mates had guns.  Did he just point it and shout BANG.  I just didn't see a need to paint them all.

I have since learned these random spear guys are the Officer's and quite useful for Sharp Practice, so I dug him back out for painting.

This 'last one' is also the 'first one'.  The first Dr Who, William Hartnell by Citadel Miniatures.  This miniature was quite venerable, and appears to have suffered for having been stripped down and repainted too often, with a loss of detail on his head, like it had been scrubbed too hard with a toothbrush.  So wasn't one I was inspired to paint.

I painted him nonetheless, specifically for this post.

Next is some Gallic casualties.  These guys were duplicates of others I had.  They are very useful for things like clue markers in "Rangers of Shadow Deep", so here are the last three painted.  Brand unknown, in 28mm scale.

Next is a lady in a bath tub.  Why did I leave this one.  Well she is the third I have, and how many do you need; probably none.  For a wild west scenario maybe one.  Brand unknown.  25mm scale.

Finally I have an Epic Eldar Wave Serpent by Citadel Miniatures.  I was given a painted second hand force of Epic Eldar (Space Elfs in 6mm scale) and got enthused and purchased some bits to supplement it.  I acquired two used 'Wave Serpent' hovering troop transporters.  One painted and one unpainted.  I have now belatedly painted this one to match the other.

Here it is next to the one I copied.  Close enough I say.

There are plenty more examples where I have left one or more behind, you could say I have a 'never ending' supply (Xanth theme again!).  I probably should have finished this post with some Mohicans, but that is enough for today.

***

Cacofonix (about 20mm, he is quite small) = 4 points + 20 point Xanth bonus.

5 x 28mm foot = 25 points

3 x 28mm prone and no base = 9 points

1 x 6mm vehicle = 2 points.

A grand total of 60 points.

With all the planets now done, now it is time to crash my spaceship into the Challenge XII Star in a fit of ecstasy, just like the Fire Clown in Moorcroft's book 'The Winds of Limbo'.

Geoff.

I, too, find that the Challenge inspires me to slap paint on those neglected oddities we all have floating around. Good work salvaging the bard, and his tunic looks great as well. He's a great choice for a Unique Talent. The eclectic collection you've thrown in here is wonderful. Congratulations on completing all the locations!

Barks

From GeoffreyT: Unholy Carronade (Mars)(67 points)

Joseph Stalin, the man of steel, was reputed to say "Artillery is the God of War".   So for Mars, I bring you the theme "God of War".

No Soviet artillery was immediately at hand, but I did have this piece, "the Unholy Carronade", from Heartbreaker miniatures Warzone Mutant Chronicles line.  Comes with three crew in various states of decay.

This gun looked kind of biological-pipes fusion, akin to the works of HR Geiger.  The gun looked kind of suspect, so I painted in flesh-tones to enhance the look.  

The 'Warzone Mutant Chronicles' game was prevalent between 1995 and 1997.  I was on a gaming hiatus at this time, but last year picked up a bunch of Warzone Dark Legion secondhand.  I didn't know much about them, so I researched into it and found I had a good pile, enough for a viable gaming force.  Then I got interested, bought the gun and couple of other ones for about 30 in total.   

Again, one of these characters had a gun looking like 'a biological appendage' so flesh-tones were liberally applied.  Some people would paint this weapon in different colours to make it look less rude.  I was not one of those people.

The fat one is quite big, 40mm to the eye.

With a whole bunch of others, I now have a complete force for a game which has been largely defunct for 25 years.  This however does not deter me.  I have diligently painted them, put them in their own box and away in a cupboard.  Now I can rest easy knowing the Dark legion is ready to spew forth if the unlikely need arises.

***

There are in this world, games being actively played.  I am playing Elf Union in the Blood Bowl 2020 edition.  I had some players out injured, so needed some journeymen to fill the gaps.  One got MVP and levelled up, so I hired her to the team.  This then required me to acquire a new miniature player.  With slow domestic and international shipping, I had to source locally, and got an old second hand mini in a shop and converter her in a classic blood bowl cheap ass style.  

WARNING:  THE FOLLOWING IMAGES MAY CAUSE DISTRESS TO SOME VIEWERS.

The mini was a Ral Partha Elf, so my sincere apologies to any Ral Partha collectors who might be offended by these images of classic metal figure with the weapons crudely hacked off.

This season I am writing any earned skills on their base to make it easier for me.  Oretty rough paintwork, but blood bowl minis take a beating.  Will need to varnish.

***

For this post we have:

One 28mm Artillery Piece = 10 points + 20 points bonus for Mars

5 x 28mm Warzone foot = 25 points

1 x 40mm foot = 7 points.

1 x mutilated elf = 5 points

A grand total of 67 points

A squirrel for Warzone Mutant Chronicles: Dark Legion

Kind Regards

Geoff

I closed my eyes so I don't know what unholy insult you have dared offer up. It was bad enough inspecting your variously-sized flesh cannons. They show great attention to detail, and I'm sure will upset your opponents.

Barks