From JamesM: 15mm German Armoured SS-Armoured Cannon Platoon (48 points)

Hi folks,

I've been continuing with my 15mm German half-track project, and this week have six Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Ausf. D vehicles from the 12th 'Heavy' kompanie of III/26. SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 12SS Panzer Division.

The 'mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (7,5 cm)' (Sd. Kfz. 251/9) was created as a supporting vehicle for the mechanised infantry units of the German army and SS in mid 1942. Armed with an 7.5 cm K. 37 L/24 gun (the same 'short' 75mm gun that had been mounted on the early StuG and Panzer IVs, but later designated as 7.5 cm K. 51 (Sf.)), this vehicle lends some heavy direct firepower. In FoW terms, these vehicles are still dangerous to most allied tanks in the Normandy theatre. 

Still, they have negligible armour themselves - and being open topped are particular vulnerable to artillery and mortar fire.  

I've painted the six vehicles which (according to a full order of battle) would be assigned to the heavy support company of the battalion. For this, the hull numbers 443-448 have been used. 

Painting wise, I went with the same recipe as my other half-tracks. I used the Skytrex decals for the side and rear hull numbers, as the smaller ones I had used for this previously from Doms Decals didn't cover the number range I required. License plates and division symbol were also added. 

Foliage was added using seafoam 'branches' and leaf flock. Basing has been done to the same style as the rest of my 15mm Normandy collection. I focussed this on the front of the vehicles, where foliage might have been added to camouflage the vehicle in a hedge or treeline. 

For camo on these, I kept similar colours to those used before, but in a different camo pattern. I'm afraid I don't have the skills currently to airbrush, so the camo pattern is a little heavier and harder edged that I would have liked. However, at tabletop distances it will work. 

A close up of some of the unit

These models are 15mm Plastic Soldier Company kits (PSC) with the PSC upgrade sprue used to convert them into the 251/9 versions. Crew will be painted and added at a later date. 

This units completion leaves 12 more vehicles to finish on my planned Order of Battle (with 34 half-tracks or associated vehicles painted since November). 

Points wise, 6 x 15mm vehicles (8 points each) = 48 points. 

Lovely little half tracks James, it's nice to see these support vehicles with the 75mm gun.  As you say, they pack a punch but can't take any in return.  The decals, came and accoutrements look really good.  Well done.

Adamc: Luna the Rohirrim and the Turn of the Tide (97 points)

 Some more Tolkien Goodies 12 Rohirrim fighting on foot.  For me the moment in the Lord of the Rings that Turns the tide is when Gandalf shows up with Erkenbrand and the men of Westford to relieve the army at Helms Deep 

First up are 4 Archers I'll have to mix them in with other archers to make them work as a unit for most Wargames but they should help out nicely. 

The 8 men armed with hand weapons are great mix prefect for a point of warriors in Saga.  I used some Roman shields for a few to keep them form looking too generally Games Workshop.  They should mix well with some other Dark age troops I have without standing out too much but also they should stand own their own too.  All and all these fellow should net me 60 points plus 20 points for the Luna's theme.  They should get me a squirrel point.

Finally a bunch of terrain that is also part of a Games workshop set.  I don't have too much to say here its gray stone dry brushed a lighter gray.  It should be great for Frostgrave its 9 inches by 9 inches and about 2.25 inches high that is about 85% of a 6x6x6 cube so about 17 points.   I should now have enough terrain points to claim another Squirrel point 

A useful bit of ruins there Adam, would work for a lot more games than just Frostgrave.  Also good idea on using the men of Rohan as generic fantasy types.  I have a box of them in the depths of my basement and may turn them into generic Dark Age types.  I'll concur on the Turning of the Tide aspect of their appearance in the book, but it is a bit of stretch given that you morphed some of them.  I'll leave the Squirrel Finder Generals to evaluate your bushy tailed arboreal rodents, but note that you do have this properly labeled so will avoid a yellow card.

From PeteF: Esenyshra - The Wailing Shadow (25 points)

 

My third post for this Monday is also the final one in Challenge XII that will be minioned by Monday's Marvellous Minion - Peter. Thank you for helping make the Challenge happen - it's always a lot of fun and helps to get the brushes twirling in their constant struggle against the Shelf of Shame. (didn't you mean shelves? - Ed).

This is a figure for my Kings of War Nightstalkers army - I got the foundation for this army painted in Challenge X. KoW is a constantly evolving game with small adjustments being made at least annually and more significant changes every few years - this helps keep the game fresh and balanced - and it means new models, units and formations come up which you may want to add to your army. Mantic, however, is not the Evil Empire. Changes in the game are not made to sell new more powerful beat stick models without which you won't be competitive!

Mantic doesn't have an official model for Eshenyshrya - I got this one as part of a bulk lot on EBay so I'm not sure of the manufacturer.   She fit the bill of someone who was "transformed into a creature of the void: a banshee." 

Painting fantasy figures is certainly teaching me some new techniques and I feel like I'm getting a little better at highlighting robes and things - it's a departure from my standard French Napoleonics (apologies to anyone who wanted to see Minifigs this year - I have plenty in the queue!). This also completes 4 inner ring planets so I'd better contact the Snow Lord for the final challenge.

1x28mm figure = 5 points + a 20 bonus for this Mysterious Neighbor on Mars = 25 points

Squirrel +0 (Total 7)

Skulz +2 (!) (Total 3) - there is a tiny skull on her belt and another embedded in top of the scythe

Great work on this figure, although not specific to the KoW system, she looks like she'll fit the bill nicely.  I really like the effects on that purple robe and those are some serious washboard abs on display,

It's been a pleasure to admin to your varied work this year Pete.  Speaking of which there is one element of past Challenges that you have not brought out this year.  As you have now completed your trip through all three rings, it is time for me to set out a Final Challenge for AHPC XII.

Your challenge is a unit of Minifig Napoleonics, any army, any regiment.

From PeteF: None Shall Pass (25 points)

My third Monty Python's Holy Grail miniature of Challenge XII is the Black Knight before he picks up a a scratch and a flesh wound. 

I don't have any games in mind for my Monty Python figures yet - the Black Knight would be good as some kind of hero or champion - maybe in SAGA or he could fit in a Lion Rampant army.

I'm in a mad rush to get to the center of the Challenge XII Quadrant before our rapidly approaching deadline as well as to meet my 1,000 point target - hence the shameless points grabbing with single mini entries! 

1x28mm foot figure = 5 points + 20 for Altair IV (Forbidden) = 25 points

Sadly, three minis isn't enough for a squirrel point.

So Squirrel = 7 and Skulz = 1

I think the black background works better - but I thought I'd try out white for a change - what do you think?

Lovely work on this iconic figure, I like the groundwork.  I think in general the black background d works best, but for the black figure the white makes the details stand out better.  I agree that this figure could be useful in SAGA, Lion/Dragon Rampant or any number of skirmish games where one gets to go all Medieval on one's opponents. 

BradS Cleansing the Pallet (155 Points)

 Hello All,

As the challenge gets toward the end it is more and more difficult to carry on. I have always remembered the words of an old miniatures painter I learned a lot from: when you are disinterested and find painting a chore, cleanse the pallet. What he meant by that is to paint something totally out of your usual thing. So for me it was something that wasn't all Greens and Browns! To cleanse my pallet I selected two distinct subjects: Turtles and Teens. Both of these options allowed me to use colors I RARLY use! Furthermore I decided to try and get a cartoony look out of the Scooby Gang, something I have never done before. Both sets of figures are from Pop Minis who provides 3D printable files.

The whole gang! A challenge to paint

Velma and Daphne 

The Turtles - These were a lot of fun to paint and turned out really well.

Back to my normal subject with this GAZ-66 Soviet Truck.

This is a 3D Print in 28mm from the recent bobmack3d kickstarter.

I really really like the look of this vehicle and in a moment you will see how I am using it!

More Syrian Rebel forces. My last post I painted up 10 of these guys and now I have a total of 20!

Perfect for the games I have planned.

These painted up really fast! Just threw on a bunch of browns and greens then gave them a good wash.

I did take the time to outfit a couple of them in cammoflauge.

This guy turned out perfect for the GAZ-66 truck

Combined with my previous trucks I have the start of my own Syrian Mad Max Rebel army.

For this post I really stepped out side by box. The cartoon figures came out ok. The bold colors and no shading did not give me any room to hide. It was a tough job but in the end I learned a lot. On the other hand the turtles really came out nice probably because at the end of the day they are just more green and brown. The Syrians are by bread and butter of what I normally paint.

For the scoring I did:

Scooby Gang: 5 x 28mm Figures = 25 points

TMNT: 4 x 28mm Figures = 20 points

Syrian Rebels: 10 x 28mm Figures = 50 points

GAZ-66 : 1 x 28mm Vehicle = 20 points

I will use Velma to get a ride on Sarah's Star Yacht to the planet Arrakis, My Syrians feel right a home on the desert planet for a bonus 20 points.

Then I will use Daphne to hitch another ride to the planet Corsucant. This is where the Scooby Gang is going to help me out with the classic theme of Good vs Evil for a final bonus of 20 points.

Total Points: 155

A big enthusiastic Ruh Roh on these iconic figures from my daughter' childhood (I'm too old for these series, but would welcome a George of the Jungle or Bullwinkle figure).  Great use of bright primary colours.  Jinkies those are great and certainly get you passage on the Star Yacht to Arrakis.

Your tough, no BS Syrians certainly look the business and bring us back to reality.  Excellent work here as well.

JohnB 1866 Austrian Infantry 112pts

Sticking with KuK forces, but turning the clock back a few years, I offer 40mm homemade toy soldiers in stosstaktic mode. This figure casts well and is fun to paint. 

The officers have discarded their great coats and present themselves bravely as superb targets for the Dreyse needlegun.

16 infantry @ 7 points = 112 points

I do love these home casts, they make me want to pick up my Britain's cannon and fire matchsticks at them.  Lovely poses and brushwork.  Aces all around, except that you forgot to label your posts!

From David V - 6mm Galahad G.E.V.'s (From SJG's Ogre) (Klendathu) (36 points)

Additions to my growing forces for Ogre Miniatures, the 6mm scale miniatures wargame based upon Steve Jackson's Games' 45-year-old board game.

The Paneuropean "Galahad" G.E.V. (Ground Effect Vehicle) is my favourite type of  "armour unit" in the Ogre game universe. Something about these jet jockeys zooming in at 200 kph, then zooming out again to try and avoid the Ogre's weapons (two moves per game turn!). This entry is a squadron of such fast attack vehicles. I went with a traditional Paneuro blue paint scheme. 

After assembly, I primed all the units with GW Chaos Black, and laid in flat white zenithal highlighting with an airbrush. The base blue of the G.E.V.s consisted of several washes of GW Drakenhoff Nightshade. I then laid in highlights and details with oil paints, and did some light weathering with oils, acrylics, and powders. 

The relative size of the Galahad G.E.V. is shown against a Heavy Tank, and my Combine Ogre Mark V. Some more Paneuro vehicles, artillery, and a Fencer (Ogre), are in queue for the Challenge. 

(8 x 2) points of 6mm or 1:300 scale G.E.V.s are a modest 16 points. Add 20 points for Klendathu, an Invasion Gone Bad. Some of the classic scenarios from the game I remember playing include Raid and Ceasefire Collapse, deep, fast movements of luftpanzer forces that ultimately did not prevent the rise of the A.I. overlords during the Descartes Revolution. TOTAL = 36 POINTS

I've really been enjoying this bit of OGRE nostalgia David, and it's green to see the Air Cushion Cavalry make an appearance.  The skirting effect reminds me a big of Sow bugs (or Rollypollies or other regional names), but that's not a bad thing as both zip around, appear everywhere and can be damned hard to kill.

Excellent work and full value on the Invasion Gone Bad.

From Curt: Ottoman Laylar Fanatic Infantry at The Great Siege of Malta, 1565 (105 Points)

For the past few Challenges I've tried to make an effort to add a new unit for my Great Siege of Malta project. This time round I thought I'd add some more fellas to the Ottoman mosh pit with some Iaylar fanatics.

From what I understand, the Iaylars were a large, irregular force of religious fanatics which the Ottomans used as expendable shock troops. They were typically thrown in the the initial assaults to soak up missile fire, disrupt defensive lines, and generally pave the way for the more high-value troops.

It's rumoured that the Iaylars regularly used hashish to help put themselves into a religious frenzy before flinging themselves into the assault. I like to think that perhaps their imams stoked them up by telling them that the defenders held vast stores of Cheetos and Mountain Dew behind the lines. I figure that after a good hookah pipe, there's nothing like the prospect of a big munchie run to get your blood up. :)

These 28mm models are from Old Glory and fit the Iaylar bill quite nicely. They actually didn't look like much when fresh out of the packaging, but as with many OG models, they paint up wonderfully and look great in a mob. In order to give them a little more variation I bent a few limbs, drilled out some fists to add some hand-painted banners, and played around with their skin tones to reflect the wide variety of ethnicities which would have made up the ranks.

I've been quite taken with AlanD's wonderful 3,2,1 basing for his ECW Covenanters, so I thought I'd do something similar with these lads. This mob will give me two groups of 12 figures (plus one hanger-on) for any future 'Pikemans' Lament' scenarios. I hope to double the numbers for this contingent as I feel the Ottomans should have a schwack of cannon fodder, er, enthusiastic recruits willing to spread the word that Suleiman is rather Magnificent.

Points? Let's see, four of these mooks were done pre-Challenge as 'proof-of-concept' (as if you need such a thing for religious fanatics these days), so that puts it at 21 models for 105 points. This should also provide me another Squirrel Point and count as my 'O' (for Ottomans) in my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Finally, this group will allow me to check off another subject on my ridiculously unrealistic Challenge Project List. Still, seven out of twelve isn't too bad.  Okay, you're right, it's pretty bad.

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

I think I have a few more posts left in the tank before the end of the Challenge, but we'll see what I can manage. Wish me luck!

Thanks for dropping in for a look. Have a great week!

- Curt

Always great too get a chance to vet the Snowlord's work and no disappointments here at all, these are wonderful (of course).  Love the movement in the figures and those flags.  And they look amazing ranked up against those ruined walls.

I agree with a lot of what you said about OG figures.  One can get sucked in by large bags at a good price and then get disappointed on opening the bag and looking closely at the figures.  But they do tend to paint up well and the end product in this case looks excellent.