From StuartL - Spider-Woman - Lady Sarah's Star Yacht - 35 Points

Hello again,

For my second post for the free fire period, I have painted up a Spider-Woman. No, this isn't a character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but one from Japanese Mythology. 

The Jorougumo (lit. Woman-spider) is a spider like creature from Japanese legends that can shapeshift into the form of a beautiful woman. There is a common breed of spider over here in Japan, (and I believe in parts of the US now) known as the Jorou-gumo (or Joro Spider), that is a large, brightly coloured spider that is perhaps the origin of the myth. While the spiders do look kind of creepy, they are harmless to humans and only prey on insects. The mythological version is not as benign and lures humans to its lair to devour them. 

The model is from Reaper Bones and was fairly quick to paint up. Assembly was made a bit easier due to the flexibility of the Bones material. Each of the legs has a peg on the foot that slots into the base. If this model were made of metal like Reaper's usual figures, it would have been a lot trickier to line things up.

I will be using this model to pay for my passage on Lady Sarah's Star Yacht (I hope Lady Sarah doesn't mind a few cobwebs in the cabin), which will take me back to Solaris. I have already finished off all my planet related entries, but I had some alternative models for a few of the planets that I decided that I would paint up anyway.

Following the theme of Japanese culture, what could be more appropriate for the themes of deception and illusion than a pair of Ninja?

These two stealthy assassins are from Zenit miniatures in Spain. I picked up a big box of used Zenit figures a few years ago and I have been very slowly assembling and painting them. The figures are very well cast, but tend to be very delicate, with small connection points between parts.

So, for 3x 28mm minis I should be able to add 15 points to my total. This is also my first trip aboard the yacht, so I can claim 20 bonus points there, for a grand total of 35 points.

I hope to be back later in the week with some more minis. See you then.

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Good grief, more spiders! 

Seriously, that is a very interesting figure, Stuart, and I like the way you've painted her with the white garments juxtaposed against the creepy spider legs. I did a Jorougumo a year or so ago from the Rising Sun wargame. Very cool mythology. The Ninja look excellent as well - I especially like how you've done their black garb. Great models those.

Well done Stuart!

- Curt

From PaulSS - Grots (47pts)

 

More green-skins for the horde with a Runtherd and ten Gretchin adding a skirmish screen to the mob.

Like the rest of the recent Orks these are done from a zenithal base that seems to work much better than a light base.

These Grots are certainly grotty models, the finish on the raw models is like a cheap plastic toy and there are loads of mould lines to be cleaned up. But, after a extended cleaning they do seem to come out ok.

There are not so many areas on these for me to go nuts with the rust, but, I've added it where I can. 

The grots are small, so I think that counting as a 20mm figure would be ok, the Runtherd I'll count as a 40mm like the earlier Orks for a total of 47 points added to my total.

American Civil War Duel Totalizer: 136 foot, 2 mounted, 4 horses (825pts)

Napoleonic Duel Totalizer: 8 foot, 2 mounted (100pts)

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I was surprised to see your foray into 40K Orks, Paul. I always think of you as a historical gamer, but I should know better as you have that wonderful collection of Star Wars models that you started a few years ago. Anyway, I think these look great! Even though the models themselves may have been a little nasty to work with, it's amazing how they've been elevated under your talented brush. Well done!

- Curt 

From StuartL - Blood for the Blood God - 65 Points

Hello all,

The Snow Lord has confirmed that we are weapons free, so here we go with (hopefully) the first of several posts this week.

I have already cleared everything in the Challenge Quadrant, so I'm just working on clearing out some of the primed minis that I had lying around. First off is a set of 10 Lesser Daemons of Khorne, commonly known as Bloodletters for Warhammer 40,000.

These models were all really easy to paint up. I started with a black undercoat and then dry-brushed them with brighter and brighter shades of red, covering less of the model with each coat. I then added some blue/grey paint to the teeth, claws and horns, as well as some really bright blue to the tongue. A bit of bronze and brass highlights to the swords and the figures were pretty much done.

I also managed to get a giant golem done. This is from Reaper Bones, a part of their Greek Odyssey expansion from their last kickstarter. This chunky fellow stands about 75mm tall, and came with a simple sculpted base.

The majority of the model was painted in bronze, then dry-brushed with brass to give it a bit more of a shine. I gave it leather pteruges and painted the central plate to break up the metallics. Finally, a crest of bright red up top adds a nice splash of colour.

The Bloodletters are standard GW 28mm models, so for 10 of them that should be 50 points. The golem is pretty hefty, but was fairly simple to paint, so maybe 15 points is appropriate? That should give me a total of 65 points.

The Bloodletters have 4 skulls on their standard which can be added to my side duel total. It seems like quite a small number for GW minis to be honest.

Skullz Total 132.

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Lovely work Stuart! The Bloodletters are suitably nasty, I especially like the counterpoint of their blue-grey horns and tongues (eww).  My favourite though, is the Greek golem. The metalwork is excellent, but what really makes it work is the white enamel on his belly armour. Ace that. Not sure of the height of the Golem, but he seems like a rather large lad, so we'll go with your 15 points.

- Curt

From PeterD: An Irish Tide on Luna (117 points)

The themes for Luna include tides and I present a boatload of Irish Sea Raiders who arrive with the tides on the western coasts of Dark age Britain.  Other than the curragh they sail in, the figures are all Gripping Beas and mostly from their plastic Irish set (or the Paddy O'Furniture set as it's known in our household).

Landlubbers and most North American sailors don't often realize but the tides along the coasts of the British isles are something to be reckoned with, with big tidal height and strong currents resulting from a lot of water sloshing through some narrow openings.  Tides determine when you can sail, which direction you sail in and when you can enter port.

Ireland in the Dark Ages was like most of its history rich in people and culture and poor in just about everything else.  So they exported their people to Scotland and Wales and used some forced acquisition import trade.  The leader here is a metal fig from the Arthurian range meant to represent a former mercenary who acquired better gear fighting foreign wars and has come back home.  Otherwise these are the Plastic Irish done straight up from the box.  I have had lots of metal GB figures but these were my first plastics from them and I was quite pleased with the box.  Nice poses, clean sculpt and good variety of heads, arms, shields and cloaks.  

Here's a back view of the cloaks showing the natural wool tufts that were used as decoration.  I've based them individually so that they can serve in Beowulf RPG skirmishes where they will serve perfectly as Sea Raider.  I also plan to have them serve as a unit of 12 for mass battle games (once I work out magnets and basing etc).

Close up of the second half of the bunch. You may notice that some look a little grainy which is down to my own impatience. The box arrived mid challenge in a cold snap and I was so keen to get them primed that I took them outside before the weather had warmed up enough.  However, they look ok and work well from my standard 2 foot range.  

Back view of this lot again with a cloak or two (these are separate pieces and can go on any torso before the head is attached).    I tried for a unit feel by using a limited colour palette and a common shield theme. Shields are all free handed in basic Celtic spirals.  I gave some figures basic plaids (the modern usage as a pattern, not the traditional item of clothing).  The flag was bodged together quickly in MS Word using Celtic clip art.

Two other metal figures.  The priest originally came with a sword and spear, but I wanedt a less violent Irish cleric.  I tried to bodge a cross by cutting down the sword, and may have to revisit that later.  The horn blower is from the GB Sub Roman British range and will end up with those forces.  Both are venerable but fine figures.  The Currragh is from the Freebooter's Fate range and is a resin cast.  Back in early December I was in Toronto on business and the trip armed with a shopping list.  A search on Meeplemart website of "boats" had unearthed this as a potential stand in for an Irish curragh, but I had no idea where to find it in store.  Turned out neither had their staff, but they assured me that if it was listed as in stock on the webstore, then it was in the brick and mortar store.  Kudos to the lovely young lady who searched all over the store to find it for me.

A curragh is a traditional Irish boat made of leather over a wooden frame.  According to Irish legend, St Brendan the Navigator and companions sailed to the New World in one in the 6th century.  Tim Severin's book The Brendan Voyage (a very good read) has great material on their construction and history.  I don't suggest following Severin's lead by sailing one to Newfoundland via The Faroes, Iceland and Greenland to prove that the legendary voyage was possible if you are determined and crazy enough.

Points wise I make it 14x28mm foot figures, plus I suggest counting the boat as a vehicle for 20, and 20 for Luna for a total of 110 points.  This could be my last post, but I am hoping for the traditional Shelf Soup last week end post of odds and ends. 

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Great work Peter! What a great mob of Irish to bring a little more richness to your Dark Age collection. As you say kudos to the Meeplemart staff in digging up this boat to stand in for your curragh. It looks excellent, though as you say, I wouldn't trust one of these to take me from Newfoundland to, well, anywhere! Those were some tough and enterprising folks back then.

I'm going to give you a few extra points for the hand painted shields, though you may want to think of a wash and colour that banner as it looks a bit minimalist and anaemic for this hearty lot. :)

Well done!

From KerryT : "Whosoever holds this hammer, if he is worthy, shall possess the power of Thor!"- (85 points and 1 squirrel)

 Morning. afternoon & evening all

You know when you start painting an army you are meant to start with the basic troops, paint them up and then move on to the Guard or elite  and then commanders etc, well sometimes its more fun to do it the other way round.

Having said that my original and unrealistic intention  had been to present a whole viking force of about 60 figures in P is for Pagan, my 11th entry

These are Vikings from a Footsore Miniatures army that I bought about 18 months ago. However I'm afraid to say that the Bondi are still at the beach (see what I did there!- at least you Aussies will get it!) and the Hearthguard are still warming around the fire. (OK I'll get my coat). Short of catching Covid, and having some time away from work for a week, and also being well enough to paint then there was no way this was going to happen. Hence I've made a start on the top end troops

Look Dolly, Baaaaaa'd men are coming.....

Pieces of eight, pieces of eight......oops sorry wrong period

This is the Footsore Model of Odin, the Allfather, I must say the picture of him on the website up to his knees in snow is sublime.

What is nice in this range are the Valkyrie and Shield Maidens, too often female warriors are depicted in figures sculpted somewhat err.... disproportionately - not this time, these are slim and slender easy to tell apart from their male counterparts

No, they're not running away, they're just going to put the kettle on...

In a way its a shame there are only 6 figures, I must get a Lagertha from somewhere

Talking of Lagertha...

Ragnar Lodbrook flanked by Harald Hadrada and....

 Arnvid Ale Sinker (with his axe glued on the wrong way)

Honestly it would never have looked like that in the Sagas!

The Berserkers like the ladies are depicted with their clothes on - this is another nice set

Rolf the Jolly

Gunnolf Wofban

Sigurd of the Bridge

Magnus Grimface - "its only a fleshwound"

Alas poor Yoric I knew him well......

Warlord and Standard Bearer

And finally, what could be more Pagan than a Viking Shaman

Gudbrand Soultaker

Well that leaves me with just one P left to Finish next week - when P will be for Posh

That leaves me with 17 figures at 5 points and 1 Squirrel I think

Oh an addit - Shield transfers by LBMS

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Kerry, you had me at Lagertha...

Lovely work, my man! What a wonderful assortment of hard-bitten Vikings. I especially like Sigurd of the Bridge, the Shaman and of course, Odin. I also appreciate seeing them in a nicely terrained setting. Wonderful stuff!

- Curt

From Millsy: 28mm Scratchbuilt Blackhouse (20 points)

G'day All,

Not a lot achieved this week as I "Did a Dave" (or perhaps "Had a Sarah") and slipped in the wet, cracking my left elbow and scraping my elbow and hand pretty badly. Thankfully nothing was broken or otherwise badly damaged, but it did make holding stuff both painful and awkward.

Unable to paint properly until yesterday I decided to do something much less detail oriented, but still fun and super useful. This is a blackhouse, scratch built from handmade stone blocks over a structure of corrugated card. The stone blocks are made from high density foam cut into random sizes and then shaken like crazy a in a container with rocks until the corners rough up and lose their sharp edges. If you have a small person handy this is a perfect opportunity to make use of them whilst giving them a legitimate excuse to make one hell of a racket.

After gluing everything together I gave it a coat of Mod Podge to seal it, then blasted it with black primer followed by a grey zenithal highlight. I finished the random stone work with oddly applied green, brown and black washes plus a green slimy wash around the base.

It's you turn to weed the house Bob...

Your massive hair is gonna hit the lintel Steve...

It's got a multitude of uses from my Celtic myth project, through dark age gaming, even up to Border Reivers which I'm considering now Wargames Atlantic have a Conquistador plastic kit that can be repurposed for Elizabethan gaming.

Not much more to say other than it was fun and simple enough. I've got plans for several more variations in a couple of sizes, plus a cattle pen or two and some walls.

Points-wise it's roughly 1 x 6" cube so equates to 20 point.

Cheers,
Millsy

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Sorry to hear of your 'Sarah' this past week. I hope you're well on the mend for our final dash to the Challenge finish. 

I love this blackhouse. I had no idea of the term, so thanks for the wiki-learning for the day. Hmm, I wonder of the etymology in relation to our Mark's name. I love the rough stonework and the verdant turf roof. As you say, it's such a versatile structure that can be used for many periods and settings. Well done, mate!

- Curt

From TamsinP: Operation Rescue Oscar Part 2 (40 points)

Extract from the Journal of TamsinP: Time Traveler, Society Girl and Adventuress

"OK, the instruments read as 2522, Regina. How's it looking?"

"Rather different, as it happens. There are quite a few skyscrapers. Still, my Secret Lair doesn't seem to have changed."

"OK, so now we know that the time travel device works, let's see if the tracker works."

After a few minutes of fumbling about and scanning the results, I have some firm leads.

"Well, I've got a few leads on him. He seems to have found a few of my preset buttons. There's one that he's visited several times, one a couple of times and one where he seems to have spent at least a day."

"You have preset buttons?"

"Yes, for research visits."

"Ahhh, I see, that makes sense. So, I'm guessing that the frequent visit one and the place he stayed a long time must be our best leads. Where are they?"

"Well, the long stay seems to be 3241 somewhere in Arizona. The place he visited several times is Papua New Guinea in 1943."

"Papua New Guinea? The jungle? I'll bet that scamp has found some Australian soldiers to feed him. And all those rotting vegetation smells - he's bound to love that!"

"I expect so. Let's check out the future one first though, he did spend quite a bit of time there after all."

"That sounds like a plan - hit it, my dear!"

I punch in the date and coordinates and press the button. The rift opens and Curt steers the van through.

"Well, I must say I'm a bit surprised that he spent lots of time here. It's very hot and dry, not what he's used to at all."

"I guess we ought to get out and have a look around, see if there are any signs of him."

"That's definitely an improvement on the ice cream van!"

"Indeed! By the way, your body armour's a lovely shade of pink! It really suits you!"

I give Curt a bit of side-eye. "Your uniform's a lovely shade of pink! It really suits you!

"Gaaarrrrhhhh! Just don't tell Byron or I'll never hear the end of it!"

"Fair enough. There seem to be some dog tracks over here, heading towards those rocks. Take a look?"

"My word! Is that a..."

"...spaceship wreck?" I venture. "Seems to be. And the tracks head that way, so I guess we should follow them."

"That's odd - your cap seems to have vanished!"

"Hmmm, so it has. Anyway, the dog tracks seem to go all over the place, it might be an idea to split up and see what we can find."

"Now, that's a good plan. I think I can see why Oscar would have spent so much time here - all this wreckage would make a great playground for him."

"Gosh! Your cap's returned!"

"So it has. Must be a glitch in the costume-alteration system in the device."

"Found anything?" I yell across the chasm.

"Not yet!"

"My goodness! He's definitely been here. He's even left us a message!"

"Look, Curt, dog poop does not a message make. It might not even be his."

"No, not dog poop. Although there is a bit here, now that you mention it. Right under my left boot. Damn!" 

I see Curt hastily trying to scrape the dog poop off his boot on the sand.

"That seems to have got rid of it. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, the message from Oscar. I think you'd better come over here and see for yourself!"

"Blimey! You weren't kidding. He can write?"

"It certainly appears so. I must confess, I'm as surprised as you are. I'd always assumed that if either of them showed any signs of intelligence it would be Felix."

"He can't spell, though!" I jest.

"Just how many dogs do you know who can write?" Curt retorts, slightly offended.

"Well, the "woz" suggests he's long gone and not likely to come back. Let's head back to the van and try another trace." I suggest.

"Yes. I think we should try the jungle next."

We head back to the van and I set the device for Papua New Guinea, 1943. The rift opens and we drive through...

Silliness over for this post (and today).

The Van

The model is the Cyber Hover Van from Antenociti's Workshop.

The Figures

The figures are from Crooked Dice. I added greenstuff beards to the "Curt" figures.

The Message

This was just a little bit if silliness that I did up for this post.

For Scoring

1 x 28mm vehicle @ 20 = 20 points

4 x 28mm foot @ 5 = 20 points

Total = 40 points

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Haha! Great post Tamsin. The mystery of Oscar's adventures is slowly being solved. I must say, the pink and blue is rather slimming, and that hovervan is truly inspired. 

Now, if I got a dollar for every time I stepped in dogsh*t (especially after the spring thaw) I'd be able to buy one of those vans with all the options...

Lovely work Ms. P.

- Curt