From StuartL - We're Going To Need A Bigger Limo - Lady Sarah's Limousine (92 Points)

Hi all,

During the previous challenge, I didn't make much use of Lady Sarah's Star Yacht until very late in the challenge. This year I have decided to make more of an effort and ride around the AHPC Studios in style. Having posted my first entry at the Under Construction part of the studio, I now need to jump all the way across the site to the World Cinema area. So, to that end, I present my first entry fee for Lady Sarah's Limousine service.

This model is a metal figure from Reaper Miniatures. If you have been following my challenge progress over the years, you will know that I have a fairly extensive collection of Reaper's plastic Bones figures from their various kickstarters. I don't have that many metal figures from them, which is a bit of a shame. Back when I started playing RPGs regularly (around 1999-2000ish), I used to pore over the Reaper catalogue of minis and dream of owning large parts of their range. Even now, their metal models are really appealing, though nowhere near as affordable as their plastics. I think I bought this figure about ten years ago and it has been languishing in my to do pile ever since.

So, I will apply for my Limo ride using this red-headed warrior. 

Speaking of red-heads (and Reaper Bones minis), what are those thunderous footsteps I am hearing?

Over the course of their kickstarters, Reaper have released quite a few giant figures and (given that they are cheap as chips), I bought a lot of them. Over Christmas, I got started on these three Fire Giants and their Lava Hound. The dog and it's handler are separate models, the chain plugs into the back of the collar and the two figures can be set-up as individuals.

Each of these figures is made from Reaper's somewhat bendy plastic. Each of them is chunky enough that it doesn't matter, but the chain whip on the guy below is very flexible, which meant that I could hold it to one side while painting.

These brutes were, honestly, a bit of a chore to paint. Some models are really easy to put a brush too and others aren't. I was about done painting these guys about 20 minutes in, but persevered to get them done. The Lava Hound was kind of fun to do, but the giants just have so much surface area to cover that they really seemed to drag.

So, how big are they? The shortest of the giants is just over 80mm tall, and the dog towers over most 28mm scale minis. Included below is a group shot showing the giants and the metal model from further up the post for scale.

By my reckoning, (subject to Snow Lord approval of course), my tally should be:

3x Monsters @20 points = 60 Points

1x 40mm Mini @7 points = 7 Points

1x 28mm Mini @5 points = 5 Points

1x Limousine Ride @20 points = 20 Points

Total = 92 Points

For my side duels, I'm going to claim 1 Squirrel Point for the Fire Giants.

My Side Duels:

Squirrels - 4

Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Dwarves, Fire Giants.

Skullz - 0

Turnips - 0

Next up, World Cinema.

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Very nice work, Stuart. Reaper has been such a big champion for plastic/resin models that it's easy to forget that they had (and still have) a rather huge range of metal miniatures. The red-headed warrior is excellent, and so are the russet giants she has in tow. I especially like the Lava Hound with the effect of his heat cracked skin. As you say, I think Sarah's Limo may be a little tight hauling these folks around, but I'm sure she has a roof rack and some bungie cords to make it work.

- Curt

From TomC: Union Artillery [Under Construction] (20 points)

Hello everyone, happy holidays and I hope everyone is well. Quite a few firsts for me here, first challenge and off to an especially slow start following another first for me, COVID, so keen to add to my first and only completed figure of 2022 so far...

I've started at the Under Construction site to at least up that number a little! These characters will likely be a familiar sight, the officer and artillery from Warlord Games Epic Battles American Civil War sprue which they gave away with Wargames Illustrated. I'm a little behind the curve on these but it was nice to do something different: in over twenty years of hobby I've never either done anything below 28mm or attempted just a summer grass base! I shall remain quiet about the fifty infantry who also came on the sprue...

The Warlord plastics are quite 'flat-pack', so I carved one of the gunners out for a little dimension. I do think I'd struggle to keep up variety for a large battery though.

The cannon itself seemed quite chunky, so I went with a more traditional bronze-ish metal, which also seemed quite colourful. Thankfully the Union seemed to trend towards accessories being black which always gets a thumbs up from this slow painter.

Did anyone else play Ultimate General Civil War?

For the uniforms, I started with Vallejo Game Colour Night Blue, then quickly realised both that Night Blue is satin and secondly that I hate satin paints (apologies gloss fans...). 

In other news, I thought the officer looked a bit like Kiefer Sutherland, hence the blond hair.

Someone has to wave the sword...

Particular thanks to my lovely wife firstly for the light box and secondly for showing me how to edit the photos out of the stygian gloom I'd managed to achieve, despite the light box. Any lack of focus is entirely my fault. 

As the figures were all partially started earlier in the year, they are nil points, just the location bonus of 20 points for today.

Next up, High Adventure, in the meantime, good luck everyone!

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First, welcome to the Painting Challenge, Tom! I'm sorry to hear that you have a bout of the Salty Cough and I hope you're well on the mend now. These It's great that you've made good use of the 'Under Construction' theme to get yourself on the points roster. I quite like the soft bronze highlight of the gun, especially when set against the blue and black of the crew. 

I'm going to add a few more points for you finishing this set - well done! Looking forward to what you have in store for us for 'High Adventure'.

- Curt

From BruceR: 28mm 13 pirates away (65 pts)

These are the last of my pirate force for my Sharp Practice Carribean project.  This will allow me three groups of 12 and a shore battery to try and fend of his majesty's royal marines.  I do have a Blood and Plunder sloop I intend to complete, but I'm waiting on some parts that were missing from the package before I dive in.  I could not identify all the figures as Wargames Foundry as I purchased them as a grab bag.  Most are, but not sure of a few of them.  I really enjoy paining Foundry figures and when I'm uncertain as to a paint scheme they have sooooo many painted miniatures on their site I can quickly take a look and soldier on using the many paint schemes.  

I did two small batches over the holiday and only found this time to post.  We hunkered down with the temps well below zero and only traveled within town for festivities with family.  Early for us in ND, but we are built for crappy weather and have the 4wheel drives, snowblowers and fireplaces to survive.  Hope everybody else has stayed safe through this challenging weather.  

I again used contrast paints for much of the large areas and highlighted certain bits.  I also enjoy how Foundry has named many of the figures in their collection.  

Here is the first batch.

Jim Lad from Treasure Island, protecting the swivel gun with his pea shooter and a few scurvy dogs.  

All a merry band and dressed to impress.  More than happy to let the swivel gun do their work for them.  If that fails, this lot does have a few weapons for close work.

Second group from the holiday weekend.

I tried a couple of larger shots for the characters.  

Here is Treasure Islands Ben Gunn in his rags, with antiquated musket. 

 

This chap is listed as Israel Hand on the Wargames Foundry site.

This well armed captain sports 4 pistols plus the cutlass.  Not sure of his make, as I could not identify him on the site.  I like how the blue and red turned out.

Lucky 13 as my submission of dastardly sea going bandits.  

Points:

13 28mm x 5 pts = 65 total pts

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Fantastic looking pirates, Bruce. Very clean bushwork and great choice of colours to boot. I especially like Jim Lad, the swivel gun and Israel Hand. As you say, terrific models for which you've done them proud. Well done!

Up here in Saskatchewan we treat this weather pretty much as business as usual (like you, we have all the necessary gear/infrastructure to deal with it). Nonetheless, our heart goes out to those who aren't prepared for this kind of weather. I hope it passes by soon.

- Curt

  

From GeoffreyT: Paranoia Internal Security and a Space Octopus (Sci-Fi) (60 points)

 Hello Challengers,

From the black and white studio, I take the long trek east to the sci-fi studio, where I unleash the 'Paranoia' 'Internal Security Guards', some out of production metal miniatures by Mongoose Publishing.

Paranoia is a sci-fi spoof RPG, in a dystopian future run by a bureaucratic and insane computer.  Each person in the paranoia universe has a security level, defined by a colour of the spectrum.  Infra red being lowest, with ultra violet being highest.  Each person is also in a secret society, working against each other in secret as well as working against the computer.

Here the six security guards and orange, yellow or blue as they ascend in authority.  The miniatures are quite comical which is in keeping with the game system.

I don't expect to play Paranoia again (last time was 1989 I think).  But these characters will be great for Stargrave.  They are 28mm scale.  I'm on the lookout for more.

Despite not expecting to use them in the correct game system, I still painted them in the Paranoia colour scheme in homage to the ridiculousness that is the game.

Here is a front view of the leaders.  If I recall correctly, Paranoia is based inside a building of some sort, so I painted the bases as a metal plate floor.

I hadn't painted bright orange clothes before, and I assure you it is not easier than red or yellow which can both be tricky.

Whilst in the sci-fi studio, I cant let the opportunity pass to show another of my home sculpts.  This is a 'tangler' for Stargrave, which is basically a space octopus.  I gave it eight eyes to make it more alien looking.  It came out a big bigger than described in the book, but I'm pleased with it nonetheless.

The armature was a wooden bead to which I drilled holes for 8 wire legs, then covered it all in a layer of "grey stuff" epoxy putty.  I made the legs kind of trailing to give it a sense of movement.  I gave it a golf ball like texture with the butt of a paintbrush.

Here is a view from above, it sits on a 40mm base.  They eyes are Rhinestones.  Rhinestones are good for sculpting, but have the unfortunate side effect that one sings the famous Glen Campbell song "Rhinestone Cowboy" when applying them.  That is gruesome detail you didn't need to know.

So, for points.

I have 7 x 28mm miniatures for 35 points,

The sci-fi studio bonus for 20 points.

Net = 55 points.

See you in the next studio.

GT

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Gosh, I've not thought of Paranoia for ages - such a fun game! These characters are brilliant and perfectly on-point for the setting. Your orange and yellow uniforms came out marvellously well - bravo (As you say, they can be tricky)! The bespoke space octopus is a corker as well (one eye for each tentacle - very efficient). 

You definitely need to call him 'Glen'. I think we need extra points Mr. Campbell.

A great entry for 'Sci-Fi'. Next!

- Curt