From JamesM: A Bridge(ing tank) too far! (Historical Dramas)(28 points)

Hi Folks,

Following on from my visit to the 'High Adventure' studio, a brief stroll over to the 'Historical Dramas' studio was blocked by a river of tears caused by my stretching of studio themes. Tankfully(!) I have just the thing to get across...  

My entry for the Historical Drama studio is another painting desk lurker. Which now makes the slow journey to join its comrades in the retirement home for miniatures that is my model storage boxes. Slow being the operative word, when combined with a Valentine II tank hull carrying a 9 ton folding bridge. 

These vehicles, which came about following developments as far back as WW1, were part of a fleet of specialist armour developed by the British in order to undertake engineering tasks while under fire. These particular vehicles carried a bridge capable of supporting Sherman or Cromwell tanks and were undoubtedly used during Market Garden - but were more likely used for crossing cratered roads, blown culverts or larger ditches/anti-tank trenches than for crossing rivers. However, the main theme for the vehicle comes from my obsession with adding unusual oddities to my collection - especially engineering related ones!  

This model is a resin 3d print from Battlefield3d of a 'Valentine Bridgelayer' tank, and came with a rather nifty folding bridge due to a hinge point which came pre-setup for me. These vehicles were assigned as support elements to armoured brigade HQs, carried a bridge capable of crossing a 10 meter gap and carrying a 30 ton vehicle.  

As per many items in my collection for Flames of War, these vehicles are not represented in the rules (although there are rules of the Churchill bridgelayer). This is also the second bridging tank in my collection - hence it being a bridging tank too far. Or A Bridge Too Far, for short! 

However, we do play big scenario driver games, and this type of model is just too cool not to have! 

The model was lovely to paint up after all those Chaos Cultists. Decals have been applied to my usual standard - with markings for 33 Armoured Brigade command being applied ('170' in a red square, with the black and green hourglass motif of the brigade). I've also added some War Department serial numbers, and a bridging weight disk (which took some research). I was unable to add allied recognition stars, due to a lack of any suitable surface. However, looking at the vehicles on display in museums, I could see no stars present on them anyway. 

This 15mm vehicle would be 8 points. Plus 20 points for the studio. 

 Minion Miles: Ok 4 submissions in a single day, no matter how lovely the miniature and this is a very nice engineering tank, is definitely a violation of the Minions Collective Bargaining Agreement.  You, Sir, should expect a labor action from Minions local 402. You have brought this dire fate upon yourself.  As per the agreement, the painting of picketing signs DOES count as terrain for Challenge scoring.

From JamesM: Guns? Guns!? Guns!!! (Lady Sarah's Limo)(25 points)

Hi folks,

My fee for a limo trip from the Historical Drama studio to the Sci-Fi studio is another Necromunda proxy miniature, this time a 'gunjack' named 'Mercia' who puts the Power in FirePower. Never let it be said that Lady Sarah's Limo is not well stocked with all the things a superstar actress would need. Champagne, luxury leather interior, an automatic shotgun and grenade cache... etc. 

This is a 28mm 3d printed model, again from CrisisActionMinis on Etsy. A model from the 'Print Minis' range. Another proxy Necromunda model for my gangs, this time in the form of an 'AmmoJack' hanger on. When employed by the gang, these individuals provide bonuses to ammo checks during games. 

Again, another model painted using Army Painted Speedpaints and the 'slap chop' method. A really quick model to paint, and really shows off how well some of the colours work using this painting method. Again, the only area I've used regular paints has been for the flesh and base. 

A total of 5 points for a single 28mm entry, plus 20 points for the Limo entry (25 points). 

Minion Miles: Ok 3 submissions in one day, I think we're breaking some union rules.  I'm going to have to speak to my rep as I'm not sure this is in the Minion labor agreement

From JamesM: 'Really High' Adventure (High Adventure Studio) (25 points)

Hi folks,

I feel like this might be stretching the meaning of the 'high' in 'high adventure', but since I was painting a drug manufacturing 'Apprentice Clan Chymist' I figured I'd push my luck...

In Necromunda, gangs can recruit 'hangers on' which provide specific benefits. The Chymist allows for the creation of various useful drugs and poisons for the Escher gangs she is part of. I'm pretty sure there is also a recreational and commercial aspect to her work as well.

So what better entry than a gothy geek lady with a special interest in chemistry who gets into all sorts of hi-jinx searching out different components and reagents in the depth of the underhive!  

This model is another 28mm 3d print from CrisisActorMinis on Etsy, this time a 'Print Minis' creation. Mainly because I wanted to avoid paying Forgeworld prices for models that I may not use very often. 'Print Minis' have a fantastic and rapidly expanding range of useful proxies. 

Again, this model was painted using the 'slap chop' method (black base, grey then white drybrush, then speedpaints). I tried to go with a slightly medical colour scheme - Hence very 'medical' green, a yellow under suit and a slightly less medical looking orange glove. Again, the model looks a bit duller in the pics that to the eye. I did have to touch up the flesh, as I think the Army Painter speed paint crusader flesh is a little too subtle for me. I painted this whole model in a few hours, and while she could do with a few highlights, I'm happy she is table ready. 

Points wise, 5 for a single 28mm model, and 20 should my minion feel this model meets the studio category. Can't have a film studio without some sort of pharmaceutical support, after all!

Minion Miles: superb work for only 2 hours - very nicely done!

From JamesM: Helot Cult Chaos Spawn (Sci-Fi studio)(30 points)

Hi folks,

Apologise for the multiple entries this week, but previous challenges required individual entries for the map, and I'm not sure if that rule has changed!

Having jumped out of Lady Sarah's Limo at the Sci-Fi studio, my entry here is a rather large 28mm infantry/monster figure in the form of a Chaos Spawn - really, a larger model on a 40mm base from the GW 'Accursed Cultist' set. I've counted this figure as 'mounted'. Nothing says Sci-Fi to me like the 40k universe. 

In Necromunda, Chaos Cult gangs can make attempts to convert 'volunteers' or captured enemy fighters into Chaos Spawn. Basically, summoned deamons which cause the host to mutate in horrible and violent ways. One of the interesting things is that when you create a spawn, the stats are randomly generated. However, after each game used, there is a chance the spawn runs off into the underhive - hopefully never to be seen again!

This figure is suitable grim, with the possession still ongoing and the poor 'volunteer' along for the ride. Thankfully, someone provided him with some pointy stilts so that he can still feel involved in the whole process of eating others flesh and souls. 

I spent a lot of time thinking about what model to use to represent this option in my games, before spotting this set and settling on this figure. Thankfully Ebay allows the purchase of individual models from sets!

Again, this model was painting using the 'slap chop' method and Army Painter Speedpaints. I did use some regular vallejo colours to highlight up his scales and horns. I tried mixing some of the speedpaints to show the merging of deamon and human flesh, but kept a similar colour scheme to my Chaos Cultists. The mix of red and blue should also mean that this model can be used to represent Chaos Spawn from any of my chaos gangs. 

A single 28mm mounted model comes in at 10 points, with a further 20 from the studio (30 points total).  This also (hopefully) makes my fourth green level entry. 

Minion Miles: In the future you can combine your submissions so there is one for your allotted day.  However this is such a nice figure it does deserve it's own special mention!

From SimonM: Silvia Dela Torres by "Papsikels Miniatures" (5 Points) + The Casting Couch Bonus (20 Points) + Yeti by "Warlord Games" (15 Points)

These 32mm scale figure of Silvia Dela Torres is produced by "Papsikels Miniatures" and can be downloaded for free as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from their PAPSIPACK Welcome Models subscription set on "Patreon". Clearly based upon Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley from the "Aliens" science-fiction horror franchise, the model was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Having decided to use the sculpt as a test piece for "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" paint range, I took inspiration from the character's appearance in the 2014 survival horror video game developed by Creative Assembly entitled "Alien: Isolation" and primed my (not) Ripley with some Cold Corpse Blue. The model was then shaded using Oblivion Black Wash and dry-brushed with (more) Cold Corpse Blue.

With the main bulk of the figure pigmented, I slowly worked my way up by applying Scorched Earth and Battle Mud Wash to her boots, as well as Doom Death Black to the feisty officer's belt, zipper and wrist-bands. The fastener, buckle, belt studs and tracker device were subsequently 'picked out' using a combination of Sir Coates Silver and Oblivion Black Wash. I also applied a little White Star and a short time later, some Battle Mud Wash to the woman's vest. Finally, I gave all the flesh areas a base layer of Dwarven Skin, treated them to a splash of Flesh Wash, and then highlighted them back up with (more) Dwaren Skin. I also gave her hair a coat of Cuirass Leather and shaded this with Battle Mud Wash.

I thought this miniature would be a great way to continue my journey through Challenge Studios, as you can't get a more iconic action hero than Ripley, and this character propelled actress Sigourney Weaver into the spotlight as a movie star. As a result I thought the model would be a suitable submission for the Casting Couch Bonus.

Alongside my seventh 3D print by "Papsikels Miniatures" I have also pigmented three metal Yeti which were produced by “Warlord Games” as part of the Nottingham-based company's "special limited-time offer" Doctor Who: Web Of Fear set. Somewhat controversially given away for free with any orders of £75 or more, the blister also contained figures of Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and Professor Travers, and was based upon Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln's February 1968 televised story "The Web Of Fear".

48mm in height, the "cuddly but ferocious" models were primed using two coats of Scorched Earth by "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats". They were then drenched in Battle Mud Wash, before being dry-brushed with (more) Scorched Earth. As a final highlight, I gave each of the Great Intelligence's hairy automatons a light dusting of Dust Bowl. Lastly, the monsters' eyes were layered in White Star. treated to a coat of Skulker Yellow, shaded with plenty of Flesh Wash and later brightened with an extra dab of Skulker Yellow.

Released alongside several other 'free' "Doctor Who" related sets until "Warlord Games" licence for the BBC science fiction show expired at the end of 2022, these models caused quite some consternation on the "Doctor Who: Exterminate" Facebook page due to so many products being released simultaneously - and each requiring a separate £75 order to acquire them. Personally, considering that the manufacturer wasn't allowed to actually sell them, I'm just pleased to have got my hands on these big fellas, and whilst it's frustrating that I wasn't able to own all the 'new releases' before they disappeared, at least they were made available (for free) for those who wanted them.

32mm scale foot figure = 5 Points

Casting Couch Studio Bonus = 20 Points

3 x 32mm scale foot figures = 15 Points

Total = 40 Points

Minion Miles: very nice.  I did get a little chuckle with the Yeti figures as they look like very angry Michelin Men.  

RobH - Saxon 1066 (50 Points)

 In May 2021 I backed Bob Murch's (Pulp Figures) 1066 Saxon Kickstarter in conjunction with Crucible Crush Miniatures. I selected the Saxon Raiders Pledge. They were purchased in order to build a SAGA army. I received my rewards last October. Thanks to the glorious autumn in Montreal  I was able to prep most of the selection before the weather turned. 

I do my undercoats on the balcony using a spray can. 

Two units are ready, in addition to the villagers I posted last week.

Unit Number 1 - Foot Command - 5 figures

Unit Number 2 - Dane Axes - 5 figures

10 x 25mm figures @ 5 Points each = 50 Points

Minion Miles: These are some very fine figures and will make a very fine part of a SAGA warband!

From FrederickC - A Short Trip Around the Challenge Studios [Sci Fi] [High Adventure] [Lady Sarah's Limo] (80 points)

  Having completed 'Under Construction' and 'Black and White', I decided to continue eastward to the Sci Fi studio for 'Destination Moon'. I found two highly appropriate miniatures in my retro collection that were wearing spacesuits that looked a lot like the ones worn in the movie. I have no idea who the manufacturer is, so if anyone out there recognizes them, let me know. Like a lot of my minis, I glued these to 25mm fender washers, and added some sand as groundwork. They were then painted using Vallejo acrylics, with the exception of the Partha True Blue. Once again the special challenges are getting me to paint figures that have been sitting in the pending box for a long time.

Destination Moon from 1950

 

My two astronauts with their rocketship in the background

Front view

Back view

 We are now going to head over to the western side of the lot, but since I am too lazy to walk, I am going to buy a ride in Lady Sarah's Limo. The figure is a vintage West End Games Rebel Commando figure that I have painted up in the colours of my planetary militia using Vallejo Gunship Green and a wash of Biel-Tan Green.

Front view

Back view

 

 Having arrived at the High Adventure studio, we are going to film an adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's novel 'King Solomon's Mines'. Our figure is the Big Game Hunter with Shotgun from Grenadier Models 'Call of Cthulu' range. This miniature dates from 1983. It was glued to a fender washer, sand was applied to the base, and it was primed black with an airbrush. The main colours used are Vallejo Flat Flesh, Khaki Grey, and Leather Brown. Iraqi Sand was used for the pugaree, Beige Brown for the gunstock, and Gun Metal for the shotgun barrels. Citadel Reikland Fleshshade was used on the skin areas, and Agrax Earthshade for the rest of the model.

King Solomon's Mines from 1950

 

The mighty hunter faces a charging elephant

Front view

Back view

 The points being claimed are as follows:

4 x 28mm figures @ 5 points = 20 points 

2 x Studio lots @ 20 points = 40 points

1 x Ticket to Ride @ 20 points = 20 points 

 

My movie progress so far

 

From Sarah: Three 10mm Fantasy (Fantastical?) Buildings (70 Points)

Hello Everyone,

Great to be back in this years Challenge and I’m very relieved to have submitted a post before the dreaded 'Director's Cut'.

During last years Challenge, I painted my very first-ever mini as well as terrain/buildings. Of the three buildings I intended to paint last year, two were finished and the third one sat neglected and sad, lost in the lead pile.

Conveniently, the Snowlord has given us Challengers opportunity to re-visit partially painted figures with the Under Construction Workshop on the Studio Map. Yay!

The two buildings from last year, Sunset Tower and Dusk Hall, were painted in a style I call ‘Monet has lost his mind and is painting small buildings instead of Giverny’

That’s right, behold the mash up of pointillism and impressionism as interpreted by me on the canvas of these wonky, whimsical buildings.

First up, and the entry for the Under Construction, is The Ochre Arms.

Here is The Ochre Arms, unfinished and neglected in the Spring of 2022

...and now finished in all its ochrey glory.

This grand and welcoming building that has stood for centuries. The Ochre Arms is so ancient that the structure itself appears to be part of the landscape.

The ochre tones of yellowish-orange is meant to imbue a warm, welcoming and bright feeling on The Ochre Arms. It’s a good spot to meet up with friends new and old for a pint!

Another wonderfully whimsical building is Moss Manor.

Like The Ochre Arms, Moss Manor is venerable and ancient, and perhaps through Fae Magick has acquired a hidden, secretive aura, blending in with the verdant landscape.

Nonetheless, my favourite of the three, is The WaterHouse.

Like its neighbours, The Ochre Arms and Moss Manor, The WaterHouse has over time taken on the characteristics of its location.

Deep blues turning to light blues& greens, highlighted with silver as though reflecting light off water.

But the coolest features are the small jolly boat hanging off the side, and the use of a longship as a tower!

These three buildings were given a coat of black gesso then a dry brush of a light grey craft paint, followed by a light sand or bone craft paint.

Then I literally gathered up all of Curt’s colour contrast paints, sorted by colour and channeled my inner mad Monet and dabbled paint in a seemingly haphazard fashion until I was done (enough)

I’m sure my carefree paint brush manner drives the Snowlord bonkers … but he was very encouraging and tried to not make too many suggestions. (I made many suggestions, but she ignored most of them. -ed)

Points wise, I think these three buildings take up 1/2 a cube for 10 points

The first building, The Ochre Arms, will give me 20 points for fulfilling the Under Construction criteria.

I’m using Moss Manor to move to the High Adventure area. Moss Manor looks like the home of adventuring Elves. High Fantasy = High Adventure for another 20 Points.

The WaterHouse (in fact all three of these buildings) will be ‘gifted’ to Curt for use on the tabletop, which fulfills the Gift Store criteria for an additional 20 Points!

That should put me at 70 Points in total. :)

Thanks for stopping in to look at my village!

- Sarah

Minion Miles: Well this is a wonderful submission - I especially like Ochre Manor and the line " my carefree paint brush manner drives the Snowlord bonkers" is both wonderful and earns you a whoping 5 bonus points - nicely done! 

From FrederickC - Some Lord of the Rings Bits and Bobs (107 points)

 No big points bomb this week as I have been down with a cold for a few days. I decided to work on clearing away a lot of loose ends to make room on my desk for some large projects that are coming down the pipe. What we have today is a mix of Uruk-hai Berserkers, Mordor Uruk-hai, some Dwarf Heroes, a trio of Trolls, and a collection of Mines of Moria terrain and dead.

The three Uruk-hai Berserkers are metal figures from Games Workshop that were mixed in with the secondhand Uruk-hai Scout that I was given. The paint job left much to be desired, so they got stripped back down to raw metal and then were primed black with a rattle can. Vallejo acrylics were used for most of the colors - Cavalry Brown for the skin areas, Leather Brown for the loincloth, sandals, and gloves, and Gun Metal for the helmet and sword. They were then given a coat of Army Painter Strong Tone Quickshade.

 The three Mordor Uruk-hai were from another blister of metal figures from Games Workshop that I picked up years ago, and they have been sitting in the pending box ever since they got mounted on their bases and primed black. Again, I used primarily Vallejo acrylics, but also some craft store acrylics that I still have in my paint box. I used a colour called Hippo Grey for the skin areas, and Charcoal for the cloaks. The leather pieces got painted a mix of Leather Brown, Chocolate Brown, and Flat Earth, while helmets, greaves, gauntlets, and weapons were painted with Gun Metal. Finally I gave them a coat of Citadel Agrax Earthshade.

 

 Next up are four Dwarven Heroes consisting of a Shieldbearer, a King's Champion, and two Heralds.These are resin figures from Games Workshop that were available at one time as metal miniatures. Like the Dwarves I painted for last week's submission, these were mounted on their bases, some sand glued down to the base with PVA glue, and then primed black with an airbrush. I used mostly Vallejo acrylics, but also some Partha paints for the True Blue and Bronze Metallic.

King's Champion flanked by two Heralds

A side view to show off the banner designs

A Shieldbearer is a Minor Hero bodyguard

A view from another angle to show off the shield design

 The three trolls are a mix of two Games Workshop Cave Trolls, one in metal and the other in plastic, and a Reaper Miniatures Mountain Troll that I am going to use as a Mordor Troll. The metal Cave Troll I purchased years ago, and like the Mordor Uruk-hai, it was prepped and then gathered dust. The plastic Cave Troll is the one that comes with the Mines of Moria starter box. Somebody bought it, but was only interested in the Moria Goblins and the Fellowship figures, so I ended up with the Cave Troll and the terrain. The Reaper Mountain Troll is a massive metal figure that has since been replaced with a plastic version of the sculpt. Again, Vallejo acrylics were used, followed by a wash of Citadel Agrax Earthshade. I had used Medium Flesh on the Mountain Troll as a base colour, and with the Earthshade wash, it came out looking a bit more orange than I expected, but it still looks pretty menacing. These all stand 55-60mm tall.

Reaper Mountain Troll, plastic Cave Troll, and metal Cave Troll

 

The backside of the trio of trolls

 Lastly I have two sets of terrain pieces from the Mines of Moria starter box. I got one set from someone who only wanted the Fellowship figures and the Moria Goblins, and the other from someone who just wanted all the figures, including the Cave Troll. So I ended up being given a total of 8 pillars, 4 trapdoors, 2 chests, 2 wells, 2 sarcophagi, and 6 assorted skeleton/skull pieces. These were all primed black using a rattle can, and then dry brushed with progressively lighter shades of grey. I used Iraqi Sand on the skeletons and skulls, Stone Grey on all the pages, Chocolate Brown on the chests and book covers, with Bronze Metallic and Gun Metal painted on various other bits. I then used a fine tipped Sharpie to put lines of dots and dashes on the pages to look like writing. Finally everything got a wash with Citadel Agrax Earthshade. I am not quite sure how this should all be scored, either just based on volume, or counting the 6 supine skeletons and two seated dead as half figures. The points claimed are for the mix of the two methods, but I will accept whatever adjustment Minion Miles makes.

Two sets of Mines of Moria terrain

 

An elevated view

A closeup showing the dead and skeletons and the detail on the pages

The points being claimed are as follows:

10 x 28mm figures @ 5 points = 50 points

8 x 28mm half figures @ 2.5 points = 20 points

3 x 54mm figures @ 10 points = 30 points

0.35 of a terrain cube @ 20 points = 7 points

 

Minion Miles: WOW these are great - especially the banners - top notch stuff.