KenR : 1/700 Bismarck (120 points)

 

I know by the rules of the Challenge you are supposed to say exactly what a model is but I am pretty sure if I didn't with this one, virtually everyone in the Challenge would know what it was. Be it Famous or Infamous Battleship Bismarck is instantly recognisable.

The model is a 1/700 kit from Revell and is the model that started all the madness. A couple of years ago I visited my favourite shop Wonderland Models in Edinburgh and I couldn't find anything I needed but of course its rude to leave a model shop without a kit so this came home with me. It was only later I realised I'd bought a full hull kit and needed a bit of a hacksaw job to make it waterline.

It's taken a long time to get this model done, I started building and priming before the Challenge started and then have painted and weathered it during the last 6 weeks. I built and painted it in small sections to enable me to do various bits of weathering without it affecting the rest of the model and then put together in a final assembly. If you are interested in the process there are a series of videos on my Yarkshire Gamer YouTube channel running through the build.

The model is huge, it sits on a 42cm x 10cm base nearly twice the length and width of the other stuff I've done so far in the Challenge (which are 22 x 6) and at least twice as high. I've put in for 120 points, that's pretty low in comparison to the amount of work that has gone into getting it to look like this.

The picture above shows the sheer scale of the model, its flanked by 4 German Destroyers (done before the Challenge) and these are a bit bigger than the other stuff I've done so sar but on the same base size.

For those who don't know Bismarck was a pretty formidable ship, 4 twin 15 inch Turrets as a main armament, potentially a match for an individual Royal Navy ship, sheer weight of numbers would always mean the British would come out on top in the end. After sinking HMS Hood in action, the Bismark was hunted down by a large fleet, finally cornered and sunk.

Just before I go a word on Symbols. You may notice that there isn't a Crooked Cross in the circles at either end of the ship. I am obviously aware of the sensitivity of this symbol. The kit I bought did not even have decals in for it so I was limited by that. 

I will in future add the symbol to the ship. I am very much a proponent of historical accuracy, a symbol correctly applied to a model representing a real machine from a real moment in time is very different to having that symbol tattooed on your neck and screaming randomn phrases in German whilst wearing lederhosen. But for the Challenge I thought it would be better to present the model as it is.

The ship came with two aircraft so I placed one on the ship itself and one on a flight stand, that I've very badly removed from the picture above !

I was hoping to have a unit of Cavalry but they are not quite done so that's it for this week.  Next ship up is something at the opposite end of the spectrum, a tiny (in comparison) Hunt Class Destroyer Escort.

Yowza Ken this is effing amazing.  One of the first kits I took a serious run at was the Airfix 1/1200 Bismarck and I can only imagine how much work was involved putting this beauty together.  Your basing, came patterns and shell splashes are absolutely first rate.  I also love the floatplane in the background of the last picture.  Is that a model or painted on the backdrop?

I am with you on the Nazi symbols, it's a historical model and needs the historical symbols as long as you are aware of what they represent.

I concur on the suggested 120 points, that equivalent to a unit of 12 28mm cavalry (at least that's a unit to me, in your terms a unit of cavalry likely needs 60 riders0.

From PaulSS: WWII German infantry -- 62pts

 

With the last of the American stuff I had in hand finished I can now make a start on their opponents.

All the figures in todays post are from the Victrix German Infantry and Heavy Weapons set.

5cm mortar team

Most of the infantry are in standard German Fieldgrey, but I added a few tunics and trousers in Luftwaffe Uniform and a few other trousers in Neutral Grey to add a bit of variety.

Infantry team

Infantry team

Panzerschreck team

Patrol

Patrol

Like with the US set, there is plenty enough infantry in the set to represent an infantry battalion with enough machine-guns and anti-tank to add some support.

Company commander

I've already picked up a couple of 50mm guns and pair of StuG III from Pendraken for support and will add a few more bits as I go along.

Medium machine-gun

Medium machine-gun

62 12mm infantry  will add another 62 points to my tally.

Squirrel Duel Tally: 3 (40K Kroot, Gaslands, WW2 US, WW2 German)

Great to see the start of the other side of the Hedgerow Paul,  I like what I’m seeing of these Victrix 12mm WW2 figures.  Once again yours look particularly nice.  I like the variety in uniforms and it’s nice to see bog standard Wehrmacht instead of SS or paras.  Great work on the basing too.

From RossM 15mm Romans and 28mm Wars of the Roses 31Points

Third post from my myself this Challenge and moving forward at a glacial pace.  First up are three figures from Perry Miniatures Wars of the Roses range.

These are part of a Lancastrian retinue for Lion Rampant and the centre figure is in the colours of Lord Roos and  will probably be a leader type when the retinue is completed.   

After watching Medieval the other week there will be some darker armours coming through for that more lived in feel. Can't help thinking that living in all that metal would have been hell though. 

Z

There are another three figures for this part of the retinue that are 75% completed and they will follow up in the coming weeks. 

The second part of this week's entry is the start of Early Imperial Roman figures from the Plastic Soldier company and others. 

The first picture shows a legion command stand and only the rear rankers have been painted for this years challenge. 

The shield transfers are from Little Big Man and have been interesting to apply. All the fiddling and swearing is worth it in the end as they set the figures off excellently. 

The supporting archers are from Essex Miniatures and fit in well with their chunkier plastic legionnaires. Not sure if  this option will be used in ADLG but always better to have than not I think. 

So in finishing this week's post the tally moves forward to include

3 x 28mm figures at 15 points

8 x 15mm figures at 16 points for  a total of 31 points (6.2 % with a running total of 45 or 9%) Best get the brushes out a spread some paint around. 

Cheers for now

Nice work on these Historicals Ross.  I’m a big fan of the Perry WotR range and you’ve done this trio of tin can wearers proud.  Looking forward to seeing the next lot.

I’ve not seen the PSC ancients before, but yours have come up nicely.  I applaud your diligence in getting the shield transfers on, that’s well beyond the capacity of my patience.

From SylvainR: Tray 8 - French 1939-40 Regimental and Divisional Assets (36 points)

 

Another week, another tray. Although this one should have had a few more elements. On December 12th, I sent an order to Heroics and Ros for French artillery pieces and a few other things, but Putin chose that moment to take revenge on England. I have not received yet my package and have been in touch with Andy at H&R who has been very helpful. Anyway, I am presenting to you an incomplete tray.
 

First, the Company Commander.

 

Two batteries of "soixante-quinze" (75mm Modèle 1897), the French gun made famous during the First World War. I tried to sculpt 4 of the bases as if the crew hastily dug in some kind of entrenched position.

A close-up on one of the guns. Note the 2 crew members squeezed close to the gun. I did not paint any of these, just made the bases.

A company of 25mm SA-34 anti-tank guns.

Here is a close up with a model from Heroics & Ros on the left and a model from CinC on the right. I painted only 4 of the guns and crews.

 

A company of 47mm SA-37 anti-tank guns.

 

 

A close up on one of the guns. I painted all the guns and crews.

 

A platoon of 20mm Modèle 1939 anti-aircraft gun (or DCA = Défense Contre Aviation).

 

 

A close up on one of the guns. I painted them all.

 

Before signing off, here are two pictures of a game of O'Group we played on Friday (Feb. 3rd). A D.A.K. Grenadier Battalion (Curt & Jeremy) was trying to take a foothold in the small town of Siwa, in Egypt, fiercely defended by a Battalion of British infantry (Stacy). The top picture shows the initial deployment of the company commanders. So not much miniatures on the table yet.

 

In this picture, the troops commanded by Curt are trying to outflank the British from the North. Unfortunately, they faced a ferociously tenacious British Combat Patrol (the green marker) that was able to delay their advance for at least two turns.

It was a nice "test drive" of the rules as we familiarized ourselves with the intricacies of the system. Hopefully we will be able to play more games in the next few months.

 

 

As for points, I painted the following:

16 support weapons = 16 points

40 figures = 20 points

Total = 36 points

Thank you for reading!

Your wee French kit looks great Sylvain.  Really like the basing.  My only suggestion would be to downsize the rocks from kitty litter to model railway ballast as your artillery looks like it is deployed where the glaciers left rather sizeable debris.  

Sorry I missed the game on Friday, pictures look great and it wonderful to see this stuff getting used, abused and dropped from great heights.

 

(Darrell H) Andalusian Noble Command Vignette Base (15 POINTS)

                                   

This piece was sitting in my undercoated and primed cupboard since 2019 and was just begging to be completed. I have minor wargames butterfly tendencies, nothing compared to years ago, but still find it useful to remain on focus for major projects (Thematic Byzantines for the AHPC this year) by fliting with other periods etc from time to time. 

The vignette is specific to my Spanish 11th CE project and features a Muslim Faris (Furusiyya, "Knighthood" is a martial tradition dating back to pre Islamic times) attacking a downed Frankish/Spanish knight. This piece but could sit easily in Spain or the Middle East during the 11th/12th CE as a command base or just a vignette to keep things interesting away from the main action on the wargames table.

For anyone interested in the origin of the miniatures, the Muslim Faris Mutatawwi'a Warlord on Horse and a miniature from Wargames Foundry's Norman Spearmen Characters from their Matthew Bickley Normans range. 

The shield is hand painted. 

I think I earn a grand total of 15 points for this piece?

What a lovely command vignette Darrell.  You've posed the figures to create a vivid scene and got the best of these fine sculpts.  As always really love the horse and trim.   The shield is wonderful, even the back side of it looks great with the wood grain.

From RichardH: A Bunch of Space Elves & Some Tex Murphy (200 Points)

I've had a busy couple of weeks working away at a not space elrond army, along with starting a few other projects. Missed out on getting the photos done for everything to make this post as I am off to spend far too much money at Vapnartak this weekend (or will have done so by the time this posts). So just a small collection of things ticked off so far.

First up a full squad of foot troopers with a swirly shield thingy artillery unit. I originally painted a couple up with black bases, however they just didn't look right, it came across as this weird mini standing on top of some black lump for no reason. So I gave it a go at instead doing pure white bases to try and blend the entire theme as an alien snow type world. So far the white is looking far better than the black.

Points for these are:

 10 x 28mm foot @ 5pt = 50pts

1 x 28mm artillery @ 10pt = 10pts

Next up some heavy shock troops, I originally started the army with these models as it let me mess about with some blends and the colour scheme. the larger 40mm size of them gave me just enough canvas to experiment without having a mountain of coverage to finish. What I have no discovered is doing gems on these models is right up there with a "Bloody stupid Johnston" machine design, it breaks up the plain nature of the bone armour nicely but takes eons to do when you get to the large models.

Points for these are:

5 x 40mm foot @ 7pt = 35pts

Speaking of large models that have way too many of those stupid gem things, here is one of the big wraithlords. For the most part straight forward, but ye gads there are gems on top of gems on top of gems on these things, this is the first of two with the other going in for next week.

Points for these were tricky to work out, they are around 85mm tall for a model, in addition I am not sure should they be classed as foot troops or are they a vehicle walker? I've based two possible point values by combining the 28mm and 54mm ratings, just depends if this comes in as foot soldier or vehicle/walker?

1 x 80mm foot @ (5+10) 15pt =15pts

1 x 80mm vehicle/walker @ (20+30) = 50pt = 50pts

Minion's verdict - if you count it as a 80mm scale it's a foot figure.  If you count it as a walker it's the 40mm same scale as the foot soldiers.  I am counting it as a 40mm vehicle for 25 points.  It kinda hales the difference and fits the SSOD easily.

Finally as a break from batch painting I took a shot as some monochrome ideas, I had some nice noir style models in the pile and so thought they would make a perfect little diorama. A simple 6" cube sized design, that has some 3d printed parts, some clay molding work and a couple of led lights throw in for measure. It's a nice break from just painting and though I can see clearly a ton of learning needs to be done for the clay work, it is a medium that I can hopefully use more often in future.

Points for this are :

1 x 6" terrain @ 20pt = 20pts

2 x 28mm foot @ 5pt = 10pts

With two bonus studios of Sci-fi and Black and white for 20pts each, this leaves this post total as.

12 x 28mm foot @ 5pt = 60pts

1 x 28mm artillery @ 10pt = 10pts

5 x 40mm foot @ 7pt = 35pts

1 x 4080mm foot @ 15pt = 15pts / Or 1 x 80mm vehicle/walker @ 25 50pt = 25 50pts

1 x 6" terrain @ 20pt = 20pts

Bonus sci-fi 20 pts

Bonus Black & White 20 pts

Total 200 pts

Great stuff here Richard.  You are speaking my language with "swirly shield thingy artillery unit"!  I don't know what it does but it sounds so cool I think that I need one.  And your not space elves warriors are bedazzled up enough to fit right into Mardi Gras in N'awlins with no worries.

Best of all however, is that Western themed diorama.  Great wok and really thematic and atmospheric. I've thrown in some Minion discretionary points for the lighting and coolness.  But next time make sure to include labels with your name, scale, manufacturer, theme, etc.  If  not then Minion's discretion may take points away for making me do work.

Have great fun throwing your shekels away frivolities in York, you'll likely see most of the Monday crew with their wallets out.