From PeteF ASOIAF Lannister Halberds (65 points)

Our local wargaming convention Enfilade! has an awesome Bring & Buy.  This year someone brought their A Song Of Ice And Fire (ASOIAF) Miniatures Game Kickstarter that they finally decided wasn't for them.  I've been eyeing up this game for a long time.  I generally prefer miniatures on the sprue rather than limited poses but I do love me some Game of Thrones and rank & flank soo - I bought the lot and now it's time to start chipping away at this new addition to the Pile of Potential.

The core set is Stark vs Lannister and I'll be mainly concentrating on getting my Lannisters painted - first unit on the table are these Halberdiers.  There are 12 footsoldiers - 3 basic poses and a banner bearer - plus an Assault Veteran.  In the game you can spice up your units by adding various leader types by spending some additional points.

The miniatures for this game are a collaboration between Dark Sword - who have the ASOIAF license and have produced a beautiful and expensive line of metals - and CMON.

I've played the game once and it has some interesting mechanics - there's figure removal (and sometimes replacement as a unit heals) and as the number of ranks diminishes it's fighting stats change.  There are also some non combatant slots that can have a great deal of influence on the battlefield.

To prevent the figures getting jostled in the movement tray and for ease of transport I've magnetized them and glued a metal base underneath the plastic movement tray.  

Behold Magnets! (and loose flock)

The non combatants include many of the main characters in  Game of Thrones - who incidentally reflect the vices and virtues of the Divine Comedy - so I'm planning to use them to complete many circles and spheres on route to this Challenge's target.

One of the things I don't like about ASOIAF Miniatures is that they typically come 13 to a box - plays havoc with my triskaidekaphobia. 

13 x 5 = 65 points.

I'm scoring these as 28mm minis - they are 35mm foot to eye (heroic 32mm?)

Wishing Challenges a Happy New Year and all the best for 2025 - see you next year!

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Lovely work on these Lannisters Pete! The red and gold livery is very sharp and besides, who doesn't like a good pike? The fact that you have finished these puts you miles ahead of that tw@t GRR Martin who seems incapable of completing the core storyline. I look forward to see your efforts with the opposing Stark faction.

- Curt

From FrederickC - Opening Salvo - A Platoon of Poilus (170 points)

On ne passe pas!

Completing this first project for AHPC XV took a bit longer than planned. Family holiday obligations had priority over painting. But now that the seasonal celebrations are nearly done, I hope this will be the start of a rolling barrage. 

First up for this year's painting challenge is a platoon of 34 Wargames Atlantic French Infantry of the period 1916 onward. It continues my love-hate relationship with multipart plastic miniatures. The box contains five identical sprues of seven figures each, with lots of arm and head options. In fact you get a choice of five different sets of heads. There are also additional sprues with sets of equipment and weapons to make the figures into early WW2 French infantry. On the down side is that each sprue has an officer figure, so five in total. Plus all the little pieces are very fiddly. 

I decided to assemble my platoon using the set of heads with Adrian helmets not wearing gas masks. I intend to use one of the officer figures with my WW2 French, and gave him a fancy kepi. (He will appear in a later post.) Of the remaining four officer figures, one was assembled as an officer with a pistol. I also gave him a map case left over from the Warlord Games Bolt Action Blitzkrieg German Infantry box. while the other three were converted into 'sergeants' by giving them a rifle and various pouches left over from the Warlord Games Winter Soviet Infantry box. Once everything was assembled I painted them following a useful video from Sonic Sledgehammer, with a few modifications.

 

A platoon of the 701st Infantry ready to attack 'The Anthill'.

 

Platoon Headquarters

First Section

Second Section

Third Section

Officer to Sergeant conversion

The points being claimed are as follows:

 

34 x 28mm foot figures @ 5 points each = 170 points

 

Thanks for stopping by.

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Very nice work on these poilus, Frederick, especially on the officer conversion. I've made good use of several of the Wargames Atlantic kits and find that, while the can be a bit fiddly, they are very good on the whole. Really, 20 years ago I could only dream that I could download multipart figures and print them off at home. It's a crazy world we live in. Anyway, nice to see you kick off your Challenge for this year. 

- Curt

From GregB - Space Marine APC and Librarian (25 Points)

Thousand Sons Librarian Consul and Deimos-Pattern Rhino APC - models from GW.

For my third submission I'll be sticking to GW's "Horus Heresy" setting as I continue to try and clear off some projects which have been sitting in the "pending pile" for weeks - or even months - leading up to the start of AHPC XV. Here we have a Rhino APC and a Librarian Consul, both painted in the colours of the XV Legion Astartes, the Thousand Sons. The vehicle is a multi-part plastic kit, and the foot figure is a multi-part resin kit - both are from GW.

It's not a fancy ride by the standards of the Space Marine Legions, but it is still the first vehicle for the Thousand Sons in my collection!

Some esoteric markings on the door...probably safety instructions, and nothing to do with using spooky powers or anything like that...

The Rhino is the classic APC of GW's Space Marine forces, and this plastic "Deimos pattern" of the vehicle is very much a loving homage to the original plastic Rhino model kits of GW's much earlier days. I had built this model back in the summer, determined to paint it promptly but...of course I did not, and it sat there on the shelf for months. 

View showing the iconography of the Thousand Sons on the vehicle. I was pretty sparing with the markings (I find the Thousand Sons tanks in the GW/Forge World books to be a touch too whacky/busy for my liking and prefer to keep it simple).

My collection of Horus-Heresy-era Thousand Sons has, up to this point, comprised solely of infantry models. This is mostly because it grew out of the infantry-focused box game "The Burning of Prospero" (which I highly recommend) so I would add infantry and characters, but never got around to painting any vehicles for them. No doubt my Sons of Prospero will be pleased to have the opportunity to at last catch a ride on the table!

Love the post of this sculpt...he is about to unleash some warp fun on you!

The character figure is a "Librarian Consul" from the updated "Age of Darkness" range. This figure was intended to be generic in that he has no specific markings for any of the particular factions in the setting so you could paint him up for any Legion. In the 30k setting, "Librarians" are not mere civil servants checking books in and out - they are powerful adepts skilled in manipulating the dangerous energies of the warp. This fellow has the trappings associated with Space Marine Librarians...fancy armour, fancy cloak, a helmet with some slight extra fluff, and esoteric bits like old keys, a spooky old hard-cover leather-bound book, and, naturally, a couple skulls...because they...help...or something.

Big, pimped-out cloak? Check! But I really love the spell book chained on to the power pack unit (which has some further embellishments of its own as well - like I said, awesome sculpt). 

I love the figure - he has a "beakie" helmet, awesome! - and had already painted one of these fellows for my Loyalist Imperial Fists. Given that the Thousand Sons are noted for their preponderance of psychic-power practitioners (what could go wrong with that?), I thought I would paint this second figure to join them (and take his place with the other, legion-specific psyker model for the XV Legion). 

"I foresee...getting a ride for once! About damn time!"

For scoring we have a single 28mm vehicle and a single 28mm foot figure, so that should amount to 25 points. And a few more skulls...hey, I'll take em! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more soon - I hope!

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Lovely work on these two models dude. As an archivist I can't help myself in shaking my head at GW's decision to call the Space Marian psykers 'Librarians', like WTAF? I have yet to meet a librarian who can hoist a stack of books without quivering in near collapse much less wear power armour and haul around huge melee weapons. 'Don't make me release the awesome power of the Dewey Decimal System on you!' *eyeroll* Anyway, my peccadilloes aside, your Librarian is a wonderfully painted example of the breed. Like you I really enjoy all the details of the sculpt, very characterful and dynamic. And what Marine wouldn't appreciate resting their armoured-shod feet with a ride in a Rhino such as this. The Dodge Caravan of the 30th millennia. Great work dude!

- Curt

From PeterD: Spanish American War Ships 1:2400 (10 points)

First post for me in my nth challenge (n>10).  My painting always begins on Boxing Day, and first up was this collection of left overs from Challenge XIV.  They were primed and based but I never made any further progress.  None of these vessels were at battles at Santiago or Manilla, but all played a role in the war.

First up we have two American ships, USS Maine and USS Charleston.  The Maine's contribution to the war was blowing up in Havana Harbour, thereby giving Mr Hearst a cassus bellum for the war.  At the time the US blamed this on a Spanish mine, but the evidence points more to a coal fire that set off a magazine.  The Maine was classified as an armoured cruiser with four 10" guns in the fashionable Victorian layout of turrets en echelon.  She served less than three years before self destructing.  I've seen what if scenarios with her facing South American navies.

The Charleston was a protected cruiser built in the USA based on a design purchased from the English arms manufacturer Armstrong's.  She had a pair of 8" guns with 6" secondaries.  She was sent to capture Guam in 1898 with a convoy of  with three transports full of troops .  On arrival she unleashed a bombardment on the ancient fort.  In return, a boat of Spanish officials arrived asking if they could borrow powder in order to return the salute.  Turns out no one had told them that there was a war on.  A bloodless surrender was soon arranged.  Shortly after the end of the war,  she struck a rock and sank while operating against Philippine forces.

Next up a trio of vessels from the Armada Espanol.  The most fearsome is the battleship Pelayo, a French build similar to the Marceau class but with a shallower draft and lacking the towering Grand Hotel superstructure.  Her 11" guns are in the French lozenge fashion, aimed at increasing end on firepower at the cost of broadside firepower.  She was hastened out of a refit (with her old secondaries removed and without her new ones) and sent off as flagship of a squadron to recover the Philippines.  They got as far as the Suez Canal before they heard of the disaster at Santiago and recalled to defend Spain itself.  Pelayo served for a long time before finally firing in anger during the Rif War in 1909.

Finally a couple of small and pretty useless ships.  The Marques del Duero was a gunboat sunk at Manilla Bay.  The Isabel II was a small cruiser of the ill fated Velasco class which served in actions off San Juan Puerto Rico.  She was named for Queen Isabel II, who reigned from 1833 until her ouster in 1868.  The less said about the Spanish Royal family the better.

These are 1:2400 castings from Tumbling Dice, who make some lovely ships in many offbeat periods.  In past Challenges, these are worth 2 points a hull for a total of 10 points.

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Great work on these tiny ships and interesting history of the period Peter. I enjoyed our Cuban breakout scenarios using your collection and it will be nice to have some more models for variety for future engagements.

- Curt

From Mike W: More 28mm Arthurians (65 Points)

Following on from my first post if this challenge is a group of 4 x Mounted and 5 x Infantry figures, all to be used to build up my new Arthurian collection.

Arthurian Heavy Cavalry man, armed with spear

And the other side's view! More to come for this unit!

The mounted figures represent 3 x Heavy Knights and 1 x Heavy Cavalryman whilst the foot figures are all Medium Infantry. 

So a word of explanation - the Heavy Knights (Cataphracts) are to be the mounted versions of the Close Order Heavy Infantry units as shown in my first post, in my head the rules for use will require commander to opt for mounted of foot deployment at beginning of each game.

Arthurian Knights, these guys will have individual shield patterns to reflect the uniqueness and privilege of their positions.

Anther view of the knights

Infantry can be Heavy, Medium or Light and the Heavy and Mediums can be classed as Close or Loose order, all Light Infantry are Loose Order. Anyway the two Archer figures are Light Infantry (unarmoured) whilst the remaining three infantry figures will be classed as Medium (Loose Order, Partially Armoured) Infantry.

Archers - with a Victrix head swap on the right

Another view of the Archers

The mounted figures are all Gripping Beast Cataphracts, the three Heavy Knights have all had head swaps from Gripping Beast or Victrix Late Roman sets plus a couple of shield swaps. The Heavy Cavalryman is pretty much straight form the box.

Three Medium infantrymen, the final unit will be 16 figures,
including Standard Bearer and possibly a musician

Close-up of the Medium Infantry

For the infantry one of the archers has had a Victrix head swap, otherwise both are straight from the box. The spearmen are also straight from the box, as is the Lesser Knight leader, except that he has had a Wargames Atlantic helmet crest added.

Painting wise, I followed the steps described in my first post, the infantry having a light grey tunic with blue trim for this unit and red / white shield iconography. The mounted figures were done along similar lines but with a lot of metalics on the horse armour!

POINTS

5 x 28mm Infantry   @ 5 Pts each        25 Points

4 x 28mm Cavalry @ 10 Pts each        40 Points

TOTAL                                                  65 Points

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Another great Arthurian post Mike. The noble cavalry would be the Tiger tanks of the period with their cataphract barding - wow. They along with the infantry and archers will give a cold welcome to the invading Saxons. Great work.

- Curt

From JP: Border Reiver Family 28mm (75 points)

Some of you may recall that last season I painted up a Bastle House for Elizabethan era Border Reivers. Well, I didn't get a lot further during the year as I was distracted by other projects and a lengthy spate of ill health (the joys of ageing). But I remain keen on the project and each figure has become a labour of love. 

Flags of War puts superb detail on its castings. The fact that they are meant to be used individually also drives me to getting a--l retentive about detail (not a word from you Frederick C about that being my normal modus operandi!).

The key family characters are provided in mounted and foot format. As such, I am offering the following:

5 x Mounted = 50 points

5 x Foot        = 25 points

Total             = 75 points

Getting the lance and the crossbow to stay in place on the mounted figure was a real challenge and now I have to hope they won't pop off too often - it was too small to pin!

I am really chuffed with these chaps and more will follow!

Thanks for taking a gander :-)

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Lovely work on these Reivers JP. As you say these castings from Flags of War are a real treat and you've done them justice here with your clean brushwork and excellent basing. I look forward to seeing more of this project from you in the future.

- Curt

From LeeH: Russian Line Musketeers 1812 [40 Points]

I have a system for painting during the challenge, and I’m sure it is one many painters adopt. I always have multiple projects on the go at the same time. This means that while I’m waiting for one stage of painting to dry I can shift to another set of models and do the next stage on them. Impatience is the mother of ruination in painting and waiting for stuff to dry before starting the next stage may be annoying, but it is essential. So while I was working on the latter stages of my Grenadiers I was already beginning this unit of Russian Line Musketeers. 

Once again they are wearing the 1808 pattern ‘stovepipe’ Shako, this time covered with an oilskin cover to keep them clean on the march. I will eventually get some infantry with the 1812 Kiwer Shako but many regiments hadn’t adopted the new style before the French invasion. One thing my troops have in abundance are Greatcoats. So as well as making my figures considerably easier to paint than the French troops, they were also much more comfortable in the harsh conditions of the Russian winter. Ironically as my boys are warmer than the Frenchies the greatcoats are also a great way to show the cold by dusting the lower edges with frost. 

More Russian reinforcements arrived on the 25th of December (thank you Santa) so I’ll be spending the next few evenings cleaning and priming the next sets of figures for this project. I have already started on some units of skirmishing Jägers which I hope to finish later in the week. No project ever stays ‘small’ of course so I am looking at the force I have gathered so far and will make a 'few' last-minute additions. I need more cavalry (I have two units so far) and I don’t have any militia yet. So in the time-honoured tradition of wargamers the world over I’ll be expanding my collection before I have even finished the first batch of models. What can I say, I’m weak and I love it.

(Scoring: 8x28mm Foot = 40 points)

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Lovlerly work on these musketeers, Lee. I greatly admire those who have these mysterious 'systems' aiding their hobby time. I'm afraid my approach is not dissimilar to a racoon on meth - everything all the time with detritus everywhere.  

Very nice and tidy brushwork on these Russian lads. When I did my Russian Retreat project a few years ago I found that the basing took as much time as the figures themselves. Your cold-weather work here has really paid its dividends, especially on how you've carried over the effect to the sabot trays. Wonderful stuff. I look forward to seeing your upcoming Jagers.

- Curt