From SylvainR: 28mm Mountains of Muscle for D&D (30 points)

This week, to "flesh out" my collection of D&D monsters, I worked on 3 giants and there were plenty of bulging muscles to paint. These are all vinyl figurines from Reaper. First, I need to give my minion a sense of the size of these baddies. Below is a picture of one of the giants with a 28mm cleric I painted a few weeks ago for comparison.

 

On this an ape-bodied giant, each of the muscle in his arms appears bigger than his head. He is described as a hill giant on the Reaper Miniatures web site. I found it challenging to highlight the hair on his arms and legs with a dry brush without the result looking "burnt" or dirty. Would any challengers have suggestions on how to paint decent hairy arms and legs?

Below is another hill giant, on of many that can be found in the Reaper catalog. Almost of the giants are posed to look downward on the hapless heroes, which makes it difficult to see their face. I rarely paint eyes on my 28mm figurines (and never on my 6mm figurines :-)) but for a giant, I felt comfortable enough to do so. As I was painting his back, I noticed a few bubbles in the cast. Too lazy to throw in some putty and redo my paint job, I just added some blood and pretended these holes were wounds.

 

 

The last fellow is a storm giant. For the metal parts, I used the techniques I developed last week with the "metal heavy" chaos war band. You will note on the bases many little green bushes that I got for cheap on Temu. I find them a little too bright, but hey, a finished figurine is a finished figurine.

 

Points claimed:

3 x 54mm foot figurines at 10 points each = 30 points

Total = 30 points 

Thanks for reading!

***

From 6mm to 54mm...now THAT is some variety. 

Great brushwork once again Sylvain! I fear the lighting in these photos has let you down a touch - these brutes look the business, and you have achieved an excellent result on these figures. The character - and associated "anger issues" really shine through. 

Painting hairy arms...well...I fear I lack the authorized Scottish heritage in order to offer suggestions, but I will say that I feel you have achieved a pretty good result here. For my part, I would suggest dry brushing as the way to go, but perhaps involving a while or light grey dry brush first, and then a wash from one of the many paint varieties out there made to cover such a dry brush.

I can feel the tread of these giants approaching! Well done Sylvain!

GregB

From Sarah: Two Sweet Wee Buildings Started Last Year (Limbo) (20 Points)

Hello Everyone

These two buildings have been primed and patiently waiting for colour since at least last Challenge. Me thinks they are "seasoned' and now ready for their close up!

My foray into painting  buildings in an "Impressionistic Style" a la Monet continues with these two slightly eccentric villas. 

I've chosen a coastal colour palette of muted earth tones -  to reflect the windswept environs of the Holiday Beach Villas. I think the lavender and pale blue shutters add both a whimsical touch and a holiday vibe.

Here is a group shot with some buildings from last years Challenge. I really like the sense of whimsy and fairy-tale quality of the wee buildings. I've had a lot of fun with these and I hope Curt will indulge me and let me paint more buildings for him. :

I know that buildings/terrain have no Challenge points, so I'll be claiming the 20 bonus points for fulfilling 'Limbo'  and this entry will start my descent into the Abyss. 

Next week ... Lust! 

20  more points for me!

- Sarah

***

Hello again Sarah - so nice to see more work from you! 

Ah, terrain...you are so fortunate to enjoy painting it! Personally, I struggle with painting terrain. Not that I never do it, but rather that it always finds a way to sit at the very, very bottom of whatever painting queue I might have in my mind. 

But enough about my hobby-mental-hangups! This is about your work, and your work here is tremendous - at once warm, whimsical, and tuned to just-the-right sense of otherwordliness. Such is the power of well-painted terrain, it helps us set the mood and adds so much more not only to a display, but to a great game!

Well done - that will be another 20 points for your total. 

GregB

From BruceR - Celtic mayhem, Silver Bayonet Austrian Force (95 points)

This submission to the AHPC is a mixed bag.  I usually have a purpose as I prepare to host a game at ACon in late March.  This year I'm taking my Napoleonic's for Sharp Practice and they have been completed in past challenges and even in the off season.  

So I butterfly.  The first is a group of Austrians for the Silver Bayonet.  These are elite special forces each nation uses to investigate paranormal activities brought about by the bloodshed and deprivation during this war torn period.   I went all in when first released as I love Nappys and the gents I game with seem to enjoy horror games, so welcome to my game parlor.  I purchased all the initial forces (Spanish, English, French, Russian, Prussians, and Austrians).  All painted except the Austrians.  Not sure why.  I love these figures from North Star Miniatures, as they are super characterful and always include extra details like holy symbols, extra weapons, torches.  They are also great character leaders for Sharp Practice.   

These were base coated black, which is my standard.  I did do a dry brush of white as they are in lighter uniforms and needed this for coverage.  Once blocked in, I go to the magic potion, Strong Tone from Army Painter, highlight and done.  I give you Elite of Emperor Francis I of Austria.

The Officer and Dhamphir (has some vampire tendencies) 

The Officer has a monocle and what looks 

like what appears to be a map case or special 

writings.

Infantryman and Veteran Hunter:

The Infantryman sports a set of torches and some 

holy books to ward of evil.  The Veteran Hunter

has large bag of tricks over his shoulder and 

an armored chest plate. 

Artillerist and a Grenadier:

The Grenadier sports a holy symbol because

who knows in this business. 

Occultist and Supernatural Investigator: 

Freebie, likely for ordering too much.  What is not to like, great mustache, top hat, vest, holy symbol, powder horn.   

On to my Celtic mix.  I've still got the Midgard Heroic Battles game on the table and decided I needed to expand the Celts to keep up with the invading Romans.  Exactly what the AHPC is about, go digging into boxes and find figures that didn't make the main force.  Plastic Warlord Games Celts and some Victrix chariot sprue characters.  A mix of shields means I don't have transfers for them and it's either cut up transfers to fit or free hand.  I went with free hand.  Another 10 to add to my force.  

Two well to do warlords with mail, helmets and 
multiple weapons, "where is my chariot". 

You go High, I'll go Low!!

On to the next sidebar.  Some Front Rank AWI British Grenadiers just showed up for a planned game in April.  Huzzah!!!  Like many in the North time to paint as its subzero with windchills well below zero.  Stay safe everybody.  

Points:

19 28mm figures @5             95 pts.

Gratuitous Doggo photo.  The chief is in the seat next to me.  Bruce

***

Well done Bruce! We welcome our canine overlords!

Some great painting here from you as usual. I must say I chuckled at first when contemplating the idea of an Austrian "Silver Bayonet" force. I can only imagine the Hapsburgs and their associated clingers and grifters trying to manage supernatural manifestations, given how terrible they often were at managing real-life events. "Immortality? That will complicate the succession process..." - meanwhile the small team of specialists probably speak seven different languages and just yell at each other...for all that, I've always got a soft spot for an Austrian grenadier! He looks the business, ready to do what it takes, while the officers worry about their next orchestra recital in Vienna.

And the crazy-looking Celts continue to assemble! Well done once more on those fellows. 

All in, 95 points well-earned. Stay warm folks, indeed!

GregB

From SylvainR: Tray 04 - 6mm Early WW2 German Cavalry (134 points)

 

After completing the BEF last week, my efforts were geared towards finishing my early ww2 German army. Last year, I completed a battalion of Schutzen infantry as well as lots of panzers. But because of the size of the army I decided to break it in two parts and work later on the Fallschirmjagers, the cavalry, the motorcycles and a few engineering stuff. I completed the German paratroopers before the Challenge, since they were already painted and just needed to be re-based. This week I am presenting 2 companies from the First Cavalry Division. This unit fought in all the early campaigns and was converted at the end of 1941 to become the 24th Panzer Division, only to be later annihilated in Stalingrad. Below is a company of 10 elements. I'm just showing in detail the blue company since the red company is identical. Sorry about the half blurred image.

Below is a 4 side view of the cavalry elements. Even if the base is quite large, I used only 7 mounted figurines instead of my usual 9 figurines when I build foot infantry on smaller bases, otherwise I find the mini cavalry dioramas look too crowded.

Here is a close-up on one of the cavalry sections. You can appreciate the difference between the skinnier GHQ cavalrymen, like the one in the foreground, and the chunkier Heroics & Ros horses, like the white steed. But they do mix well together. You can also see that the pants of the riders are a different color than the top of the uniform. Why do I bother painting these kind of details too small for anyone to see?

Lastly, a close-up on one of the company HQs. Since there are only four tiny minis on this large surface, I try to add visual diversity to the terrain, but sometimes it looks too much.

Points claimed:

134 mounted figurines at 1 points each = 134 points

Total = 134 points

Thanks for reading!

***

Bravo Sylvain on another excellent serving of 6mm goodness. All of the usual positives apply - not only is the brushwork well done, but you have a basing approach that really makes these little figures sing. Great stuff.

Seeing WW2 cavalry is also a reminder of just how much of a role horses played in that conflict. While of course the war is remembered for its emergence of mechanized, mobile combined-arms warfare (and we gamers enjoy very much gaming in that fashion too!) the fact is that there were never, ever enough vehicles - combat or support - to go around, and the humble horses had a role to play throughout the war. 6mm is an ideal size for gaming to represent such units in the conflict, as it offers the sort of scope wherein a player will appreciate the cavalry's attributes (while recognizing its weaknesses too). 

134 points well-earned!

GregB

 

Side duel Update January 22nd

I am late on posting a Side Duel update, for which I apologize.  I've been laid low for two weeks with a nasty cold (my wife suspects it was COVID) which has also kept me from the painting table.  We've had plenty of movement on the Side Duel Leader Boards as shown below, with a couple of the Duels looking like real horse races.

First up an updated pie chart of activity.

SD1 (Moose and ) Squirrel Duel

GeoffT bagged a large number of squirrels right at the start but seems to be running out of things to chase as his pace has slowed down considerably.  Meanwhile Curt and KerryT are making up ground on him.  Sadly, no-one has contributed a moose to the score....

SD1 (Moose and ) Squirrel
GeoffT	8
Curt	5
KerryT	4
MikeW	2
Barks	1
MartijnN	1
PeteF	0
RobH	0

SD2 30K Heresies

We have a minor heresy going on with the leader board, as Curt has passed GregB in 30K posts!  The expected rout is a real horse race with PeterA also insight of the leaders.

SD2 30K Heresies
Curt	130
GregB	120
PeterA	84
DavidB	0
SanderS	0

SD3 Skulls


Scoring is pure head count (pun intended). This one will be adjudicated by Barks.

I will leave skull tallies to our resident Post-Mortem Phrenologist.

SD3 Skullz
Barks	?
Curt	?
DavidB	?
GregB	?
MikeW	?
PeteF	?
TeemuL	?

SD4 Mech Madness


Apparently we duellists have found some Winter Grade lubricants and got their Mechs moving.  It's TomL clanking into the lead, with Curt following.  Where is DavidB in the madness?

SD4 Mech Madness
TomL	25
Curt	15
DaniHG	2
DavidB	0
SanderS	0

SD5 WW2 Duel

Still in the Phony War stage.

SD5 WW2 Duel
DavidB	0
MattW	0
Millsy	0

SD6 Napoleonics

It turns out that RayR can be trained to follow admin rules, as he's successfully filled in Side Duel forms for 6 posts and has charged up the leader board.  But it's LeeH in front and MattW is following up to take advantage when Lee or Ray falters.  I expect this one will be a close run thing this the end.  Watch out for when KerryT turns his brushes to Napoloeonics.

SD6 Napoleonics
LeeH	283
RayR	247
MattW	200
EdwardG	0
KerryT	0
PeteF	0

SD7 Can Opener


As suspected January bills have come it and it's off to the larder to open a can of SPAM for supper.  Both KerryT and Curt need to make runs to the recycling depot and Barks has also used his kitchen appliance.

SD7 Can Opener
KerryT	180
Curt	130
Barks	20
MattW	0
NickY	0
RobH	0

SD8 Retreat from Moscow

This is essentially a repeat of the top two positions from the Napoleonic Side Duel.  RayH has recovered from dysentery, rested his oxen and found his way back onto the trail...sorry that's the Oregon Trail party I've been playing on my iPad....but you get the idea.

SD8 Retreat from Moscow
LeeH	283
RayR	247

SD9 Colonial Wars

The scramble for Africa and other parts has barely begun.  

SD9 Colonial Wars
RobH	5
DaveD	0