From RayR: A trip into the Abyss via the Retreat from Moscow (115 points)

  

For this post I'm travelling down the Abyss on my way to Paradise, I've already completed some Wagons for  Limbo, so my next stop will be Lust!

Everyone starts at the First Circle in the Abyss ('Limbo'). The only way to get to Paradise is to traverse five (5) of the infernal locations first. Once in Paradise you will have another 5 circles to complete and are not be able to return to the Abyss.

Second Circle: Lust
Of course this could be something titillating but it could also be the miniature that you've always wanted for your collection but have denied yourself. One of the few times where I condone NSFW content. Young visitors may wish to avert their eyes.

I've had this col Bill's Vivandiere for some time, I bought her knowing one day she would fit into a bonus round in the Challenge, I still have at least 20 other similar figures waiting for their chance to fit in somewhere???

Marie Tete du Bois, followed the Grande Armee into Russia giving out bacon bagets and shots of brandy to warm up the weary soldiers, trouble was, that wasn't the only thing she gave out to warm the soldiers up!!!

A vivandière was a woman who sold food and drink to soldiers in the military. The term comes from the French word vivandier, which means "hospitable man".

From The Second Circle of Lust I shall now move down to the Third Circle Gluttony!!!

My first none Retreat from Moscow figure in Challenge 15.

Third Circle: Gluttony

Would you like your meal supersized? Show us a figure who has overindulged at the table. A little too much Holiday feasting perhaps?

Technically he's not got a big belly, but Hercules sure is a Glutton for punishment!

Having tried to kill Heracles ever since he was born, Hera induced a madness in him that made him kill his wife and children. Afterwards, Heracles went to the Oracle of Delphii to atone, where he prayed to the god Apollo for guidance. Heracles was told to serve Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, for ten years. During this time, he was sent to perform a series of difficult feats, called labours

1. Slaying the Nemean lion
2. Slaying the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra
3. Capturing the Ceryneian Hind
4. Capturing the Erymanthian Boar
5. Cleaning the Augean stables in a single day
6. Slaying the Stymphalian birds
7. Capturing the Cretan Bull
8. Stealing the Mares of Diomedes
9. Obtaining the belt of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons
10. Obtaining the cattle of the three-bodied giant Geryon
11. Stealing three of the golden apples of the Hesperides
12. Capturing and bringing back Cerberus

Each year I paint a figure for my Dad at Christmas and for his birthday in January, Hercules was painted up for his birthday. The figure is from North Stars Of Gods and Mortals range of figures, and is a large 28mm figure, more like 35mm, we'll he was a giant of a man.

Next down the Abyss we come to the 4th Circle Greed.

Fourth Circle: Greed

As the depraved Emcee in the musical 'Cabaret' sang, 'Money makes the world go around...' Submit something illustrating an unbridled lust for filthy lucre.

And who better to paint up to represent Greed. Some say he was the greatest military commander ever, but Greed drove Napoleon to attack the Russians in 1812 and we all know how that ended up, don't we?

This is a very simple figure from Eureka, but what a great looking figure it is, he should make a great objective in a game of Sharpe Practice, "Capture the Emperor"

For my 5th and last entry for the Abyss bonus round I'm heading for the 7th Circle Violence, but before that I've got to beg the help of Succubus Sarah to help me get there, so as a sacrifice I offer up, Jeanette Morel.

Jeanette is one of the Grande Armee's camp followers.

She is following the column of bedraggled soldiers heading away from Moscow.

and the marauding Cossacks

Hence she is holding a pistol, pointing it menacingly.....I wonder if its loaded?

She is part of pack FN193 Camp Followers from the mighty Perry Twins

Thanks to Sarah and Jeanette, we now find ourselves at the last Abyss Circle.......Violence!

Seventh Circle: Violence
Hmm, as many of us are wargamers I don't think I need to elaborate on this one too much.

I'm sure you'll all agree, this was probably the easiest of the circles to paint. Any of my previous or forthcoming entries (yours too) could fit in here.

These 2 groups of figures are once again from Perry Miniatures, they are what was left from pack FN194 Scavengers!

Both show that violent horrible side of war.

Beating a fellow countryman for a blanket...

And robbing the dead of a pair of boots!!!

So ends my marathon and onto the points!

Lust - Marie Tete du Bois 5pts plus 20 bonus = 25pts

Gluttony - Hercules 5pts plus 20 bonus = 25pts

Greed - Napoleon 5pts plus 20 bonus = 25pts

Sarah Succubus - Jeanette Morel 5pts plus 20 bonus = 25pts

Violence - Scavengers 20pts plus 20 bonus = 40 pts

That make a grand total of 140 points!

TeemuL: Our third double poster today! Ray, you have been busy this week, busy indeed! And how wonderful, that you have managed to combine your winter project with the Theme Rounds. All of them great entries and your traditional birthday present to your father is a nice habit, too. It would be easy to think, that AHPC is the same every year, but it is not. I guess Snowlord just wants to keep us minions on toes... This year there are no bonus points for Sarah the Succubus, she just grants you the passage, but no bonus points. So I have to deduct 20 points. Some things are same, like counting prone minis as half points, so I'll take another five points away from those two prone minis, but you still get 115 points from this post. And yes, great brushwork and these minis give nice variation to your units or as objectives or table candy. Thank you!

From MattW: More Greeks for me! (120 points)

 More Greeks for me 

As I continue clearing my desk I can see space finally as another two bases of Greek infantry are completed, (they were quickly filled with US artillery crew and guns). Again Immortal plastics now sold by Warlord Miniatures. Again VVV transfers, I do need to give them a clear coat something in late spring when it warms up as it has been very cold here in west France for the last two weeks. 

28mm infantry @ 5 points 24 x Greeks = 120 points 

Cheers

Matt

TeemuL: There clearly is something alive on your workdesk, at least it keeps on moving. Excellent Greeks Matt, how many of them you have now? I guess I should be painting Greek, too, I have found a rather quick method with them, and that would mean quick points. :) But quickness is not important, nicely painted minis are and here we have 24 for of them. They look great. And soon we will see some US artillery from you. Or something else from your vivid desk.

From DaveD: 10mm French Guard Chasseurs (412 points)

I haven’t just been working on winter Ardennes stuff . In the background I am also continuing a long term commission to completed 20 battalions of various French Guard units. After this lot I have 7 more battalions left to do . Friend Gerry who’s collection these are for likes his big battalions! 

So here we have the latest 4 - the 3rd and 4th Chasseurs with two battalions each 

 All figures are 10mm Pendraken

The age of the big battalions certainly lives on here !

400 foot, 4 mounted … = 408 points.

Well this moves my scoreboard along nicely. Of course this is a marathon not a sprint - but this takes me 2/3rd the way towards target. Now these are out of the way time to visit the Hindu Kush, or Zulu land I think, Robert threw down a gauntlet at the start of the challenge and the duels wallah minion is pointing out nothing has been done! All in good time, all in good time…

TeemuL: You have been busy and although I like you winter board, it is nice to see some variation. Variation is the middle name of Thursday Crew, isn't it? I'm sure your friend Gerry likes these, at least I do. And you can always ask hints from MartinC about 10mm methods if you get stuck. These are as colourful and varied as his, but I guess that is historical accuracy speaking here. You seem to have a summer table setup somewhere, too? And finally, that would be 412 points, since cavalry in 10mm is 3 points.

From MattW: WW2 vehicles and Flak (171 points)

I have been on a mission this week to complete a number of 20mm WW2 vehicles and guns to clear the decks a little and complete something for the build. 

First up a Flak 88 for my 16 Luftwaffe Field Division project 

Next six supply Jeeps for my 90th Infantry Projects. The jeeps are resin from Raventhorpe with Drivers are AB and Alder Miniatures. 

Finally a Armoured caterpillar D7 Bull Dozer for my Engineers from Raventhorpe 

20mm gun @ 8 points

1 x flak gun = 8 points

20mm vehicle @ 15 points  

15 points 6 x US jeeps = 90 points 

15 points 1 x Bulldozer = 15 points 

20mm miniatures @ 4 points    

5 x Flak 88mm crew        = 20 points 

9 Jeep drivers and crew = 36 points 

half dozer driver @ 2 points  driver                                                      = 2 points 

 Total points.               = 171 points

Cheers

Matt

TeemuL: Nice to see the "default gun" of WW2 German wargamers, Flak 88. Just add a couple King Tigers and Jagd Panthers and you have a nice army to wonder how Germans lost the war. But no, you seem to have taken the historical road here and added jeeps and a bulldozer, excellent! You don't see that many bulldozers on wargaming tables, good to see at least one in this Challenge. I have a faint recollection of seeing some others, too, but I can't be sure. And 20mm, the bulldozer definitely looks larger, so you have done great brushwork on it!

From KenR: 1/700 Destroyer HMS Hostile (40 points)

Apologies for the late entry today, its been a busy week but I needed to keep my ship a week target up, it's not a Challenge for nothing !

Having finished the 10 German Destroyers for Narvik last week it was time to move on to the British, there were 5 H Class ships in the first battle followed up by 4 Tribals and 5 mixed Destroyers for a total of 14 ships (plus Warspite of course). 

This is HMS Hostile, Pennant number H55, the model is 1/700 scale and from a company called IBG Models in Poland, these are what I call a "Big boy" kit, there is a load of photo etch, some of which is on the kit 😀 The detail is amazing.

HMS Hostile had spent a lot of time in Spanish waters during the Civil War enforcing the arms embargo, she entered the port of Narvik in the initial British attack, torpedoing a number of merchant ships. Hostile then engaged the German Destroyer Z17, causing significant damage for only one hit in return. She briefly escorted Warspite the next day before escorting HMS Hotspur home as she was badly damaged. 

Her War ended later that year when on the 22nd August Hostile hit an Italian mine and had to be scuttled.

So that's another 40 points in the bag, this week will be a real challenge to get a ship done due to work but I'm going to give it a go. HMS Havock is looking at me 

TeemuL: I'm quite sure there should be a circle in Dante's Abyss for "Hostile". For "Havock", too... But I disgress. Another fine ship, Ken, and you have joined PaulSS in Thursday crew to paint both sides of a conflict. Am I wrong, but is this more brown than the German ships? Very lifelike - as lifelike a grey metal construct can be, but I guess you understand.

P.S. I added some basic labels to the post, I hope you have more time next week. ;)

From RayR: Retreat from Moscow - The Stragglers (120 points)

  

The citizens of Moscow had been ordered to evacuate by the Russian troops. All they left behind was a little food, plenty of alcohol, and Moscow in flames. While the French troops pillaged the empty city, Napoleon waited for Alexander I to surrender. Napoleon and his forces waited in Moscow for over a month, but no offer for peace came. By 19th October, the cold had begun to set in, and Napoleon was forced to move from Moscow.

The Grand Army was devastated having to retreat along the invasion route; order broke down, and nearly over half the force that set out from Moscow became stragglers, or those who not only did not keep up with the body of the army, but were not in any shape for combat, these either died from disease, small battles, or being exposed to the harsh Russian winter.

Throughout November the humiliating realities of Napoleon’s losses were exposed to the world. On 5th December, amid rumours of a potential coup, Napoleon left his devastated army. Just over a week later, what was left of Napoleon’s grand army straggled back over the Neman River.

Most of the Straggler figures are from the great range sold by Perry Miniatures.

Packs FN172, FN173 and FN175

This unit is the odd one out, having 2 figures from Perry's pack FN194 Scavengers and 4 Warlord plastic figures, Now of course all these figures in all three units will be interchangeable.

In this post there are 24 x 25mm figures, so that makes a grand total of 120 points, my largest points total for an entry so far this Challenge!!

TeemuL: Ray is warming up, you better be prepared Lee! What a wonderful and wonderfully varied entry again, Ray. Sometimes one might think, that painting unit after unit of Napoleonics might get boring, same uniform with little detail changes one unit after another, but you have lots of variation inside one unit! I guess the basing and frozing effect still tie the units together and they all look like part of the same organization. Well deserved 120 points.