From PeterA: Odds & Ends (180 points)

 I think the fact that we are in the final week of the Challenge is proof that Curt has invented time travel, as I can't believe three months have flown by. Congratulations to all Challenge Participants for their contribution to such a fabulous event. Special thanks also to Comrade Dave D, the Sunday Minion, for being such a encouraging, accommodating and welcoming presence throughout, not to mention churning out a marvellous Bolshevik force.

First up are 8 more Cartel soldados. They are all 3d prints by Turnbase Miniatures. 

One of the odd things about the prints is the length of some of the weapons like the two RPD LMGs in the pic below, which look a bit too long too me. I think these are older designs, and perhaps more recent designs don't have the same issue. 

Two standard 'gangster' poses - obviously from the 'pray and spray' weapons school!

Three assault rifle figures finish the group - unfortunately the figure with the AK had a fall and the barrel snapped of, so now he is equipped with a carbine!

Next up, are 4 PMC figures. These are also 3d prints, this time from Combat Octopus. As well as being very nice sculpts, they are modular in nature, so you can mix and match torsos, legs, heads and weapons, as well as having lots of extras like pouches, spare magazines and radios. 

So two of these have torsos with body armour and the other two are without it. They are pretty versatile figures in game - they could be PMCs as advertised, plain clothes operatives, or even mercs working for the Cartel. I have gone for a fairly subdued colour palette - I used images from Sicario as inspiration. As an aside, the two figures in blue trousers were originally much brighter - the Army Painter blue I used is pretty saturated and bright. When I mentioned this to my son he suggested I add a touch of orange to the blue to tone it down. Apparently, because it is opposite blue on the colour wheel, it will have a dulling effect, perfect for what I was after. Every day's a school day!

Obviously, these guys will need some transport, so here are two Land Rovers for them to tool about in. They are die cast toys which have been disassembled, had the windows blacked out (I do this with all my cars, as they then fit in with solid resin vehicles I have, like the Police truck in my last post), painted black and given a coat of satin varnish. Simple and quick, which makes a refreshing change!

Finally, I have 16 IRA figures by Footsore Miniatures for the Irish War of Independence, to provide some opposition to the Black and Tans and Auxies I posted earlier in the Challenge. I had intended to enter these into the Resistance Theme, but I wasn't happy with their original paint scheme. I had tried using speed paints over a grey undercoat with a white zenithal highlight. I have seen many people get good results using this method, but I'm not one of them. So I started again and that meant I was too late to enter them (plus the excellent rugby on show on Super Saturday in the Six Nations certainly put paid to any lingering chance of getting them finished in time!)

The first four are the Character pack - a shotgun armed figure painted to represent an undercover IRA agent masquerading as a member of the RIC, a Lewis LMG and loader, and a leader with pistol and rifle.

Then we have 4 figures firing/loading their rifles. I like the different clothing of the figures, a couple in the trench coat that was as close as the IRA came to an item of uniform for most of the war, the other two in suits. All also have ammunition pouches in bandoliers.

Next are four pistol armed figures. The IRA were short of weapons throughout the war, and to be honest my force here is probably rather overly-armed - most would probably have been armed with pistols like these four here. My favourite is the chap in the grey with the Mauser - obviously, being dedicated to the cause of Independence doesn't mean you can't also be a snappy dresser!

The last pack is more riflemen, advancing this time. Again, nicely mixed clothing captures the irregular nature of the force.

Finally, a group shot of all 16 figures to finish and I have to say I am much happier with how they look now.

So 28x 28mm figures = 140 points

2x 28mm vehicles = 40 points (I feel a bit of a fraud for claiming this as the paint job itself is pretty simple, so this might be revised downwards!)

Giving 180 all told I think, and that means I have met (and gone a bit beyond) my target for the Challenge.

First, get rid of the imposter syndrome and take your 40 points for the vehicles!  We don't judge quality or time spent, we just count noses.  Besides they look damn fine to me, I like the window treatments.  Your cartel looks and ganstas came out well, but I really like those IRA fighters with their mix of attire and weaponry.  Congratulations on hitting your target.  

 

PeterD