From KerryT - A walk down a country lane (270 points)

Morning afternoon & evening all

I seem to have moved away from 3d prints for now and have painted some metals instead. Both units were prepped for last years challenge but never made it to the painting table.

Both sets of figures  find themselves walking down a country lane a few hundred years apart

The first unit to take the walk or ride are a unit of Footsore Arthurian or Romano- British cavalry. They've just crossed the river at a ford and are now on the lookout for an ambush

There doesn't seem to be anyone at home

I came, I saw, I had a look and now I'm going home

Milling around

Ready to charge

The banner is from LBMS but the shields are hand painted but only because I must have previously used the decals that I had. I copied to designs from the LBSM sheet

A few close ups 

I like the flying slug

Arthur Pendragon

I wasn't entirely sure how to base these as my Romano Briton army is based in singles (though I only have foot) but I figure that I'm likely to use these with Midguard or Lion Rampant and figured  multibases would be best, though I wish I'd had another figure that I could have added to Arthur's command stand.

Now imagine that you've somehow fallen asleep under a hedge in that lane for a couple of hundred years and you've just been woken up my the stomp of marching feet. You now find yourself in the 1930's and are watching the dreaded BUF take a stroll down that country lane

The lane has changed a little with a bridge over the ford and now a small village

They're on the lookout for trouble

My VBCW collection started more that 10 years ago when my good mate Giles Allison was visiting NZ and had kindly gave me some figures he had painted for myself and another friend. I added to the collection, basing my back story on the exploits of a pair of twins who I imagined had grown up in my valley back home in Wales. My VBCW back story if you are interested is here https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vbcf/viewtopic.php?p=31839#p31839

I've played a few games and added quite a bit of WW1 figures to act as opposition to the valley forces but I've since added some BUF figures using the Footsore range and some additional figures from Empress Miniature Spanish civil war range

These guys are attired in blue rather than the traditional black of the BUF

Anyone coming down the lane is going to get shot up

The Empress figures are in shirts

The figures were painted with Vallejo Dark Blue Grey for tunics with trousers in Black Gray, washed and then highlighted. Those in shirtsleeves were given a highlight to the VJ Field Blue

All together say cheese

Once again, thank you for looking and your previous encouragement

In summary

14 x 28mm Mounted figures @ 10 points = 140

25 x 28mm Foot @ 5 points = 125

Total 265 points

2 Squirrels =- Romano-British cavalry & VCBW BUF

(previous Squirrels - Berber Cavalry, Goblin wolf riders, Dwarf cavalry, Spanish Military order knights. Scottish archers, 15mm Napoleonic British, 15mm Napoleonic Naval, 15mm Napoleonic French, 15mm Napoleonic Spanish,100YW French Pavisiers) 

Many thanks and best wishes Valleyboy

From Millsy:

Oh wow! These are spectacular mate. I spent the first 5 minutes distracted by looking at your amazing terrain and then the figures finally broke through my distraction.

The vibrance of the blues and reds on your Roman Brits is wonderful and the hand painted shields are so crisp! I've added 5 points bonus for those because I can only imagine how long that took to complete.

Good to see I am not the only person with a solid BUF force for VBCW. The Empress figs are almost perfect Blackshirts and I have a bunch in my collection too. I assume you have seen Outrageous on the goggle box? It captures the craziness of the times so well and I can't wait for season two.

Wonderful stuff everywhere Kerry. 270 more points added to your tally which kicks you up to first spot in considerable style as well as bringing you within sight of you target with a month yet to go.

Cheers,
Millsy

From GeoffT: More fantasy miniatures (68 points)

Hello Challengers,

Here are some more fantasy miniatures, and one historical one.

We have a French looking napoleonic officer, three ‘hue-eaters’ by grenadier miniatures and six harpies by reaper bones black.  The hue eaters and harpies are closer to 40mm than 28mm to the eyeball, so will round up in scale.  I got the harpies for ‘cathaka’ or buzzard men in ghost archipelago, but they really don’t look quite right for the role, so I had not painted them earlier.  However, they will be perfect as harpies for the impending game Warriors of Athena.  The hue eaters and harpies all had integral bases which I made bigger with milliput so they would be steadier in game.

Nine x 40mm figures at 7 points each and one 28mm figure for 5 points brings the total to 68 points.

Kind Regards

Geoff

From Millsy:

More lovely fantasy goodness from you Geoff!

I'm really impressed by the vibrance of your paintwork, in this instance the hue-eaters. It's giving me a great deal of pleasure getting to see plenty of old lead getting some love and such wonderful work it is too. Those harpies really look the business and would be right at home in any Old School Renaissance dungeon.

Cracking stuff mate. 68 beautiful points added to your tally.

Cheers,
Millsy

From Barks: Fly the friendly skies (30 points)

Ferro & Spunkmeyer, the dropship crew of the Sulaco, and friends. I should paint the patches on their flight suits. I'm tempted to go and add reflections to Ferro's aviator glasses.

The xenomorphs get blue and black washes over gunmetal, then satin varnish.

30 points in the pipe, five by five.

From Millsy:

Poor Spunkmeyer, he never really had a chance. His last act was to look confused with a handful of snot. Not the most ignominious screen death ever but certainly a top 10 contender.

You've done a cracking job with these Barks. The flight suits are superb, just the right mix of shading and worn patches and Spunkmeyer's skin tone is really well executed too. The xenos have just the right black/metallic sheen too.

Lovely work mate. Not bad for a human!

Cheers,
Millsy

From Curt: More Characters for 'Devilry Afoot' - Johann, Felix and a Leprechaun (11 Points)

Hola!

Some may have noticed that I've been a little quiet, and somewhat tardy with some Challenge administrative duties as of late. Well, Lady Sarah and I have been preparing and are now enjoying a much anticipated vacation to Costa Rica. 

So while my Canadian countrymen, especially those in the Prairies, are enduring the last body-blows that winter has to offer, we, in turn, have been lounging by the pool and enjoying the warm weather. I don't want to gloat, but it's been glorious.

This all being said, before we left for our vacation, I did manage to get a few figures done to help nudge my tally along. Here are a few more figures for 'Devilry Afoot'.

On our way home, we will be stopping in Toronto to visit with Greg and his lovely wife Linda. On top of food, drink and catching-up, I look forward to playing some games with Greg and being complete geeks. One game on our roster is 'Devilry Afoot'. 

Greg has made up a hero for Devilry Afoot, Johann von Saxe. A scholarly priest, a jaded survivor of the Thirty Years War, Johann now wanders the land, hunting monsters and fighting evil where he can. 

This was a 3d print from Michael Evans on MyMiniFactory. A wonderfully expressive figure - nice and chunky. I like how he's slightly stooped, road-weary, but still stolid in his resolve. 'Johann' will be staying with Greg as a thank you for his hospitality during our visit. 

Next is a Leprechaun to serve as a 'Pact Devil'. In 'Devilry Afoot', Pact Devils tempt heroes and NPCs to enter into 'special arrangements'. For NPCs they are simply whisked off to the land of the fae to be the playthings of fairy folk, but to players, Pact Devils will give them boons to help them in their missions. Of course, these boons always come with a price, and they are often quite steep. Fun!

I thought this grinning little trickster, raising a big mug of foamy beer, laying amongst a heap of treasure, an excellent 'pact devil' I think. 3d model by Epic-Miniatures, coin stacks by Metalik Studios.

Finally I offer 'Felix' the faithful, if somewhat incontinent, terrier.

Dogs in 'Devilry Afoot' provide a significant benefit to heroes as they can alert them to threats in the darkness (it's ALWAYS dark in DA), and be a general nuisance to monsters. 

I love the pose of this little fella, especially as, in the game, dogs need to be in base contact with their masters. I thought his pose perfectly lampoons the more posh adventurers who are facing the horrors of 17th century Europe. Fellix, what a good boy!

'Johann' is in 28mm scale, while the Leprechaun could be scored as a 20mm and 'Felix' as 15mm. So, that makes 11 points in total. Nothing to write home about points-wise, but still a lot of fun to get done.

Thanks for dropping by!

- Curt

***

This is brilliant dude! I have been keen on "Devilry Afoot" since you had mentioned it, and Johann looks perfect! He WARNED all of those protestant idiots what they would unleash - it would be hell! And not just the hell of war...he has stood against evil, and while he is worn down by his trials, he will continue in his work to rid the world of evil, if for no other reason than to deny any protestants the chance to mark his passing...

The leprechaun is great. I'm sure any "special arrangement" made with him can't be that sinister...the private equity of the 17th century...

After all, Felix will be around to warn his master of trouble. And if that person is not paying attention, Felix is clearly prepared to MAKE his master notice :) 

Wishing you and Sarah the very best on your well-earned vacation in paradise, and looking forward to seeing you here in Toronto!

A lovely and fun eleven points for your tally. Safe travels!

GregB

From Millsy: Yet More Late Romans (120 points)

G'day All,

Another day, another batch of Late Romans! Sorry about that, LOL. Thankfully this is the last of the infantry blocks with just twenty of so skirmishing archers left to complete of the infantry.

Again, these are all Gripping Beast with Little Big Men shield transfers. I ended up settling on a minty green colour for one lot of tunics to break the monotony. Again I'm not that fussed with the final product just as I was unfussed by the red tunics. The paint job is fine, I just think the undyed wool looks better.

I'll let the pictures do the talking from here... two units of auxiliaries with "extra bowmen" upgrades for To The Strongest!

24 x 28mm infantry = 120 points.

Next up will be the remaining archers as skirmishers, a bunch more cavalry, a manuballista and a general to round things out. I should get everything done before the end of the Challenge which would be quite a satisfying achievement and allow me to move onto something else right away. Nice!

PS. Before people ask (I definitely would) I promise to do some army shots when it is all finished and share them as part of the final post of Late Romans.

Thanks for looking as always!

Cheers,
Millsy

***

Well, I, for one, continue to welcome the sight of even more Romans from you Millsy! I just love the Roman setting for wargaming, and your late Romans have been a real treat. More I say! More! 

I know we all look forward to that set of photos of the finished force, but let's get that field army completed - perhaps you still need a couple more infantry blocks? It all looks lovely - particularly the look you have been able to achieve with the Gripping Beast plastics. Well done. 

120 points for you!

GregB

From DaveD - Bolsheviks (!), Sailors, Command & Lewis Gunners (63 points)

Post number two for the day sees me feeding the beast that is my Bolshevik force. 

First the command group for the sailors of Torpedo Odessa. Painting the guy with hooped vest was “fun” . I have added on my own designed flag of crossed anchors.

Next are 4 officers figures. 

Finally it is unit support weapons in the form of Lewis Guns. Enough for 4 units to have an LMG each. These are cast without the bi-pod so I kit bashed a couple with some garden twisty wire that I stripped the plastic off , wrapped around the  barrel and then hardened with a dab of solder . Not perfect , but good enough . 

All 28mm Copplestone once more lovely to paint. Just the one more lot of Bolo reinforcements to come, a maxim for the sailors, another infantry in the pointy hat and some lancer cavalry - well that’s the plan at the moment. The good news is the order has arrived !

12x5 =60 

***

Does one EVER have enough Bolsheviks? I'd ask Comrade Lenin, but I'm not sure I would get the meeting...

Great work Dave! I have really enjoyed watching this project gallop along, and I know a lot of your fellow Challengers have as well. I have also seen a number of other "Back of Beyond" themed entries and projects, and I suspect your work here is helping to drive that along. 

Fine job on the flag, and very nice to come up with the bipods for the Lewis Guns. Those are such cool-looking weapons...the large barrels give them a near-sci-fi look. I'm tossing in three extra points for the hand-painted flag and the faffing around to come up with the bi-pods. Perhaps they were not much to paint, but even minor messing around with a solder project is worth a couple points :)

GregB

From DaveD -15mm French Battlegroup additions 7DTTR - (142 points )

This week it is back to the last of the 15mm French Battlegroup. This time is the additional infantry and various transport options. Everything is by Battlefront from the "Team Yankee" ranges. 

Infantry platoon:

Wheeled transport VAB Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé

All vehicles airbrushed with a standard NATO 3-colour scheme, tracks, wheels in VJ black grey followed by a dark brown oil wash and pick out highlights. 

Next AMX10P Tracked APC with 20mm auto cannon.

There are the odd decal on these, it is though something I miss on “moderns".

That completes my full Battlegroup. All completed during challenges 14 and 16. 

Points :-

10 x 15mm vehicles = 80

Infantry x 29= 58 , crew 4 =4 , total 62

Total 142

***

Great work Dave - it is particularly lovely to see the entire force together at the conclusion of the post. They look ready to take on all opponents in some lovely Cold-War-Gone-Hot tabletop mayhem. 

Another whopping 142 points - well-earned. 

Greg