From JohnS: The Carolingian army grows slowly (80 points)

Not much to say this week, time and motivation have been scarce.

I have managed to finish the second base of Frankish Heerbann militia which completes that unit. These are a variety of brands of metal and plastic including Crusader, Gripping Beast, Medbury and even a couple of Oathmark miniatures.

 Ten chaps that I have based Deep for To The Strongest.

 I have put them in rough and straggling ranks as i can imagine the Heerbann were not super keen or trained for war.

 And they are not armed with the latest weaponry.

 "Remind me again, why are we here? Those other chaps over there look quite unpleasant."

"I know, let's go home, drink some wine and invent some new types of cheese"

 Even more poorly equipped are these Generic Dark Ages Javelin Skirmishers

Armed with cutting edge "pointy stick" technology, these fellas are sent forward to soften up the enemy.

As first class arrow catchers, they quickly deplete the enemy of ammunition while threatening them with the aforementioned "pointy sticks".

Here they are demonstrating their tactical Running This Way and That Way technique.

 Including their Tactical Withdrawal So We Don't Do Too Much Winning.

So much winning.

That's a total of:

28mm Infantry x 15 @ 5 pts = 75 points. 

From Millsy:

I know how long these have been hanging around as you tried to find the time to work them John so it's great to see them finally done and ready for the table.

I love the composition on the deep base of spear and shield warriors with the pointing chap at the front. There's a real sense of something is about to happen and you don't want to be on the wrong end of it. 

Some great colour choices and some very tidy hand painted shields really lift these up. They feel like you've invested a lot of time and effort and it has paid off.

Lovely brushwork all round mate and I have added another 5 points for the shields. Cracking stuff!

Cheers,
Millsy

From AlanD - Reivers and Goths (65 points)

It's been a bit of an eclectic painting week as I finished off a couple of things I started too long ago.

Firstly, as a proof of concept, I finished a deep unit of Goths for To the Strongest! They aren't the points bomb they might appear to be, unfortunately. All but 6 of the figures were painted over a year ago, and have been lying around waiting for a few reinforcements and basing. The majority are Wargames Atlantic Goths, with six newly painted figures from Footsore. They are the 5 figures with helmets in the front rank, and another hairier chap up the back somewhere. 

I like the guy who seems to have noticed the camera.

During the Challenge last year I enjoyed painting some lovely reivers from Flags of War. I assembled six broken men on foot, stuck them to their bases....and got sidetracked on to other things. It was a pleasure finally painting them this week. Who knows? At this rate I might finally have a game of Border Wars around AHPC XX.

12 figures for 60 points please Millsy! 

From DaveD - aka Millsy . Ooh Alan they are cracking.i really like the mob look , the close packed tension of it all . I live in Reivers territory  it’s always great to see these re-created . I’m making this up,to 65 my friend .

From HarryV Libyan Skirmishers (180 Points)

 Hey everybody, 

This week's submission is 36 28mm Libyan Skirmishers for my Carthaginian Project for a total of 180 points. These Libyans were recruited from the nomadic, tribal peoples of the vast region of Libya. 

 

These guys are made from the Warriors of Carthage box from Victrix, along with fellows from the victrix peltast set and other random sets to make up the numbers. You only get 12 in the warriors of Carthage box, so numbers needed to be found elsewhere. Fortunately you get extra Libyan heads so conversions are easy. 

Hannibal had around 2,000 of these warriors in his army from my research, so at a 1:50 scale that gives 40 models, so I am about 4 figures short, but oh well. 

I couldn't find my stash of surplus round shields and did not have enough in the packs to give them all round shields. Therefore some of these fellows have picked up thureos shields from Carthage's substantial armories. Of course, after priming them I found my extra round shields. 

Some of these Libyans also have acquired/looted helmets as well. This was mainly to make up for the lack of Libyan heads I had available. 

Our limited sources of these gentlemen describe them wearing exclusively red tunics, along with wild and shaved hairstyles. I believe the hairstyles would have been unique to each tribe, however the victrix set only has one expression/face per hairstyle, so the different tribes are mixed together for modeling purposes. 

The victrix warriors of Carthage box is a little frustrating as it combines three very distinct troop types in one box. I would really prefer separate kits for the different troop types, like a dedicated box just for Libyan skirmishers. now that I am out of Libyan heads I can't really make any more of this troop type. Also you only get one head per hairstyle, where you would think the skirmishers recruited from a tribe would be grouped together all with the same hairstyle. 

These are all for the "To The Strongest" Ruleset. 

Next up are many more infantry along with more heavy cavalry which will be ready towards the end of February. Following that I have some really cool stuff (I think) for the Carthage project which will remain a secret for now. 

Every time I see HarryV in the title I expect to see HYW English, but I am more than satisfied with these Libyans!  Excellent work on kit bashing, painting and basing these skirmishers.  As Phil Barker would say, do not discount the humble light infantry skirmisher with javelins.  These troops are. both cheap and effective.  In one of our TtS games, Irish beardless youth managed to get round the flank of the Roman legions and win the day.  I got a chuckle out of your shield drama (been there) and the issues with the heads.  FYI, I know some gamers have used Perry Mahdist plastics as greek javelin men, so maybe's there's another source for you.  I am hoping that the promised "really cool stuff" includes Heffalumps.

 

From AlanD - More Goths than a Cure Concert (200 points)

I've had a funny old challenge this year. I've been on long service leave (amazing - can recommend), but instead of painting masses of figures, I've used a lot of hobby time to think about some big projects, reorganise some storage and that sort of thing. Some of this is KenR's fault, as listening to his very entertaining Yarkshire Gamer's podcast has boosted my enthusiasm for the 'Reet Big' wargame, rather than the large skirmish sized battles I usually fight. As a result, I've been doing that thing that should only be attempted on long service leave: rebasing. My plan has been to use 50mm square bases to build up armies that can be used for To the Strongest, Impetus, Soldiers of Rome and other rank and flank ancients games I'd like to have a go at. The hairy blokes here will be used as Heruls, Gepids, Goths and whatever else seems appropriate.

Of the figures here, only 40 were actually painted in this year's challenge, so I'm claiming 200 points please Tamsin. They are a mix of Westwind, Footsore, Gripping Beast plastics and Wargames Atlantic, and I'm pretty pleased with they way they look en masse. I did have one varnishing disaster as 10 figures turned white when I sprayed them, thanks to Sydney humidity, but I managed to same them by recoating them with gloss and trying again under better conditions.

This will be my last submission for the challenge this year as I'm off to Madrid for a holiday. Thank you Curt and the Minions for making this madness possible, and to all the challengers (challenged?) for the inspiring entries you all keep coming up with. Especially those involving turnips.

They certainly look great, Alan! Sorry to hear that this will be your last entry of the year, but I hope you have a wonderful break in Madrid.

Tamsin

Richard P - 28mm Arab Archers (60 Points)

A couple of 60mm x 60mm bases to add to my growing 28mm Arab army for Impetus/To the Strongest. Figures are from various sources, mainly from a very generous donation from a fellow club member who gave me a load of suitable infantry and cavalry figures that were originally painted in the 1980's. I have tried, where possible, to keep the original colour schemes from 40 years ago.

From EvanH - Sun Dome Templars - The Rank and File (45 points)

Yes, it's back to Glorantha again for the rest of the Sun Dome pike detachment (well, maybe not all the rest, but certainly the elite heavies at the centre of the line).

"Where's your linothorax, you 'orrible little man?"

Oh dear, it looks like an unfortunate recruit is being shown the error of his ways by his Hekatontarch; a proper Sun Dome Templar is equipped with a helmet, a cuirass, a shield, a pike (regulation size, soldiers for the use of), and greaves, whereas Private Outis here has clearly forgotten his body armour. Looks like they'll have to put him at the back of the phalanx again...

The Aventine Miniatures range of Tarentine figures has been perfect for the more technologically advanced Gloranthan military units.

The elite pikemen of the Cult of Yelmalio are now complete. There's a bunch of others still in Undercoat Limbo, but their less ornate kit means they'll probably be fielded as militia. Stout chaps, but not the sort you'd hire to take a strategic hill. They're more like Dad's Army.

These fellows, by comparison, are all kitted up to the nines, as befits a famous heavy infantry unit  (well, except for that one on the right - he'll be doing guard duty out at the Old Sun Dome ruins for the next two seasons, I know it!). The shields were painted freehand, mostly with the Truth Rune beloved of the Cult, but I varied things a bit with the Fire/Sun and Light Runes as well.

So here's the unit ranked up on the Warbases sabot base for "To the Strongest!" Thanks to Millsy for the idea; this way I can use them in skirmish or RPGs as well!

What's with the three vacant spots at the front though? That's for the command group from a couple of weeks ago, so here they are in their rightful place;

It was hard to find time to get these guys done now that I'm back at work, but these lovely sculpts really repay the effort. And it's the first actual unit I've competed in ages, which is nice.

Still got a lot left in the lead pile though - stay tuned!

Ev

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Fine work again Evan! As I contemplate another miserable winter day here is the Canadian Prairie, I must say the idea of this "Sun Dome" is very compelling.  As is this other notion you mention so briefly in your post - this so-called "summer"....

I won't need to resort to any Truth Runes to tell you this all looks very lovely and is a fun read.  And I continue to be impressed by how sharp all these mass units are looking even with sabot-type basing. Excellent work all around - that will be another 45 points for you. 

I, er, strongly suggest following up to ensure you get your points, as the Google Spreadsheet is working about as well as these things ever do...*cough*....

Greg

From Millsy: Mounted Hospitaller Sergeants (90 points)

Hi All,

As promised here's another instalment of mounted troops for my Crusader army. This time it's a unit of mounted Hospitaller sergeants in their iconic all-black outfits. Choice bro! Once again the miniatures are all from Fireforge Games and comprise a combination of parts from the Mounted Sergeants and Templar Knights box sets.

I'm getting to the point now where I could probably paint the heraldic stuff in my sleep *. The biggest challenge is deciding something is good enough and resisting the urge to do further touch ups and tweaks.

Another 80 points for my total and another mouthful or DaveD's dust in our side duel. I like to think I'm sitting pretty up here on the moral high ground. Yeah that's it.

Next up? You guessed it, more mounted troops. Thankfully for everyone, especially me, there's only 2 more units of troops and 4 command stands to go...

* That would be an absolute blessing!

Cheers,
Millsy
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This is getting to be bigger than Ben-Hur! 

So let's see... 80 points for the figures, another 8 for the handpainted shields, and we'll round it up with another two points for the pennons and caparisons because I'm still in a good mood after getting back from my holiday (don't worry, depression will soon set in and I'll be back to my usual grumpy self).

90 points to the gentleman in the black and white surcoat!

Ev

From Millsy: Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (45 points)

Hi All,

The Crusade (against unpainted lead and plastic apparently) rolls onward with the start of the mounted component of my army. I very nearly finished a unit of Hospitaller sergeants too but the mounted elements are taking a long time to get right with all the hand-painted heraldry.

Anyway, here we have a unit of Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, resplendent in blue, white and gold. A lovely colour scheme and one that I enjoyed thoroughly. The miniatures are all from Fireforge Games and comprise a combination of parts from the Mounted Sergeants and Templar Knights box sets.

One thing I find odd in the box set is the mix of caparisoned vs. bare horses (3 vs. 9 per box). The result is unless you buy a load of boxes it is impossible to make units of entirely caparisoned horses when using multiples of 4. Oh well...

So another 40 points plus whatever the Gods of Handpainted Heraldry deem my unworthy efforts to deserve in recompense for hours spent slavishly doing what a sensible, well balanced individual would do with decals...

Cheers,
Millsy

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Millsy, another splendid unit towards the completion of your Crusader army (as if such a thing can ever be said to be 'complete' - "One more unit of Turcopoles, just one...")

The handpainted heraldry (and I'm apparently a 'God' of this pantheon, so watch it, mortals!) plus the matching caparisons and pennons definitely merit bonus points; five points seems a fair reward for the amount of work you put in. I'd be putting in a call to LBMS for a batch of decals myself, but then I'm extremely lazy!

Well played, Sir!

Ev

From Millsy: Mounted Crusader Bishop and Bodyguard (21 points)

Hi All,

I'm making good progress with the mounted contingent of my new Crusader army. Unfortunately I'm still a way short of finishing the first mounted units, largely because I got sidetracked by this entry - the first of my command stands.

This chap is a mounted Crusader bishop from 1st Corps miniatures, painted up as a Hospitaller order and ably supported by a couple of chaps from Fireforge Games taking a crucifix on a stick for a walk. Not much more to say about this other than I had to force myself to call it finished.

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Next up (assuming I can maintain my focus!) is a unit of Hospitaller sergeants and a unit of Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Cheers,
Millsy

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IT'S DA BISHOP!!

Lovely bit of work on this, Millsy. Looks like His Grace is a bit of a Church Militant... but as long as he uses only blunt instruments to make his theological points, he's in the clear!

It's vignettes like this that are the icing on the cake of a tabletop force - the basing and sense of movement are top-notch. So that's 5 points for each foot soldier, 10 for the Bish, and another point for the splendidly evocative base.

Now let's take a look at your next entry for the week; we'll just move it away from the Bishop, as I'm not sure sorcery is exactly A1 theory with his lot...

Ev