From BenitoV: Looking Past and Looking Forward

Time flies and I don't know you, but the older one gets, the faster it passes; I can hardly believe three months (and winter!) are already gone. 

Since COVID in 2020 I've noticed my painting mojo steadily decreasing, and in the past two Challenges it has been the only time in the year when I have productively used my hair brushes and airbrush. That also explains my reduced output, to the extent that I couldn't even hit my modest 400 points target (missed by 10 points), one of the lowest set in the last decade.

But let's cut the drama and get into business. This year I started the Challenge with no clear project in mind, and unexpectedly it evolved into a series of 28 mm vehicles of the Second World War around a common topic: light armor and recon.

The remaining models also share a common feature, things mounted, but not for the same historical period. 

At this time I want to thank all who passed by my posts and left messages, it was encouraging and really helped seeing so many people enjoy my work.  Also, thanks to the minions this year for putting up so much time and effort. And many-many thanks to Curt and Sarah for organizing again such a wonderful gathering.

No photo of me and my creatures, as I have them stored in the locker rented at my local wargames club in Madrid. But I leave this with my lovely wife from a trip to Rome organized by a group of archaeologists just days before the Challenge started last December.

  Looking forward to seeing you here again in nine months from now!

From JamesM: 15mm Bobbins, Fireflies and Battery CP's (48pts)

Hi folks,

More green painted tanks from me, to end my challenge on. 

First up, some D-day oddities. 15mm resin printed 'Bobbin' AVRE Churchills. These tanks were 'carpet layers' designed to unroll a reinforced matting over soft sand/clay areas. This would provide a very temporary surface which other vehicles could use to prevent getting stuck on the beach. It could have the additional effect of flattening barbed wire to allow infantry easy crossing. As far as I'm aware, these attachments only really saw action on D-Day, although the concept was pursued in other forms post war. 

I've added some paint bottles for size references to some pictures, as it has been mentioned it's hard to define the scale sometimes - unfortunately I don't keep a banana near my desk. 

These models came from 'Butlers Printed Models' who have an excellent range of 3d printed 'funnies'. This was an expensive buy as I went for the 'all resin' option, but as soon as I saw these I knew my 'breaching teams' needed some. 

These tanks will see the table soon - this year me, MartinC and DaveD planning to do five large 15mm games - one for each of the D-Day beaches. 

Of course, it wouldn't be a challenge without me painting more 15mm Shermans*. 

Since I'd finished my Sherman DD's earlier in the challenge, I also painted the three firefly tanks that would join the squadron once the beach was a little more secure. 

These models are old metal and resin Battlefront kits I've had for a while. However, they have been 'upgraded' with more modern plastic Battlefront 17-pdr gun barrels, as the plastic offering is far thinner and more realistic looking than the old metal offerings. 

Decals and such are for the Fort Garry Horse. I've kept them very light on stowage, as they were a rush job and I can always add that later once I've seen what reference pics might be out there. After much interanl debate I also decided to base these the same way as the DD tanks. 

Lastly, a Battlefield3d resin printed Sexton Command Post model. 

This model has no real purpose other than it was unusual and I wanted to add one to my collection. As my Canadian Sextons has a Ram OP tank, I thought I'd add this oddity to my Polish artillery pool. Really just set dressing for games, it does look cool and took little effort, what with the canvas cover. 

Six 15mm scale tanks, at 8 points each, for a total of 48 points. 

* Like DaveD with his camels, although I've made sure the type of Sherman used is correct. 

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It wouldn't be a proper Challenge without James doing some 15mm WWII armour, would it? Love the assorted 'funnies' and the oddball Sexton Command vehicle. It's these outliers that really make for an interesting tabletop. Well done James and best of luck with your upcoming D-Day monster games! 

Until next year!

-Curt

From ChrisW A last, crazy post [513 points]

This last post will be another mixed bag of stuff as I try to complete what I can of half painted projects started in the challenge. 

Deep Ones [23x 28mm]

A mix of figures, a lot of the old Grenadier miniatures but also some new bigger guys thrown into the mix.  I did some deep ones in a previous challenge but just did not get around to these. I think I have now finished all my deep one figures. Sadly the bigger ones were only completed today, too late for the game we played this past Saturday that featured them. 

Cultists in gas masks [14x 28mm foot, 1 crew manned machine gun]

All but one of these are Pulp Figures, not certain where I got the 'leader' figure. At one point in the challenge I thought that I would finish off all of my cultists, but alas one group of 16 or so figures remains unpainted.

Junks

These two junks started off as cardboard models, the insert tab A into slot B type of model. They were a pale 'wood' coloured model with lots of detail on them. Unfortunately they were not 28mm scale details even though the ships were of a good size. So, I snipped off all of the tabs and did my best to fill in any gaps and then painted them. I was determined to obscure the detailed images but also preserve the etched texture of the planks. I left the sails as they were and the masts. It was a more time consuming task that I anticipated and was just barely able to have them done in time for this past Saturdays game.

DIY Shuttle craft

So a bit of a kit bashing to make a shuttle out of a kids toy. Mostly needed to remove some bits, block up some gaps, add some 'fans' and give it a paint job. The real challenge was what colour to paint it. In the end I could not decide which is my excuse for why it looks like it does.

Tried to give it a bashed up look (beyond the questionable paint job)

The toy as purchased

Sci-fi Tripods

Just what I needed, more tripods! This time not AQMF but Sci-fi tripods of a different sort. Not certain about the windows, they did not come out quite the way I thought they would, I may have to revisit them some time down the road.

Manga

The closest I have to Manga is this freebie figure from Alternative armies. It was included in an order I made a few years back and I really had no use for her. I figure the armour looks kind of like Manga ans certainly the purple hair helps.

Sarah's cart

One of the Blue Moon miniature Vampire hunter figures to allow me to use the cart. (for the first time this challenge)

Local history Huron

Another free figure this time from Bob Murch. It is a pre contact Huron native in wood armour and flint spear. In my youth, my family traveled across Ontario to Fort Saint Marie among the Hurons. While that fort was built well after the time period that this figure represents it was one of the traditional locations of the Huron nation.

 Sarah's cart and Russian Adventurer

One of the Blue Moon miniatures spy figures to allow me to use the cart.

History section

So a journey to the wild west and some lawmen. Up front we have 'Bat' Masterson the famous stick wielding lawman. Then behind him I have added some Pinkerton agents. I believe they are all Artizan miniatures.

Finally a few more figure to round out the challenge. I painted a few extra female characters in case I needed to ride the cart a few more times. All are Blue Moon figures.

So the totals

•  115 points for 23x 28mm Deep ones
•    80 points for 14x 28mm Cultists with gas masks plus machine gun and 1 crew
  
•    40 points for 2x 28mm junks
  
•      8 points for 1x 15mm shuttle craft
•    20 points for DIY section 
•    60 points for 3x 28mm tripods
  
•   20 points for Sci-fi section
  
•     5 points for 1x 28mm Manga Heroine
•   20 points for Manga Section
•   25 points for vampire hunter and Sarah's cart
  
•     5 points for 1x 28mm Huron 
•   20 points for Local history section
•   25 points for Russian adventuress and Sarah's cart
  
•  30 points for 6x 28mm foot Bat Masterson and Pinkertons
  
•  20 points for history section
  
•  20 points for 4x 28mm foot Blue Moon
  

Total  points 513 points

And more importantly...more squirrels!!

 Squirrels this post +5

Squirrels to date [18]

1. Hammers Slammers
2. Ikwen alien infantry
3. Hanuman (Alien) vehicles 
4. New Swabian league armoured vehicles 
5. Rats
6. Scarabs 
7. Mercenary Sci-fi vehicle
8. NAC Sci-fi vehicles 
9. Foo dog statues
10. Terracotta warriors  
11. NSL Bikes
12. Generic sci fi vehicles
13. Civilian sci-fi vehicles 
14. Egyptian cultists  
15. Mud Men 
16. Ladies of the evening (and Jack)
17. Halfling artillery
18. Venetian Gondolas 
19. English Bobbies
20. Deep ones
21. Cultists with gas masks (Pulp Figures) 
22. Tripods
23. Junks
24. Wild west lawmen
    

 and 60 points of big stompy robots of death!!

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Wow! Chris, you give us a wonderful parting bomb with your last post (and a blitz through the library). So much to admire here. Deep Ones, Cultists, Junks, Tripods, oh my! I always have a soft spot for anything by Bob Murch, but I have to say that my faves are the lawmen and the female pulp characters. So awesome.

You've had great Challenge this year, Chris. I hope we see you out for the next edition. :)

- Curt