From TeemuL: Challenge XIII Wrap up

It happens to be a Thor's Day again, so you know how it goes. First some cold hard facts about Finland and then some minis.

 :meanwhileinfinland:

MEANWHILE IN FINLAND

The feeling when all temperatures around +0 °C  feel warm.

Everything is relative. After a long, cold Finnish winter, even a chilly spring day feels warm.

---End of a Finn talking about Finland---

Here they are, the minis I painted during the Challenge. This time I paid attention to collect all the minis in one place after they were completed, so I wouldn't miss them (like poor hobbits couple of Challenges ago) when doing the wrap up.

And here is the famous(?) Ikea box. As you can see there are still some (quite a lot) Mithril minis and 10 metal warriors for Army of Dead (which were not included in the label). So yes, I managed to paint all the Rohan and Dwarf warriors from the box, part of the Challenge completed succesfully.

And speaking of dwarfs, here they are. I have painted some Khazad Guards and Dwarf Kings in the past, so together they are quite an army already, but I still want to buy some reinforcements, rangers and specialists.

There weren't that many Rohans in the box, but most of them required some repairing or converting, so they were a bit more time consuming, but here they are all finished. I'm happy to have two warriors with flag and one with war horn, they should do small wonders for my force.

Here I have collected all the Mithril minis I painted. They were very good material for the Studios (sadly the movie never made it) and refreshing to paint, so characterful - happy to have lots of them to do in the box!

And this is me, staring in the bright future. We had kind of a spring last week, sun was shining, snow melted and all that, but it started to snow again on Saturday and now there is some 10-15 cms of snow and it continues - it is Monday now, it should be snowing until end of Tuesday. So yes, we were above zero last week, but now below. I have scheduled to publish this on Thor's Day, when it should be around zero and it will fit the emoji on the top.

And here is a group shot of a small unit of Oldhammer Orcs, I painted the right column (and snotlings in back) during the Challenge and managed to get a quick shot of a nice unit. Most of the other stuff were quite random and didn't fit to any existing group or unit, so they should look quite ok in the main photo and of course in my weekly Challenge posts.

Thank you everyone, all the organizers, minions, participants, commentators and readers! Let's see what kind of madness we have next winter, see you in December!

From StuartL - Ready For Challenge XIII - Challenge XII Wrap Up

Hello all,

So that's the challenge all over and done with then? Right, best get started prepping for the next one. Three months sounds like a long time, but I am always surprised at how quickly the challenge is finished. Similarly, I never think that I have painted as much as I have, but when I put everything onto my table, I am shocked by the sheer number of minis. 

So, how was this year's challenge for me? Well, my initial target was 1500 points, but after milking every point I could from the Challenge Quadrant and then some, (I think I scored about 600+ points from the map) I was able to adjust my target up to 2000 points, which I bypassed by a margin of 10%. When the challenge began, my wife asked me how many models I was going to paint. With my 1500 point target, I guesstimated 300 minis, assuming a 28mm scale infantry figure on average. Since I don't really paint smaller scales very much, this turned out to be quite accurate with my final figure total coming to 298 minis. This wasn't my most productive year, but as my non-challenge painting speed is about 30 figures a month, it was still a phenomenal output. I finished in 5th place overall, but still over 1000 points behind FrederickC in 4th place. I don't know how others break the 3000 point barrier. Even if I had more time available, I don't think I could spend it painting. This year I also served as the Squirrelfinder General, adjudicating the Squirrel side duel after withdrawing my entry to that contest. It was actually a fair amount of work as the variety of posts, schedules and challengers meant that tracking down who had painted what was way more complicated than it at first appeared. In a couple of cases entries had been posted in the wrong order, so people's Squirrel counts appeared to be going down, not up! Even though I didn't enter myself, I did a quick count as I was taking the photos below. I think I managed 15 Squirrels for myself. 

Thank you to everybody who commented on my posts and a huge thank you to all of the challengers for making the challenge what it is. A glorious celebration of our hobby covering everything from the dawn of man to the far future and the most impossibly tiny miniatures to massive mountain fortresses. There is such a huge diversity here that I am always inspired and awed by the output of all the challengers. Special thanks go to our supreme Snowlord, Curt and the Lady Sarah for running this challenge, the Minions for all of their hard work, and PeterD in particular for managing my posts.

So, on to the pictures.

Despite not playing any GW systems, I have a lot of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer 30,000 armies on the go. I actually expected to paint more figures for them than I did, but my attention seemed to have wandered a bit. There are also two Battletech minis included in this shot.

I painted up a large number of dwarves from North Star/Oathmark for this challenge. At the time I said that I had finished all of the models I had, but it turns out that I had missed a few. At some point prior to the challenge I had set 5 minis aside as a potential Squirrel and then forgot to put them back in with the rest of the figures. Also included are a few Malifaux and Post Apocalyptic minis.

Locally there aren't many historical players, but that doesn't stop me from trying. I really enjoy Saga and Bolt Action, so naturally have multiple armies for each system. I also have a large and steadily growing collection of minis for the Anglo-Zulu war. All of these got some reinforcements during this challenge.

If you kept up with my posts, you will probably have seen that I really like the models from the Reaper Bones kickstarters (having backed all 5 so far). I still have 1000s of these to do, but I made a dent in my pile this year, painting some of the larger models in my collection. There is another kickstarter beginning very soon, so no doubt the pile will be increasing again.

Finally we have some Warhammer Fantasy minis. Again, I don't play any GW games, but own far too many figures for them. Say what you will about GW's prices (ludicrous) and rules writing (average at best), but they do make some wonderful figures.

And (nearly) finally, the obligatory picture of everything I accomplished, complete with a mug shot. 

And before I forget. I entered into the Skullz side duel again this year, though I didn't really focus on it all that much. As the winner of the duel, Curt is entitled to use the skull of the previous year's winner as a drinking vessel of some kind. To help give Curt some idea of the volume of my noggin, I have provided measurements below.

See you all in the next challenge!

Curt & Sarah's Painting Challenge

Hi All!

Curt and Sarah here with our wrap-up post for Challenge XII.

I'll start off with the obligatory mugshot along with the fruits of my winter labour.

This was perhaps my best Challenge to date, with lots of minis (well, lots for me) getting under the brush, and heaps of fun being had trying new things. 

It was a year that was largely taken up with fantasy subjects, which is just fine all things taken into account. 

I was particularly happy that I managed to get eight new Moonstone characters done up and ready for the tabletop.

I also got a good start on two 10mm fantasy armies (Tomb Kings and Forest Elves) for 'Might & Magic', a fantasy variant of 'To the Strongest').

...and a potpuri of other stuff got some brush lashing as well!

Thanks for all the encouraging comments people left. I know it seems a small thing, but getting feedback really makes a huge impact on the whole process, so thanks again to everyone who stopped in to say hello and comment on what I was doing.

Now, on to Sarah, celebrating her first foray as a Challenge brush-jockey. With this wrap-up she's officially a grizzled veteran now.  A big congratulations, m'dear! :)

- Curt

____________________________________

Hey Everybody, Sarah here!

Wow! I can hardly believe it. I made it through my first Challenge! Not only did I paint my first mini, but also bested my modest points goal. Thanks to everyone who commented on my posts, the encouragement was very much appreciated.

However, I wanted to extend my thanks to all the wonderful painters and creative thinkers/makers who’ve “hung out” on this blog over the years. I feel like I’ve been attending a masterclass and that my efforts are a reflection all of your talents.👏

I present to you, my very modest collection, definitely not even close to a point’s bomb, but my efforts earned me 258pts. I painted five of Lady Sarah’s Star Yacht Crew (maybe a few more coming for Challenge XIII?) Four 28mm heroines for pulp adventures, two of the marvellous HaggleThorn Hollow buildings and my first ever figure, Galadriel.

Pride of place in the display cabinet!

I’ll be posting the winner of the most coveted 'Sarah’s Choice Award” in a few weeks. To be eligible for consideration, entries must be labelled as either Sarah’s Choice, or Lady Sarah’s Star Yacht. This will a tough decision!

-Sarah❤️

From Barks: Gaze upon my works

The Challenge is an annual highlight I always look forwards to. It has been an honour to be your Thursday minion for AHPC XII. I fell heroically short of my target, but I did complete my Challenge Star. I got there in a very fuel-efficient manner, and should probably have used a few Star Yacht trips to gain more bonus points. Everything I did this year was 28mm sci-fi or fantasy, with a shameful lack of historicals. I did complete over 100 skullz, and got a fair way into Slowpainter's alphasoup.

Very much looking forward to AHPC XIII!

Barks

From TeemuL: Challenge XII Wrap up - Squirrel Hunting across the Galaxy (1376 points)

Let's start with some unfinished projects. My son managed to paint and finish some models, but he got a severe painter's block at some point and couldn't just decide what colours to use - I guess we all suffer from that from time to time. That left him with a bunch of partly painted minis, but I didn't want to pressure him, just mentioned from time to time, that my working area is crowded with his unfinished minis. :) The painter's block is seen best on the German halftrack (Revell 1:72), which we assembled together during the Challenge and which he painted in subassemblies, but then the block struck: he didn't know what colours to use and he "didn't want it to be too colourful..." Yes, Tamsin, once this is ready, we'll book a flight and go to the Mega City One for a ride. :D

There is also a terrain piece with purple rock, some wooden houses (the red one might be finished, I'm not sure), two Pathfinder models, Stormcast Eternal and Space Marine (he wanted to paint a marine from Aurora chapter once he saw one in my many books, but once assembled and primed, he wasn't so sure anymore), the already mention German halftrack Sd. Kfz. 9 "FAMO" and Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10.

He did finish the Pathfinder Orc and a genestealer amongst the others, but I don't have a group shot of them, unfortunately. Anyway, it was much fun to paint and assemble and in general have hobby time, father-and-son time, doing something together which we both were interested - in addition of playing lots of boardgames and being outside in nice Finnish winter.

Guilty as charged. Here they all are in a compact formation with me lurking in the background. Photo taken by my son. Below are some closeups from the stuff I painted, but they came a bit blurry because of the lightning and my eagerness.

I had lots of ideas and plans before the Challenge, but most of them were thrown away. I wanted to "finish" projects, painting those last minis for armies from the pile of shame, to complete things. I made some progress on that. I also got carried away hunting squirrels and going through the planets, which distracted me from my first target - the Runewars army still has some unpainted minis and 20mm Austrians are still in the Italeri box and so on...

I did manage to paint all the Sludge minis I had planned for and even managed to play a game, that was nice. Sludge raised some interest, so here is a link to the rules (not free): Blaster 3 from DriveThruRPG. The Blaster 4 has some additional rules, if you are interested in, but Blaster 3 has all the rules you need to play.

It was fun to paint all these "strange" minis, ducks from Glorantha and pulp minis from Crooked Dice, without the Challenge I would still be painting Oldhammer, Blood Bowl and LotR, I guess - not necessarily a bad thing, but there is much more competition on my working area now and those three saw very little paint. May be again in the next Challenge.

Here is something from the smaller scale. Start of an Undead army for Warmaster, some tactical squads for Epic and a modest display piece of Cruel Seas ships. Beginning of Flames of War armies can be seen in the backrow...

Here they all are again, rather many Tyranids got paint as well. I guess I need to see what I need to paint more in order to be able to play with them. From this photo you can also see that planetary expedition gave me lots of points (including the tour of Twilight Ring and several stops at Sarah's Star Yacht). There are not that many minis painted, at least when they are all very close to each other.

Thank you Curt and Sarah, all the minions and other participants! I make my best to not miss the next Challenge. In the meanwhile, if you are interested in, you can follow my minis, boardgames and life on my instragram account: https://www.instagram.com/vainvader78/

From LeeH -AHPC XII Wrap Up - French Foreign Legion in Southern Algeria 1900-1903

Before discussing my closing picture I wanted to say what a great time I have had this year. On a personal level, this challenge has been hugely rewarding but as always it has also been a great bulwark against the craziness that is the real world. I continue to be in awe of the productivity and creativity of all the participants. I count myself very lucky to have been able to take part alongside you. And of course, I can't ignore the huge effort that Curt and the Minions put into this event every year. If I were wearing a hat, I would doff it to you in respect. 😆

So, after thirteen weeks of intense effort, I have managed to complete my entire French Foreign Legion project. Terrain, Buildings, French Legionnaires and Berbers and even some little side projects like unit markers, movement bases and a set of rules for a game within the game. Of course, when I say completed what I really mean is I completed everything that I had planned to paint when the Challenge started in December. I'm sure there will be a few additions to both sides and some scatter terrain passing across my paint desk soon...but first I need to clean up the mess that is my hobby room! As per tradition, here is my obligatory wrap-up shot of everything. 

Now I need to get started on some intensive playtesting to hammer the scenario into a workable game (and to thoroughly refresh my memory of the rules). In the process, no doubt, I will find all sorts of little projects to work on like a French Legionary flag for the fort; wild animals; and maybe more casualty figures. I'm also currently hunting for a suitable desert well in 15mm for this part of the world, and some 15mm figures I can use as Tirailleurs and Spahis for use at some unspecified time in the future. No project is ever truly finished. 

Ray recently commented that there weren't nearly enough spreadsheets or charts to accompany my entries this year. I have been using my long-running worksheet to keep a track of my progress, I just wasn't sharing it a lot... but just for Ray, here's my wrap-up chart for Challenge XII. 

Not my highest final tally, but considering I did that largely without the aid of the bonus rounds for the first time, I consider 923 Points a respectable total. 

So that's it from me. Once again, congratulations to all the participants this year. I'm already planning for Challenge XIII so I look forward to seeing you all on the field of battle in 9 months' time!