From DennisC 28mm Colonial British and 18mm Prussian Jagers (113pts)

Work has been keeping me from my usual pace (no longer WFH), but I've managed to finish off 2 units of 16 Prussian Jagers (64 pts 48 pts), and then switched gears and painted some more Colonial British (Hollywood british with the white pith helmets like in Zulu) 

10 regulars (50pts), 1 foot officer (5 pts, Michael Caine in his cape coming off the Cheetah hunt) and a mounted officer (10 points)

Nice work here Dennis. Some lovely painting overall here. Maybe a better/wider shot of everything would be helpful to see the full group of models, but some great close ups here on the Officers there! 

Also, I had to adjust the points slightly here. As we don't have a 18mm, just a 28mm and a 15mm section. So I put them closer to the 15mm, with an extra point per model for now as a compromise. As you had them set at 4pts, vs the 2pts that 15mm gives. So middle ground this time for 3 pts a model. 

113 pts for you here

Kyle

From PeterD Bengal Lancers for Millsy's Millpond (60 points)

This challenge location (paint a mini dating to the 20th century) was both easy and difficult for me.  Easy because I had lots of figures dating back to the 80s and hard because I had to choose only 1!  In the end I opted for two figures that I acquired at the very end of the 1990s foregoing extra points for figures that I actually wanted to paint.

I have two 25mm cavalrymen from Minifigs Colonial range representing members of the 10th Bengal Lancers (Hodgson's Horse) on the North-West Frontier.  Like most current regiments in the Indian Army, the regiment was raised during the Indian Mutiny (or First War of Independence) and is still in existence as one of the armoured regiments in the modern Indian Army. I base my painting on the figure on the cover of the classic Osprey (I obtained my copy used in 1991 in Ottawa).

The figures have all the classic minifig's attributes - stiff toy solder pose, limited detail but a lot of simple elegance.  And like all minifigs they take a coat of paint nicely if treated with proper respect.  I used figures with swords as the lance armed figures in the lead pile suffered from droopy-lance and I wasn't in a converting mood.  I kept the paint job fairly toy soldier simple but tried to make basing that looked suitable for the Khyber and similar locales.

Like many a tail from the the North West Frontier the details are a little hazy on the back story on the figures, but here goes.  I think that I acquired these circa 1999 and most certainly was gifted them by my old gaming pal Ross MacFarland owner of the Battle Game of the Month blog.  I relocated from my native Halifax, Nova Scotia to Regina, Saskatchewan in February 1998 (long story suffice to say that I've always believed that if your going to C*ck up your life, do a thorough job of it).  I know that I started my Wascanastan project immediately on arrival, inspired by Ross' With MacDuff to the Frontier Rules and project.  If you were poking around the inter web circa 1999 you may remember my AARs posted under the guise of the Peshawar Gazette on Ross' older blog.  By that time Ross was making the transition upwards to 54mm scales and gifted me a variety of wonders from his lead pile, I think this took place about 1999 during a trip home.  I don't know when Ross got these figures but certainly no later than the mid 90s and possibly much earlier.  You never can tell with Minifigs, indeed the same figures are still available today from Caliver Books.

There are also two family connections to the NW Frontier and the Bengal Lancers.  The first is that my Great Grandfather was an officer in the Northamptonshire Regiment and served in the Tirah Campaign of 1897.  My dad has great grand dad's medal from the campaign and my grandmother was born in India while great granddad was posted there.  The second is that my mother was a member of the Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers, a Nova Scotian youth horse group.  In 1949 she was part of the group that performed a Musical Ride at the Canadian National Exhibition in getting very good reviews in the Toronto press.  I have seen photos of 16 year old mum mounted and lance armed in Tunic and Topi but could not find a copy.   She did cut quite a figure.
Points wise that 2 25mm cavalry men at 10 points each plus the 30 points for the Challenge Location.  I will leave it to the minion du jour to judge the points worthiness of the "this is how I got the figures" and "mum was a Bengal Lancer" stories.

That makes my fifth Challenge Location and my fifth merit badge, so I'll be booking a balloon ride to the Snowlord's Summitt shortly.

***

Fine work here Peter.  But now I have to figure out bonus points? Oh man. I hate thinking. In fact, I'm pretty sure making me think is some sort of points penalty...checking over Millsy's guidelines, I'm pretty sure you have 10 bonus points here, so all in you have 60 points.  

You are right, there is something classic about a Minifig, isn't there? Great to see some classic metals getting some paint. 

No doubt the Snow Lord is anticipating your visit...but let's see if you manage the balloon ride first :)

GregB

From AlexS: Colonial British (185 points)

 Hello everybody! My name is Alex and I lived in the USSR for some time. Then I read in a history textbook that British colonial policy is evil, because enslavement of entire nations and the dissolution of entire countries took place. Now I’ve grown up, time has changed and I understand that it’s not so simple.And when I started my new project, "Pirates," of course I decided to assemble several British regular infantry units for the period beginning of the 18th century. They are perfect as one of the factions for games.

In addition, I will need porters for story games - they will carry supplies and wealth. Well, as always, I painted the dogs. I always paint dogs. This is a good recipe - when you know what to do, paint the dogs!

Well, as always, I decided to make terrane myself. Firstly, I decided to make a jungle. I have never been in the jungle, so I decided that the jungle could look like a bright diverse vegetation. Artificial flowers and a glue gun helped me cope with this task.

Then I decided to make the huts of the natives. For them, I used seedling sticks that I had stolen from my wife, a glue gun and artificial fur. It turned out perfectly - it was in this hut that the natives oppressed by the British colonialists should live. :)

Well, the general photo. The plans are to make British artillery, a standard bearer with the flag of the East Indus company, natives and pirates in addition to those that I already made during this event. And then find interesting rules and opponents. And I can start playing!

32 inf 28mm - 160 pts
2 dogs 28mm - 5 pts
terrain - сube with approximately 6 inch sides - 20 pts
total - 185 pts

Another post, another project from the uber productive AlexS.    No British Colonial history is never simple, much like Russian history I bet.  This does make an interesting counter post to Benito's post from earlier in the day when Britain was somebody else's colony.

Great work all around on this project, lots to love here.  I wish you had a close up of the infantry because from what I can see they look very nice.  What make of figures are they?  Are the WSS era?  Inquiring minds want to know.  They are certainly overdressed for their new environs, but the Brits are always over or under dressed (you should see what they wear in Canadian winters).  I also really like you terrain, especially those huts.  And yes, stealing crafting stuff from your wife is a time honoured tradition...just don't tell my wife that I said that.

I can't fault your tally, so 185 points it is.

From SanderS - An Indian Infantry Brigade (192pts)

Hoi There,

The Challenge is all about getting paint on the contents of the unpainted-pile and also of course to gain some more points. So I took 2 of the battalions of HäT Colonial Indian troops I have had based for quite a while in my cabinet and put some paint on them.

The uniforms I took from several Ospreys and the Digby Smith book on the period of Imperialism but allowed for some artistic license as well.
The only spot colour is the bright red/ blue piece of the turnbans. The yellow and red ones are from the Osprey, the blue and red a concoction of my own.

Anyway these 48 figures in 20mm should amount to 192 points for the tally.

Cheers Sander

These Indian troops look jolly good, Sander. 192 points it is.

TamsinP

From LeeH - 24th Foot at Isandlwana...plus Cattle (74 Points)

As promised my own brand of insanity continues with six companies of 24th Foot from the Zulu War, this time formed up in a firing line. For those that have been following my recent painting projects you may by now have realised that I have been rather selective in my choice of units. I am focusing primarily on troops that were present at the Battle of Isandlwana, 22nd January 1879. Six companies were involved in the battle, five from the 1/24th and one unlucky company from the 2/24th. The aim - eventually, a long way down the line - is to play a few 'what-if' scenarios regarding this disastrous engagement. I expect I'll be painting units for this battle and for the wider Zulu war long after the painting challenge has ended... so don't be surprised if you see more of this project in Challenge Nine!

My original plan was to have the command figures amongst the ranks on a single base but at the last minute I decided I wanted the company commanders to be based separately. In keeping with the theme each if the bases is labelled with their company details and the name of the commanding officer. 

Once again I have lavished as much detail on these figures as my rapidly fading sanity (and eyesight) would allow. Overall I am happy with how these turned out, although it has to be said that I'm terribly self critical and no sooner had I finished than I began picking out details I could have done better. Luckily these won't be the last British infantry to cross my painting desk so I expect I'll have plenty of opportunity for improvement! 

I'm also submitting several bases of cattle that I managed to get finished this week. 'Steak on the Hoof' was used by both sides as a source of fresh meat for the troops.

102 figures (96 infantry plus six commanders) will net me 51 points with a further 22 points for 45 cattle which adds up to a grand total of 73 points. This should bring me to within line-of-sight to my challenge target and and my best performance yet. I'm not about to stop though, I have yet more Zulu's to paint, imperial cavalry, wagons and more besides.

From Ray

Excellent little fellows Lee. I'm really enjoying your dally with Victorian warfare. I've got to admit to being slightly jealous, I wish I'd painted a few 6mm armies, my eyes just can't take it anymore. I've gotta buy one of those giant magnifying glasses!!
I do like the idea of the commanders on separate bases too, does this mean they can become casualties themselves?? I do hope so?

So that's 102+45, which makes 147 which equates to 73.5 points. So I'll add and extra .5 point (Woo Hoo!) to take you up to 74 points!

From ChrisH: The Last Gasp 15mm and the Pile of Shame (60 Points)

I have watched with envy how so many have remained focused on the task at hand and more importantly so many of you have stuck with only a few areas. Sadly my mind drifts from project to project. Sometimes it is the whim of the shiny new toy or new set of rules. Or I just get inspired to dust off the old metal sitting in the box for too long. For my final submission I present a small selection of 15mm Zulu War British. They sat unloved for 2 years, but when a friend bought All Quiet on the Martian Front I could not help myself. Colonial combats between warriors of incredible bravery but few rifles or The Heat Ray vs the thin red line. No brainer really "ULLA!".

For my final submission and one that I am less proud of is the collection of undercoated, bare metal, spot of paint or plain ran out of oomph to get them done that I had planned to get completed by the end of the Challenge. 

Persians, cave people, 20mm Brits, Crusaders for Lion rampant (the other five for my first unit), Hussars, Moderns, and the Brit Colonial cavalry to take the fight to the Machine. So many are so close but no time, no time.

Thanks to all, Dux and Paul G as minions worthy of a third version of "Despicable Me". To Curt for being mad enough to run it all again, and thanks to all of you for producing some fantastic painted toys that help me to remain 18 even in my 48th year.

Oh, Points for the end, 30 15mm X 2 points a mere 60 points.

_____________________________________

Ah, Chris, there is absolutely no shame in your confession, for what you describe is most of us, and in fact you are in friendly company. If I took a picture of my desk right now, it would show a cacophony of half-finished figures from over a dozen projects. Annoying at times like this? For sure. Then again, I'm sure both of us would agree that we wouldn't want it any other way. We must embrace the chaos of our toy soldiery. :)

While I little dark in the photo, I do like the look of your colonial British in their brave line, colours flying.  

I've not tried AQotMF, but I've heard from friends that it's quite fun. Your boys may want to slather on the SPF 10,000 when the Heat Ray opens up, but perhaps you can beat them to the punch by giving out 'Five Rounds Rapid'.

Now, what are those yellow-primed figures? :0)

60 points for you, sir. See you for the next campaign. 

From MartinC: 3rd Entry - VBCW and more Colonial Brits (155 Points)

Starting to get up to speed now. After many years of experimenting with washes and not really liking the result - generally they look like dried dirty water, I've lucked out and made one that works using brown and sand coloured emulsion paint very thinned down. It gives an even coating over the figure whilst collecting in the folds etc. and not drying like, well water. I've used it on the following figures and I am really pleased with the result.

First up 9 Ironclad female militia for VBCW

These are really nice figures although some of them look a bit like Grayson Perry

Grayson Perry

To go with these some Artisan (I think) Russian Partizans. Most of these will do for VBCW with some a Russian Comrades for the Miners.

I will use some of these for Back of Beyond also

During the Battle of Alston Moor, see Battle Rep here, the leader of the Royalist Hexhamshire faction was killed by a pigeon bomb - a most dastardly weapon. The leaderless Royalists have pressed Brigadier General Talbot McAlpine (Ret.) into service. Here he sits astride his trusty charger Briseis

Northstar Lucky Bag figure

Finally a unit of the Rifle Regiment for my Africa Campaign - these fought in the Zulu War. The figures are Foundry Indian Mutiny and had air pipe helmets. A bit of tweaking and they will do. Nice to have a unit that isn't Red or Khaki.

That's 29 infantry and 1 mounted figure = 155pts.

Happy New Year and if 2016 was anything like mine then then I hope 2017 is much better for one and all, and if not can we all be on the same side in WWII

 ____________________________________

I hate to say it but do you mean 'WWIII' (shudder)? Yes, let's hope that 2017 is a better year.

Haha, I like the Grayson Perry comparison. Yes, I've run across a few female figures where I wonder if they should be stand-ins for a British slapstick. Nonetheless, it's good to see that there are some options for female partizans as I had not seen Ironclad's offerings. Good work Martin, your new wash seems to work very well and they will serve very nicely as miners in VBCW. 

McAlpine looks to be a venerable old soldier and hopefully he doesn't meet the same end as his predecessor.  That is a very striking figure - he has a Sir Douglas Haig look about him. Nice job on the horse as well!

Nice to see some Greenjackets someplace other than the Peninsula. A nice skirmishing option for your Colonial games! 

 155 points to add to your steady march in the points roster. Well done!