From ScottM: Sci-Fi Flyers - Studios x2 (80 pts)

And we're back for another year of painting goodness! I believe this is my 7th Challenge. I've completed my goals every year so hopefully I can continue with that success. I'm submitting two locations to start and both will be using science fiction figs.

1980's or Retro - I went with a V16 Windrunner Rocket Bike from Bombshell Miniatures. This 28mm resin fig is from they're Counterblast line of figs. I picked this as a retro fig as the front grill gives me a very retro '50s kind of feel.

Scoring: 28mm vehicle + location bonus = 40 pts.

Sci-Fi - For this location I went with another fig from Bombshell Miniatures. This 28mm resin fig is a Mekkus Strafer from their Counterblast Mekkus faction. The original fig came with the same kind of base as the fig above. I thought it weird having this flying vehicle basically hovering just above the ground, so I made up a much more appropriate base using some a 60mm round wood base, a brass rod and some assorted bits I've had in a drawer for who-knows-how-long.

Scoring: 28mm vehicle + location bonus = 40 pts.

Scoring Total: 80 pts.

Onto the next location!

____________________________________

Oh man, I love that retro rocket bike! The chrome wraparound grill and the baby-blue colour that you picked is just perfect for it - it's just screams 50's sci-fi. The Mekkus is a very aggressive looking beast. Being scaled to 28mm, it must be quite large. It's interesting that at certain angles it looks quite TIE-like. I think your addition of a taller stand was inspired. Well done! 

- Curt

From ScottM: A Balloon Ride to O'Grady's Gulch (64 Points)

A somewhat eclectic post this time. First off the last of my ladies will be chartering a balloon ride to O'Grady's Gulch.

This is from Sash & Saber's French & Indian Ward Female Civilians pack. 

Next up is a pack of Rebel Fleet Troopers. These are from Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars Legion.

I really like the Legion figs, they're nice evocative sculpts and are fun to paint. Now if only they'd do Imperial Navy Troopers and Mud Troopers...

And finally is this rocket bike from Bombshell Miniatures. This is a Barracuda rocket bike from the Lancer's faction for their Counterblast game.

So that should be:

Rebel troopers & Lady = 8 x 28mm foot figs = 40 points

Rocketbike = 1 x 28mm vehicle & rider = 25 points

For a total of 65 points

By Paul: Some great stuff here Scott - love the Rocketbike in particular. What a sweet ride!
I feel compelled to score it as cavalry vice a vehicle though, for a total of 50 points


Edited by TamsinP:
Star Wars Legion figures have been consistently scored as 40mm, so I've updated the spreadsheet and points in post title.

From ScottM: Mekkus at Bromley's Butte (75 Points)

For the next leg in my journey, we stop at Bromley's Butte. For this site I decided to go with the Mekkus Seeker from Bombshell Miniatures' Counterblast line. The Seeker is a small stealth unit for the Mekkus faction. The Mekkus faction are machines that turned on their creators and exterminated them. Now they strive to wipe out everyone else in the galaxy. So a real friendly bunch.

This fig was ridiculously easy to paint up and I almost feel bad to claim 30 points for it. To complement this stealth unit, I've painted up all the remaining Mekkus units still sitting unpainted on my shelf.

First up is a Central Command Unit.

This figure is actually quite large and is a good solid hunk of metal.

Next up is a resin Artificer. The Artificer is basically a repair unit.

Next is a pair of Defenders. The one on the left is equipped with Gamma Disruptors while the other one carries Particle Blasters.

And finally is a group of Harvesters. The two on the left carry Particle Blasters and the others have Gamma Disruptors.

And here is the lot all together.

And that completes this stage of my trek. Next stop: Piper's Peak.

So that should be: 9 x 28mm figs = 45 + 30 (location bonus) = 75 points

***

A recurring awesome feature of Curt's Painting Challenges is the chance to see new miniatures one has never heard of - these "Counterblast" figures are totally new to to me, and it's great to see them (and see them painted up, to boot)! Fine work Scott.  

"Machines that turned on their creators and exterminated them." Now, why would we ever worry about that, right? (Checks for latest on Huawei...)

Great stuff Scott, keep up the good work!

GregB

From ScottM: Counterblast Assortment (76 points)

Continuing on from last week's Counterblast submission, I have a bunch more figs for that line done up. All of the following figs are from the Bombshell Miniatures Counterblast line. First up is some figs from the Edofleini faction, or Edo for short. First fig is an Edo Undermind ( a commander).

The next set of four (left to right) is an Edo Underling, a character named Destroys Nulls and two Edokin Eyespies.

Next from the Galactic Defense Force (GDF) faction (left to right) is a GDF Psifer, a character named Sally Starfield and a GDF Commander.

Also from the GDF is a Heavy Combot.

From the Mekkus faction this is a Cyren.

And the final pics are of various robots. These two robots are called HOpR Bots.

And the robots in this final pic are a pair of HLpR Bots and six MInE Bots. GDF Commander for size comparison.

That should be 12 28mm figs @ 5 a piece for 60 points and 8 small bots at 2 (?) a piece for 16 points for a grand total of 76 points.

I'm really enjoying the retro pulp mad science raygun aesthetic of these Counterblast figures. I think the Edo are my favourites!

Barks

From SeanS - The Merchant of Venus XII and his bots HU-E, DU-E and LU-E (11 or 8 points)

Hi All,

So my first entry since the free for all sees me doing a weird mix of size and manufacturer.

The Merchant of Venus XII is a wonderful sculpt from John Boyce and his Colony 87 line. I have more waiting in the wings, but just wanted to get something done. I rested on my laurels after week one and then got too busy once I got back home.

As you can see he has all sorts of odd gear. I tried to make his space suit look like a shuttle astronaut flight suit. I had all sorts of ideas for his poncho thing, in the end what stuck was the idea of a re-purposed tarp, you know the blue kind.

The bots are minion bots from Bombshell Miniatures Counterblast line. The robot menace. The aerial on the merchant's helmet and the bits heads made me think they needed to go together. I also channeled a little bit of Silent Running in coloring and naming the bots HU-E, DU-E and LU-E.

Those of you who read my blog may remember that the Merchant's staff arrived broken and had been unsuccessfully repaired at least twice. Well my vacation fix was not only ugly but was still weak. So I cut and bored a plastic tube to make a more solid join, it's the gold band above his had. I thought if it was a problem I should make it a feature.

As for points the Merchant is a straight up 28mm figure, although I didn't measure him. So he should be 5 points. The bots are perhaps a tad problematic. They are 28mm scale, but only about a half inch tall foot to head. I'm not counting the aerial. They are mounted on 20mm bases because I have a bunch and I thought they would look lost on a standard 25mm base. So if we assume their height is 12.5mm do we score them as 10mm or 15mm? Thus my total is either 8 or 11 points. Sorry for a tricky first entry Dave.

Oh and this is my first shot across the bow for the Sci-Fi duel. It's not looking good.

A grand start to your sci-fi duel. I have gone with 6 points for the bots - that Silent Running homage is just too cool. Personally I am always amazed at the range of sci-fi stuff that is out there - its not been an area of painting interest for me - so I always enjoy seeing what appears here. The Merchant certainly looks a character alright, and well done on the repair works its looks just fine - so frustrating when you get figures arrived damaged

From AnneO'L - Landing Party (30 Points)

This year I would like to do something a little bit different. Rather than painting single figures, I am focusing more on units and teams.  I am not a display painter and am not interested in working hard enough to become one. Therefor it is time I turned my attention to unified groups of figures that can be used on the gaming table.

My first entry is a Landing Party with figures from both Counterblast and Reaper.

32mm figure from Counterblast sculpted by Patrick Keith

32mm figure from Reaper sculpted by Bob Ridolfi

25mm figure from Counterblast sculpted by Patrick Keith

25mm figure from Reaper sculpted by Patrick Keith

20mm figure from Counterblast sculpted by Patrick Keith

(I have painted this figure before, but in a completely different palette)

Using the greens, browns and yellows as unifying colours enabled me to assembly line paint and get these done a bit quicker.

I will be quite busy during the Holiday season so I won't have another post up until January.  And as it is a US Airborne bazooka and 60mm light mortar team, it may be the 2nd week of January at that. Those para's have a lot of webbing and that's sure to slow me down quite a bit.

I'd like to thank Curt for continuing this Challenge for another year.  Winter would be quite dull and the extra excitement helps keep spirits high. And for those in the Southern Hemisphere it provides an escape from the wretched heat.

Also I would like to thank those kind folks who are taking on the extra responsibility as adjudicators this year. Without them I doubt that so such a large number of us would be able to participate.

Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season.

Welcome aboard Anne, and Happy Holidays to You and Yours as well! 

It's wonderful to have you with us again this year as it's always a treat to see your talented brushwork.

Yellow is one of my favourite colours and I really like your use of it in this entry. Also, that turquoise skin tone on the long-necked alien is brilliant as well.

For ease of accounting we'll score all of these as 28mm models, so 30 points total for your debut, Anne. Well done m'dear and see you in the New Year!