From RichardH: One Last Hurrah (475 pts)

I missed the last few weeks of posting, just due to being pretty busy with work and never leaving enough time to get a post written up. This last push before the gates close will just be a big old compilation of things, and a mishmash of genres. I've organised things in a way that better fits with the studios map rather than the order they were completed in (works better when I am walking around the map).

First up following on from the general space elf theme from the last couple of posts, I got the pointy ears army all finished up, just a few command units on show this time.

Glad to have these all out of the way now, and ticking off that final gem on the last guy was a lesson (don't paint stupid gems on an entire army).

Points for these are:

Four 28mm foot @ 5pt = 20pts

One 28mm mounted @ 10pt = 10 pts

Sticking with the theme of silly space robot men types, a friend asked if I could do up a few of their favourite space marine chapter. In this case that chapter being Minotaurs, compared to some of the others it is a pretty simple colour scheme with only a few detail points, it was easy enough to get these knocked out in an evening.

Scoring on these is:

Eleven 28mm foot @ 5pt = 55pts

Getting focus now back to the studio map and picking up from the last bonus points of B&W I moved to grab the under construction points. I made a start this week on a small diorama featuring a giant squig, just because I have never painted up a squig before, so it was a cherry that had to be popped.

Points on this are pretty straight forward as it isn't finished so I can only claim bonus points. 20pts

A few folks at the local gaming club have been really getting into Stargrave recently and along with doing up a crew for the game, I also knocked up an iconic piece of scenery (while waiting on layers to dry for the above minotaurs). So this little number is grabbing me the Casting Couch as it basically saved the day for the second film.

A single 28mm foot (granted it is bigger but the scheme is so simple it feels criminal to try and claim it as a vehicle), for 5pt and the bonus of 20pt = 25pts

So keeping with the sci-fi stuff and Stargrave as the focus we have the crew all dolled up and ready for some bug hunting action, sadly Ash isn't quite finished yet so has to sit this one out. All of these and the power loader are from the Humans v Aliens packs of 3D models sculpted by Papiskels, stunning little models that slot right into any game.

Scoring on these is ten 28mm foot @ 5pt = 50pts

Also the first mate of my crew being a woman is hitching us all a ride in a limo for the next stop on the studio tour = 20pts.

Having now ticked off five of the green locations I thought I would bag a blue also. This next one is actually a gift for someone (Feb and Mar are big months for birthdays around here and I tend to lean on the side of making something where ever possible). But given I have another couple of gift entries I wanted this one to bag me at least on blue studio location.

A relative is crazy about fairies and dragons so I figured combining the two has to be on a winner. Plus I had been itching to have a large scale practice of painting a galaxy style layer, and relished the challenge of having it split into sections. The model itself is a 3D sculpt from FotisMint and while great looking and full of character it feels odd sitting on a tiny base from the print, naturally the only option is turn it all into a chunky diorama, add in some drama and story and bang one gift ticked off and I am considered the best for another year. The final piece was put into an acrylic case to keep it free of dust, but it turns out that totally kills any chance for getting pictures.

Points on this one are :

One 28mm foot (giant spider so technically worth 8 feet right?) @ 5pt

One 28mm vehicle (the dragon itself is around the right size for this) @ 20pt

One 6" cube terrain piece @20pt

Bonus studio fantasy @ 20pt

Total 65 pts

So another game by the same designer as SG is Rangers of Shadow Deep, and it is equally great. I've played it off an on for some time, and finally wrangled, bribed, threatened a few others into playing it also. So we are getting things set up for a large campaign run. One thing I never really had made as swanky terrain was some nice big forested tiles and something specific for a scenario which is trees infested with giant spiders. The big forest tiles are currently about 5% through their first half life of drying time, so the only terrain I could squeeze in for this are the trees.

Used my normal method of an armature, glue on some seafoam, then using spray glue and handfuls of flock you cover the thing. This time I just beefed up the trunks, and finally got to play with some spider serum from GSW. You spray it with an airbrush and get instant magic spooky spider webs, the stuff is so much fun.

Points on these are:

One 6" terrain cube @20pt = 20pts

One final thing for me before it is back to the gift giving (damned folks expecting presents and thoughtfulness). The local club decided this was the right time to start a Blood Bowl league (not sure why now, but any excuse to get in games and I am on board).

I originally went looking for some nice dwarven sculpts to print off, but came across something magical. An absolute genius "Chih-Te Yu" on MMF designed an ogre team with a samurai/sumo theme, all the ogres are big bellied sumo types and the gnobblars are all dancing around with scrolls or picking noses, or farting (good healthy gnobblar activities). That was me sold, and decided I was winning no matches this season but would have a team that everyone would still envy. The green boys are still on the bench so just the big chaps for now.

Scoring on these is:

Five 40mm foot @ 7pt = 35pts

Ok so three more entries on this and I am spent, all three involve a trip to the gift shop (two birthdays and one anniversary). First up is a small person gift, they are someone who also likes fairies and the sort, but also loves reading and yet they don't have a night light. Obviously the only right thing to do is rummage in the big greeble box, and break out the pringles cans, some egg cartons, and a few LEDs. One wave of the magic glue stick and you got yourself some odd shaped tower light thingymajig.

The next birthday involved something small for someone with a total devotion to their dog. Rather than go all out on this, I figured keep it small, simple and fast, aiming for something they can put on any desk or shelf they want without fear of it being monstrous in side or delicate. Just a dry brushed mini, some sculpted background, and a quick dab of a resin pour was all that was needed.

The final entry then on this mammoth last post was also the biggest actual model, given to someone nuts about Harry Potter as an anniversary gift. There was a bunch of easy options on this one but at the same time I wanted something to have some practice on. Lately I haven't done a lot of detailed blending to try and simulate light (silly space robot men and their plasma guns don't count). so I jumped on the idea of a big old phoenix bird, I came across an amazing sculpt with a really dynamic pose and figured it was perfect. The print part was nerve wrecking enough as even though it is a multi part model, each part was still pretty big, and the entire thing took about 2 days to print out. To give some sense of scale the base I made up for this was around 160mm wide (anything smaller had zero chance to support the model), at the top of the wings is around 220mm.

Even with that base things just weren't sitting right, knocking up a 3D perch fixed the issue, it allowed the feet to be glued, and also three areas of the tail to glue straight to the base. It also gave the overall snapshot look of a bird coming in to land, which was a happy accident at the time.

Painting really was nothing complex, just lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of hours spent repeating the same patterns on every single feather (it felt like those damned gems again).

 But overall I am happy how it came together, and a little quick and dirty osl of the base helps sell the effect.

Scoring on these is:

Tower Light - two 6" terrain cubes @ 20pt =  40pt / bonus gift 20pt = 60pts

Dog Diorama = One 28mm foot @ 5pt & one 6" terrain cube @ 20pt = 25pt / gift bonus 20pt = 45pts

Phoenix = One 54mm vehicle @ 30pt (wasn't sure if this thing classes as bigger or not due the size) / bonus gift 20pt = 50pts

At the end of play my studio map looks like this:

I had grand ideas of what to do for at least 5 of the other locations, but as always things get in the way. Well they will at least be good projects for the rest of the year.

This leaves me as just over 1000pts total for the challenge and really puts things in perspective about expectations and how fast the points rack up. I'm glad I only started out with a low and realistic first time target (300pts), but now on wards and upwards for next year, thinking to set that target now at at least 1500 pts. It's been a blast.

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I'm delighted you had a good Challenge Richard. You really pulled out all the stops on this final entry! I especially like the various gifts you did for your friends - those trees (in all their forms) are fabulous (the Pringle can treehouse is truly inspired).

Thanks for joining us this season. I hope you can make it out again for the next edition.

- Curt

From JamesM: 15mm WW2 British battalion CP, commanders and signals vehicle (61 points)(Vulcan)

Hi folks,

It appears that with every challenge, I come up with some elaborate 15mm diorama idea at the last minute - regardless of what else I had prepped! 

This year has been no exception, with a last minute concept taking up far too much time and brain power. This entry features a battalion command team (medium base with four men), battalion 2ic team (small base with three men), a Bedford MWR Radio Truck and an battalion command post. All at 15mm and for my WW2 Normandy collection. 

Behind this entry is a convoluted story about searching my collection for a model to replace one with weak ankles, and a distant idea about a 'command post' diorama for my British infantry battalion. I set about digging though loose models and bits boxes, and came up with something suitable. 

The bunker model is a Battlefront one, which is long out of production. Possibly from 1st or 2nd edition. I had one given to me by a friend and it just was not busy enough for my tastes - so I added figures and 'stuff'. The aim is to tell a story, with radio operators, a runner receiving directions from an officer and a bored Jock guarding the post.  

The boxes, sign post, barrels and other kit all came from my bits box and supply of 15mm stowage. I believe the table with maps, etc, came from Peter Pig. The radio on the table is a Battlefront bit from somewhere, while the aerials are all fishing line. The infantry figures are all 15mm Battlefront models, from various eras and sets. 

The decals on the signpost came from Doms Decals and Modeldads. My idea is that this will be placed on the table near my battalion aid post model, hence the 'CCP' (Casualty Clearing Post) sign. 

Alongside this, I had a specialise radio truck from Battlefield3d so decided to do a signals vehicle supporting the infantry battalion command post. This vehicle is decaled up as one from the 51st HD's divisional signals unit. 

And since I have a full infantry battalion for Flames of War at 15mm scale, I thought I had better have a battalion commander and 2nd in charge, just in case. No rules for any such thing in FoW, but we are suitably megalomaniacal in our games that I'm sure we can make some up. I've used a medium command base for the big boss just to make him stand out a bit as a commander. I may add some markings to the rear of the base just to mark these out as special as well. 

Scoring wise, I have counted the CP base as a 15mm vehicle - I know it's technically terrain, but it's around the size of a large 15mm vehicle and involved some brush work and decals. The CP model also has a figure 'half out' of the resin using a radio, so I have counted that as a half model. 

15mm infantry x 12.5 = 25 points

15mm vehicles x 2 = 16 points

Finally, this entry is for the planet Vulcan. While there are no pointy ears in sight, I consider that if anything on a WW2 battlefield full of MG42s can be considered logical, it's going to battle with nothing but a swagger stick or walking cane...

More seriously, my thinking was that a command post and communications network are logical things and so should qualify.  

Vulcan landing = 20 points. 

Total = 61 points

Love the story on the diorama that grew out of looking for a figure without weak ankles!  Great work on this little gem and all the supporting stuff.  Your logic is sketchy but so is my brain today so I'll buy it.  It is great to see the support stuff painted up so nicely, it's add's skids of colour to the table top and makes for great scenario ideas.

From KyleC - Project from a workshop with Massive Voodoo (85 pts)

So the past weekend I had the chance to join another class with the legendary Roman Lappat of Massive Voodoo fame.

This was my 8th class with the maestro over the years and my second time along for a Basing class.  Focus here was post apocalypse base where nature has reclaimed the city. However since I was a repeater I could go a bit outside the lines and try something different.

For me while listening to his lecture and seeing his photos of his presentation there was one image of a parking garage that was light coming from above. I had already in my mind to do something that involved a box format and this really resonated with me and it grew from there.

Roman was great to support it and provided a better box to make this vision come true. He even provided me with the train which shifted my idea to be something like an abandoned subway station.

I loved the process and aside from finishing the models this weekend, and most of that was just touching up the figures. The majority of the scene was done within 3 days when in Germany.

You can see how it was build up here with layers of corkboard to give it some volume and structure. With the models getting placed to give it proper reading lines, and the subway car ( made of metal!!!! so difficult to cut! ) being placed to give it some weight and depth.

Sketching went fast and furious with the idea that they have just reached it from some overground passages that shed light due to the age of the subway areas. Also gave me some forced perspectives and light sources throughout the project which really helped out.

Final piece as it stands right now. I might go back to touch it up some, but this is where it sits for now with photos from my phone. At some point I will push it further I suspect.

And a final photo showing what happens when I put the light directly over the holes up top. It reinforces the colors and light spots I placed on the piece. Which is great to see some reinforcement of the techniques and planning that went into the diorama. 

Oh and I did try to make one of the guys look bad ass and pretty much like how I picture myself :D Even did a little bit of freehand work to get the rough shape of my Mr Lee's Minis logo on the shirt... didn't fully pull it off but its almost there. 

So although I haven't done a lot of batch painting near the end of this contest I have regained some of my painting mojo. Huge thanks to the Monday crew, Sidney for helping us out, and Curt for running it all. And of course the rest of the participants here with all the great pieces being shown and painted here!!! 

And a final rock out photo of me and Tobias from the class helping Roman hang photos from other classes throughout the years!

As always, no idea for points. I have 4 28mm figures there from Hasslefree so thats 20 pts, but not sure if the base might count as terrain then? As its pretty big :D But will let Sidney sweat the details again ;)

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Now this is what I call "Living the Dream" !!  What a brilliant post, even before we start considering the wonderful diorama, Kyle!  'Massive Voodoo' and Roman have been such an incredible and inspirational influence for so many modelers and painters over the years.  They've been one of the stepping stones taking the hobby from being a craft to being an art, and to see you enjoying their hospitality and knowledge is just fantastic, Kyle!

I think all of us would love to experience a master-class like that at least once in our lives. So, well done, Sir, for leading the way, and providing such a stonking report of your visit (and fine photos of a goodly selection of hats).

Now, on to that diorama.... Yep, it's pretty special, isn't it!  You've graced this Challenge with some wonderful work this year, Kyle, but this is really of a different class.  I've loved the painted busts you've produced, but this is so much more complicated and subtle.

The use of perspective, and lighting sources, the arrangement of figures, the careful use of colour and the reinforcement of your central theme all shine through.  The box format has given you the opportunity to use your skills in a very innovative and creative way, and the result is both remarkable and memorable.

I really love it, and it's another of the many, many submissions all our fellow Challengers have produced this year which make me want to get back to my paints (...immediately....right now!...) and start painting.  And I can think of no higher praise than that for your amazing work.

OK, as for points... I'm going to say 40 terrain points for the diorama, 20 points for the figures and another 25 points for creating something unique and inspirational (both in your post and in the diorama).  Really a splendid piece of work, Kyle!  Well done, Sir!