From KentG: 28mm Napoleonic French, French knights, library bonus historical (820 Points)

Well a week has gone by so fast a happy new year to everyone.

I have been really enjoying the many varied and wonderful posts over 

The past few day and I’m sure there will be many more to come.

I took advantage of the few days off I had to enjoy some rather long 

painting sessions This time we have French French and more French
Mostly Napoleonic but also French knights all 28mm and all 

Perry Miniatures A mix of metals and plastics 

First off the rack one of my favorite's, dragoons, I have

Another 3-4 boxes of these so we might see some more. 

these chaps are the 22nd Regiment

Next up French hussars I wasn’t sure I’d get these completed but another 

11 hour painting painting session saw them across the line

Next up there ADCs, 

this is the first time in all the French armies I’ve painted that I 

have done these and I must admit I really like these minis

There are three infantry Command figures,

 one of the photos is at the bottom of the page. I have already done 

way to many of these, so who knows what I’ll do with these chaps

Then we have imperial guard, these are Perry metals first time 

 painting these chaps in Perry metals always used victrix 

but I really like them and man the bases have some weight to them

Now for the artillery this is the final add on to my French 

guns which I already have 14 Done before the comp started,

I love artillery, way too much fun, not sure I need 

22 guns but what the heck

First up a 6pdr for my guards division 

This is the horse artillery, I love these figures, 

really are beautifully sculpted 

Then we have 2 x 6pdrs and 1 x 12 pdr for my guards division 

Just need to paint the division now.

Next up 2 x 6pdrs to add to my artillery park

Now for the 2 big boys in the toy box

 2 x 12pdrs with the larger crew 

Oh to much fun

Another command figure that decided to pop in a different place, 

Don’t know about you but painting command figures always seems like

The best part of painting a new army

Then we have 12 French knights 

These chaps will head out the door to their new home tomorrow 

These are Lovely Perry plastics, it’s so much fun painting the heraldry 

Always a challenge but so satisfying when you pull it off

So for points we have

• 42 x 28mm cavalry for 420 pts
• 60 x 28mm  infantry for 300pts
• 8 x 28mm artillery pieces for 80 pts (not sure had a check looks like 10pms each)

• Library history 20pts for the French knights

        Total 820pts

From Millsy: If there's an ideal way to start work as a minion in 2024 then curating THIS monster post is it. What a points bomb Kent, and such quality to go with the quantity! Having chatted a couple of times over the last week whilst we painted I had some idea what was waiting in the wings but that did nothing to diminish the wow factor when I opened this up to review.

I won't even try to pick a favourite unit from amongst such an array of quality work but will make special mention of the dragoons, ADC with leopard saddle cloth and Imperial Guard all of which really faire flotter mon bateau.

Congrats mate on a stonking 820 point bomb which blasts you past 1000 points and your initial target to boot!

From GeorgeS - 54mm Airfix French Imperial guard (150 pts)

      This year the challenge didn't go well for me... I quit early but I hold my strength for next year :)

       So, as this challenge comes to its end I will upload some figures I been working on the last month .

Here you can see 15 figures that will be a part of a small battle diorama. That's why the bases are just painted. They will be covered in the setting later. 

 

       14 Airfix and one Timpo 1:32 figures. Some converted. The flag is scratch built with Green Stuff.

 

 

 

I wish I could complete the diorama to present it here but it wont be ready until this Sunday.

So, 15 X 10  = 150 points for me of this set..

 

see you at post  #2  soon :)

 

Keep Up The Brushes!!

 

That's a lovely set of big figures, they look great all together. I do hope we get to see the diorama.

Barks 

From MattW: Napoleonics (160 Points )

Hi all, I am Matt from French Wargame Holidays, I am an Australian living in Mayenne in Western France. We have a a large Maison Particular (a chateau sized building in town) where my wife and I conduct a B&B, Military Battlefield Tours of Normandy, Brittany and Pays de Loire, plus a Wargames Holiday business. 

the view from the painting desk

This is my third challenge for me. I struggle with the squirrel a lot and swap and change periods regularly to keep up my interest. This year I have set a 1200 point target, and plan to enter the challenge for the first time. I will be adding to my Napoleonic, Medieval and ancients collection.

First entry is 28mm Napoleonic Mamelukes from Foundry, these were a bit of work but look good, I need to find the standard which is somewhere on my desk......

12 Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard

Next up are 28mm Front Rank Austrian Command, both these are divisional commanders, one Infantry division commander and one Hussar Cavalry division general stand.  

Austrian Hussar General

Total 160 points

All the best to everybody, I am off on holidays for a month, but will be assembling and possibly putting up a few small pieces I can bring in my luggage.

cheers

Matt

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Matt!

Napoleonics, 'The Beautiful Game'. Wonderful work, Matt. Those Mamelukes of the Guard look superb, and one can never have too many confused Austrian commanders (Gosh, I love the old school look of the Front Rank stuff).  I look forward to seeing your upcoming Medieval and Ancient entries over the next few months.

- Curt

From RichardC: We're putting the Band back together (225 Points)

We’re putting the Band back together.

Now those film buffs amongst you will recognise the quotation from the wonderful Blues Borthers – to me, the blues not only means a host of wonderful guitarists, but also the Grande Armee.

For the Musician bonus round, I painted up 8 Imperial Guard Grenadier drummers and their Drum Master – for my last submission to the Challenge, I present the rest of the band.

The scene was inspired by the painting of the revue at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel by Bellange. Not only could I have the Band, but also include some of the French Top Brass.

Led by Drum Major Jean Nicolas Senot (1761-1837) (- a smashing miniature by the way), the band, together with a Sappers formed the Tete de Colonne.  

Playing a variety of instruments including the bassoon, hautbois, cymbals, jingling johnny, flute, serpent and (that most martial of instruments), the triangle, they provided the accompaniment for the great parades of the First Empire. 

The band, sappers and Senot are, like the drummers, from warlord. These are really nice characterful figures, and pretty east to assemble (although the bassoon was a bit dodgy). My only quibble was with the two cymbal players. All my reference material (Rousselot, Bucquoy, Joineau, Osprey et al portray the black musicians in an oriental style uniform. Warlord has them garbed in identical style to the rest of the band.

The high command are a mix of Front Rank and Perry figures, and include the Emperor, Berthier, Lannes (in the red uniform of Colonel General of Swiss troops), Nansouty and an ADC. I also included Bessieres, painted earlier in the Challenge. Sadly, Gringo40s Murat didn't quite get finished.

The Arc is a Sarissa Precision MDF kit, and those eagle eyed (and old enough) can spot the quadriga from the Airfix HO Romans set (the figure with it is from the Atlantic gladiators set).

There are 8 sappers; 21 bandsmen, 1 drum major, 1 conductor, 6 mounted figures.  

Warlord, Front Rank, Perry, Sarissa

Sadly, this attempt at a points bomb arrived 30 minutes after the deadline. Still, it was fun to do. I didn't even get the chance to base it properly.

Hopefully, next year, real life (and hospital) won't interfere too much.

Cheers,

Richard

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Sorry Richard, I'll let you in after closing, but I'm just too tired to write anything right now. I'll catch you up in the comments later. :)

Curt
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