From SidneyR: The Last Stand of the Regiment de Louvigny for "The Altar of the Snowlord" (66 points)

 

"Sound trumpets!  Let our Bloody colours wave!

And either victory, or else a grave!"

Henry VI, Part 3 (Act 2, scene 2)

And so, after three months, I've finally arrived at the Snowlord's Altar, bearing - as requested by Curt - a submission featuring casualties and a dramatic final stand for Challenge XI.  

To meet that challenge, I've painted the valiant last stand of the French Regiment be Louvigny, from 1688 - a suitably terminal, but hopefully honourable, end to a great Challenge.

Challenge accepted and - I hope - completed, dear Snowlord!

I have to admit, that when I planned out what I wanted to do, I did wonder if it would work.  What I had in mind was a centrepiece for a large skirmish in which the "shipwrack" of a French battalion could (possibly) be rescued from Flemish and Spanish enemy forces by a relieving French brigade.  It would suit an evening's wargaming, or perhaps be a smaller table in a day's gaming.

The small "slots" for two micro-dice are there to record casualties and cohesion.  As the regiment in its battered state is not really functioning as a working formation, there's no need to identify the pike and shot separately in any normal basing formation.  That's the plan, anyway.  

So, rather than just a 'casualty base', I could use the Last Stand as a half-way house between functioning battalion and a mere marker for routed troops.

After deciding on the type of base I wanted, it was really just a case of deciding which figures I wanted.  I chose a blend of of pike and shot, officers and soldiers, a drummer, and a blend of dead, wounded and still-healthy troops.  

I perhaps could have done better in painting the standard, which looks a little too pristine for any 'last stand'.  And maybe the casualties could have been a bit more numerous.  But, on the whole, given a day or so to prepare it, I thought it should hopefully pass muster on most tabletops.  

The perfect is, of course dear friends, the enemy of the tabletop-standard.

The Regiment de Louvingy is for my late seventeenth century 1688 Flanders collection, so I tried to make the figures fit with the other units and formations by adding green-stuff feathers, lace, ribbons and swapping the Officer's right arm from carrying a standard to more nobly raising his sword towards the Flemish and Spanish enemies-of-his-blood.  

I took the uniform of the Regiment de Louvigny from Mark Allen's fine book "Armies & Enemies of Louis XIV: Volume 1 - Western Europe 1688-1714" (published by Helion).  The real Regiment de Louvigny is a rather forgotten, anonymous regiment - so I felt it was time to bring its soldiers back to the grand stage of European warfare on the wargames table.

The figures are a mix of Dixon Miniatures and Wargames Foundry, with a Colonel Bill's casualty figure added at the front.  The splendid, and very versatile, gabions are from Frontline Wargaming.  The base is  a terrain base from Warbases, who also made the micro-dice slots.  The tufts are from WSS Scenics.

No one makes the standard for the Regiment de Louvigny - so I painted it myself.  I wish I had battered it about a little more - ah well, next time, I'll know better!

So for the points - there are eight standing and two prone figures on the base, with the standing being 5 points each (totally 40 points) and the prone figures being half-points (total of 5 points) - totalling 45 points for the figures (and can I maybe add an extra one point for the hand-painted flag?), bringing that to 46 Points.  With adding the 20 for the final "Altar of the Snowlord", that's a total of 66 Points.

And because this is a submission featuring the ludicrousness of my fictional campaign for the Free-City of Laarden, in 1688, here's the Challenge XI Collectible Card for the "Last Stand of the Regiment de Louvigny" - the last of the eleven cards for Challenge XI.  

Did you collect the full set, dear Challengers?

******* 

From RossM - Mixed Historical, Fantasy and Sci Fi (146 points )

Another mixed entry as the challenge moves into the final weeks frenzy of painting. Below are four Universal Carriers from Frontline Wargames. From left to right there are MKII with canopy, MKII with canopy, WASP and another MKII. All are 20 (1/76) scale.

On a previous entry some of the constructive feedback was that there was no weathering, so here is the first attempt at the very same. Perhaps over cautious, however felt that this was the best approach until am more confident with the weathering powders.

Only the two canopied MKII have weathering added on.

Next is the only sci-fi figures painted in this year's challenge so far, and these are from Ground Zero Games New Israeli range in 15mm which will be used in Critical Mass at some point in the future.

Next is the bulk of a Hordes of the Things army in 15mm from Alternative Armies. Shown here are seven stands of undead skeleton warbands, 1 stand of wraith lurkers and 1 stand of ghouls.

A simple colour scheme and quick and easy to paint, starting with a bone undercoat, dark wash and dry brushing in various bone colours to highlight. Deliberately picked a limited pallette for these and on the whole am quite pleased.

So to recap there are

4 x 20mm vehicles at 12 points each: 48 points
2 x 15mm crew weapons at 4 points each: 16 points
41 x 15mm undead infantry at 2 points each: 82 points

For a total of 146 points which sees the challenge barrier passed.

Hoping to have another entry before the finish line.

Cheers for now

ByronM: A great entry here Ross and Congrats on getting over your challenge goal!  I like that you tried something new with powders, that's a lot of what I use the challenge for myself, trying new things and trying to constantly learn and grow as a painter.  I like the effect, it helps break up the colour and you can see that most obviously in the picture that has some with and some without.  With weathering and especially with powders, you can really go at it, and they just keep looking better so don't be afraid to play with it.  Also, if you go to far, grab a wet brush and just wipe it off!  If you want to play further, they give great effects when put on wet, they make a pastel like paint, or you can use rubbing alcohol as a setting agent as well.  Lots of stuff to play with.  If you want real hints and tricks look up James Wappel's blog, that guy is a master with them and teaches you how is easy to follow videos and posts.

Anyway, again, awesome stuff here, I like all the varied figures and painting in this post, and congrats!

From RossM : A Wagon and some 20mm WWII Vehicles (70 Points)

Here is the third entry to this year's challenge which comprises of a mixed range of vehicles, periods and scales.

First up is a lowly horse drawn cart which is has no horse. This is from 4Ground (?) in 28mm and was a great kit to both build and paint. Painted in a similar manner as the previous cart and perhaps if time allows there will be the opportunity to Paint your Wagon.

Next are five 20mm Allied vehicles from WWII including two jeeps, two MK II Universal Carriers and a MK I Bren Carrier.

One jeep is from Frontline Wargames (Foreground model) and the other from SHQ (Rear model) in the picture above. The SHQ model is far clear and over a better piece to paint; that age old argument of metal versus resin models. Truth be told both are perfectly suitable for their intended use.

Next are the carriers which are three of a total of ten that will be painted in this years challenge.  All shown with divisional markings on for the 11th Armoured Division, which may not be technically true for the MK I. Not sure on that so anyone with the correct information please pass it on.

All of the WW II vehicle started of with a base coat of Humbrol Olive spray. They were then painted in Dark Olive from Coat d'Arms and washed the Nuln Oil. In truth this is too dark for the colour looked for, however, the decision was made to leave these five as is and look to change the others in the next few days.

The final stages of painting involved dry brushing the vehicles with Coat d'Arms Olive and light Olive to the final highlights.

The tracks start of black then painted in Vallejo Flat Brown, wet brushed Vallejo Cavalry Brown and then dry brushed with a dark steel colour.

More transfers in the post.

There are more decals in the post for the other carriers and if there are enough, will go back and add a few extra to the rears of these.

Any comments greatly appreciated.

Cheers for now

ByronM: Great post Ross!  You remind me that I really should build my wagon....  But, back to your figures.  Very nice looking cart there, and even better looking little jeeps and carriers.   The painting looks clean and neat and you did a good job with the decals (no silvering).  Since you asked for comments, the only thing that I would really change or add is that I think they need a little weathering.  You don't need to go nuts with chipping or rust or anything, but just some of that dirt colour from the tracks and wheels up onto the chassis and skirts.  They look too clean to me, but then I always overdo it, so what do I know!

From RossM: Final Entry for Challenge VI (87 Points)

Here are my second and final submissions for this year's challenge. The real challenge for me has been finding the time to spend on hobbies over the last 3 plus months. Not so easy with an 11 month old son. Still struggled on in the late hours of the night to deliver something towards my challenge total - falls short this time.

First up is a 1/72 or 20mm in scale SdKfz 223 from Frontline Wargaming. A simply assembled kit that has been painted with no camouflage unlike some of the previous armoured cars from this period.

Next are the Grav Sleds from Ground Zero Games shown without flight stands as these are proving to be a nightmare to glue in place. After much nashing of teeth and cursing I have opted to hold off on the stands.  Below is a remote Plasma Cannon to the front and two light gun sleds at the rear. All of these are 15mm in scale

Had a bit of bother getting clear focus on these figures probably a result of artificial light and tired eyes - its 2 AM in Scotland just now.

A pair of gun sleds - these seem small when compared to the Critical Mass figures however they have been refreshing to paint and there will be more on my blog throughout this year - hopefully.

Two scout sleds are below and these are the last of the sci-fi armour being shown. Again from Ground Zero Games.

Next up is a mortar section from Ground Zero Games New Israeli range. The figures are 15mm and are missing their command section - the stand was painted pre challenge and is in storage at present.

Lastly there are twenty-four 15mm Battlesuits from Critical Mass Games. Some figures just jump out at you and these are those. The colour scheme was a deliberate choice to distinguish these figures on the gaming table from other battle suits and also because the figures looked right in black from the very start.

Sadly, I ran out of the basing material I use for these with 3 stands left to texture. Still thought it worth while including them here so the unit looks complete.

That concludes my entry to this year's challenge and I have enjoyed the challenge again. I hope to be here next year and will be better prepared to achieve my pledge.

My Curtgeld figure is to follow shortly.

In terms of points I make this to be

1 x 20mm vehicle at 12 points = 12

1 x 15mm vehicles at 6 points each = 30

4 x 15mm crewed weapons at 4 each = 16

15 x 15mm infantry at 2 each = 20

9 x 15mm infantry at 1 (basing not completed) = 9

For a total of 87 points towards my final total.

Thanks for looking and looking forward to checking out everyone's final submissions later this week.

Cheers

Great work Ross! The 222 is a nice little runabout (if I could only have a 20mm automatic cannon for mine). That being said I have to say that these GZG Israelis and battlesuits are awesome - I especially like the groundwork you've done for them. Excellent stuff! 

 Ross, it was good to see you out for the Challenge. I hope you join us for the next rendition. Cheers!