From JP: Rattray's Sikhs and odds and ends (65 points)

These chaps started life as Jacob's Rifles for Maiwand -  that was the plan... But I found I was more interested in the Malakand Field Force and so they eventually morphed into Rattray's Sikhs, a distinguished unit. It just took a little fiddling with the paint job.

Along with them is the soon to be well known reporter fo the Portsmouth Funnel Times, Winston Jeremiah Eccles along with a couple of shifty Pathans (by Foundry)he has hired to keep him out of mischief.

So, a basic claim this week:

13 x 28mm figs =  65 points

They are destined for 'Sword and the Flame' and 'Triumph and Tragedy' games.

As ever, thanks for looking!

Nice work, JP! I had never heard of the  Malakand Field Force, but a quick Internet search brought some light in the darkness. Your models seem to suit these very well, and you have done a fine job with them. Compared to the traditional vibrant red coats, late 19th century troops can be a bit drab, but your painting has brought these to life. I love your War Correspondent! I wonder whether he will make it to Prime Minister some day... Well done, 65 points added!

Martijn

From EdwardG: Some more Swiss and a BEAR! (40pts)

 Hej all,

Happy New Year!! 

Hope everyone had a good slide into 2025! Looking at some of the minis already painted for the challenge has been inspirational as it always is. You lot are just incredible :)

Another small Swiss based entry from me today. Not much more to say, except that these are all Perry metals. I really prefer metal minis to plastic, but wallet and weight don't allow me to always indulge. Lucky for me these were a gift from a very dear friend!

Hope you like them! 

Points:

7 x 28mm foot = 35pts

1 x 28mm bear = 5pts

Total = 40pts 

(Scored the bear as a horse/foot figure, seemed about right!)

TTFN! Hope to see you all next week :D

Ed

Nice Alpine entry, Ed!. I like how you tied them all together with their green and yellow livery. The bear looks great! I am with you on the metal versus plastic; although lugging metal figures around can be quite hard, I like the heft of the figures and they are often just a little more austere in their design. 

That's 40 points for you!

Martijn

From IainW: 28mm Napoleonic Austrian artillery and limbers (360 points)

In an effort to balance the Napoleonic arms race in my shed I am happy to present eight Austrian artillery pieces, three horse artillery pieces, two from Eagle miniatures and one from Perry. Two 12lb from Eagle and three Frankenstein cut and shunt home cast 25mm Prince August carriages with some eBay purchased wheels from long ago and plastic/resin barrels.  I needed to lengthen the carriages aa the Austrian pattern is longer than the French. The crews are a couple of Eagle figures and the Perry handlanger team that have been promoted from hauling guns to crewing them! The other team are from Trent miniatures sold as revolutionary Austrian artillery crew, although to my mind they're more like seven years war but they're done and the Austrian artillery branch were notoriously conservative! They're a bit chunkier than Perry but nice figures, the Eagle figures are less good in my opinion and I won't be buying them again as they cost the same as Perry but at least they're done! The four limbers started out in two cases as 25mm British limbers that I ended up with when purchasing a load of bits of artillery for my war of three Kingdoms armies and were knocking around when I needed to have some Austrian limbers but wasn't able to spend any money! With the addition of foamboard box and resin wheels,  a new central pole I had two Austrian limbers, two spare warbase mdf French limbers got the foamboard box treatment and I had four limbers. I just needed some draught horses, three spare renaissance Hinchcliffe draught horses got me started, the other five are home cast Prince August 25mm horses with the addition of Perry plastic horse heads and necks that you get spare with their medieval horse sprues. The riders legs started out as British light dragoons, the torso's French chasseurs with the detail carved away, the arms are from the Austrian cavalry set and the heads are Austrian Landwehr, all Perry. With the addition of string, card, wire and a few spare bits of 3d tack, I  merely had to stand back, pull the handle and cry "give my creation life!" Or not as perhaps I got a little carried away, but they are undeniably Frankenstein limbers!

There's also a spare French draught team that missed it's comrades' post but is here now.

Eight times thirty gives me 240( artillery)

Four times twenty five is     100(limbers)

Plus the draught team            15

Total                                          355

So that goes towards both my total and the Napoleonic duel, next up probably more Napoleonics but I have started some late Romans! 

All the best

 Iain 

Well, limbers seem to be becoming quite a feature this Challenge, Iain, and these Austrian pieces are very much the part. I really like your artillerymen too, they look great in their indeed somewhat obsolescent outfits, and I'm sure they will serve you well. However, I am really taken with your creative  kitbashed/ DIY/converted limbers, and you have certain given them life! I feel that such a valiant effort and great result should be rewarded, so I'm rounding your total up to a nice round 360. Excellent job!

Martijn

From Iain W: 28mm Napoleonic French Artillery (180 points )

 Here is an expansion to my Napoleonic French artillery to add to recently painted limbers.  Six pieces, 12lb, 8lb and howitzer, all foot,  guard and line. Three are from the Victrix plastic set up to 1814 the other three are made up of the 3d printed carriages that came with the limbers and a mix of Victrix and 3d printed barrels.  The wheels that came with the carriages were just too big ( I'm sure I'll find a use for them) so they have been substituted with some resin wheels which while not having the right number of spokes, are at least the right size, the carriages are closer in size to 25mm rather than 28mm but are good enough in my view by using four crew for each gun I ended up with six spare Victrix crew and by utilising left over Perry elite bodies I was able to make up two more Guard crews, the Victrix heads and arms being entirely compatible with the Perry plastic figures.  There is also a 3d printed freebie I got with the limbers, a command figure with a slightly incorrect headgear but he fills a gap and looks good enough to me!

Painted in my usual slapdash or if one is being generous, impressionistic manner they're done,following on from these chaps and in the effort of balance I have rather more Austrian artillery in an attempt to even up the arms race. Batteries are single pieces in Valour and Fortitude so my artillery park for both armies are a little excessive but they were primed so they must be painted, thems the rules and I quite like the effect of the grand battery!

Six times thirty ( crew served weapon 10 points, four 28mm figures @ 5 points each, 20 points) for a total of 180 points to my total and the Napoleonic duel. 

All the best 

Iain 

Sylvain: Nothing says "Napoleonic" like a good piece of artillery and your rendition is impeccable. I especially like your bases, evoking a rough field. Great entry for you this week!