KenR - Obwalden & the Rear Rankers, Swiss Pike - 323 points

 

My final entry for this years Challenge (where did that go !) suspiciously sounds like a 1970s Folk Rock Band, in fact I'm thinking of forming a little pop combo called "Obwalden and the Rear Rankers" myself.

One of the main focuses this year has been to add to my Swiss pike collection and with 160 new figures done over the last few months this group of 64 finish off my target for the Challenge.

First up is the contingent from the Canton of Obwalden, these will form the final "column" in the overall 128 figure block I've completed. A nice and simple red and white scheme based around the flags which are from Flags of War.

Figures are of course 28mm and as previously are a mix of Perrys and Steelfist with a guest appearance from Petes Flags range of Renaissance figures (which he kindly sent me some samples of a while back). 32 figs here, 8 per base on 60 x 50 bases with an extended front base to protect the figures (and players) from those pointy sticks.

Added to that we have the Rear Rankers, I needed an extra base for four previously painted "columns" to extend another block out to 128 figures and whilst I was knee deep in Pike it made sense to get these done. Figures here are either Perry or Petes Flags.

No extended bases here as these 32 figures will join the back of existing units, the 4 "Cantons" represented here are Zug and Lucerne (blue and white) Basel - Stadt (Black and white) and Bern (red, yellow, white)

So for the final entry of the year I have 64 x 28mm foot at 5 points each and 3 Flags for a total of 323 to add to the total.

It's been another great challenge and although I'm well short of my target I really feel as if I've got something done.

I'll sum up in a Wrap Post after we finish, but a special thanks once again to Curt Campbell for organising this wonderful worldwide event.

Oh go on then, here's a 160 figure Pike Block 

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Wow Ken, these are the kind of posts I love the challenge for and wish we saw more of.  A HUGE massive unit of models, and every one of them stunningly painted!  This is what we all need to be doing and posting!  Although what on earth you need a 160 figure block of pike for is beyond me, but we are all mad in our own way.  Thank you for such a great post!

- Byron 

From AlanD - Prussian Landwehr Cavalry (180 points)

My last Huzzah! for this year's challenge is a group of Prussian Landwehr cavalry, from the 1st and 2nd Silesian regiments. The figures are Perry metals, and are lovely, although ideally I'd like my Landwehr to look a bit more motley. These chaps are uncharacteristically pristine. Unfortunately, their pennons didn't arrive in time (I actually finished painting these a few days ago), and they will look better with bright white over yellow and red over yellow pennants.

That's it for me this year, and 18 cavalry figures will allow me to comfortable reach my goal. Despite being on leave this term I have been busy and preoccupied, so the painting has suffered a little. I have also been very slack commenting on the wonderful submissions everyone has been putting up, for which I apologise. Many thanks as always to Curt and the Minions (especially our own Millsy) for making all this happen.

From Millsy:

Very, very nice indeed Alan! Landwehr have a bad reputation at times and it means we don't see that many as we probably should have in the late war. That rich blue/grey uniform colour is lovely and the dagger edging on the shabraques and the facing colours really pops too. 

180 more points is a great way to close out your Challenge. Can't wait to face them across the table mate. Love em!

Cheers,
Millsy

From GregB: Onward to Orleans! (20 points)

"Forward! God has shown me the way..."

As the Challenge clock ticks down I continue to make best efforts at clearing the painting desk at home. While I do not quite match the fervour of the "squirrel duel" participants here in the Challenge, I usually have multiple projects in multiple scales "on the go" at the same time, some of which lurk around the painting table for long periods. The Hundred Years War in 28mm is one such project, and as the conclusion of this edition of the AHPC looms, I thought it would be nice to get a few figures from this period finished.

Jean de Dunois directs the defence of Orleans - while his half-brother sits in England as a captive.

This was inspired mostly by the "Resistance" theme round, for which I painted the wonderful 28mm sculpt of "Joan of Arc" from the Perry Miniatures range. That particular pack includes two other figures: Jean de Dunois, the "Bastard of Orleans", and Étienne de Vignolles, a.k.a. "La Hire". With Joan painted, I thought it would only make sense to paint the two companion figures. Both of The Bastard and La Hire were prominent in French efforts to defend the city of Orleans, which began in late 1428 and was miraculously lifted in 1429 via a series of battles where Joan of Arc played an inspiring role. It was the famous turning point of a famous conflict. 

Sculpted heraldry right on the figure - very, very helpful when it comes to painting!!

I understand that Jean du Dunois was certainly a tough character, but his nickname arose from his semi-legitimate origins as much as from his disposition. When the time came to defend Orleans, the other male family leaders were either dead or captives of the English following the disastrous defeat at Agincourt. He was the only left, so he had to step up. Dunois led the defence of the city and, following the lifting of the siege, helped see the Dauphin crowned in Reims and take the fight to the English and their Burgundian allies. 

Soldiers of the King of England, you will face the wrath of God!

La Hire (pronounced "La EEeer") was another hard man - in fact, I believe this nickname has some kind of alignment with "the ire" or "the wrath" of God. Sounds like a guy you would not want to confront lightly, especially if he has armour and a sword. La Hire was a prominent figure in Joan of Arc's miraculous run through the historic turning point of the Hundred Years War at Orleans and on to Reims - although he could not save her from the matyrdom which awaited her...

"For the Dauphin!"

The heraldry on these two characters is sculpted right on to the figure - that is something that I really like! I hoped I found the right set of colours for the heraldry for each one but...oh well...he at least they looks like they are in charge. 

Finally, I need to add more mounted knights and men-at-arms for my French, so I thought I would do a couple to accompany these commanders. I...really don't have a lot of confidence that I am taking the right approach to painting these kinds of guys. I'm trying to figure out the right way to represent the full-on knights versus guys who are "only" men-at-arms. On the plus side the multi-part plastic kits for the period from Perry Miniatures give you a LOT of options to work with. So I have tried to represent Knights with more complete armour, lowered visors, chain-mail on the horses etc. while the men-at-arms have less armour, or maybe only a bascinet...

A mounted man-at-arms from the Bastard's retinue.

I thought one of the men-at-arms should come from the Bastard's own retinue, so I tried to hand-paint the coat of arms for Orleans on his small shield.

The Maid of Orleans leads the French to glory! God wills it!

I wanted to crowd all of the Knights I have completed to date into a big group shot, so I have done that here! There are all sorts of mounted figures in the group photo, but only six mounted 28mm figures count for this post. I reckon I will need at least another 12 or so mounted knights/men-at-arms for my French collection (or, at least, the initial part), something I intend to work away at over the spring and into the summer - and I expect this project will surely be in my project pile by the time of AHPC XVII...

 

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Sylvain: I see 2x 28mm mounted figures in this post, so I adjusted the points to "20". Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

You are a gentleman and a scholar. Your post deserves to be called "educational" for its historical information. And the models are just sumptuous with their ornate armour. Bravissimo!

 

 

 

KenR - 28mm Swiss Thun Pike - 163 points

 

As we enter the last few weeks of the Challenge I have switched full production to the Swiss Pike in an attempt to get the planned figures done before the end of the Challenge.

Here are the boys from Thun, 32 x 28mm Perry and Steelfist Miniatures painted up in a mainly red and white scheme to match the flags, these will form a "column" within the main block.

The 3 rear bases have 8 figures and are 60 x 50, while the front base is extended to 60 x 110 to accommodate the levelled Pike at the front. Flags are from Flags of War.

Points wise it's 32 28mm figs at 5 pts a piece plus 3 flags at a point a piece for 163. I have one more "column" to do which are underway and then I have 32 more Pike to extend the rear ranks of an existing block (because 96 figures just isn't big enough 😄) and of course heres a group to date shot.

What a Thun-dering great pike block Ken!  (Don't worry I am only here on a limited engagement.). There's just so much to love here.  I know these fine figures and they've been beautifully painted, posed and based.  The read and white scheme is very effective and love the flags.

KenR - 28mm Prussian Landwehr - 161 points

 

These just missed the finish line last week, a little break from the Italian Wars sees me add another unit to my long term Plancenoit Project.

This is the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Neumark Landwehr forming part of the 13th Brigade of the 4th Corps at Waterloo. This is the 8th unit so far for that group, Prussian Brigades are not for the faint hearted !

The figures are of course 28mm and are from the Perry Miniatures metal range, a lot more expensive than plastics but the available options are shockingly bad compared to these, so I'd rather spend the extra brass on quality (in figures not tabletop performance 😉)

So the vital statistics are 32 figure unit on 4 x 8 figure bases, each base is 60 x 60 mm. 32 figures at 5 pts each give me 160 more plus one for the flag.

This is likely the last Napoleonic unit of the Challenge, I really want to get the Swiss Pike done before we close and I still have 96 to do, so that's priority. Last of the Spanish Cavalry next.

Nice looking Landwehr unit Ken, they have a suitably shabby campaign appearance to them.  My understanding is that by 1815 some Landwehr units had ben in the field long enough to become decent quality infantry.  I also remember hearing that a Landwehr unit was the first Prussian unit on the field at Waterloo.

From AlanD: Prussian Grenadiers (150 points)

At the end of last year's Challenge, I painted a single base of Napoleonic Prussian Grenadiers, with some left over Perry line infantry I had. The main difference between line infantry and grenadiers in 1813 was that the latter had moustaches, and as grenadier battalions were composite units formed from the grenadier companies of line infantry regiments, they did not carry banners. So, in what I hope is the final batch of Prussian infantry that I will paint for a long, long time, here are the other 5 bases to complete the battalion.

Apologies to Millsy for having to try to say something original about these. 'Certainly do the job' and 'samey' are both totally acceptable comments.

My progress is a bit slow this year, despite being on leave, as I've been caught up doing 1:1 terrain jobs like ripping up carpet. But with these 30 figures putting another 150 points on the board, my goal is in sight. 

From Millsy:

Whilst I appreciate the sympathy for a long suffering minion there's no need to apologise Alan.

There's plenty to like about these fine chaps. You've really nailed the Prussian blue I think, and the difference from the grey trousers is enough to show they are two colours, but without going too dark of light on either colour to ensure that. The drummer is particularly good, I always struggle to paint drums cleanly and you've managed that in spades.

Well done "finishing" your Prussians. I look forward to seeing them on the table at some point and I'm sure there will be more to minion somewhere down the track.

150 more points for your tally mate. You're within sight of your target with plenty of time to spare. Nice one. 

Cheers,
Millsy

From TeemuL: Arabian Nights Dogfights (60 points)

My Peninsular War project is going well, here are the next two stands for my British Army. The last two to finish the six stand squad will be painted and posted in March. Nothing special with these, except that this time there are some commander miniatures, squad leader, standard bearer (without the flag) and two drummers. I'm quite sure that some of those should have reverse colours or something else special, but I was too far with my painting process when I remembered that.

And now we get to the title, Arabian Nights Dogfights. I know a gamer from Yarkshire who is crazy about all the historical missmatch games like Trench Crusade and others. These two minis are partly inspired by his enthuasism to all wild things that could be. :) Partly inspired the minis I happened to have, but mostly inspired by a post in an earlier AHPC, which I was not able to find nor remember the author/painter. That post had couple of magic carper riders and I decided to follow that lead.

The minis are Afghans by Perry Miniatures and the magic carpet is just a plain Renendra base from one of the Perry boxes. I first built the unarmed one and while I was cutting the sword from his hand I thought why he wouldn't have a sword? So the second one got a sword, he might have a upper hand in this dogfight. Colours were picked purely by rule of cool and I tried to create convincing looking patterns for the carpets. The carpets are bit flat, but I can live with that.

Naturally I don't have any rules for these minis, but Arabian Nights Dogfights sounds so cool, I'm sure someone will create rules in no time at all. Once the rules are ready, I'm ready, too.

Scoring is quite simple, the Napoleonics are easy: 8 minis for total of 40 points, but magic carpet riders are bit trickier. Two 28mm minis for ten points, but are they mounted? 10 points each? Or are the carpets just bases... I'll leave that to my Minion, but I'm happy for total of 50 points.

P.S. Quite often I have had a winter holiday this time of year and this year is not an exception. Usually we have been up north in the Lapland, but this time we are home. And when the weather is nice, why leave home? Sky is blue, snow on the ground and I guess it has been over a month below 0 degrees Celcius! Less skiing and less snow shoe walking, but more ice skating and painting, so two entries this week.

 Gosh Teemu, what an eclectic but gorgeous final entry for you today! I do love those flying carpets great work on them. Since they have such intricate patterns handpainted on, I will consider them as 28mm cavalry figures indeed. Enjoy the snow, here it's just raining all day!

 Cheers Sander 

KenR - 28mm Swiss Pike - Glarus (175 pts)

 

After a week off last week for a birthday trip away with Mrs YG, it's time to get back to the grindstone, or in my case the Pike Block.

So this is the "column" of the block from Glarus, a city and Canton in Switzerland. The figures are 28mm and are a mix of Perrys and Steelfist. There are quite a few more Steelfist in this "unit" mostly on the front base.

There were no uniforms in the Italian Wars but to get a feel for a unit I have used the colours from the flags, which are mostly red, so to give me a bit more variation I used a deep red and a scarlet red as two separate colours, along with black, yellow and a touch of white.

In total there are 32 x 28mm figures at 5pts each for 160 points plus 3 flags at a point each making 163 in total.

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the block so far (half finished), I will be doing a "Thun" column next. But before that I've some obligatory Spanish Heavies to do along with some Prussian Landwehr.

Great Schnabziger Ken, those are amazing!  Love the mass, the posing and basing and the colours.  I agree with your idea of using a key colour to identify units, and the red from the flag seems an excellent choice.  I have to say that's sinister looking preacher on the lead base's flag.  I am rounding your score up to 175, cos I get to do these things.

From IainW: 28mm Napoleonic Austrian Grenz regiment no15 (120 points)

So finishing up a contract and being ill has hit my commenting, apologies but I've managed to finish a unit, here is a Grenzer regiment for my Austrian army, regiment no 14, they are a mix of a Perry metal Grenzer command and the rank and file, are you've guessed it, Wargames Atlantic Prussian reserve infantry, the army deal that keeps on giving, with carved off gaiters and Perry plastic French hussars later shako which I think looks close enough? 

The first of two units, it's always nice to do pink facings I think and the red cloaks and blue trousers makes a nice contrast with the all white Austrian line units , the black straps are also a nice change. All in all I'm pretty happy with these economy Grenzers, flag by Victrix.

And here they are photo bombed by Gregs favourite terminator! I added spikey bits when I corrupted him into the service of Khorne, he doesn't count as he was painted last century!

Points 24 x 5 is 120

All the best 

Iain

Wow these guys look very cool! There is a lot about this post that hits me where I live. First - conversions using spare bits from other kits, I love it. Second - Khorne. I have a couple of those crazy Rogue Trader Terminators as well and I can tell you that I have no plans to paint 'em, but I am a very recent convert to the cult of the Blood God and have been busy priming up old Berzerkers and buying stuff on eBay. Might see some of it in this Challenge, who knows!

A well-deserved 120 points for you!

Dallas