From RayR: Reidy's Reef - The Sirens (40 Points)

Thelxiepeia, Peisinoe, and Ligeia are reported to be the names of the Sirens 

according to Suda.
They're quite a handful, literally!
And I was talking about pronouncing their names!!!

I did plan on painting up some boats I've had stashed for far too long, but then saw

 these luvvly ladies on the Col Bill's stand and thought well why not!!

"“Reidy’s Reef” is world renowned for its tranquil beauty and awe inspiring aqua-scapes. 

Dammit, it’s almost as impressive as it’s namesake. However, the seas can churn into

 an angry abyss for any hapless land lubbers or those prone to math errors. The only

 known way to traverse this sea is to paint up a miniature with a nautical theme, 

be it boat, fish, sailor/pirate or aquatic terrain. Bonus points will be awarded if this

 is a new project for you, or that the motive power of the model(s) is provided by sails."

I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with them and even if they're ever gonna be used?

I might give them to Postie, for his Pirate range, I'm sure they could cause havoc there.

They were a pretty simple paintjob, although the hardest part was the underwater body parts?

Some rocks are cast along wit the figure, I thought the base need filling out so I added a few more to make the base look a little more busy. Col Bill himself when I showed him a pic, said, that's how he wanted the model but the figure was just too big and couldn't be cast that way.

I'm quite pleased how the white waves turned out, its just several layers of grey to white paint.

The figures can be purchased from Col Bill's here.

As for the points, its 30 for the Challenge and I'll leave it up to the luvvly minion for the rest??

MilesR: Why these are a very lovely addition to the denizens of the reef and I'm sure they only lure "bad" sailors to their grisly fate.  I think they'll fit into one of your "Donnybrook" games.  It's not like those are historical.  I kid, I kid - I really like the Donnybrook rules and highly recommend them.  Also, thanks for remarking that I'm luvvly, I have been trying to loose weight and gussy myself up and I really appreciate that you noticed.....  

From PaulSS - A beat-up old lugger beaches on Reidy's Reef (50 Points)

I was lucky enough to win one of the Threshold Prizes last year and Alf at Barrage Miniatures kindly provided a voucher for some of his great stuff.

I dilly-dallied a while and eventually ordered myself a trio of boats including a couple of the 30-Foot Clinker Boats for my collection.

These are superb castings with lots of good detail on the boat, but I wanted to add a bit more, so a mast was created from some dowel, with a sail of PVA coated tissue paper. A bench was added from thin plywood and a few crates from a Great Escape Games 'Fistful of baggage' pack.

Paint job was quite simple, from a dark brown primer a couple of highlights, while a couple of the brass-bound crates were done as oak and the lighter one done as pine. A wool-pack completes the cargo. The sail was done in a dirty white colour.

I kept it as neutral as possible so that the boat would be useful across many gaming periods

Scoring wise, I think that at about 20cm long it should likely count as a 28mm vehicle, so with the bonus for Reidy's Reef should come to a total of 50 points.

***

Great work Paul - the extra bits really take it to another level.  50 points for you sir!

GregB

Reidy's Reef from PeteF: Master and Commander (35 points)

This mini was a freebie with the Black Powder 2 rules. I didn't think I'd ever have a reason to try and paint this tiny Russell Crowe until Reidy's Reef's nautical theme was announced. I don't do any skirmishy type games from this period. Yet.

The figure came with a wood deck base and was fun to paint. I found a couple of pictures from the film to check the uniform colours. I've no idea if the uniform is historically accurate - it seems to be - I'd not fancy repelling boarders wearing a heavy jacket with all that gold trim.

I've not read any of the books but very much enjoyed the film - Russell Crowe was great as Jack Aubrey. Plus Ships! Guns! Outsmarting Frenchies! 

I'm within sight of visiting every location on Challenge Island if I can get my backside in gear over the final two week stretch. Four to go. One 28mm figure and a new location for 35 points.

Very nice painting Pete. Jack does seem to have made a number of appearances in this Challenge and the last, and I expect we may see him again next time.

TamsinP

PeterA: Royal Marines at Reidy's Reef (64 points)

Progress has been slooow but last week I managed to get a bit more done. Sarah's Balloon has kindly taken me Reidy's Reef, where the challenge is to produce something with a nautical theme. Initially I had no idea of what to do but inspiration struck when flicking through 'Red Star, White Lights', a wargaming scenario booklet set in a Cold War gone hot setting. I had got hold of this as part of a project I started during last year's Challenge, set during a late-Cold War invasion of Norway (inspired by the TV series 'Occupied'). One of the scenarios has a small group of troops from the Royal Marines' Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre attacking a Soviet ammo dump. Perfect - this would be another unit for my Norway project and, being Marines, are suitably nautical for Reidy's Reef. It also allowed me to indulge in some nostalgia watching some old episodes of the BBC documentary 'Behind the Lines' (about a selection course for the M&AW Cadre) on YouTube - what's not to like about seeing big, hairy men running around in sub-zero temperatures in a pair of budgie-smugglers?

Anyway, on with the miniatures. These are all 20mm Liberation Miniatures and are from their range for the Falklands War, so have got kit like M16s, L4A4 LMG (aka Bren gun) and CAR 15 carbines - perfect for late-80s Cold War. They have been painted in a similar fashion to my figures from last year - mostly white snow suits with the odd DPM item for a bit of interest.

First up is the team leader, with obligatory moustache (very authentic - check out Behind the Lines!).

Then there are two 4-man sections:

Finally a couple of shots of the whole unit:

So I am slowly making my way around Challenge Island on Safari, but hopefully I will be able to finish off a few things that will see me tick off a few more locations. Progress so far:

So 8x20mm figures = 32 + another 2 for the prone GPMG gunner, plus the 30 points for the location, makes for a total of 64 points and gets me just over half-way to my target. I don't want to head on to Burch's Bluff just yet, so I think I shall be summoning the good Lady Sarah's aerial services shortly!

***

I don't know about the rest of you, but I could have gone without seeing that first picture or the attached reference to "budgie smugglers".... cringe....  Then again as the guy that keeps posting creepy Kingdom Death monsters, I don't know that I really have any valid right to complain about cringe worthy subject matter....

Onto the actual figures....  The figures themselves look good and have lots of cool little details to add interest.  I like how you have added mixed bits of camo and other colours in here to break up the white and add contrast and interest to what could otherwise be a pretty damn boring colour scheme (straight white).

-ByronM

From Barks: What shall we do with the drunken pirate? (37 points)

This Challenge has been an excellent impetus towards me getting paint on some of those odder single miniatures that have been floating about for years. For example, this Reaper pirate who is covered in little details. I like the little story the miniature tells with the monkey lifting up his eyepatch. You can't quite make out the "RUM" label on the bottle- also, can you find the cork?

I was a bit intimidated by having to sculpt the decking out of green stuff, but it wasn't too hard at all. I used a Renedra 30mm base.

This nicely suits the nautical theme at Reidy's Reef.

28mm pirate + monkey ~7 points
Reidy's Reef 30 points

From DaveD - cracking job there Barks thats a fine job. I can almost hear him singing!

From Brettm- Boats and Canoes Reidy's Reef (112pts)

Onward to the summit!

To go along with last years Blood and plunder I painted. I have a couple ships from their last kickstarter "no peace beyond the line" I finally got painted up.

Not sure if I am going to do sails on the two boats or not. They didn't have much "sails" to them from what I found online. Also putting these together I realized I was missing pieces to the sail/mast set. Firelock games are going to send these to me free of charge!

The canoes I tried some free hand on. I don't have much experience free hand painting. Does show on these as well. Kinda works though since they would be hand painted on by the natives.

I think the suns and rays came out alright. The upside down triangles though not so much. This was due to thinking I could paint them without slowing down as much as I should have. Not sure what these are counted as. I would assume vehicles?? If so this clocks in at 110 points including the Bonus for Reidy's Reef. On my way to the Snow Lords Peak!

Cool, the advantage of boats like these they work in every location (well every one by the sea) over about 5000 years for the canoes and 500 for the dingies. The hand painting has come out well, esp the suns, don't dis native art so a couple extra for the art

From KatrinaS: Octopus for Reidy's Reef (10 Points)

Hello everyone I'm late to the challenge but none the less going to give it my best, I hope to speed up my painting process with whats left of the challenge by catching up with all of you and your fabulous work. 

I honestly decided to start at Reidy's Reef because well my daughter loves picking out the most random minis while at various shops around town so I have a assortment of animals and her most recent pick happened to be a 28 mm (deep cut) Giant Octopus from WizK!ds. 

Never have I ever attempted to do a ocean floor base so here is my best attempt, with the addition of bleached coral.

I really enjoyed this quick warm up and for me I got him completed relatively quick maybe 5 hours over 2 evenings.

Giant Octopus 28mm= 5 pts ?

using as Prize Figure

______________________________

First, Katrina, welcome to the Challenge!

Everyone, this is KatrinaS. She found out about the Challenge through her husband who heard us mentioned in a recent WS&S podcast (thanks Guy and Jasper!). As many of you know, I usually close the gates upon last call in late November, but in the desire to have a wider representation in the Challenge I was happy to accept Katrina's request to join.

Anyway, on to Katrina's entry.

Wow!! This is absolutely beautiful work, Katrina. So much to compliment here. The colour palette, the colour gradations, the highlighting, the base-work... all of them are tremendously well done. I especially like how your ocean floor sets up the soft magenta tones of the octopus. Beautiful.

As to points, I'm going to place this as the mass equivalent as a horse and rider. So, with that 10 points added to the 30 of Reidy's Reef AND the 25 for being a prize figure will give a grand total of 65 points. A nice points haul for your first entry!

Well done Katrina, and again welcome to our merry band of brush jockeys.

-Curt

Adamc: Reidy's Reef Quasi-War French Ships (60 Points)

Black Sails is something of a hot new game I love naval games but had been shying away because I didn't think anyone in my circle would jump into it. then I saw JohnM was building a Spanish fleet So I decided to join in as well. I picked up the "Master and Commander Set and then the Frigates a brigs set so expect to see more.

I decided I would focus on the Quasi-War painting up French and American Ships. The Quasi War is great because the engagement are small and only involved ships of the Frigate class or below.  I started with the French in part because I wanted practise before doing my American ships.  The French colors are brighter but simpler making it a good start.

This is La Vengeance a 40 gun French frigate that fought USS Constellation to a draw on the 1st of February of 1800 The ship was latter captured the British and had an inglorious as HMS Vengeance (Prison ship).

Here we have a French Privateer Brig that I have named Blonde (Fair Lady).  I didn't use any navy's painting scheme here I just made one up.

The brown hull highlighted with a yellow stripe running down above the water line and across the gun ports.

Unfortunately the ship looks becalmed as I didn't billow the sails it was my first effort and it a noticeable if not too major error. 

I magnetised the flags so I can swap them out so these ships can serve the Republic/Napoleon or Bourbons.  I could also press these ships into Royal Navy or American service if I need them I'm quite proud of this solution.  I'm pleased with the result on these the rigging was done by me and that was a pain but worth the effort. The ratlines come with the ships they work perfectly with the brig but need some modification to work on the frigates.

Points we don't have any particular scoring for 1/700 scale ships fortunately I am not the first to submit a black Seas Brig and the 10 points suggested (and awarded to Noel) seems reasonable.  

The Frigate is significantly more complex and larger so maybe 18 points?   I forgot to take a picture of the two ships so I borrowed a picture form JohnM's blog to show the difference in size and complexity. So if the above is accepted it would be 28 points for he ships plus another 30 for the map site so 58 points. 

Traveling around the Island

This is a new project with sails to provide power which are supposed to be grant some sort of bonus at this site. So 58 Point +Sails+New Project ???? I hope I don't look like I'm begging for points. 

This is great Adam, you are certainly on a grand tour of the island. The flag idea is a cool one and you don't need to beg for points, at this rate you will have been to every location and be looking for a new continent to explore. I'm happy with your points calculation and will add another couple for the flags

From StephenS: 'Jack, you have debauched my sloth' - For 'Reidy's Reef' (35 points)

Jack stepped ashore in good order and glanced around with obvious self-satisfaction. Everything looked ship-shape and ready for action. No stranger to island paradises, either as a result of his good friend Stephen Maturin's philosophical inclinations or washed up ashore after another mishap at sea, this place did strike him as slightly odd. There seemed to be an unusually high number of stooped and paint-streaked figures stumbling around, muttering about quotas and a 'Snow Lord'. Still, Jack thought to himself with a chuckle, remembering last night's gun room banter, landing here had been the lesser of two weevils. Glancing up at the peak himself, he was reminded of Nelson's advice to 'never mind maneuvers, go straight at them'. Squaring his shoulders he cried out 'Shake a leg, there is not a moment to be lost!'

For my first Challenge Island offering, I present the definitely-not-copyright-infringing 'Master and Commander' figure from Warlord Games that I believe came with the new edition of their Black Powder Rules. With his long blonde hair and heavy sabre, he makes a pretty good younger and fitter Jack Aubrey - the main character from the fantastic series of novels by Patrick O'Brian. I have been thoroughly enjoying working my way through the series on Audible (currently listening to number 15) and can think of no better naval offering for Reidy's Reef.

Whilst no doubt his vessel was powered by sail, there is not a sail in sight and he is a one-off figure,  not the start of a new project, so no bonus points claimed.

That just leaves a 28 mm figure (5) and the bonus points for making landfall (30).

Now I will need to stick out a feminine thumb and hitch a ride for my next adventure.

Cheers,

Steve

***

Great work on this figure Steve - excellent colours, transitions and fades, it all looks quite smashing, certainly smashing enough to wreck someone on the deadly "Reidy's Reef". 

I certainly appreciate your commitment to ensuring this figure is merely a "one-off" and "not" the start of a new project. That said, if and when a group of 28mm naval infantry appear as part of the next phase of hobby-itis - the "just a small supporting force" phase - we'll be sure to enjoy that too! Well done.

GregB

From SanderS - Covert Op at Reidy's Reef! (50 pts)

Hoi There,

A large cargo ship is adrift somewhere amidst Reidy's Reef and a GI Joe Spec-Ops team is sent in to investigate whether there are ties to the sinister Cobra organisation. 

For Reidy's Reef something suitably nautical was needed and I have several options but I have an unwritten law that each Challenge should at least see one GI Joe related entry from me.

As it happens I had 4 nautical-ish Joes awaiting painting in the cue. All are Crooked Dice figures with head-swaps.

From left to right I present: Topside, Cutter, Lady Jaye and Shipwreck. Both Topside and Cutter are made of CD Commando's with added heads. Topside's (and Shipwrecks) head is from the private project I bought into and am still finishing, Cutters Boston Redsox Cap is from CD itself and Lady Jaye's is from the Warlord Games zombie survivors kit.

The picture above shows Shipwreck and Lady Jaye in diving suits, the orange and black scheme is from the cartoon series. To my knowledge there are no action figures made in this outfit. 

With Cutter and Topside I tried to stick with the colours used on the original figures you can check when following the links above.

Pointswise this should give me 20 for the 28mm figures and another 30 for Reidy's Reef.

***

It is fun to see projects move from one edition of the Challenge to the next, and Sander your GI Joe efforts are no exception. You have done some fine work once again, a fitting addition to the ranks of the Reidy's Reef submissions.  

I'm also impressed with the clear bases (Curt has great skill with these as well).  I will never attempt such a thing, as my bases would simply become glue-coloured, with my fingerprints showing up CSI-style on the clear acrylic...I salute your success.

That's 50 points for you! Great work. COBRA will need to work a little harder now when it comes to nautical mayhem, but I'm sure they are up for it.

GregB