From LeeH: A Heavy Metal Christmas (12 Points)

This is my 12th Painting Challenge, and by now I’ve developed a small tradition: I always kick things off with a Christmas-themed figure. Until just a few days before the challenge began, I had no idea what that figure was going to be. Then the lead mountain offered up this little fellow, quickly followed by the Chain Golem, and suddenly a plan appeared.

The axe-wielding dwarf is a Wargames Foundry miniature I picked up several years ago. I’m fairly certain this is the last Christmas figure I own from that set, which means I’ll have to start hunting for something new for next year. The golem, on the other hand, began life as a pre-painted plastic figure from Wizards of the Coast. It was obviously part of a game, but since I bought it as part of a bring-and-buy job lot many years ago, I’ve no idea which one. What I do know is that it took almost as long to hack the golem off its original base as it did to paint it. Free of the base, the Golum is 50mm tall and needed to be stripped back and completely repainted before adding to this larger base to back up the Dwarf.

The Chain Golem isn’t there as muscle or menace; it’s there on probation. According to the dwarf, last Christmas, the golem was left unsupervised near the decorations. Within minutes, it had “helpfully reinforced” the tree, the fireplace, and three chairs using thirty feet of industrial chain and a padlock. Santa needed two reindeer, a hacksaw, and a strongly worded rune to get out of the grotto. This year, the golem has been ordered to accompany the guitar-playing dwarf Santa as part of a festive rehabilitation programme. The dwarf plays heavy metal carols while the golem clinks gently in time and deters autograph hunters.

Looking ahead, I’ve got a couple of new projects lined up. Whether they both get finished will depend entirely on external forces conspiring against me. Work, other commitments, and a few collaborative projects linked to my YouTube channel will all be competing for my time in the early months of the year. Add in a couple of wargames shows, and, ideally, some actual gaming, and the calendar fills up fast. It’s a wonderful hobby. I could give up work tomorrow and still wonder where the time went.

1x28mm Foot = 5 Points

1x40mm Foot = 7 Points

Total = 12 pts

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Lee! I always enjoy your first, Christmas-themed post to kick of the season. I quite like the chain golem and your Pete Townshend Santa is terrific as well. Now you have a quest for a new supply of Christmas themed figures - I look forward to seeing what you come up with. :) Merry Christmas, Lee!

- Curt

From SylvainR: D&D - 28mm NPCs, Bugs and Manticore (45 points)

Here is a new bunch of very colorful miniatures for my Dungeons & Dragons collection.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that I have been running a D&D campaign for my daughter and her friends for about 6 months now. Four weeks ago, my son expressed an interest in playing as well and since sibling rivalry makes it improbable that they would play together, I am running a second campaign for him. Thus, there is a need in my family for new monsters (that last sentence sounds weird).

I decided that a few NPCs were needed, especially since the hero avatars of my underage children visit a lot of taverns where they drink beer and smoke pipes. So an inn keeper was hired. That model was given to me by one of the local gamers, PeterD maybe? She was intended to be a queen, but I cut out the scepter and lowered her social status. It's a metal model, but I have no idea of the maker. The flute player is a Reaper model I found in the huge "JeremyM donation".

I tried to do a stone tile pattern on the base of the inn keeper, but it looks more like a weird carpet pattern of the 70s.

Before JeremyM gave me a pile of cool D&D miniatures, I started to gather cheap options for monsters. My kids had a game with insect models (I forgot the name of the game, so I can't credit the model maker). Since many parts were missing, it ended up in the garbage but I saved the beetles and the caterpillars.

For colors, I found inspiration from photos of actual beetles but also added details like golden trims in order to fit them in a future Egyptian-theme adventure I have in mind.

For the caterpillars, there are so many colorful options in nature, I just picked two that looked cool.

I am sure the heroes will not be pleased when these buggers will entangle them in silk. By the way, I want to thank Anibal Invictus for suggesting in a previous post to paint bases in a lighter color. It does, indeed, help make the models stand out.

The last model is a Manticore that was given to me by my daughter for my birthday last year. It's a Wizards of the Coast model that I finally got to paint.

It looks scary and I hope it will give the heroes a good fight.

The business end of this model is the tail...

I like the spiky bits coming out of the mane.

Points claimed:

If Dallas agrees, I think the Manticore is big enough to qualify as "mounted".

7 x 28mm foot figurines at 5 points each = 35 points

1 x 28mm mounted figurine at 10 points each = 10 points

 Total = 45 points

Thanks for reading!

Those monsters are great, love the giant bugs and the manticore especially. Your innkeeper and flautist are cool and will certainly come in handy. I think it's perfectly appropriate to paint her base like a '70s carpet given that this was the floor covering of choice for the basements in which many of us started our D&D careers. 

45 points pour vous mon ami!

Dallas 

From SylvainR: D&D - 28mm Heroes and Zombies (60 points)

 I really enjoyed painting these D&D miniatures and for the first time in my painting life, I was able to work on two different projects at the same time. Usually, my lizard brain is completely focused on one project that I need to finish before starting the next one. However, my 6mm-WW2 project is so big that it will take me years to complete and my family wants to play D&D NOW. So I needed to get on these heroes and monsters NOW.

So my new "business model" is to leave the D&D figurines on the edge of my painting desk where "I can see them". Then, "naturally", after painting 20 tanks in a row, I feel like "just adding the base color for the skin on that wizard", and then I add "just some blue on the necromancer", and so on. Somehow, the two projects now seem to complement each other in my brain... Or should I consult a doctor?... Please write your diagnostic down in the comment section :-).

Anyway, here is a family picture of my last batch of D&D goodies. All the models were given to me by JeremyM and are soft plastic miniatures from Reaper. By the way, you know how these models can sometimes end up with bent parts. Instead of hot water, I use a heat gun for tile removing, set to shoot upward with a narrow nozzle. I just expose the mini a few seconds in the hot air flow and voilà, it almost instantly becomes soft and can be easily re-shaped.

Let's start with a closer look at the zombies. For their skin color, I came up with an tone that would evoke both normal flesh and the dirt they stand on. In retrospect, I think I should have done more variations on their skins, to represent various stages of decay. I'm sure there will be more zombies to paint in the future, it's such a classic feature of fantasy games.

Next we have a necromancer with a nice collection of skulls that I could sell for a fair price to any Challenger taking part in the Skullz duel. I set up rocks on its base to represent either some kind of mystic circle or some kind of underground magic going on. Next to him is a Valkyrie-like warrior. I opted to paint her armor as leather instead of metal and I really like how this combination of brown and blue turned out.

Here is a monk and a young wizard. The lady is from Wizards-of-the-Coast. The monk's gear was an interesting challenge because I wanted his cloths to be white, but still showing the details. The picture from the back reveals a long mold line going up to the head that I did not notice before.

Points claimed:

12 x 28mm foot figurines at 5 points each = 60 points

Thanks for reading!

"A change is as good as a rest" so they say, Sylvain. I think it's much more normal to have multiple projects on the go, honestly. But I really like your work on these models, the zombies look suitably horrible and disgusting, and I especially like your work on the valkyrie-esque gal. Those Reaper models and their bendy-bendy parts can be tricky - I like your pro tip. 60 points for you!

Dallas

DavidB: D&D Detritus from the desk (points 215)

 

 Radar Love- Golden Earring

I actually put down my brushes a few hours ago, but computers, photos, typing....

The following have resided on my desk for most of the challenge getting licks of paint from the wet pallet between color changes.

First up is a group of fighter types for my son's D&D game. These are NPCs, PCs, or whatever else he has planned as all are sourced by himself.

A group of rogues 

Cleric and Paladin types

Monks....He requested Avatar the Last Airbender colors for them. They were each selected for a elemental power by him based on a show we used to watch together.

From the left- Air, Fire, Earth, and Water.

A couple of mages who seem to have devil blood in them hence the horns and tails.

The whole group together with some showing off the fancy cloaks. They are all base coated in contrast/speed paints and highlighted up in acrylic. 

Some monsters from Reaper Bones for use in Silver Bayonet, Frost Grave, and Star Grave or wherever a toothy monster is needed

I really like the fanged beast on the right as he will definitely be used to challenge samurai

A displacer beast and a beholder

The Beholder is now mine as my son has two I painted last year and was just informed that this new one is now Dad's for payment of painting all the D&D stuff for him this AHPC.

Gotta have creepy mind flayers to challenge a party.

One seems to be an assassin type

My wife found these at the FLGS and added to my pile.

A Saint Bernard cleric, Golden Retriever wizard, Dachshund sorcerer, Blue Heel ranger, Beagle barbarian, .....and the Chihuahua is of course a rogue( I'm certain he is a murder-hobo)

They do have a lot of chacter and my wife intends on using the St Bernard in my son's games 

And she got some felines too. A Dragon Li monk, Ragdoll bard, Persian warlock, Korat paladin, Norwegian Forest druid, and my wife's dream cat... A Main Coon fighter

They are just as cute as the doggos.

43 D&D figures 215 points

1 beholder for 10

225 points for part 1

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Geez, your son is sooo lucky to have a wonderful dad who will paint his minis in such style (and quantity!). Good on you, David. Oh, and I especially like the doggos....

- Curt

From DavidB: Potpourri and Lady Sarah (215 points)

 

Janes Addiction -Mountain Song

My desk this very morning! I have been away from home for a few weeks doing training with Search and Rescue and other Great Lakes first responders. Very fun training even if I was mostly running a TOC, but I did get some opportunities for helicopter rides with partner agencies and Canadians and US Coastguard are always fun men and women to hang out with especially when they are showing off training and their taxpayer funded toys. Being National Guard, missions like these are fun for me as they highlight the 1st Responder mission of the NG. It is a reminder to for the public that men and women in uniform are not just thumping eyeballs and kicking in doors with guns out; we are also there for disasters and emergency providing security and medical services including search and rescue.

But enough waffle of Adrenalin junkie looking for justification of kicking in doors and doing cool guy stuff! :)

These two ladies wrangled the limo from Lady Sarah so I could arrive to the far side of the green zone. Historical Drama.

A reaper miniature in metal not bones of a US Cavalry trooper. He was in my mountain of neglect for awhile, but is now ready to join the rest of my western figures. Since he was solo, I decided to redden his skin and make him a cavalry scout. A misconception is the fate of the native scouts used by the US Army in the Plains Wars. Apache, Navajo, Pawnee, Cheyenne, and many other tribes provided scouts for the US Army. Some Apache scouts were disarmed and sent to the reservation when Geronimo was finally captured, The neglected bit from that action is the fact that those scouts were also Apaches from Geronimo's tribe and Geronimo was himself once a scout in US Army service. Since background investigations were not very good then, I can easily understand how loyalty was in question for those scouts. Racist? yes...but I can also see how the unilateral decision was made. Now you folk know the other side of that tale. The 9th and 10th soldiers also known as the Buffalo Soldiers were used in the later years of the Plains Wars and also in the Spanish-American War. from Cuba to the Philippines the 10th Cavalry had a section of Apache Scouts. Those scouts continued to serve even after Geronimo's capture and were from a different Apache Tribe.

The Native Scouts were officially disbanded in 1947 with 4-5 Apache Scouts still serving at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. They continued to live in retirement at the fort with their families and served as tour guides. By this time many First Nation had already served in many capacities within American armed forces in various ranks and capacities besides the famous Navajo Code Talkers. Many still served as scouts with combat units, but with white counterparts who were also equally qualified for that mission.

Red skin and black hair, hopefully his saber is the heavier civil war saber and not the cheap plains war metal! ;)

Amazingly, I do paint stuff other than 40k, My group mainly plays 40k, so maybe I can entice them with Silver Bayonet. This is the French faction and one of three I purchased at Adepticon last year. I plan on acquiring more and doing custom minis with Victrix and Perry for more options.

These minis were among the ones I painted at the hotel with a wet pallet and limited colors as I couldn't pack all my miniatures and paint in my duffle.

The "civilians"  of the group.

These are the two miniatures that sold me to this set.

Now I can have my own" Brotherhood of the Wolf"

Warlord Games made Mythic America which while excited for it, My enthusiasm has been diminished by the cost of the miniatures and the quality as they are soft on detail and more like Hollywood did the designs. After I decided to ignore the clumpy, lumpy, detail like hands and the Hollywood take of 1st Nation...I had lots of fun with them.

A Chief guarded by Mohawks, but he is more Cheyenne.( just go with it)

A very animated group of elite Mohawks....cuz they have magnificent mohawks of course!

I used black and red inks for warpaint as it lets the skin tones shine through and I feel it looks more natural. Ash, charcoal, and blood were common for warpaint ingredients especially befor European contact. I stippled red, blue, white, and red on pouches in impressionistic bead work. some of their torques have blue and green for turquoise and other semi precious stones and gold was used for copper accents.

The Seneca provide range fire since Mohawks must not know how that works and are smaller because you need a big mohawk to be elite and big! ;)

They look fine from a distance, but they suffered more from soft spots and sculpt issues

Proportions are all over the place, but then I admit I like the difference in size like real people and the do look very good when bulking out my forces of other First Nation warriors. Not too terrible, but should definitely be better for the price paid. There are big native monsters and spirits in the range but are resin and very expensive. I wouldn't mind getting them, but I fear the sculpts may not be worth the price.

A wizkids owlbear! This is fun as it is the first owlbear I've ever seen in miniature and very cheap too!

I went brown bear with snowy owl, but decided a fantasy critter could have blue for sheer rule of cool.

He will be off to my son's D&D collection, but I think he may be a fun encounter for Silver Bayonet!

A very old samurai from games workshop and the venerable Talisman Game. 

I never did get my own copy of the game, but had lots of fun with it. Now I have an excuse to get a samurai game though!

....and he has a skull too....didn't even notice till I began to paint his helmet!

Now off to Averland of the Old World and some Halberdiers from Blackfire Pass

Two metal minis and three plastic(one a conversion from the empire artillery crew)

The two metal minis will be official Blackfire Pass veterans while the other three will be a fighter group of hopefuls.

Some more fighters with swords and a few pistols

Black and Yellow for Averland, but most are poor so lots of tans and browns till they save up for new duds.

My Averland warband is going to be gun heavy including these two averland gunners.

The designated leader and champion models.

They have been boxed up for such a long time that I can no longer remember the roster build other than blackpowder and halberds.

I do remember that they would also serve as milita to guard my big blocks of pike or missle troops though!

So these all have been bounced around in my rucksack while I was away, They survived rough handling well and were kept safe in a small foam case in traveling with minimal damage except for paint rub on the big purple feathers of the Averland troops which was easily fixed.

1 Apache Scout- 5 points plus 20 for historical drama

8 Napoleonics for 40 points and 1 skull

13 first nation troops - 65 points

1 owlbear- 5 points

1 samurai- 5 points and 1 skull

14 Mordenheim- 70 points and 33 skulls

total in post-1

210 points 

35 skulls

I am also using the Vivandierrie and medicine woman for a future ride in Lady Sarah's limo

Friday Minion: Hi again David, I've missed Minioning your grab-bag of projects and impressive output. Great to hear about your training, and thank you for your service in the NG. And this is an ace collection to start us off this Friday, the Silver Bayonet stuff is fantastic, and nice to see some of the Mythic Americas stuff and read your feedback on the quality. And we have quite a bit of purple featuring again, hurrah! 

My favourite of the lot is that very fierce Owlbear though, what a top model. I'll score that as a 28mm cavalry figure, and add the bonus for your Limo ride now, giving you a total of 215 Points for this post. 

I doubt the Lady Sarah is big on pot pourri, though.