From VictorC - 1/16 Scale Knight and some 28mm Figures (70 Points)

I've been practicing my painting skills using oil paints on larger figures. So these are my attempts at painting something larger than 10mm and with a completely new medium.  The Knight was bought some years ago at a Oregon Model Show. I finally got up the nerve to paint it.  I have no idea what the points would be for the knight.

28mm figures I'm test painting.

I received this 28mm figure for attending Historicon this past summer.

A Foundry WSS figure.

A Foundry Renaissance figure 

Another Foundry WSS figure

Perry Miniature AWI figures.

The Knight by Miniart. 1/16 scale. 

Size comparison between the 28mm and 1/16 scale 

This kit was a pain to put together but was a joy to paint.  The decals on the shield and tunic were very brittle and torn repeatedly while trying to apply them.  I would not recommend this kit to anyone.

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Great work on this disparate selection of periods and scales, Victor! 

I think of the selection of 28mm figures, my favourites have to be the AWI infantry, especially that last fellow with his musket tucked under his right arm. The 1:16 scale knight is a tremendous bit of work in its own right. In particular, I think you did an excellent job on the blackened armour and heraldry - wow. I know for myself that I can be a creature of habit, and that it can be quite revealatory when I do manage to try something out of my comfort zone, so good on you for stretching out to experiment with some new scales and paints. 

70 point for your efforts Victor - thanks for sharing these with us. 

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From SanderS - Some more Heroquest stuff (68 points)

Hoi There,

While I know it is Ray who is the Moaning Minion (now there's a nightmare vision: imagine an ethereal version of Ray haunting the ladies loo at your local Wizarding High-school?! Because let's be honest Hogwarts is but a high-school compared to Unseen University I am sure), I realise I am becoming somewhat of a croaker too.

Sadly I have still not managed to really get going on the painting. I have prepared more then enough figures to last me all year but somehow real life keeps throwing spanners in the work. The latest spanner came in the form of a freak wind-storm with gusts of 8 on the scale of Bofort making short work of one of the sheds I've build in my garden.

All the same I have been trying to get some painting done and have managed to finish some more Heroquest related figures and a 1:72 vignette.

First up are some Greenies. These are figures that came with the original Warhammer Quest box. These I will use for the Heroquest games at school and at home by dividing the group.

The next two figures are figures used by two of my pupils. The Female figure is a Blood Elf named Baroness Blackwood used by Vanessa and the other one is Collin's henchman called Cor Netto (Collin's main character is a Chaos Ice Magician called Icicles) they've asked me to paint these figures and here's the result.

Both 4 of the Orc archers as well as the figures mentioned above where used today at the school club as you can see below.

Last up is the vignette I have mentioned. It is made by Hagen Miniatures and depicts Sergeant Charles Ewart of the Scot's Greys capturing his Eagle at Waterloo. It's a nice little vignette and I am so happy to have finished it.

Points wise 11 x 28mm figures amounts to 55 points and 1 foot and 1 mounted 1:72 figure amount to 12 points so that should be 67 points added to my total.

Cheers Sander

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Wow, sorry to hear about your recent wind storm. It's a pity about the shed but it's good that the damage was limited just to your garden.

 I really admire that you've taken the time and effort to paint figures for your students' characters - I think that's just wonderful. Both Baroness Blackwood and Cor Netto are excellent, especially Netto's skin(!) shield and the Baroness' striking red skintone. I'm sure they must be delighted with the figures.

I was just going to ask you about your 1:72 Napoleonic project but then you came in today with this beautiful Waterloo vignette. I didn't know that there were manufacturers that were offering vignettes in this scale, so this is quite educational for me (I sense a few hours of fun online perusals coming on). Your vibrant reds and blues are set off strikingly by the grey charger - excellent work.

I've popped in another point for the French Eagle (it only seems proper) so 68 points to add to your roster's total. Well done Sander! 

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From SidneyR: The Count of Bucquoy's Horse, and field gun, 1688 (98 points)

My sixth submission for the challenge is the second half of the Flemish regiment of Horse of the Count of Bucquoy. They follow hard on the hooves and spurs of the first half of the regiment which I submitted two weeks ago (with apologies for missing a submission last week). They will be joining my Flemish, Spanish and German army from 1688, focused around the fictional town of Laarden in the Spanish Netherlands, but leaning on history for the uniform and flags of the units concerned.

The figures in this submission are all 25mm Wargames Foundry from their Marlburian range, including the horses. They’re painted in Vallejo and the bases are by Warbases (in 3mm laser cut MDF). To save a little time, I added the flag from "Flags of War", and the finial is from Bicorne Miniatures. There’s very little conversion work on these cavalry, although the feathers are almost all added with green-stuff.

I've shown the new cavalry together with their front rank comrades in arms, below, ready to take the field with the Lorrainer and German Horse (up next on the painting table).

The Flemish Horse are joined by a large field artillery piece from the small but potent arsenal of the Citadel of Laarden. The figures were intended to be part of a 'BFG' themed round submission, but sadly real-life intervened and I didn't come close to finishing it in time (well done and huge respect to everyone who entered, and again to the winners!). Yes, fellow Challengers, there is a lesson here. I should make my themed round submissions a bit more personally manageable!!

The figures around the Wargames Foundry cannon are from Dixon's 'Grand Alliance' range, with Wargames Foundry matross helping out. I’ve been experimenting with a slightly lighter tone shade for the ground base (inspired by fellow Challenger, Benito - Anibal Invictus, from his blog). For years, I've simply painted the ground work (a mixture of 'Polyfilla' filler, gravel and sand) with a very flat matt Humbrol Black (33). 

This time, I’ve used Flat matt Humbrol Brown (110) and shaded up from there using Vallejo Beige Brown, Vallejo Khaki and Vallejo Stone Grey. I think this produces a brighter base tone which I think works with the gun carriage and figures. The tufts are from WWS and Warbases, inspired by the great figure bases created by another of our fellow Challengers, ChristopherS (Axebreaker). Huge thanks to both Benito and Christopher for their inspiration and encouragement over the years!

I’ve also tried painting the artillery base in a variety of very Flemish and Spanish browns, beige and buff. The inspiration behind this has been the wonderful book "Painting Wargame Figures" by Javier Gomez ("El Mercenario"). Javier dedicates a chapter in his book to the colour brown. This does not sound exciting, but honestly, it really is! Brown is one of those paint colours which can be really varied, and which is perfect or adding colour and tone in a 17th century army. Javier's painting was very much the inspiration behind what I was trying to do here.  Thanks, Javier!

I like the contrast in the browns and their tones, which I think are brought out by a lighter base, and which I am hoping should look good against the more grey-themed French on the field of battle. I'm hoping to try and replicate this is some future submissions. The main colours used were Vallejo Beige Brown, Flat Brown, Light Brown, Burnt Umber, Chocolate Brown, Khaki, Stone Grey, Orange and Deck Tan - all from around the same place on a colour wheel.

As to points, there are 6 new Flemish Horse (60 points), and the cannon and crew should add another 35 points (5 crew at 5 points, and the gun at 10 points).  

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Another beautiful addition to the Laarden collection, Sidney. I always enjoy your posts as it's clearly evident that each of your units is carefully considered and finely crafted.  The second half of your Flemish horse regiment is a excellent as the first and that artillery piece is wonderful. I think your new basing recipe is a winner, with it setting a stage for the miniatures without being too overpowering. (Note to self: I really need to get a copy of 'El Mercenario's' book.)

With a little extra for the banner, basing and feathers, here are 98 well-earned points for you sir. Thank you for treating us to another colourful chapter in your Laarden adventure Sidney!

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From PaulS: Brimstone showdown (30 Points)

It has been a few weeks since I had a chance to paint anything, thanks to being away with work so much, so it was nice to get back home and have a chance to put paint to model for once. I also need to get back into the swing of things as I appear to have dropped from the top ten to 25th!! I'd considered taking some away with me, but b&b rooms tend not to be the best for setting up a painting table :/

These two are from the Shadows of Brimstone kickstarter that arrived just before I went away and are a lot better than those in the first figures delivered. The robot is called the Guardian and comes from the ancient city on the Targa Plateau. Quite a surprise for the characters you start with, who are cowboys.

 The second figure is a Terralisk, a sand burrowing creature from the Blasted Wastes. As the name implies, the landscape is a barren wasteland world full of all sorts of alien gribblies. There are some smaller ones with legs still sat in the drawer of sprues.

The interesting thing to note is that these are... quite large. The 28mm priest is just for scale, he was completed just before the challenge started.

but these are only classed as XL monsters. There are XXL monsters still to come ;)

Points wise, I'm not sure... probably small vehicles?

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Great to have you back Paul! These two beasties are very imposing and you've done a terrific job on them. I like how you put a bit of rust and corrosion on the robot's carapace-like shoulders suggesting he's been sitting dormant in the sand until recently disturbed. I also think you've done a great effect with the eyes and toungue of the sandworm. I can't imagine facing off against these two with only six-shooters in hand, but I guess that's why they call them heroes in the game!

As you suggest, we'll count these as 28mm vehicles for points. So, 30 more pips for you to start your climb back up the roster. 

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From RayR - This little piggy went to market (27 Points)

I've been wanting to paint these little piggies for a while now, so last week i took the

plunge and put paint to brush. These are a pack from Ristul's Extraordinary Market, sold 

by Bad Squibbo Games in the UK for just £10.50.

The set includes 10 Pigs of various sizes. 1 large, 4 medium & 5 Piglets

Also included are 6 pieces of resin Farmyard terrain. 

I've based all the terrain on various sized MDF bases from Warbases

My fav......rolling in the mud

In reality the pigs are Fantasy based, but I've based the paint scheme on Berkshire pigs. 

one of the oldest breeds in England.

So that's 10 x 25mm Pigs 

& 6 pieces of terrain

I haven't a clue what they're worth.............Curt?

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Berkshire pigs. A very rare breed of pig originating from, (snaps fingers) you guessed it, Berkshire. Wow, you learn something new everyday. Sometimes whether you want to or not. Nice job on these Ray.  Nonetheless, you realize you can only use these for modern games as Wikipedia tells me that the original Berkshire pig breed was sandy brown. So, no using these oinkers for Donnybrook I'm afraid, unless you want to be terribly embarrassed by the snout-counting, porcine experts in the crowd. 

27 points for you Mr. Rousell.

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From DaveX: Frostgrave Cultists Range Support (10 Points)

I have painted up a couple more Frostgrave Cultists, this time they will be providing Ranged support.  I am sticking to using bright contrasting colours with no real uniformity for them.  I assembled these lads ages ago and have used the Painting Challenge as an excuse to finally commit paint to brush.

I now nearly have a warband ready to go.

10 points FTW!

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'I now nearly have a warband ready to go.' Now, that is absolute music to my ears and precisely what the Challenge is all about. Great to hear and wonderful work Dave. I like the colourful approach you've taken for your cultists.  These guys are so often depicted as being a rather dour lot that it's a very refreshing change to see them decked out in such splendorous colour. 

Now, if only someone would speak to their tailor about those conspicuous pointy hats and masks they always seem wear... 

10 points for you sir, lovely work!

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February's First Friday Woo!!

Hello!

January is finally behind us and the work week is drawing to a close, so let's sit back and celebrate with some wonderful eye candy from the Friday Follies. I see from a quick look into the staging area that we already have half a dozen entries waiting to be released upon the unsuspecting world, so let's enjoy the day and get to it shall we.

But before we continue, here is an announcement from the very prolific (and generous) KentG:

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Hi everyone this isn't an entry, it's an invite to pop on over to my Youtube channel for the chance to win my Flames of War entries in this Challenge as pictured below.

About 4 months ago I invited my youtube subscribers to be apart of my channel by donating to me the figures they had in their cupboard that they would never use (not the crappy stuff) and I would paint them up along with my own miniatures and give them away these figures were one of the parcels that turned up in my post box a few weeks later. I have figures From Victor C who is painting in this challenge. so click this link to be apart of my fourth give away https://youtu.be/yXH3cUTNQV8

I am intending on giving away four othe entries that i have submitted including a french line infantry reg and a cav as well as the Grey knight Nemisis and the 40k Libarian and maybe the mexicans when completed.

Here are figures you could win just by subscribing and commenting on the post, it's that easy

Kent

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Wow, what a wonderful give away Kent!

I've watched several of Kent's YouTube videos and they are great fun, giving both an insight to his madness and many insightful tips and tricks to our hobby. So, if you have the time, please drop over and have a look.

And finally, remember that this Saturday at midnight is the deadline for the 'Musician' theme round, so get those entries into me soon so they can be viewed in all their splendour on Sunday.

Curt / Out