From MartinC - More Russians and some Hammerhead figs (221 points)

Steady week's painting interrupted by the Hammerhead show at the weekend (Show report here)  which was fantastic.

First up some more Russian Civil War types. These are from the Old Glory WW1 range and are OK. The poses are great but the casting is only OK(ish). I need a few more cavalry types but then these are done (ish)

The standard bearer is from ebay and is an old Salute freebie. Little diminutive but fairly nice fig

Foundry were having a sale of casting room figures (1/2 price) (very heavy use of brackets this post). I bought some Nubians and they are really nice figures. I used bits of stick for the spears and it didn't work brilliantly - they look great but break too easily. Not bad for a days painting

So we have 44 x 28mm infantry - 220pts plus any flag loveliness

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Wonderful entry Martin. I think these Russians look pretty good considering the difficulties you mentioned with the castings. Sometimes though these things don't show too bad when they are presented as a whole unit. Thankfully its not a common problem.

The Nubians look good as well, and who doesn't love a bargain! I'm adding a point for the flag so all in all a very nice entry. 

Lee

From RayR - HYW Cheshire Archers (80 points)

Another entry into the Challenge from a different period, I really should have entered the Squirrel Dual!!!

These 16 figures from Wargames Foundry have already flown the nest to their new home next door at Casa Postie!

They are HYW archers painted up in the livery of the men of Cheshire. 

They were a joy to paint to be honest, I wish all figures were this easy!! These 16 figures should earn me 80 points to add to my total. Getting worried about that dodgy Irishman Fran, he's gaining fast!!!

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Excellent stuff mate, these look great. I love the colour scheme on these as well, that green and white works really well.  There's a nice variation in heads and poses on these figures, which no doubt made these fun to paint. 

Lee

From IannickM - Oldhammer Skeleton Regiment (83 points)

Oh, you miserable bags of bones! Pick yourselves up and sally forth!

And we start March with a regiment of classic skeletons.

So this regiment was built using mostly plastic figures from the great Skeleton Horde boxset of the last 80s. They are, still today, my favourite plastic skeletons, possibly my favourite rank and file skeletons period. I got lucky enough to score one on Ebay for a very reasonable price.

It's a fantastic set that allows lots of customization, and I really like the choices of weapons offered. I'm also a big fan of the realistic proportions of the weapons. Something GW did not carry over for their later 6th edition plastic skeletons (which are still great but). There could be a bit more details on the heads, and maybe another head variation or two, but those are minor details. I enjoyed every minute of assembling these guys, and went back in time for an afternoon, as I hadn't assembled these guys since the very early 90s.

The command is a set of metal figures from the 80s range, classic figures which haven't aged one bit in over 30 years. The hero I used is actually a mundane armoured skeleton, but I'm still waiting for a undead hero from the UK post so had to improvise! In the end I'm super happy, and the figure works very well with the unit.

It's a Challenge of first for me; first time I paint ghosts, first time I paint skeletons since the 80s! I did a few tests and I'm happy with my bone recipe, although I might try to dirty it up just a little next time. I've always preferred ivory/beige skeletons to white ones, just a matter of taste. It was also my first time trying to go with a very rusted look for the weapons as well as the hero armour. I'll certainly refine a bit my technique with experience, but once again I'm mostly satisfied. Lots of new techniques to try, painting undead is fun!

My first try at really rusty weapons

I went with a very classic dark red and grey for the colour scheme, one that I intend to repeat throughout the army. I thought about going with a more vibrant heraldry, to represent the forces of their previous master, but I really wanted to go "classic 80s skeletons". 

Right, sooo...

16 28mm Skeletons : 80pts

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Oh my, I love these, probably influenced by the fact I had some of these back in the day. Totally agree these were probably some of the best plastic skeletons in terms of how they look and their versatility of poses etc. I got through several boxes of these when I built myself a (sadly long gone) Undead army back in the early 90's. I say long gone but a handful of figures remain, including the same standard bearer you have here! 

I'm awarding an extra point for the Standard and another couple of totally unofficial 'nostalgia' points! 

Lee

From PhilH: Another Trio of Blood Bowl Skaven (23 points)

A cheeky little Tuesday post to keep those posts ticking over: three more players for my Skaven Blood Bowl team. This time, two throwers and one linerat. 

I mentioned in my first entry from this team that I'd converted quite a few of the team, and I wasn't really sold on the throwers in the box: holding the ball in their tails seemed like a dumb option when you have perfectly good hands with opposable thumbs.

GW's studio model, to illustrate the tail-throw technique

So you have a little head-swap, tail swap and the throwers' arms being reworked using a couple of the spare balls from the box.

Once again, they need some weathering, decals and greenery on their bases, to follow when the team is done.

I also finished off the other two markers that come in the set, used to track turns and team rerolls. They're double-sided, so feel like 2 points a piece?

Six players, that's half a team done!

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Awesome work mate, these are excellent vermin! I love the fact that you have taken these already excellent sculpts and added your own touch by converting them. Totally agree though, why carry the ball in the tail when you have perfectly good hands. I also have to say I think the colour scheme you have chosen fits them so well. All in all a very nice entry. I think this team will look brilliant when complete. 

So 5 points each, plus one each for conversion work and an extra point for the quality of the trio, plus 2 points each for the tokens brings this lot to 23 points. Nicely done sir!

Lee

From TamsinP - More 15mm WW2 Soviets (298 points)

I did say last week that I'd be finishing off my 15mm WW2 Soviets for today, and here they are.


Senior Leader, Commissar, Medic and LMG Team

Spare Junior Leaders

In case you are wondering, for Chain of Command I will need some spare junior leader figures for attachment to support weapon teams.


Two Scout Squads

At some point I will buy some proper scouts in the camo smock and trousers, but these will do for now.


Tank Rider Platoon

AT Rifle Teams

For some reason only the prone gunners had loader figures included; luckily I had some spare infantry figures to accompany the walking gunners.


Maxim MMG Teams

50mm Mortar Teams

82mm Mortar Teams

120mm Mortar Teams

Once again, all the figures are 15mm from Plastic Soldier Company.

For Scoring

125 x 15mm foot @ 2 = 250 points
16 x small crew served weapons @ 2* = 32 points
Total = 282 points

* They are small, so I am claiming points as if they were 15mm foot.

I should have another entry later today, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Lovely work as always Tamsin, I'm really enjoying your Soviet stuff. I've always enjoyed reading about the Russian Tank riders. Some of the books I have read seem divided on whether it was a tactical decision to put men on the tanks or just a natural development as infantry wanted a ride (with the added benefit of warmth from the engine deck). Whatever the reason, it was an inspired move, especially when the front was constantly moving.

I'm going to be pedantic with the points, and score some of your crew served weapons at full points. Once again its a precedent I have set with other peoples entries earlier in the challenge and I'm trying to be consistent. So for the small Mortars I agree I'll score them at half marks but for the carriage mounted Maxims and the 120mm mortars I'm awarding 4 points each. So this lot comes in at 298 Points. 

Lee

From AlexS - "Call me Snake" and For King and Parliament (376 Points)

Hello to all! My name is Alex and I from Russia. Today some more miniatures. First, a very important miniature for my world of the Wild West. In the story, one of the characters turns out to be the incarnation of Yig, the ancient of Lovecraft's universe. And I found and painted a miniature for him. It turned out to be alive and my wife was frightened at first, thinking that I had brought a live snake home.

Secondly, I love this event, because it is very motivating to work. In the fall I tried to paint the mercenaries for the army of the Moscow Tsar for the 17th century. But I did not succeed, and these miniatures could stand long on the shelf. But thanks to the event, depending on how other people work, I was inspired and began to repaint them. And this is the result of the work - two battles and a squadron of cavalry, and generals.

I have three more battles and a gun on the shelf. I hope there is enough inspiration to paint them. Help me with your work!

points:

28mm 1 monster = 10 points
28mm 15 cav x 10 = 150 points
28mm 42 inf x 5 = 210 points
28mm 1wounded x 2,5 = 2,5 points

total 372,5

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Fantastic entry mate, I really love that snake and the story about your wife thinking it was real. I had a similar experience back before I got married, probably 30 years ago. I painted a 'Giant Spider' for an Undead Army and left it on my desk while I worked on its rider. It was pretty much life size for a Tarantula and my poor mother nearly had a heart attack when she discovered it while cleaning my room! 

I'm scoring the wounded casualty as a full figure (I've done that for other peoples entries and want to be consistent). I'm also adding a point for the snake cos it looks so good, so your total for this lot is 376 points.

Lee

Team Tuesday opens the Bomb Bay Doors

Phew! The end is almost in sight. It has been a very busy couple of weeks here in the bunker and I've managed to get a lot done. All this despite competing pressures on my time and waning energy levels. But the Challenge is not over yet and I'm determined to gown down fighting. Admittedly the 'Lead Mountain' is more of a hillock right now, but plans are already afoot to remedy that! I know that Team Tuesday have been equally busy and they have once again taken my breath away both with the quality of their entries and the sheer volume of work being completed. The Airstrike has been called in, there are some points bombs ahead!!

The B52's are loaded and the bomb bay doors are open, so what do we have to drop on you today you lucky people? Alex is kicking us off as usual with a very realistic Snake amongst other things; Tamsin treats us to more 15mm Soviets; Phil has some truly amazing Skaven for Blood Bowl; Ian hits the nostalgia button with some 1980's plastic skeletons; Ray unleashes a unit of Archers for the Hundred Years War; Martin unveils some uncivil Russians and bargain basement Nubians; Sander has some more Necromunda figures for us; and Fran drops his load on us! 

Mind blown, bombs dropped....but there is always time for a second wave, so keep those entries coming folks. I'll be here all day sitting next to the red phone.