From BruceR: The Silver Bayonet - 28mm Spanish Hunters - Istvann V (55 Points)

This my second Challenge and my first post, I'm excited to once again share in the hobby with all who pick up the gauntlet as it were.  Without saying, thanks to Curt and Sarah, as well as the Minions, making this all possible.  

As a typical gamer I have many projects and interests.  When Joe McCollough hinted at Napoleonic Gothic Horror release, I bit.  Preordered the book and all the forces.  Yes, another lead junkie.  The few gamers I regularly play with do many types of games, and we had great fun with Frostgrave as it took all of us back to our origin with D&D as our first foray into games and allowed small games with 4-6 players.  I love historical and Napoleonic is tops.  I have large forces in 15mm and gradually expanding to 28mm.  So, I felt confident my group would like The Silver Bayonet for multi-player type games.  

Last challenge the "Chamber" had me break out some Alternative Army Flintlouqe figures for one of the rooms.  Well, before I received The Silver Bayonet I went to the lead bin and dug out more Flintlouqe miniatures, which were perfect for this game.  With a games weekend planned with buddies before X-mas and one of our expatriate gamers coming back for the games I decided we needed to give it a try.  So, a few figures painted (ghast) prior to the challenge I made up 6 forces with already painted Napoleonics and new painted Flintlouqe French elves we had a smashing time. (the book arrives 1 week prior, thanks, Lon, Brigade Games).   

The game is great and maybe it is my age, but these figures will be on the board for TSB and Sharp's Practice.  Dual purpose.  Yes, I'm a firmly converted Lardy.

I intend to paint all three forces I have received as they are great figures and wonderful for both TSB and Sharpes Practice.  Woe is me as I see three new forces will be released in January.  More lead for the lead box.

Up first the Spanish Hunters.  These figures are fabulous and I have painted them using the box art for inspiration.  I'm sure this says something about my side of brain thinking, I paint more efficiently with a guide (thus historical preferred) The Hunters are loaded with rosary beads and crosses, giving them the true Spanish guerrilla effect based in religion.  Who could not love a monster hunter in a top hat.  

I freely admit I'm a 3 foot detail painter.  No museum pieces here, I propose they look good on the table (at 3 feet) and I can crank out more even with character pieces.  Hope you enjoy.   

ISTVAAN V: BETRAYAL; HERETICAL/HERETICS; With war raging in Iberia these hunters take missions both, to hunt down all types of horrors loosed upon their lands and any backstabbing French forces they may meet in their travels.  The French coming to their lands initially as friends and ending up betraying all Spanish and overthrowing the God faring royalty.

   Basecoat applied.

Spanish Hunters minus one, who has been tasked with finding alternate transportation. (I'm taking the Snow Lords advice of last year and not posting all my female figures at once and using them to jet around the galaxy)

I present VEGA'S VENGENCE (all names shamelessly

stolen from TV and/or movies)

Admiral Don Diego de la Vega

Veteran Hunter Ricky Ricardo

Pvt Victor Sifuentes

Artillerist William Adama Consuela

Champion of Faith father Pedro Sanchez 

CPL Frederick Lebre Diaz

Guardsman Sapper PVT Danniel Trejo "the AXE"

There is my first submission.   Slowly worked on them using the hour a day method and pecked away at the posting during the holiday.  Two days away to celebrate with family and now poised to hit "Ready" if I read Tamsin's instructions correctly.  I hope to start on the British force today.  Happy Christmas, Stay safe and Healthy and below zero in the Dakotas for the next week so lots of painting might get done.   

7 28mm infantry @5     = 35pts

Istvaan V outer rim        = 20

Total                               = 55pts

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Welcome back Bruce! Fantastic post. It seems that 'Silver Bayonet' is the new shiny this season. Of course, I am more susceptible than most, so I quickly nabbed a Kindle copy, AND ordered a book as well.  Yep. No. Will. Whatsoever.  :) 

I like that your 'team' is made up of Spanish hunters. Very characterful! I especially like Ricky Ricardo (boo!), with his cuirass, blunderbuss and crucifix. In fact, if you look at his pack of tricks you can clearly see that this el luchador is ready for anything!

Terrific work Bruce!

- Curt

From DavidB: Caprica looks back (34points)

"I see what you did there"

Caprica is the perfect place for exploration and this Christmas present for my son. He has a lot of orcs also which would've added to the theme, but my time is limited and these two barely made it in time for Christmas. I chose doom for the theme.

A Beholder is an OG of D&D. A big bloated ball that has inate magical abilities ( sees invisible, levitate, fly,charm, detect magic), has many eyestalks that can cast many spells (fire ball, magic missile, lightning bolt, prismatic spray...) they can speak many languages, are very intelligent, very devious. They can fight with spells, bites, smashing prey with eyestalks or cannon their body into adventurers. They set traps physical and magical and form armies from lesser monsters and creatures. Their only weakness is they are very narcissistic and believe they are the most intelligent, beautiful, and powerful beholder there is. If they ever lost that narcissistic behavior, they could overrun the fantasy realms. As is a chance encounter will end a party and even if a group of adventurers were to prepare for battle with one, the odds are rarely in the party favor. Yet, the immense hoarde of magical and mundane treasure are enough of an enticement to bring on the challengers.

My D&D days just had "regular" beholder, which were quite enough. My old party which is more familiar with THAC0 and 1st and 2nd editions still shudders when we think of beholders. Now they have beholders of many types. Some live in water, some in space, some are mindless zombies that can still cast spells, some are more melee, some more magic...all are dangerous and can easily doom some careless adventures.

These are some wonderful sculpts from wizkids and light years in detail from the old pewter model my party fought. They are also bigger and weigh far less than that one too!

I used contrast paints with some areas of painted detail to push the detail on the bodies. The eyes and mouth being focal points got the most attention and paint layers.

The eye stalks blasting spells are clear resin tinted with contrast paints which run translucent. I should have done a few tests as some are close in hue 

Still, it was fun to play with color on these fellows, and my son is excited to use them.

The smaller green fellow is the wizkids model for a zombie beholder, but painted in fashion to be used as a lesser beholder. He has ice blue eyes rather than"dead" ones. The plug arms are a nice touch and the plugs hold well enough without glue.

I may borrow these for Silver Bayonet as it would be interesting to see how Napoleonic forces would fare against one!

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Ah, nothing says classic D&D monster like a Beholder! And wow, what absolute brutes these are. One of many benefits of casting in plastic or resin is the size that they can produce these beasties. Doing this in white metal would be such a hassle to work with. Another bonus is those nifty effects illustrating the spells coming out of their eye stalks. Very groovy, that.

I'm going to give you a few extra points as these are definitely larger than your standard 28mm fare. 

Wonderful work David and welcome back to the Challenge!

- Curt

BenitoV: Arrival at Klendathu - Canadians at Leopold Canal (35 points)

 

Greetings from planet Earth to all travellers, this is my opening shot in this year's Challenge arriving to Planet Klendathu.

As in previous years, my intention is to complete a core project and get complementary points painting (mainly) leftovers from previous years' Challenges. The core project this year is a WW2 Canadian infantry force for Chain of Command.

 

The idea emerged after watching in November the appalling Netflix film, which bored me to death... but on the positive side sparked my interest in researching the much neglected Scheldt Stuary campaign.  Mike Peterson (aka Marshall Luigi) and James Manto, recommended reading Terrible Victory by Mark Zuehlke and one thing lead to the other.

 

This first entry is the squad's Brent Gun team comprising the Bren Gunner and two privates carrying the spare ammo.

 

The models presented here are a mix of metal Empress Miniatures Late War British range and Warlord's plastic British & Canadian Infantry released in the summer of 2021. Despite both ranges being "28mm" you may notice that Warlord's is thicker and somewhat taller. Empress models also present a more "wintery" uniform and gear, with head and neck wool scarfs.

 

 

 

I know some gamers can be very picky and  be bother by this. The truth is that once on the table and looking at a couple of meters away, any difference gets totally blurred to the eye.

 

 

 

Why Klendathu? Inspiration came from the introductory chapter of Zuehlke's book describing the ill planned and worse executed first attempt to cross the Leopold Canal at the Moerkerke area. The understrength Algonquin regiment chosen for the task, was almost wiped out after the crossing with 8 officers and 145 other ranks becoming casualties (killed, wounded and captured). This clearly aligns with the planet theme: "an invasion gone bad".

If I've done my maths right, this first entry scores 35 points:

 

3 models @5 points =                     15 pt

Klendathu (outer ring) bonus =       20 pt

 Total =                                             35 pt

 

     

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Benito!

I've always enjoyed your well-researched projects, and your brushwork is, as usual, beautifully on-point. I agree with you on not getting too hung-up on details like cold weather gear. As you say, our toy soldiers typically 'live' at an arms length from us, and details such as this simply aren't noticed. 

I have a personal connection with the Algonquin Regiment as that was my great-uncle's unit. The Algonquin's existed under a very ill-favoured star, being also mauled by the 12th SS during the previous year's Falais Campaign (where my relative was killed in action). The Scheldt operations were a continuation of their very bad luck.

I look forward to seeing more of this project over the coming months, Benito. Well done!

- Curt

Prize Sponsors for Challenge XII

 Hi All!

I hope you are all enjoying a nice holiday break. I've managed to rouse myself from my tryptophan induced haze to give you some good news. We have lots prezzies waiting in the wings!  

Below is the list of this year's generous and splendid Challenge Sponsors. If you find yourself having some spare shekels burning a hole in your pocket, please think of visiting these vendors to see if they have something shiny that may interest you. 

Some of these prizes will be given out as our 'Challengers' Choice', 'Judges Choice' and 'Sarah's Choice' awards at the end of the Challenge, but others will be given out via the tempestuous whims and wishes of your Challenge organizer (i.e. me).  Yes, the power I wield is pretty heady stuff - not for the faint of heart, and pretty exhausting actually. In fact, I think I may lie down again for another nap. 

See you in the upcoming entries!

- Curt

BigRedBat

Comic Readers

Deep Cut Studios

Moonstone, from Goblin King Games

Northern Lights Terrain and Gaming Supplies

The War Library

Too Fat Lardies

Warbases

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy

Westfalia Miniatures

From EdwardG - 28mm Celtic druidic chap [Caprica] (25pts)

 Merry Christmas all! 

My first entry for this year is a left over from a previous project. I found him loitering near the bottom of the lead pile and decided it was his time to finally receive some paint! Also he has served as a nice piece of procrastination fodder, as I am ever so slightly daunted by the number of primed 28mm, 15mm, and 6mm figures I have on my painting desk ready to go for the challenge! :D 

I believe the figure is originally a Foundry miniature. From their Celtic druid pack. He is a reasonable sculpt and there is a certain vagabond feel to him with his ripped and ragged clothes. 

I am putting him forward for my first planet fall on Caprica, as I think of him as one of the last of his order. On the run after the Anglesey massacre. Fallen from his previous high station. Doomed just as his culture is doomed to pass thanks to the Romanification that would occur over the next 400yrs. 

He has been painted with a mixture of contrast paints and normal acrylics. I do like the speed from the contrast, but I am still getting used to them. I am finding that a dry brush of white over the grey primer really helps to pull out the details.  

As for the points total, this figure =

5pts for the 28mm minitature

20pts for the planet fall on Caprica

Total = 25pts :)

I hope everyone has a great festive period, and can celebrate as well as possible in the current circumstances. I think, it is time for second lunch...then perhaps a nap ;)

Best,
Ed

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First, welcome back to the Challenge, Ed!

What a terrific mini for Caprica. As you say, he has a wonderful ragged, destitute look about him and I like that you've fit him into the twilight of the druidic period. Makes me think of Cornwell's 'Winter King'. Yes, the Contrast paints are wonderful, but they often need a little teasing out to bring out their best as we can see with your excellent efforts with his cassock. Great job Ed and Merry Christmas!

- Curt

LeeH - People of the Veil - Tuareg Berbers of the Algerian Sahara (64 Points)

My big project for Challenge XII takes me to the inhospitable rocky desert of Southern Algeria in the first few years of the 20th Century. Here the indomitable French Foreign Legion battled with Burbours and Arabs from Morrocco and the Algerian Sahara in the largely lawless region (at that time) known as the Sud-Oranis. So that is the historical context of my new period but there is also the fictional, romantic context displayed in dozens of films from Beau Geste to March or Die. I love these old films and I’m looking forward to learning more of the actual history of the period as the project develops. I fully expect the romantic image and the reality to part ways pretty quickly!

This is my 8th Painting Challenge and I’m usually known for painting 6mm armies. This time, however, I’m shifting up to 15mm and most of the figures I have bought for Challenge XII are by Blue Moon and sold by Old Glory UK. I think I have pretty much cleared them out of their stock having purchased a lot of what I needed at Salute and then put in two subsequent ‘top-up’ orders by mail (the last of which, arrived yesterday). I’m starting with some of the Touregs to ease myself into the project.

I will be using these with The Men Who Would Be King's ruleset and these sword-wielding fellows will be Fierce Tribal Infantry Units of 16 men each. I have yet to find any suitable figures for leaders but that’s the beauty of the challenge, there’s plenty of time to revise that starting target upwards!

I’ll be taking a few days off to recover from what has been a tough week running up to Christmas. Work has gone crazy the last couple of weeks and I have a stinker of a cold (another Christmas Tradition for me) so I’m looking forward to putting my feet up and sleeping off lots of food and wine. I’m off work next week so hopefully, I will get a load more painting done before the New Year arrives. I will refrain from saying "let's hope 2022 is better" because that's pretty much what I said about 2021 last Christmas and I don't want to tempt fate! 

(Scoring: 32x15mm Foot = 64 Points)

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Oooh, these are fabulous, Lee. What a great period to get into. I quite like the look of these Touregs, especially those blue-clad chaps. Very nice indeed. I'm also admiring how your bases blend nicely with your desert mat. Where is that backdrop from?  I'm looking forward to seeing this project develop over the coming months! (I have a bunch of French Foreign Legion, but have never taken the plunge. Maybe your fine efforts here will spark me (takes note on Blue Moon's offerings).)  

Great work, Mr. Hadley! Now, go and shake that cold with some rum and sweets. :)

- Curt

From PeteF: Woodland Indians - First, it's the Mohicans - Istvaan V (60 points)

Istvaan V is Betrayal; Heretical/Heretics or Loyalty/Loyalists and this group of Woodland Indians fits all of these, depending on where you stand. They are Revolutionary War era Native Americans - but could be used for French and Indian War skirmishes too. Most remained loyal to the Crown, likely calculating it was in their interests as they were promised protection of their land and trade.  Most of the Eastern Woodland Indians were forced off their land and resettled in faraway Oklahoma.  Even  the Oneida "Stockbridge Indians" who sided with the revolutionaries had most of their land illegally taken from them by the early twentieth century.

The figures are from Warlord Games "Liberty of Death!" box of plastic AWI goodness - a few years ago I got this box for a steal on EBay (a theme in my over zealous collecting of many more miniatures than I can paint) and then added to the AWI pile with a rash purchase of almost a whole 'nother Liberty or Death from someone on The Miniatures Page. They are the old Wargames Factory sculpts - from the 90s? - not really the best - Wargames Factory was very keen on lots of straps and crinkles (advantage of crinkles - they take a wash). You can have fun with the variety of poses and weapon options.

If they ever see the gaming table it will probably be for Rebels and Patriots - it's been a while since I played any AWI - other periods/shiny objects have supplanted it over the last year or two. They were assembled and primed two (three?) challenges ago and completing them has renewed my interest in a Revolutionary War game.

These were quite challenging to paint - the skin tone took many attempts and is probably still a little too much on the dark side. I've had to buy a nail varnish shaker as many of my paints have settled and separated. My eyesight isn't what it was - even a year ago - so I'll need to up the strength of my readers before Challenge 12 is out!  

The Shelf of Hope

Looking a bit lonely

Eight 28m figures.

8x5= 40 points  + 20 points for my first outer ring planet = 60 points. 

Squirrel Points: 1 (Total: 1)

Skulls: 0 (Total:0)

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Great work Pete, on these, 'the first patriots'. These figures seem to be pretty good models from the somewhat chequered Wargames Factory stable.  I like the poses you've assembled them in, and your excellent paintwork really does them proud.  I also really like your 'Shelf of Hope' - great motivation that. Funny enough, yesterday I cleared off a space on our fireplace mantle for both Sarah and my efforts this year. We'll see how it goes.

So, back to the Minifig Napoleonics, Pete? I'm looking forward to seeing some of those units this season.

Welcome back to the Challenge!

- Curt

From Curt: French during the 1812 Russian Retreat (45 Points)

The Caprica challenge asks us for something that depicts either an ambush or something that is doomed. I think the Great Retreat of 1812 fits the latter category quite well, so I decided to add a few more models to this slowly growing collection.

These are all Perry metals, and in my opinion, some of the best work they've done. These figures skilfully capture the utter desolation, the complete despair of these men trying to fight their way out of frozen Russia. Brrr! Just looking at them makes me want to turn up the heat and put on another pair of socks.

I have to apologize as my iPhone camera struggles with the grey and white of my snow bases. I finally had to shrug and give up.

Hmm, I'm thinking that these figures would be great for a Silver Bayonet scenario - perhaps a story built around ferocious Ithaqua pursuing a group of cut off French and Russian infantry... Excuse me as I dash to get my notepad!

These five poor frozen poilu will give me 25 points, plus another 20 for Caprica's theme while also checking-off one of the twelve project objectives I've set for myself this year.

1. French Indochina
2. 10mm Fantasy
3. Moonstone
4. Malta
5. Italian Wars
6. Sisters of Battle
7. 28mm Napoleonics
8. Spanish Civil War
9. 28mm Modern
10. 20mm WWII
11. Retreat from Moscow
12. Dungeon Crawl

They'll also give me one Squirrel Point and count as 'R' for Retreat in our Alphabet Soup Challenge - 3 letters down, just 23 to go (yiiikes...). Win!

- Curt