From TamsinP: Operation Rescue Oscar Part 3 (58 points)

 Extract from the Journal of TamsinP: Time Traveler, Society Girl and Adventuress

We exit the rift and find ourselves in the midst of the jungle. I can tell by the fact that there is no longer a roof, that the device has changed our vehicle. I check the instruments; yes, we are in Papua New Guinea in 1943.

"What a lovely stench of rotting vegetation!" I exclaim.

"Indeed - Oscar would really love it" Curt replies "Maybe that's why he kept coming back here?"

"I guess we ought to get out and have a look around."

We debark from the vehicle. Curt has somehow acquired a map and compass; I appear to have acquired a pith helmet. 

"OK, let's head this way - there might be some clues as to where Oscar has been."

We head off down one of the paths, me in the lead. I have a nagging feeling that it might have been a sensible precaution to bring the Lewis guns from the truck, what with the potential for encountering Japanese soldiers and all, but for some reason we have left them behind.

"Ahh! I think we should take this path."

"What? The one I've just walked past?"

"Errmmm, yes. Sorry about that."

"Curt - I think we should get out of here quick-smart!"

"Why on Earth would we want to do that?"

A bullet zips over our heads.

"Ahh, yes, I see what you mean. Time to vamoose!"

We run through the jungle, bullets zipping past us and hearing the shouts of the pursuing Japanese soldiers.

We make it back to the truck, clambering in with no sense of decorum.

"Get us out of here!"

I hit the button and the rift opens, Curt floors the accelerator and we pass through, back to the starship wreckage.

"Why have you brought us back here?"

"Three very good reasons. One - it's a point we know. Two - I already had the time and location settings for it programmed in. Three - we know that it's safe and we'll have plenty of time to plan our next move."

"Yes, those are three very good reasons. Excellent choice."

I check the instruments and notice something interesting.

"Now, that's interesting. There's a new event. Just checking the time and location."

I stare at the result, look at our outfits and have a horrible thought.

"Curt - do you think our outfits look a bit like they're from a Gerry Anderson show?"

"Well, now you mention it, yes they do. Why do you ask?"

"I've got this horrible feeling. I think we might be in a fictional future. If I'm right, then it's possible that this new event could also be a fictional future and I think I have an idea what it might be."

"Really? Well, do go on - where and when is this new event?"

"The location puts it on the outskirts of New York city in 2137."

"You don't mean..."

"Yup, Mega City One is my guess. I'm trying to think which good guys have beards that you might end up as."

"Judges with beards?"

"Well, there have been a few. Let's just hope that it's not Dirty Frank!"

I enter the time and location into the device and press the button. The rift opens and Curt takes the hover van through...

Silliness over for this post. Don't worry, there will be four more posts from me before the Challenge ends, all with silly tales!

Our Intrepid Time Traveling Dog Rescuers

Both figures are from Artizan's "Thrilling Tales" range.

The Model T Ford is from Empress. It arrived just in time for me to assemble, prime, paint and varnish it ready for taking photos today.

The Japanese Pursuers

I had six figures from The Assault Group left over. I didn't paint them with the others as these ones have the earlier pattern helmet which wouldn't have mixed in with the rest.

For Scoring

7 x 28mm foot @ 5 = 35 points

1 x prone 28mm foot @ 2.5 = 2.5 points

1 x 28mm vehicle@ 20 = 20 points

Total = 57.5 points (Nope! rounding up to 58. ed)

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I'm wiggling in my seat as we close in on the conclusion to this epic tale (tail?). Great pulp figures, Ford and Japanese soldiers, Tamsin. I especially like the hair on my avatar - It proves to me that this whole thing truly is a work of fiction. ;P

Lovely work! The next episode is coming up soon - stay tuned!

- Curt

IainW: 28mm Napoleonic Austrian cuirassier regiment no 6 Mack and some other bits and bobs( 220 points)

These are cuirassier regiment no 5 Mack, assembled from the Perry plastic kit, nice to put together and I'm pretty happy with the white and how the unit has come out overall, found an expensive liquatex artists acrylic with masses of pigment in the shed and tried that, when I am priming Austrians next I'll do it in white as I  have followed David's advice and bought some contrast paints, but as I have a ton in black and grey, I'll stick to my new white for a bit!

I like cavalry as I just bash out the horses rapidly, in addition I have  finished three mounted Austrian commanders ,metal figures this time, also from Perry. 

Two six pounders for the Austrians,  Perry metal once more, nice but two of the figures were missing their noses!

Easier as there is less white! I  rather like their business like uniforms and old school bicornes!

Finally four casualty markers for my French infantry, Perry plastic from their heavy cavalry sets. The blue is a bit too light but they'll do!

So to points, 15 x 28mm cavalry is 150, 2 crew served weapons with four crew each is 60 and 4 x prone figures is 10 points, giving me a total of 220 toward my total and the Napoleonic duel, once added to my running total that will take me to my target with, what, at least some hours left?!

All the best Iain 

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Oh, more Napoleonics, what a treat! These Austrians look terrific Iain, even the nose-challenged artillerists are spiffing. I quite like the high-contrast, punchy, stark white against the red of the horse furniture and facings - very sharp. I also admire the hardscrabble groundwork you've used for this collection. It looks like they could be deployed in Northern Italy. Great work!

Thank you for participating again this season, Iain. I always appreciate, as do others, your encouraging comments in so many of the posts. Thanks again.

- Curt

  

From MikeF - World Eaters Assault Squad - 50 points

For my final post I finished a 10 man World Eaters Assault Squad for 30k. I couldn't figure out how to shoe horn this unit into a planet, so they'll have to stand on their own merit. 

I'm fairly happy with my productivity this challenge, considering I had to scale back my hobby time this winter. This unit will put me over 500 points. It's short of my 600 point goal, but not by too much. I'm also happy that I was able to complete some models that have been sitting around for a long time. Always good to chisel away at the pile of shame.

Thanks to Curt and the Minions for their work making this challenge possible and congrats to all the challenge participants on their work. I wasn't able to comment much, but I've been amazed by the assortment of models you've all completed.

See you next year.

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Great looking squad of jetpack fanatics, Mike. I always like seeing these versions of the Heretics before they got all silly and morphed out of recognition. Hmm, maybe we'll get to see them at PrairieCon this May? I hope so. 

Thanks for joining in again this year, Mike. We'll catch up soon I'm sure. 

- Curt

From PeteF: Old School Minifigs at The Center of the Universe (140 points)

 

Challenge XII has taken me in a lot of different directions, distracting from my Quatres Bras project. For people that do not know the story of my 25mm Napoleonic Minifig collection - my Dad painted most of Wellington's Anglo Allied Army on a scale of 25:1 - around 2 or 3 thousand models - not yet counted. My brother and I had a few French units and my brother inherited the army. When he passed away it unexpectedly came to me and I've been adding to the French contingent (as well as starting on the Prussians) ever since. In Challenge XI I finished several units - leaving only a handful to complete to be able to host Quatres Bras.

These are classic Minifigs from the late 1970s and 1980s. I keep an eye on E-Bay and Facebook market place in case anyone is selling them cheap and top up units with orders from Calivers Books. For Quatres Bras all I need to buy are a few French Lancers - other than the Lancers all that is left to paint are three infantry battalions. The end is in sight. Sort of - after Quatres Bras I'll get started on D'Erlons Corps and add to the Imperial Guard!

The old school look of these sculpts speaks to me and reminds me of wargaming in my teens with my brother and best friend. It's always a pleasure to paint (or sometimes repaint) these warriors from a bygone age.

Even more fun will be getting them all together for a bloody big battle in the garage - or the barn.

My nephew is visiting from the UK this weekend. The downside is that this will be my last post of the Challenge and a little shy of my 1,000 point target. The upside is that he's bringing the last third of Wellington's army that has spent the COVID years in shoe boxes waiting for a chance to cross the herring pond.

24 x 25mm figures for 120 points + 20 points for the final challenge = 140 points

+1 Squirrel (Total 8 - with another 6 partially completed squirrel points, which feels like it's in the spirit of squirrel chasing)

+0 Skulz (Total 3 - Underperformed here - I have 2 walls of skulls and a regiment of skellies on the bench. Oh well - there's always Challenge XIII?)

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Ahhh, I was wondering when we'd see your return to this project, Pete. I'm glad that I get to shepherd this post through in our final hours of the Challenge. I've always had a soft spot for the project not only because that the figures, period and painting are wonderful, but also because I appreciate the history and sentiment behind the endeavour as well. I look forward to the day when you can treat us all to photos of the epic game, where all of the collection is arrayed for battle - it will be epic!

You shorted yourself a few points for reaching the Center of the Universe, and in fact, with the little-known 'Minifig Napoleonic Bonus' this post should just put you over your target. Congratulations, sir! :)

Until next year, Mr. Fry. 

- Curt

From SimonM: Xenomorphs (10 points)

For my final post I thought I'd remain on LV426, and submit a few more of the 15mm metal Xenomorphs I own by "Ground Zero Games".The figures are available as code SG15-X01 from their Stargrunt Infantry range, and come in packs of six figures (consisting of two alternative sculpts).

Due to using the models for some homemade rules, the models were super-glued onto either a medium or small-sized plastic “Flames Of War” stand by “Battlefront Miniatures”, and primed using two layers of “Citadel” Abaddon Black. The extra-terrestrials were then dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, before being given a double-helping of “Citadel” Nuln Oil in order to help tone down their highlights and better blend them in.

Hopefully this last AHPC entry will provide:

5 x 15mm Xenomorphs = 10 Points

Total = 10 Points; and take me over my target tally of 500 Points in total.

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It wouldn't be a Challenge close without a study-in-black post by Simon. :) These xenomorphs look suitably slick and nasty, but in the appropriate way for a slick and nasty xenomorph. I also like how their based with the glossy surface accentuating the creatures themselves. Great work Simon, and well done on making your target on your last post. Economical and efficient - bravo.

- Curt