MikeW: Warhammer 40K Ork WarBoss x 2, Sci-Fi (30 Points)

So here it is AHPC XIII, I always struggle to get figures painted in the lead up to Xmas and the Xmas / New Year period its-self, there are just too many other things going on at the same time!

This year one of my mini-projects is to raise a Warhammer 40K Ork Army, I have been toying wit this for ages, collecting the figures and dusting off the few I had in the Garage and loft. Now I did have an Ork Army until about 20 years ago, mostly metal ones and a few of the new fangled plastics as they began to be released. These were sublimated by the Gorka Morka range that was released by Games Workshop around that time.

Two completed Ork Warbosses

This venerable army was sold (as was an Ultramarines army) as I refocused on other more historical periods at the time. However the 40K Orks were fun to paint and to play.

This time around most of the figures are plastics, with a few metals, all found on eBay in various 'job lots' that I have gradually collected. I like getting these types of figures from eBay as they are relatively cheap, often come pre undercoated and offer a few modelling challenges to fix and repair other people's work in building them. I have restrained from starting to paint these figures as I wanted the who army to have the same look and feel and I have been planning the paint scheme and the basic composition of the Army.

Now I have never followed the GW Codexes slavishly, I prefer to use them as a base for my own campaign worlds, as such and because I'm, also a fan of the concept of the 'Red Gobbo' - a rebellious Goblin that leads a revolt against his Ork overlords. I have taken this a step further and the premise of this army is that the sneaky, sly Goblins are in charge of the brute force Orks.

The symbol of the Red Gobbo gangs is the 'Red Star' so I wanted to get that worked into look and feel of the army as well. So these guys will be predominantly red, because everyone knows that Red Orks go faster! Something to do with the science of Red Shift - I believe! and they will be a mish mash of Red Sunz and Red Gobbo Iconography.

The business end of this guy,
Steel claws and missile enhanced heavy blaster

That's the idea, now the execution... 

Most of this army will be on foot, so I'm going to paint them in batches of 10-12 figures, with one or more of these batches on the go at once, I'm pretty sure I can get most of these guys done in between other work that I'm doing.

And his 'softer' side, showing steel jaws and the edging
I tried to get on the armour plates

Because most Warhammer figures you get from eBay are undercoated Black, I have gone with this, but then applied a grey, then white primer form rattle cans to give some quick highlighting to the models.

So next step is to block in the skin tine - Army Painter Goblin Green, then do all the metal work - Vallejo Oily Steel. Clothing is then added in what will be a generally limited palette of dark blue, dark brown and burgundy red with a few getting other colours for variety.

All leatherwork is painted grey and when dry I use a watered down artist's Paynes Grey ink which in my opinion gives a nice seemingly black finish, with shading coming through from the grey undercoat.

The business end of the other guy, with circular saw

Next step is to upgrade the armour to being Red - the concept being that this plate armour has been stripped from vehicles, spacecraft or similar or simply painted red. The aim is to make the armour 'pop' but also to have the oily steel showing at the edges and where damage and wear & tear has occurred.

Guns will be predominantly oily steel but taking a 'steam punk' ethic, delicate or important bits will be brass with other bits red. I will try and keep this approach consistent across all figures in the army.

As a challenge to myself, I have tried to give these guys eyes, lips and nails, to add extra detail to these mouldings.

I went back and fix all the painting mistakes that I have made!

Back view, with trophies of War on Display,
my additions to an eBAY figure that had a big hole in its back!

Next my favourite bit, I add the washes - Army Painter Green on all flesh areas, Strong Brown on all Red areas and Dark wash on weapons and everything else. Once dried I go back and highlight skin and armour as required.

Figures were then given a coat of Matt Varnish and when dried I add on the black & white chequered pattern, I paint a white stripe and when dry use a black permeant marker (v fine nib) to add in the black squares.

Another view, of the completed figure

Bases were then completed with fine sand and an electrostatic grass. All in all I'm pretty pleased with the outcome and I'm already working om the rest of the batch for my first Squirrel point!

The rest of the batch awaiting completion when
I can grab time in the next few days

Now for this submission I picked out two guys from my first Ork Batch, just to get points on the scoreboard, I'll complete the other 10 in days to come, below is my calculation on points

POINTS

2 x 28mm Orks  @ 5pts each        10 Points

Sci-Fi Studio Bonus                       20 Points

TOTAL                                            30 Points

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This is great stuff, Mike! I really enjoyed reading your history with the figures and the methodology you're using for your work.  These projects seem to follow a common refrain, where many of us have sold, sometimes regrettably, armies from our salad days to which we are now painstakingly rebuilding, with figures from far and wide. 

Your figure modifications on these two Warbosses are inspired and the brushwork on-point (I think I need to pick up some of that Oily Steel). Well done! I look forward to seeing this force slowly come into being over the next few months. Waagh!

- Curt

From DavidB: Ray's Favourite Thing - Christmas Nutcracker (25 Points)

Behold the chaotic wonder of the man-cave....er boy-cave!

As you may notice, I was successful in cleaning it before the challenge ball dropped. Obviously!

I almost finished the white scar marines left over from last year, but they got swarmed by choice bits from the mountain of neglect.

I did get a lot of stuff primed, but distractions of forgotten shiny bits left little rhyme and reason to the batches prepped.

I will attempt to get this sorted and stowed before Christmas, as I really need to clear counters, tables and shelves to contain anything I get completed...and I will need space for photography.

I can also use some room to walk too!

I have just today finished my work week till Sunday. I work 12 hour shifts and was planning to dive into a squad of sci-fi infantry. My wife surprised me with a DIY nutcracker and a challenge of her own.

I have a sizable contingent of nutcrackers of many sizes, colors, styles, and even providence. This is my first one I had to paint myself. 

After five hours of brushwork, this is the result. The style of his uniform is in the colors of General "mad" Anthony Wayne's American Legion. We visited the battlefield of Fallen Timbers in Toledo, Ohio this past Fall. My wife was almost as disappointed as I that there were no soldiers or kits in Toledo that could serve as a souvenir of the trip.

The hat is wrong of course as the had campaign hats with black plumes. The Legion did not have the epaulettes either. Dark blue coats with red cuffs, turn-backs, and collars. The legion also had dark blue trousers and black boots with dark gray gaiters.

I added some painter flair to spruce him up and did a lot of wet on wet blending. 

My wife added a further challenge of limiting my choices. I was given one simple dollar brush and her collection of craft paints. The nutcracker is a soft wood and it really drank up the cheaper pigment paint...kinda glad I wasn't allowed to use my more expensive paints!

I wasn't too certain on my success of her challenge until I got to place him by his fellows. He does fit in well with this small group. Since I couldn't use detail brushes and the craft paint is chalky, I went impressionist painter with him and used purple to shade his blues and oranges and yellows to tint the reds. The red paint was really more pink than red, so it really needed the help to get there.

I rather like the effect although I was unsure how it was going to turn out till the end.

On my neglected blog-spot I shared a post on my nutcracker collection... RayR finds them creepy so be sure to direct him to this post! ;)

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Haha! I love the chaos that is your man-cave, David! I also quite enjoy that your anticipated opening gambit were sidelined with a home-assigned challenge. Bravo! You took it up with aplomb! I must say, your General Wayne looks quite spiffing, and your artistic flourishes with his uniform have been tastefully executed. I know he will take a place of honour amongst your family's collection. It is obvious that in the Bromley household no nut shall go uncracked! :)

Let's score him as two 54mm foot figures with a few bonus points for the holiday season.

Well done David! Now, let's crack-on, eh? 

*ahem*

- Curt

From BruceR: 28mm Foundry Pirates from the - World Cinema (45 pts)

I didn't have to be at work until lunch so a little coffee and to the paint bench.  

I have a few pirates (17) for a project and decided to paint just 5 instead of my usual 8-10.  I was able to finish them in just over 2 hours.  So perfect, and off to work.  A friend was trying contrasts and I followed along with some samples.  I'm in the camp of another tool in the drawer.  For putting out miniatures quickly and for the table not the cabinet, contrast has its place.  With the "slappy/chappy"??? method (white dry brush to old timers like me) they can be a bit grainy yet turn out okay in my book.  I do highlight flesh and white. 

The miniatures are Wargames Foundry, which I think are brilliant.  So much that I finished 14 prior to the Challenge as I could not hold back.  The first were more characterful and the remainder I have left are more crew like.  All are great.  The mission is to put on a Sharp Practice 2 game at Adepticon in March.  

So, here is my first submission in the Challenge Studios XIII - World Cinema.  As my pirates hale from the Carribean they are a direct contrast to my current subzero location of upper USA.  As I type it is m-m-m-minus 20 degrees (without wind chill), I'm sure much warmer in the islands, mon!

Enjoy the journey...............

Arrr the points:

5 28mm @ 5pts =   25

World Cinema =     20

Total                =      45

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Yep, I hear you. It's a bit brisk up here too. A good night for some 'augmented' eggnog and a warm dog at your feet.

Lovely brushwork Bruce! I love these Foundry sculpts as well - super characterful, and you've done them proud. I really like the punchy colours with the blocked-in style, and your basework is really on-point as well.  As you say, Contrast Paints, and their ilk, can be terrific for banging out rank and file models, but they can also create awesome effects with glazes, blending and judicious highlighting. Another great tool for the painter's toolbox. Well done!

- Curt

From StuartL: Under Construction (120 Points)

Hello all,

It is good to be back in the Challenge, and this year I am hitting the ground running. As this is my first year as a minion, I want to get as much done as possible before I have to start spending my brush time checking posts. For me, the challenge starts at 3pm and luckily I had the afternoon off, so I was able to jump straight in with the painting and get to work. I had also made sure that dinner was ready to go (just a quick zap in the microwave), so when my better half got home I didn't need to take an extended break from the workbench. 

I opted for the Under Construction part of the studios as all of the minis I painted up today seem to fit the bill quite nicely.

First up, ten Anglo-Saxons from Gripping Beast miniatures.

I bought a huge pile of GB plastics way back in 2017 as part of a group project to recreate the battles of 1066, starting with The Battle of Fulford. We managed to get that battle played, but due to the easily distracted nature of wargamers that was it. Members of the project then moved to other countries, or downsized their collections, leaving me the only person in my local club still interested. So I have been slowly plugging away at a vast stash of figures and the above are part of that ongoing war of attrition.

Which leads me to these five Vikings, also from Gripping Beast. Originally I was only going to paint up the Saxon force for 1066 (plus maybe a few dozen Normans), but the player doing the bulk of the Vikings sailed off for distant shores, rather fitting I suppose. So, nothing else for me to do but collect them too. 

Since most dark age/early medieval figures tend to look somewhat similar, I try to make my two forces easy to tell apart. The Saxons tend to be in very simple colours, with a cross or quartered pattern on their shields. For the Vikings, I go for brighter clothing and a half patterned shield. This should make gameplay a bit less confusing when models get swallowed up in a melee. Eventually I will have enough minis for the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and these five will help me reach that goal.

My final set of minis for this post are five Northstar/Oathmark Dwarves. In the last challenge I painted up what I thought was all of the minis for my Dwarf army. (HERE) However, as it transpired, I had actually missed a bunch. When AHPC 12 was announced, I considered joining the Squirrel duel and so set 5 minis to one side for that. When I came to paint up the bulk of my army, I forgot to include the Squirrel group. These guys have been sat waiting to join their brethren all year.

 

So, with those out of the way, my Dwarf army is finally complete. Until I buy more minis that is.

So, that should be 10 Anglo-Saxons, 5 Vikings and 5 dwarves for a total of 20x 28mm minis. That plus the location bonus should bring me to 120 points as my opening score. 

These 3 entries are all Squirrel points as well, giving me a nice hat-trick on my first post. Yay.

My Side Duels:

Squirrels - 3

Anglo-Saxons

Vikings

Dwarves

Skullz - 0

Turnips - 0

So, now to wait for a minion to come along and confirm things.

Wow, you call that an entry? Those shields look a bit rushed, and the rims on the dwarves' shields don't match the ones you did last year. You didn't even bother to paint the eyes. Go back and try again.

-Stuart

Wait, why am I being so mean?

You are your own worst critic. Be thankful you are getting any points at all.

Um.... I don't think I can actually minion myself.

Why not, Curt does it?

Yeah, but he's the Snow Lord and is all-powerful and all-knowing. Maybe I should wait for him or one of the more experienced minions to come along.

Oh, I see how it is. Fine, we'll wait for someone else then!

Fine!

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Stuart, buddy, you're talking to yourself. You need to stop drinking your paint water and take a bit of a break. Take if from the 'all-powerful, all-knowing Snow Lord' (who is both a bit manic, and has a great affinity for paint water). :)

Seriously, great work Stuart! As we're not even a full day into the Challenge I think this counts as our first Paint Bomb. Well done! Your Anglo Saxons and Vikings look right proper for a Dark Age dust-up, but I have to say my favourites here are your doughty Dwarves, especially their spiffing shields. Well done! 

- Curt

From MartinC: 02 Hundred Hours German Sentries Black and White (70 points)

And I'm off on another painting frenzy. Shoulder better, fingers covered in paint. 02hundred is a new game to be played under night conditions. We are playing on 28th and so I need to paint the figures today and tomorrow before I go away for Christmas. As it is entirely night time scenarios I was always going to paint them in grey scale. The figures are from Wargames Foundry's very small but excellent WW2 range

They have come out a little darker than I wanted. The only colour are cap badges and the torch

and the dog's tongue

Love the dog

Officers look good

Now I have to paint the commandos

Scores on the doors

10x28mm infantry = 50 points

Black and white bonus = 20points

total = 70pts

that will do for now. 

Have a good Christmas one and all

Martin

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That is a great take on greyscale, Martin, and, like you, I particularly like the dog. I agree, the Foundry WWII range (Perry sculpts) really is terrific, more than holding its own against newer ranges. I saw '02 Hundred Hours' when were in Arnhem this autumn, and I'm kicking myself for not picking it up as it looks like good fun. Maybe I'll snag the digital version to see what it's like. I look forward to seeing your upcoming commandos, but until then have a great Christmas Martin!

From ByronM: 1980's - Boba Fett (25 points)

Well, another challenge is underway, and as luck would have it I was off today due to working an extra day last week.  That gave me time to get several projects underway, but one key question bugged me, what to start with....

While looking at the map the last few days I realized that I pretty easily had something for pretty much every room without even hunting too hard.  One of the only rooms I was not sure what to do with was the 1980's room, not having anything that I would view as quintessential 80's, then I happened across some Star Wars Legion figures and Boba Fett and realized that the best Star Wars movie came out then, exactly 1980 in fact, The Empire Strikes back.  So this entry will count as my first foray into the AHPC Studios as well as my first of the challenge.

Time to get painting...

Painting Boba Fett also got a figure that was sitting here primed on a painting stick for the last 2 challenges done and out of the way.  He was simply primed black and left for the last 2 years so I started by applying a zenithal highlight to the base coat and then started blocking in the colours.

I tried to stick to the original colours as much as I could find and remember.  I am sure I got a few things wrong, but overall I am pretty happy with the look of this guy. He is a bit rough, but I tried to leave him a little rough to get the battle worn look he has in the movies.  Not sure if it worked, but he looks OK next to the rest of my Star Wars Legion figures, so that is good enough for me.

Kaiser however, does not look impressed....  Or maybe he is just curious about what all this painting is for.

Well, back to the painting table, I have many many 10mm figures that have had washes slapped onto them sitting drying and waiting to get some more paint on them....

Have fun everyone!

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Welcome back to the Challenge Byron! I agree with you, Empire is the best of the batch (with Rogue One coming a close second) and a perfect choice for the 80s theme.Your Bobba Fett looks brilliant! I really like the punchy colours, especially the yellow and green. A great mini!

Now, give Kaiser a good scratch behind the ears, have a sip of eggnog, and get on with your next mini! :)

- Curt

From LeeH - "HO-HO-HO" [5 pts]

Well, that nine months shot past in a blur and here we are again for Challenge XIII. As is my tradition I am kicking off my painting campaign with an alternative Santa...or in this case Hogfather. Terry Pratchett's Discworld is full of memorable characters but none made me laugh as much as Death. And when Death stepped in and donned the outfit of the Hogfather some of the best humor ensued. So when I saw this model I had to buy it and put it aside for the Painting Challenge. 

“IT'S THE EXPRESSION ON THEIR LITTLE FACES I LIKE." said the Hogfather.

"You mean sort of fear and awe and not knowing whether to laugh, cry or wet their pants?"

"YES. NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL BELIEF.”

― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

I have a few days off work before the holiday and that means lots of painting... Actually, it means multiple bursts of activity in the hobby room in between other seasonal-related chores. Keep the wife happy and everything else falls into place! I was up early today and got cracking on this model but I have also been making up the first set of flags for my 6mm Wars of the Roses project. With a bit of luck, a following wind, coordinated with the wife's afternoon nap, and I may get some paint on those as well before the day is out.

Best of luck to everyone taking part this year and thank you once again to Curt (and Lady Sarah of course) for hosting this madness for the thirteenth year. Now that's what I call having an understanding wife! 

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Welcome back to the Challenge Lee! I love your Death/Hogfather, especially the grim little gifts that he's toting. I think if I saw him I'd be in the latter group for 'joyous response'.  :)

Now that you're on the scoreboard you can rest easy and go back to keep the missus happy during this busy time of the season. Have a good one, mate!

- Curt

From Barks: Xmas-a-tron (5 points)

I like to start each Challenge with a seasonal miniature. Here is a free 3D sculpt from Imitation of Life. I used Contrast over a metallic undercoat- it came out darker than expected, and is far from my best work. The LED lighting is unforgiving. But I do like experimenting with new techniques, and it was quick- about an hour all up. I haven't done any snow so it can fit in with my post-apocalyptic wasteland scenery.

1x 28mm figure: 5 points

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Haha, good one Barks. Thus begins the host of whacky holiday season figures we'll see over the next few days. I wonder if he's taking or defending the Christmas presents? Perhaps the gun is one, and is really a TV remote. Anyway, I do like his fur-trimmed winter boots, scarf and antlers(?!). 

Welcome back to the Challenge Barks.

From Curt: Welcome to Challenge XIII - Film Crew from the Golden Age of Cinema (25 Points)

Hello and welcome to the 13th edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge!!

As tradition dictates, I kick off the Challenge with our first entry, and to break the ice I thought I'd try to hit two-birds-with-one-stone. To fulfil the 'Under Construction' location, I decided to dig up an old set of figures that have been sitting, half done, on my desk for the past several years. In addition, with them being a film crew, I thought they would be a nice fit for the movie magic theme of this year's Challenge.

Years ago I came up with a simple set of rules to (ahem) set the stage for madcap stunts and the off-the-cuff storytelling found behind the scenes of a movie set during the Golden Age of Cinema.

The rules challenge players to attain ‘Top Billing’ status by either having the most Fame Points by the end of shooting, or by simply being the last character to still be left standing on the movie set. The actors with the top Fame scores at the end of the shoot will have Top Billing on the movie playbill, and be able to bask in cinematic glory - perhaps having a shot at an Academy Award for their unscrupulous efforts.

A 'scene' from our Sword & Sandals game (note the 1.0 version of the film crew)

Previous victims, er, players of a 'Top Billing' game

...and their hard-earned Academy Awards!

The rub is that the actors are often forced to spend their Fame to gain the Director's attention, and so foil the plans of competing actors. With this, the actors have to strike a balance between protecting their accrued Fame while also spending it wisely it to seize the moment in order to burnish their reputations. 

For example, any player/actor can interrupt the action of another by demanding a 'screen re-write'. These re-writes can range from (but are not limited to) choreographing a complex stunt, constructing a scene where another actor looks the fool, or perhaps seizing the camera crew to get a closeup as they give a pithy line of dialogue. 

These 're-writes' are entirely up to the imaginations of the players and always create a huge amount of good-natured fun. In addition each screen re-write can be challenged by another star sparking 'Ego Trips' where the contesting stars bid-up their Fame points to try to convince the Director (GM) why their approach to the scene should be favoured. It's all good, silly fun.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. This film crew is offered by the talented folks over at Eureka Miniatures.  They are a wonderful set of minis, and a real joy to work with. Now I just need to get Byron to make me an acrylic 'field of view' template to fit the round base and I'll be set... 

Only the 'clapper' fella will be scored for this entry, as he was the final mini that needed to be done to finish the set.

So, we have 5 for the 'clapper', along with another 20 bonus points for the 'Under Construction' location = 25 points! I'm on the board and in first place no less. ;) We'll see how long that lasts...

Next, I think some pulpy fun is needed so I'm going to take the road south to check out the film set for Hight Adventure. Wish me luck!

Now, let's get this show on the road, folks! I look forward to the floodgates opening, with your entries rolling in sharp-quick. Remember that from now until January 1st is 'free-fire' submission, meaning you can submit entries whenever you want, so take advantage of the holiday season to kick-off your own Challenge.

Happy holidays everybody and Welcome to Challenge XIII!

- Curt 

An Ode to the Challenge

 ‘Twas the night before Challenge, when all through the lands

The painters were sleeping, no brush in their hands

Their figures were ready, their paints had been stocked

As the seconds ticked past on the big countdown clock

Zero-zero zero-zero*, the Show Lord decreed

Was the time they would start, oh yes sir, indeed

His minions were ready, to help with the posts

Of wildly fantastic miniature painted hosts

The points would be counted, recorded post haste

Their own models to paint, they had no time to waste

Three months they’d be painting, from dusks until dawns

For those in the cold north, no need to mow lawns

And then at the end, their totals they’d see

Some disappointed, some with great glee

With entries to vote on, some would win awards

And all would give thanks to the insane Show Lord

* 00:00 Central Standard Time

(with apologies to the original poem and author)

Good luck everyone!