From ArthurS: A fresh start (45 points)

Hello Everybody,

I wanted to finally finish my black orc team this year, so that I could start the new year fresh with other projects. After two years sitting on my paintingdesk I am glad the team is finally done.

My captain Glark has a mushroom on his base, that is actually a failed print from my father's 3D printer. 

The goblin with the moon on his back is officially part of the regular goblin team, not the Black Orc team but I traded the goblin that was originally part of the all-goblin team with Dad.

I recently got a box of AoS Lizardmen and I have had a Lizardman Blood Bowl team for some time. I would now like to paint them, so I made a test model for both my BB team and the Seraphon. Different and contrasting colours feel the most Lustria to me, so I gave the Saurus itself yellow with blue spikes and the armor red with green ornaments. At a later date I will use this scheme for my Lizardmen army as well, to be used to play Mordheim and Warhammer The Old World. 

Recently a friend of mine came to play DND and asked if I could paint this model for her, so I did that. I made the big sword green as if it is a magic sword. I wanted to try that technique for a long time because I have seen people do that on the power swords of the Space Marines. I think it's a Reaper figure.

For points I think that 9 miniatures in 28mm would get me 45 points to get me started this Challenge.

Currently I am working on my other lizardmen, both the team as well as the Saurus Warriors, so they will hopefully appear here soon. Goodbye for now!

Arthur

TeemuL: These look great, the Orcs are especially very neat! You definitely have gotten new skills during the years. Your Saurus looks good, as you said, very Lustrian colours. All the best with the rest of the team and army. And the very nice magic sword wielder to make it nine models, a nice start for you and a nice start for Thor's days. I'll add "Sarah's Choice" to your tags because of the female miniature.

Chilly Thor's Day

I had some new and exciting ideas for the theme of Thursdays, but in the end they were not that good and then time run out and here I am again posting these Finnish emojis...

As I am publishing this, it is 8:30 in the morning and the sun will rise in 1 hour and 5 minutes and stay above the horizon for 6 hours. The sky is clear, so the sun will be shining. The temperature is expected to be between -19 and -20 degrees of Celsius (that's -2 to -4 in Fahrenheits) with a mild wind making it feel like -26 to -28 (-15 to -18 in Fahrenheits). Yes, it is quite cold here in Southern Finland, not unheard of, but not common. This morning they made the new record for this winter in Northern Finland, -41,7 and they expecting it to get colder. Yes, -43 in Fahrenheits.

I don't have any lunch plans yet (working at home), so may be some barbeque?

:fourseasonsofbbq:

FOUR SEASONS OF BBQ

The feeling of “ny rillataan”

[“let’s grill” in Tampere dialect]

It’s always a good weather to barbeque. Every Finnish household has a bbq of some sort at home, many even more than just one (portable, gas, coal, wooden…) Turning the grill on is an ultimate Finnish way of celebrating, anything. We have even had Finnish Championships in ‘Ball grilling’, ‘pallogrillaus’.

----- End of Finn talking about Finland -----

I don't know, may be it is freezing cold elsewhere, because there are not that many posts today. Happily our Dutch Duo is on fire, so there should be at least two posts today.

• ArthurS has some civilized Black Orc athletes
• MartinjN has some uncivilized Barbarians

From Curt: Lesser Oni (Kappa) for 'Hametsu' (50 Points)

In 'Hametsu' there are a wide assortment of villains with which the heroes have to overcome, ranging from the Oni, to the fearsome 'Bosses' and over-the-top 'Raid Bosses'.   The lowliest of the low are the Lesser Oni.  These are essentially the luckless mooks within the game's monster hierarchy. Individually they are fairly easy to dispatch, but if encountered in a mob (which invariably they are) they can be quite dangerous to an incautious adventurer.

The Hametsu figures from Black Site Studio are beautifully designed, but I find the cost of shipping to Canada is prohibitive. So begun the long process of looking for viable 3d proxies online (two of the heroes were in my previous post originated as stl files). During my search I came across a series of models from Sharedog Miniatures depicting Japanese water spirits called Kappa, which I think will make fun Lesser Oni for the game. 

In doing a bit of research I found that Kappa have a shallow depression on the top of their heads which holds a small pool of water. If this water is spilled, or dries up, it makes them weak and sluggish. Yes, how wonderfully odd! The list of defensive measures to ward against Kappa is quite lengthy (and rudely funny), so I suggest you look them up for a laugh if you have a moment.

I decided to give my Kappa a sort of tree frog look, so I used blends of vibrant Citadel Contrast and Vallejo Xpress paints over a white basecoat. Overall I'm happy enough with the effect and they should stand out well on the tabletop.

For those who are wondering, the yellow on the front base edge denotes their arc of vision, which is a big deal in 'Hametsu' which is all about keeping out of sight and timely ambushes. I chose the bright yellow as I'm planning on gaming with these online and I hope the colour will help with on-screen identification.

These 10 Kappa-Oni should give me 50 points to add to my tally. 

Thanks for dropping in for a look!

- Curt

***

Fantastic work as always Dude! It is always a pleasure to share your dive into new projects, particularly when they turn up things like water spirits! The whole pool-of-water-in-the-head thing is a mix of awesome, off-putting and supremely entertaining, and it seems particularly appropriate to use these wash-style paints to do these models - with fantastic results, as they look fantastic. And creepy. 

50 points for you. And now, when I spill my coffee, I will be thinking of these guys...

Greg

From AndrewB - War of the Worlds St Louisans! Lady Sarah, Local History - 96pts

This week, we’re persisting with the 15mm Blitz, in a rather more self- defeating fashion.  I spent the week painting up the better part of 100 15mm early 1900s civilians, as well as some guns, only to find when I took them off the sticks, I only had three bases left to put infantry on!   I got the guns(and what an assortment), a couple command stands, and a group of three infantry stands based up, so we’ll just have to hold onto the rest while we await a package from eBay!  

If any of you are familiar with the All Quiet on the Martian Front franchise, it has been rekindled by new ownership, and recently completed a Kickstarter relaunch!   In the previous edition, when the IP was owned by the fine folks at Miniature Market based here in sunny St Louis, MO, the Battle of St Louis was an important turning point in stemming the tide of the Martian invasion in the US, and remained a place of conflict.  Naturally, I’ve been 3D printing 15mm ruined houses and such like gangbusters, and have been working on local militia units to fight the martian menace.  First, let’s dig into our HMG teams and a couple larger guns for dropping tripods!  

This motley assortment of militia and privately sourced machine guns include a Nordenfeldt, a Colt 1895 ‘Potatodigger’, and a Maxim on a cavalry mount.  Additionally, these teams have lady loafers bringing ammunition in their purses, which they’re removing!

These two guns are a dismounted light naval gun(quite heavy when land-based), and a large brass heavy gun from the civil war era, certainly liberated from the grounds of the old arsenal, and chained to a beam!  The improvised guns are being entrenched, and some poor soul is having to examine projectiles to see what will fit the comparatively ancient cannon!  These machine gun ladies will flag down Lady Sarah’s cart and hitch us a ride to the Local , where all these fit quite nicely, even if the setting is slightly off-kilter from history!

Next up, we have some of St Louis’s Finest, a detachment of the metropolitan police!

These fine chaps are leading the way through ruined streets to take the fight to the big eyed Martian menace   Lay into them, Lads!  

Lastly, we have two command stands of local heroes to lead the forces mustering!

On one base, we have a fairly standard base of respectable looking gentlemen, while the other has a gentleman fully decked out for the era, in all white, ready to impress the gravity of the situation on anyone he encounters!

Look for the rest of these to be uploaded sometime in the next couple of weeks, as more bases come in!  Sorry I wasn’t able to put them up, but you’ll certainly be seeing more of this project!  

As for points, there are 28 15mm minis for 56pts, as well as Lady Sarah’s 20, which advanced me to the Local History room, for an additional 20, bringing me to 96 this week! A pretty paltry showing next to last week’s entry, but I’ll have an added boost in the future!  Happy painting!

***

Thanks for this submission Andrew, and for the update regarding this game system. I recall seeing some of the Martian Pods in an earlier edition of the Painting Challenge some years ago, and so it is interesting to learn not only that it had gone under, but is now back under new ownership! And so nice to see that pouring machinegun fire into Martian invaders can be a community building endeavour...looking forward to seeing much more when your shipment of bases arrives. 

Greg

KenR : The last of the Redshirts : 28mm Garibaldi (121 Points)

 

A post today with a tinge of sadness, this is the last Redshirt unit for my Garibaldi Project, now don't get me wrong I'm glad to have finished this part of the Army but I've enjoyed painting these Gringo40s figures over the last couple of years.

As with all the other units these are 28mm figures based 6 to a base on a 60 x 60 base, the extended fronts protecting the bayonets on the figures.

Scoring is nice and easy as it's the same as the first unit I did in the Challenge, 24 figs at 5 points each plus one for the flag makes 121 !

It's certainly not the end of the Garibaldi, next up will be a small unit of Garibaldi Cavalry after which I have three Battalions not in red shirts and some skirmishers, I've also got a surprise addition for the Papal Forces to fit in with a library entry. 

***

A new year, a new edition of the Analogue Painting Challenge, but the consistency of the KenR juggernaut crushing out another amazing project continues to amaze. Well done Ken, it has been, and will continue to be, a real treat for all of us to follow along on this project as it enters its next phase. 

121 points for you sir!

From DaveD - T64’s for 7 Days to the Rhine - 40 pts

I have all manner of stuff on the paint desk part way through , and this is the first unit completed . 5 T64’s for my Group of Soviet Forces to race to the river Rhine. They will be helping crushing capitalist Ian’s BAOR in our upcoming campaign game. I have a few more units to add to my Soviets in due course.

A simple rattle can paint job with oil washes and highlights . The kits are Battlefront for Team Yankee , they are a simple build and went together easily.

Aerials are made from fishing line - always like to add a bit extra detail on 15s 

5 x 15mm Vehicle = 40pts 

Moderns duel - 40 pts 

***

Thanks Dave - these Battlefront models sure look lovely, and as you say, some quick work, especially when one cheats using oils, is sufficient to get an excellent-looking result. "Seven Days To The River Rhine" is indeed a fantastic set of rules (if I inferred correctly from the title of your post that you are planning to use them?). Good luck with your project - all Challenge veterans have come to expect your tremendous progress on these projects, very nice.

Greg 

From JP: Carry On Up The Khyber (55 points)

Firstly, note to self... do not, do not ... try to learn how to paint kilts in any scale during the Analogue Painting Challenge. Four attempts and a very frustrating time... mind you, I remember a scene from Carry On Up The Khyber where the regiment defeats a howling charge with a deft maneuvre ... that might have been easier to paint... nah, would be unpublishable...

The figurines are Foundry 25mm Northwest Frontier and the Lady Sarah is an Artizan 28mm NWF character - great strappin' lass even next to Artizan figs...  There are another 6 kilties to come, if my eyes can survive it, as the figurines are for The Sword And The Flame, reduced unit size games.

Without further ado:

So, for points:

Six 25-28mm figs:        60 points

Historical:                     20 points

Lady Sarah:                  20 points

Total:                            100 points

And now for a blast from the past. This is my last bottle of The Armory paint bought in 1986... still kicking, just. These and Ral Partha were the best I ever encountered, even if I am a big fan of Foundry paints.

And yes - that's the other damned Scotsmen peeking from behind...

Happy New Year to one and all!

JP

****

Happy New Year to you as well JP - thanks for this tremendous submission. A great number of Challenge participants bear the psychological scars of attempting to paint kilts and other similar bizarre cultural objects bearing the so-called "tartan" - the hobby suffering is tremendous, but the results look great in the end, and your efforts here are no exception. Great work on these fantastic Highlanders, they enhance every table on which they appear!

In terms of points, a slight adjustment for you. Painted 28mm figures (even ones who torture you with tartan) are worth five points each. The Lady Sarah figure (which is wonderful) does not, in itself, get you bonus points unless you are travelling somewhere else in the library on the cart. So for now, this will be worth the points of a 28mm painted figure (although, named Sarah, we know the true worth is one beyond mere "points"). So we have seven 28mm figures and one Challenge Bonus location, in all giving you 55 points. 

We look forward to that next round of Scotsmen on the painting table...

Greg 

From Millsy: More 28mm WW2 Aussies in the Western Desert (150 points)

G'day All,

I'm back with the second batch of stuff for my Bolt Action 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for the Western Desert in WW2. This time it is a couple of guns and some mobile pie tins. This lot completes the entirety of the 8th Army Starter Set plus extras.

First up is the iconic QF 25-pdr howitzer. Used by British, Australians and other Commonwealth countries it was a staple of Allied artillery in the Wester Desert and Europe later in the war. Capable of delivering a thumping artillery barrage or firing over open sights in a pinch its a must have in any British army in Bolt Action, fulfilling both the indirect and direct fires roles in a single unit. The turntable and gun shield only add to the versatility and survivability. 

Next up is the QF 6-pdr anti-tank gun. These didn't arrive until well after the campaign started and I wouldn't have one at all apart from it was in the starter set. For now it will do as a proxy for the 2-pdr which is the correct calibre for my 1941 themed force.

Finally here's a couple of Universal Carriers with crews. These are amongst my favourite vehicles for the period for many reasons.

They were used in any number of roles and performed admirably, but look like they were a complete bugger to drive or ride around in under the scorching desert sun. Any Australian will know what a summertime seat belt buckle can do to the inside of your arms and these would have been much, much worse.

Not the easiest things to paint with all the nooks and crannies but an absolutely necessity for my Aussies to feel complete. FWIW I was somewhat tempted to paint these in the controversial Caunter colour scheme but I have never found any in Australian service with that applied so it wouldn't feel right to do it.

Points-wise we have two guns plus six crew at 25 points each, plus two carriers plus eight crew at 40 points each and I'll use this as my "New Acquisitions" entry for the Challenge Library at a further 20 points. All up that makes a nice round 150 points this time out.

Hope you enjoy them and thanks for looking!

Cheers,
Millsy

*****

Fantastic brushwork on these Western Desert Aussies here Millsy. Leaving aside the total nightmare that is the "Caunter" cammo, even finding the right tones for the sun-cooked-khaki-sand is always a b**ch and you have nailed it here. It is great to have you back in the Challenge and once more turning out large amounts of kit painted to a lovely standard. Well done. 150 for you!

Greg 

From IanS: New Acquisitions, 15mm Sassanid Persian Heavy Horse Archers (68pts)

Dear All 

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a Happy new year.  For the first time I did not receive any figures or wargaming related presents.  Power tools instead never mind.

First post of the new challenge, this is my fourth time in this prestigious event and the first time I will be attempting the actual challenge within the challenge.

So my submission is for the section New acquisition and is a unit of heavy cavalry archers for my Sassanid Persian army in 15mm.  The club I am a member off has its own ancient rules written by a member and they recently changed the points system for the armies which means I need more units for all my ancient armies (did drop a hint to family will need larger club next year).  

My Sassanid army is all from Lancashire Games but unfortunately they have just retired this range, so these figures are from Museum Miniatures nice clean sculpts with a lot of hidden detail which contrast paints bring them to life.  I am tempted to get some more of these especially as they have a sale on.

Sassanid Heavy Horse archers on the move

Points being claimed:

12 x 15mm Cavalry at 4 pts each - 48pts

New Acquisition section submission  - 20pts

Total - 68 pts 

I really like those vibrant colours, Ian! The Sassanids always speak to the imagination (to mine at least) and these look splendid! You seem to have found a good alternative for your Lancashire Games figures as these Museum Miniatures definitely look the part. Also, it always pleases me to see the trusted 15mm figures getting some love. Good job! That's 68 well-deserved points on the board.

From SimonM: Black Númenórean Warriors by "Fenris6661982" + Fantasy Books Bonus (40 points)

These four 28mm 3D printed Black Númenóreans are sold by "Fenris6661982" on "eBay", and can be purchased as part of a six-figure 'Buy it now' auction. "Seduced and corrupted by Sauron", the resin miniatures were bought as infantry proxies for my Barad Dur army until "Games Workshop" once again produce the "cruel oppressors" for their "The Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game".

The quartet were initially primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being heavily dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal and soaked in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then 'picked out' their belts and shield straps with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before applying some "Vallejo" Gunmetal to the warriors' ornate armour, and swords.

These metallic areas were subsequently drowned with (more) “Citadel” Nuln Oil and later dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Gunmetal. To dirty the armour down somewhat and create a contrast between it and the Númenóreans' blades, I gave all the plate armour a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. Lastly, I 'picked out' the models' teeth using a little "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, as well as their chins with a dollop of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

These supposed 3D printed proxies are bound to cause a little controversy as having scrutinized the sculpts closer, the manufacturer has quite possibly just somehow scanned the old "Games Workshop" miniatures and then digitally tidied-them up - as some details, such as the models' sinister teeth aren't present on my versions, despite being clearly visible on the now out of production (OOP) official models. However, as I don't have any of the metal or "Finecast" originals, nor am willing to pay a whopping fifty quid to own one second-hand, I can't say for certain.

This ethical conundrum has definitely curtailed my enthusiasm for the project though, as I absolutely don't agree with the re-casting of other manufacturer's figures. I suppose some might say that as the Black Númenóreans are no longer available to buy, and the products are clearly advertised as being "not [an] official product", then there's an element of acceptability in this instance..? But, I for one, see this as being part of a bigger problem where so many unlicensed or rather 'fan-art' 3D prints are flooding the hobby, and some sellers may well be sailing far closer to the wind than others.

Setting aside any debates though, I thought the foursome would make an excellent subject for my visit to the Fantasy Books area in the Challenge Library.

Four x 28mm scale foot figure = 20 Points

Fantasy Books Bonus = 20 Points

Total = 40 Points

Well, we definitely have some dark things going on here, Simon! However, whatever their provenance, you've certainly done a sterling job on these Black Númenóreans. Black is not an easy colour to work with, but you seem to have developed a good recipe. Well done, and 40 points it is!

MartijnN

From MartijnN: The Tuesday Tomes, Volume 1

First of all, I would like to wish each and everyone of you all the best for 2024! Now the new year is finally truly underway, I hope you have all survived the festive season and are ready to rumble through Challenge XIV.

I am Martijn, and this is my fourth Challenge. I live in Belgium, but I am a Dutchman by birth and inclination. One of the traditions we have in The Netherlands is to eat oliebollen on New Year's Eve. They are balls of sweet dough and raisins, deep fried, eaten with powdered sugar. This is not a tradition in Belgium, but I have continued to bake oliebollen each year, and I am happy to say that my Belgian family has been taking to them quite enthusiastically. Here are some; I only wished mine looked as good!

I will be your Tuesday Minion for most of the rest of the Challenge. As the new Junior Assistant Librarian, confusedly circulating the corridors, cellars, crofts and chambers of the Challenge Library, it will be my duty to adorn the book display in the Library Entrance with the tempting and marvelous contributions produced by the Tuesday Troopers. 

I am not an early riser, and a bit of a slow starter, and it seems like the Tuesday Troopers are of the same ilk. However, for today we may have some masterpieces lined up:

- a tribute to Tolkien from SimonM, just in time for the Professor's birthday tomorrow

Well, that's it really, for the time being. We may have some Cold War Gone Hot from DaveD as well, and we will see what the rest of the day may bring. Enjoy!