From MattW: Στρατηγός, Αχαϊκός οπλίτης, ψιλοί (122 points)

Stratigós, Achaean hoplites and skirmishers 

More additions to the Greeks last week, my first command base, skirmishes and Achaean hoplites. Again miniatures from Immortal Miniatures now sold by Warlord Games. 

Hoplites 

Psiloi

Hoplites

24 x 28mm miniatures @ 5 points = 120

Total 120

Cheers

Matt 

TeemuL: I do hope the title doesn't contain any curse words or other inappropiate content. :) Well, of course it doesn't, we are all well mannered AHPC participants and I'm glad the rest of the entry is easily readable for me. And the photos are easily watched, very nice photos of very nice minis on a very nice scenery! I'll throw couple of bonus points for the excellent base work and athmosphere of the photos - I need to paint my hoplites at some point, too!

From KenR: 1/700 HMS Punjabi (Ship of the week) (40 points)

Well this Challenge has turned into a ship fest against all my planning but with work commitments getting through a ship a week is a challenge in itself at the moment. It's definitely helping me progress the ship part of the Narvik Project.

This week I present HMS Punjabi, the final one of 4 Tribal Class Destroyers for the project and this one is a 1/700 scale Trumpeter kit, just like last week's entry. I've opted for a dark grey lower hull with light grey upper on this one and it does make quite a nice contrast.

The ship spent its career in home waters and on the Northern Convoy routes, she was involved in the 2nd Battle of Narvik where she was badly damaged, losing all power for over an hour. She was lost escorting Convoy PQ15 in May 1942, the deck watch believed they had see a mine and ordered a 15 degree turn to avoid it, unfortunately it was foggy and without knowing the ship turned in front of the British Battleship KGV. The larger ship sliced Punjabi in two however the impact and explosions of depth charges on the Destroyer caused serious damage to the KGV.

So that's another 40 points to the total, I'm a country mile of my target but at least I'm getting a bit done each week. With this ship complete, I have 5 more Destroyers and Warspite to do. With 3 weeks to go, I'll need more than a ship a week and the Warspite is a huge job on its own. Never mind a half done unit of Prussian Landwher !

Anyway, I'm going to aim for two ships next week, until then here are the 4 Tribals for the project.

TeemuL: Let's start with a safe and familiar first entry of the day, 1/700 ship. Thank you Ken, I know there are lots of followers on this project. And two ships a week next? I just hope that those people who are waiting for the Prussian Landwehr and other 28mm models are not neglected too much.

It is interesting to see, that even when those four ships are more or less similar, your skightly different colour choices make them all individuals, but they still look like a group and they all look very real. Splendid job!

Thursday

Yeah, quite an simple header this week. My vacation was good, but on Monday morning I got a flu and have been more or less ill since then. So no history lessons, I just don't have energy for that. There were some questions about snowshoes last week, so here are couple of photos.

Here's my son and his snowshoes. The trail we walked was well trodden and the snow shoes were not necessary for most of the time, but it makes it easier to climb up and down (there are some spikes at the bottom).

And these are mine. Pay attention to the camouflage pattern, something wargamers surely want to add to their models. ;) As you can see, modern snowshoes doesn't look like tennis rackets and are quite easy and comfortable to use. It is good to have ski sticks, too, gives you balance and helps if the snow is very deep and you fall.

Of course, if there is snow and it is dry enough (meaning it is cold enough), then two pairs of woollen socks are all you need. They are an excellent insulation, the coldness stays away and warmth stays inside, so the snow doesn't melt.

--- In other news ---

Here in southern Finland we don't have any snow anymore and temperature is couple of degrees above zero. The Thursday crew has quite a lot of posts, as usual.

From SylvainR: Balrog and Lava Demonettes for D&D (45 points)

 

This week, the cleric encounters a Balrog and his posse of lava demonettes. All the above are vinyl models from Reaper.

I had this idea to create a group of "lava demonettes", so I gathered some figurines that could be "adapted" for that purpose. Except I had no idea how to paint "lava". I started with the model on the left, below. The grey rocks did not look right and I used the sponge effect too much. The next two figurines are naiad, I think, and their floating hair evoke flames. They look like they are spewed out from the magma. 

 

After a few trials, I developed a technique I felt comfortable with to create the lava effect, especially on the base. I am providing a short tutorial, so I can refer to it later, if I decide to do this kind of base again.
First, the model must be primed white and then completely painted yellow using ink, which makes it "glow". Rocks and other elements like the scorched tree are painted hull red instead of black or grey, as it gives the effect of some internal residual heat. Then the rocks are outlined with red ink (not paint), as you will want to be able to dilute and mix later.

Using diluted red ink in layers, I created variations in "temperature". In this case, the zones of the body closer to the source of the heat (the ground) are left yellow while the upper parts are more red.

 

Finally, using a sponge, I added speckles of black paint all over the model, but more generously on the tree. It makes the tree look "carbonized" instead of just "black".

Below, you can see the final result for the demonette used in the tutorial. I painted her hair black and her weapon copper. She was a dryad, but I think her new life as a "magmaiad" suits her well. For the demonette in the center, I was wondering what color I should paint her clothes, since she is made of lava. I opted to use metallic color, especially gold, since, at around 1000oC, metal becomes malleable like fabric. For the base of the "snake(d) lady", I aligned the stones in a circular pattern in an attempt to suggest some sort of magic power flowing from her.

After gaining confidence with smaller models, I was ready to tackle the boss. I wanted to avoid cloning the style of the Peter Jackson Balrog and instead tried to make the skin look like hot lava. I also wanted a base oozing earth's magma, pushing from beneath. The loin clothe is painted with metallic colors.

One wing is glowing, the other not. Must be the lighting...

 

Points claimed:

6 x 28mm foot figurines at 5 points each = 30 points

1 x 54mm foot figurines at 10 points each = 10 points

Total = 40 points

Thanks for reading!

***

Great work here Sylvain - well done once again on tackling new and different approaches to painting challenging subject. As Curt has often remarked to me, this is a Painting CHALLENGE after all, and good on you for exploring new techniques - and also sharing process as well as the results, so we can benefit from your work. This sort of reverse-lighting-glow called for by subjects which are meant to made from literal fire is really, really tricky to paint, and you should be pleased with your results!

And what D&D exploring party won't be...uh...thrilled to see a Balrog, right? I mean, I doubt any prior encounters with Lava Demonettes will have burns that were TOO awful, so no doubt the cleric and any friends will have plenty of strength and many options to..."cope with"...yes, let's say "cope with" a Balrog!

I am awarding five extra points for the hard work you have shown on these new and different painting approaches. 

GregB

From BruceR - BEF moving forward (165 points)

For this week I finished the BEF troopers I had worked on last week, but could not finish without basing material.  

These include an AT gun and crew, a squad of infantry, another light mortar, a medium machine gun with crew, an Lt. and an NCO.  Again, these are Crusader miniatures and chunky means easier to paint.  

I'm not done (is any project ever just done) as I have two squads done with LMG's prior to the challenge that need highlighting and basing yet.  Once done I will have a force to play Chain of Command with these boys.  

AT gun support

MMG support.  I will have to steal from the AT gun
 or paint more crew to keep the gun firing for Chain  of Command

a Second light mortar

Squad of Tommie's

This weeks crew

I remembered I also had some trucks and armor support (if you can call it that) these are 3d prints I picked up at Adepticon last year so another milestone as getting them done prior to this year's ACon.  They are from Sherwood Games and called Tina's Tiny Tanks.  

I find trucks add to the scene even if not used and here one can use them to haul troops or the AT gun.  The trucks are Austin Tilly Light Utility Vehicles and the tank is a Vickers Mk VIb.  

The price beat the heck out of Warlord Games and I didn't have to build them.

I had not done any vehicles for a long time and enjoyed the break.  

I based coated these with my airbrush, a dark forest green.  I picked up a system from a blog years ago of using Burnt Umber oil paint, cut with white spirits, and then wiped away with Q-tips.  This leaves a really gritty looking field vehicle, which I like, as no vehicle is clean unless sitting in a museum or the motor pool waiting for inspection.  I than used a makeup brush to add a lighter green in open areas of the vehicles.  Added some decals I had in a bin and did a very light dry brush along the edges.  

I did try a new version of a windscreen I came across for the Tilly's.  This uses speed paints and starts with a black base and subsequent lighter greys added leaving a bit of the previous color showing.  Then wash with blue speed paint.  Add a white dot to corners of the window for glare.  I had left the backs and rolled up canvas black and then decided to depict light shining through, so I used the same procedure without the white dot.  

The markings research was a little sparse.  I did find they simply 
had white squares as force designators. 

I also discovered a force list indicating the use of the Vickers
Mk VIb as a reconnaissance vehicle for the 7 RTR.  I also read 
they would name their tanks in the same troop with the same first
 letter.  Something to learn every day.  

Tillys

Troopers for size comparison.

Points:  Not sure if the MMG counts as a crew served weapon for points and the trucks are somewhat small (Tina's Tiny Tanks/Trucks) so I'll leave that up to Greg.  

17 troopers 28mm @ 5                         =  85 pts

AT gun and MMG @10                        =  20 pts

3 28mm vehicles @20                           =  60 pts

Total                                                       = 165 pts

Weather update for the North.  We have moved into the 40 degree Fahrenheit range, meaning we had a 90 degree swing from last week to this.  I'm off to warmer climates this week so will not submit anything next week.   

Stay safe and keep a stiff upper lip.  Bruce

***

Great work Bruce. Excellent to see further progress on this project, but you are quite correct - no collection is ever truly "done", and it is heretical to suggest otherwise!

I am not much of an early-war WW2 gamer myself - I do tend to prefer the "real" tanks of the mid and later period. And besides, I was spoiled, as Dallas has an amazing early WW2 collection and so I have been able to enjoy some tremendous games in that setting. But I still enjoy the efforts of others, always causing me to reconsider this preference...

Your troops and crew look excellent, both for the door-knocker AT gun and MMG. The vehicles are very fine as well, and another great example of what can be achieved by the 3D printing folks out there (thank goodness for them!). Those vehicles may be "small" by the standards of what we know to be coming later, but I'm still counting them as 28mm vehicles. 165 points it shall be!

Enjoy your time off, and may your travels be safe!

GregB 

From Curt: Anne, Nancy and their Backup Singers (75 Points)

Hi Everyone!

Like many of us I've been making my way through the February doldrums. I lost a bit of steam for a few weeks, which recently included a bad bout of flu and a cold, but I did manage to push along with few more entries and here is one of them.

These gals are a some new recruits to my Sisters of Battle collection.

First up are two heavy weapon Sisters, one armed with a multi-melta and the other with a heavy flamer. These models are from Wargames Exclusive and were an absolute joy to paint. The designer really embraced the gothic aesthetic with their armour, especially with their chimneyed backpacks. These two ladies will be my submission for 'Heresy' as they are the physical embodiment of the Emperor's punishment, created to expunge the heretic in heat and flame (or at least thats whats written on their underwear).

When I first put them side-by-side for my photos it immediately struck me that they look like two epic rockers posing on stage in the midst of a guitar and bass riff, and what better rocker sisters than Anne and Nancy Willson. Maybe I'll go back and put a Heart symbol on their cloaks. :)

The other contingent is a small group of Sisters Repentia with their attendant Mistress of Repentance. The Repentia are older GW models and I love them (made even better as they were gifts from IainW). They are so beautifully sculpted, finger-pokingly crisp and having that wonderful heft of metal. These girls with their monstrous chainswords will be my submission for 'Wrath' for obvious reasons.

The Mistress was a bit of a disappointment, and I feel that someone at GW got the short straw in having to sculpt her. I've never been a fan of the quasi-S&M feel of some of the Sister models and this is one typical of that (though the Madonna bullet bustier kind of cracks me up).

These seven Sisters will give me a base of 35 points, plus another 40 combined for the 'Heresy' and 'Wrath' locations, providing a total of 75 points. I'm not sure if I'm going to reach my target but I'll definitely give it the Challenge try!

11 Skullz, 1 Squirrel Point and a couple for the 'Can Opener' duel as well.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!

Curt

-----------

I've always liked a sororal posse of bloodthirsty maniacs; they add a certain je ne sais pas charm to the grimdark universe. To that end my favourites are, naturally, the Repentia with their massive man-choppers, channelling the ultimate "beware the woman scorned" vibe (though I'm sure they all enjoy a post-purge high-tea with scones and bookclub) 

Love the bold colours but also the debris sewn bases add great texture and interest to them. Nice work!

- Paul

From RaulM: Black Seas Cutter and Schooner (20 points)

Life has been particularly busy for me as I just became a new dad, so this will more than likely be my last post for this year's hobby challenge. I was working on a Battle of Lake Erie project, and as part of that I have these two vessels: a cutter and a schooner. 

Both are metal models from Warlord Games Black Seas, although I do think that the schooner comes with resin hulls nowadays. They're fairly simple to build and paint as the sails are sculpted onto the masts, which eliminates a step when compared to the standard Black Seas models. 

The cutter comes in two varieties, an armed and unarmed version. I used the unarmed version, but added a 12-pdr gun to the fore and aft, run out on opposite sides. I based the look off of the HMS Little Belt, that itself was actually the Friends Good Will, of which a replica can be found at the Michigan Maritime Museum. It was fun to use some different colors than yellow and black. 

The schooner got the standard US Navy colours that I've established thus far. It has a little bit of stern detailing, that I embellished with a metallic gold paint. 

These are both planned for a Battle of Lake Erie scenario at some future time. 

As for points, they're both quite small, so I'm taking 5 points each for a total of 10 points. 

-------

I must admit to getting a bit excited each week when I see that Raul has a post ready for Minioning :-)

And this week's entry is no disappointment either! Two more lovely additions to your Fleets and the great lakes are a wonderful place to sail the lighter hulls. I really like the darker stains on the canvas on the Yankee Schooner too - reminds me of the effect sails get when furled not quite dry.

Lovely work as ever on all the details - worth 10 points each at least!

Most importantly though - hearty congratulations on becoming a Father!!! I'm thrilled for you, as I'm sure everyone else here is too. And you thought Wargaming was expensive.... :-)

- Paul