From Kerry T - In days of old when nights were bold....450 + points ( I think)?

Morning, afternoon & evening all

For most of the challenge,  I have found myself in the medieval period where there is a wealth of stories and legends. Of course, many are famous and ingrained in our psyche, particularly if we were born in the UK. Who has note been regaled by stories of Arthur & Merlin, Robin Hood and his Merry men and countless others

During medieval times, heroic deeds and acts of chivalry carried out by the great and the good of the land were regaled in ballads sung by the bards. Because of this, for my last post of the “Sweet Sixteen” challenge I thought I might tell you all such a story. Like a bedtime sort of story so you'll probably fall asleep 

The actions of one of Wales’ greatest knights though once prominent and in those days on the tip of every bard’s tongue somehow became lost until its recent discovery. Thus we arrive at the Ballad of  Sir Creshan of Deheubarth. So join me if you will by the fire, pull up a chair and close you eyes and imagine. (Er On second thoughts it’s probably best that you don’t close your eyes as you won’t be able to see the pictures which would defeat the whole object)

In days of  old when knights were bold…

The Bard Gerald of Wales will help us recount the tale...

Behold Sir Creshan and his trusty squire - Pod

Sir Creshan has no lord, he's a hedge knight and is sleeping under one

Sir Creshan is on his way to a tourney where he plans to earn fame and fortune by winning and so marry the love of his life, Lord Lucan's elder daughter Lucretia who will no doubt be unable to avoid his advances should he win and so become a knight of renown

She's on the right wearing blue

Of course one of the reasons he wants to marry her is because she has big chests

What were you thinking, take your mind out of the gutter, these chests are full of money

Anyway I digress....

This is Sir Creshan's old squire, Hodor, but he had to let him go...

At the last tournament on the circuit though Sir Creshan had been victorious he had somewhat unfortunately be the source of much jest and mirth because of the unfortunate well stupid actions actually of his then Squire Hodor. Now Hodor wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box and when asked to repaint Sir Creshan’s shield with his Leopard heraldry misconstrued or misheard  and a dreadful scene followed " I said paint a Leopard -L -E - O-P-A-R-D - there's no T in Leopard you stupid boy.

Fighting with a leotard on your shield is not really the way to garner favour with lords and ladies

This is Pod, Sir Creshan's new squire

Being a squire is hard work

The day hasn't started well because they slept late  and its worse when they get to the bridge where's there's obviously an ye olde traffic jam where carts are piled up waiting to cross

"Pod, I'm in a hurry, tell those peasants to get a move on as I'm an important man you know"

5 mins later - "well? "

"He's signaling sir - I think he's saying it will take 2 hours to cross"

It soon become apparent what the trouble is and Sir Creshan springs into action

A river troll it seems

Finally Sir Creshan is victorious

On with his journey and into the forest.....

Ni, ni, ni - you shall not pass...

Thank goodness for the shrubbery, not too expensive

If that's not bad enough, a few miles on and another says Sir Creshan shall not pass....

The dreaded Black Knight..

Call it a draw?

Meanwhile with his back turned and horse left unattended it looks like some thieving sod has made off with his horses hooves and shoes ( The current practice of stealing car wheels and leaving the car on a pile of bricks originated in Medieval times)

Off to the blacksmith

Then there was the matter of that magic sword

Arthur you little sod, come here. Where did you get that sword, you could get someone’s eye out with that, You wait till your father gets home he will brain you for stealing that sword – now take it back to where you find it and not only that if his lordship finds out you’ll be on one of those boats to Australia

Next off to see the Mad Bishop at the church for a blessing

Nobody was expecting this

At the tourney Sir Creshan's first opponent was disqualified for wearing a dress and being improperly dressed and his second was a little odd

But look behold

Unfortunately not all medieval tales have an happy ending....

Poor Sir Creshan, all hot and melted.....

Apologies a mad rush and only just in

So In summary - 455b p0its in foot and horse, 3 wagons and a troll and dragon

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Wow, amazing work and such a rollicking story, Kerry! I loved how the saga of poor Creshan (it's all very Welsh, you know) allows us to have a wonderful tour of your collection, both new and old. So much to take in. Of the group, I especially like the jousting knights and, of course, the red dragon. Amazing brushwork and all beautifully photographed amongst your stupendous terrain. Bravo on this final parting volley, Kerry! I look forward to seeing you with us next winter for Challenge XVII.

- Curt

From GregB - Finishing AHPC XVI With The XVIth (20 points)

Siege Breaker Consul and assault marines from the Sons of Horus. Resin figures from GW/Forge World.

The time flies by, and like so many Challengers I'm just under the wire with this one. I wanted to conclude my run in the XVIth edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge with something fitting, and I figured some Space Marines from the XVIth Legion Astartes would do the trick. Here we have a Siege Breaker Consul and three assault marines in the fine colours of The Warmaster's own, the Sons of Horus.

Siege Breaker Consul

"So...anyone have anything that needs breaking?"

What does a "Siege Breaker Consul" do? Sounds like a bit of a made-up job...one has the impression he conducts sieges...but job title implies he "breaks" sieges so maybe his job is instead to bust up sieges attempted by opponents...who knows? But he clearly is out to break things. I mean, look at that hammer. Like they say, when you walk around with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Woe betide the foes of The Warmaster when this chap shows up. 

In addition to the giant hammer, he obviously has a really amazing wireless plan, with unlimited 5G data, great roaming options and no hidden fees...

Love that 5G intergalactic roaming in the year 30k...

I like the little portable data terminal attached to his power armour, with a little projected 3d map, presumably of some target he is about to annihilate via an orbital strike or some other manner of Age of Darkness doom. 

Bright yellow "safety grenades" on the rear of the power pack. This chap has all sorts of grenades.

This is a resin figure from GW's "Age of Darkness" range. I'm not the biggest fan of GW's resin, but thankfully things were not too bendy. Besides, he is wearing the Mark VI "beakie" power armour and, well, I'm a sucker any models wearing that kit! 

Assault Marines

Ready to jump into the action...

These are old, old resin figures - the marines are wearing Mark IV armour. They are resin models from Forge World, circa 2012. I have re-painted them to ensure their green armour matches that of the other Sons of Horus in my collection, part of my ongoing long-term program to placate the OCD hobby monkey in brain. 

Will re-painted figures suffer the same fate as newly-painted figures?

The officer has a comb on his helmet (hilarious) and an extra-large chainsword, for those jobs that need serious chopping. The other marines are kitted out in the more traditional bolt-pistol-and-chainsword combo common to the Astartes assault troops. With these three finished, I have completed the necessary repainting to put my old squad of 15 of these fellows back into the battle line - with a tone of green armour that will match that of their colleagues and thereby sooth the rampaging OCD hobby monkey in my head.

Love the double-handed chainsword. A silly weapon made even sillier. Brilliant.

So for points, we have a total of four 28mm foot figures in this submission- that should be good for 20 points. And that's that for me with AHPC XVI!

Big Thank You

I want to thank Curt and Sarah for hosting another edition of the Painting Challenge, and to thank all of the Challengers for sharing their work and their comments. I also want to thank everyone on the Thursday crew for their patience and their tremendous brushwork. Take care everyone...see you all again in December!

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A wonderful parting shot from you, dude, and made even better as they are from your favourite Legion of the Horus Heresy. The 'vintage' (is 2012 old enough for vintage - I think so) assault marines look excellent and suitably ferocious with their chainswords and heretical thoughts. But the star of the show is obviously the impressive 'Siege Breaker Consul'. Like you Greg, I'm somewhat mystified by his title, but like many thinks in the GrimDark Future I think its best not to ask silly questions. With his iPlate Pro and 'Task Hammer' he's obviously an important guy with important things to... blow up. Best to leave him to it. Fabulous figure though! I love the tablet detail that you've done and all his attendant kit is wonderfully painted. Fantastic stuff, my friend and four more fine additions to your heresy, er, liberator force. 

Finally, thank you for being our Thursday minion and for providing such great comments to so many of the entries this year. It really makes a difference. 

Same time next year? I think so!

- Curt 

From JohnS - Coming down the final staright, It's Cataphracts Followed by Horse Archers! - 80 points

Scraping in under the wire I have more Late Romans : A Base of Cataphracts (to complete a unit) and 4 bases of Horse Archers

The left figure is Victrix and the right Gripping Beast.

Both miniatures have good detail, the Victrix a bit finer

I enjoyed painting both miniatures and I like the contrast between the two.

Once again the Horse Archers are a mix of Victrix and Gripping Beast.

The more dynamic Victrix were a bit easier to paint (the horses are beautiful)

These guys have gone straight from the last Paint and Chat of this Challenge onto the photography table, hence the wet varnish!

28mm Mounted figures x 8 @ 10 pts = 80 points total to finish.

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Terrific work John! These cataphracts are very impressive and very neatly done, while the horse archers are dynamic and obviously ready to cause no end of headaches for your opponent on the tabletop. Well done!

- Curt

 

From AndrewB- Big ol final points pile! 1020pts

Well, this year I told myself I was going to focus on painting, not necessarily posting every week, but then March 20 was rapidly upon me!  Here we go, for a great big points bomb to finish off!  

First, a big bundle of Soviets I painted for a big bolt action game.  These are a mix of 28s, some printed, some metals mixed from a number of manufacturers! 

There's something like 22 infantry, 21 gun crews and guns, and a vehicle(tachankas are wild, that was a fun build!)

Next, with more WWII, I did a bunch of printed and Warlord Games Italian vehicles, along with a bunch of Old Glory infantry!  More fuel for the Bolt Action fires!

Italians have some whacky vehicles, which really makes for fun and interesting painting, if not particularly effective gaming!

I'm not sure I'm the biggest fan of the army building for Bolt Action V3, but I figured I should give a gun platoon a shot, with a couple light howitzers and a light AT gun(gonna need more crew!).

Looks like 23 infantry, three guns, and eight vehicles!

Now we'll stick to the Med, but perhaps a couple thousand years earlier, with some generic armed Greek/Roman civilians, as well as some character figures and a mythical opponent, a giant Cyclops!

I believe the characters are mostly Footsore, with the Cyclops being Reaper, and the civilians a mix of unknown manufacturers, for a total of 22 figs!

We'll finish off with a big old lot of Lord of the Rings figures, split between Uruk Hai and men of Gondor, with a mix of random generic men mixed in, to use as stand-ins for wild men, or some random brigands or such.  

These were quite delightful to paint while listening to the book series in audiobook form!  The figures are a mix of GW and 3d printed, and I think the random men might be old Warlord of some variety, perhaps Gauls or Germans!  The stand-ins for the clansmen of Lamedon are likely my favorites, with the leader being particularly 'cheeky', and kept facing forward for modesty's sake!

Counting these was a bit of a struggle, but it would appear there are 30 Uruks, 36 men of Gondor, and 11 of the random men, for a total of 77!

Sliding in about a half hour before midnight, we've got 168 Infantry figures, and 9 vehicles, for a total of 840 + 180 = 1020pts!

This year's challenge has been quite a delight, but I certainly need to figure out a better method for submissions, to avoid this sort of rush, and bring you fine readers better detailed posts!

Shout out to the figures who didn't get photos taken, fifty-something 28mm Bronze Age chaps, and 35 1:600 ancient galleys, among a good number of smaller scale figures.   

Thanks to all the entrants for their inspiring posts, and the organizers for the hard work!  I'll see you all next year!

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A parting points airstrike, eh Andrew? Wow, this is a great finale to your Challenge this year - fantastic stuff. Of all these I think the Cyclops is my favourite, but that may be because he's the largest of the batch, but also because Ray just had a Jason and the Argonaughts entry and I was thinking, 'That boy needs a cyclops for this lot.' Any here you are with the perfect solution, and so well painted to-boot! 

Wonderful work Andrew, and this will shoot you well past your points target for this year. Well done!

Until next Challenge then!

- Curt