From SimonM: "Lucid Eye Publications" Grove's Shrubs (45 Points)

These eight 23mm tall "cartoon scale white metal figures" of Grove’s Shrubs are produced by “Lucid Eye Publications” and can be brought from the company's "Toon Realms" range. Sculpted by Trish Carden to be the Shrub Henchmen for Yewan the Treeman, I actually thought these miniatures would make some excellent-looking Ents for my ongoing 'Lord Of The Toons' project using the "Dragon Rampant" rule-set by "Osprey Games".

Initially primed with a double layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, the talking trees were 'immersed' in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and later dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, as well as (the somewhat lighter) "Vallejo" Heavy Brown. I then 'picked out' their leafy beards using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

Finally, the ancient shepherds of Fangorn Forest had their eyes 'dotted' using a tiny spot of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre" and the fungi living on their backs treated to a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. These oyster-shaped toadstools were subsequently shaded using a splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, before each ensemble was tidied up, courtesy of either some additional “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, Heavy Brown and/or dash of “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade.

With two units of Lesser Warbeasts completed, I also turned my attention to one of a handful of free miniatures “Lucid Eye Publications” have kindly sent me as part of my recent orders with their company. These figures all consist of the self-same wizard sat atop a dice whilst smoking a pipe, and whilst not quite as cartoonish in style as the manufacturer’s other “Toon Realms” sculpts, they certainly seem to still fit the genre quite nicely. 

As a result I’ve decided to utilise the models as statues/objective markers for my games of “Dragon Rampant”, and paint them so as to represent a variety of materials. To begin with, I thought I’d prime the wizard with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and subsequently treat him to a double coat of Brass. The figurine was then heavily washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Brass.

To give the idol some ‘weathering’ I applied plenty of "Citadel" Nihilakh Oxide over the miniature, and later ‘blended’ this in with the rest of the colour scheme by giving it a second dry-brush of "Vallejo" Brass. Lastly, I pigmented the 28mm “Games Workshop” circular base beneath the wizard using “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, as well as a mixture of “Citadel” Nuln Oil, Biel-Tan Green and Agrax Earthshade, before dry-brushing the ‘stone plinth’ with more “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey.

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Great work on the shepherd shrubs(?), Simon, but I have to say I'm really taken by that wizard-smoking-on-a-die, especially with how you did the verdigris with the gold. It really makes a terrific looking marker. I have a somewhat similar game marker that I need to paint and I think I may pilfer your recipe for it. Thanks and Well Done!

-Curt

From DavidB - Establishing a beach head (115 points)

I could continue to play with the contrast paints and circle the island, but what kind of fun would that be!? After a look through the mountain of neglect, I found a primered duelist from the ancient game Talisman. He had to have red to make proper landfall at Sander Sand Dune as there is a whole lot of folks there already and red seems to be the fashion on that portion of the island.

I started painting him this morning and had to skip adding a nice dash of white or yellow to his puffy sleeves as the slashed knees and shoulders are merely small sculptor marks and not quite generous in area for some contrast color. At least the contrast paint Blood Angel red soaked into the creases and the effect did get him to where I was happy with it. I did add some orange highlights to the red as i still feel funny painting a model so quickly.  

And some eyes...not a whole lot of detail to this old sculpt and I usually don't go that far, but he needed some more detail to spruce him up a little farther.

I also plucked this fellow out of the mountain of neglect foothills. he actually had a lot of companions and I was organizing them to figure out regimental personnel. after allocation of commanders, banner-men, and musicians, this fellow was in his very own rank. I decided that he was an excellent volunteer for a test model and he also won the lottery to be Curtgeld for this year's challenge.

With a lucky blue tunic and some orange warpaint, he is now ready to pillage and terrorize on a distant shore. perhaps he will find a hapless dungeon party to mug and show off his amazing skills with two Choppas!

I still have no idea as to what I was thinking with this lot. I wanted to try the Iyanden Yellow contrast paint and a small voice whispered "space marines, they are tough enough to pull of yellow armor and look amazing!". And wow did that contrast yellow really pop on old white primered space marines. I thought I might do them up as Horus Heresy Imperial Fists, but I realized my Crimson Fists used all the icons I got from shapeways. I didn't want to curl transfers around the shoulder paldrons, so I thought Lamentors...."you have one already", that little voice whispered"he needs some company, and the checks were not THAT difficult". 

So the lone champion has a tactical squad to accompany him in Inquisimundia and now I can do Lamentors in kill team.

These are a mix from the old RTB01 and Rogue trader marine blisters with some of the newer more detailed models from the 90's. a veteran sgt with power sword leads his squad with a melta gun and missle launc..er rocket launcher.

A plasma gunner and another marine with a thunder hammer gives a few more options and allows for more kill team customizing. 

a capt in terminator armor and another captain with a combi melta and power axe to give them some more punch.

A very old chaplain from the rogue trader days. I have no idea why i glued that back pack on his back, but i added a banner to it as it felt funny without one. I suppose that since the lamentors are such a hard luck chapter still on a crusade to atone for backing the astral claws...maybe the additonal is a relic from a fallen hero, it also makes him look rather proud to be a lamenter marine

He isn't as detailed and bulky like the newer chaplains, but these older chaplain models still have that ferocious, heroic look that still appeals to me. although he lacks a crozious, the power sword and boltpistol should be good enough to carry him through.

With 15 lamentors, the duelist should be able to hold at the beachhead!

85 points and now I have to aid a daughter in assembling her new Soritas models, and spend some time with the family before training kicks off again....and i have to figure what sort of things to occupy the empty space on the painting desk too!

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An amazing array of models here David.  

I really like the yellow, which is a brave choice since we all know what a pain in the !@# yellow is to paint, but you have pulled it off here very well.  I also really like all the old school checkers you have added to them, it really pulls them back to the era they were produced in when 40k was over the top.

The duelist and ork are also nice additions here, and I can imagine the duelist trying to hold others off the beach (not sure how he will fair against some sci-fi gun weilding maniacs, but hey, honour demands he at least try!).

You forgot to add the points on for the map space though, so your total is actually 115 (unless I have made a mistake as well on math).  Great work, keep it up!

- ByronM

From MikeW: Late 17th Century Ottoman Heavy Cavalry and Artillery (60 Points)

I'm pleased to be welcomed back go participate in Challenge X, this year I'll even hopefully achieve my targeted 2,000 points of painting!

Having missed the target last year by a slim margin, I realise that getting a start over the Xmas and New Year period is key to success, thus my first post in the first week - albeit a small batch of figures and artillery pieces.

An added spur to keep me going is that fellow SAS Wargames Club member 'GrahameH' is participating in the challenge this year, withe the same 2,000 point target - and I'm worried - he can be a truly prolific, quality painter....

4 x 28mm Ottoman Armoured Cavalry

First up are 4 x 28mm Ottoman Turk, Armoured Cavalrymen, these guys will join 8 of their companions that I had already completed before the start of the challenge to make up 2 x 6 figure squadrons.

These figures are a bit of a 'mash-up', the horses are actually from the plastic HaT Industrie,  El CiD Sets, whilst the riders are from a couple of batches of suitable metal figures sourced form eBay with appropriate weaponry such as shields, bows, muskets and pistols added.

I use acrylic paints, from a variety of manufacturers and typically undercoat my figures in white, before building up the colours. I used Army Painter washes on these guys to get the shading as there is a lot of exposed armour and metal work.

Then there is a final coat of Matt Varnish, I have taken to using Windsor and Newton's 'Galeria Acrylic Mediums' varnish, it gives a truly matt finish and is very quick drying. Note - be sure to give the pot a long, strong shake before use!!

The bases of these figures were treated using my usual method - a coat of brown emulsion paint, mixed with PVA glue - various  house paint sample pots and any good glue will do, the paint mix is sprinkled with sand and allowed to dry. Next a dry brushing of the same emulsion / PVA mix and a sprinkle of electrostatic grass to give vegetation cover before applying a variety of grass and plant type 'clumps' to the base to give added variety.

By my reckoning these 4 figures are worth 10 points ea - so a total of 40 points

Field Gun with warped barrel!

Field Gun with acceptable carriage
but dodgey wheels

The final two items on this first post are 2 x 28mm Ottoman Artillery pieces. The green  Field Gun is a plastic model sourced with two others off the internet. Actually, together, they represent three of the worst quality moulded models I've ever seen....

After a lot of knife work to clean up the pieces - I feel that they are now presentable for tabletop games, as long as they are not too closely inspected. The gun carriages are distinctly wobbly and the barrels are still warped, but it is very hard to find suitable Ottoman artillery pieces for the Late 17th Century at present.

To be fair - I was looking for a cheap solution to allow me to put on a game without waiting for more established manufacturers to release Ottoman Artillery - so you get what you pay for! I think the Ottomans will have a high chance of miss-fires when using these field guns...

Ottoman Light Gun, from rear

Ottoman Light Gun, from front

The Red Gun is a similar 'mash-up' to one I did in last year's challenge - the carriage is from an old Warhammer Empire Galloper gun set, with a plastic barrel taken form the Warlord Games 17th Century Artillery set.



These 2 guns are worth 10 points ea - so a total of 20 points

Overall Post Value:  40+20 = 60 Points

So now I'll be looking for what to do next - I have several Ottoman Cavalry Units still to get done, plus some Polish Armoured Cossacks that also need doing, many units of European Foot. Then there is the SAGA Norman Infantry & Dark Ages Archers, some Warlord Imperial Romans. Some 10mm (1/144) Israeli Sherman Tanks. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do and how I can explore the Adventure Island!

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by Paul: Welcome back to the fray Mike!  Yes, I find that squeezing in some hobby time around Christmas to be essential for me getting off the mark with a few quick runs.

A lovely opening salvo though the modelling of the guns sounds like a frustrating process. 
Still, that is 60 points down range to start you on your way - good luck!

From DaveD - 10mm Barbarians - "For Joshua" Project - 204 points

This is my first post of the Challenge and me its a really important one. This is part of the "For Joshua" project set up by JamesM of this parish and MadTin Hatter fame (or aka the Detroit Sherman factory) .  The link to the project can be found here , and the link the James' video is here.  This is a very noble cause and if you have not seen it - its worth a visit.

Along with a number of our local gamers and people around the world we are doing what we are good at to help out the charity that helped James and Amy at their worst of times.

So here I give you my contribution which is a Barbarian horde .. now bear in  mind I don't generally do "spear chucking" this is a little out of the normal for me . The figures by Pendraken were all very crisply cast and were easy to paint. Leon from Penraken has graciously contributed some free figures to the project too - thanks mate.

altogether :-
10mm Foot x140 figures
10mm Mounted x 12 figures
10mm vehicle/equivalents -- 10 (6 catapults and 4 very large mammoths!)

total 194...

Right then ... let me go and find something with a gun and a uniform..

cheers DaveD

From MilesR:
Dave this is a wonderful entry and a very worthy cause so 10 bonus points for being a nice guy.  I love the mammoths and think you've done a marvelous job with the army.  A most worthy first entry.  Plus I get to enter numbers in the rarely used 10mm columns of the "Spreadsheet of Doom" - wooo-hoooo!

Well Done!

From LeeH - Frozen Tower for Frostgrave - 10 points

I wasn't expecting to post this last-minute entry for the first week of the challenge but once I got started I had to finish it - the bug just took me. So I'm planning on playing a lot of Frostgrave later this year and I need quite a bit of terrain to replicate the frozen city. The Young Padawan is still playing 6mm ancients games with me but in return, I have agreed to her request for some fantasy wargaming. I already had a lot of old D&D figures that I have been able to repurpose for Frostgrave but what I haven't got is much in the way of terrain. So one of my projects for this Challenge is to scratch build and paint as many buildings as I can. And first to be completed is this ruined tower. 

I may make another, larger, tower later on but this was my first attempt at using bluefoam for model building. My recently completed Operations Room means that for the first time in decades I have a space dedicated to my hobby and that means I can work on larger projects that take weeks not hours to complete...an important consideration back when I had to 'borrow' the dining room table for model terrain construction. My Operations room is now in a right mess, but it's my mess and I love it! 

This tower is built around a central core...the versatile Pringles Tin. I made the choice from the beginning not to build the tower from individual bricks but rather from concentric 'pineapple rings' of foam that would fit around the core and be glued and shaped one course at a time. I'm not convinced I made life any easier for myself as the rings invariably came out different sizes and I had to make several adjustments as I worked my way upwards. None the less I'm pretty happy with this first foray into the world of foam model making and I'm already working on more complex stuff for later in the Challenge. 

The tower stands about 6" tall and has a diameter of 4" so not quite a full cube of terrain (I'll leave the determination of points to the umpires mercy!). I built in a partially collapsed spiral stairway so that characters in the game can use the tower for some elevation, maybe gaining an advantage over the other side, or getting a clearer view of the path ahead. 

So with that icy side quest completed its time for me to get working on my first venture onto Challenge Island.

From Minion DaveD, 
Aah now that's nice to see , so back to schoolboy maths and the volume of your cylinders ( πr² x h) 75 cubic inches , a standard terrain cube is 216 cubic inches.. So lets call that a base 7 ,but for the extra steps and the fact its a new bit modelling skill  lets call it 10!

there are various items you can get yo help with working with foam - and it gets addictive Lee - looking forward to seeing what else you have for us

'Running Back to Saskatoon'

Hi All,

I'm taking my mom back home to Saskatoon today, but never fear, our Challenge Minions will step into the breach to handle the day's submissions.

Be back soon!

Curt

From BenitoM: Early War German Officers and NCOs (25 Points)

Third entry to the Challenge and just in the nick of time, before starting the Christmas Eve dinner!

I returned this time to my initial core project for the Challenge and introduce today the first painted models of my German Early War force. This project will follow the template of the TooFatLardies 1940 supplement book for a Chain of Command infantry platoon.

The models here are the 2 senior leaders of the Platoon HQ unit and the three junior leaders commanding each of the three sections of the platoon.

The models are from the Warlord plastic box. Warlord plastic ranges have improved over time and these figures present a very good sculpting, similarly to the Red Devils I painted last year. Extremely good detail and also good face expressions.

The multi-pose options in the box are almost infinite in variation and you can almost build a different pose for each of the 30+ models included in the box.

The project got traction after watching NickM’s early war panzer models painted last year. Very inspiring indeed.

With this entry I add 25 points to my Challenge score. Next in line, likely my landing at the mysterious Challenge Island.

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These chaps are excellent, Benito! As you say the offerings from Warlord have incrementally improved over time and these models really benefit from your skills with the brush. I particularly like the kneeling NCO, MP40 at the ready, gesturing his squad forward, and the 'Big Man' officer, pistol out, leading from the front. Hmm, I'm wanting to do a small early war skirmish scenario and perhaps some of these models might fit the bill (scribbles note to self).

25 points for you, young man. Well done!


-Curt

From LeeH - Pauravan Indian Longbowmen (144 points)

I'm fascinated by the story of Alexander the Great and have been since I was a kid. Over the years I have read plenty of books about this giant of history and have long been fascinated by the fact that these Greeks made it all the way to India in a time when the sub-continent was largely unknown outside of myth to most Europeans. I've been toying with the idea of building a Classical Indian Army for a long time but other projects have kept me busy. Now, at last, I'm ready to make it a reality. I'm not sure if I'll ever get to game with this army, but I'm looking forward to painting it none the less. The order of battle I have gone for broadly corresponds to that fielded by King Poros at the Battle of the Hydaspes and that means lots and lots of bowmen.

It's worth noting that most of the information I have gathered regarding this army has come from the WRG publication The Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars by Duncan Head. However, I have also tried to refer to original source materials such as the translated works of Arian wherever possible. The interweb has made this process much easier of course and I have been able to track down magazine articles and other sources as well. Few Indian sources survive and I have struggled to find the translated versions, although I will continue looking (and suggestions are welcome!). What we do know of Northern India in the 4th century BCE was that it was divided into many small tribal monarchies and that war between them was probably common. 

Indian Infantry wore sandals and a simple high waisted kilt, usually made of white cotton. The longbow was probably as long as the later English Longbow but made of Bamboo; it's unclear how powerful they would have been in comparison. Arrian suggests they were very powerful but I have not been able to find more contemporary sources to corroborate this. The bow was strung with hemp or sinew and given the damp conditions prevalent in this region for much of the year its hard to say how effective these weapons would have been. The arrows were 4ft 6in long and made of cane or reed. The real strength of these units was probably not the weapon so much as the quantity of firepower that could be directed at an enemy that would normally be as lightly protected as those firing.

The core of the Army of King Poros at the Hydaspes was the Longbowmen and I have opted for eight units of these - a total of 288 infantry figures which should earn me 144 points and get me firmly started towards my target. 

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It's fabulous to see you get back into your 6mm groove, Lee, and what a terrific project to gear-up for this year's Challenge. These chaps look to be your 'typical' high standard, all massed up for maximum visual appeal - lovely stuff. I can imagine that these fellows would have put up a ferocious storm of reed arrows - it must have looked very intimidating.

These fellas will give you a very tidy 144 points. Beautiful work Lee!

-Curt 

From NoelW: Douglas' Shallows: A Barbary Lugger (35 Points)

Hearing there are riches of peculiar value and unusual gratification to be found in a strange isle west of Ultima Thule, we say our farewells to the coast of Barbary, set full sail and, graced by winds of special virtue, on the third day sight that shadowy land of promise. As if great white horses break their chests across shallows of golden sand – well, perhaps just a little more like scruffy grey donkeys stumbling over an old cat’s litter tray - we negotiate that minor hazard with bravery and very few casualties.

On landing, we come across a pile of old clothes that seem to have been abandoned by a homeless person but, on approaching, we find they assemble themselves into a madman with paintbrushes wedged in his hair and another somehow glued between his teeth. When slightly pressed by the application of a sophisticated dagger, he tells us the place is quaintly known as “Dougras’ Sharrows”. Odd, this seems, but then the place itself is odd.

The land, we’re led to understand, after only a modicum of pressure is applied by means of a blunt oar, is known as “Chawwenge Eggs”. Who among reasonable men would use such an epithet? It takes little more than the sharpening of a rapier on the old man’s bristly chin to learn he knows the golden way, the trail long lusted for, the Path of the New Shiny. Shininess is something we understand well.

So we drag the ship beyond the tideline, conceal it under fronds of scraggly palm, and start our march to a place the man with paint in his hair calls “Mudly’s Mesa”, our first step on the long road to the Lord’s Snowy Peak and its fortune of golden Eggs.

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I’m always late to submit my first post, as my birthday coincides with the start of the Challenge, so opportunities for painting are lost amidst endless opening of cards, the heady round of family carousing and the ripping of paper from unguessable objects. But amongst them were new toys which should figure in my next submission.

Meanwhile my major project of the moment is Black Seas, Warlord’s Age of Sail game which came out in October and which I’m proud to say I was involved in creating. I love the 1/700^th ship models, and the game itself is great fun to play, so I’m planning several submissions in the next few months. The first is just  a small one to get a foothold on the lower slopes of the table. This is a lugger, produced not by Warlord but a German firm, Hagen, who’ve begun a small range in 1/700^th.

This is the first ship for my Barbary pirates, so it’s painted as a somewhat worn and un-cared for ship, battered by negligence and abuse. Citadel Contrast paints are a good medium for such an impression. (The larger ships in the fleet will be prettier.) My grand aim is for the Battle of the Nile (or Aboukir Bay), but also to try some associated small-scale actions of Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, for which small ships like this will be really useful, as well as US frigates vs Barbary pirates.

Hagen supply their ships without sails or rigging, so these have to be worked out from their pictures – not a difficult task, but it takes a bit of working out, and it’s the first time I’ve attempted to decode rigging for myself. I’m quite pleased with the results overall, though the sails are poor - I'll have to figure out a better way to make and paint these from scratch.

As for points – you tell me! It’s 1/700^th, about 1.5 inches high and 2 inches to tip of bowsprit.

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Haha, your preamble was fabulous, Noel. Great stuff and it really sets the mood for Challenge Island.

Wow, you've done a beautiful job on this lugger - I especially like the subtle weathering on the hull and sails; and the rigging, wow, that's really lovely work. I've not succumbed to Black Seas yet, but it is only a matter of days with the rate of these wonderful ship entries coming in. Besides, now that I know somebody who was actually involved in the development of the game - I'm absolutely compelled to get a copy, I have no choice! :)

An elegant first entry to the Challenge, Noel. Happy belated birthday and the very best for the New Year.

-Curt

From DavidB: The Law (30 Points)

It is finally that time of the year again! I am exceptionally busy, but Curt easily cajoled me into jumping into the fray with brushes and paint. I have only just returned home from training and will be off again, but thanks to contrast paints from Games Workshop, I was able to bang these out during Christmas. I only have a few pots, but i have learned that dark angel green is very dark as is the black templar. The basilicanum grey is very pale as is guilliman flesh. mistakes are easily fixed with white paint or your base color if you make a mistake. Using grey, tan, green, or any other mid to light tone as a basecoat does enhance them and gives extra neat effects. I really like the yellow as you will all see after I finish the final detail of the next batch. these glazes do not dry with a shiny sheen and you can add to the highlights with regular paint of choice as well. what they do is give a nice shade just in normal application and I may go back to using white as a primer. 

Anytime I looked as these Arbite models, i always thought of Dredd and they have stolen a bit from his iconic look. Rather than make my own color scheme, I used dredd for inspiration. Green body armor, black clothing and red spot colors seemed the best approach.

The arbite champion or lead judge is really over the top, so he was a lot of fun to watch as the colors added up to making him a riot of color and bling. The contrast yellow really pops the imperial eagles well. I used P3 gravedigger denim to basecoat the overcoat and that one step added some nice blue grey highlights after the templar black dried.

the raised yellow lines on the hands and knees were just adding the contrast yellow after a quick overbrush with white. 

The blood angel red was my spot color and it helps magnify the imperial eagles. I did use the dark angel green on the shoulder, but repainted the test model as the red was a better choice.

I only noticed the craft paint used to paint the bases can use a touch up in a few spots and my highlight painting on the asphalt is a bit too subtle for the camera to discern. Most of my time was spent on the bits of webgear and weapons as the contrast paints dried. I used two coats for the clothing and body armor to really darken them up; yet the striking scorpion green and gravedigger denim still show up well as highlights. The blood Angel red does give a shade of purple which is wonderful as I was never able to do that with layering and always liked the rich color the purple gave the red. As a caution, these contrast paints do not thin well with water as they become a mess. I found it is better to use them straight from the pot and build the layers up to control the flow. in total I spent about 8 hours on the six models which left plenty of time for family holiday fun.

Six 28mm models for 30 points.

The law has arrived. There will be no warnings for rude or foul behavior, just the sound of a shotgun being loaded behind the offender. First offence will be forced quaffing of used brush water. second offence is too brutal to describe. Goading the Gimp, badgering the badger, and smacking another competitor with hand bags is still authorized at this time.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, David!  It's wonderful to have you with us, even if it is only briefly between deployments.

I love these Arbites. I have a few to do for my upcoming Dark Heresy campaign and I think I will follow your excellent lead with the Judge Dredd paint scheme - why overcomplicate things, right? I really like the effect you've achieved with the Citadel Contrast paints, especially the yellow and green. I've tried a few pots and have really liked the effects once can achieve. I also smiled at your use of P3 'Gravedigger Denim', probably my favourite colour of 2019 (if one can have such a thing).

30 Points for you Mr. Bromley! Well done and I hope we get a few more entries from you before you have to leave for your posting.

-Curt