From RobertH: Frostgrave - Do not ask for whom the wolf culls, it culls for thee (20 points)

Pomponia turned the corner, two skellies at arms at her back, the necromancer and his apprentice hot on their heels. To her left, an intact building, rare in the Frozen City. To her right, the far more common ruin.Blocking the street ahead, a pack of canines.

Packs of wild dogs are a common sight in Felstad. Generally, these animals are scrawny, chronically malnourished, and often diseased members of the species. Unfortunately, this often makes them aggressive.

Wolves, on the other hand, are a rarer sight, and tend to shy away from humans. One or two, however, will occasionally range into the Frozen City in search of prey.

While the wolves may well prefer to ignore or flee from humans, how might they feel about piles of magically animated bones? Threats to shy away from, or a tasty snack to crack open and marrow to savor?

My first entry for Challenge X, just short of the cull deadline, are four 25/28mm wolves. This is a pack (pun intended) from Warbases animal line:

I mounted all four on some 25mm diameter plastic cobblestone bases from Renedra, to match the rest of my Frostgrave figures. Painting was relatively simple; primed black, then painted Vallejo Neutral Grey, drybrushed Apple Barrell Quaker Gray, and then washed with ArmyPainter Soft Tone. Muzzles and eyes got a quick dab of black.

I spackled around the metal base to blend it in with the cobblestones, which I then painted white and glued snow to them. I'm not happy with the stark white under the snow; the grays give the snow a blue tone, while the white shows where the glue didn't take. Life and learn.

So that's twenty points in the books. Not bad for a few hours work. I started about 1300 Pacific today, and they bulk of the work was done by 1600. I was also working on a few other entries, so should have one or two more to post this week.

And I survived the cull by a whole fifteen minutes.

----
By Paul
A slim margin perhaps but safe is safe regardless! 
Still, any further delays and you would have had to Pack it in...

From Iannick: A Fashionably Late First Entry (65 Points)

It is with barely two days left to the deadline that I finally submit my first entry to this year's challenge! I made the cut!

Obviously, it has to be a Curtgeld, since I do not intend to leave this island so early! With the choice of figure completely up to me, I went looking into my rather large unpainted stash, and picked something I knew I would enjoy painting. A few years back (Challenge 7 I think. How time flies) some of you may remember I went on a Halfling painting spree. It so happens I still have quite a few of the unpainted little fellows, what with me pledging for the whole range during the Kickstarter!

I'm a big fan of playing Halflings in D&D and Warhammer, probably because my favourite RPG character of all time, "Cedwick Bloomberry", was a halfling Fieldwarden. Never was a character so lucky, it was uncanny, and he became the stuff of legends amongst my RPG group. People always underestimated the little fellow, always...

Anyways, the Stonehaven Halflings are just a lovely range, and every figure is full of personality. I picked the "Mage apprentice" as my Curtgeld, in part because I have two of them (packaging mistake), but also because it's one of my favourite of the range. I believe the figures work especially well for RPGs, and this one should be of use to a DM looking to represent a first level halfling mage character, or NPC. Hopefully it can find a place in the collection of such a player (hint, hint).

I usually go with browns and earthy tones for halflings, but since this guy is a young mage, I gave him a blue wardrobe, it seemed fitting. I had as much fun painting him as I did 3 years ago, the little guys just paint themselves it seems. 

Next up we have Alice Duskbane, Paladin of Cormyr. The last few years I've been involved in a sort of personal RPG renaissance, after a decade long hiatus, and introduced three of my close friends to the hobby, and we've been playing twice-monthly ever since. Truthfully, I never thought they would all love it as much as they do! So I've been painting their characters, and this is the paladin of Marie-Claude in our D&D 5e forgotten realms campaign. 

The figure is from Dark Sword, probably my favourite fantasy figures manufacturer, and was picked by MC, and then painted by me, based on her character's description. It was a somewhat difficult figure to paint, first because painting pristine white is never that fun, but also because the figure is very slender and "petite". I also rarely paint redheads if I can avoid it, it never looks quite right. I'm quite happy with her nonetheless, and so is MC, which is the most important.

This lovely gal is also my ticket to Mudry's Mesa, as I will finally start my exploration of Challenge Island on Sarah's balloon. Sadly, I will have to make my maiden voyage sober, since I'm all out of bubbles (an ironic twist of fate considering it is one of my favourite drinks). But considering my RPG group is made-up of all women, I have plenty of unpainted female figures, and I do intend on using that mode of transportation more than once! Plus any excuse to drink bubbles...

So...

Curtgeld and 28mm figure : 30 pts

First trip on Sarah's balloon and 28mm figure : 35 pts

So 65 pts to erase the shameful "0" next to my name!

See you soon on the Mesa.

***

Bienvenue a noveau, Iannick! It's great to have you back among the Challenge and to share not only your fine brushwork, but your energy and passion for the hobby.  I do recall the earlier halfling painting spree, and I know many other Challengers and visitors will too. Your aspiring mage is just the ticket to honour that tradition, a fine Curtgeld for a lucky participant. 

The Paladin is really something, excellent work.  I have a feeling many fantasy and D&D fans will be looking Dark Sword miniatures if they haven't already...

That's 65 points for you, sir, and we look forward to more!

GregB

Formatting Your Posts - A Celebrity Reminder From Your Friend Horus Lupercal, The Warmaster

Did you check your post over before marking it "ready"? No? That's what happens when you believe in an "Emperor"...

Posting to Blogger is not always the easiest thing - the software can be bonky, the text editing and other functions can be opaque, inconsistent and even baffling at times, often for reasons that are not apparent.  Likely Blogger was created by some brain-sick software engineer who was also blind to the true glory of the Dark Mechanicum...one of many things that will need sorting out after I finish my conquest of Terra.

Plus, you are all busy folks, right? Busy painting, hopefully, but often just busy with life and other things. Perhaps you are trying to liberate the galaxy from the tyranny of a so-called "Emperor" - whatever the reason, life can get in the way - well unless you're Ferrus Manus - "life" isn't a problem for him anymore. But the point is that your Warmaster understands. You have painted your lovely figures and models, you just want to get the posting process over with so you can move on!

But that said, there are a few simple steps that the dim Minions who assist with all of this would like to remind you of when it comes to drafting your posts.  Normally I ignore the Minions - I pass their calls along to Fulgrim, so he can have people to talk to and feel less insecure.  But in this case, the information is important enough that I have taken time out of my busy schedule of ruthless galactic conquest charity work to remind all Participants in this fine Ppainting Challenge of the following rules with regard to formatting posts:

- Please take a moment to read them over before marking them "ready".  Yes, we all make mistakes (I speak from experience - obviously not my own, because I am the perfect Warmaster - but the Minions processed this for me, so there is surely a typo in this very post!) but while we are happy to make small corrections, we cannot re-write the submissions for you...
- Please make sure the photos are not too large. See Tamsin's earlier guidance on this here.
- Please use the labels for your post - your name, any other relevant points, like the Challenge Island location, the figure size/scale, manufacturer etc. 

That's that. Did I mention that it is a good idea to take a moment to read the post over before marking it "ready"? Please take a moment to read your post over before marking it "ready".

Posts which are not able to meet basic standards will be subjected to the "Istvaan Treatment" returned to "draft" state.

That is all - many thanks on behalf of your humble Minions (who make mistakes too, but they get to blame them on Miles' spreadsheet).

Horus Lupercal, on behalf of your Minions.

From AlexandroL: Curtgeld - Sdkfz 222 in 28mm (45 points)

"Empezar la casa por el Tejado" is a well known spanish saying, means Start from the final.

My first steps into Challenger island is pay fee for Snow lord's Peak.

I've chosen iconic Sdkfz.222 because It's my favorite Recon Vehicle in World War II.  I think almost all of us have a German Army and never have enough 222. 

This is a great model from Blitkzreig Miniatures, but it does have a a serious problem. The resin is too oily and it's not easy to paint, although you washed it previously.

Difference Resin Between Warlord games and Blitzreig Miniatures.

Detail of gross, oily resin.

My solution was a basecoat of Tamiya putty with acetone as thinner.  It's more a wash than a basecoat. Acetone clean resin and disolve putty, and mostly improve the surface.

All stowage are from Black Dog Models. (1/48 Range) ,  I love this resin model. Fine sculpt, lots of details.

With this Model I should earn 45 Points. 20 Points for 28mm vehicle + 25 Point for Curtgeld bonus.

my following steps into island will be a Sander's Sand Dunes (with some Roman Archers with red dress), I`ll continue inside of the path of history.


***
Hi Alexandros, very nice work here.  Many of us can relate to problems with resin. Myself, I hate resin models, often encountering the very issues you describe (I believe Ken has been battling this as well).  It seems, based on this edition of the Challenge at any rate, that the models from Blitzkrieg seem to suffer in particular from this (I have avoided ordering from them specifically because of the issues so many people seem to encounter). The economics of the hobby are such that we always have, and always will, see resin models out there.

And whatever the issues, one can't argue with the results seen here! Excellent brush work has created a fine-looking model, well done Alexandros. Did you have a specific recipient for this prize in mind? Best to advise before the Snow Lord decides for himself...

GregB

From RossM: 28mm Red Pirate - Curtgeld (60 Points)

Second entry for this year's challenge and this time it is also a part of Challenge Island. 

Starting by landing at Sander's Sand Dune, this lonely pirate is seeing red all around him. Napoleonics, Romans and many more all in shades of red.

A Wargames Foundry Oriental pirate that was a part of a small band of rogues in the painting lists.

The red is a new addition to the paint pot coming from Citadel's range of paints. Base, wash and layer giving a red with impact and depth. The colours, god only knows they have such strange names.

This figure is also being offered as the Curtgeld and a prize for those who have journeyed to the Challenge Island.

Thanks for looking and in terms of points this bring in

5 for 1 x 28mm
25 for Curtgeld
30 for Challenge Island prize.

Totaling either 30 for Curtgeld or 60 for Curtgeld and prize.

Cheers for now.

***

Pirate? Why, he is merely an innocent fisherman, no? Sporting red finery and...a polearm. Well, safety first, right? I mean, with so many OTHER pirate types around - not to mention an army of red entries along these specific sand dunes, a polearm is only logical, right?

Very nice Ross.  You have some great results here. I use the GW paint line for 98% of my painting, and I share your exasperation at the stupid names of their paints, but they are good paints, easy to acquire, and give great results - just see the output above. 

As a minion, I find your math complex. So it's probably correct. If not, Miles will launch me directly into the Sun. But that's a problem for another day. 60 points for you!

GregB

From SebastianR: Vermillion, Pathfinder Character (35 Points)

"Look mate, 'e's go' a floppy 'at, what else do y'need?" Geezer sniffed and wiped his nose.

He flicked an uncertain look at me. The guardian of the sandhill looked, likewise, uncertain.

I cradled the foot long idol in my arms as the awkward silence spooled out.

The tribute demanded by the guardian had taken a while to recover. The first one had snapped off at the legs. A second had also snapped at the legs, but this time it had been a clumsy acquaintance rather than myself.

The guardian licked his lips and coughed. "The donnybrook theme was very clear."

"e's a fantasy bird form a fantasy land ma'. With the elves an' goblins an' all tha' nerdy stuff. Look I'm no' 'ere to judge. Maybe he was figh'in' one of them wars bu' wif gandalf or summat."

"It could at least have a badger" muttered the guardian, clearly in retreat.

"e's go' a rat. It's basically a tiny badger."

We shook on it and I handed over the idol, paid geezer his fee and began my climb towards the top of the Sandhill.

***

So this is Vermillion, my other Pathfinder character, this time for Pathfinder Society. He's a Tengu Archaeologist (the horrible misnaming of what is effectively an arcane rogue) and was also procured in return for beer cider. The comments about it breaking aren't a joke. The first print, I managed to break while block colouring. The second was crushed by a fellow player. Those legs are... not robust.

The spell effect in his left hand is my best impression of the shiny spell effects I see on various fantasy models. I think it's passable.

In other news, I got a marco lens. For my my phone. It cost like 10 quid off eBay and the effects are... interesting.

I basically got it in lieu of putting together a proper photography set up, which I don't really have space for.

Pros, I dont need to crop the photos afterwards.

Cons, not significantly better than cropping photos after the fact, closer photos means higher res means my mistakes are bigger, probably made by child-slave-labour.
 

So that's 35pts methinks; 30 for the challenge and 5 for the mini.

***
Hi Sebastian - wow, a lot going on with one figure! I enjoyed the story, but breaking three times...yikes! On the plus side, the brushwork here is very, very sharp on a very cool looking figure.  The spell effect is pretty neat in particular, and works wells with a character working along something as cool-sounding as the "Pathfinder Society".  I've enjoyed looking this up online, and it will help me delay doing work for at least another couple of hours :)

And your new lens helps us appreciate your work. I sympathize when it comes to those who find taking photos frustrating - the lighting is almost always a hassle. But the notion of a macro lens for the iPhone is pretty cool, something I should look into. As long as it's only "probably" made by slave labour...

35 points for you, well done. 

GregB

From RobH: Six Assorted Fantasy Foot Figures and Curtgeld - (55 Points)

My First entry into this winter's painting challenge is ready. The first three weeks of the challenge was spend mostly in bed due to a nasty cold and flu combination. A great way to spend the Christmas holidays. Otherwise a belated Happy New Year to all.

1) One Leprechaun and a pot of gold. My Curtgeld for this year. There are so many miniatures in my pile of lead, that I have lost track of where they came from. The source of this figure is a mystery to me.

2) Two mushroom men. More mystery figures. My thoughts are that Ming the Merciless has to harvest the spores for the Purple Death from somewhere, and they would be a fine source. Future allies of Flash Gordon.

3) Three Nazgûl on foot, in the middle of the night. They will correspond to the three mounted ring-wraiths, which  I entered in previous editions.

The sun was low on the horizon when I went to take the photos, and I found that my tablet was not charged. The images are from my iPhone, which isn't as good as my tablet for this task.

Scoring six 25mm foot figures @ 5 points each plus 25 points for my Curtgeld.

***

Hello again Rob, and welcome to Challenge Edition X.  The flu sounds like it was pretty awful, so good to see you are back at things, and that your brushes are back in action! Quite a variety here - including a mystery leprechaun! But I like the Nazgul most...so chilling and ominous, such a great part of the incredible LOTR story.

I sympathize with your challenges when it comes to getting photos done, always a bit of a pain, no matter how much they advance the cameras on our assorted iPhones etc. 

55 points for you, welcome to the fray!

GregB

From MartinC: 24th Lancers for Mudry's Mesa (94pts)

So this post is a bit of a cheat as although inspired by a fellow challenger it doesn't relate to a single post. I wargame with JamesM often and it's always a blast. He has an obsession (is obsession the right word...yes it is) with building the Highland Division in Normandy - his grandfather's old unit and tour of duty. We play his excellent WW2 games and he even plays ours - and is a less rabib anti spearchucker than Dave.

As a result of this I have loads of WW2 15mm figs - Paras, Commandos (my grandfather's unit) and Germans to be shot at. This is all his fault. A typical post for him on the challenge is https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/jamesm-15mm-ward-lafrance-wrecker-9.html

So my Commandos needed some tank support for Normandy and therefore we have the 24th lancers - James donated me a couple of Fireflys as part of the challenge and these are the Shermans.

Even the transfers are right - obviously a gift from James, I'm not great with decals.

So that is 8x15mm vehicles = 64 points, plus 30 points for the new location.

***

Well, Mudry's Mesa won't stand a chance with this lot rolling towards it, will they? The anti-tank status of the Mesa's defences are not know, but since there are eight tanks here, I have to expect at least one or two of them will survive and make it to the top.  

Well done Martin, I'm a big nerd for WW2 gaming, especially with tanks! These look lovely, and will make fine targets for the assortment of lethal German AT weapons and kit to be found on any Normandy-themed battle. 

Another 94 points for your impressive total. 

GregB

From EricM: 28mm Bicorne English Civil War Ensign Millys Challenge and Challenge Prize (60 Points)

Last week I made land fall on Challenge Island and began my trek on the Path of History.  Having conquered Sander's Sand Dunes last week I pushed on to Millsy's Millpond.  Milly's task for us was to paint a figured from history (minimum of Pre-2000).  

After much digging,I came across one of the earliest historical figures I purchased.  I think he comes from my first visit to Cold Wars in 1991.  That first Cold Wars trip from central Indiana to eastern Pennsylvania is fondly remembered as the "ride of death or Donner Party II". Eight inches of snow and a meat loaf shaped like a human brain left an indelible mark on my memory.

This figure is a 28mm Bicorne English Civil War Ensign.   He was a fun figure to pain, the quality of sculpting has really held up well over the almost 30 years.

Since this is a one-off figure,just for fun, I mounted him on a cobblestone base from Tre Games.  I'm a big fan of Tre Games they have a great selection of bases and other laser cut wood products.

In addition to this figure being my my toll to cross Milly's Millpond, it will also be my Challenger's Prize Figure (coming in just under the wire, as usual).

Thanks for looking!

***

"Just" under the wire is still under the wire in the end, very good Eric. Your ECW ensign is excellent and certainly looks the part.  The cobblestone effect on the base is also very nice, and your brushwork brings the best out. But it was a bit hard to get past imagining what the situation of the snow storm and the meatloaf entailed...

So, between all of the location bonuses etc. etc. I am pretty sure this gets you 60 points. If I'm wrong, I'll be mauled by other minions (and presumably end up as part of another tantalizing meatloaf dish served only on Challenge Island).  Did you have a recipient in mind for this figure? Do let the Snow Lord know...or he'll share more about the details of some of HIS memorable meals...

GregB

From LeeH - Victorian Photographers (Pipers Peak) (40 points)

As I cut my way through the jungle on Challenge Island I hear a noise up ahead. I hear muffled voices and chillingly the only word I can make out is "...cheese...". What manner of terrible arcane ritual is taking place this far into the forest? Despite my fears, my curiosity gets the better of me and I creep silently through the underbrush. As I get closer I can hear the occasional mechanical clicking noise. With rising trepidation, I part the final fronds of the bush in front of me and reveal.....two victorian photographers! One stands ready with fresh photographic plates in his hands while his companion peaks through the viewfinder.

The figures are 28mm foot to eye. The camera is cast as part of the photographer but the tripod is assembled separately and for reasons that I don't understand was a proper b----r to stick together. I've assembled smaller models but getting the third leg to stay in position long enough for the glue to set seemed to be a challenge too far. Some days its probably best to just walk away! 

This is my fourth location on the island and in the distance, I can see the mountain of the Snow Lord himself. But first I need to see a man about a badger!

***

Great idea for this location on Challenge Island Lee. I sympathize with your frustration on getting the tripod assembled, and I'm sure many Challengers have had similar experiences, hoping that the right combination of glue, glaring and swearing will somehow make the process go faster...or go at all!

That's 40 points for you, great work. 

GregB

From MartinC: Terryfying Balloon Ride - Sarah's Balloon to Mudry's Mesa (10 Points)

I need to move across the island, not ready to assault the peak yet (I'm not convinced there is a pub at the top). So having made the schoolboy error of submitting all my female figures for 1 balloon ride (I know Tamsin, you did warn me) I had to have a dig around. Found a suitable figure (found a handful). However it would need a special drink for Lady Sarah, who will need to be blind drunk to accommodate her passenger and poncy champagne won't cut it.

No glass, no lime, no salt, no time. Straight from the bottle as fat as possible. Because:

It's Medusa.

Or her sister.

She's 28mm and has come out nicely although I spent ages giving all the snakes red eyes and you can't see them. This could be the lowest number of points I've ever had for a post.

My island journey so far is:

Right, off to write the next post!

***

What a perfect way to start off a Monday - Medusa (or her sister), and tequila. Seems right to me! Especially after I just checked the local weather forecast. I shall leave it to Sarah to comment on the drink selection for this journey...as for scoring, I think 10 points sounds about right, as this would be a rather monstrous 28mm cavalry figure.  

Great work Martin - we look forward to your submission for Mudry's Mesa. 

GregB