From DrQ: Storming Adventurers' Landing (60 points)

Down to level 2!

I'll admit that "A chance to paint a landing on a home or foreign shore to collect some points" had me a bit perplexed. My Kharadron Overlords are less about landing or invading than creating floating trading empires or mining for magical metals. When inspiration hit, it came in the form of a scene from Apocalypse Now:

via GIPHY

Can't you just hear Wagner in the background? The horror.

So yes, based off of some your encouragements from my previous post (LINK), I've finished up a unit of 40k ork Deffkoptas.

Perhaps in the future I'll even mod a few of these to include surf boards so that they indeed can surf the beach upon completion of their objectives. Also, in a glaring difference from my Kharadron sky vessel from the other day, the bases are just clear plastic flight stands. This is intentional. I know that the basing for many of these models has changed since the old Assault on Black Reach box I have, and I'd rather measure twice and paint once as it were. 

As far as points, four of the five of these are new (the one in the back right having been posted earlier). They are effectively cavalry in the size and function, so 10 points each plus 20 for the area bonus is 60 points total.

From here I'm heading to the Shrine, where some unconventional clerics await...

From SidneyR: Troubadours from "The Pit of the Pendulum" (30 points)

 

"One, two...ah, one-two-three... No, no.  We go on 'four', not three.  Always four, never three.  It's been that way since Valencia in '84.  Let's go again.   ...  Ah, one, two... one-two-three... NO, WE GO ON FOUR, never 'three'... Let's take it from the top...again..."

Fernando Cantante, Frustrated "musician", 1688

***

When Curt suggested a Chamber for Challenge XI based on torture, my mind stumbled towards the everyday horror of playing the violin as a young boy, and the terrors that created in my family.  Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, lingering in the family home for hours would suddenly leave, making their excuses quickly.  The world has few horrors to match a young, enthusiastic, yet hopeless, musician armed with a cheap violin.  And so this Challenge submission was born.

Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed Challengers, if you ever visit an army camp in late seventeenth century Flanders, and these two travelling musicians appear, prepare to flee - quickly.  Regiments which are steadfast under the heaviest fire dissolve in chaos before the musical repertoire of Señors Fernando and Antonio Cantante. 

From Cadiz to Milan, from Antwerp to Naples, the brothers Cantante have plied their musical 'gifts' for many diverse audiences.  The takings in their battered hat, proffered enthusiastically, are rarely high enough to bring an early end to the evening's 'entertainment', at least until the brothers start singing.  At which time, enough florins and guilders usually trickle into the hat to persuade them to move on. 

War may be terrible, but if you are faced with an enthusiastic but hopeless pair of musicians, even the hottest of cannon fire is perhaps preferable.

I've had these two figures hanging around the painting table for years.  They started life as a Games Workshop C46 Villager (with the viol) and another figure from, I think, a medieval tavern set. I swapped one of the heads for a Redoubt seventeenth century head, and added a lot of green stuff to turn the medieval outfits into something perhaps 'more 1688'.  The drum is from Redoubt, and the collection of discarded uniforms (clearly from a soldier hurrying away from the terrifying noise) is from Dixon Miniatures.

I've added another of the Laarden 'Character Cards' for the tuneless Troubadours - keep collecting folks, many more to come this Challenge!

As regards points, Fernando and Antonio are in 28mm, so 5 points for each brother and 20 for completing 'The Pit of the Pendulum', in truly terrifying fashion.

*****

AdamC: Aquifer Black Seas Cutter

This ship was part of a prize I received for my United States Navy that was my main project last challenge. Normally they come as a set of six but this came alone with it's base.

It's a handsome little model ship all metal including the sails. This makes it a bit top heavy but the resin base helps mitigate this. 

The cutter is a bit smaller than a Brig so I'll call her 8 points (Brigs have been worth 10 points in the last challenge) and maybe 1 more point for the very simple rigging the sails are part of the model so nothing extra for them.  Then it's 20 points for the Aquifer. Happy New Year everyone be healthy and safe in 2021.

From ScottM: Golem's Haunt - Manticore (25 points)

For Golem's Haunt I needed to come up with something that was 'created', for want of a better word. I went with a Manticore, a magical creature created in some wizard's laboratory. At least I hope it was created in some lab, as I don't want to think about that 'encounter' if it came about naturally. This 28mm fig is from Wizkids and their Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures line. 

So that should be:

1 - 28mm foot fig + Chamber bonus = 25 points

From Ian: More Indians and 1812 British (West Indies)

                                                    Indian Auxiliaries (12 15mm figures)

                                               5th West Indies Regiment (20 15mm figures)

                                                1st West Indies Regiment (20 15mm Figures)

                                          Indian Light infantry and Artillery (10 15mm figures)
                                 

SebastianR: The Armoury

Another short post. Dropping into the armoury with a collection of American MBTs and IFVs.

They're the start of a... lets just say it's a latter day American Civil War scenario and leave it at that.

Like the ghouls I made some questionable painting choices along the way. Unlike the ghouls, I only partially managed to recover from it, at least as far as the temperate ones are concerned.

The desert ones? I think I pulled it off.

I was trying to replicate the style used by Battlefront on their tanks, the very clean style with strong picked out details. I think I should have thinned my wash more. And done a pin wash rather than an all over wash. And had a green to better match the base green spray... I took a risk getting a satin varnish on these things, it didn't really pay off. Back to the drawing board.

I got them second hand and the lack of decals makes them feel surprisingly bare. I hear it's surprisingly easy to make your own; if it ever starts bugging me I might indulge them.

20 points for the challenge and 48 for the minis for a total of 68.

AdamC Chamber of Darkness (25 Points)

This my first effort at Greyscale. Doing a ghost is a bit of a cheat(though a popular suggestion when I asked the group on facebook) but I think it's good for a first effort. 

Over all I am pleased with how this fellow came out. He's another selection from my Bones III collection. It's a 25mm for 5 points plus 20 points for the room. On to the Aquifer!

From SidneyR: Hall of Traps (and Snares) (50 points)

"He's coming...Yes, of course it's him.  Why? Well, everything about him is glittering and golden, so that's a good guess.  And, well... he's handsome.  And tall.  Apollo-esque maybe.  No, no... I'm not having second thoughts.  Pass the the poison, quickly.  Don't drop it!  Oh, for the blood of Sint Jacobus.... how on earth did you get recommended to me as an apprentice assassin?  Quick, quick - flutter your fan in front of my hands while you pass the poison over.  QUICK... Oh...OH! Your Majesty....what a surprise to see you here.  We were just taking a stroll in your gardens.  Monsieur Le Notre was kind enough to invite us. But you've quite trapped us here, almost as if you had intended it...."

Louise de Gisoreux, Founder of Le Lapin d'Or, and would-be assassin, 1688

Greetings, dear Challengers, to another year of lunacy, nonsense, frantic painting, grandiose plans and expired paintbrushes.  The annual madness which is the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge has commenced, and here is my first entry, for the "Hall of Traps".

Much as I love the dungeon theme which the Snow Lord has selected for us, I wanted to start the Challenge with another glance back to the late seventeenth century, and in this Chamber - The Hall of Traps - we visit the royal gardens of the Palace of Versailles, in 1688.  

One of the things which comes from reading about the courtly intrigues of Versailles, and the politics of Louis XIV's court, is the sheer sense of unease and danger experienced by its residents.  Who was in favor, who was living on borrowed time (exile to Brittany being a terrible thing in 1688), and who was currently in the King's eye.  A perfect place for traps and snares of all kinds.

So here we have a small cabal of would-be assassins, perhaps Flemish sympathizers or unusual allies for the beleaguered Spanish, plotting to ensnare Louis Le Grand in his own courtly gardens.  

The scene is all set, as Louis' roving eye catches the sumptuous fabric of Louise de Gisoreux's dress.  A tempting target for the infamous Royal Passion, no doubt. Unknown to the French King, however, the brave Louise de Gisoreux is the founder of the secret society of "Le Lapin d'Or", a league of wealthy nobles who despise the King (and wish to replace him with  his easy-going brother, or the Man in the Iron Mask, or... well, almost anyone, really).   

It's a scene which is almost foretold by the avaricious King's love of classical mythology; the statue on the plinth depicts the young Apollo being spurned by the river nymph, Daphne.  Murder is clearly being planned among the slowly-turning, autumn leaves.  

But wait... Who has snared who in this baroque drama?

Behind the plinth, slyly creeping out of sight, the wily French fox has trapped a golden rabbit in its jaws, and is carrying away it's prize.  What treacherous traps and snares does Louis, the Sun King, have in store for our brave heroine and her small cabal of (slightly hapless) co-conspirators...?

And, to carry on the same nonsense as I indulged in last year, I could not resist the temptation to prepare a couple of more of my ludicrous 'character cards' for this vignette - one for each of the competing traps and snares, French or Flemish (depending on whether you like the good guys, or the very bad guy).

And now, to the business-end of the post.  Four 28mm miniatures is 20 points (Louis and Louise are from Wargames Foundry, Louise's accomplice is from Redoubt, while the Turkish servant is from Old Glory's Pirates range).  The two classical characters on the plinth are a little smaller than 28mm and were really only dry-brushed bronze, so I'll claim just 5 points for the pair ('Apollo' being a lovely Wargames Foundry cherub, and 'Daphne' being a diminutive and politically incorrect Daemonette from Games Workshop, 90s vintage).  

I did come conversion work on Louise de Gisoreux - some extra lace and a silken bow on the back of her dress, - but not enough to add any points for.  The bottles and goblets littering the base of the plinth were from Scotia Grendell.  The plinth was scratch-built, but the base is from Warbases, as is the fox and rabbit (say another 5 points?).  

So, all in all, for the figures and extras total 30 points, and then 20 points for the 'Hall of Traps' itself.  Does that sound right?

 

From MartinC Dunsterforce and some Ottomans to fight (187.5pts)

 Evening all

So I am now in Tier 4 and the hospitals are full. All is about to get very messy, again. Luckily my hobby keeps me inside. I was listening to the Wargames Soldiers and Strategy end of year podcast today, one of the few I occasionally listen to as it hosted by Angus, a friend, member of my club and along with the rest of the crew a participant in this illustrious event. I was unexpectedly mentioned in dispatches, which was nice, and specifically about the current project.

So Angus yes I will play WW1 with you, eventually. To keep you on your toes I've finished the Dunsterforce. 

This is the last unit (although I may increase it's size). These are are 1/2 section of 9th Hussars with dismounted figures as well. Actually they are Perry WW2 British Yeomanry but you can't tell the difference really.

I will at sometime show the lot but it has 5 infantry sections, 1/2 cavalry section, 2 HMGs, and already painted 2 field guns, 2 armoured cars and a plane. If it does grow it won't be by much. Normally we play Bolt action and 20 units per side takes all day to play. These will have cossack and Armenian support. That being said I've already ordered some Anzac types to go full WW1.

So they need somebody to fight, and in this case it's Turks and the Army of Islam. Although there were Bolsheviks vs Cossacks vs Turks and Azerbaijanis vs Germans and Georgians vs Brits and Armenians vs Jangalis. Everybody's dance card was full - the Germans even fought the Turks.

These figures are Gripping Beast, from Woodbine Designs, and I picked them up in their sale pre Christmas. They are lovely and nice to paint

However they are very fragile - about 6 have already lost their bayonets and muzzles and 2 broke on the stand as I have clearing them up. I have loads of these to paint

Scores on the Doors

6 cavalry = 60

25 infantry + 1 prone = 127.5

Grand total = 187.5 pts

Stay safe and as a final request can everybody slow down, I can't keep up with commenting

From SimonG: Braving the Chamber of Darkness -- Greyscale HYW Knight (30 points)

 For my next venture into the Chambers of Challenge I present a mounted 28mm Front Rank Miniatures Hundred Years War Knight. Specifically this is Sir William Clinton, 4th Baron Clinton of Marstoke who fought at Agincourt. I believe it could also be his son Sir John Clinton the 5th Baron who was captured and held for ransom by the French -- however as the style of barding and armour is older best assume it's the old Baron!

This was an interesting exercise in technique. I actually used two approaches. The barding is a more traditional approach, albeit using Citadel contrast Apothecary White as the base coat on top of a white undercoat. The horse and knight were all undercoated in black and then basically dry brushed up to this finish. The coat of arms is all hand painted (the Mission Crosses) or hand drawn in fine liner (the stars).

All in all I'm quote pleased with the result and it's surprising how quickly you can operate when you are not so fussy about colours! By my reckoning that's good for another 30 points -- 10 for the figure and 20 for the chamber.