(From RossM) Germanic Tribes 28mm (40 points)

Penultimate post for this year's Challenge and this time its Germanic Tribesmen from Gripping Beast. 

This group of figures was painted over the last month in 20 minute painting sessions and this has proved a great way of getting paint on some figures. 

Shields are a mixture of both Little Big Men transfers and hand painted. The difference is clear to see. 

This year's challenge has seen the first use of wire spears. Quicker and easier to use than cast spears however, bloody jaggy on the hands.

This stand brings in another 40 points (unless the hand painted shields get a bonus or two) taking the running total to 529 (88% completed so far)

Stay safe and thanks for looking

From SidneyR: OldHammer Undead for "Graveyard Beach" (30 points)

 

Coming into the final evening of Challenge XI, I had just one final Chamber to visit - "Graveyard Beach".

I wasn't sure if I was going to quickly paint a couple of miniatures for the Chamber, or just leave the Challenge after the "Altar of the Snowlord" post.  I was in two minds.  But, in the end, I thought - I really should just finish the last room.

So here they are - two quickly painted OldHammer undead skeletons, slightly angry that my photos of them (on my phone) does not look as smooth as some other photography.  Ah well, I guess that's just what happens when you're the restless undead - you're kind of at the end of the guest-list.

I've had these OldHammer Citadel Miniatures for a few years (possibly more like a few decades!).  They did paint up easily - they're lovely sculpts - and they'll see service with my kids when we break out a game of Dungeons & Dragons for an Easter treat.  I doubt that the kids will mind that my eyesight at 1am isn't really as clear as it might be when applying the paint!

So, my final entry, in the final Chamber, for Challenge XI.  Two 28mm undead, for 10 points and 20 points for "Graveyard Beach", giving a total of my final 30 points for Challenge XI.  

Phew...I'm done!  Thank you so much to Curt, Sarah, All the Minions, Miles, Tamsin, all my fellow Challengers, and everyone who read, commented and chatted about not only my posts, but everyone's posts.  See you for the after-Challenge party and, of course for Challenge XII!!

******* 

(From RossM) Go tell them in Sparta - 15mm Spartans (180 points)

 The third post of five and this time its Spartans.

This is the second Spartan army that I have painted, the first was in 28mm originally based for Impetus and is currently being rebased on 60mm fronts.

The figures here are for an ADLG list and will also cover DBA with options as well. 

Slingers, archers, javelins and Skirati 

The command stands

The full phalanx, well almost as there are another 16 figures part painted for this and they won't make the challenge I'm afraid. Yes, I am a slacker!

There is an image online showing a Spartan King carrying a shield with red, black and white crescents on it. Little Big Men carry this as a rub down decals and the other decals are from VVV.  Will be ordering more in the future to complete the Lambdas on shields. 

Close up of the phalanx

The extra stands in the rear where painted before the challenge started. 

The solitary unit of cavalry.

180 points

The subtotal so far is 489 points (82% completed to date)

Stay safe and thanks for looking

(From RossM) Various scales and periods including Ancients, Crusaders and Seven Years War 15mm & 28mm (127 points)

 The second post for the early hours and this is a mixed bag of periods and scales.

Bavarian Seven Years War Artillery: 18mm Eureka Miniatures

24 Points

Arab Naffatun Skirmishers: 15mm Museum Miniatures

12 points

Early Imperial Romans: 15mm PSC Auxiliaries 

There are 17 of the new Ultra Cast figures here and 1 from Corvus Belli, don't ask which is the one though. Shield transfers from VVV.

36 points

Crusaders: 28mm Gripping Beast

These are the other eleven figures to make a unit in Lion Rampant and support the two handed sword wielding knight from the Pit and the Pendulum

Kept the colours here simple and bold. The shield transfers are from Little Big Men and have been overpainted to match the tabards. 

Have always liked the idea of painted helms and went with that. Not sure if its historical or artistic licence however, they look good in a mixed group. 

Here is the full unit with the Pendulum in full swing

55 points

Sub total for this post is 127 taking the running total to 309 points (52% completed to date)

Stay safe and thanks for looking

from RayR - I Give Up! 5pts

 

That it I Give Up!

This is my last post, its gone 1 o'clock and I wanna go to bed!

So I surrender...

The figure is from Outpost Wargames Services from their Highwaymen range and will add a further 5 points to my total.

There's still a few hours left so good luck to all and Thanks to Curt, Sarah and all you lovely Minions for all the hard work. And lastly a special thank you to all my other Challengers for pushing me to get rid of that dreaded leadpile!

Cheers Ray

From Barks: Aliens (144 points)

I'm a huge fan of Aliens, and was keen to get my hands on the new boardgame from Gale Force 9. It was supposed to arrive mid-December, but didn't. Since completing my Snowlord Challenge and the Descent boardgame, I've painted everything except the marines. I really enjoyed doing the research on this deeply quotable film.

Our Lady of Survival comes in three flavours: vanilla, spicy, and hot orange. I tried to get the space Reeboks right.

The Power Loader model doesn't have all the cables the real one does, and I think I made it a little too orange. I do like the final outcome, and you know I love hazard stripes.

"A-firmative!"

The figures have their names molded on the base, which is probably useful for the obscure redshirt marines. I was going to pick them out in yellow, but left them an off-white which isn't too distracting.

"This installation has a substantial dollar value..."

"I prefer the term 'artificial person' myself."

I flicked white paint over Bishop using a brush and toothpick, and was relieved it looked OK.

"Not bad... for a human."

I 3D printed Jonesy and a base because I wanted to.

The eggs (which I had thought would be my Hatchery entry but they didn't arrive in time) come freestanding, so I printed bases (same as Jonesy).

On the open eggs I applied a bit of UHU, which looks great and I'll be using this trick in future- also see below.

The perfect organism, and a facehugger.

A touch of UHU on the mouth. Hugs and kisses!

I found the xenomorphs hard to assemble, paint and photograph! I pinned all the tails because they're not designed for strength. I drybrushed them gunmetal over a black undercoat, picked out claws and teeth in silver,  then used a black wash followed by a blue wash. Finally a satin varnish and a touch of gloss to their foreheads. It is very hard to capture the oily rubbery sheen.

Whew! I'm looking forwards to assembling and painting the marines and playing a game. I'm thinking of 3D printing an APC as well.

16x Xenomorphs: 80 points

2x mount and rider (Power Loader, Ripley and Newt!): 20 points

4x Civilians (Ripley, Bishop, Burke, Newt): 20 points

8x Eggs: 8 points

3x Small Creatures (Facehuggers and Jonesy): 6 points

1x Queen: 8 points

1x half a Bishop: 2 points

144 points gets me comfortably over my goal, with hours to spare. I'm pulling out all the stops for a truly final Skulltastic entry, then it will be Game Over, man!