From AlanD - Romanian Infantry (125 points)

Despite the traditional post-Christmas torpor, I've been pushing on with my first Challenge project and painting more Romanian infantry from Great Escape Games. I'm quite enjoying painting these, and like the slightly motley appearance of different headgear and winter uniform contrasting with the snow. 

In addition to another 20 infantry, I've also finished a machine gun team, manning a very nice model of a ZB 53 medium machine gun.

I had some nice comments about the snow bases for my last entry, so here's how they are done. I've been mixing Woodland Scenics snow 'flock' into Liquitex acrylic 'Resin Sand'. This is a really nice acrylic medium that I use to give texture to bases. It dries clear, so with the snow flock it ends up still looking a bit slushy.

So with 23 x 28mm figures and a crew-served weapon, this should add 125 points to my total. Happy New Year to you all, and may it bring more games and time with friends than the last couple of years.

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Fabulous work Alan! I love seeing these outliers (and their not-very-common gear, such as the ZB-53). I'm a huge fan of the various Liquitex texture mediums - they are such a time saver when basing figures. As a suggestion, also try Golden's 'Heavy Gel', as it gives a great hard crust ice effect - something to mix with your Resin Sand method.

Happy New Year Alan!

- Curt 

From SimonM - "Games Workshop" Epic Black Templars, Space Wolves & Dark Angels (16 points)

As with my opening submission, these 6mm scale plastic models of a Conqueror Robot, Rhino, fifteen Assault Space Marines, five Terminators and a five-figure Adeptus Astartes Command stand all used to be produced by “Games Workshop” as part of their now long out of production (OOP) “Epic” range. As a result I obtained the vast majority of them second-hand, and subsequently have had to paint some of them up as Black Templars owing to the tiny softly-detailed miniatures already being primed in a distinctly thick black paint.

This decision meant that both the Sergeant’s squad and accompanying Terminators simply received a couple of licks of watered-down “Citadel” Abaddon Black, before having their shoulder-pads all ‘picked out’ with a little “Vallejo” White and Pale Grey. In addition, all of their bolters (as well as the sergeant’s cybernetic eye) were treated to a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil, whilst the sergeant’s hair was daubed with a dollop of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and some “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade.

Fortunately, I was able to find fifteen Assault Space Marine figures which hadn’t yet been ever touched by a paint-brush, so promptly decided to give them some coats of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and Dark Green so as to represent the Space Wolves and Dark Angels respectively. All of these tiny warriors were then shaded in “Citadel” Nuln Oil before being carefully dry-brushed in their appropriate base colours. Finally, I picked out their chainswords and boltguns with “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

Alongside these fine fellows, I decided to try and rescue one particular poor-looking Rhino transport vehicle I found, which had been badly glooped with black at some distant point in its past. As aforementioned, I have been using such models for my Black Templars, but on this occasion felt the sculpt’s details might just survive two passes of “Vallejo” Dark Green, a wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and a thorough dry-brush of (more) “Vallejo” Dark Green. The end result was a semi-successful Dark Angels Rhino to accompany the Chapter’s Assault Space Marines.

Lastly, I added a Robot to my burgeoning Dark Angels force by following precisely the same process as I had for both the Rhino and Assault Space Marines. However, I did pick out the automaton’s eyes with a dab of “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson.

Hopefully this second of several planned “Epic” deployments during the AHPC will provide:

1 x Rhino – 2 Points

1 x Robot – 1 Point (as per previous submission’s scoring)

15 x Assault Space Marines – 7.5 Points

5 x Terminators – 2.5 Points

5 x Space Marines – 2.5 Points

Total – 15 ½ Points

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A great set of reinforcements for your existing Epic force. I really like how your brushwork distinctly features the various Space Marine Chapters (the livery for the Space Wolves I find particularly brilliant). I've rounded up to 16 points for this detachment.

Keep them coming, Simon!

- Curt

From MattW: Napoleonics (160 Points )

Hi all, I am Matt from French Wargame Holidays, I am an Australian living in Mayenne in Western France. We have a a large Maison Particular (a chateau sized building in town) where my wife and I conduct a B&B, Military Battlefield Tours of Normandy, Brittany and Pays de Loire, plus a Wargames Holiday business. 

the view from the painting desk

This is my third challenge for me. I struggle with the squirrel a lot and swap and change periods regularly to keep up my interest. This year I have set a 1200 point target, and plan to enter the challenge for the first time. I will be adding to my Napoleonic, Medieval and ancients collection.

First entry is 28mm Napoleonic Mamelukes from Foundry, these were a bit of work but look good, I need to find the standard which is somewhere on my desk......

12 Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard

Next up are 28mm Front Rank Austrian Command, both these are divisional commanders, one Infantry division commander and one Hussar Cavalry division general stand.  

Austrian Hussar General

Total 160 points

All the best to everybody, I am off on holidays for a month, but will be assembling and possibly putting up a few small pieces I can bring in my luggage.

cheers

Matt

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Matt!

Napoleonics, 'The Beautiful Game'. Wonderful work, Matt. Those Mamelukes of the Guard look superb, and one can never have too many confused Austrian commanders (Gosh, I love the old school look of the Front Rank stuff).  I look forward to seeing your upcoming Medieval and Ancient entries over the next few months.

- Curt

From BruceR: 28mm Silver Bayonet British Expedition [40 pts]

This is my second unit of Silver Bayonet figures from Northstar.  Like the Spanish these figures are specialized and have tons of extras.  Stakes, crosses, rope, beads, etc... Again, fun to paint and will serve both hunting monsters and his majesty's enemies.  The figures will also fit in to Sharp Practice 2 scenarios as either officers or characters for troops to interact with on the battlefield.     

Hogan's Heros

😀

[Michael Hogan his majesty's royal exploring officer] Not the Hogan of TV fame.  :)

The 2nd Platoon of the Silver Bayonet Brigade hunts the lands ravaged by the Napoleonic wars for supernatural fiends and infiltrates enemy lines and countries to do the Kings business.  Each member of the band is drawn from the most experienced units in his majesty's army.  

 

The black undercoat is my starting point.  Flesh tone added.

Colors blocked in prior to a wash and highlighting.

The 2nd Platoon

Michael Hogan his majesty's royal exploring officer

[LTC of the Silver Brigade 2nd platoon] 

Junior Officer Ensign Reginald Smyth

PVT Seymore Potts 

"Chosen Man" Rifles

Cpl Ned Wheatley

 of the Light Infantry

SGT Angus McGonagall 

Highlander

Lt David Wainright 

Artillerist

Master Hunter "Mr. Edward Hyde" 

of his Royal Majesty's 3rd order of the bayonet 

Dr. Harry Jekyll

 Royal physician 

Hope you enjoy.  As always embrace the hobby.  Stay safe.

😁

8 28mm foot x 5 = 40

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Those are some terrific looking Napoleonic figures, Bruce! I especially like Hogan. He looks like a proper rapscallion, and Angus, with his compensator sword, seems ready for some eldritch-slaying action (nice work on the tartan). I think my will is failing in resisting these minis...

- Curt

From PeterD Istvaan V Discussion in Pictland on Heresy (30 points)

I have these two 28mm figures from my Beowulf RPG game having a spirited discussion on the nature of Heresy.  In Beowulf alignments differ from standard D&D, as PCs and NPCs can be aligned with the Book (i.e. Church)  the Old Ways (Pagan religions) or be Neutral (undecided or decided that they are both full of it).  To represent the Book and Old Ways I have an Irish Priest and a Magus.  Both are by Gripping Beast and both come in the same Pictish Command pack.

Padraig is part of the Celtic Church which was very active at the time.  Lots of scope for Adventuring quests here with the likes of Saints Patrick, Columba and Brendan.  They prompted my all time favourite line fro the old WRG army lists:   Saint Columba was given the main credit by contemporaries for the Ui Neill victory over King Diarmait in 561 AD, decisively out-praying Saint Finnian on the other side. It turns out that the battle was sparked by a copywriter dispute between Finnian and Columba.

Clearly Patrick is outspoken on his views and the cast has lots of character.  With his pot belly, bald head and stringy pony tail I am pretty sure that I've been buttonholed by his doppelgängers who needed to tell me about their unbeatable Blood Angels army or the lyrics from some gawdawfull forgotten prog rock band from the 70s.

Oengus on the other hand is clearly of the Old Ways and not having Padraig's BS.  In my Adventures he should do as a Pagan Holman, evil sorcerer or lead singer from some gawdawfull forgotten prog rock band from the 70s.  he also needs to have that mold line trimmed on his left hand, not sure how I missed that until now. 

I will need official confirmation from a vet or the Skullometer, but I believe that's a horse skull that he's sporting as a hat.

That's two 28mm foot figures plus a Challenge location for 30 points by my math.  I am not sure if fantasy side duel is a go, but if so I'd like to claim the 10 points towards my total in it.

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Great work on these two theologians (or music fans), Peter. I had to laugh at your modern description of Patrick - we all know these people, they are a recurring type! I look forward to the future post where the inevitable bloodshed ensues. 

Hmm, claiming these as a fantasy entry seems a bit of a stretch, but I leave it to Darrell to adjudicate as it's his circus.

- Curt

From PaulSS: Skirmishing 95th Rifles - 40 points

 

Getting into my Challenge stride here with a second post, this time featuring a detachment of Riflemen from the 95th for my Hundred Days collection.

All are from the Rifleman frames in the Perry Miniatures Napoleonic Line Infantry box set and despite the limited pose options are great figures to paint.

These will either add to our skirmish screens in General d'Armee games or as a group of Skirmishers in our Sharp Practice games.

Eight 28mm figures should add 40 points to the board.

American Civil War Duel Totalizer: 24 foot (142pts)

Napoleonic Duel Totalizer: 8 foot (40 pts)

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Lovely work Paul. They look great teamed up on those round bases. As you say, perfect for General d' Armee and many other rules, actually. 

- Curt