From DallasE: Painting Challenge Wrap-up

The 1/56 Schwimmwagen is MIA

Well it's time to wrap up another Challenge so here goes...

My total output for the Challenge this year was down, unfortunately - not sure why exactly. I had some personal things going on and lots of hockey (both ice- and floor-) to play this winter so that may have contributed to a painting slowdown. Also I didn't slavishly follow the course of the planets through the Challenge system like I did last time, so that cost me some points. But honestly I don't really care about the points (how could I with less than 800 scored and a 43rd place finish?) and it was just good to get some stuff painted.

Here is the breakdown:

1/48 and 1/50 vehicles: 9
1/56 vehicles: 5
Star Wars Legion infantry: 12
Star Wars Legion beasts and riders: 2
28mm infantry: 13

28mm beasts: 1

28mm riders: 2
20mm vehicles: 1
28mm terrain and vehicle stowage: quite a bit

So thanks again to Curt and Sarah, and all the Minions (especially my Minion Barks) for all their work in running the Challenge again this year. And my wallet thanks you too for prompting me to start a whole new 28mm WW2 project! 

With that I'll sign off again for another year, and in the immortal words of Dr. John McLaughlin (anybody else remember his show, The McLaughlin Group??):

Bye-BYE! 

Curt & Sarah's Painting Challenge

Hi All!

Curt and Sarah here with our wrap-up post for Challenge XII.

I'll start off with the obligatory mugshot along with the fruits of my winter labour.

This was perhaps my best Challenge to date, with lots of minis (well, lots for me) getting under the brush, and heaps of fun being had trying new things. 

It was a year that was largely taken up with fantasy subjects, which is just fine all things taken into account. 

I was particularly happy that I managed to get eight new Moonstone characters done up and ready for the tabletop.

I also got a good start on two 10mm fantasy armies (Tomb Kings and Forest Elves) for 'Might & Magic', a fantasy variant of 'To the Strongest').

...and a potpuri of other stuff got some brush lashing as well!

Thanks for all the encouraging comments people left. I know it seems a small thing, but getting feedback really makes a huge impact on the whole process, so thanks again to everyone who stopped in to say hello and comment on what I was doing.

Now, on to Sarah, celebrating her first foray as a Challenge brush-jockey. With this wrap-up she's officially a grizzled veteran now.  A big congratulations, m'dear! :)

- Curt

____________________________________

Hey Everybody, Sarah here!

Wow! I can hardly believe it. I made it through my first Challenge! Not only did I paint my first mini, but also bested my modest points goal. Thanks to everyone who commented on my posts, the encouragement was very much appreciated.

However, I wanted to extend my thanks to all the wonderful painters and creative thinkers/makers who’ve “hung out” on this blog over the years. I feel like I’ve been attending a masterclass and that my efforts are a reflection all of your talents.👏

I present to you, my very modest collection, definitely not even close to a point’s bomb, but my efforts earned me 258pts. I painted five of Lady Sarah’s Star Yacht Crew (maybe a few more coming for Challenge XIII?) Four 28mm heroines for pulp adventures, two of the marvellous HaggleThorn Hollow buildings and my first ever figure, Galadriel.

Pride of place in the display cabinet!

I’ll be posting the winner of the most coveted 'Sarah’s Choice Award” in a few weeks. To be eligible for consideration, entries must be labelled as either Sarah’s Choice, or Lady Sarah’s Star Yacht. This will a tough decision!

-Sarah❤️

From MikeP: My Challenge

 I had a grand time this year, and I'm glad that I returned to the Challenge after taking some years off.  I was able to meet and beat my 500 point challenge, though the directions I took were largely unexpected.   Originally I'd planned to work on 28mm SYW stuff, so where did that Germanic war band come from?  Likewise I had no plans to do the Frankenstein vignette until it appeared in my mailbox as a late Christmas present and an idea for a visit to Skaro took place.  The Challenge was a great incentive to come to grips with 3D printing, though I have SO MUCH learning curve still to navigate.   But it was a good start.  Half of the 6mm stuff and all the Frankenstein scenery was printed for the Challenge.

More importantly, I've met up again with some Challenge veterans and met some new friends here.  I still hope to look at and comment on every one of your posts, I tried hard to do that but fell off the rails in late March.   I have been constantly impressed by your talent, creativity, and friendliness.  

Cheers and blessings, MikeP (the Padre)

From FrederickC - Painting Challenge XII Rounds Complete

 

It has now been a week since the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge XII came to a close. I have been busy with all those household tasks that my wife tolerantly let me put on hold while I was painting my way into 4th place in the challenge standings. This was my first time actively participating, although last year I 'audited the course' as it were, and I am pretty happy with the results.

I managed to paint 415 foot figures, 2 mounted figures, and 37 vehicles all in 28mm, 1 foot figure in 54mm, and scratch build a figure in 80mm, as well as several cubes worth of terrain. Most of the figures, and all the vehicles  were Second World War Soviets, Germans, Brits, Poles, and French, but the genres ranged from historical to fantasy to science fiction to zombies. (I am nothing if not eclectic in my gaming interests.)

The Assembled Masses

 

Kudos to Curt and all his minions for the hard work they put in monitoring, adjudicating, tabulating, commenting, etc., and for the design of the Challenge Quadrant. I managed to visit 6 outer ring, 5 middle ring, and 4 inner ring planets, as well as the Quadrant sun. The themes provided inspiration to paint up some minis that had long languished in one of my many storage boxes in the basement. (Those boxes are all a bit emptier now.)

All in all, it has been a very enjoyable three months of assembling and painting. Again, I extend my thanks to all those who left comments on my posts. I am looking forward to the start of Painting Challenge XIII next December. In the meantime, I hope to get many of my newly painted figures deployed on the gaming table. You can follow their exploits over on the Fawcett Avenue Conscripts blog.

Cheers,

FrederickC 

Hard at work at my painting desk

From PeterD Wrap Up

 End of the 12th challenge and time to sum up.  And unlike prior years' I've actually got my stuff together to post my wrap up before the next Challenge starts!  Here goes.

Wot I did this Challenge

I enjoyed putting this final shot together, as it's easy to forget what you got done over the quarter.  In the end I got a reasonable amount of stuff built, remained mostly focused, got most of what I bought for the challenge completed and found a new project.  Not a bad result at all.  I worked through COVID and the annual getting older grumpiness (I turned 60 on the Ides of March).  

This all included:

• A dark age/early medieval ring fort
• A ruin for dark age/early medieval historicals or RPGs
• A bunch of dark age/early medieval characters and baddies
• A bunch of forest fauna suitable for most eras
• The last (I think) of the lovely Bad Squiddo Women of WW2 kickstarter
• A couple of SYW civilians

Goofball in chief.  I never take good photos.

TashaH Challenge XII Wrap Up

That was awesome! 

I started the Challenge with a goal of 100 points. I revised that to 325 and finished with 916. I managed to complete all the planets on the Challenge XII Quadrant Map, with a few side trips on Lady Sarah’s Star Yacht. I wasn’t able to complete the final challenge, as I had no outstanding projects or lead pile to draw from! I even squeaked in on the Skull Duel!

I painted my first miniature for this Challenge and I’ve not looked back! I now have an entire room solely for painting, which has amassed quite a stock of supplies in a short time. I also managed to convince my hubby to let me buy a new 3D printer.  I truly love this hobby. All the genres intrigue me. I believe that my lack of exposure to the gaming side of the hobby allows me a totally fresh perspective (haha we will go with that!) 

The amount of talent I’ve seen in this Challenge is amazing. My days feel a bit empty not being able to check in to see your work and catch a glimpse into everyone’s lives. 🙂

My goal for the upcoming months is to improve on basic skills like shading, highlighting, blending… that type of thing. I am also going to be looking at Gaslands and all that goes with it. 

Thank you everyone for showing so much kindness and support. Thank you Curt and the Minions for such a well run event! Also, Tamsin, you're a gem!

Take care and stay safe!

Natasha (Tasha or Tash) 

PeteF Wrap Up

The Painting Challenge is the highlight of my hobby year. A big THANK YOU to Curt, Sarah, the minions and all the participants - especially those who comment/encourage on everyone's posts. I'm not a particularly prolific commenter but appreciate reading the advice and motivation that people give.

This time round I had less time for brush twirling than in previous challenges - new job, new puppy, more chores on the list and with the gradual relaxation of COVID restrictions I found more time for actual gaming with my toys. 

Having started with the best of intentions - to squirrel prolificly, to visit every planet and to knock my 1,000 point target out of the park - I got bogged down. Sadly, my order of Blake's Seven minis - many of which would have been a good fit for planet challenges - placed and post marked around 24 December, was not delivered until 14 March. 

Nevertheless - plenty of items were transferred from the Shelf of Shame to the Shelf of Self Esteem and new things were learned. I'm better at clear bases, finished a Stargrave crew, completed a SAGA warband, started 2 new projects (Judge Dredd & Battletech), improved my drybrushing and added to the Quatres Bras project.

Because I'm as bloody minded as a certain Black Knight, I'll visit the remaining planets in my own time and maybe post on my blog - when I get to Noel's Comet I'll put a link on the Facebook page as I'd like to honour our fellow challenger with long story of some kind.

That's it until next time - enjoy the intervening seasons but, as Ned Stark would say Winter is Coming!

KenR - "Rome or Death" a Garibaldi Project for AHPC

 

Wow that went quick ! Another challenge over and another huge project half done !

I was never going to get the whole of my Battle of Mentana build done in three months, its 20 units of 24 Garibaldi plus 4 units of 36 Papal troops and 5 units of 24 French plus three batteries of Artillery and a small amount of Cavalry (around 800 figures) but I hoped to make a big dent into it.

So I managed 7 units of Garibaldi Infantry, one of Papal Zouaves, a battery of Garibaldi guns and a Command Base or 213 figs in total, so around a quarter of the total needed to get the Battle on. I plan to do this as a display game at FIASCO 22 in October but that might be a stretch especially as I need to sort the terrain out, which is never my strongest point.

Work sadly got in the way this Challenge and I managed just over 1,000 points well short of my 1500 target, so I'm shy 4 or 5 units worth of stuff of where I hoped to be.  But it's been great fun researching, building up the units and getting enough on the table to make it actually look like something.

My personal favourite from the Challenge was my Papal Zouaves, the yellow flags and grey / red uniforms just make the unit, its something different that's for sure.

Thanks to everyone who has commented on my posts and if you are interested in seeing more of the Project as it builds keep an eye on Yarkshire Gamer, I've got a blog, YouTube Channel etc where these troops will appear.

And a special thanks once again to Curt for organising this wonderful event 👍

Keep in touch and I will see you on the start line, with another Big Project later this year.

Regards Ken 

The Yarkshire Gamer 

From Martijn N: Wrapping up

Well, that went fast! As a matter of fact even faster than I thought, for I had written a final (I thought) contribution for March 21st, only to find that I was too late! A very senior moment I fear. However, even without my final Squirrel I truly had a blast. I smashed my target which, even though admittedly still fairly modest at 500 points nevertheless was considerably up from that of my my first Challenge last year. I think I managed an average of more or less a squirrel per post, which just goes to show that focus is not one of my few strenghts. Neither is photography, of figures or otherwise. So here goes, with the obligatory hat:

I did figures, in 10mm, 15mm, 28mm and 40mm, I did a hill, I did houses, two wells and a keep (which I forgot for the photo, duh)  and a market stall, I did animals as in horses, wargs, and camels, I did Elves, Men, goblins, a Dwarf, Romans, Arabs, Russians and Württembergers; I quadrupled the number of female figures I ever painted; and I did ships. I embraced the Squirrel. Yippie!

Once again, I painted less than I had hoped, but more than I expected. I find that the (self-inflicted, I know) pressure to try to get a post in every week tends to severely limit my ability to comment on others' contributions, which I have done much less than I intended to and very much less than everybody deserved, so my apologies. Next year, I will do my best to better my life. I am also sorry that I only got to join the chat once; my speech is somewhat impaired, and I find it very difficult to concentrate on painting while talking, or the other way around, especially in  a foreign language; but I very much enjoyed the company when I was there. I shall definitely look forward to joining more often in future!

I can only say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic, diverse, extremely talented, awesome, quirky, weird and otherwise interesting contributions of the amazingly creative, welcoming, kind and friendly bunch that you Challengers are. Thanks ever so much for having me join you, it truly has been a privilege!

Thanks, Curt, for allowing me in once again and organizing a wonderful Challenge. The Challenge Quadrant was an absolutely  brilliant idea and I had great fun with it. Thanks also to all our long-suffering minions, and  especially my "own" Friday minion,  our unfortunate Dave. I do hope you have a smoother ride next year!

Well, that's it from me. So long one and all, and thanks for all the fun. I hope to see you all again next winter!

DavidB wrap up and vacation

My first few entries were the gifts painted above. Since Razor is off to Northern Michigan and trespassing in teenaged son's bedrooms is akin to slow dancing with Cthulu...the entry pictures will suffice.

This was a very happy indulgence  this outing. I am still adjusting to being back home and enjoying the little things like having bed, food, and bathroom under the same roof! Simple luxury! My leg is healed from surgery and I'm back to light jogging and walking soon rucking with heavy pack and attempting to beat past record times.

This was how my desk looked from day one of the challenge. I have since packed all paints and untouched miniatures away and did a much needed cleaning of debris in the man cave. Currently I am relaxing in a nice hotel with close friends and taking a small vacation before stepping up in physical training and securing a mortgage for our home....definitely need the peace and tranquility before confronting Bankers! ;)

I was not quite able to fill the field desk  like i have in past challenges, but I am happy to have converted a good foot hill of the Mountain-of-Neglect into playable game pieces.

It was also a treat to be amoung like minded hobbyists and being exposed to games, genres, and miniatures thatI may even look for here at Adepticon.

Although I wasnt able to comment directly to every post, I have marked my favorites. Whether I was performing military duries or protecting the power plant, a big part of my day was viewing the email with my morning coffee.

Now, I and the Iron Snakes( and unfinished Orlocks) are in Illinois at Adepticon. The crowd is enthusiastic and rather large. Large enough I have been enjoying more of the Schaumburg air than the convention sights! I did see the GW teasers...Greg and the rest of the Heresy fans are going to be pretty happy this year( save some money for this summer)  I also have been snagged by the small shapeway company Pop Goes the Monkey. They are keen to see the Iron Snakes up close as my companions were bragging about them. Only a little anxiety there...and here I am carting them about in a cardboard box till I can proper trays for them! 

Thank you all for an enjoyable outing this round. A very special thanks to The Snowlord, Lady Sarah, Tuesday Minion Tamsin, the rest of Team Minion, and the cat herders tallying the side duels. I'm going to have a few words with the smurf behind me and gather some projects for when the snows return after the Autumn winds.

PS I only have the mustache( cannot grow a beard-looks like mange!) as not only is it the only reminder of my used to be black hair, but it also annoys my wife! She also says it must be gone before I return home.

From PeterB. AHPC wrap up. The hobby butterfly strikes again

I said it all in my last post really, but thank you all for a wonderful first challenge. My target was a modest 500 points as I wasn't sure on my speed or spare time, but post Christmas I managed to post at least one post a week. I originally felt being a newbie and not competitive at all to finish near the bottom of the table wouldn't be a problem. Then halfway through it looked like a top ten finish was a possibility. I was pipped at the post however by the excellent last minute efforts from Tamsin and Millsy, a fact I am totally content with. (Shaky fist!) 

In all seriousness though, I really just wanted to get the project done that had been haunting me, sat on my official GW painting tray for nigh on two years. My Zulu War Perry Plastics. Well, goal achieved. I had great fun painting and getting all the great feedback (my personal blogging comments section remains thinly commented in comparison.) Many other models were painted too and my lead pile is looking diminished. (They never empty do they?)

I had multiple poses tested in photos taken, I'm confident in going with two thumbs up.

Well there you go. I've had to make an order of mdf bases at one point, more foam trays to store all this and I've run out of tufts. (Are all these taken into account for the economic value? ;-) )

The Space Marine sits behind me now and looms over me in Zoom meetings for work.

If you want to see more of my painting throughout the year, I go by PlayingwithLead on facebook or on the blog at https://playingwithlead.blogspot.com

Otherwise, see you next year.

From Barks: Gaze upon my works

The Challenge is an annual highlight I always look forwards to. It has been an honour to be your Thursday minion for AHPC XII. I fell heroically short of my target, but I did complete my Challenge Star. I got there in a very fuel-efficient manner, and should probably have used a few Star Yacht trips to gain more bonus points. Everything I did this year was 28mm sci-fi or fantasy, with a shameful lack of historicals. I did complete over 100 skullz, and got a fair way into Slowpainter's alphasoup.

Very much looking forward to AHPC XIII!

Barks