From MartijnN: Germanic bowmen and sundry

Yes! Invitation received. However, it will be two more weeks before I actually get my jab, so I thought I'd better get on with it. Strangely enough, I seem to be more consistent and faster now the "real" Challenge is over (although I remember struggling a bit too in the Quarantine Challenge a year ago).

Anyway, in keeping with the theme my painting seems to be taking on a bit here are six Germanic bowmen. These too are MTH figures which I printed myself.

To accompany these, and the Celtic bowmen I painted last week, is a unit of ten Celtic warriors, also from the MTH Rome series. I had a lot of fun painting these and I am quite happy with them.

Finally, a Celtic dog handler with two Irish Wolfhound-like characters. I would not much care to come across these chaps, neither on or off the battlefield! I promise to make a bit more of an effort with the next dogs.

Next up are two 32mm thieves from the Arbiter Miniatures range. These are great figures, and supportless too which is quite a boon in my book. They printed without any problems and I like how they turned out. They can be used in a variety of ways, the painting scheme is a bit ranger-like I guess.

Then, there is an armoured polar bear from Wilds of Winterland by Evan Carothers. This is a wonderful 3d print file range with ice giants, snowfolk, arctic animals, yetis, you name it. Shades of Westeros, obviously. I think the bear is a great model.

Next, the only part of this week's output that was not 3d printed: a brigade of Confederate troops for my ongoing Champion Hill project using Altar of Freedom. These are once again 10mm Perrin figures. I try to give my Union troops a more formal character, but I like my rebels to be a somewhat more motley bunch.

Finally, two pieces of terrain. A bridge and a viking burial mound. The last obviously was to have been my offering for the Tomb in the Chambers of Challenge, but I never got there. Both are 28mm figure scale miniatures, but scaled down to somewhere between 6mm-10mm.

So there you have it. For me this is a record production, pointswise:

22 28mm figures @ 5 points is 110 points;

20 10mm figures @ 1 point is 20 points;

and as I don't feel like doing the complex calculations for the terrain pieces I am awarding myself 1 point for each for a total of 2 points;

Which yields a grand total of 132 points; a veritable points bomb for me!

From MartijnN: Celtic Bowmen

Well, no sign of an invitation for vaccination yet, so here we are again. Last week I painted some medieval bowmen, so this week I thought I'd do some Celtic ones. These are 3d printed 28mm figures from the March to Hell Rome series; you guessed it, another Kickstarter. They are simple figures, with a somewhat cartoonesk flavour, but I like them a lot and they paint up fairly well. For some reason I printed only four of them, so a few others will follow to make up  something representing a unit. Mind you, I do not really have a purpose for them as yet; I plan to do something of a skirmishing type of game, perhaps Infamy, Infamy or SPQR. The MTHR range is fairly extensive, the Kickstarter had Imperial Romans, Republican Romans, Celts, Germans, Carthaginians and sundry fun items such as gladiators, so all options are open really. 

Next up some figures I painted up just for fun. From the Scourge of  Valtan Forest comes this leprechaun. The concept completely eludes me, but it is a fun figure and painted up easily.

Finally, two figures from Ian Lovecraft's Viking Legends Kickstarter. Lovecraft projects are always fun and of very good quality, and this was no exception. These were among the very first figures I printed, and thus details are not always crisp and clear and I really didn't know how to  remove the supports easily; but the figures were still too good to chuck them into the bin. The final result is not too bad, I would say. These are Brynhildr (after the snake lady in Challenge XI the second female figure I ever painted), who surely looks suitably ladylike but definitely seems to know her business, and Eric Bloodaxe carrying some very compelling arguments.

Seven 28mm figures make 35 points. At least one more post to go, but I'm not holding my breath.

From MartijnN: Medieval Bowmen

 As you now, I am really one for the smaller scales. As a matter of fact, before Challenge XI began I had not painted a figure larger than 15mm since the eighties, apart from some few Warhammer 40K figures bought on impulse in 2018. Mind you, I do have a sizeable (unpainted, of course) stack of  GW fantasy figures and some medievals for a fantasy project that has been on the backburner since time immemorial, but I had not yet come around to painting any of them. However, more inspired by following the Challenge during the last few years than anything else (I guess I, too, can blame Curt), I bought some medieval figures. I prepped them for the "main" Challenge, but you know how it goes. Now seemed as good a time as any to get them done, so here are no less than eight medieval bowmen:

 

They are plastic Fireforge figures. Now I am not a great fan of building figures, nor am I very adept at it, so please excuse the somewhat irregular poses. I am sure that it is more due to my poor modelling skills than to the quality of the figures themselves that some of them look like they have been overindulging in Mister "Cut me own throat" Dibbler's fine sausages again. Still, as a group I am not too dissatisfied with them. Of course I had to drop one of them on the floor, causing the bow to break. I'll have to find an alternative way to repair it, as I have lost the missing piece, but I wanted the post to go up today so that will have to wait.

Needless to say I used Contrast paints again, as well as some colours from the Scale75 Instant Colors range. I find the Scale75 paints a little fainter, or less opaque, than the Citadel paints, but they generally work ok. Obviously, I had to finish the figures with a coat of your friend and mine, as Youtube miniature painter Sonic Sledgehammer calls it (check him out, he is great): Agrax Earthshade.

So, as if I needed another project, eight 28mm figures for 40 points. Yeah!

From MartijnN: Another mixed bag

The fact that I am happily printing away means that the stack of "things to be painted sometime" has been growing rather than diminishing lately. Still, I have managed to get some things done. It is not really much, but I do expect to receive an invitation for a jab soon, so best to get a post in while I can!

First, here are three 15mm Essex Companions for my DBA Bactrian Greeks. I had originally intended these for the Knight's Solar but I have never even been in the vicinity! I know that a DBA  army is hardly a challenge in figure count, but since this one has been in the works for the best of three decades there's no need to start hurrying now. One more element of Companions with general and four elements of pikemen to go. I may get there yet!

Next up is a brigade of 10mm Perrin Miniature ACW Zouaves for my Altar of Freedom project. I'm not even sure if there were Zouaves at Champion Hill but they made a nice change from the standard Union infantry.

Then here are two wood golems from the Scourge of Valtan Forest Kickstarter. I intend to use these as Ents for Warmaster or something similar. They are nice figures and the prints came out fine. 

Finally,  a potions shop printed in more or less 10mm scale from another Kickstarter, the Architecture Medieval Set (yeah, I know, I tend to go overboard a little when embarking on something new, like 3d printing) . In spite of its rather unimaginative name this set actually contains some very nice and creative fantasy mediaeval buildings, and this quirky potions shop is a fine example. I rather enjoyed painting it up and look forward to doing more of the buildings.

So, there we are, 3 15mm cavalry for 12 points, 20 10mm infantry for 20 points, 2 28mm figure for 10 points and a 10mm building for 1 point (80/3375 cm3 of a standard cube or 0,023 point, generously rounded up). 43 points!

From MartijnN: Miscellaneous Models

Well, we did not have much of a winter over here, but now that Spring has arrived Winter is coming. At least this is what I saw looking out into the garden this morning:

Thinking back to the Challenge and my grandiose scheme and what came of it I realized that I am more of the squirrel type. So, as it is about time to get a first post in here are some models I mostly intended more for the Chambers of Challenge than for anything else. As  a matter of fact I rarely play anything other than the smaller scales, so these larger models  are not that likely to see a tabletop anytime soon. However, I liked painting them much more than I had expected, and that's a real bonus for me from taking part in the Challenge. Often, I consider painting more of a necessity than a fun activity in and of itself, and to my surprise this is starting to change somewhat!

First is a Stone Golem from the Scourge of Valtan Forest Kickstarter. I had originally planned to do him for the Golem's Haunt, but I could not get a decent print at first and then I came across the fake elephants and did those. However, thanks to a new printer I did get a good print so I painted him up. I am sure he will find use as a giant in Warmaster or Hordes of the Things. Nominally part of  a 28mm range he stands about 50mm tall so I will count him as a 28mm cavalry figure for 10 points.

Next up is a wolf from the same range. Painted in various shades of grey I am happy how he turned out. Not really fitting any of the chambers, but surely there must be a use for a wolf somewhere? If only for crying too often? One 28mm figure for 5 points.

For the Larder I entered a sitting Arabian merchant. The figure had a companion, a sitting beggar. Perhaps a good entry for the Hall of Ancestors? Didn't get there in the end. Just a very simple but fun figure, if only for its unusual subject. Like the merchant, from the Lovecraft Desert Adventures Kickstarter. 5 points.

Finally, a piece likely to see some tabletop use. It might have been entered for The Shrine, for it is a vicarage or rectory from Leven Miniatures, who come heartily recommended for quality of products and service. I really think that smaller scale terrain is a bit undervalued in the cube system used and that 6mm buildings might be better scored as vehicles or as a (somewhat) larger scale miniature. However, as this little house measures 4cm x 3cm x 3cm or 36 cm3 it is 36/3375 of a 20 points cube or 0,21 points. Let's be generous and count a full point.

So there you have it, 21 points. And away we are!

From MartijnN: More small scale scenery

For some reason I do not seem to be able to get any figures done. However, I still have lots terrain pieces to paint and I spent some time on those.

First up is a Russian village from Hagen Miniatures. Funny how 1/300 seems to be just as fluid a scale as any other. These models are decidedly small, even for 6mm. Also, they are not very detailed. However, as an assembly I think it works quite ok, and as long as there are no buildings in the immediate vicinity from other makes they should be alright. The trees are from Les Hammond's  Terrain Shed.

Next up, a 6mm French house from Battlescale. I really like their buildings, both in 6mm and in 10mm.

Then, some earthworks, also from Battlescale. They are nominally 10mm, but  I think they would work with 15mm as well. These were painted in the same shade of Citadel Contrast paint (Aggraros Dunes), but one over a grey primer and one over Wraithbone, GW's recommended shade of off-white. The difference is quite marked! I disliked the darker tone so much that I drybrushed some green and yellow over it. They''ll both do now I guess. The wood by the way is Wyldwood, which is one of the best colours in the range I'd say. Just applied straight from the pot, and the shadow effect is very good.

Finally, a 10mm cottage from Battlescale, the companion of the building I showed you earlier. This was also primed grey, which accounts from the sombre tone. I will not repeat that experiment, I suppose. Still, the end result looks ok.

That's all folks! Thanks for looking, and stay safe.

From MartijnN: Some small scale scenery

Just to show that I have not completely fallen of the Quarantaine wagon (though hanging on by my fingernails) the two very small tasks that I managed to complete in the past weeks. A small 6mm/ 10mm wood from Chinese model trees from Wish, and some from Terrain Shed Wargaming, on a Warbases base:

And a small 10mm cottage from Battlescale using mostly Contrast paints. I gave it a wash with Army painter Strongtone which in retrospect perhaps was not the brightest idea. Still, it looks somewhat ok.

Thanks for looking and stay safe, even if less "lockdowned" now.

From MartijnN: A Small Squadron

I don't know what is with this quarantine situation, but time seems to be slipping through my hands without me accomplishing as much as I'd like to in the way of painting. Still, gradually small steps are being taken to return to some form of normality, which is  a relief. The thing I find most challenging about the situation is the fact that one is never alone. Having two young children in the house all the time can be quite challenging by itself!

Anyway, I noticed this thing going on throughout the various challenges about camels. While rummaging through my lead pile I came across these 15mm ships of the desert, produced by Chariot Miniatures. So without further ado I present a small squadron:

Simple paintjob using mostly Citadel's Contrast paints.

Thanks for looking and stay safe, even when the reins are being loosened!

From MartijnN: Minifigs! Crimean War no less.

I have not been very productive last week as family matters occupied most of my time. However, at last I have produced something. Which provides me with an excuse to bore you with some more nostalgia.

When I was a schoolboy, we used to visit my gran. There was not much to do around her place for little children, but one of my uncles still lived with her and he had a great collection of books. One book that had a mesmerizing (some might say fatal) attraction for me was this:

 In particular, I was thrilled by this chapter:

Eventually, I got my own copy. This was the first I learned about the Crimean War and I was fascinated. Believe it or not, this war is not well known in the Netherlands. But I was fascinated. French and British fighting Russia? Together? In some far-away peninsula? The Charge of the Light Brigade? Of course, the Crimea was part of the USSR then and firmly behind the Iron Curtain...

Did I tell you I was fascinated? Even more when I managed to lay my hand on this boardgame, which had an interesting historical background booklet which I must have virtually memorized.

Long story (a little) shorter, when sometime in the 80s Minifigs announced a new series of 15mm Crimean War figures some of my friends and me teamed up to persuade our moderately friendly local game store to order some for us. Frankly, when they arrived, after a very long delay, they proved something of a disappointment; the French were in full dress uniform which was not worn in the field, and the poses were a little awkward for wargaming . Still, I painted up some and we had a few games. And then I moved, lost touch with my club and the figures ended up in a box. Which was where I found them, including these half-painted ones:

So I decided to finish them after thirty-odd years, maintaining the style from back then, and to base them for Volley & Bayonet (as I don't see me using Newbury Fastplay 19th century anymore...).

The flag is from Revo, another blast from the past I suppose.

All of this meant, of course, that I also had to rebase the other figures in my collection, with which I have made a start accordingly (the new arrivals in the middle):

The paintjob on some of these figures is far from stellar, usually because I was experimenting with home-made washes and those experiments did not always work out, but I really am not up to repainting them all. I have still got lots of Russians and more French to rebase.... And all of this is not really reducing my lead pile either.

I am quite happy to find that the Challenge really encourages me to take up some projects I didn't even remember anymore! I wonder what's up next? Stay tuned!

From MartijnN: QCWk4, Scaling up again..

The past two weeks have been rather hectic and I have been unable to follow the Challenge. I have however just managed to complete a task this week.

First, though, I 'd like to share a memory with you. Last week my father died, rather unexpectedly. My Dad was 81, so I guess unexpected is not entirely true, but somehow you think of your parents as immortal, and there were no signs that he would go so soon. My dad was my best friend. He was not a wargamer in any sense, but he was the one who bought me my first Airfix soldiers when I was a little boy, and he was the one who took me to the only shop that sold tin model soldiers in the Netherlands in 1980, the Boutique De La Grande Armée in The Hague. I think he also bought me my very first wargame figures then, and I still have them. Of course, for a lad of 12 or 13, they had to be the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, and they are Hinchcliffe 25mm. They are still based for the WRG 1685-1845 rules:

The second figure from the left in the front row was painted by my dad as a example; ruining it with a home-made wash was all my own idea, some years later...

Thanks dad for introducing me to a lifetime passion!

As I live in Belgium and my parents in the Netherlands, getting to my parents' and back was not straightforward. Still, both before my journey and since my return I have been able to do some painting.  The weekend before last I had found an unexpected treasure in my pile of shame in the shape of 8 Essex 15mm late Roman clibanarii. I did not remember buying them, must have been sometime in the nineties when I was building an army for the Newbury Fast Play Ancient Rules we then used at our club in Delft.

So I decided to paint them up, using contrast paints, apart from the metallics (which obviously is most of these figures...) which are a mixture of Citadel and Vallejo.

I have based these on a single base, for I am looking into To the Strongest and into Aurelian, the ruleset by Sam Mustafa.

So there you have it. I'll track my way back to the posts of the last week and add some comments here and there!

From MartijnN: QCwk3 Slightly less small matters

For my third weekly task I have.. well, some 6mm of course! Some more miniature real estate, a Belgian/ Northern French house from TimeCast and a church from Total Battle Miniatures. The church is actually from their North-American range, but I think it will also do nicely as an Eastern European building.

Next, let's turn to bigger matters. Now, I am a slow painter and the rate at which some Challengers turn out beautiful 28mm figures never ceases to amaze me. I myself am quite happy to have been able to produce all of twenty-four 10mm figures and a gun from the former Perrin range (they are still sold by Magister Militum). I bought these in 2004 without having any clear purpose in mind (hey, they were a bargain) but never got around to painting them until I discovered the excellent website on the Altar of Freedom rules: 6mmacw. I believe that fellow Challenger Miles has some involvement in the matter... Now, these have obviously been designed with 6mm figures in mind but I don't see why 10mm wouldn't work so here are a brigade of Union infantry and a Confederate artillery battery.

These are for my modest first ACW project which aims to recreate the battle of Champion Hill (AAR on 6mmacw here). This is one of the smaller scenarios in the rules so should be doable. Only 9 more brigades to do!

I used contrast paints again, The Ultramarines Blue turned out just a bit darker than my other Union infantry and the pants are a bit less skyblue, but all in all I am not unhappy. The flag is from Pendraken.

Lastly, I made a small piece of terrain: a swamp. It is on an mdf base by Warbases, just a simple affair but I find it quite effective.

Thanks for looking, easy on the Easter eggs, stay safe and wash those hands!