From EdwinK: 28mm Professor Morrison - Before and After (10 points)

From Edwin:

These two figures are Prof Morrison before and after The Incident - either that or a pathetic attempt to link two disparate figures.

The 'before' is a 28mm figure 'Dr Curfew' from Artizan's Thrilling Adventures range.

The 'after' is 'Brain in jar on track' (snappy name!) from Black Cat Bases and 20mm to the top of the jar. I painted it for the Vehicles Bonus Round, but thought better of submitting it (I had the same doubts with it for the Villains Round).

Awesome! Will there be a back story about this character provided on your blog, Edwin? Inquiring minds wish to know more about the mysterious Professor Morrison and his later incarnation: 'Brain in Jar on Track'. What was 'The Incident'?

Also, what is that red globe-thingy on the track assembly? Maybe he's coin operated...

These two versions of Prof. Morrison will give Edwin 10 points.

From EdwinK: 28mm Retro Raygun Rocketeers (25 points)

Here are five 28mm figures from Hydra Miniature's Retro Raygun range 

I've had them for quite a while in a half-painted state, but scrubbed them and started afresh for the challenge.  

In retrospect I wish I'd left the out-sized rocket packs off, which would have given them a cleaner colour-scheme, but then they wouldn't have been rocketeer would they?

Very, very cool Edwin. I love these guys! Their metallic gold spacesuits are very posh (in a 1962 kinda way) and I really like your backdrop as well. You just need a bright silver bullet-shaped space ship off in the distance to complete the scene. 

These five rocketeers will give Edwin 25 points. 

From EdwinK: 28mm Pinkertons (15 points)

From Edwin:

For my latest submission I have three 28mm figures from Artizan Design - their 'Pinkerton Detective I'. These are the first Old West figures I've painted and (like all Artizan's) proved to be a joy to work on - in contrast to some others, which I'll address in another submission.

I went with the classic bluff duster coat look - it's hard to imagine that these figures were supposed to be done any other way.  That being said, I was tempted to convert the guy with the glasses into Prof Calculus for my Tin-Tin league!  Another time... 

I see the dude in the blue suit as The Boss - it seems to me he could be quite at home as a rancher, saloon-owner or hired gun.  The other two certainly have a professional killer vibe about them.

These are excellent Pinkertons Edwin. I quite like the Boss man with the gold signet ring - he just needs a red carnation to complete the picture. (The fellow in the glasses would indeed make a great basis for a Professor Calculus. I'd like to see him with that unruly ruff of hair around his head!)

These three fellows from The Agency will give Edwin 15 points. Great job.

New Challenge Prize Sponsor: Diplomatist Books

I am delighted to announce that EdwinK has kindly offered prize support for the Challenge through his online book store, 'Diplomatist Books'.

Thank you very much Edwin. I know I'll be able to find a worthy recipient for your generosity.

From EdwinK: 54mm Zulu War Colonial British Infantry (180 points)

Edwin's lucky nephew is about to receive these fine reinforcements to his growing collection.

From Edwin:

Here are some more 54mm toy soldiers for my nephew's collection.  Ideal for counterpane wars ;)

The are Armies in Plastic Set 5573 'Zulu War 1879, 24th Foot' (though to be honest the only difference between the various regiments they sell is the box art and the colour of the plastic they are molded in - these are a lurid red).  

It's a nice set though - 18 figures in six different poses.

Awesome! Your nephew will be delighted with these I'm sure. I especially like the floral quilt terrain that they are deployed on. If I squint my eyes a bit I see a detachment of Victoria's finest deploying onto the surface of Mars to claim it for the Empire.

These 54mm soldiers will give Edwin 180 points - only 3 away from his Challenge target. Well done!

From EdwinK: 28mm Santa (7 points)

Edwin sends in this wonderful Santa, who by looking at him, would seem more at home in a B-25 than a Christmas sleigh.

From Edwin:

I owe it to the kindness of fellow painters.  I casually observed on the Facebook page that I thought that North Star's Christmas freebie (28mm) would make an nice entry in the non-combatants' round and Paul Brewerton promptly offered to send me one.  Of course, I later put in an order to North Star of my own, so I've an extra.  I shall have to put on my thinking cap to see what I'll do with that one.

As we see, Santa is armed and determined looking.  Those Sky Pirates could stoop to anything...

Excellent work Edwin! Is that a DFC that I see pinned on his chest? Very suitable I think. 

This grimly jolly (is that even possible?) St. Nick will give Edwin 7 points. I know he should be 5 points, but it somehow seems churlish to score less for Santa (and besides, he's due at my house in a few hours...).