For Nick: Fausto Rodriguez - Rogue Trader

For quite some time now, Nick and I have enjoyed exchanging painted figures to add to each other's collection. For those familiar with Nick's skills with the brush, you will know that I am definitely the greater beneficiary with this arrangement. :)  Anyway, I muddle along and try do something for him that I think he'll like.

This year, Nick had mentioned that he'd like something Warhammer Fantasy themed, so I dug up several items from my stores that I thought might fit the bill. The thing is, I just couldn't find the mojo to get them done (I know, I'm such a princess). 

While all this was (not) happening, I found that this 40K Rogue Trader kept drifting across my desk during the Challenge, slowly getting worked on in fits and starts. It's the classic story: While beavering away on other projects I would put down a colour here, and then add another a week or so down the line. Slowly he came to life. 

The figure is from the excellent Artel W. I have tons of their (his?) stuff for my Dark Heresy collection and always love working on their models.

We'll call him Fausto Rodriguez.

I asked Nick if he would be okay with a 40K figure instead of something from WH Fantasy and his response was typically accommodating, saying, 'ScFi is just Fantasy in Space, isn't it?' 

Well Nick, here you go. A burly Rogue Trader for your 'space fantasy' collection. Cheers mate, I hope you like him.

- Curt

Spanish Civil War Figures for Nick and Christopher

During our last Painting Challenge I had a fun brush duel with Nick, Christopher and Phil to see who could paint the most points of Spanish Civil War figures. I really thought I had it in the bag by establishing an early lead, but Nick took the prize in the last few weeks with a tremendous entry which, try as I might, I couldn't manage an effective riposte. Well done Nick!

So, here I present my tribute figure to Nick for his well-fought win: a Republican dinamiteros preparing to throw his pipebomb IED. 

This figure is from the excellent Empress range. 

I'm also sending along a LMG team as a belated reply to our Annual Friendly Figure Swap.

These guys are from Wargames Foundry's French partisan range which I think work very nicely for Republicans. If you squint a little, the Bren becomes a period appropriate Czech ZB vz 26. :)

AND for Chris, a Canadian standard bearer from the 15th International Brigade for being such a great supporter of the Challenge all these years.

Again, another Empress figure. He's carrying the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion colours

I'll be following up with a figure for Phil in a few weeks. That one I plan to hand-deliver later this autumn when we visit Crisis in Antwerp (SO excited). Now, how's that for service!

Next Up: An AAR from our '43 Italian campaign

From MartinN: 28mm Late Roman Cavalry & Archers (30 points)

From Martin (Nick):

One of my goals for the challenge was to paint up the Late Roman figures I have in my lead pile. As the end of the challenge grows closer I'm slowly running out of time for this. So here are two heavy cavalry and two archers from Musketeer Miniatures.

I really like the figures Bill is making. They're full of character and require little in the way of cleaning.  Sometimes the detail on the tunics and trousers is a bit flat but they still are a treat to paint.

I decided to go for another colour scheme as for my other Romans as they look a bit too elite to me nowadays in their greyish blue tunics. Most of the older figures are also missing the patterns I painted on these guys here. 

As I occupied myself with the late Roman army for over a year now I came to the conclusion they need these patterns to look right. So maybe I have to go back to my older figures somewhen.

Till then I still have six archers and three infantry men left in the queue which I'm hoping to finish in time.

Wow, absolutely stunning work Nick! I really like the red patterns you've chosen for the archers' tunics and the duller toned metallics seem to resonate well with these figures (especially the scale mail and helm on the mounted leader). But it is in the facial detail where your brush control just amazes me - astonishing stuff and a feast for the eyes, bravo!

These Late Romans will give Nick 30 points. Again, lovely work.

And while I have everyones' attention I'd like to make a few announcements:

1) First, some sad news. Kent has suffered a serious back injury and so has regretfully decided  to put down his brushes and bow out of the Challenge. He told me he was very disappointed as he had planned a glorious dash to the finish, but things just didn't turn out. He extends his heartfelt thanks and well wishes to all his fellow Challengers and hopes to join company with us all next time out. I know I speak for all of us in wishing him a speedy and comfortable recovery. Get well Kent, your participation will be missed!

2) On to more prosaic news: The bonus points for the 'Casualty' bonus round have been tabulated and the participants' scores updated on the roster. Also as a reminder, Sunday 6pm (CST) will be the cutoff for voting on the Casualty round so if you've not had the opportunity to see the gallery please take some time to visit, enjoy the wonderful work and cast your votes for your favourites.

3) Finally, remember this Saturday midnight is the deadline for the 'Favourite Character' theme round so now's the time to stoke the fires of industry and get your submissions wrapped up and into me. I'm looking forward to seeing what folks come up for this one! I'll endeavour to have the gallery up by late Sunday afternoon...

Thanks and have a great weekend everybody!

From MartinN: 28mm WWI German Flamethrower, WWII British Para Howitzer and MMG (62 points)

From MartinN ('Nick'): 

Once again a mixed submission of Great War and WW2 stuff. First we have a WW1 German Flamethrower team carrying the 'Klief M1916 Flammenwerfer'. The figures are from the superb Great War Miniatures and again were a real joy to paint. 

Second is a '75mm Pack Howitzer' for my Red Devils Paratroopers from Warlord Games. The piece and especially the troopers are of great quality and were a fun to paint.

The spent shells seem to look a bit out of scale on the pics but believe me it's just the angle ;-)

And last but not least we have a 'Lewis medium machine gun' from Warlord Games again. The gun itself was rather nice but the paratroopers unfortunately had some bad mould lines and miscasts.

Beautiful work once again Nick. The flamethrower team, while grim, is very well done but I particularly like the Paras with their denison smocks and the added realism of the expended shell casings beside the howitzer. (It must be heat expansion with the casings that's causing the size distortion, yeah, that's it for sure. :) )

These three weapons teams will give Nick 62 points. Great job!

From MartinN: 28mm Dark Age Franks (40 points)

Being a rather slow painter I finally managed to get the figures for my next entry done. These Saxon Gedrith will feature in future games of Dux Britanniarum and Dux Bellorum. I intend to use them as Franks as I want leave the British Isles story wise. 

Although the Age of Arthur in good old Britain is for sure one of the most interesting Periods I'm a bit over saturated by the concentration on British history while there was so much more going on on the continent. The Franks struggling for a place in the corpse of the Roman Empire, the final death throws of the western Empire when Aetius led a coalition of roman and Frankish troops to victory over the Huns, the Visigoths carving out their empire in Italy and so on...

I wanted the miniatures to look like they were about to emerge out of a wood maybe attacking some merchants or a roman patrol on their way home.

The four long bearded models are from the superb Early Saxon range by Musketeer Miniatures. The two other guys are from the nice Arthurian Saxons by Westwind Productions. Both ranges fit together quite well although the Musketeer figures are more detailed.

I wish a Happy New Year to all fellow participants and bloggers.

Absolutely gorgeous work Nick! I really like the edging on their tunics and the weathering on the shields. When you and Axebreaker (Christopher) get together with your collections it must be a real feast for the eyes! I also really appreciate your desire to situate your Dark Age setting on the Continent as there was so much happening all over the world during this period in history. Well done.

These six fierce Franks will give Nick 40 points, which includes a little extra for the shields and excellent groundwork. Great Job!

From MartinN: Challenge Figure - Captain Stransky from 'Cross of Iron' (22 points)

MartinN (aka 'Nick) sends in his Challenge Desperado which actually is not a desperado at all but rather a German character from Peckinpah's WWII film, 'Cross of Iron'.

From 'Nick':

I'm starting into the challenge with my entry fee figure. Seemingly opposed to all others I didn't go for the Wild West theme but decided (after Curt pointed out to me the film is from Peckinpah also) to do 'Hauptmann Stransky' from Cross of Iron. 

It's a miniature from Artizan Designs I deemed appropriate for the job. Originally the figure had a Iron Cross around his neck but to stay with the film I decided to remove it. As for the basing I imagined him in some trench or command post.

Jeez, this is a wonderful figure Nick. His face even looks like Maximillian Schell's 'Captain Stransky'. Very nice groundwork as well. I especially like that you removed the Iron Cross from the figure as that was such a pivotal element of the film. 

Captain Stransky:  'I will show you how a Prussian officer can fight!' 

Sergeant Steiner:  'And I will show you, were the Iron Crosses grow.'

Great cinema. 

This figure gives Nick a base of 20 points but I'm adding a couple more for the wonderful basework and the overall attention to detail. Thanks again!