From DaveD: 28mm Naval Gatling Gun (60 Points)

Dave challenges you not to say 'DAKKA DAKKA'  when looking at these. He was inspired by Juan's Nordenfelt Gun and so sends in this impressive set of Naval Service Gatling Guns to up the ante.

These are 28mm Perry models from their excellent Sudan range.

Dave's only embellishment to these is the addition of the spent brass cartridges - how he managed to restrain himself is beyond me.

Lovely work, Dave. These lads and their infernal coffee grinders will get you 60 points.

From Curt: 28mm Napoleonic French Unit/Casualty Markers (45 points)

As promised, here are a few more Napoleonic French unit/casualty stands. Each of these will attach itself with a battalion to keep track of the unit name/organization and various status levels.

These are a mix of Foundry and Perry 28mm models.

I think for the next batch, in order to mix it up, I will incorporate musicians, some medicos and perhaps some looters.

For this group I'm going to give myself 45 points. Up soon will be my Norman archers (finally) and then on to something a bit different.

From Curt: 28mm Napoleonic French Dragoons, 18e Regiment de Dragons (240 points)

I've been plugging away at this regiment of French Dragoons since the beginning of the Challenge.

These are 28mm Perry plastics which I very much enjoy working with and highly recommend. At first it may seem a little daunting putting them all together, but once you get the process and a rhythm they assemble pretty quickly.

Their flash pink facings aside, 18th Regiment of Dragoons were very much a meat-and-potatoes 'working' cavalry regiment. In the early Empire period they participated in many of the major engagements (Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland) and then from 1808 to 1813 they saw hard service in the Peninsular campaigns.  They missed the Grande Armee's destruction in Russia, but were recalled to Germany where they were burned-out during the 1813 and 1814 campaigns for France.

This is the first time I've tried doing eyes on an entire unit...

I love painting Napoleonic cavalry but I find its the trumpeters that often make me 'snap my crayons'. Nonetheless, as French cavalry go, Dragoon trumpeters are pretty plain as they usually did not go overboard on reverse facing colours, gold braid, etc. but the ubiquitous chequered lace is always a challenge. Later this year I plan to do-up a Hussar regiment and I'm girding my loins for painting its trumpeter as those buggers' uniforms are insane.

While I was in the midst of assembling this lot I knew I would be running out of gas on painting Dragoon Green once these were done. So I broke down and commissioned my third regiment from a painting service. I hope to have that unit ready soon, touch them up ('cause I can't help myself) and base them to match this lot. Then I'll have a full brigade of the blighters, 72-figures strong, which should look the business arrayed on the tabletop.

Again, here's that loon Ney, leading the 18e and 1er regiments to Glory and some sticky end...

This unit will give me 240 points for the Challenge. Yep, if I did another ten like this I'd really be making Kent sweat...

Next up will be an assortment of casualty/unit stands, Norman archers and Anglo-Saxons.

From Curt: 28mm Napoleonic French Battalion, 2/67e Regiment de Ligne (20 points)

Work's a little crazy and with keeping on top of the blog I find it's been challenging to keep my own projects moving along.  Useless whinging aside, I have a few things coming to fruition and this group is the first out of the gate.

Though this looks like a large entry its actually pretty small. I bought the majority of the figures for this unit on Ebay over a year ago and they've been sitting on the 'to-do' part of my workbench ever since. I remember it being a cracking good deal, but once I received them I found that the painting was a little...meh. It was a bit of a slog reworking them, as I hate fixing other's people's stuff, but slowly I got through them all. 

The majority of these models are from Wargames Foundry.

The original figures were block-painted so I tweaked them with some highlights, cleaned up transitions, hit a few with washes and rebased the lot. I also added a few of my own figures to help the unit better blend-in with my other stuff. My 'new guys' are a mounted commander and two junior officers on foot. The battalion colour is from 'Flag Dude'.

Anyway, these fellows depict the 2nd Battalion of the 67e Regiment de Ligne. They had the unique distinction of serving as marines at the Battle of Trafalgar, many of which were aboard the L'Aigle (where ironically they lost their eagle, but saved their colours). 

Later, in 1809, they were part of Massena's IV Corps and were heavily committed to the hard fighting both at  Aspern-Essling and Wagram.

The mounted commanding officer and his junior below are both Perry models.

The other dismounted officer pointing forward is a Sash and Saber casting which I always seem to enjoy as I find them quite characterful.

These three will give me... 20 points(!). Yes, my head practically snaps back from the lunge ahead... God's Holy Trousers, I've got to get some other stuff done...


Next up: French Dragoons.

From PhilH: 28mm Ansar Tribesmen (75 points)

Phil sends in this great set of fifteen Ansar Tribesmen that he plans to use for Pulp-style gaming.

These are 28mm Perry plastic figures. Phil highly recommends them for being great sculpts, easy to put together and nice to paint.

Phil tried the painting guide on the Perry site for these which relies heavily on layered washes. I think they turned out great.

These fifteen figures will give Phil 75 points to add to his tally. Thanks for sending these in Phil!

From KentG: 28mm Napoleonic French Artillery & English Civil War (190 points)

Those participating in the Challenge may find it somewhat encouraging that Kent is returning to work next week. ;) Perhaps the blistering pace he's set will abate somewhat. Nonetheless, before you all wipe your brow in relief, Kent has sent in another impressive entry. This time we have a full battery of Napoleonic French horse artillery and a regiment of foote for the English Civil War.

The French horse artillery are 28mm Perry Miniature sculpts. Lovely work here. Kent, are you using GW Regal blue as a base colour? The uniforms on these lads really 'pop' nicely.

Next is the beginnings of a new army for Kent - English Civil War. This unit depicts Sir Ralph Weldon's Regiment of Foote.  Note: Seventeen of this group of nineteen count as two were completed before the Challenge.

This last one I expect is for Sarah: a lusty barmaid 'proffering refreshments' to the troops. 

Another enviable batch of points earned here: 100 for the French Artillery, 85 for the ECW unit and 5 for the barmaid. Total: 190 points! Once again great work, Kent!

From ChrisP: 28mm Napoleonic British (110 points)

Here are some additional reinforcements from Chris, these depicting the South Lincolnshire (69th) battalion which he will use for  the 'Lasalle' set of Napoleonic rules.

These are all 28mm Perry models; plastic rankers with metal command.

These casualty figures are Perry as well. Chris' (and my) favourite is the duo above which either depicts a faithful soldier dragging his wounded officer from harms way, or he's simply pulling him out of the local pub and rolling him for his pocketwatch. Below we see a Rifleman, an Inniskilling and a poor chap from the 33rd Regiment all taking the 'dirt nap'. (As you can probably tell, I'm not feeling too 'romantic' today - being the first day back to the ludus...)

...and finally, a poor lonely skirmisher, out in front of the lines, facing the French on his own. Fine paintwork here, Chris!

This group will get Chris 110 points! Well done!

From ChrisP: 28mm Napoleonic British Casualty and WWII Greyhound (11 points)

Chris is just about to go on vacation and so wanted to get some entries in before he left. Here is a Napoleonic British casualty and a M8 Greyhound armoured car.

The casualty figure is a 28mm Perry sculpt. Chris has done the facing colours to go with his upcoming 69th Lincolnshires. Very nice! The pose of the figure really reminds me of that famous but controversial Spanish Civil War photo by Robert Capra of of the Loyalist being shot. Chris will be using this stand for 'Lasalle'.

His second entry is a 15mm M8 Greyhound scout car from Battlefront Miniatures. Chris used a gel pen to put in the 'F 22' markings (Fox Company, 2nd Troop, 2nd vehicle).

I'm giving Chris 6 points for the Greyhound and 5 for the casualty, so 11 points total. 


Enjoy your vacation, Chris!

From ChrisP: 28mm Napoleonic British Artillerists and Wellington (70 points)

Building up momentum from his Spartan hoplite, Chris sends in this entry: a battery of Royal Artillerists and the Man himself, Christopher Plummer! Damn, I mean Stephen Fry, er, I mean the Duke of Wellington...

These are Victrix plastics that Chris has swapped out the heads from the artillery box for those from the infantry set (he found the stock ones from the artillery box too heinous to bear using). Unfortunately the guns were built and painted earlier so they do not for scoring but they look quite nice nonetheless.  

I like how the battery looks grouped all on one base. 

The Wellington figure is from the Perry's metal range of 1815 Napoleonics.

Nice work Chris! This group will net him a solid 70 points as we head into the holidays.

Next up for Chris is the 69th South Lincolnshires, a battalion of Hanoverian Landwehr and then on to Thirty Years War Spanish tercios. I'm looking forwards to seeing all of this over the coming months.