AHPC 16 Round up

Another AHPC Season comes to an end - this was my 11th but the first I've entered while living overseas (which was quite challenging!). World events and work travel cut into my time but that made my brush time all the more enjoyable for its restorative effects.

Somehow, it always feels like more while I'm painting it! :-)

This year saw me tackle some different projects: Dystopian Wars, Astronauts and Cosmonauts on the moon, a new Crimean War army, and some Retro- SciFi figures. Naturally, the broad shift away from GW figures meant my skull count was well down this year!

I tried something different with a YouTube video of my output. Click to play!

I really enjoyed the return of the Bonus Rounds this year and entered all three. I was thrilled to pick up a shared second place in the "Toy Story" theme with my Moon Walkers.

And lastly, I got an entry into "Sarah's Choice" with my Galactic Gals, which resulted in an "Honourable Mention" in that category and 6th overall in the "Challenger's Choice" award:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-awards-for-challenge-xvi.html

Overall I posted 828 points, exceeding my 500 point target and surpassing a 'career tally" of 9,000. Perhaps next season I can attempt to crack the 10,000 point milestone!

Some statistical analysis to keep Miles happy!

The struggle is real: well done Alan!

Thank you fellow challengers for making it such fun, particularly our ANZAC paint and chat crew for the banter (and having Curt dial in for the start was especially cool!). I hope we can continue these sessions post challenge. 

Accolades as always to Curt, Sarah and the fabulous minions who enable the entire enterprise. I deeply appreciate the time, effort and focus they deliver with a wonderful sense of humour.  

Posted to the AHPC blog here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/from-paul-og-season-16-wrap-up.html

Aloha & Mahalo!

Pulp SciFi figures

Like many of my generation I grew up watching Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (RIP Gil Gerard) which led me to love pulpy / retro SciFi. So, inspired by my games with Rich last year, I treated myself to some of Hydra Miniatures' fabulous "Retro Raygun" 32mm Pulp SF range in their annual Black Friday sale. Thus, I am pleased to introduce a new cast of characters:

The Astro-Angels

The Angels are a compact but highly capable Galacteer squad deployed for boarding actions, sabotage missions, and planetary patrol operations. Their barracks is also the source of the Angel Martini; a cocktail with a reputation across Starbase Epsilon-4 for its remarkable strength and suspiciously high fuel-cell compatibility.

Team Leader: Sergeant Stacy – Tactical leader. Cool-headed and decisive, Stacy keeps the team focused when missions go sideways, which they frequently do. 

Team Members:

• Polly Plasma – Assault trooper with nerves of steel. Known to walk straight into alien nests with only a smile and a plasma rifle.

• Trixie Tachyon – Scout and reconnaissance expert. Fast, agile, and always the first through the hatch during boarding actions.

• Vera Vega – Veteran blaster specialist and the squad’s steadiest shot in close combat.

• Cassie Comet - Practical joker and a crack shot with a Rocketship Burst Laser.

• Molly “Deadeye” Dawn – When missions require heavier firepower, Molly's signature atomic grenade launcher gleefully turns entrenched enemy positions into expanding clouds of ionized debris.

  

Technical Specialist:

• Daisy “Dynamo” – Engineer and mechanic of the Angel's rocketship Calypso. Daisy keeps the patrol ship flying long past the limits recommended by Galacteer maintenance protocols. When accompanying the team in the field, she provides technical support, demolitions expertise, and a fathomless capacity of dry wit.

  

Captain Roxanne Rayburn - Callsign: “Starfire”

As one of the Galacteer’s most capable field leaders, Starfire commands the Astro-Angels. She is renowned amongst patrol crews as calm under pressure, lethal in combat, and impossibly photogenic in danger zones. A combination that has made her a favourite subject of Galacteer newsreels and recruitment posters across the frontier worlds.

And what team doesn't need a few Red Shirts to come along as a support act? Starfire and the girls often work with Rex “Skylark” Rourke, Ace pilot, and his plasma-cannon toting buddy Bruno “Bulkhead” Kessler.

Together they keep the Galaxy safe from savage aliens, barbaric Space Pirates and the merciless Robots Legion!

Miniatures by Hydra Miniatures and based old school with sand (that I collected from Waikiki Beach!). I tried some new colours and techniques (like lipstick!) that were challenging. 

This was my final submission to AHPC16, posted here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/from-paul-og-galactic-gals-70-points.html

which brings this challenge season to a close - thanks once again to Curt and the amazing Minion team who bring all of the goodness together!

---------------------------

Painting Notes

Pixie Pink Warpaints Fanatic AP

Sly Blue Vallejo Model Color 70961

Corvus Black GW

Moot Green GW

Flash Gitz Yellow GW

Dead white Vallejo Game Color 72001

Apothecary White contrast

Basing

Raw sand and PVA

DARK SAND Model Color 70.847

Sepia Shade Game Wash 73.200

Drybrush again with dark sand

Pick out rocks with Vallejo Game Color Bonewhite 72.034

AHPC 16: Crimean War Russian Line Infantry

Presenting my first two Russian battalions for my 28mm Crimean War project. While the Russian Army of the time was renowned for having largest cavalry contingent on the continent, Infantry still made up the bulk of the Army. These are typical Line Infantry battalions of a Regiment, each of which fielded 4.

Two Battalions with Regimental officers advancing in Attack columns 

I used different shades across the greatcoats to show varying wear and quality in pre dye-fast colours, and gave the units some identity with one unit sporting a mix of helmets and forage caps (mutzes) which became more common as the war progressed, and another with more strict NCOs ensuring all the troops wear their issued helmets! 

1st Battalion (white shoulder tabs) - all in helmets

I enjoyed a good dose of the inevitable "basing dilemma", badly overthinking it before deciding to go with groups of poorly drilled troops with intermingled casualties, representing both bad training and a stoic intent to get to grips with the invaders regardless of cost! Groups of 8 figs make a line unit in Sharp Practice and I figured that four units per Battalion would give some good 'visual heft' as the attack columns advance.

2nd Battalion (red shoulder tabs) with mixed helmets and forage caps

Figures are mostly plastic Warlord figs with some metal models by Great War Miniatures mixed in. The former are relatively monopose, but the seperate heads let you impart some great character with modest turns. The latter are wonderful sculpts and mixing them in gives a more dynamic look. Colours by Battle-Flag.com

Normally I hate doing faces but these were very satisfying to do

This project was to be a full Regiment of 4 Battalions plus an artillery and a troop of Cossack cavalry but when real life got in the way I opted to not sacrifice quality just to 'get it done'. I really enjoyed building them and the rest will follow post Challenge.

The army grows!

These units and their Regimental Officers tally 67 foot and 1 mounted figure - my biggest submission of this Challenge to take me across my 500 point target line. Just in time!

Submitted to the Challenge here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/from-paulog-russians-of-crimean-war-345.html

Painting Notes

Zandri Dust spray undercoat

Greatcoats - Lavado Sepia Shade (Game Wash), Zandri dust drybrush

Trousers - Dead White (Game Color), Apothecary White contrast (GW)

Boots - thinned Corvus Black (GW)

Straps - Ulthuan Grey (GW), then white highlights

Muskets - Oak Brown (Warpaints Fanatic)

Skin - Pale Flesh (Game Color 72003), Reikland Flesh Shade (GW)

Collars - Mephiston red (GW)

Swords - black base coat, Warpaints Leather Brown, Gold hilt

Shoulder Boards

     Light Blue = GW Ice Blue

     Red = GW Mephiston Red

     White = Dead White (Game Color)

Backpacks - oak brown (army painter)

Bedrolls - Celestra grey GW

Staff Officer in green frockcoat

Basecoat - 50/50 Yellow Olive (mode

Colour 892) / Guarsian Green (Warpaints)

Wash - game colour green ink (72.089)

Highlight - waaagh flesh GW

Basing

Group infantry bases: 80x40mm

Individual figs on flat 25mm rounds (Renedra)

Battlefield Accessories Ground compound mix

Wash with 50/50 thinned GW Agrax

Drybrush highlight - GW Zandri dust

AHPC 16: Crimean War Russian Skirmishers

Defending the Motherland from foreign invaders is quite a (historical) Russian tradition, and so I start my Russian Crimean War army, ready to Resist the those interfering British, French and other tag-along stooges who have landed on Russian soil!

Za Rodinu! Za Tsarya! (For the Motherland! For the Tsar!)

I had intended this to be a more fulsome "first battalion" reveal but unfortunately, impacts of world events said no. But a start is a start, so here is a stout Russian Officer leading a few feisty skirmishers to defend the Rodina - and after months of planning and painting I'm pleased to get the first batch posted!

Regrettably, I didn't get a chance to setup a nice photo shoot for them. Apologies!

The 6 musketeers are metal figs by Great War Miniatures, and the Officer is a Warlord metal sculpt- together they form a light infantry unit in Sharp Practice plus a basic level leader. 

Their brave but poorly trained friends will make an appearance soon!

Submitted to the AHPC16 "Resistance" Bonus Round here:

https://analogue-hobbies-theme-rounds.blogspot.com/2026/03/resistance-by-paul-og-russian-crimean.html

AHPC 16: Cosmonaut crew for LUNAR

I recently posted my first 5 man NASA Crew for LUNAR, so today its time for the People's heroes from the CCCP!

Again these are 32mm models by Black Site Studios - the 2025 plastic releases not the resin/stl versions. Decals by District Miniatures.

I really enjoyed painting these models, all of which are subtly different, using the following paints:

• White undercoat
• Heavy drybrush Corax White
• Thinned light brown GW contrast paint
• Wraithbone drybrush
• Orange trim - Macharius Solar Orange
• Visors - Hoplite gold speed paint (Army Painter) with Reikland flesh wash

Image from 'For All Mankind'

Moon Basing- AK Lunar Desert basing material

• Drybrushes:
• medium sea grey (Vallejo Model Color 70.870),
• Astonomican Grey, 
• Corax White

Comrade Vasily redefines the "Tactical Rock", 

as well as the iconic phrase "We will Bury you!"

These suits depict the original Soviet suit, the Kretchet-94 designed to support the N1-L3 program including EVA activities up to 4 hrs in duration. It was the world's first semi-rigid space suit which included an aluminium alloy torso for micro-meteor protection, so in many ways it had advantages over NASA's A7L suit worn by APOLL 11-14 crews.

After the 1971 Soyuz-11 disaster, in which 3 cosomonauts died during a depressurisation emergency, it was superseded by the Sokol-KV2 design, which clearly took lessons from NASA.

Great 'pic' of a Soviet LK lander on the moon (from the movie Apollo 18)

AHPC 16: Lunar Supply lander

A quick break at home before my next trip - just enough time to complete this remote Lunar lander, to go with the Astronauts I posted last week.

Technically this is a remote (uncrewed) lander named the "KANGA-R.0.0" (love it!). It's perfect as an objective for games of LUNAR, where it will deliver key supplies (like air bottles and suit repair patches) to remote areas for the moon walkers to fight over. This is resin print and was a special release model by Black Site Studio for Adepticon 2025. 

Posted to AHPC 16 here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/from-paul-og-lunar-supply-lander-15.html

I also popped it on the BSS FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1K3HHtnkbs/

Painting Note: Gold foil is Green Stuff World's Gold Chrome Metal

Fabulous Moon from Earth orbit photo, taken from the ISS by German astronaut Alexander Gerst

AHPC 16: NASA Crew for LUNAR

After literally years of obsessing about this project in multiple scale, Black Site Studios release of plastic Astronauts and Cosmonauts had me scrambling for my credit card (visits to the Smithsonian Air & Space museum and the NASA Marshall rocket centre this year also helped!).  This year's painting challenge prompted me to finally get them onto the painting bench

Here are my first five NASA crew, mostly with a range of improvised and much deadlier (but temperamental in lunar conditions) equipment, battling with their Soviet counterparts!

AI background generated on ChatGPT

These boys with the "Right Stuff" are ready to defend their Apollo site and scientific equipments in the face of Communist aggression!

These are 32mm plastic figures by Black Site Studio, which I reviewed late last year:  

https://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2025/12/review-lunar-astronauts.html

I've broadly painted them as NASA Model A7L space suits (used for Apollo 11-14) and the decals add great splashes of colour. Decals by District Miniatures, including the original NASA "meatball" logo: 

https://districtminiatures.com/collections/black-site-studios-lunar-32mm

The original NASA "meatball' logo, designed in 1959

Comrade Cosmonauts of Roscosmos coming next!

"Moon Marines" artwork by Fána Smetana
Source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/BXXxB9⁩

Submitted to AHPC16 "Toy Story" bonus round here:

https://analogue-hobbies-theme-rounds.blogspot.com/2026/02/toy-story-from-paul-og-astronauts-and.html

and they got voted in at a wonderful second place!

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-votes-are-in-for-toy-story.html

AHPC 16: Dystopian Wars: Russian Fleet Reinforcements

A small Cruiser Squadron to reinforce my growing Russian Dystopian Wars fleet. After a couple of weeks away from the Hobby bench (for the best of reasons!) its was nice to get these finished to meet this week's deadline.

Disclaimer: I have used AI to generate a more contextural background.
The models themselves are unchanged and are my own work.

Like the rest of my fleet these are an Ebay rescue, and as a bonus they came with nicely magnetised turrets. I've painted them up in more grungy wartime colours to contrast with the rest of my Fleet. I used historical paint schemes again, this time from the Russo-Japanese war. I think of these ships as offensive night patrollers - going out to screen the main force against marauding torpedo boats

This looks good

But this looks better!

Submitted to AHPC 16 here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/from-paul-og-russian-cruiser.html

AHPC 16: Black Templar Crusade Ancient

Joining my Black Templar army and toting a Black Templar war banner is this Crusading Ancient. He inspires his brethren to fight for their Emperor and shows the way, smiting foes with his super hot blade of smiting! 

Ineptus the Vexillifer!

A new model released last year specifically for my army, so of course I had to get one (what a sucker!). He was fun to do, though I did suffer a bout of 'analysis paralysis' on shield - with more than one chat with Reilly needed to get to there in the end!

Kept to the 4 colour "Zorn palette" to match the erst of my army

I also enjoyed hand writing all the prayer/inscriptions on both sides of the banner for extra 'drip'. I snuck a couple of decals in there to keep it interesting

Submitted to the "Empire" Bonus Round of AHPC 16 here:

https://analogue-hobbies-theme-rounds.blogspot.com/2026/01/empire-from-paulog-crusading-ancient-57.html

A little bit of OSL goes a long was and was fun to do!

The sum of my Black Templars modelling for the last 6 months now looks thus:

2 Crusading Squads, an Execrator, a Crusade Ancient and an Apothecary!

More Templars to join them!

AHPC 16: Dystopian Wars: Russian Coalition Fleet

Happy New Year everyone! Starting my 2026 Hobby in the best way - newly painted models!

Comrade James and I have been planning a Dystopian Wars renaissance and while the new rules by War Cradle Studios are much improved, I much prefer the older Spartan games era ships in their highly detailed resin. These are quite bit smaller in scale to the newer plastic ones and don't mix well so I'm staying with resin, though they are getting harder to find.

Yes the background is AI generated but how cool is it!

A few years ago I bought a painted Prussian Fleet at CANCON Bring & Buy, and James has a few others of his own, namely Brittanic, Covenant of Antarctica and American. New chum David also has some VERY NICE Brittanic plus Italian States fleets too! Surely this would be enough?

So with this post I start another fleet: Russians! Obvious really....

These are an ebay rescue - a modest fleet for a small battle, and I'm naturally planning expansions. All painted in colours of the (real world) Russian Imperial Navy Pacific Fleet of the pre-dreadnought period.

Moskva Class Dreadnought looks like a floating citadel more than a ship! This is large enough to fit in the Admiral's voluminous drink cabinet and dining set.

Borodino class Battleship -the manufacturer proudly states that "this industrial nightmare will forever haunt the ambitions of anyone who dares cross the path of the Russian Coalition". 

3 Suvorov Cruisers - "the harsh, unbending anvil against which foes are crushed" - characteristically subtle

9 Novgorod frigates "operate in a radically different fashion to the majority of frigates around the world, boasting a curious circular hull that affords it unmatched manoeuvrability." These guys provide AA and close range support for the bigger ships.

Submitted to AHPC16 here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/from-paul-og-dystopian-wars-russian.html

Painting Notes

Undercoated in White, and washed in thinned Nuln oil (GW)

Contrast for the decks and then planks re painted with Zandri dust (GW)

Hulls worked back to the Celestra White (GW) using a makeup sponge. 

Funnel stacks are Averland Sunset washed in Reikland Fleshshade (both GW)