From StuartL: A Viking Invasion (Lady Sarah's Star Yacht) (Klendathu) (115 Points)

Hello again,

The end of the challenge is fast approaching and I still have a load of primed minis next to my workbench. I'm sure that some of them will keep for a later date, but right now I am trying to get as many done as possible. My aim is to get models done that I prepped for some of the Challenge Quadrant planets, but didn't use in the end.

So, with that said, my post today could go to several planets, Perelandra for the sea-going nature of the models, Glorantha for their use of runes, even Gethen for their cold homeland, but it is instead Klendathu I will be revisiting. But first of all, I need a ride. Last time around I was able to use Lady Sarah's Star Yacht with a mythical Japanese creature and today I intend to do the same, but with a less creepy option than the spider-woman.

The model comes from Reaper Bones' Daimyo expansion and I believe that it is meant to be a form of Tengu or bird demon. It doesn't really look like anything I've seen relating to Tengu, but they are supposed to be able to change their shape so...

And with my passage paid, it is on to Klendathu for an Invasion Gone Bad.

1066 was quite a busy year for the Anglo-Saxons. While it is much more famous for the (successful) invasion of England by the Normans, that wasn't the only invasion to take place that year. Harald Hardrada led an invasion of the North East of England with a large army of Vikings. While they had some initial success at the Battle of Fulford, they were badly mauled and sent packing by Harold Godwinson's Anglo-Saxon force at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. So, not only did the invasion fail, it was completely overshadowed by William's later invasion in the south.

This first set of eight models are from Gripping Beast's plastic Viking set. I tend to paint my Vikings in bright clothes to contrast with the simple and plain colours I use for my Anglo-Saxons. This helps to quickly differentiate the two forces of chainmail clad, spear wielding warriors on the table.

These eight figures are a kit bash of heads, shields and weapons from the aforementioned Gripping Beast set and some Celts from Warlord Games. The parts fit together perfectly (some hands did need chopping off and replacing though), and give you a lot of fun options like more lightly armoured troops that you can use to represent those poorer members of Viking society who have tagged along in the hopes of loot and plunder.

This command base is from Footsore I believe. Sadly I wasn't able to get a banner in time, so the flagpole is bare. The commander is holding a severed head, no doubt some Saxon noble he just killed. 

The dark ages are fairly well covered by a variety of makers in both metal and plastic, making it a great period to wargame. It was an era when men were men, and therefore you don't have to faff about remembering a bunch of different stat-lines. These figures are all based individually so that I can use them for Saga, but I also have some movement trays for them if I want to try a bigger game like Hail Caesar.

So, for 19x 28mm models that should be 95 points, plus a bonus of 20 points for a trip on the Star Yacht for a grand total of 115 points. No skulls here sadly. Hopefully I still have a post or two in me before the end of the challenge.

Nice work on these. The Tengu is a bit angelic but her foot is creepy. I, too, like to be able to easily differentiate between my Dark Age combatants. I particularly like the commander doing his best Hamlet audition.

Barks

From EdwardG - 28mm Celtic druidic chap [Caprica] (25pts)

 Merry Christmas all! 

My first entry for this year is a left over from a previous project. I found him loitering near the bottom of the lead pile and decided it was his time to finally receive some paint! Also he has served as a nice piece of procrastination fodder, as I am ever so slightly daunted by the number of primed 28mm, 15mm, and 6mm figures I have on my painting desk ready to go for the challenge! :D 

I believe the figure is originally a Foundry miniature. From their Celtic druid pack. He is a reasonable sculpt and there is a certain vagabond feel to him with his ripped and ragged clothes. 

I am putting him forward for my first planet fall on Caprica, as I think of him as one of the last of his order. On the run after the Anglesey massacre. Fallen from his previous high station. Doomed just as his culture is doomed to pass thanks to the Romanification that would occur over the next 400yrs. 

He has been painted with a mixture of contrast paints and normal acrylics. I do like the speed from the contrast, but I am still getting used to them. I am finding that a dry brush of white over the grey primer really helps to pull out the details.  

As for the points total, this figure =

5pts for the 28mm minitature

20pts for the planet fall on Caprica

Total = 25pts :)

I hope everyone has a great festive period, and can celebrate as well as possible in the current circumstances. I think, it is time for second lunch...then perhaps a nap ;)

Best,
Ed

______________________________

First, welcome back to the Challenge, Ed!

What a terrific mini for Caprica. As you say, he has a wonderful ragged, destitute look about him and I like that you've fit him into the twilight of the druidic period. Makes me think of Cornwell's 'Winter King'. Yes, the Contrast paints are wonderful, but they often need a little teasing out to bring out their best as we can see with your excellent efforts with his cassock. Great job Ed and Merry Christmas!

- Curt

From NoelW: Romans and their enemies: (410 points)

Continuing the rapid completion of outstanding units for my Punic project, firstly we have some Republican Romans:

I believe these are Agema figures, a range which is perhaps no longer in production. I find them somewhat strange figures. They're quite delicately sculpted, with good natural proportions, meaning that they're slighter than the majority of wargames figures, and closer to 25mm than 28mm. They could be quite beautiful. Except that the design seems to lead to some very, very strange poses - I think because the positioning of the neck is not worked out well, so the heads generally sit at quite peculiar angles.

You might ask why I've built them like this. Answer: I bought them second-hand, as part of a miscellaneous Punic collection, ready assembled. I thought about breaking them up and reassembling them more aesthetically, but it seems a lot of trouble for relatively little benefit, so I decided instead I'd give them a very simple paint job to use them in my army until I've some more attractive replacements. They'll probably be used as Triarii, even though only about a quarter have the long spear typical of that rank. As the Triarii often did not make it into battle, they'll perhaps stand as placeholders rather than active figures much of the time.

Against the Romans, Carthage will pitch her many allies. Amongst these are the Spanish:

These nine figures came from the same purchase. I think most of them are Wargames Foundry, judging by the style, but a couple seem to come from a different manufacturer, as far as I can tell. I enjoyed painting these, especially trying to come up with nine different geometric shield designs using a combination of only three colours.

Fighting for either side could be the Numidians:

I've always liked the notion of the Numidian light cavalry, since my very first conversions of Airfix Indians, one of my favourite childhood sets. I've no idea who made these models, though.

Next, Celts. These are 26 Warlord models, plus one Wargames Foundry figure. The Warlord figures are very dynamic, but it's difficult to group them together into units because of the crouching poses and splayed arms. I've tried to cram them together for the photo, but will need to spread them differently in an actual game. Most of the shields are hand-painted, some more successfully than others. A few use the Warlord decals, which are all nice designs, but don't fit too exactly.

And finally, to lead the Celts:

I don't think Celtic chariots figured in the Punic Wars. As far as I know (though my knowledge is, as usual, pretty limited) the chariot was only used in Britain. As my Celts plan to resist the Roman invader of Albion, too, this will probably be Caractacus - but I may also decided to stretch history a little and give him a role in Hannibal's army.

Scoring: If I understand Tamsin's ruling correctly, a chariot scores 20 as a vehicle, plus crew (10) and horses (10), making 40 pts
4 cavalry: 40 pts
27 Celts + 30 Romans + 9 Iberians: 66 x 5 = 330 pts
TOTAL: 410 pts


from DaveD ... a kaboom for Noel that takes him through the 4000 points mark - - your in danger of making Martin the bridesmaid again... I do like the chariot i must say