From DaveD: “inGobamakhosi - “The Benders of Kings” (225 points)

The first post for the current projects this week. First  up this week is the 2nd Zulu Regiment for the left horn of the Zulu army . This is a large regiment with around 4000 men - the name “Benders of Kings” , I think gives a good guide on their intent . There are 212 figures in this one. It had a mix of shield patterns , with  4 different basic pattern designs .   This gives me 30% of the army . I should get over half of the total done by challenge end . Enough for a test game to wash their spears .

The frontage is 360mm 

That’s two of the 3 units from the left horn - 6000 men equivalent 

First two regiments completed , next up “Fly Catchers”

I have also completed the prep work on the next 300 figures , which will cover 3 smaller units , basecoat on ready to go so things are moving along nicely . 

Pretty sure there is a smell of Ox crap in the air as the British columns gather .. there may be trouble ahead . 

Points - 212 x 10mm figures with lots of complicated shield designs.

TeemuL: I trust your count, it sure looks that there are 212 figures with pretty shields. I can see the reasons for bonus points for shields, but it would be really hard to make mathematical calculations for a "fair" amount of points. It would be easier to not give, don't you agree?

Your army is starting to look great and it would look magnificent when "ready" or "completed." Let's see more of these next week, ok? And take 13 bonus points. ;)

From MartinC: I appear to be only painting tiny things this year (300 points)

After skipping last week, how I ever found the time for work I'll never know, I'm back on track with loads for 10mm

First up the last Italian Wars figures, one and a half Landsknecht pike blocks. This gives me 8 pike blocks in the army. I'm playing with my BIL on Thursday using these figs and will give him his Saxon units.

I still love the flags

This would be a legion in kings of war, but a mad idea.

Next up Dave and I are doing a 10mm Zulu war campaign, Dave wanted 1000 zulu figures on the table, so I'm the British. Zulu war was my first love in wargaming and I got my 1st metal  figures as a 13 year old boy. So a nice foray. I've already painted up some british infantry and irregular horse but the biggest units are the Natal Native Contingent. 

3x1000 strong battalions

These are Steve Barber figures, very nice but a bit static.

I also had enough to paint a Royal Engineer Company,  a company of Natal Native Pioneers and  spare company of NNC.

We plan a long table campaign, with large British supply columns and the need for lots of scouting. So you need lots of things to scout for

These oxen will double as Zulu cattle herds and laagered British baggage

What better for the scouts to spot, and the officers to hunt, than some lions

Scores on the doors

96 landsknecht = 96 points, plus any sexy flag bonus

166 NNC and British infantry = 166pts

34 oxen and lions = 34 pts

Total 296

TeemuL: Your painted things might be tiny, but they do look great. The flags make them look even better, so I'll give you 4 sexy flag bonus points. The pike block with flags looks good, I agree with you. Your animals to spot and hunt look very lively, they'll make a great additions to your table. And your British battalions may look a bit monotonous, but I'm sure that's just the British discipline. :)

From Scott R Last Post (450 Points)

Hello all,

Well its been a very limited productivity period this year thanks to work.  My work makes me travel a fair bit so having time to get some painting done has been challenging this time around. In fact I am writing this in California instead of Canada.  I took all the photos as I went and i keep them in an article drive just for the article writing part.  

 In order to make the most of what time I did have, I aimed to get some smaller projects finished and make a start on some of the new ones I want to get up and running.  My friend DennisC aka 'Matt Varnish' on Youtube for our Games, always says 'paint just one"  and this is usually the driver to go, oh yeah that looks good and now I want to paint more.

So I did manage to finish off the 3 x 8 man units of Light Infantry, a small 6 man unit of the 60th rifles for Sharp practice along with some of the hero or commander figures I was missing.  I didn't get the chance to do my Spanish Guerillas but at least my commander is done.  The British are Warlord and the Spaniard is from Bad Squido Games or Colonel Bill's in the UK.  There female line of which you have seen many of my girls from the past mixed in.

Before I could get into the painting there was the prep.  I had pulled out and cleaned up about 60 figures in total plus 8 Light dragoons.  This was the standard remove the flash, undercoat black and white glue to strips ready for painting.  I had to go back and re-glue onto the wooden bases specific for sharp.  they were originally white glued to 40 x 40s ready for Black Powder.  But figured it didn't work for Sharp.  However, doing it the other way could still work for both.

To get things started I did a few of the British Officers including one in rifles dress and my female Spanish Guerilla leader.   The British Officers and Light Infantry are based on the 68th Durham Light Infantry.

Here are the command figures.  Here we have the rifles officer with his whistle and the British senior Commander. 

Next up, One of the Light Infantry Officers and the Guerilla Leader.

The Group.

Next up are the 6 figures from the 60th (Royal American) Regiment. These will be one of the two skirmish units for Sharp.

The 3 units of 8 figures for Sharp was the remainder of the 68th.  I have painted the standards and musicians as well that can be put in to the skirmish bases to make up a 24 man unit for use in Black Powder if I want to use them in there as well.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take Pics of my standards and drummers before I left.

Ok next up and from my last post i mentioned I was doing 40K.  So i managed to get a few more bits done.  I finished off a small unit of Blade Guard Veterans for my Salamander successor chapter the Basilisks.  These guys are actually 3D prints.  I was pretty happy with the quality and the detail..

I did finish off my Eldar but these were done outside the challenge.  So I made a fair dent against the Basilisks.  I finished off the dreadnought but not the base.  I did get the Land Raider finished as well.  Again another 3D print and its massive.  

It was in multiple parts and was joined together using a slicer program.  I then printed it as one piece with the weapon options, doors etc printed separately.  So here it is assembled and primed with its extras also primed in wraithbone. 

 I wanted to use citadel contrast colours so there was a match with the figures.  I did this through an airbrush because of the large surface areas.  You can see I have taped the model so i could get cross colour pattern.

Here is the first base colours laid down with the airbrush.  Some of the base black panels have been done along with the weapons casings.

Here is the finished Raider.  I missed the pics for the interim step.  But the dragon or lizard scales were done with Citadel contrast to match the marines.

Also, here is the Dreadnought, although the model itself is done the base isnt finished.  So not sure if I can claim points for it......

As i mentioned I also managed the Blade Guard veterans.  3 figures.  My Army theme since they a fire based faction have all been mounted on cork terrain and then painted to look like lava.  My first attempt the whole lava look, it was an interesting challenge.  I have added my Captain and LT as well but only  as a photo no points as these were done before the challenge.  

Here are the rest of my Basilisk Marines ready for the bases to be done to finish them off.  My travels dashed my plans to have these done for the challenge.  I did get a fair bit of it done which is good though.  Had I space in my suitcase then I would be doing these in my hotel room! 

Here are the Captain and LT.  I wanted to just show my first attempt at doing lava and heat swords.  Again not finished for the challenge.

My last project was to make a start on my Zulu Army for Black Powder and if the basing works then also for Sharp practice.  I have about 100 figures from Casting Room Miniatures I picked up a couple of years ago at 'Colours' in the UK.  So i painted up two units of twenty figures.  One Regiment of Unmonambi and one Ulthawana.

As always this starts with the clean up.   The shields and weapons are separate pieces and needed to be cleaned and attached.  I then did something completely new for me.  I attached to their bases before undercoating.  I also attached some resin rocks before doing the basing as well.

The clean up and base attachment.

Layout of the two Regiments.  I also added some British casualties here as well.

I did two tests.  I painted up one each of the skirmish bases for each Regiment to get my colour pallet sorted. 

Once the pallet was done then i could get on and paint the rest of the units.  So two units of 20 plus 2 skirmishes for one and 4 skirmishes for the other.  Then another 3 casualties, two being Royal Marines or sailors and the other a 24th Regiment to match my friends British.

here are the finshed Regiments.  They are based 5 figures to a 60 x 60 base with 4 bases to make up the unit.  Each has its own skirmishes.

Unmonambi 

Ulthawana

Ok well thats it for 2024.  I wish i could have done more and i had the figures ready to go.  Just not having the time at home interrupted my plans.

So for this post:

28mm British Naps 33 figures at 5 points ea             = 165 points

skirmish bases 3 bases fully done to match                = 5 points

40K vehicle @ 20 Points                                            = 20 points

40K 28mm figures by 3 @ 5 points                           = 15 points

28mm Zulus 49 figures @ 5 points                             = 245 points

Total                                                                            = 450 points

_______________________________________

Great work Scott! I know how work can mess with the important things in life, but I think you've done an amazing job with the constraints that you were under. Fabulous mix of minis here. From your Napoleonics to 40K, and finally to your Zulu War project, this is a feast for the eyes. I'm especially taken by that 3d printed Land Raider - what a beast, and great detail to boot. Well done.  

Thank you for participating in this year's Challenge and I hope we see you out with us for the next edition!

- Curt