From RayR: Spanish style Fountain for Santo Domingo [Art] (35 points)

 

The country now known as Haiti was once called Hispaniola by the Spanish who discovered the island in 1492. The French had a colony on the eastern side of the island, they called it, Saint-Domingue, the Spanish called it Santo Domingo and the English Saint Domingo.

In Cap-Francis, the capital of Saint-Domingue, a fountain was built to honour the namesake of the colony St Dominic. It was built in the 1720 by the renowned French sculptor and painter Ramon Mentuer Pantalon de Feu. It took just over a year to construct, and as it neared completion, Ramon succumbed to a yellow fever that also took his wife and 6 French art students and labourers who accompanied him to Saint-Domingue from his studio in Mensonges,a suburb of Paris. The four un-named students who survived finished the work of the fountain.

The statue was damaged by a runaway donkey and cart in the late 1780, when St Dominic's pointing arm was broken off, I have chosen to keep the arm in place and not snap it off, for art's sake!!

The statue and fountain can still be found in Cap-Francis, or rather Port Royal as it is known today.

The fountain is from Tablescape in the UK. I bought it at the Cavalier wargames show in February.

I'd been eyeing it up for a couple of years and finally took the plunge. John the owner explained that the centre plinth was left open so any gamer could put any statue they wanted on top.

I chose a Monk, from Iron Gate Scenery, to use as a St Dominic substitute, I think it works rather well?

I did put some Woodland Scenery water effect, into the fountain, but it hasn't shown up in any of the photo's at all, I guess I should have added a little blue paint to the mix?

Here's a pic of the fountain when bought from Tablescape.

Art: Tap into your muse and show you artistic side, or perhaps do something about an artistic subject.

Well I'd say Ramon's fountain fits perfectly into the art bonus round??

As for the points, 5 for St Dominic and 20 for the bonus and whatever today Minion decides to give me for the fountain? it measures 4x4 inch with a height of just under 3 inches, not including the figure.

Ah, I would almost say that it is just like you to come up with a difficult minioning task at the last moment, master Ray. However, I guess you're lucky to find the Junior Assistant Librarian, who is in a fine mood on a beautiful spring day. Yes, the fountain fits nicely in the Art theme and shall we say half a cube or 10 points for it? I love the background to the story (especially the traffic accident) and I must say that you have chosen well for your Saint Dominic stature, even if it still has its arm. No doubt it is due to the influence of the venerable holy man that the water is so completely clear! Well, there you have it, 35 points for you. Well done!

Martijn

From SteveA: Gaslands, KoW, Terrain (121 points)

Heya painting peoples!

I am chasing challenges with this post,  going for 3 Library Challenges as I wander thru the AHPC library seeking to slay the gray...and chip away the pile of unpainted shame...

Ever since ByronM got me hooked on the table top visuals that 3D printing can bestow upon a Kings of War  table scape where upon the minis were shrunk to 10mm scale so more minis fit within the units bases, thereby making the battlefield appear more epic....I have continued to add more units to my Army and craft more terrain for the KPW 10mm battle field.

A unit of 10mm Trolls will now bolster my KoW army building options, and and a dollar store Halloween Skeleton-snake decoration converted into an "ancient bones within the hill" terrain piece will now provide an obstacle for unit movement and block line of sight  for some upcoming KoW battles

To further complement my "scrubland"  terrain for 10mm KoW battles, I also crafted and painted up a couple hills and some smaller clusters of trees.

If you were pondering over ideas about how to create some variety of scatter terrain with some low-profile base that were both cheap and not a collection of square corners.. I can suggest trying an idea I found when viewing war game hobby yootoob videos - use old CDs as bases for some of your custom terrain pieces.

Hills, Trees and old bones are rather Nature-ish. . so these pieces I think will enable me to check out a "Nature" book from the AHPC challenge library.

Shifting creative gears and jumping across genres......

Music is Art, Art is Music...the creative forces cannot be stopped, nor can they be 'shushed' into quiet submission by beleaguered AHPC  librarians. .. Thereby the risen dead Bone Heads band rocked out in the AHPC Library and grabbed me an "Art" book from the shelf  .  

The Bone Heads are 4 minis created by Ral Partha waaaay back in 1985 as part of there Imports line..  These guys are from the same blister pack of  2 skeletons on guitar, 1 Skeleton drummer, and 1 skeleton dood strapped into the drum kit to hold all the drums together.

The Gaslands car is a converted toy matchbox car - a $2 child's toy reimagined via the power of DYI mini-craft--  with some parts from NorthstarFigures 'Implements of Carnage' bitz sprues and a healthy application of trash bashing with plastic I saved from the recycling bin and reworked with files, knives and glue...

Also painted up for this week is a smattering of scatter terrain - piles of oil barrels and car tires that can used to pretty-up a Gaslands table, and can also to suggest where car lanes exist before collisions and weapons fire alters the flow of game traffic.... and I suppose these barrels an tires could also lend well to other games where there was still shooty-shooty-bang-bang, but less vehicular explosions ..

Considering all the  Terrain I painted for this post simply as a pile of terrain stuff to store between days when the dice are not rolling,  and imagining  if converted it all into a liquid, this assortment of terrain could fill a 6x6x6 inch cube cup..  Hmm ..  not a brew I'd drink nor a cup shape I'd recommend as best design to avoid chin drenching spills...  so I will leave these terrain items intact and ready for game, and give into my feeling there are 20 points of terrain here.

So here on my last proper Thor'sday post before the AHPC Library closing time.. I run a  few more zig-zags around the map so I may ring more challenge bells, and (elder thing powers be willing)  I will have a few more items painted and posted before the  Free-Fire days within the AHPS library  shoots out all the important structural parts of the library walls and it all comes crashing down in a heap of well painted minie among bookish ruination wrought of the next few chaotic days that will conclude this fun challenge.

121 Total Points

15 pts = x1    Gaslands Car, Vehicle 20mm
10 pts = x10  Trolls(KoW), Foot Figure, 10mm (10x1pt)
16 pts = x4   Undead Skeleton Metal Band, Foot Figure 20mm (4x4pts)
20 Pts = x1 cube, 6x6x6 inch of Terrain cube
Challenge Library 
20 pts = S3 "Art" (Undead Metal)
20 pts = S3 "Nature" (scrubland terrain)
20 pts= S4 "DII"  (MatchBox toy car converted to Gaslands battle car)

TeemuL: Yes, old CD, a tried and tested method to have non-warped and rather strong terrain base. All those Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedias and installation CDs from the 90s have a new life! The second mixed of the day, let's see...

Terrain looks good, I like the snake skeleton and the skeleton band, too. I can imagine a skeleton band playing in the background of a Gaslands race. I guess all the terrain here could be used with Gaslands? The red car, nicely built, and probably very fast. Good job Steve! I hope you reach your target during the Free Fire time.

From MartijnN: 32mm Pirates, Beer and Music [Art](70 points)

Who does not like pirates, or buccaneers?  I know I do, as a child I read lots of books from the library about famous pirates in the mysterious Carribbean. So when Iain Lovecraft ran a pirate Kickstarter I of course had to back it. I actually printed these 32mm "heroic scale" figures for the previous Challenge, but you know. This time, however, I managed to paint some up.

First, we have some very elegant but very dangerous lady pirates:

I really love the lady pointing her sword quite imperiously.

Then, there are three gentlemen:

I really like these figures, they are full of character, some quite over the top and others very businesslike.

Now all I need is a suitable pirate game rules set. I do have the one by Osprey, but haven't played it yet. I must organize some appropriate terrain too, but that will first have to be printed or bought. We'll see.

Pirating makes thirsty, so here is the cafe staff, also from Iain Lovecraft. 

Finally, I should move along in the Library, and I enter the Art section. For this, I have two art forms; poetry and music.

Here is a lute player or minstrel, again from Iain Lovecraft. I think he is from the The Frost series. He is more of a medieval type, but I am sure he can be made to sing the praise of some doughty privateers.

And finally, a poet designed by Evan Carothers. This is more of a 28mm figure, but I love him posing with his book in his hand and some rolls of paper in his quiver. Some "Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them" as an ode to an intrepid Captain Hook is certainly in order I should think. 

Which brings us to the map:

I have a bit of a lame book recommendation, because although I read many books about pirates as a child I actually have none myself, not even in Dutch, apart from the Pirate book in the Osprey Elite Series which many of you will know very well. So we'll turn to art instead, and to be precise to the Art of War. I won't recommend Jomini's  Précis de l'Art de la Guerre so as not to seem too pretentious, but Rory Muir's Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of  Napoleon covers the subject nicely:

This a great book covering just about what it says on the tin. Published by Yale University Press, so not really for the general reader, but still very accessible. Chapters on the various branches of the army, command and control, before and after the battle, various types of combat, it is all in there, illustrated by many contemporary sources from men who had to experience war and battle during the period. Well-written, well researched, a very good book I thought. No illustrations, that would have been a boon, but nevertheless much recommended.

So there we have it. Scoring is simple again:

10x 28mm/32mm foot @ 5 = 50

Art section bonus = 20

For a total of 70 points.

TeemuL: The cafe staff looks great, you have done a great job painting the foam! Makes me thirsty!  And I'm quite sure the pirates don't care if the lute player performs songs from incorrect era. In general I really like the bit faded look on the bar staff compared to brightier pirate crew. I do hope you manage to find some rules to play with these jolly fellows! Waiting eagerly for the possible second post of the day...

From TomL: Art is everything, 55 points

Leading us to the Art section of the library via the cart is Oberleutnant Heidi Reitsch - the last Bob Murch Pulp figure from the Dangerous Dames 2 set.

I purchased quite a few figures from Hasslefree Miniatures for no particular project but just to paint. Definitely a “shiny” moment.  The painter “Matthias de Brum” is one of those figures. He is painted to evoke psychedelic fashion choices of the 60’s, sourced at random from catalogues and other pictures.  Two Thin Coat and Foundry paint triads were used.

Unlike the actual talented artist who inspired this figure, I imagine my artist as a bit of a cad, a poser, over the top in style & dress, slapping paint on a canvas in a vague impressionistic style to gain favor with his beautiful models.  Ah how he suffers for his art...

His damp, artfully posed model joins us from the depths of the painting table where convention miniatures are left to complete.  This particular model is from Dark Sword miniatures who sponsored a flesh painting workshop.  It was partially completed but slipped back into the shadows of the lead mountain.  Retrieving her for the challenge I realized I couldn’t match the original flesh tones so a quick prime of white and I started over.  I need more practice with translucent flesh tone painting but I am happy enough with how she turned out.   

What?

Points for this entry would be: 55

3 28mm figures @ 5 = 15

Library Cart = 20

Art section = 20

On our way to the final room of the AHPC library we shall stop back at the Famous Person stacks.  There we will present our version of Lincoln The Debator.  The original of this statue resides in Taylor Park, Freeport, IL. It was erected in 1930 by sculptor Leonard Crunelle and scanned by a local historian for free download. My library allows local residents to order 3D prints for a nominal cost.  All jobs are set up and processed by staff which I figured would work out best as I have no experience with 3D printing.  Sadly our library printers are older and the file was of low resolution. I had some fun with the verdigris and moss effect paints though.  

Here is the acid rain etched and pitted post apocalyptic Lincoln statue in an abandoned empty park.  

I claim no points for the pit stop in Famous Persons.  

From Millsy: This is probably my favourite of your Library Cart entries so far Tom. I can almost hear Oberleutnant Heidi Reitsch insisting she be painted "like one of your Bob Murch girls". Really entertaining stuff and I particularly like the striped pants and blonde hair on your artist. Nice work mate!

From Sarah: Where is Elfio? Let’s look in the Romance and Art Sections (70 Points)

The AnalogueVille Librarians are very fond of Elfio, and he is usually quite diligent in his book shelving tasks….. However, there are reports of BOTH mis-shelved & dishevelled books in the Romance & Art Sections, and suspiciously, Elfio keeps disappearing.

Continuing from our last stop in Local History, I thought we’d pop into the Romance Section where shockingly!! We see… the fair maiden, Lady Annabelle swooning, and Elfio …. We close the door and tip toe away…

The Fainting Lady, or my Lady Annabelle is another great figure that I found on MyMiniFactory. To date, she is probably my most favourite figure that I’ve painted. The moment I saw the figure and since I already had painted Elfio, I knew I wanted to do a torrid Classic Romance Novel style post.

Lady Annabelle, resplendent in a lovely spring green gown, white flounces with pink trim, looks very much like Romantic Heroine, though there is a touch of whimsy too!

For fun, I thought I would quickly doodle a book cover to serve as a back drop.

As we continue through the library ….. we enter the Art Section.

Here we find the Great Master Painter, another terrific figure found on MyMiniFactory.

Unfortunately the first print failed and shortly after I began painting the second print, I dropped her and the paint brush in her extended hand broke. I literally cried, but decided to carry on.

I really like her pale blue dress, the colour turned out really well and since I wanted the painter to be exotic/bohemian I thought an elaborate purple hairdo and yellow head wrap would be fabulous details.

So, for this narrative, to explain the broken paint brush, the Great Master Painter has “snapped her crayons” because the wandering rogue Elfio is very late for his portrait appointment.

Again for fun, I did a few quick doodles of Artwork to have around the artist studio.

Points Scored (Elfio, piano and book stacks all previously scored):

Romance location: 20 pts

Lady Annabelle 54mm = 10 points

Art Location: 20 pts

Master Painter 54mm = 10 points

Easel = 5 points (?)

Total = 65 points

Thanks for dropping by

Have a great week!

- Sarah

Another very creative and fine contribution, milady! Your painting is excellent, and your choice of colours flawless of course. I really like the swooning Lady Annabelle, and you definitely achieved the Bohemian look you aimed for with the painter. I really like the little additions you created to depict these scenes, and the location bonuses thus are well-deserved. And I feel your pain with the broken paintbrush (although I admire the way you explained it and used it to your advantage!). 3D printing is a great thing, but the figures can be a little brittle and somehow you always drop them when they are halfway done or nearly complete... Still, all in all you managed quite well and these 65 points are certainly justified! I'll add a couple of bonus points for the creative doodling however. Well done Sarah!

Martijn

P.S. You would make me even happier by including an updated map next time!

From TomS: More 28mm Koreans, Japanese and Burmese! [History][Art][Sarah's Book Cart] (415 points)

It may have been a few weeks but hi again!

This week im posting my collective work since my last post, and its very delayed mostly down to to drive to want to paint more models rather than actually base up what I have (I've still got some painted but unbased ready for, hopefully next week). 

First things first, the rest of my Lion Rampant Korean army, if you remember my handgunners from the 18th of Jan, and to mark this occasion I thought I would claim those 20points for history as it, like my Japanese represent forces for the Mongol/Goryeo occupation of Tsushima in 1274. 

 

Nothing too special here just 12 Korean archers hoping to stay out of harms way on the table, Like my last post I decided to keep the colour palette the same across the whole army to give it a sense of disunited uniformity, and again some snowy/autumnal bases as the invasion was in November and I couldn't pass up some pretty/different bases. 

and keeping those archers safe we have some 'Hyup-Do' wielders which I'm led to believe means "Spear Sword" usually only 4ft long and seemingly used somewhat like a sword rather than the polearmy spear it may resemble (but shhh don't tell anyone I play against as I'm using the models for a spear unit)

The first of my two heavy cavalry units, is predominately armed with bows although they can still pack a punch in melee! Painting these I was mildly surprised how much fun I was having painting horses in 28mm, something that I utterly despise in my native 15mm. These sculpts from Perry Miniatures were very detailed on the musculature of the horse allowing a painters best friend, Washes, to highlight the depth of the model. 

The final unit for my Korean warband plus their General sporting a (I hope) pretty fan that we'll get to later. Now I'm sure youve spotted the fact that these guys are dual wielding swords on horseback! and while this was very uncommon, it does seem to be a practise that the Koreans used and even had a name Masang ssanggeom, like the Hyup-Do this comes from the Muyedobotongji a book on Korean swords and their techniques written in 1790 based on an early text known as the Muyesinbo.

This Picture illustrating the technique from the Muyedobotongji.

The General for this force is loosely based on one of the Korean commanders during the attack on Tsushima but due to lack of artwork that I could find on most of them I have decided not to claim any real famous person reference, instead focusing on his fan to try an emulate some of the beautiful decorative fans of the region that I would never be able to come close to properly copying! 

I used a green for the hand hold as I had already got a few light browns on the model and didn't want it to blend in with his arm guard. The artwork itself is trying to be cherry blossoms falling off a branch in the foreground and flowing in the wind, while some birds fly in the background, drawn obviously in the easy childhood fashion of a swooped v. It didn't come out perfect nor could I get a good enough photo of it but I blame that on the small surface area and it being covered in grooves! 

but yeah, that's the Koreans a project I had no idea I would start even in early to mid December but now in February the full force is based and painted!

We're somehow not done yet! next is the start of Japanese warband and also my bookcart to get me from room 2(which I will get onto later) to the room with art and literature!

10 female archers using warlord Onna-bugeisha models that I just adore and could not pass up painting! from the reading I have done these will be based on the Onna-musha common in the Sengoku era. Whilst my army is not in this era, I thought that it would make sense to theme my army based on the survivors/guerillesque forces left on tsushima to protect temples homes or villages before the Mongols and Koreans left some days or weeks after the invasion commenced. Each set of colours is meant to represent a family and i will hopefully try to mimic this in the small Samurai contingent of the warband to tie it all together, although ultimately they will all fall under the banner of the So Clan. 

And finally, gosh this has gone on for a while. A surprise entry even to me, a 28mm Burmese elephant for my WIP Nanzhao army purchased  by my Fiancee as an early valentines present, which I thought would make a lovely model for the romance section!

For historical context, I have not been able to find much at all linking the army of Nanzhao to having elephants, let alone the platformed ones of Burma. But due to the proximity of both states and historical nations love for mercenaries I have been harping on about this model for a good week or two which is why I would assume my Fiancee purchased it for me! Whilst not being massive in size, the side platforms allow this elephant to carry a whooping 8 archers as well as the Mahout allowing it to be used in a completely different way to how Elephants in wargamming are often viewed, massive killing machines, and more of a somewhat mobile but tanky archer unit.

I look forward in the coming weeks to hopefully finish off the Japanese and Nanzhao warbands and if there is time I may be able to sneak in my Tibetans as well! 

(Library so far, if I've done this right, I had already unlocked room 2, then used the book cart to pop into the art room)

So Points claimed:
12 28mm Cavalry - 120pts
34 28mm infantry - 170pts
1 28mm Elephant with 9 crew - 56pts (Im led to believe its 20pts for the elephant and 4pts for each crew?)

Romance, history, Book Cart and Art - 80pts  

so 426 overall! not too bad for 3 weeks of painting considering my target was 300pts :) 

TeemuL: Always difficult to predit the points target, especially for the first timers. Would you like to change your target in order to have some challenge for the rest of the Challenge? Your colourful basing really catches the eye and your artistic fan is a great emulation of the real thing in 28mm scale. I really am en elephant person and the one you received from you fiance is a great animal and nicely painted (and I counted it as a 28mm vehicle as done in the past and given full 5 points for each crew), but even though the miniature is a romantic gift, I am expecting a bit more for the location. I'm looking for something romantic in the miniatures itself, if you understand what I mean. The total points value is thus 415, a hefty amount still.