From StuartL: Arabssss (50 Points)

    Hi all, well, we are coming to the end of the challenge, and I still have a small way to go to reach my target. Work has been incredibly busy this year, but I have managed to do a bit of painting here and there.

    Today, I have two small groups of models to post. First of all, some Arabs for Saga.

    These are a mix of plastic and metal miniatures. The plastic figures are from Gripping Beast, but I can't remember where the metal figures came from as I tend to order from a variety of makers when doing historical projects.

    

    The figures were all easy to paint up with just base coats, washes and highlights. 

    The next set of figures are some 3D printed Snake Folk.

    These models are from Artisan Guild on MyMini Factory. They were fun to paint and I have a bunch more of them in my to-do pile. I have no idea what I will use them for, but the models are cool even if I don't have a plan yet.

    So, that gives me 10x 28mm minis for a total of 50 Points, plus two extra Squirrels for my tally. (Apologies to all Squirrel Duelists, I haven't had time to do another update, so we'll have to wait for the Challenge to finish to see the final totals.)

    Hopefully I can get some more minis done before the end of the Challenge.

    My ongoing duels information:

Skulls - 239 (+0)
BSRoD - 17 (+0)
Squirrels - 18 (+2) - D&D Animals, 30K Militia, Plague Clowns, Afghans, Robots, Anglo-Saxons, Medieval Polish, Clan Smoke Jaguar, 81st West Africans, Undead, 10mm FPW French, Daemons of Khorne, Modern Vehicles, Turnip28, Space Wolves, Free French, Arabs, Snake Folks

From Millsy:

I recongnise those Arabs. I painted a whole pile of them last Challenge and that was just my most recent batch. You've done a sterling job on them Stuart and they look a lot better than the "serviceable" description I would normally apply.

Your Snake Folk are definitely cool. I'm 100% in agreement you don't need to have a specific use for something just to buy and paint them. It's one of the joys of a hobby, just do it because it makes you happy. My problem is that then leads to ideas on HOW I could use them, then needing MORE, and then... I'm willing to bet you suffer from a little of that too :-P

Great stuff and another 50 points banked. Nice one.

Cheers,

Millsy

From GrahameH 15mm Byzantines Essex Miniatures 210 pts

 My first entry this year, now I have recovered from the Flu etc. I am currently behind on my basing so only a short entry. 

I was in the process of finishing my Byzantine armies when the challenge began, hence the entry. All figures are 15mm from Essex Miniatures. 

First three units of Byzantine Infantry. All figures are based for Impetus. Each unit is made up of 16 figures. (48 figures = 96pts)

Three units of Arab Archers again based for Impetus. Each base consisting of 8 figures. (24 Figures 48pts)

Two Arab Light Cavalry Units (10 mounted figures 40pts)

Lastly a Camel unit (5 mounted figures 20pts)

That's it. Hopefully more to follow once I catch up with my basing. 

Total 204 pts 

From DaveD . Good to hear you are over the lurgi. That’s a decent start to get your personal scoreboard ticking .I do like the look of the shields across the 3 units . As we are getting you started and I want to see lots more let’s call it 210 . 

From Kerry T - Getting the hump - Reconquer Designs Berber Camelry (160 points)

Morning, afternoon and evening all

I figure that greeting should cover it as its bound to be one of those times of day where you are, given that we are such an international audience!

Isn't it great to be back for the challenge again. Huge thanks once again to Curt and Sarah for keeping this superb innovation going into its 16th year.

I'm a latecomer and so this is only my fifth challenge though hopefully will turn out to be my most productive as I've essentially retired now though still work one day per week. Despite having plenty of time to plan I still don't have a definite idea of what I'm going to feature so as usual I suspect its going to be all over the place. I must say I'm really glad to see terrain making a return this year.

I've had plenty of help and no shortage of advice and suggestions from my Antipodean mates with whom I meet on line at least once but usually twice per week. We've been meeting on a Tuesday and often an additional Thursday for a paint and chat for at least two years I think. Its hugely encouraging and my thanks go to the guys for their support and enthusiasm along with their positive input that makes it the highlight of my wargaming week. Cheers guys

The challenge usually motivates me to get on and daub some paint on the masses waiting in the lead and plastic pile. I'm usually very productive painting wise being more of a painter/collector rather than gamer (how come I have so many rule sets then?). My aim is usually to try and finish those few remaining units that will mean that a period or project will have been completed. That's all well and good but we all know that one never finishes a project as inevitably some "oh look shiny" set of figures catches the eye so the project never ends. The acquisition of both a filament and resin printer in the past few years has done nothing for the height of the pile I'm afraid!

In previous challenges I've often started off with something from the Crusades or Reconquista era. This year I've decided to do the same and this afternoon I've just finished taking pictures of  some Berber camelry from Reconquer Designs. These are 3D prints and available from Myminifactory

A section of my gaming table set up taking for photos

I decided to paint 2 units, one in darker colours

and the other in brighter colours

The detail on the figures is great but they are very brittle, particularly the very thin spears, hopefully though they will turn out to be robust enough for gaming

Bases are 60mm wide and 80mm deep, 2mm MDF from Warbases

  

 

The prints come in a few parts, 4 camel variants, 5 rider variants, the reins, shields and weapons for the right arm are printed separately. Normally I would base 3 horses on a 60mm wide base but these are too big and can only be based in twos.

In summary

16 x 28mm Mounted figures at 10 points each = 180 points

1 Squirrel

Many thanks and best wishes Valleyboy

____________________________________

Wonderful to have you back, Kerry, and with camels no less as your first entry!

These camel units look fabulous. I especially like the vibrant colours you've gone with and the arid basing looks ace. I've done a few figures from the Reconquer range and agree, they are beautifully designed. I don't know if you're using it already, but if not you may want to try mixing in some 'Tenacious' resin from Siraya Tech. It helps to keep prints more flexible, less brittle, and not as prone to breaking. 

160 points and a terrific opening entry to, er, get over the hump! ;)

- Curt

From Millsy: Back in Black... More 28mm Arabs (90 points)

G'day All,

Apparently a week off from painting black was enough and I'm back with more Arabs. This time it's another ten infantry (Gripping Beast with Fireforge Games upgrades), two cavalry (again Gripping Beast with Fireforge Games upgrades) and the last four miniatures from the Reaper Miniatures Legends of the Sands box set.

A mate pointed out if you are doing Mutatawwi'a for SAGA you are better off leaning hard into either mounted or foot troops so I added another unit to the foot collection. Simple enough to assemble, paint and base, and although they are different style minis they mix well enough with the upgrades.

The two mounted miniatures upgrade one of my earlier units to five miniatures, plus add a mounted warlord for SAGA that'll do nicely until I either buy something fancier or just stop caring this isn't a fancier figure and forget all about it.

Finally, there's four more cracking character Reaper sculpts... two rather flexible ladies (I mean they are limber, NOT from a morals POV!), a wizardy vizier type and his lovely apprentice. The latter two will also do very nicely for Frostgrave which is a nice unexpected bonus.

Points wise...

• 14 x 28mm infantry = 70 points
• 2  x 28mm cavalry = 20 points

Total: 90 points

Next up, yet more Kruleboyz. Thanks for looking!

Artist: Adani & Wolf

Album: The Irresistible Dust on the Floor

Artist: Overcoats

Album: The Fight

Artist: The Mission UK

Album: Carved in Sand

Cheers,

Millsy

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Wonderful work on these black-clad Mutatawwi'a. The little punch of colour really adds the chef's kiss to these guys, especially the shields on the mounted fellas. Your stuff really makes me want to get back to my Siege of Malta project. Inspiring stuff! I also really like your 'local colour' with the Reaper models. The vizier and the red-robed dancer are my personal faves. Well done Mr. Mills!

- Curt & Huck

From Millsy: 28mm Arab Horsey Boys (160 points)

G'day All,

I'm back for a third time with another lot of 28mm Arabs for my SAGA / Oathmark project. This time it's fourteen cavalry, kitbashed from the Gripping Beast Arab Heavy Cavalry and Fireforge Games Black Guard / Berber Infantry kits.

As mentioned previously the Gripping Beast Arab Heavy Cavalry horses were a real PITA with the neck joints being very poorly aligned. Despite my best efforts to fill and hide the issues I am still unhappy with them. They'll do I guess, if I squint and kinda look at them out of the corner of my eye...

The riders on the other hand, I am very happy with. The banner bearers were all upgraded to give them longer poles and flags made from heavy art paper to match the infantry. I've also swapped all the heads (which required some careful shaving), the arms (which were an easy like-for-like swap) and some of the shields.

I'll need one more to fill out three units of five so will try and pick up a sprue at CANCON on the weekend. The amazing KerryT also sent me a care package of 10 camelry and another 5 cavalry which he'd 3D printed so I hope to have those painted sometime soon as well. 

Scoring:

14 x 28mm cavalry = 140 points

1 x cheeky "money for jam" bonus for the Seventh Circle: Violence = 20 points

Total = 160 points

Artist: Agnes Obel

Album: Citizens of Glass

Artist: The Offspring

Album: Americana

Artist: Massive Attack

Album: Mezzanine

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,
Millsy

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Hi Millsy

Great musical selections .. I'm particularly keen on  Massive Attack and Mezzanine is classic :)

Well, these 'horsey boys' look super, I really like your customization of the banners and the head/arm swaps. To my (very) untrained eye, the horses themselves look  great.  Can't wait to see all the Arabs in a group shot!

140 points for the figures and 20 for the Location bonus points

Looking forward to your next post

- Sarah

From Millsy: More 28mm Arabs (60 points)

G'day All,

It's been an odd couple of weeks with a lot of stop-start stuff going on. Back to work after a month off meant the backlog was bigger than normal, and then there was commission work to knock off also taking up free time.

That meant I started but didn't finish several things. This was compounded by having real issues with a box of Gripping Beast Arab Heavy Cavalry which were really poorly made. I think the die is getting old and tired as it's the only thing that would explain the amount of flash, misfits and gaps in this kit. I've built several before and never had so much trouble with it.

First world problems aside, today I present...

Reaper Miniatures - Legends of the Sands

The Reaper Miniatures' Legends of the Sands box set is something I bought a looong time ago with this project in mind and its great to finally be getting some paint on the minis. In total there are 12 in the set and I've painted 2/3 of them for this submission.

Leading my force on foot is Sultan Suleimillsy the Ambivalent, who judging by the rather camp nature of the sculpt has more interest in things artistic than militaristic. At least he has nice threads. Stylin!

Each to their own as they say and he has plenty of well oiled muscle to do the rough stuff on his behalf, plus an evil wizard/vizier type for the ad hoc genie summoning and general magical misbehaviour.

Finally, there's a "hashashin" assassin who does the dirty work behind closed doors and stands for the Ninth Circle: Treachery bonus.

Total: 8 x 28mm minis + bonus = 60 points.

Artist: The Presets
Album: Apocalyso

Artist: Lichtmond

Album: The Journey

Artist: Sunlounger

Album: Armada Collected: Roger Shah presents...

Thanks everyone for looking and Sarah for minioning my stuff!

Cheers,

Millsy

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Hi Millsy .. or rather Suliemillsy :)

I am unfamiliar with your musical selections, but I will definitly fall down that rabbit hole tomorrow!

These Arabs are great, the colours super vibrant, especially the purple and that floral pattern has a certain whimsy which is appealing.

I can envision these characters in many game settings, from pulp to historical.

 Using the Hashashin to reach the 9th circle Treachery bonus is a great interpretation. 

Another 60 points to your score, Well done Sir!

Sarah 

From Millsy: 28mm Arab Infantry (341 points)

G'day All!

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you've been well and had a great break over Christmas!

I've used my break to plough through a fair chunk of a new project - an Arab force for SAGA and Oathmark. These are primarily Fireforge Games Black Guard and Berber Infantry kits, with the ogres by Shieldwolf Miniatures.  For SAGA I'll be fielding them as Mutatawii'a (minus the ogres) and for Oathmark as standard humans plus allies.

From a total of 60 human miniatures I have 2 x 10 man units of archers, 2 x 10 man units of swordsmen and 1 x 20 man unit of spearmen. For SAGA I'll drop a couple of men from each unit and use as warriors, or divide in two for hearth guards. For Oathmark they'll be fielded as is.

The Black Guard look is amazing and I've wanted a force of them for a long time (here's the lust angle). I've tried to keep the colour palette really tight and highlighted them hard to give them a bold look. 

The ogres are resin miniatures are an absolute joy to assemble and paint. Really clean sculpts with loads of weapon options and the price is great to boot. Sheildwolf Miniatures are highly recommended! There's a definite "similar to but legally distinguishable from" Warhammer Ogor Martribes vibe but I'm fine with that.

The nearly 40 shields took nearly 2 hours alone to paint with all the fine lines in multiple layers for a scuffed look. Happy with the outcome but it did try my patience towards the end. I've used Gripping Beast shields for the non spear units here as I'm not a fan of the Fireforge Games round ones.

Still haven't decided on the banners. I'm tempted to leave them blank to reinforce the starkness but they would look neat with some script on them. For now that's a Future Millsy problem.

One of the things that attracted me to the Fireforge Games kit is the bamboo spears. With the large shields it's a really iconic look and I love it.

And finally some glamour shots of the command stands...

Now do the math please Millsy...

60 x 28mm infantry = 300 points

3 x 40mm infantry = 21 points

Dante's Divine Comedy - Second Circle: Lust = 20 points

Total: 341 points

There are camel and horse cavalry coming later in the Challenge along with a pile of characters from Reaper Miniatures amongst others. For now this is a solid chunk of points to kick me off and I can switch to something else for a while. Thanks for looking!

Artist: Portishead

Album: Dummy, Roseland NYC Live

Artist: Schiller

Album: Illuminate

Artist: Faithless

Album: Forever Faithless (Greatest Hits)

Artist: Thievery Corporation

Album: Saudade

Cheers,

Millsy

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Hello Millsy!

Great musical selections. I think I'll listen to some Thievery Corp too!

Wow, thats quite the variety of minis .. and awesome work on the shields ... I'm sure such detail was frustrating but worth the results. I like the pops of colour .. turquoise, purples, blues and reds on the infantry - really effective!

341points for you!

- Sarah