From MartinC: The Highland Horde (78pts)

My tiny Scotsmen (or are they just far away) continue to assemble. I've been away for 4 days so only a small amount of painting done.

My imaginary Scots army doesn't have cavalry, but it does have the highland horde

The Highland Horde is a large, inferior infantry unit with no guns but a fast move rate. The plan is to get them into combat and create bloody hell.

This is the clan Glenbucket

These are the Elsick Bannermen

Go get em, or some other Scottish  war cry

It's not strictly true that there is no cavalry

These are the Scots Hussars, good for scouting but hopeless at anything else

These will probably be fielded as 3 separate units to just be in the way

Only 1 more brigade to paint

Scores on the doors

48 x10mm infantry = 48pts

15 x 10mm cavalry = 30pts

total = 78pts

It's good to see more of this project - it's a shame there's only one more brigade to come.

Tamsin

From StuartL: Challenge Island Safari Journal - 19th March (55 Points)

Look out below C.I.S.T.ers, we're coming in to land at Fran's Fjord.

Nothing like gallivanting through the clouds to remind you of how much you hate heights eh? Now that we're back on the ground, let's have a short stroll around the wondrous area that is Fran's Fjord.

It is said that in this part of the island, strange portals appear that show glimpses of strange lands and alternative realities. Imagine a world where you were king or queen, or one in which boy bands were prohibited by law. All things are possible when you gaze through one of these portals. However, I should warn you that we have had a little difficulty getting the focus right on the portals themselves. For some strange reason everything you see is... smaller. Whether it is a side effect of the cross-dimensional flux or just a bizarre coincidence, everything on the other side looks to be roughly half the size it should be. Weird or what?

Ah, here we go. This portal seems to be opening and showing us a view of a different world.

According to my Challenge Island Safari Tour issued Inter-dimensional Analyzer, what you are seeing here is a combat unit from the 82nd Royal Colonial (America) Airborne. It would appear that in their reality the British won the American War of Independence and the colonies remained a part of the Empire.

These brave paratroopers are training for deployment against the Tsarist armies currently deployed in the region we would think of as Alaska.

This Cornwallis Mk. III mecha may lack the punch of the opposing Rasputin Assault Bots fielded by the Tsar's army, but it's jump capability allows it to land behind enemy lines alongside the infantry and provide much needed support with it's Edison Electro-rifle.

Ah, it seems like the portal is closing and we mustn't tarry around here. Next stop, Bromley's Butte.

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I must admit to not having much idea what to do for this location on the map. I managed to dredge up some FoW American Airborne armed with captured German weapons and a Reaper robot mini that would work as a suitably high-tech option to accompany them. Since I needed to make them look more imagi-nation-ish, I painted them in the colours of British troops during the Zulu war.

So that should give me 20 points for 10x 15mm figures, plus another 5 for the robot (since it's really just a repurposed 28mm mini), and 30 for Fran's Fjord. If my math is correct, that's 55 points for my tally.


Another entertaining entry in Stuart's Safari Journal! I must confess to having test-painted a few of GZG's 15mm New Anglian Confederation infantry in a similar scheme a few years ago. Hurrah for your alternative reality Brits!

TamsinP

Ready Adamc: Fran’s Fjord; The Snow Lord's Own and HMS Unicorn (68 Points)

So as you may recall from past challenges I have an Imagi-nation called the Grand Duchy of D’Argent and their traditional foe the Draconian Empire.  I like to give wargamer friends regiments in the service of the Draconian Empire.    
       

Given the task for the location I decided to honor our fearless organizer with a regiment of his own.

The Figurers are Essex Miniatures I went with blue and white in honor of our leaders snow capped peak and blue monster manifestation.

The Flag is purely out of my head but inspired by some French and German flags of the period.

HMS Unicorn is the last of my initial purchase for Black Seas.  I decided to do a Royal Navy frigate because I wanted one to add an extra dynamic to a convention game I am working on.

A convention that will probably be cancelled out of an abundance or caution to use the fashionable phrase (figures crossed this will blow over by May).
 

I went with buff instead of yellow for the stripe along the gun ports.  I added a bit of gold-leaf showing our frigate captain was lucking in prize money or has private means.
 

I’m very pleased with how the ship came out. OK points.  Fran’s Fjord give 30 points, the ten 15mm figures provide 20 and HMS Unicorn will provide me with another 18.  That give me 68 more points for pile.

HMS Unicorn will now take me along the coast to Saunders Sand Dunes (if that’s allowed).

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Fine work here Adam.  I'm sure I join many Challengers in expressing sheer horror at the idea of the Snow Lord having his own Regiment of Foot to unleash upon unwary travellers, but I have no doubt the Lord himself will be thrilled!

And it has been a lot of fun watching your "Black Seas" project(s) come together so nicely.  This is another great-looking ship...I wish I could offer more intelligent commentary, but I'm the age-of-sail gamer who says things like "I'll take the one with the cannons!" so I'm not much help there.  But damn, it looks cool! 

In terms of your Challenge Island routing proposal...I'll leave that to higher powers, but it may be that one requires a balloon ride to make the trip you propose...

That will be another 68 points for you.  Here's hoping your event goes ahead...

GregB

From EvanH and Millsy: Curtgeld Imaginations Standard Bearer (30 Points Each)

To round out our Challenge this year Evan and I have a nice little combination effort in the form of our Curtgeld.

Our contribution to Curt's collection is a mounted standard bearer from Evan's Principality of Velikye Byelgorodniya, one of the two main protagonists in the Die Kriege de Zobelshuts (aka Wars of the Sable Hat). The miniature is a Front Rank Russian cuirassier standard bearer, gorgeously painted by Evan. The face is packed with character and to my mind is one of the best miniatures Evan has ever produced.

Once painted Evan handed him over to me to create a vignette base and add the bespoke flag. I chose to go with a scene representing the head of a column of troops crossing the border, depicted here by a border guard's shelter. Whether this is an advance or a retreat is anyone's guess! Either way the occupant of the shelter thought it better to make himself scarce.

All that remains for our Challenge this year is to thank a considerable number of people, starting with our illustrious host the Snowlord himself. As always Curt we're indebted to you for your generosity, enthusiasm and good nature mate. We love the Challenge and always feel a wee bit sad when it draws to an end. Of course we can't forget Lady Sarah for sharing Curt with us and for letting us play in his tree house for over the last few months. To the 2016/17 Minions, thanks folks for doing such a smashing job and herding the cats week in week out. To the sponsors, thanks for your generosity and for making the Challenge even more special. And finally, to our fellow challengers, thank you for sharing your amazing, witty, creative, beautiful and inspiring work. What a wonderful Challenge is have been yet again.

All the best everyone. See you next year!

Cheers,
Evan and Millsy

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Evan, Millsy, this is just superb. I have to agree with you Michael, Evan's cavalryman is a corker - his face is so beautifully done - wow. Smashing brushwork Ev! And Millsy, your skills in creating an evocative scene remains undiminished. As I've mentioned before, sometimes the absence of things tells more than their presence and this holds true with the abandoned guardhouse. Well done, sir.

I have no 18th century stuff in my collection so, who knows, perhaps this will be the start of something new for me. :) 

Again, thanks so much Evan and Millsy. After seven years I can't imagine a Challenge without either of you participating, so lets all look forward to the eighth, eh? :)

Curt

 

 

AdamC- 18th Century Imagination troops and Officer (58 points)

First is another Draconian unit, the Haydenberg regiment.  This Regiment is named for a long time pillar of the reenacting community here in New England.  Jim Hayden was(sadly Jim Passed last fall) a member of the 2nd New Hampshire regiment.  Jim was also a  follower of my blog and facebook and I decided he would enjoy having a namesake regiment.

Flag's and uniforms are inspired by the 2nd New Hampshire.  The regiment wore blue faced white, I went with a lighter blue bu the pattern is similar.  The flag matches the colors and the interwoven rings emblem on the flag the union of the flag is my own invention.

Rear view of the regiment I think these guys will stand out on the table.  There are 16 miniatures in this regiment

Next up is the Regiment Dixon of the Grand Duchy of D'Argent.  The regiment repents something of an experiment.  The Duchy has a number of irregular units composed of the hearty mountain folk of its boarder regions.

Colonel Dixon a Scottish exile with a knack for the rough and trouble of la petite guerre has raise a regular regiment from among these independent and often undisciplined folk.

The hope is that the Scottish officer will be able to forge a unit that will be as capable in the battle line as it is at scouting and skirmishing.

I foolishly entered the Seven Years War side duel and have gotten my self rightly trounced!

The cost of that is a command stand.  I have there for created an observer form the Grand Duchy of D'Argent who will shortly be dispatched to the winner.

All Figures are 15mm The Haydenburg Regiment has 16 figures for 34 points with the hand painted flags.  Regiment Dixon has 10 Figures for another 20 Points and the officer is 4 Points. That should give me another 58 Points(for both the challenge proper and the side duel, got to keep it respectable)  as we plunge into the sprint for the finish.

MilesR: I'm really liking these imagination 15mm regiments - it's got the fun of painting historical's with our being burdened by specific uniform guides - whats not to love!

AdamC - Regiment Paine (31 Points)

 Another Imagi-Nation unit for D'Argent's enemy Draconia.  This is the personal guard regiment of Bishop Paine Prince-Bishop of Haingchausen one of the more militant clerical states of the Draconian Empire.

 Mike said he wanted his regiment in back coats with gray cuff, facing and turnbacks.  He also wanted maroon for the small cloths.  I thought the overall look was a bit clerical so I decided his troops would be from the territory of a bishop-prince.

The flags are taken from a collection of Riecharmee flags I had in my folder or images.  They seemed to fit.  There at 15 figures in for another 30 Points toward my goal and the Side challenge. There might be another few more points for the flags or not as the minion judged appropriate.

MilesR: Another imaginations regiment - I really like these.

From Millsy - Von Molson's Infantry Regiment in 28mm (122 points)

When I first started my 18thC Imaginations project I spent a lot of time reading through existing blogs for other imaginary nation states. This was both great inspiration but also enabled me to make contact with a number of other gamers whose own projects were prime examples of the great fun and amazingly detailed backstories that could be dreamed up if you put your mind to it.

One individual I had a number of very rewarding interactions with was Bluebear Jeff of Saxe-Bearstein fame. Tragically, Jeff passed away last year after a long fight with illness. His passing left a big hole in the imaginary 18thC blogosphere and I've missed his enthusiasm, generosity and tremendously positive outlook.

When Jeff passed I decided I'd like to do something to remind me of his contribution to my own personal project, so I have recreated one of his regiments and they will continue to fight imaginary battles, displaying the same courage and strength in the face adversity which Jeff did in real life.

And so I present to you von Molson's Regiment, complete with Saxe-Bearstein ducal and regimental colours as imagined by Jeff...

These are 28mm SYW Austrians from Front Rank, painted as closely as I could to match their namesakes. This is Jeff's original regiment, not a bad match I think you'll agree...

So here's to you Jeff! Thanks for everything mate...

Cheers,
Millsy

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This is a really wonderful unit of figures Millsy, and a poignant tribute to your late friend, Jeff.

I think you've done a terrific job in creating a unit that is both themed to Jeff's original work, yet is still very much your own style. I really like the bright blue facings and turnbacks on these figures, and the regimental colours are superb, especially with the contrasting flag cords.

I think you've done your friend great honour with these lads. Well done.

From Millsy: 18th Century Commanders (50 Points)

Now that I've cleared a bunch of riff-raff off the table I can start on some decent sized chunks of stuff for ongoing projects. First up is some new recruits for the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Coburn und Bucholz, my imaginary 18th century nation state.

These are all 28mm Front Rank Miniatures from their Austrian Seven Years War line. I absolutely love painting them as they have wonderful, clear detail and a combination of character and semi-static pose that's perfect for 18th century gaming.

One of the things I really enjoy about our Imaginations project is that there are absolutely no rules when it comes to uniforms. You are only limited by what you mind can conjure up and for me that means at least in some cases the more eye-watering the colour combination the better!

These stout fellow will do service as brigade or battery commanders on the table when Evan and I next face off. Given the amount of buttons, lace and other decoration they're an inefficient way to earn 50 points but I really enjoyed them and that's the main thing.

Cheers,
Millsy

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Efficency be damned, miniatures like these demand to be painted, displayed and enjoyed! Lovely work, Millsy. I'm not crazy about Front Rank for Napoleonics (my hang up with their well-fed sculpts), but they absolutely sing for Lace-Wars, and these don't disappoint. I'm particularly taken with the mounted officer in yellow with blue facings. Gorgeous colour combo there. 

Question: What rules are you using for your Imagination campaigns? 

50 Points it is. Nicely done, sir!

From AdamC - Austrian and D'Argent Artillery (46 Points)

My collection has lots of British, Prussian and French guns but my Austrian Artillery Park is a bit thin so this seemed like a good time to expand it.   So I painted up 4 guns for my Austrian Army and 2 for D'Argent (who also lacked artillery.

These guys might need an extra coat on the paint now that I see them close up. but the gunners came out well.

 Another angle of the Austrian guns.

 For D'Argent I did the same carriage types but when with gray and orange for the gunners.

I think gray provides a great counter point the bright orange. D'Argent has only a small artillery corps a total of 4 guns these two and two others I painted earlier.  The above is their first howitzer though most of the time the type of gun is irrelevant in the rule sets I play. (Maurice and Black Powder)

Another angle for the Austrians this time showing off their red turn backs.  Brown is such a practical uniform color I am always a bit surprised it wasn't';t used more, maybe because it was such a common civilian color.

There are a total of 6 guns for 24 points and 11 gunners for another 22 points netting me a nice set of 46 points.

From AdamC - The Regiment with No Name (33 points)

Part of the fun I have with My Imagi-Nation the Grand Duchy of D'Argent is I get to "provide" friends and family with officers commissions.

Following practice of many an 18th Century Enlightened Despot I in my capacity as Grand Duke feel obligated to ensure that my siblings children are well taken care of. 

When I learned by brother and his wife are anticipating the birth of a second son some time in may of this year it was time to look through the collection 18th century miniatures for to provide the young lad with a regiment. 

Thus these Red and Yellow clad dragoons have been completed during the challenge. The colors were selected by the Duchess Ariana.  My Brother and his wife have not yet finalized the name of my new nephew so for now these fellows are a nameless regiment. 

I look forward to introducing the kids to their commands in few years.

There are 8 15mm figures (Essex I believe) on horse back which I make to be 32 Points.


From Curt:

Great work Adam. I really like the idea of giving 'commissions' to your regiments to family and friends - I do something similar with our Pulp and Cthulhu adventurers just for laughs. Here's to lovely May and the naming day of both your new nephew and his regiment!