From NormS: A 20 man Napoleonic Austrian Battalion in 28mm (100 points)

This submission allows me to hit my 400 point goal, which was looking very unlikely just a week ago and as I am now away on my hols, there was a narrow window for completion before the challenge ended.

I would like to thank Dallas, Curt and the AHPC team for the time they set aside for the yearly challenge, together with all those who have kindly commented.

It has brought my painting discipline back on track and has added the equivalent of 80 infantry to my Napoleonic Austrian force, which was really needed to allow them to equalise in terms of numbers with the French force that I have. I can now do more balanced scenarios.

As before, I am using just two bases per unit (80mm x 40mm). These are Perry plastics, with facings of green to represent the 9th Infantry Regiment, Czartorski Galician.

I have still not fully standardised my whites - this unit was primed black and then had a base (two coats) of artist quality (Liquitex)  Titanium White acrylic and for a while was perhaps too white! But a dirty wash and Vallejo white highlights helped restore the balance of the universe.

20 x 28mm = 20 x 5 pts

Total for submission 100 points

Thanks Norm.

Norm, your Austrian Napoleonics have been an inspiration throughout the challenge - for one, white is a colour I find very difficult to paint, and two - they're Napoleonics, which look awesome but do require considerably more paintwork than, say, Khorne Berzerkers! You've done a great job on these ones too.

One hundred points for you my friend.

Dallas

From NormS: A Napoleonic Austrian gun battery in 28mm (60 points)

This is a two model gun battery in 28mm metal from the Perrys for my 1809 Austrian collection. The brown tunics help break up all of the white of the infantrymen that I have been painting of late and I have been saving them for a bit of a treat.

One model is firing and the other is loading.

All my artillery to date has been of the firing pose type, based at 50mm wide by 80mm deep and I had fixed these guns to the bases to match everything else and prepped them just before the challenge, while I could still use the rattle can primer. 

It was only this week when making up each base that I saw that the gun model being loaded either needs a deeper base or the gun set further back to help the guy with the ram to be better placed within the base to protect that rod from accidental knocking - hey ho!

Anyway they have painted up quite nicely. For my metals I gloss varnish (hand brush) first, followed by a matt varnish, because years ago I read somewhere that gloss varnish is tougher than matt and that metals need that strength. I have no idea whether that is true, but am a slave to it anyway! Does anyone know whether the gloss varnish thing for metal is true?

8 x 28mm Infantry crew at 5 points each = 40 points.

2 x gun pieces at 10 points each = 20 points

Total for submission 60 points

Thanks 

Norm

Norm, these models look very nice, I especially like the bases and the great work on the uniforms. The artillery crews must have been stoked to have those cool bicorn hats, they look very sharp!

And yes I have also heard that gloss varnish gives a much tougher protective coating than the matte variety. However I am too lazy to varnish my models twice (and I also worry about the matte varnich not completely killing the gloss shine) so it's strictly matte for me, despite the fact my models might suffer for it.

Sixty points for you to start the work week!

Dallas

From Iain W: 28mm Austrian uhlan regiment no 1 Merveldt (125 points)

This is a unit of Uhlans ,regiment no 1 Merveldt for the 1809 campaign based on the Perry plastic British light dragoons in the later uniform with overalls mounted on Warlord ECW plastic horses and with a mixture of Victrix and Warlord lancers arms. Their czapkas are Victrix wth more of a campaign look, more like this Rick Scollins illustration

The next unit will have full dress.

I always liked the rather business like uniform of the Uhlans. I might well use this unit as the Brunswick Uhlans for an 1809 campaign Ive been thinking of depicting the Duke of Brunswick's small force fighting its way to the coast, I already have the French provisional dragoon unit and have three primed Westphalian infantry units, its more should I use my nephews Peninsular Brunswick units or should I go with 1809 correct units?

Straight forward scores, 12 x 10, 120 points

All the best 

Iain 

***

Wow Iain, I just love to see Uhlans!! Czapskas always look so great. I can see why wearing them on a battlefield became a terrible idea over time, but it just seems like we should still be wearing them to meetings and such. Right?

I also love this post because your long opening sentence fully captures the beauty, energy and somewhat nutty commitment that comes with the Napoleonic aspect of the hobby. Perry, Warlord, Victrix...a mix of bits...all to get that look that one feels is not only more accurate, but feels right. 

They painted up lovely, and totally look the business. I am awarding five extra points for the Airbus-level complications in the sourcing of the bits and making it all look sharp. 

GregB

From NormS - An Austrian Infantry battalion and Commander 28mm (110 points)

Firstly, can I thank those who commented on the previous Austrian infantry concerning my troubles with ‘whites’!

For my process, I have dropped the Citadel Base Corax White - which was too grey and replaced it with Contrast Apothecary White, which has a much lighter blue hue and then of course added white highlights on top.

It is a bit difficult to see here because the camera has got the white balance wrong so there is a blue hue on the figures, but to the eye, we are back to where we need to be.

The infantry have been given red facings and are representing Infantry Regiment 35 - Graf Argenteau and are Perry plastic Austrians in 28mm.

The Commander on this occasion is Prince Liechtenstein, a Perry metal 28mm, part of their commanders pack (of three). He is turned in the saddle, something has caught his attention behind him …. Three French columns I dare say! :-)

20 x 28mm Infantry at 5 points each = 100 points.

1 x Mounted Commander at 10 points = 10 points

Total for submission 110 points

Thanks Norm.

Lovely work here on these Austrian Napoleonics Norm! The white looks great and these chaps look more than ready to go up against the Ogre. I gather that the Citadel Contrast white is applied over a white undercoat and just gives a very light shade?  In any case the models look superb.

One hundred ten added to your tally!

Dallas

From NormS: Two mounted Austrian Colonels 28mm (20 points)

I was saving these two Napoleonic Austrian Colonels, together with some artillery for the end of the challenge, as a break from painting white infantry uniforms - however!

These chaps have been urgently needed on the battlefield and so jumped straight to the top of the painting queue and have already been out of barracks - fighting at Klein Stetteldorf (above photo). 

I was convinced that these were Perry 28mm plastics, but I seem to recognize the faces as being Victrix and I know that they do have a mounted colonel in their plastic infantry set.

Primed black, heavy dry brush of white (2 coats) and then normal acrylic painting. I used GW Apothecary White Contrast paint on the uniform before applying GW White Scar highlights. There is a general wash on them and then extra highlights. They will do quite nicely in the build up of forces.

In my rush to do these, I was a tad annoyed to have forgotten that I had planned to use the officer with his hand extended on a double base with a spare hussar figure I have. I was going to place a set of orders in that extended hand and use a warmed up piece of wire to encourage his fingers to bend around them.

2 x 28mm Cavalry at 10 points each = 20 points.

Thanks for looking.

Wow Norm, these models look fantastic! To me, white is the hardest colour to paint (well that and yellow) and you've made a great job of these Austrians. Looks like a very pleasant ride they're having in Klein Stettdorf!

Twenty big ones for your tally.

Dallas

From PaulSS: A Sharp connection of Lust and Gluttony (55 points)

 

I was suffering a bit with "the Lurgy" this week but wanted to give Teemu a break from the 6mm Napoleonic onslaught I've been subjecting him to.

So I pulled out a couple of figures in the 28mm Napoleonic backlog that I think are perfect for the Lust and Gluttony circles of The Abyss.

First up is Colonel Claude Runciman, Wagon-Master General, he is described as an obese, indolent man, who because of his post as wagon-master general, attempts to get Richard Sharpe to refer to him as "General."

Sharp fandom wiki

This figure was the show figure, I think from a couple of years ago that chum James picked up for me knowing I would be interested.

I think he fits the Gluttony quite well, chowing down on his chicken leg in this sculpt.

The second figure represents Josefina Lacosta, Sharpe coveted her, but is told he'll never be able to afford her, so that fits right in with Lust. 

Sharp fandom wiki

This is a Brigade Games figure.

I rather rushed this one and the flesh tones have come out pretty terribly, I'll likely redo the skin tones.

I think many a lustful though was had when Katia Caballero played Josefina in Sharpe's Eagle and then especially when Elizabeth Hurley played her in Sharpe's Enemy back in the early 90's

One, 28mm mounted, plus one 28mm foot plus the two location bonuses should net me 55pts and take me over half way to my target!

TeemuL: I must say Paul, your skills with these 6mm Napoleonics are excellent, they almost look like 28mm minis! Hats off! :)

I'll buy your explanations on the theme rounds, very nice entries. I especially like the general, but Josefina looks fine, too. Maybe your redo of the skin will make her even better. You are now over half way of your target while the Challenge itself is not, so you can breathe a bit and fight that lurgy and reach your target in schedule. I just wonder what you might be painting next. Snow? Silver Bayonet?

From PaulSS: Bataljon Jagers No. 27 Skirmishers - 30pts

I had quite a busy weekend coming up, so I did not know if I would manage to get final post in before the challenge ended, but some persistence saw the skirmisher bases to go with Bataljon Jagers No. 27 featured in my previous post made it over the line.

The figures are again all from the Front Rank range now available from Gripping Beast.

Some close up's of the individual bases showing warts and all including what appears to be some terrible mould lines I missed in clean-up.

There were five flank company figures left and a single centre company, so this base is a bit of a mash-up.

Here they are screening the front of the battalion.

Six 28mm foot figures should add a final 30pts to my total.

I feel privileged to get to minion your final post Paul, as it features these gorgeous Dutch-Belgian jagers from the 27th battalion! The Front Rank sculpts are very nice figures and your painting is ace. I am particularly impressed by the highlights and shadows on the trousers, really well done. These skirmishers put the finishing touch on your beautiful unit and are a fitting conclusion to your Challenge I'd say. A great job and 30 final points to you!

Martijn

From PaulSS: Bataljon Jagers No. 27 - 120pts

 

Last weeks small submission meant that I was able to crack on with a larger unit of Dutch-Belgian infantry for the Hundred Days collection.

The 27th Light Battalion was part of van Bylandt's Brigade, taking part in both the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

All the figures are from the Front Rank range now available from Gripping Beast.

This may be my last post in this years challenge for the Saturday-Caturday Club, so I want to say thank you to Dallas for being our minion and sharing the regular cat pictures and updates.

The flag for the colour party is from GMB Designs.

The flank company figures have fancy-pants shoulder boards and a green over yellow plume.

I'm currently working on a handful more in skirmish order to add to the collection.

Twenty four 28mm foot figures should add another 120pts to my total.

________________________________

As usual you provide us with such lovely work to enjoy, Paul. These Dutch-Belgian infantry are excellent, especially the flank company with their extra splash of colour. I hope they give you good service in your coming Napoleonic campaigns. 

Thank you for joining the muster for this year's Challenge, Paul. It's always a pleasure to have you with us and to see what little gems roll off your hobby desk. Until next winter! 

- Curt

From TeemuL: Scifi and Peninsular War [Science Fiction] (100 points)

While working on the Rare and Antique Books I wander to the new section, Section 5, and to the Science Fiction topic. Here I present another 4 Grey Knights, finishing another 4 previously during the Challenge. They are from Games Workshop for their Warhammer 40k universe, I initially planned them for Kill Team, but the squad is growing and soon I might be able to field an army for 40k itself.

Three of these are metal minis and one (the one with two swords) is a plastic one. I added quite a lot of purity seals and other trinkets on them, trying to emphasize the motion of the minis, where possible.

I went with the silver power armour and red, blue and yellow details - a working combination. The same combination is used on my Imperial Guard 40k penal division (or re-enactor) army, so it gives a link there and allows a nice possibility to field these together. One of the knights has this small shield on him and I have painted it with a simple checkered style, which is a visual link to Howling Griffons space marine chapter, another small contingent I have painted over the years. I run out of the yellow paint I used before and these guys have a bit brigher yellow. To my eye it looks too bright and the highlights are not that visible, but they might mix up nicely on the table.

There are lots of skulls. And purity seals, but mostly skulls. I tried to count all of them from weapons, backpacks, trinkets, helmets, armours etc and got a total of 13. Quite nice from four minis. There might be even more, small ones, that I didn't recognize/paint.

Details on the shield and deamon's head

The next group, I'd like to say, that they were "inspired by my travels", but I never been to Peninsular War area, so that would be a lie to grab bonus points, so I won't. One drunken trip to Barcelona and another to Lisboa and Faro won't count, I guess. We mainly saw exotic drinks and azulejos plates. So no bonus points from here. There are Victrix miniatures, British Napoleonic Highlander Flank Companies to be exact, painted as the 92nd reqiment.

This is my first time with 28mm Napoleonics, I got the box and couple of others quite cheap last summer and decided to bite the bullet. I painted one base of 4 last year as a test and I have been slowly painting these as a side project alongside everything else. I set a target to paint a base of four in a month, so that means I should have 12 bases (or 2 units for Black Powder) in a year. If I keep that pace I should have an army or two ready when I retire...

I have experimented with different paints and techiques between the bases (or even in a base), trying to get a nice and rather easy/fast way to paint these. Yes, they are Highlanders and they have tartan, so not the easiest way to start a Napoleonic project, but I figured out, if I can handle this, then I can handle the rest, too... :) Some of the red is for example painted with traditional acrylics, some minis were painted with contrast paints, for example. Then some washes, some highlights, sometimes drybrush, sometimes not. The bases are cowered with sand and brown coarse turf.

The tartan was rather simple to do, although depending on my choices with paints, the pattern is not that visible on all. It is the red-white checkered pattern on the socks and "bandana" (I guess there is a proper term for that thing, but I'm a young newbie) that tries to kill me... And I didn't paint the regiment number on their water bottles.

I should have the first regiment of six bases ready before the summer and then I can start the next one (the box has 60 minis, so enough for two units and some command bases).

The all four bases shown together

4 28mm Grey Knights = 20 points

1 Science Fiction location = 20 points

12 28mm Highlanders = 60 points

Total 100 points

13 skulls

______________________________________

Wonderful work Teemu! I really like the vibrancy of your Grey Knights. I too have a small contingent of these for Kill Team (some painted by our GregB no less!), but I've not expanded it beyond that. Your efforts makes me want to test the water again.

Starting with Highlanders for Napoleonics! Wow! You're a glutton for punishment Teemu! Nonetheless, as you say, if you break your duck with Highlanders then all the other stuff will be a walk in the park. These Jocks look terrific and I think your approach to their tartans works just fine. By the time you're finished the army we'll both be retired and able to get together for a game. :)

Well done, but now get back to your Rare & Antique entry... ;)

- Curt