From RossM: 15mm Leopard 1 Panzer Kompanie Zug (40 points)

This is my first entry to this year's Painting Challenge and is something a bit different. Well painting German AFVs isn't that new, however the scale and period are: 15mm Cold War.

The Cold War is a new period here, although having grown up during the seventies and eighties under the shadow of a naval base in Scotland there are elements that seemed all too real. When deciding to paint these models, I wanted to recreate that shadow, to show AFVs that have left their bases and are own their own. 

The models are from Battlefront's Team Yankee range and show Leopard 1s in NATO three colour camouflage. The first set of pictures show the HQ section of the Panzer Kompanie, followed by the first of two panzer zug. 

The models have gone through several stages to achieve the look shown:

• Primed in Vallejo NATO green primer
• Base coat in reflective green
• Camouflage colours added in Black Gray and Flat Earth
• Dry brushed with Iraqi Sand
• Gloss varnished
• Apply decals
• Gloss varnish decals to seal
• Oil wash with AK Interactive NATO camouflage wash. 
• Cotton bud wipe with mineral spirits
• Matt varnish  - two coats

Applied a heavier than usual coat of the oil wash to build on the shadows within the model and removed the wash with a drier cotton bud to leave move wash on the model. Don't see these as coming straight from the forecourt of your local tank dealership.

So there it is, entry one to AHPC XVI which scores as follows:

• 5 x 15mm vehicle at 8 points each equalling 40 points. 

Hope that everyone enjoys this post and already working on more for this period and others for future posts. 

Cheers for now

I enjoyed the post Ross! As a fervent enthusiast of 15mm Cold-War-Gone-Hot games and a man who grew up near a Canadian Forces base that frequently hosted Bundeswehr armoured forces, I am fully in favour of Leopard 1s. You've done a great job on these lovely Battlefront models, the camo and weathering look very cool. AK Interactive NATO Camouflage Wash you say? Hmmm...

Great work and 40 points for you!

Dallas 

From RossM: 15mm Romano Brits and a 25mm Fantasy Dwarf (30 points)

 The last day of this year's AHPC is here and I have a final offering for you. As the title suggests it has two different themes in two different scales. 

Firstly, here are the Romano Brits from Forged in Battle miniatures and these are the start of an ADLG army for this period. 

A simple start with a command stand consisting of a general and Christian priest. Don't worry there is a Pagan stand planned for balance. 

Whilst there will be colour across the army I will be using a lot of muted colours for a Dark Age feel and the general's cloak will carry across some cavalry stands in the future. At my current pace of painting this may well be in next year's AHPC. 

Next up are the only light cavalry in the army, all two stands of them; unlike the hedge of spearmen that makes the army's backbone. 

The muted colours making another appearance here along with a simple hand painted shield design across the units. It's just enough to catch the eye on the table.  

Now the last figure from me for AHPC XV, a retro Citadel Dwarf from the haydays of the early 1980's. Still on his original pre-slotta base: 

This figure has been stripped down and painted for the last time, roughly forty years after first buying him in my FLGS (now long gone).

Opting for a simple colour scheme to let the armour do its job of impressing everyone around it. Not to mention the longsword.,, 

Started as a central figure for a regiment of Shieldbreakers in Kings of War that sadly has stalled for now. 

So, there ends AHPC for this year a few things moved on, a few things stalled and a few that just didn't start for varying. 

The points for these few figures tally as:

15mm cavalry x 5 @ 4 points each = 20

15mm infantry x 1 @ 2 points each = 2 

25mm infantry x 1 @ 5 points = 5 

Totalling 27 points. 

Looking forward to seeing the last entries over the next day or so and seeing you all again in the darker nights. 

A huge thank you to the Snowlord for organising this again and to everyone who helped as a minion and as a participant. A great body of work you have all contributed!

Cheers for now!

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Love the 15mm Dark Ages stuff Ross - its a great scale for getting a good feel of massed forces, and your muted colours give them an appropriately dreary pre-colourfast dye look to them :-) I hope we get to see more next Challenge.

The Dwarf is a true relic - great sculpt full of nostalgic goodness! What a cracking fellow to close out on.  Congratulations for completing your Challenge this year - go celebrate with a couple of bonus points for resurrecting a figure you've had for 40 years!

- Paul

From Ross M: 28mm Skeleton Archers (60 points)

 These figures were not meant to be a part of this challenge or anything at present however, plans are made to be changed and changed they were. 

There is a mixture of old and new in this so starting with the new, well nearly all of the new at eleven Oathmark skeleton based as a regiment for Kings of War. There is a twelfth figure on another base that will be here shortly. 

When I say new, I should say newly painted as the figures have been in the pile of shame for several years now. The colour scheme was painted to match the previously painted figures as best as possible and there is one of the rear right hand group that does just that. 

Here are both groups together, with the newly painted to the right of screen as viewed and the previously painted to the left. Same figures, paints, painting methods and varnishing; the difference between left and right has been a different primer. The newly painted were primed with grey car primer the previously painted skeletons had been primed with Army Painter Skeleton Bone....just goes to show how a little change can make a difference.

Basing these has been interesting and very similar to basing Impetus armies about a decade or so ago. The multi-figure base allows more use of flocks, tufts and foliage to create a theme on the basing and as a result across the army. 

Hope that you like these and that I'll be able to sneak a post in before the end of the week. In terms of points I make this to be:

12 x 28mm infantry at 5 each = 60 points

12 skulls at 1 each = 12 points

Total for this entry being 72 points

Thanks for looking and if I am unable to post for the 20th, its been great being part of this in 2024/25. 

Cheers for now.

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The best plans are those that incorporate agility to shift with our ever changing whims Ross! And I'm thrilled that these bony lads made the cut. They really come together well en mass and the purple wildflowers on the basing give a great splash of colour to bring them together. Good stuff!

60 points for the figs (skulls don't get extra points that I'm tracking, sorry)

- Paul

From RossM: 28mm Tafia Kingdoms Skirmishers 10 Points (11 points)

Time has moved quickly this month and there are a few things in the sidelines for submission shortly. 

When starting a new project, regardless of scale I like to put a few stands up that will enable me to complete a core unit or two in the early stages of painting that project. Light infantry and skirmishers are often good in that role and will feature in most versions of the finished project when used. 

Here is the first of several skirmisher units for the recently started x army in ADLG. 

Having used more "Christian" figures for this stand it allows further use of the figures in several different armies across the period. Great believer in getting the best use from a miniature. 

In terms of points, that's 

2 x 28mm infantry at 5 points each. Totalling a whopping 10 points. 

Cheers for now

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I like your style Ross; develop a sensible plan, start with a ubiquitous unit useful in every list to get you off the mark (somehow I always leave psiloi types to last though) and then out yourself for starting a new army to generates a perceived social pressure for you to keep at it. Nice one!

Take a bonus point for your style and sense of noblesse :-)

- Paul

From RossM: The First Post, 15mm Late Crusaders (40 points)

I am late to the party this year and there have already been some great entries posted. 

There are quite a few things in the pipeline, however, these three stands are the first completed for AHPC XV. In line with tradition, these have been painted from the "other choices" rather than figures specifically listed. Call it creative licence. 

These 15mm figures are from Gladiator Miniatures (Fightings 15s) and are an addition to an ever expanding ADLG Late Crusaders army.

Painted to represent Military Order, specifically the Knights of Jerusalem with a nod to artistic licence in the use of colour across the figures. 

From a gaming point of view it is enough to recognise the units on the table. 

These three units start my entries to this year's AHPC and will collect for me a few points as well as some motivation to keep on painting. 

9 x 15mm cavalry @ 4 points each totalling 36 points. 

Cheers for now
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Better late than never Ross! And Crusading Knights are always worth waiting for :-) 

They look great in their Jerusalem surcoats and livery!

15mm is a wonderful scale to get the massed look on the table and the flurry of banner help achieve that effect, so enjoy some bonus points for those as well

- Paul

From RossM: The Last Post for AHPC XIV - 30 points

It has been a quick Challenge this time round and both unfortunately and regrettably I don't have much to show for it. 

There is are miniatures in varying states of paint and unpaint across the painting table however due to a variety of different reasons, only the five AVF below are suitable to enter as my second and final post for this year's challenge. 

The Desert War between 1940-43 has always been an interest of mine and on reading a "soft" copy of O Group from the boys at Too Fat Lardies, the rest as they say is history. 

The vehicles are from Pendraken's great range of 10mm WW2 models and the detail shows well once painted. 

There are four Marder II's and one Sd Kfz 10/4 with a 20mm AA gun fitted. The Marders where fun to paint and the extra detail on the sidings of the 10/4 take to dry brushing like a fish to water. 

Sadly, this concludes my AHPC XIV with additional points as below:

10mm vehicles x 5 = 6 points each for a total of 30 points. 

This takes my challenge total to 106 points from 500. Not the finish I was looking for but them's the blows 

Looking forward to catching up with all of your posts from the last three months and November isn't far away. 

Cheers for now

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Great work on these DAK vehicles, Ross. I especially like the weathering and how you pulled out the details on the crew. Great little minis for 10mm! 

I realize your output didn't meet your target, but I know you'll be more than up for it next time we roll out. 

- Curt

  

 

From RossM - 15mm Late Medieval Cavalry & 2mm Punic Wars: (76 points)

So it begins...

First post here, and it's a small entry to ensure continuation in this year's Challenge. 

Two bases of Scurrours for my growing ADLG Lancastrian force. The figures are from Museum Miniatures and fit in well enough with the bulk of the army that are from Gladiator Miniatures. 

The red in the pictures isn't that far away from the red on the miniatures and now realising that it is a step too far and into the realms of garishly bright. It will help me remember that they are on the gaming table in ADLG and other games. 

The red and dark grey (Black) are to represent the colours of the Percy's; although in the Wars of the Roses fiction that I am currently reading, the Percy's are described as wearing blue and yellow, not red and black. I am not a scholar of this period so any thoughts or info on this would be appreciated. 

These are entered into the Challenge as a Historical entry (941.2) and will gain points as 

 

15mm cavalry x 4: 16 points

Historical Entry: 20 bonus points

Next is an entirely new scale for me;  2mm something that at one stage I wouldn't have even entertained painting. Well painting isn't entirely the correct phrase, its more like dabbing with colour.

The miniatures are from Irregular Miniatures and were an idea my friend and fellow gamer. His idea was that I paint a Carthaginian and Republic Roman army and pick one, he would supply the figures. 

There are six stands of figures here, four skirmishers and two cavalry, with the furthest away cavalry being started the week before the Challenge so they are not included. All are based on 60mm front and the depths will vary as below: 

Skirmishers: 60 x 15mm

Light and Medium Infantry: 60 x 25mm

Heavy Infantry: 60 x 20mm

Cavalry: 60 x 30mm

Elephants: 60 x 40mm

Above the cavalry from the rear and then below from the front. 

These are entered into the Challenge as a Front Desk and New Acquisitions entry (902.2) and will gain points as 

 

2mm bases x 5: 3 points (0.5 per skirmisher stand and 1 for the cavalry) 

Historical Entry: 20 bonus points

My Challenge Library Card is below;

This takes the points for this entry to

15mm cavalry x 4: 16 points

Historical Entry: 20 bonus points

2mm bases x 5: 20 points (2.5 per skirmisher stand and 5 per cavalry stand) 

Historical Entry: 20 bonus points

Totaling: 76 points (15.2 percent of my Challenge total of 500)

Looking forward to posting more entries soon. 

Cheers for now

A true day of firsts here then... as we have another first entry from the Sunday Crew! Welcome aboard Ross!

Great entry as well with the WotR entry to kick things off. Like you, I am also not well versed in the history of it, but I do like the models and timescale! Great period to paint up!

For the Punic wars.. 2mm... wow... am struggling with 8mm marines, I can only just think how difficult painting 2mm models would be.. and to make them be recognized on such a base! Massive achievement there for sure!

Though for points, I have to adjust it a bit. As the judge's mighty calculator is a bit different for 2mm bases. They scoring 5 pts per 60x30 base. So taking the bases as half that, and you having 4 half bases ( skirmishers ) and 2 full bases ( calvary ), you will have a few more points.. So I have updated your calculations above to reflect that!

Great job and thanks for contributing today!

Kyle

From RossM - The Last Post (Mixed scales 110 Points)

Challenge end always comes around too quick and I am never ready enough for it.

Firstly, a few thank yous

• To the Monday crew, awesome body of hobby painting and glad to have been a part of it
• Pete, thanks for organising the above crew and keeping us in line for posting. Superb job all round
• To everyone, thank you all. Its always a pleasuring sharing the darkest months of the year with so many fellow hobbyists. 
• Lastly, and by no means least, Curt, the Snow Lord. Thanks for creating the AHPC thirteen years ago. I've been involved over the last twelve of those thirteen. Looking forward to sharing in future events too. 

So, now to the posts for my last entry this year. 

Perry Wars of the Roses Man at Arms - 1 x 28mm infantry at 5 points

Northstar Miniatures - Cultist Guards - 2 x 28mm infantry at 10 points

Vikings - Foundry and Gripping Beast - 3 x 28mm infantry at 15 points

The figures painted for this entry are the two bare chested berserker and the rear most swordsman on the left stand.

Plastic Soldier Company Early Imperial Roman Cavalry - 3 x 15mm cavalry at 12 points

Forged in Battle Early Imperial Romans Cataphracts - 4 x 15mm cavalry and 3 x 15mm riders at 22 points 

Four horses and riders were painted from scratch and another three riders also made the pass. The problem is I don't know which are which other than all of the command stand was started prior to the start date of the AHPC XIII

Gladiator Miniatures Numidians light cavalry - 16 points

Opps! Where did the horses nose go?

Xyston Miniatures Thracians archers - 8 x 15mm infantry at 16 points

Rapier Miniatures Macedonian Phalanx - 28 x 6mm infantry at 14 points

Fiddly getting the single 6mm figures on the base in lines but worth it in the end. The ragged pikes work to my eye; perfection is too much at times and who really knows what massed sarrissa looked like. 

This completes my efforts for this year's Challenge leaving a few also rans in the sidelines that didn't make the finish line. 

The total for the above comes to 110 points with a running total for the challenge at 221 (44.2% of the challenge total). Fell short of the total  however, it always the taking part that counts for me!

As always, it's been a blast and looking forward to the lift off later this year!

Cheers for now, 

RossM

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What a wonderful assortment of figures to end your Challenge, Ross! So much to admire here. I always have a soft spot for WotR, so that single man at arms is a winner for me. But all of the rest is excellent as well. I especially like the Cultists and the 6mm pikemen. Excellent work.

Until next year, Ross.  :)

- Curt