MattW - Sweet Sixteen is a wrap!

 Sweet Sixteen is a wrap! 

Another painting challenge complete, a big thank you to Curt and Sarah for hosting a fine event this year, the last rapid fire event felt like a blur, with posts every 15 mins or so on Friday night. A big thanks to the minions, as I was in two time zones several times I missed the cut off by a day either side…..

Bryon Bay bit of the holiday 

I set a very modest goal this year of 600 points as I knew I would be on holidays skipping the European winter. This winter we were Australia for two months laying around a pool relaxing over the challenge. I did not reach my goal for points this year as the holiday homes and hotels had no where really suitable to paint….. well that’s my excuse. On the home front I finally moved into my painting room and I think in six weeks the chateau renovation on the third floor will be finally complete (painting, fabric wall insulation, then decor happening for the coming five weeks) which will mean my library will finally be back in place and my hobbit hole will get a rebuild. 

We are taking bookings for 2026  at Wargames holidays/ L’Hotel de Hercé . If you and your partner or a couple of mates are looking for a personal Normandy battlefield guide, a wargames or historical cultural holiday in west France, Normandy, Brittany or Pays de Loire please consider us. We have 21 tours and 60 Battlefeild sites locally from Caesar to ww2. 

On the painting front, my desk looks like a bomb zone when I commenced cleanup yesterday about 4 projects did not make it to the Final Cut, 4 hours packing stuff away into project drawers and I will compete a few pieces this week …. For the 16th challenge really happy with my 20 odd Judge Dredd additions including some early figures from the Citadel 80s collection, LOTR, Napoleonic, ACW and ww2 pieces. 

My favourite piece I completed, Treebeard Merry and Pippin

Half of the Hurley gang

Me raging about construction dust in the painting room

After two weeks on the Gold Coast eating Banana’s and mangoes 

The oldest thing I painted circa 1983 a Paranoia/citadel blue trooper

Perry dragoons, fifteen years in the project drawer at least 

A gift of figures whilst in Oz by my mate Greg, actually received love early

My Christmas gift was a Halfling Bloodbowl team, as yet unnamed any ideas? 

Somehow I think this is what I would look like in a gridiron outfit

I had big plans of completing my 9th SS 20mm…. Not to be

Cheers everyone I am looking forward to next year

Cheers

Matt

From MattW - LOTR, Ancients, Medieval, Dredd, DR Who and Bloodbowl 85 points

A few bits of the table in the last week, a mixed lot 

Not sure where the figure is from maybe salute? Perseus with medusas head 

Cyberman, not sure where it is from possibly citadel? 

Medieval Bishop/Priest from gripping beast 

Alamani German putting a Roman to the sword Foundry, a marker for my games 

Two Judges for Judge Dredd games from Warlord miniatures 

The beginnings of my halfling Bloodbowl team from GW 

Tree-beard Mary and Pippin 

Fifteen 28mm foot @ 5 = 75 points 
One mounted @ 10 points 
 Total points 85 points 

Squirrels 
Ancients 1

Dark Age 1
Medieval 1
Dr Who 1
Bloodbowl 1 
Lotr 1
Total squirrels 6

Cheers
Matt

___________________________

Very fine brushwork, Matt! I especially like the rock-throwing hobbits and Perseus. Great stuff. 

- Curt

From PaulOG: Russians of the Crimean War! (345 points)

Presenting my first two Russian battalions for my 28mm Crimean War project. While the Russian Army of the time was renowned for having largest cavalry contingent on the continent, Infantry still made up the bulk of the Army. These are typical Line Infantry battalions of a Regiment, each of which fielded 4.

Two Battalions with Regimental officers advancing in Attack columns 

I used different shades across the greatcoats to show varying wear and quality in pre dye-fast colours, and gave the units some identity with one unit sporting a mix of helmets and forage caps (mutzes) which became more common as the war progressed, and another with more strict NCOs ensuring all the troops wear their issued helmets! 

1st Battalion - all in helmets

I enjoyed a good dose of the inevitable "basing dilemma", badly overthinking it before deciding to go with groups of poorly drilled troops with intermingled casualties, representing both bad training and a stoic intent to get to grips with the invaders regardless of cost! Groups of 8 figs make a line unit in Sharp Practice and I figured that four units per Battalion would give some good 'visual heft' as the attack columns advance.

2nd Battalion with mixed helmets and forage caps

Figures are mostly plastic Warlord figs with some metal models by Great War Miniatures mixed in. The former are relatively monopose, but the seperate heads let you impart some great character with modest turns. The latter are wonderful sculpts and mixing them in gives a more dynamic look. Colours by Battle-Flag.com

Normally I hate doing faces but these were very satisfying to do

This project was to be a full Regiment of 4 Battalions plus an artillery battery and a troop of Cossack cavalry...but when real life got in the way I opted to not sacrifice quality just to 'get it done'. I really enjoyed building them and the rest will follow post Challenge. Pity I have no nice mat or terrain in this country to pose them on!

The army grows: this submission plus the skirmishers from Bonus round 3

These units and the two Regimental Officers tally 67 x 28mm foot plus 1 mounted, totalling 345 points: my biggest submission of this Challenge to take me across my 500 point target line. Just in time!

Now feverishly working on a last minute 'something else'...

From Millsy:

I'm pinching this from fellow minion Sylvain so I apologise in advance mate!
We've been talking about these on and off at out paint and chat sessions so I couldn't resist when I saw the title of the post.

I have to say I am NOT disappointed and I 100% endorse your decision to stick with the quality vs. quantity approach Paul. You've done a smashing job and the mix of bulk plastic miniatures with metal command and casualties mixed in really looks the business.

Cracking work buddy and a stonking 345 points added to your tally.

Cheers,
Millsy

From GeoffT: The Last Post (20 points)

Hello, 

I expect this will be my last post for challenge XVI.  It has been great, thank you Curt, Minions and all those who made comments.

This year is my biggest haul of points yet, despite there being less bonus points on offer.  I have been able to get some big batches of long awaited figures done.  Many of the figures I got second hand from late members collections, so nice to get some paint on them and use them for what they would have intended. 

Today is only four miniatures.  

Two plastic DnD board game figures.  A dragon man in resplendent fluted armour, I think he is a paladin, and an elf carrying a fire, a wizard.  Had a crack at point source lighting, but think I need to darken the offside more to make it look right.

 There are also two metal Nubian archers by warlord games, which will be “tribal archers” in my current ghost archipelago campaign.

Kind Regards

Geoff.

Very nice models here Geoff. Metal is best and your Nubians look good. The D&D figures are cool, the armour on the dragon man looks good and I like the flame effect on your elven wizard.

That's twenty to round out yout Challenge total. Well done!

Dallas

From RobH: A walk in the Sun (190 points)

Time flies. The month of February is the busiest month of the year for me at the office. It actually begins in mid January and ended last week. As a result I get next to nothing gaming related completed. But here goes.

1) This was a project I began on Thursday after I signed off work. Twelve Late Roman slingers, or a Saga Levy. This was 15 stages of work, completed at all hours of the day or night. From the first application of paint applied to the trousers (AV Game Color 72.037 Filthy Brown to the final stage of a coat of Mod Podge applied to provide a sealant for the Meadows of Purity Krautcover Scenics. I just wanted to see if I could push it throught in about 60 hours.

2) The second project was the completion of 10 Late Roman Cavalry.  This would be a Warlord and bannerman and a Saga Warrior Unit. This was the project that was start and go in the middle of the night during the long winter season.

3) Finally we have a walk in the sun. This was a freebie from Warlord Games showing off their French Line Infantry. I have some plastics but I prefer my mins to be metal. It had just the right amount of model work that appealed to me. Glue on a head, attach the backpack and roll. No fuss, no muss. I have never got into painting Napoleonics and I don't have a lot of knowledge of the period. This was an easy project simply because I thought, six figures and my Spanish Guerrillas needed someone to ambush. I went for a ragtag look. The greatcoat makes it an easy project.

18 25mm Infantry X 5 points = 90 points

10 25mm Cavalry x 10 points = 100 points

Total 190 Points. 

Very nice work here Rob and a nice variety of historical subjects! I have a large amount of 28mm Napoleonic British and French in a box, waiting for the right moment... I suspect they will be a retirement project. Your ragtag Frenchmen do look the part though!

One-ninety for you!

Dallas

From BrianC: A lot of everything! Kings of War Undead, Alternative Armies 15mm, Gangs of Rome, & More! (306pts)

Well, it's been awhile. Life happenings. But, when I had some time, I try to paint what I can. I'm not sure if I will hit my goal this season. I painted a mixed range of 15mm and 28mm miniatures from a mixed range of tabletop miniature companies. Let's get to it!

Alternative Armies 15mm Automata Infantry (15)

Cool Mini or Not Besiege 15mm Mulfin Set (36)

 

Alternative Armies Rogue (15mm)

 

Kings of War Dwarf Champion (28mm)

Frostgrave Wizard Apprentice (28mm)

Wargames Atlantic Gangs of Rome 28mm (6)

Next Level Miniatures Dwarf Bar Maiden (28mm)

Mantic Games Undead Infantry 28mm (25)

Mantic Games Undead dogs 28mm (3)

Bolt Action American Infantry 28mm (2)

Rumbleslam "Fang" 40mm

I will end it here. I'm hoping to finish painting more Undead infantry and Saxons.

POINTS

15mm x 52 = 104pts

28mm x 39 = 195pts

40mm x 1 = 7pts

TOTAL = 306pts

Wow Brain, that's a lot of kit painted.  Must feel good to get them finally ready to go.  Lots to love, but I especially like that Dwarf Champion. who appears to be clad in a deep sea diving helmet and the Frostgrave apprentice.  306 points to your tally.