From BenitoV: White Scout Car (35 points)

After being conspicuously AWOL for three weeks, I am now able to rejoin the Challenge for its last lap until Spring. Today, I´m introducing the third (after the German Lynx and the British Humber Mk IV) and last recon vehicle planned for this Challenge - a US M3 Scout Car (known in the British and Commonwealth armies as the "White Scout Car").

Approximately 20,000 units were produced and used by the Allied Armies in Western Europe and the Pacific; additionally, roughly 3,500 were lent to the USSR during the war.

With a crew of seven, the vehicle was armed with two 0.3 cal MMGs and one 0.5 cal HMG boasting an impressive firepower.

This is 28mm scale 3D printed model  from Trenchworx. It's a well-designed vehicle with great attention to detail. However, despite three attempts at printing it, the 0.5 cal gun barrel has bent upwards and I haven't been able to fix it (...may be too much Viagra in the resin mix?) 

 Scoring now: I value this entry at  27 points, with 20 for the vehicle, 5 for the model serving the gun and another 2 for the driver and copilot. 

This looks really good Benito! The coloring on the car itself, alongside all the weathering is spot on! I always tended to make mine too green, and would get scolded by the older members in the club.. but this would be right up their alley! 

Giving you actually 35 pts, as the figures are figures in the end. Even if only half sized. 

So 35 pts for you here!
Kyle

 

From BruceR: Library stack Romance, Duelist, Zulu leaders [Famous Person] (70 points)

Venturing once again into the library I was not certain I could find a reasonable model or models to represent the Romance Stack.  Maybe pushing the limits, with this stretch, yet they wear appropriate dress.  I give you Father Guido Sarduchi (old SNL skit if not mistaken) and his side kicks, Alphonse and Pedro.  In defense of my submission they wear appropriate valentines day garb, for males anyway, and have what might be seen as an unhealthy “love” of their beliefs.  Hopefully no offense taken.

These are Trench Worx I picked up at Acon last year.  I’d seen them on somebody’s blog in a scenario and new I needed them.  I’m an avid reader and listener, with the Sharpes’ books giving me many ideas for SP2 scenarios in the Peninsular war.  There just happens to be a book with some surviving inquisitionists still lurking about Spain. 

So, here they are using a simple contrast red highlighted with a British uniform orange.  Faces done with a couple of highlights.  They will be great villains in any scenario, sans the googles on the punk helmet. 

My next model was to be a famous person and than I looked more closely at the library map and the stack was a statue of a famous person.  Strike the room bonus.  Here is a famous person to me.  Here again I was in search of a certain model, a female hussar, someone had posted on there blog.  I found her at Gringo 40s.  If I’m paying shipping a few more are needed so I purchased a few others as extra.  As a famous person, I give you General Fournier-Sarloveze, the officer that Harvey Keitel played in "The Duelist".  He was real person with an amazing story, a 'rabid' duelist' who fought 30 duels with Dupont over 19 years.  So, a Napoleonic General with a movie to his credit and a very enjoyable movie, in my opinion. 

He will do nicely as some dandy in scenarios, of course challenging all comers to a duel.

Staying on movies, I'm back to Zulu after my ACW distraction.  Warrior leaders this time.  15 pack of old glory and again my version of the 3' rule.  Adding some highlights and relying on the shields to make them pop.

Total:

The Love Story stack                20 pts

4 28mm @5                              20 pts

15 15mm @2                            30 pts

Total                                            70 pts

Keep at it all and enjoy everybody's work.

Bruce

TeemuL: Navigating through the Library is not an easy task, topic name and description might have some controversies and then it is down to the minions to sort everything out. :) But no worries, I can handle this. As a rule of thumb, if the challenger admits that he might be stretching a bit, then he usually is, and even though it was Valentine's Day yesterday, I won't pass your Romance. However, the Famous Person is not that clear either and during the Challenge we have seen both famous persons and statues on this topic, and because it was Valentine's Day yesterday (Friend Day in Finland) I'll give you the Famous Person location bonus. Your point total is the same, you have two ready topics on the section and it makes me sleep better. :)

But after the calculations, semantics, mathemagicks and bureacracy, let's take a look at those minis. The red garbs are stunning, very bright and eye catching. Fournier-Sarloveze is equally stunning, very nice and bright green for example. Excellent! The Zulu warrios have nice shields, but don't let that fool you, they are finely painted all together.

From BruceR: Celtic Elves x4, US track [Fantasy] (65 points)

My next submission has me between the stacks in the Fantasy section. This is where I started a long, long time ago (fantasy). I occasionally flit back and find myself painting fantasy figures without purpose. Last year I found some ancient Alternative Army Celtic Elves I had in the bin of opportunity and painted them for the challenge. I found 4 more (2 taking human heads) I didn't have and of course picked up. These are those new folks. I love the chunky look and big ears. I seem to remember GW having a wardancer with a heart on his butt, so attempted to replicate.

Wee Heart

I started these in my quite, prairie place, and finished upon my return to civilization. 

Throwing in another gratuitous dog (Loki) pick with the frost encountered, while cattle sitting.

The next offering is a Trenchworx stl print. I've not made the plung into 3d printing, but bought the stl and a friend printed for me. These are great and I really love the ability to indicate the transport is loaded with troops. I painted the track this last week, but I couldn't resist and painted the riding troopers prior to the challenge. I went to my new go to (makeup brush) to add the shading. Included the riders to complete the picture. I did learn the fragility of prints when I tried to clean up the .50 cal gunner and the gun snapped and flew into the recesses of the game room, lost forever. My friend will print another and I'll add later.  

Library Fantasy shelves 

Points

4 28mm @5    = 20 pts

28mm vehicle  = 20 pts

Library Fantasy= 20 pts

Total                    60 pts

TeemuL: Those Elves look fantastic, Bruce! Very colourful, but still unified group. The transport means business, too. I like the highlights and wear and tear. It looks excellent. I'll give you 2.5 points for the driver, which is a half mini, and another 2 points for the amount of skin you have painted and the small heart. Definitely a task worth couple of points.

From BruceR: Tank Crew and Spanish Guerilla - For 'Front Desk' and 'History' (80pts)

Holiday greetings to one and all (especially miniature painters).   It's great to be back.   I was able to sneak away from work on Friday afternoon and started my challenge journey.

I'm entering the Analogueville Public Library  at the front desk with five British tank crew recently given to me by a 3d printing friend.  They are TrenchWorx files and have great character.  One has his ride and the other four wait the completion of their steeds.  I much prefer my armor to have figures on board as it gives the AFV so much more character to have leaders and drivers on board. I painted US crew  last challenge and they really bring the vehicles to life. 

 

I propose 10 points as they are 28mm, yet only half a body, plus the Front desk + new acquisitions. 

 

Walking through the shelves I naturally head to the history section.  Here I journey into Napoleons ulcer, Spain.  These figures are North Star and from the Spanish guerrilla section.  I enjoy painting these figures as they are bulky, making painting easy, and the guns tend not to bend.  These six add another group to my Sharp Practice Spanish forces.  Who would not wish to go into battle sporting a top hat.  Hope you like them. 

 

Here I have 6 28mm for 30 points plus proposing the History section of the library for 50 total. 

 

Points

10 points for 5 half figure 28mm

20 points for the Front Desk

30 points for 6 28mm figures

20 points for the History section

 

80 points Total

It's Christmas and here is my gratuitous puppy shot (my son is home with his black and whites)

_____________________________

First, great puppy shot, Bruce! What a house-full you have with those lovely K9s in the mix!

These minis look terrific. The tank leaders are awesome. As you say, they will bring some added character and life your Commonwealth armour. I also really like your Spanish Guerrillas, especially the two with the patterned blankets over their shoulders. I'm going to have to pick up a set of those to augment my collection - thanks for bringing these to our attention is such a smashing fashion. 

Merry Holidays!

- Curt