Colonial Steam River Launch

I think that it would be fair to say that my challenge did not go exactly as I planned insomuch that larger* units of historical miniatures were been overlooked in favour of smaller, more interesting items. I am squaring this away as a direct result of my inability to focus on one thing at any one time and although initially frustrating I decided to embrace it wholeheartedly and enjoy the ride - so to speak! 

*larger for me anyway

To that end let me present to you one of my last offerings to the challenge in the shape of a 'Sarissa Precision' Colonial Steam River Launch.  Whilst I know that not everyone is a fan of the seemingly relentless march of MDF in our most wholesome of hobbies, I have to confess that I am a bit of a fan.  I really enjoy putting these kits together and in the case of the 'Sarissa Precision' models there is plenty of scope to add your own personal touches.  

Having said that when it came to mine, I shamelessly cribbed much of the colour palette and additional extras that I had seen on the Sarissa display stand when I last visited 'Salute'.  The Coal Sacks were sourced from 'The Battle Forge' and I affixed some rivets to the boiler before swapping out the somewhat angular funnel for a more cylindrical piece of tube.  

As with all MDF models, priming is essential as the nature of the material means it will absorb great quantities of paint if you do not.  That said a liberal spray with 'Games Workshop' black undercoat seemed to do the trick, followed by a couple of passes with the trusty airbrush before the details were picked out with a brush.  

Once completed, I set about looking for a suitable skipper and felt that a 'Wargames Foundry' Stouthearted Brit, enjoying his cup of Earl Grey was perfect for the job, but wait, what was that breaking the surface of the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River?

As I mentioned at the start of this post, I am often misdirected by the smallest of things and in this case it was the notion that there might be something lurking beneath the waves, ready to ensnare this humble craft. Perhaps lured by the rhythmic thumping of the steam pump, something long forgotten has been stirred from its slumber. In this case some plastic tentacles from my 'Rum & Bones' Kickstarter sufficed and they seemed perfectly responsive to paint. Not content with paint alone, I used a little Vallejo water effects to give the impression of them breaking the surface.

So this was another entry for the challenge completed, but perhaps more importantly another itch scratched.  Maybe the launch will resurface in a 'Congo' scenario, or be seen ferrying troops ashore along the Irrawaddy, but either way it has proved another hugely enjoyable distraction for yours truly.

Colonel Burnaby and a thank you.

Just time to squeeze in one more, loosely themed Victorian post before we embark on all things undead and usher in ‘Zomtober 2016’.  Perhaps not too surprisingly the heroic actions of Frederick Gustavus Burnaby Esq. have been reported here at ‘28mm Victorian Warfare’ before in both ‘Burnaby & Fiends’ (sic.) and ‘The Man, the Legend, the Title Banner!’

This latest incarnation comes courtesy of my good friend and fellow Blogger Stefan* who packaged up the illustrious Victorian hero and sent him over to dear old Blighty.  I understand that he was a special edition miniature that accompanied 'Warlord Games' 'Blood on the Nile' Black Powder supplement, when purchased through the ‘Perry Miniatures’ site. 

*A.K.A. Monty of the splendid ‘Monty’s Caravan’ blog.

Obviously I was thrilled to have this miniature to add to my collection, but somewhat embarrassed that it has taken me so long to get around to painting him, nonetheless thank you Stefan!  Just for comparison I have photographed him with my other version and then it just seemed churlish not to invite some old friends along to the shoot!

Burnaby & Fiends! (sic.)

Firstly, I must make yet another apology!  I am afraid that life here at 'Awdry Towers' has been turned upside down of late!  We are all well, but having made the decision to have some much needed decorating done a rather alarming structural fault has been discovered!  Subsequently the 'Saintly Mrs. Awdry' and myself have been confined to the back room, surrounded by many of our possessions, now boxed, with everything else that we own covered in a film of plaster dust!

I had hoped to try and find a way through to the painting table this morning, but alas no.  Due to the unexpected discovery earlier in the week, I am now joined, on this somewhat grey and damp Saturday morning, by a couple of plasterers keen to push the job on.  All of this upheaval has meant that I am woefully behind on my correspondence, my apologies.  

That said, I did manage to post my first entry in the Challenge proper on Thursday!  For someone who rarely plays a game, I seem to be amassing a decent collection of skirmish rules and so when 'Warlord Games' released 'Blood On The Nile', a Sudan Black Powder supplement, I just had to have a copy.  To sweeten the pill somewhat this splendid edition came with a rather wonderful free miniature representing that quintessential Victorian hero, Frederick Gustavus Burnaby.  The Colonel, perhaps not unsurprisingly, has been mentioned in dispatches here at '28mm Victorian Warfare' before - The Man, the Legend, the Title Banner!  A splendid chap in many ways and a fellow Old Oswestrian, but alas the  similarities end here.

Having painted the man himself it seemed only right and proper to give him something to scare with that shotgun of his and so five 'Perry Miniatures' plastic Mahdists were hurriedly assembled and painted.  For those of you following the progress David Docherty Esq. in the 'Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge' will understand why I was somewhat embarrassed to submit such a paltry few,  but they were part of an entry that I’m pleased to see finally posted.

Just from a technical point of view this was the first time that I had painted 28mm troops on a stick, often working on all three at once.  I appreciate that this is nothing new, but was quite a revelation for me, especially when I compare this latest stand of five with the previous efforts and of course from an arm's length there was no disc enable difference in quality!

The Last Stand!

Through the heat of battle, a lone figure emerges, a grim defiance in her eyes.  As the frenzied masses fling themselves towards the General we hear the now immortal words, "Say hello to one's little friend!"

The final bonus round is here and I'm delighted to say that I've completed my side challenge of entering something for each one!  As soon as I read the title "The Last Stand", I knew that I would finally have the impetus to paint up my 'Perry Miniatures' vignette representing the final moments of one of Britain's best loved heroes.

Based on the painting by George William Joy in 1893, this depiction of Gordon's final moments has been challenged by historians and eye witness accounts, yet it remains an iconic image.  I had intended to simply realise it as the painting would indicate, but a chance comment by 'Edwin King' got me thinking, what if this wasn't the end - who could come to his aid at such a time?
 

This of course was a job for her majesty; her majesty with a very big gun!  So we have four 28mm 'Perry miniatures' (one of them prone) and one 28mm 'West Wind Productions' Queen Victoria from the Empire of the Dead range making up a ridiculous alternative 'Last Stand'.

All very straightforward in essence, the addition of Vallejo red oxide paste to the staircase gave a little texture to the piece whilst affording a key for the paint.  The figures themselves painted as you would expect and will allow me to redistribute them at a later date if I chose to complete the vignette as it was intended.  

Rather than paint the miniatures that came with the original pack, I decided to add a little more drama by using these mortally wounded Mahdists, again from 'Perry Miniatures'.  This all seemed to work rather well, but I've just realised that I didn't include any weapons!  It would appear that Her Royal Highness has opened up un an unarmed contingent - all very embarrassing!

So for the last time in this challenge, I urge to visit Curt's wonderful blog and marvel at all the wonderful interpretations for 'The Last Stand', perhaps leave a comment, but certainly cast your vote before Thursday; just click here.

Paint Table Saturday#18

Progress continues to be made, albeit painfully slowly.  All the composite parts for the final bonus round, aptly titled, 'Last Stand' are complete and whilst perhaps not as grand as I had hoped it will see me complete for of my personal targets of entering something for each of the these themed rounds.  The  2nd Punjab Cavalry have had their mounts painted, but still an awful lot of work to be done.  The Matabele warriors are still proving a bane insomuch as I just don't seem to be able to drum up the enthusiasm to get them finished.  

With 'The Fourth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge' entering its final fortnight, I have just realised, somewhat alarmingly, that I will lose a day's painting next Saturday due to work.  The plan, so that it is,  will be to try and complete all those units started, but just in case I have a purple patch of production, I have promoted some Imperial Infantry to the painting table.  

Beja on Camels

In many ways a companion piece to my earlier post in the week, 'Captured Krupp' these fine gentlemen astride their  splendid ships of the desert were another entry for 'The Fourth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge'.  Unmistakably, 'Perry Miniatures' in origin they lend a certain gravitas to the collection.

Still using the same palette that was trialled back with the earlier post, 'So what do you know about camels?'  (If it's not broke, don't fix fit, as the saying goes!)  With only days remaining until the end of the challenge, there is a palpable sense of urgency as I look at what still needs to be finished off before the deadline - and then there is trying to get my head around running a Lizardman Team!

Captured Krupp

To start the week, I'm showcasing another of my earlier entries for the 'The Fourth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge', this time a captured and shackled Egyptian Crew loading a Krupp 6pdr with Beja overseer for my ever growing Sudan collection. 

It won't come as a surprise to many to hear that these 'Perry Miniatures' sculpts are wonderful to paint up with plenty of fabulous detail to snag the brush, but I have to confess that they really are a pig to get ready to begin with!  Even after the customary clipping and filing, I still noticed extraneous flash and mould lines when I started painting - perhaps a bit more effort required on my behalf!  Painted, pretty much as you would expect, all accept the Beja overseer who has been given a rather natty blue waistcoat.  Now where did I put those camels? 

Devils in Skirts!

From the moment I first saw the wonderful Rude Highlanders created by those good people at 'Westfalia Miniatures',  I have been harbouring a desire to add yet one more character to my homage to 'Carry on up the Khyber'.

Those that may have missed the celluloid masterpiece that is 'Carry on up the Khyber' will sadly be unaware of the story of the beleaguered garrison of the Queen's Own 3rd Foot and Mouth Regiment who tirelessly fight off the advances of the villainous Burpas who in turn threaten to invade the Jewel in the Crown through the strategically important Khyber pass.  

The regiment's motto, 'always ready for action' is gloriously illustrated by the insistence that the men wear nothing under their kilts, a custom that has earned them the epithet of the 'Devils in Skirts'.  This then becomes the subject for this latest piece of frippery. 

A head swap from a 'Perry Miniatures' highlander got the process underway and then all that remained was to file down some of the lovely detail around the cuffs and remove the large brass plate across his chest.  A little greenstuff was used to rebuild his collars and add a cap badge and generally tidy up the mess I had made with my file and that, as they say, was that.

Although some may wince at the inaccuracies of the equipment the overall effect seems to fit in nicely with the others!

"Company... kilts front... and raise!"

My Challenge concludes

As the '3rd Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge' drew to its epic conclusion earlier this week, it seems only fitting to reflect on my small contribution to this runaway success of an idea. 

I am so delighted that I plucked up the courage to enter this year and I cannot thank my fellow Ronin enough for all their kind words of encouragement and more importantly their own magnificent contributions, some of them truly staggering in both quantity and quality.

There is of course one man in particular that must be wholeheartedly acknowledged before I go any further and that is the legend that is Curtis Campbell Esq. - editor in chief of  'Analogue Hobbies'.  How he managed to process all the posts, take time to reply to emails and even paint his own delightful contributions is a mystery to us all and an achievement not short of Herculean in stature.

So to my personal challenge; we were asked to consider a 'par' score before we started, something to aspire to, a goal if you will.  A rough calculation of what had transpired this time last year with regards to miniature painting equated to total of 420 points* so it seemed not unreasonable to me to pitch in with a 500 point 'par' score it was, after all, supposed to be a challenge! 

*Tally arrived at by using the marking matrix laid out in the initial briefing.

 I was under absolutely no illusions that I was in with a shout of winning the competition, you must remember that I had prior knowledge of how the painting colossus that is Ray Rousell, swept to glory last year with a cumulative score of 4940 points!** However when the  list of my fellow Ronins' 'par' scores was posted I harboured a secret dream of bagging a top twenty spot.  It soon became clear though that the blood lust of the competition roused many a sheathed paintbrush to spring to life and self imposed targets began to tumble, while new ones were implemented almost on an daily basis; it really was wonderful to watch.  All this meant that sadly I was to fall just short of my dream, finishing an honourable 23rd; I did, however, manage to reach, and even surpass, my own 'par' finishing with a thumping tally of 536!

**Those cries of 'sandbagging' now just a distant murmur on a fell wind.

 What follows is a shameless pictorial representation of my efforts, some of which will feature more prominently in '28mm Victorian Warfare' at a later date, presented here in roughly chronological order.

Highlander shown for scale and not entered in the challenge!

Although the podium finishers have already been decided, and my sincere congratulations go to Chris, James and Kev, there are still some prizes up for grabs.  I wholeheartedly encourage you to pop over to 'Analogue Hobbies' to see for yourself the awe inspiring amount of work that was submitted over the three months, you can even cast a vote for your favourite too - if it were to be for one of my entries that would be absolutely splendid, but one should not feel under any obligation to do so.

As a final aside take a look at what didn't get painted - a staggering .... points of loveliness!  We were permitted to assembly, prepare and even prime our miniatures before the official start date; having grossly over estimated my production rate the question that remains is do I carry on regardless or do I put them away for next year?