From StuartL - Finishing at the Start - 75 Points

Hi all,

Despite a lot of real life stuff going on, I was able to finish off some minis just in time. Both of the batches below represent new projects for me, hence the title of the post.

Many years ago, I got into Napoleonics with some friends at my local gaming group. I bought a few brigades of Waterloo era British, while those around me collected French, Russians, Austrians and Prussians, though mainly for the slightly earlier period. Unfortunately, all of my opponents moved away or changed hobbies completely. This left me with a bit of a problem. Having only one force meant that they would never see the table. So, I figured that I would have to start collecting a second army. While I was tempted to get a Waterloo era French force, I decided to go for the earlier uniforms. I got a couple of boxes of Perrys 1807-14 French for Christmas, but I haven't had time to start building them yet. I did want to do something for the challenge, so I had a friend print me some artillery.

    These are some French Foot Artillery from Battlecat Miniatures on MyMiniFactory. They were fairly easy to paint up and the details were nice and sharp. The gun limbers have very deep grain on the wood, which doesn't look so realistic up close, but at tabletop level it should be fine.

    I did have some trouble getting all of the minis onto the bases I had, especially the guy adjusting the wheel position. Some parts of the figure are sticking out over the edge of the base.

    
    These are really nice minis and I am thinking to have my friend print a few more for me. I have a couple of French generals printed as well, but sadly time was not on my side. 

    The second new force is more Space Marines. I have way too many Space Marine armies, (cough, 14 different armies including this one), I think I may have a problem. My armies come in two types, Horus Heresy armies and Badab War armies. These are both primarily Marine Vs. Marine conflicts, which explains why I have so many. I have dabbled with the new Primaris figures, but sold them on as they weren't really my thing.

    These five minis represent half of an assault squad for the Star Phantoms Chapter for the Badab War. Painting this much white was not as much fun as you might expect. 

    The Star Phantoms' background hints that they are an offshoot of the Dark Angels Legion, from the Dreadwing formation, which uses the same iconography. Their preferred tactical doctrines are 'Scorched Earth' and 'War Crimes'. They lean heavily into the 40K skull motif too.

     I have a bunch more models for this force lined up, so hopefully there will be more to come in the next challenge.

    Well, that is about all from me for this year. So, this final group should score me:

2x artillery pieces = 20 Points

6x French gun crews = 30 Points

5x Space Marines = 25 Points

    That should add 75 Points to my tally, taking me well past my target number, though not as high as previous years. 

    This lot get me two last Squirrels and the Star Phantoms have 32 Skulls between them.

  My ongoing duels information:

Skulls - 271 (+32)
BSRoD - 17 (+0)
Squirrels - 20 (+2) - D&D Animals, 30K Militia, Plague Clowns, Afghans, Robots, Anglo-Saxons, Medieval Polish, Clan Smoke Jaguar, 81st West Africans, Undead, 10mm FPW French, Daemons of Khorne, Modern Vehicles, Turnip28, Space Wolves, Free French, Arabs, Snake Folks, French Napoleonics, Star Phantoms.

__________________________________

I know you've been very busy as of late so it's nice to see you back for a final volley, Stuart. 

The Star Phantoms are very nice in their stark white livery and close combat weaponry. That being said, the stars of this post (at least for me) are the French artillery. I've seen several examples of Battle Cat figures during this year's Challenge and they look very nice (I think the deep woodgrain is a nice feature as it helps with painting). You've done a great job on this small battery and I look forward to seeing more from this project next Challenge! 

Until then have a great rest of the year!

- Curt

From MartijnN: Even more Early War French (90 points)

Well, I have been painting but not getting much finished. However, today I have yet more early World War II French.

First there is a Somua tank. This is  a Warlord model, partly resin and part metal. Though it is a simple model to build, there were some metal parts which did not have an obvious place to go to, so that took a bit of researching. However, in the end it was simple, of course. I like this model very much, which it's adventurous colour scheme. I did take inspiration from illustrations and photographs, but did not copy any exactly. I am, however, pleased with the end result.

Next, there is a Schneider half-track. No, not only the Germans had half-tracks! This is 3D printed, the files coming from BattleCat. A very nice model, and even though the paint job is nothing complicated I also like how this came out.

Then, I painted some bits and bobs that I needed for my very first Bolt Action game yesterday at the club. They are all Warlord figures, the office with his attendant, the Hotchkiss machine gun in metal, and the anti-tank rifle and the light mortar teams in resin. 

So that's it. My French, partly reserve infantry just inexperienced as I, fought the German veteran paratroopers to a standstill. Fair to say though, that it was my first game and my opponent's second, although we had an experienced games master. Many mistakes were made and much fun was had by all, and we could all very much live with the resulting bloody draw. I am already looking forward to my next game, but I will have some more infantry to paint first!

Pointswise, we have:

2x 28mm vehicles @20 = 40

5x 28mm @ 5 = 25

6x 28mm prone or half @2.5 = 15

1x crew-served weapon @ 10 = 10

For a total of 90 points.

Thanks for looking!

Martijn

 

Another excellent addition to your French WW2 army Martijn and again the camo scheme is very well done!  Great to hear that the force has already expierenced combat on the tabletop as well. Perhaps next battle you could snap some pictures to show them in action as a whole? 

Cheers Sander 

From SteveG: More miscellaneous ancients 28mm scale (143 points)

Been hard at it again this week. Eclectic bunch of ancients for you to check out. 

The 1st guy is the only one I don't love.   I did paint him with very cheap acrylic paints as a test and he's a bit more glossy than I'd like . Otherwise those HOMY ARYT paints are quite a good deal.  

3D Breed Iberian 

"Ballista"  from the historical fiction series by Harry Sidebottom.  A Germanic Auxillary in service of Rome he has various adventures

 from Mesopotamia to Germania.  This figure is by Aventine.  

Turn counter also Aventine.  The dead dude is actually a superb figure. I wish they'd make a " before" version of him too.

Mounted Hunnic archer, another auxillary in later Roman Empire.  I think he was Eureka. Again been with me for many years, unpainted and unloved until now. 

 

Victrix Unarmoured Persian Cavalry 

Battlecat Roman Equites 

Victrix 

Victrix modified from the  Early Saxon Warband kit 

Crusader Miniatures 

Battlecat  Carthaginian Elephant. 3D printed. 1 of a set of 2. 

hopefully I'll complete the 2nd beast before the comp ends.  

Very enjoyable. The skin texture is very pronounced so I used makeup spongue to add the brown shades over a black basecoat.  Was dead easy and comes up great.  

so  120 points all up I make it.   :)  

From Millsy,

Another chocolate box post of beautiful ancients Steve! I never know quite where to start with these as there's always so much variety and interesting stuff going on.

Rather than just list stuff let me talk about two things that jump out - the wonderful horseflesh tones you've created especially the greys, and that simply wonderful elephant with all the beautifully painted decoration. Both are smashing and would grace any table.

I make it 12.5 x 28mm infantry (half points for unbased) including nellie riders, 6 x 28mm cavalry and 1 x 28mm vehicle for a total of 143 points. Top work mate.

Cheers,
Millsy

From MartijnN: More Early War French (125 points)

Last week, I painted my first 28mm vehicles for Bolt Action. Today, there are my first 28mm World War II infantry. These are mostly 3D printed figures. First, I have a squad of ten regular infantrymen from BattleCat Miniatures. They are very nice figures, nicely varied and sturdy. They are just a little on the large side, but on the table you can't really notice. Still, if I print more I will likely scale them down to 95%.

BattleCat Regular Infantry

 Next, there is a squad of French Reserve infantry. The French army was among the best and the largest in the world in 1940, but many of the troops were reservists. These figures are 3d prints again, designed by Colonel Muller. These are very compatible with Warlord plastics, and they really are very nice indeed. They are armed with older firearms, and carry what was essentially the 1893 model backpack. Apart from the colour of the uniform, they actually look hardly different from the poilus of the Great War.

Colonel Muller French Reserve Infantry

I like how they even have a bugler!

Finally, there is a 80mm mortar. These are Warlord metals. The figures are okay, but quite less detailed than the 3D printed ones. Still, they look quite good now they are finished I think.

Warlord Metals

I painted all these using contrast paints again, and I was quite surprised by the result. I am  not particularly happy with the helmets, which are a touch too green for my taste, so I will be looking for another colour to use on future miniatures. However, I used Aggraros Dunes for the units and I think that suits them quite well. I might have given them a wash with Military Shade to give them more of a green tint, but I think they will do fine for now. Especially on the 3D prints the effect of the contrast comes out nicely. As a result, these were relatively easy and fast to paint, which is a bonus when you have to get quite some done.

My first game is on the agenda in a couple of weeks' time, and I think I may have enough for a small game already. However, since I still have some cool models lying around I might do a couple more to increase my options.

In all, there are 20 infantrymen and a mortar with three crew. Again no squirrel though, as this is the same army as last week. So that is:

23 x 28mm foot @5 = 115

1 crew served weapon @ 10 = 10

For a total of 125 points. 

 Martijn, you really have taken a shine to your new project! It is progressing in a grand old way with this excellent infantry and mortar support! The 3d print figures do really look good and yes that bugler is an awesome addition.  

Cheers Sander