From RaulM: Black Seas 1st Rate, Xebec, and Cutter (60 points)

My second post for the challenge is even more Black Seas, covering a spread of vessels that all could have been found in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. A Spanish 1st rate, a Barbary Pirate xebec, and a French cutter. 

The Spanish 1st rate is one of the generic resin Spanish 1st rates that Warlord offers. I didn't like the white metal masts provided, so I took the yards and the fighting tops and attached them to masts I made with brass tubing. The paint scheme is based on the Santa Ana, who fought in several fleet actions, notably surviving the Battle of Trafalgar. 

The Xebec is another Warlord resin model, the large xebec. I kept the metal masts for this as they are chunkier and therefore not as prone to bending. The paint scheme is nothing special, very similar to the official box art that Warlord uses. 

Finally, the cutter. This is a metal model from Hagen Miniatures, with quite a bit of conversion work done to it to add the 12 guns on the deck and the square topsail. I used the Renard for reference, as it was the first thing that came up on google search when I was looking at French cutters.

For points I based it on the small brig being 10 points and the medium frigate as 15 points, so a 5 point up or down based on the size the vessel is given in game. 

1st Rate (XL): 25 points

Xebec (S): 10 points

Cutter (T): 5 points

For a total of 40 points. 

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Stunning work Raul - anyone who has dabbled in the majestic art of naval warship modelling (the creme of the hobby obviously, apart from Miles that is) knows what fine work this is. Wonderful lines, dynamic flags and billowing sails. Stirring stuff!

I'm awarding 20 bonus points for the conversion work, scratch building new masts, the lovely ratlines and taut rigging work - beautifully done!

Fair winds and following seas to you Raul!

-Paul

From PeteB - Hagen-Miniatures Wild West Townsman - 28 mm - Limbo - 25 Points

This figure is a 28mm figure from Hagen-Miniatures which I started long time ago but never finished. And now I did. They have some more of this Wild West townsfolks but I’m not sure if I will get to them this challenge.

Painting this figure was fun, and for the first time I painted eyes on such small figure. Normally I only do this on my bigger 54 mm figures but this time I couldn't resist trying it on this one. And I like the result. He is part of a small project where I'm working on.

I wish you all and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Points: 

1 x 28 mm foot figure        = 05 points

Limbo entry                        = 20 points

Total                                    = 25 points

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Hey Peter. I can see that it's a figure, and probably very well painted, but the lighting is so off that one cannot really discern much of the details. Similar to my advice to Gavin, I suggest you not photograph your work against a white background as the camera will often underexpose the figure. Try using a darker background and good frontal lighting and the contrast balance should correct itself.  

- Curt

From NoelW: Encounter at Reidy's Reef 96 points

Heading for the coast, we expect, of course, to see a golden beach and vistas of blue ocean. We’re disappointed. Instead we find ourselves trudging through a soggy Sargasso of bulrushes and seaweed. The water is grey as the inside of a whale, strewn with spiny rocks and greasy boulders against which reluctant waves rub with all the enthusiasm of bored teenagers.

Clearly this was once a major harbour, but not any more. Still standing are a pair of jettys collapsed like pensioners who’ve just missed the ferry.

Here’s an artist’s impression of the scene:

And clearly someone thought it well worth defending. There are various dilapidated towers and fortifications pretending now to be tourist attractions. It’s not clear why this reedy reef every needed protection but it’s obviously now well past its best.

Struggling through the reeds we see there’s even an ancient wreck, barely able to keep its head above water. Could this perhaps be the fabled SS Reidy?

On the distant horizon we spy a host of pale sails. It looks like a squadron of gunboats:

escorting a pair of brigs:

But there’s little chance that any of these distant vessels will spot us here. It seems unlikely any ship worthy of the name could navigate these rocks in any case.

We wade out into the reeds, in case some skiff, jolly boat, mildy amused boat, raft or seaworthy plank is hidden there. No luck, just an old rope hanging off the jetty. It seems we’ve come to the end of our tether.

Then, just as we’re wondering where to turn next, there’s a bloodcurdling scream somewhere in the reeds nearby. It could be a seabird, if said seabird had a penchant for Death Metal. Or it might be a maiden in dire need – but we’re all so busy paddling none of us really have the time or inclination for an unscheduled rescue. Or perhaps it’s some undead predator, a ghostly remnant of this once productive bay, now scouring the waterline for blood to bathe in and skin to lick the salt from.

There’s a second scream, curdling quite a bit more blood than the first. Not to be outdone, we decide we can scream too. And, it turns out, we can also wave violently and splash frantically in order to disguise any possible hint of panic. And if one of those distant brigs happens to see us, and sail here to investigate, it would be discourteous not to scramble aboard.

But now there’s something plunging through the reeds behind us, whimpering and snuffling, and screaming like Ozzy Ozbourne with a tax bill.

We decide this is a propitious time to learn to swim. How hard can it be?

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The submission consists of Warlord's Black Seas 1/700^th ships and 1/600^th and 1/700^th coastal constructions, a mix of pieces from Brigade Models and Hagen Miniatures. (The rocks and cliffs are not to be scored, being here merely as supporting actors).

I’m not sure how to score most of this. Here’s my guesses:

3 bases of gunboats: Curt scored three identical bases in an earlier post as 36 points.

2 Brigs: each is a little bigger than a 15mm armoured car (but also has sails and rigging), and is a little over twice the size of a lugger Curt previously awarded 5 points for, so perhaps around 10 points each?

3 forts, 3 towers, 2 jettys, 1 wreck: One fort is 3" square, one 2.5"x3", the other about 2" squarish, but none are more than 1.5" high. These obviously aren’t going to fill much of a 6” cube. I reckon they can squeeze into an volume about 6”x3”x1” which would be worth around a massive 2 points. I did a quick survey of past entries for precedent on 6mm terrain, but couldn’t find anything helpful, so it’s entirely what you think is reasonable.

Plus 30 points for Reidy’s Reef.

MilesR: Strangely, this is my favorite spot on Challenge Island but I must object to some of your descriptions - it is clearly stated in our marketing materials that the boulders have an oily hue and are not, sir, "greasy".  Also our Seagulls are HUGE fans of Metallica.  In fact they constitute the #2 most ardent fan club for that band (#1 is reported to a group of pensioners in Iowa, because there's nothing else to do in that locale).  The gulls rendition of Sandman at dusk is breathtaking.  

Perhaps I've gotten off track.  Your point-a-logical calculations seem right to me but I'll increase the terrain score from 2 to 10, because the power of being a minion has gone to my head and I like the terrain.  This results in a total of 86 points  (ok its really 96) for you sir, despite your slanderous depiction of my latest time share real estate ventures