From MikeF - Gamma Wolves North-Star Faction - 75 points

I really lost steam at the start of February, but I figured that would happen thanks to work. This is the last group of models I have for Gamma Wolves. They represent the Arcology North-Star, which is built upon the remnants of the last U.S. and Canadian military installation. It was set up as a bastion of freedom after the apocalypse, but it's really just totalitarian dystopia. It's frame pilots are fed into a meat grinder of constant war, so it tends to lack veterans. In game terms, it's frame pilots have to be predominantly rookie pilots which reduces their effectiveness. They are however plentiful!

The models for this faction are from Anvil Industry and Nuclear Shrimp games. Unfortunately, NSG seems to have disappeared. I'd review their models, but I don't really see the point. 

Group Shot. The guardsman is for scale only.

These suits from Anvil Industry are fantastic!

Heavy Suit from Nuclear Shrimp

The plasma cannon on top and the top missile launcher are from Puppets War.

Very tricky to pose as each arm comes in 5 different pieces and no instructions!

Legs come in 4 pieces.

For scoring: 3 x 28mm vehicles and 3 x 28mm infantry = 75 points.

It also looks like I've had some points mistakenly added to my total. Unless those are pity points :(

Thanks for visiting!

Minion Miles: Very nice - I never heard of the company “Nuclear Shrimp” but they dont sound all that appetizing, still the minis are nice.  As for your points, perhaps a bit more info and we can see what the issue is.  I’m worried if a make a change it will be viewed as “Vindictive Points”. :)

From MikeF: Gamma Wolves - The Burg Faction - 28mm (25 Points)

Continuing with my Gamma Wolves projects I completed some light mechs for the arcology known as, The Burg. This arcology is formed from the refugees and scientists who fled to the southern tip of Africa (Johannesburg) to escape the apocalypse. Once there, they had to science the s*** out of the place to make a go of it. Genetic engineering resulted in a population that's resistant to radiation and toxins, but are stuck with a 20 year lifespan. In game terms, this results in relying on fairly junior pilots compared to other factions, but are resistant to your mechs reactor radiation. Each action by your mech in the game, puts stress on its nuclear reactor. If you push it too hard, you start to kill the pilot. Depending on the benefits of squeezing out one more action despite the safety risks, you may not be too concerned for the pilots well-being. As such, being able to survive the reactors output might make up for the relative lack of experience.

These models are from Puppetswar and represent 5 light mechs. Light mechs are basically suits of power armor, so these models work nicely. I painted them to match 3 other models I painted a few years ago, which will represent the medium and heavy mechs for the faction.

I forgot to include a model for comparison, but they are the same size as a space marine terminator.

Armed with heavy weapons, missile launchers and a handy buzz saw!

The large one in the center is also from Puppetswar. The other two are Tau Battlesuits from Games Workshop.

5 x 28mm models for 5 points each = 25 points

I have one more faction for Gamma Wolves to complete. Probably won't have it ready for next week, because work is going to get a bit hectic, but should be done early February.

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Great work Mike. I'm really enjoying your take on the various arcology backgrounds and these mechs from the remnants of Joberg sound quite interesting. I like how the game introduces arcology-specific benefits and limitations to the tactical play. These suits look very nice, and I especially like the reflections on the visors. 

I look forward to seeing the last faction in February!

- Curt

From MikeF - Entry Fee and Prize - Ork Deffkopta (50 points)

The entry fee for the painting challenge this year is to paint a prize for winners of Challenge Island. I used the opportunity to paint a model from my collection that I always wanted to paint, but always seemed to get pushed further down the painting queue. I purchased the model from Puppets War several years ago and I believe it represents an ork deffkopta. It’s very orky and completely bonkers. It’s literally a jet engine with wings and the pilot is sitting on the combustion chamber. That would normally be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that there is no fuel tank! This lends credit to the idea that ork technology only works because they believe is does. Hopefully it can be a nice addition for someone who is more motivated at painting an ork army than I am.

By the Snowlord, that's a bonkers contraption. Nice battering of the paintjob too! You forgot to sum up the points so I'll do it for you:

28mm crew figure - 5 points

28mm vehicle - 20 points

Curtgeld bonus - 25 points

Total - 50 points

Tamsin

BrendonW - Three Giant Cyclops

3 x 28mm scale Giants from Puppet Wars, Resin.

Hello
I was hoping to get more than this completed but my city came under attack from a Category 2 Cyclone. Winds recorded around 130km/h. It was a wild few hours that resulted in a big clean up afterwards. The wind waged war against trees and lots of trees lost the battle.

Anyway here are three Giants for my Kings of War Goblin army. Two required arms glued on and then filling. I am not a fan of miniatures that require gap filling and that has delayed them a long time. However I really liked the character these three Cyclopian dudes have.

Painting large areas of skin tone is challenging after mainly painting 28mm infantry. I went with three slightly different tones. I gloss varnished the eyes and mouth areas. In retrospect I could have made an attempt at painting the eyes looking down but in the position they are in the viewer cops a good look over. These are not as big as that GW plastic Giant and the rock thrower (who I considered could be used as an alternative war machine) stands around 90mm tall including the rock and the other two are around 75mm tall. They are based on 50mm squares. I seldom feel any need for blood on my miniatures but as the sculpt of the headless female victim has a gruesome stump of a former neck I reached for the GW blood. I have been short on time recently so these photos had to be rushed. In army list terms these are 190 points each and they are described as having small brains. The look of these brutes seems to really fit the description.

The Challenge has been awesome thanks to Michael Awdry as my Saturday Minion and of course the Curt as well for keeping us all challenged. Well done all of you who painted something and thank you to those who may not have painted but cheered us on through comments.

Cheers from Brendon.

From Byron:

Well, I have painted in some strange places and times while traveling for work, but I think you would have me (and every other painter on here) beat if you would have hauled out the brushed during the cyclone! Now that would have been a story to tell the kids!  "Back in my day, not even a cyclone could stop us from doing our hobbies, not like you young whipper snappers!"

In all seriousness though, glad you are ok, and these look really good.  Especially given that they were done in a rush, and given the large areas of flesh tone.  I always struggle with painting flesh and especially large areas of it, but I think you did extremely well with these.  The eyes also look good, you may be right on the fact that looking down may have been better, but I won't fault you for that as the eyes themselves look great!  I also really like the models themselves, they have a ton of character.

As for points, I am going to score them as a 28mm vehicle each and grant 15 points per as that seems to be the going rate for this size model, but will add a bonus 5 for the bigger one, just so you don't feel cheated (and since you were a fellow Saturday challenger!).

Awesome work Brendon.

From AlanD - Dwarves and some (ahem) Terrain (125 Points)

Some of the lovely Dwarves from Scibor Miniatures have already cropped up in the Challenge so far this year, and this week I have mostly been working on a couple of units of them for Dragon Rampant. I rarely find myself painting fantasy miniatures, but our gaming group has been loving playing Dragon Rampant and having fun making the modestly sized warbands called for by the rules. And what warband is more modestly sized than one of dwarves?

The first unit of 12 is Scibor's 'Golden Guard'. The deeply-etched detail on these miniatures make them particularly suitable for a combination of washes and drybrushing, and I am pretty pleased with the results.

My favourite figures though are from the little set of Polish dwarves made by Scibor. I just love these - they ooze character, and I loved painting their faces.

Finally, my dwarf army includes a stone golem. I love this model, made by Puppet Wars, and I included a dwarf cleric from Reaper Bones on the base as his controller. He stands an impressive 10cm tall, not including the base. But is he a figure or a piece of terrain? I leave it to you to decide. He certainly will give the order 'seize the high ground!' a new and chilling meaning.

So in total, that is 19 dwarves (including the one on the golem's base), for 95 points. I will leave it to Curt to decide what the golem is worth.

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Geez Louise, Scibor has really been getting the love this Challenge.  I think this is great as their castings are terrific but often overlooked. 

I really like these Dwarves, Alan. As you say, their faces are fantastic - I especially like the red-bronze you used for their metalwork. It's quite bold but works very well for them.

Wow. That Golem. It's just fantastic! What an amazing figure. How many parts was that kit, Dux? I love the blue runes/carvings running across his 'skin' and the lichen and moss growing in his crooks and crannies.  The additional Dwarf to reinforce his huge scale is a great touch.

On top of the Dwarves, I'm going to score the Golem as a 54mm vehicle, so 30 points for him. Great work Mr. D!