From RossM - The Last Post (Mixed scales 110 Points)

Challenge end always comes around too quick and I am never ready enough for it.

Firstly, a few thank yous

• To the Monday crew, awesome body of hobby painting and glad to have been a part of it
• Pete, thanks for organising the above crew and keeping us in line for posting. Superb job all round
• To everyone, thank you all. Its always a pleasuring sharing the darkest months of the year with so many fellow hobbyists. 
• Lastly, and by no means least, Curt, the Snow Lord. Thanks for creating the AHPC thirteen years ago. I've been involved over the last twelve of those thirteen. Looking forward to sharing in future events too. 

So, now to the posts for my last entry this year. 

Perry Wars of the Roses Man at Arms - 1 x 28mm infantry at 5 points

Northstar Miniatures - Cultist Guards - 2 x 28mm infantry at 10 points

Vikings - Foundry and Gripping Beast - 3 x 28mm infantry at 15 points

The figures painted for this entry are the two bare chested berserker and the rear most swordsman on the left stand.

Plastic Soldier Company Early Imperial Roman Cavalry - 3 x 15mm cavalry at 12 points

Forged in Battle Early Imperial Romans Cataphracts - 4 x 15mm cavalry and 3 x 15mm riders at 22 points 

Four horses and riders were painted from scratch and another three riders also made the pass. The problem is I don't know which are which other than all of the command stand was started prior to the start date of the AHPC XIII

Gladiator Miniatures Numidians light cavalry - 16 points

Opps! Where did the horses nose go?

Xyston Miniatures Thracians archers - 8 x 15mm infantry at 16 points

Rapier Miniatures Macedonian Phalanx - 28 x 6mm infantry at 14 points

Fiddly getting the single 6mm figures on the base in lines but worth it in the end. The ragged pikes work to my eye; perfection is too much at times and who really knows what massed sarrissa looked like. 

This completes my efforts for this year's Challenge leaving a few also rans in the sidelines that didn't make the finish line. 

The total for the above comes to 110 points with a running total for the challenge at 221 (44.2% of the challenge total). Fell short of the total  however, it always the taking part that counts for me!

As always, it's been a blast and looking forward to the lift off later this year!

Cheers for now, 

RossM

____________________________

What a wonderful assortment of figures to end your Challenge, Ross! So much to admire here. I always have a soft spot for WotR, so that single man at arms is a winner for me. But all of the rest is excellent as well. I especially like the Cultists and the 6mm pikemen. Excellent work.

Until next year, Ross.  :)

- Curt

From RossM: Romans, Spartans and a Skeleton (60 points)

 It's getting late for scribbling and scratching on the paper, not long to go now so time to show some more painted figures. 

This entry, my fifth in this Challenge,  has more Romans from Corvus Belli and Essex, Spartan cavalry from Xyston and a retro Citadel skeleton. 

In reverse order then, the skeleton from the Second Citadel Compendium in 1984, this was one of the first miniatures that I bought back in the day. This is the same figure, cleaned down to the base metal using cellulose thinners and repainted for your viewing today. 

If you follow the link above you will see the others of this motley crue. Over this year I hope to paint them all again and the release them to a gaming table at some point after all they can only die again.  

Next are the Spartan cavalry from Xyston. Never the strong point of a Spartan army, cavalry does however have it's uses so here they are. The slight shine is due the picture being sans matte varnish; a school boy error that will be rectified shortly. 

As always with Xyston figures, very nicely sculpted and cleanly cast. 

Lastly, for this post are a few more Early Imperial Romans. The legionnaires from Corvus Belli - the original metal casts - and supporting saggitarii from Essex Miniatures. 

The shield transfers are from Little Big Men and really bring the unit together. 

The double depth basing on a 40mm front is for use in ADLG and works well aesthetically as well as providing a more realistic look that the standard single rank on 40 x 15mm. 

There will be Romans in the next two weeks with the last legionnaires, auxilia and cavalry alea joining the finishing line for the 19th. 

So, how does this tally for the Challenge? 

1 x 28mm infantry figure: 5 points

3 x 15mm cavalry figures: 12 points

20 x 15mm infantry figures: 40 points

For a total of 57 points, taking the Challenge total so far to 118 (23.6%) with another 110 points nearing completion. Not the full amount however, it will see the Romans finished for now. 

Cheers for now

Cool mix of figures Ross.  Really like seeing the veteran Skelly come back to life (sort of).  Fine work on the ancients too.  Spartan overly does have it uses, scouting, flank protection, being something to thow away so as to give the phalanx another turn.  According to Xenophon, they hired Mercenary Cavalry which could be of better quality than the citizen cavalry.

I am rounding you up to 60 points.

(From RossM) Go tell them in Sparta - 15mm Spartans (180 points)

 The third post of five and this time its Spartans.

This is the second Spartan army that I have painted, the first was in 28mm originally based for Impetus and is currently being rebased on 60mm fronts.

The figures here are for an ADLG list and will also cover DBA with options as well. 

Slingers, archers, javelins and Skirati 

The command stands

The full phalanx, well almost as there are another 16 figures part painted for this and they won't make the challenge I'm afraid. Yes, I am a slacker!

There is an image online showing a Spartan King carrying a shield with red, black and white crescents on it. Little Big Men carry this as a rub down decals and the other decals are from VVV.  Will be ordering more in the future to complete the Lambdas on shields. 

Close up of the phalanx

The extra stands in the rear where painted before the challenge started. 

The solitary unit of cavalry.

180 points

The subtotal so far is 489 points (82% completed to date)

Stay safe and thanks for looking