Challenge Update and Virtual Gaming

 It's been over a month since I posted. At this time of the year I'm painting like a lunatic in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. I'm currently 2nd behind Miles who is currently building a 6mm version of Stalingrad and I expect that is as close as I'll get.

I thought I'd post a general update on some of the stuff I've painted. In my last post I posted my Dunsterforce collection, this is growing to more of a WW1 Eastern force from Mesopotamia to India and I'll post my figs at a later date. I have painted the Turks though

There are 9 infantry sections, 7 75mm guns, couple of machine guns and a forward observer. I have a unit of irregulars to paint, and they may become a full platoon as the figures (Spanish Civil War Moroccans) look like they will work nicely.

I've also painted some more ACW and have some artillery and cavalry to do. That may be it but I doubt it.

1st North Carolina Cav

US Marines

79th New York Highlanders in tartan trews.

There has also been the start of a brand new project. Empress had a flash sale and I picked up some Vietnam war USMC. Full priced NVA arrived yesterday. I have plans for dungeon crawl style games using printed terrain boards and I may have enough for a full battle if the NVA can spawn!. Have a helicopter on the way.

As always with the challenge there are some challenges and I've painted a few of these, my favourites are

Grey Scale US WW2 paratrooper - this was fun to paint

The Scooby Gang - I appear to be painting cartoon characters every year. Bases are terrible but I'm pleased with the figs

Random Hasslefree female, great pose

I have painted other stuff but go and look yourselves.

Finally I've been gaming. Matt in the dungeon. It wasn't face to face and it wasn't zoom. It was by email. We refought an attack at Antietam, I was the Rebels holding the line and Steve was the Union attacking. We would issue orders in 3 turn blocks and Matt would fight the battle. He would then us back ridiculously brief reports from the various Commanders and if we were lucky a single photo from the CinC's view. It was very difficult and huge fun. I lost but the Union victory was Pyrrhic as I destroyed 2 of his 3 brigades. Go over to his site and read the brilliant battle reports.

It was so much fun that I'm running a 7YW one next week so there will be a actual posts but not a lot of painting.

TTFN 

Christmas Wrap Up

 With the Challenge and Christams rapidly approaching it's been prepping and finishing off stuff.

1st up my aged mother is running out of things she wants. She does have a great interest in all things mythological, esp Ray Harryhausen movies and so for the last few years I have been painting Greek figures for her, she even has a display cabinet.

1st a simple Spartan warrior. Need someone to kill the monsters. Not a fan of Spartans, too fascist for my taste.

Next a Minotaur. Actually it's a Foundry gladiator with bull mask but my mum won't know the difference.

Now we have Pegasus, again Foundry and a lovely figure

Finally we have one of the titans named Triton. Mum will think he's Poseidon, like everybody else does. THis is a big unit approx 100mm high

THat should keep her happy, pretty much run out of Greek types now, so I've bought her a book on Japanese Mythology and have some thoughts of Arabian Nights stuff - Sinbad and all that.

Every year a try and buy a handful of figures to test out my painting skills. Usually they are Mr Lees or Hasslefree. This year I bought a Grail Knight from their Artemis Black range

It's brilliant figure with oodles of detail and a big 32mm metal figure. Love the shield and will buy more after Christmas

Finally Dunsterforce and Ottoman troops have arrived or are in transit. in the meantime I've been trawling through the lead pile and found another figure to use

This is actually a Partizan freebie ( I think) and he was wearing an overcoat but I removed some of that and now he looks like he is shirtsleeves and shorts. Will add to a HMG team.

So for the new 3 months I'm painting 28mm WW1 Britsh, Turks and Azeri Militia; 10mm Italian Wars and 28mm ACW. Should keep me busy for a couple of months.

Have a good Christmas and a normal 2021

Indian Army Finished

The great joy of the Analogue Hobbies painting challenge is I get to complete full armies, I'm actually running out of figures in the lead mountain and space to store them.
I'm been painting a classical Indian army I got for Christmas. It was 2nd hand Essex miniatures army and about 1/2 price of equivalent army from Forged in Battle. Figures not as good but there are many of them.

Spearmen

Massive Chariots

More massive chariots

Maiden Guard - need more of these

Warriors with massive swords

Skirmishers

Whole army

Right wing

Centre

Left wing

Also painted a fiddler

I've also painted a 40mm naked Athena by Hasslefree

Don't usually paint naked chicks

Been a quiet couple of weeks gaming wise but have a massive game next weekend. I've done a lot of shopping and will post those when they all arrive, including a light box so that I may be able to take decent photos

Painting is hard in summer

I have done some painting for the first time in a bout a month. The weather is lovely and the world cup is on, we are quite good this time, 1st time in 28 years we've not been a bunch of overpaid lawn fairies. It's been an awesome world cup
I've not done much, the 15mm Pontic army is progressing and needs a break in the weather and a holiday but I've not been painting them
I bought some figures from Hasslefree - my favourite figures and i may be running out of figures to buy from them. I plan to play Necromunder, I might even buy the rules. I've got a weird gang of armed animals, you know the thing; Dogs, Pandas and a Duck Billed Platypus. I needed to law enforcers / evil forces of the political industrial complex.

As usual photography is poor as lighting is rubbish. 5 power armed troopers with assault rifles and a heavy weapons specialist taking time out from Aliens. All in black

The big thing recently are the massive ACW games me and Matt have been playing. I was short of brigade commanders so a little order to Perry and I have 3 Union and 3 Rebel generals

Black heavy painting week.

TTFN

Mojo Rising

After a hectic start to the University year and being turned into a snot monster for 2 weeks, I'm back into the groove. I've not really been in the mood for painting, and I have posted lots of terrain lately to compensate. The Hexhamshire WI being an exception but i wasn't that happy with them
I having been buying a few figs though, including a massive bargain from Col. Bills which is on it's way to me as I type. I did buy some Hasslefree figures though, like everyone I love their figs and needed some painting insipration. I'm really chuffed with these figures, some of my best work ever. Hope you like them, even with the washed out photography

I already had this figure but they sent it to me as a freebie

Cracking barbarian chick (what is the correct term here, it can't be maiden)

The obligatory mainly naked chick

My favourite figure - a really dynamic pose

I also went shopping on ebay and bought this cute little bomb shelter

Off to Matt's on Saturday for some VBCW action - Anglican League vs miners.

I also submitted my first turn for Clint's Klintanistan campaign "May my enemies tremble when they gaze on my countenance".

Finally Bob Dylan wonthe noble prize for literature. Effing amazing, love a bit of Bob. This is one of my favourites but the recording is very dodgy.