From MarkB: 18mm Napoleonic Austrians (160 points)

Mark here has more Napoleonic Austrians for us to enjoy, this time it's a beefy battalion of German infantry.

From Mark:

Here is my next group of miniatures.  40 Austrian Infantry and one mounted officer.  This makes up one Battalion of the Bealieu Infantry Regiment no. 58.  

This regiment was part of the V Corps, FML Reuss-Plauen division in April 1809. There were two battalions of this regiment with this division.  I will need to get more figures to paint up the other battalion.  The figures are 18mm AB figures from Eureka Miniatures USA, I tried these out to see how they compared to Old Glory and they are nice, they paint up very well.

Now I will switch gears again and start on the 28mm Saumari and some F&I 28's I have.

Very nice Mark! Good painting and I really like the mass of this unit, which suits the Austrians to a tee.

This battalion will give Mark 160 points to add to his total. He now has 235 points which handily exceeds his estimate of 200 (and we're not even a week into the Challenge...). Mark, I think you may have to send me in a new (and more 'challenging') target number. :)

Addendum: Mark has decided to up the ante and has set a new target of 600 points. Based on his work so far I don't think he'll have too much trouble meeting that.

From JuanM: 28mm WWII Japanese Infantry & U.S. Paratroopers (40 points)

Juan enters the fray with this excellent group of figures which consists of a squad of Japanese infantry and four United States 'Screaming Eagles' Paratroopers.

From Juan:

I send you some of the models I am painting for our "Bolt Action" projects in the Club Comandante.

They are six Japanese infantry in 28mm from "Brigade Games" I am painting as SNLF, so the green colour has a greater protagonism in them. I expect to paint all the models necessary to play a game based in the Pacific Campaign soon.

Then, two US Paratroops from "Warlord Games", also in 28mm. These are the first I have painted using the "Painting Guide" Warlord has on its web, and I like the result. They are for our Normandy Campaing games (but I´m thinking in "Objetive Birmania" too...).

Beautiful work Juan. Those Brigade Game Japanese models have great character and your paintwork has done them proud. Also, I'm very impressed with the shoulder flash insignia on the paratroopers - very fine work there as well.

These eight figures will give Juan 40 points as his debute onto the Challenge Points Roster.

From Millsy: 28mm English Civil War Commanded Shotte (120 points)

Millsy from Australia managed to dodge brushfires to send in this very nice Forlorn Hope of Royalist shotte.

From Millsy:

Here we have 24 x English Civil War Royalist Shotte from Northampton’s Regiment of Foote. These are mostly Renegade with a smattering of what I *think* are Old Glory courtesy of fleabay. 

There are approximately 20 different colours used here (7 browns for starters) but you can’t really tell. Unfortunately the weather meant outside photography was impossible so the pics are very ordinary. 

There are also 16 pike for a total of 40 figs in the unit but these were completed before the comp so don’t count. Next up some senior commanders plus a bunch of officer stands for these and my other three pike and shotte units.

These men in the service of the King will give Millsy 120 points to mark his entry on the points roster. Excellent work!

From MikeW: 28mm Dark Age Saxons (30 points)

Mike sends us six Dark Age Saxons that will bolster his forces for an unfolding campaign. 

From Mike:

A small selection of Dark Ages Saxons... 4 Musketeer Saxon archers (the detail on these is so gorgeous even I can't fail to bring some of it out) and a Musketeer Duguth that I'd undercoated and found left over from my last painting stint while I was hunting out other figures. 

The other figure is (as far as I can tell) a late 80's Citadel female ranger - noticeably not as good a sculpt, but is perfect for the character of Lavinia in my Dux Britanniarum campaign (see:

http://troubleatthemill.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/to-britains-shores-chapter-4-new.html). 

It had been painted (badly) back in about 1990, but I gave it a fresh undercoat and a less garish repaint.

The nitty gritty details - Army Painter black undercoat, and a mix of Army Painter Warpaints and Vallejo, with my usual Tamiya textured diorama paint and Javis static grass basing.

Great stuff Mike! Its really nice to see the old Citadel stuff come out of the woodwork.

This half-dozen will give Mike 30 points for his climb up the roster.

From ChrisP: 15mm & 28mm Vietnam Era Americans & ANZACs (127 points)

Chris sends us a selection of Vietnam era figures in two scales representing two armies: American and ANZAC.

From Chris:

First up, is 6 15mm Vietnam US Infantry from the 101st Airborne, from Battlefront Miniatures. It is a few grunts with M16's, a Staff Sergant with a Colt 45 (the mini represents Plumley from Ia Drang fame) and a trooper with an M72 LAW. 

Bunkers beware, the LAW is here! 
There is a close up of the Sgt, showing the pseudo Screaming Eagle on his shoulder.

Continuing with 15mm Vietnam theme, we have a 4 tube battery of 81mm mortars. For immediate fire on target, you can't go past the 81mm for quick effect on target. 

Then we are into a different sector, this time in 28mm!

We have 24 Eureka Miniatures ANZACs, from their Vietnam Range.

I have chosen to paint them up as New Zealanders (because I can), which means there is a mix of Pakeha (european) and Maori. Unlike the Second World War, where the two were kept in distinct battalions, they were together in Vietnam. Anyway, the models are lovely, a few have a bit of a case of giant hands or mush face, but it really is only a couple out of the whole lot. Predominantly they all are equipped with the SLR (Self Loading Rifle, or L1A1), but the scouts were equipped either with an Owen Gun, which is a very light SMG (see close up), or they were equipped with an American M16 rifle, for the higher rate of fire capability. ANZAC machinegunners were equipped with the M60, so no suprises what my two gunners have! There are also 4 ANZACs for whom the war isn't going so well, and are taking a nap in an awkward pose...

I kept the paint scheme pretty simple, I wanted dull, muted colours to suit the jungle that they operated in. Any bright clothing got quickly drenched in the high humidity, meaning it didn't stay bright for long! 

You've done a great job on these, Chris. Those Eureka models are particularly fine with a realistic effect achieved reflecting the muted, sweat-soaked uniforms.

This collection will get 127 points for Chris. Well done!