'Remember, Remember...' The Fifth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

V image by GChiny @ Deviantart

Today, November 5th, marks the 410th anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot to destroy the British Houses of Parliament and the subsequent capture of 'the man without a light': Guy Fawkes. 

'Fawkes'

Today, the 5th of November is celebrated in Great Britain as Guy Fawkes Day, Plot Day or Bonfire Night, with Guy Fawkes often being toasted as 'the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions.' 

To commemorate the events of 1605 and celebrate the wonderful and complex spirit of dissent, derision and deconstruction, I dedicate this year's Painting Challenge to:

Antiheroes, Rogues & Ruffians

(and all those others of wonderfully shady ilk)

'Carter'

The Rules

The Challenge will extend from 12:01 am December 5th through to the first day of Spring, 12:01 am March 20th Central Standard Time.

Figures can be prepared and primed prior to the start date (Dec 5th), but no colour can be applied until the 5th. In order to be fully scored the figures have to be based and their groundwork completed. The figures have to be painted by you. The honour system will be followed in the completion and entry of figures to the Challenge. Again, great dishonour goes upon anyone who shames themselves in the time-honoured craft of painting toy soldiers!

The subject matter can be in any scale and in any theme, including sci-fi, fantasy.

In order to be scored, photos of all figures/units along with a short descriptive note must be uploaded to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge blog (more on this later). Up-to-date scoring will be maintained on the blog's main page.   

The Judge (me) will participate, but my score will not have any standing in the Challenge (I usually struggle for a middle of the pack score). 

'Heisenberg'

The Scoring

6mm foot figure = 0.5 point
6mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 1 pts
6mm vehicle = 2 points

10mm foot figure = 1 point
10mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 2 points
10mm vehicle = 3 points 

15mm foot figure = 2 pts
15mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 4 pts
15mm vehicle = 6 pts

20mm foot figure = 4 pts
20mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 8 pts
20mm vehicle = 12 pts

28mm foot figure = 5 pts
28mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 10 pts
28mm vehicle = 15 pts

40mm foot figure = 7 pts
40mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 15 pts
40mm vehicle = 20 pts 

54mm foot figure = 10 pts
54mm mounted figures, artillery piee or crew served weapon = 20 pts
54mm vehicle, limber, etc. = 30 pts 

Other scales, miscellaneous models/figures will be scored on a submission-by-submission basis. 

'Mata Hari'

Challenger Personal Targets and Duels

Same as previous years, I ask that each Challenger declare his/her points target that they hope to achieve by the March 20th deadline. I encourage Challengers to pick a target that is a bit beyond their comfort zone, but still achievable. Many participants have found this a great incentive to help maintain their pace over the three months of the Challenge. Also, last year a few folks had a lot of fun issuing 'duels' to other participants in order to race to meet a declared target, paint the most figures for a specific period, etc. I leave this to the participants to organize, but I'm more than happy to log the duels and keep track of the points.

'Nucky'

Challenger Target Thresholds

New for this year is that there will be six point thresholds set out for the Challenge. Each time a participant reaches a Point Threshold his/her name will be entered for the prize drawn for that level. So, the more points you accumulate the more prizes you will be eligible for. The Threshold prizes will be drawn at the end of the Challenge.

Threshold I: 500 points

Threshold II: 750 points 

Threshold III: 1000 points 

Threshold IV: 1500 points 

Threshold V: 2000 points 

Threshold VI: 2500 points

'Ahab'

The Fortnight Theme Bonus Rounds

Same as last year, we will have a series of 'Fortnight Theme Bonus Rounds'. Each 'Theme Bonus Round' asks Challengers to enter a submission that illustrates a particular theme. The Bonus Rounds are not mandatory, they are just a little bit of fun to pace out the the Challenge and allow people to gain decent number of points through vignettes and single figures.

Those Challengers who manage to submit an entry for a 'Fortnight Theme Bonus Round' will get an extra 50 points on top of the regular entry tally. No scales less than 15mm will be eligible for the Theme Bonus Rounds but they can be of a historical or fictional subject.

The Bonus Themes along with their submission deadlines are:

• December 14: Cold
• December 28: Mount(s) & Rider(s)
• January 11: Victorian
• January 25: Myth
• February 8: Hot
• February 22: Comedic
• March 8: Anti-Hero

The theme submissions are to be sent in by 12:01 am (CST) on the specified date (Sundays for all).

For each bonus round I'll post a poll listing all the round's entries so visitors can vote for their favourite. 

'Tank Girl'

Paying the Piper

As in previous Challenges, I ask for a small memento from each Challenger. In keeping with this year's Fawksian theme, the entrance fee' for this year's Challenge will be a single 28mm figure characterised as an antihero, rogue or person of dubious character but undeniable charisma (yes, it can even be a figure of me!). The figure will be supplied and painted by the entrant. This miniature can be submitted any time up until the end of the Challenge. Again, same as previous years, for each figure I receive I will donate $5 to the Saskatchewan branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

'Constantine'

The Call

This year I've changed a few aspects of how the Challenge will be administered. Not to worry, I will still be the master of ceremonies, but I've devised a cunning way to host a generous amount of participants - but more on that later. Nonetheless, I do have my limits, so please don't waffle if you're interested - drop me a note below to get on the roster. I'll place notification in this space when all the participant slots for the Challenge have been filled.

Let the fun begin!