Yes, it’s now the part of the Challenge where I prove to the world that I’m a geek of astonishing geekness - here are the stats of this years Painting Challenge
Total Points Scored 59,263!
That’s the equivalent of 11,853 28mm infantry figures being painted - that’s a full division in 1:1 scale!
So how can we assess this years spectacular performance? First off there’s the economic impact
If we assume the economic value per figure is the following
Figure $ 2.50
Paint $ 0.30
Basing $ 0.25
Painting Time $ 7.50 (30 minutes a $15.00/hour - I raised this estimated from last year given the comments I was too stingy)
Total $10.55
Base Value Created $125,049.15
Velocity of Figure Acquisition Multiplier: 3 (we we acquire 3 figures for each one painted)
Total Value Created $375,147.45!!!!!
Yet again, the Challenge is a veritable miniature economic stimulus package - I hope that figure manufacturers across the globe are ramping up production as we could face severe shortages in the coming months based on the predicted buying activity to replenish our stocks.
Another way to look at the success of this years extravaganza is from an efficiency viewpoint. This year we had 61 participants generate 59,263 points, with the average per participant coming out to 971 points. Last years Challenge generated 42,079 points from 47 Ronin, yielding an average per painting Ronin of 895 points
So lets see here, the Challenge produced both increases in participants (reach), gross production (volume) and efficiency (rate) - that’s a very rare triple win in the business / investing world. One usually gets an increase in one of the three factors at a cost to the others. If this was a company we’d be going to IPO land with these kind of results.
Anyway you look at it, this year’s Challenge was a smashing success - well done to all the participants and Mr Campbell for a wonderful experience this year.
Great work Miles! Thank you for your valued if rather bizarre insight to our little venture.
On another note I've decided (against better judgement) to join this year's Lead Painters' League (LPL). As in past years this season will be made up of 10 submissions, one per week, with extra points being awarded for brand new work and specific themes.
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| My painted versions to follow in a week... |
This first week has 'Realms of Fantasy' as its theme and so I decided to order some wonderful Goblin figures sculpted by the talented Tom Meier from Thunderbolt Mountain Miniatures. They have this wonderful 1980's feel to them, much like his early work for Ral Partha. They remind me of many carefree late nights playing D&D with my dorky friends.
Unfortunately the figures arrived during the last days of the Challenge and so I had only a few hours on Friday to work on them, in addition to the two of the other five-figure submissions required for entry. In fact I had to pull another all-nighter on Friday to make the Saturday submission deadline (sounds familiar). Consequently they are bit of a rush job, and definitely not my best work (I'm deservedly getting trounced in this first round), but I still had fun working on them and I really wanted to participate in the League as some motivation to get some of my own work done after being so absorbed with the Challenge.
Anyway, I urge you to check out the League in order to see the great efforts of all the participants. It's good fun with many beautiful miniatures on display.
In accordance to the LPL rules there is a photo blackout on the painted stuff until the round has concluded. With this being the case I should have some pics up for a bit of show-and-tell next Sunday.
