From FranL: 28mm Zombies for 'Zombicide' (120 points)

From Fran:

These boys or zombies are more  28mm plastic madness from Zombicide, these 24 are Angry Zombies and also known as Beserker zombies, they are mutating into something less zombie and more angry armoured nasties and only a head shot counts with these walking dead!

Above is a group shot of the assembled horde, these zombies are from the prison set and mostly feature prisoners in their uniforms plus one of a female guard I believe.

Below is a close up of the fuglies, their skin is mutating and hardening to give them some armour plus there mouths are distending and protruding jaws and teeth.

I painted them as normal but with all the overalls/prison garb I went with red and then thought yellow for the special category of prisoner ( and to show some variety), the skin was given a wash of red ink to show the mutating change at work, you get three unique sculpts as well which include the fattie and the two others to his left in the front row I believe.

Thanks to Curt for the usual madness this year. 

Always happy to provide a bit of fun-filled lunacy for my friends.

What a wonderfully disgusting group of figures! Bravo Fran! I like your use of washes to denote different 'categories' of zombies or where they sit in their undead 'shelf life'. 

These assorted actively lifeless fuglies will give Fran 120 points. It was a great run, well done mon ami!

From FranL: 28mm Zombies for 'Zombicide' (120 points)

From Francis:

More 28mm plastic Zombicide zombie shenanigans with this box set of 24 infected specimens with what they say are three unique sculpts, I especially like the big momma fatties as they're called.

They say that you need more zombies to make the game better or just a sneaky marketing ploy?

Well there you have it...plastic zombie madness from Walk of the Dead Set 2.

Sneaky marketing aside these look great Fran. In addition to the Big Momma what are the other two unique sculpts to this box? I like the two that are dashing as I've always found 'fast' zombies to be particularly scary. 

These two dozen undead will give Fran 120 points. Great work and I hope we get to read a battle report on this game from you soon.

From FrancisL: 28mm Zombicide Horde and Heroes (360 points)

Our Irish lad from Gravesend has not been idle...

From Fran:

This is the complete of miniatures you get with the boardgame Zombicide, 71 plastic miniatures: 6 heroes, 8 fatties, 1 abomination and 56 various breeds of slim zombies. A present from a friend and as miniatures were low I decided to paint the feckers...

First up, above, we have the full set of miniatures...

Here are the 6 characters, 2 I'm not so keen on are roller skate girl and the samurai sword wielding teen but the other characters are fine...

The fatties are next but do remind me of Buster Bloodvessel from the band "Bad Manners"...

Now this is an Abomination and a real beauty and was my favourite from the box...

Now we have some pictures of the main bunch of 56 zombies, 8 each of 7 different poses, now these buggers were a bit of a pain due to all the same poses and then trying to paint every single one differently...

Started to worry about which colour went with which, does green go with pink?

That initial enthusiasm started to wane a little and then we started improvising, cutting and drilling...

Buckets of blood were also used but all in all not a bad bunch of figures or sculpts and another box of 24 infected zombies have turned up on my doorstep and may make the end of the challenge...

...and maybe even a game or two? 

Holy smokes that is a lot of minis Fran - well done! I was asleep at the switch when this Kickstarter launched and now, after seeing the excellent work of yourself and Paul, I will have to bite the bullet and pick it up with the rest of the great unwashed. 

This fine horde of zombies and coterie of heroes will give Francis an impressive 360 points - enough for him to handily punch through his second Challenge goal of 1250 points. Cracking job Mr. Lee!

BTW I would really like to see a game of this posted at your place or Postie's... Just sayin'.

From FranL: 28mm F&IW French Regiment Languedoc & 15mm Modern British Platoon (143 points)

We can't have a Ray submission without one from Francis, and so like magic...

Here is is a 28mm FIW French "Languedoc" Regiment consisting of 12 figures from AW Miniatures for my Bloggers for Charity submission, a few issues with the figures but they should be alright once based in a unit (not allowed to base them as they are being based all in one go) with a nice flag!

The 5th,6th and last picture are of a 15mm modern British platoon with extras from Old Glory. 

Most of these figures came from my Secret Santa and should have some "Viking" vehicles to transport them soon.

Great work Fran! I must say it's kinda wild seeing you paint Horse & Musket figures - you've done a great job on them. Could these entice you into a new period perhaps? Of course your modern stuff is always top notch. I look forward to seeing the upcoming rides for these lads.

The Regiment Languedoc and this modern British infantry platoon will give Fran 143 points. Well done Mr. Lee! 

From FranL: 15mm Modern Soviet Armour (24 points)

We have another dash to the finish line today with Fran seizing the win in the 600 point race.

From Fran:

This is a pre-emptive panic post to grab my 600 and flee.....

We have some 15mm QRF horrible castings of 3 BTR-80s and 1 T-72 for my Chechen forces to face off against the Russians but while they're suitable, these figures are less than stellar in there casting and quality, same Russian green colour as the Russian armour just to show who the former owners were?

A nice push for victory Fran! I've always liked the bright blue 'lens' colours you use for your lights and optics - they serve a nice contrast from the muted military colours. 

These four vehicles will give Fran 24 points and so enough for him to claim the race to the 600 point marker. Well done Mr. Lee! Now, what will be your next points target?

From FranL: 28mm Fantasy & 15mm Modern (213 points)

From Francis:

28mm Reaper Bones 2 Golem and a present from Anne O'Leary.

Another 28mm Golem I believe from the same pack and outfit also from Anne, quiet big figures!

Foundry Minotaur from when we were at Blog-Con, I've included another picture (top of post) of a 28mm Harpy from Foundry to show the size of the beastie!

5 28mm Harpies also from our time at Blog-Con, no idea why I got them but I remember a scene from the movie "Waiting" and the angry bush!

Next are some 15mm Modern Somali Pirates or African Irregulars from Khurasan Miniatures.....

15mm Modern Us Army Vehicles and armour (10), 3 M1A2 Abrams on the back row, 3 Bradleys in the middle, and 4 Humvees (1 destroyed), they are a mixture of Khurasan, Zvedza and Peter Pig.

15mm Modern US Army Infantry Platoon from Khurasan Miniatures, 37 figures but I believe there should be 38 but I think the fecker is hiding among the US Marines.........

Nearly finished a modern British infantry platoon and have started the bloody bloggers for charity figures plus some 15mm viral zombies.........

Wow, great work Fran! Those golems are very cool, especially the stone one. 

This wide assortment of miniatures will give Francis 213 points, just 13 points shy of his 600 point target and winning the 600 Point Duel. Now, will one of the others pip him at the finish line?

From FranL: 15mm Modern Russian Infantry & Armour (156 points)

Francis reports in with a passel of modern Russians in 15mm.

From Fran:

We have the guts of a modern motorised rifle platoon here plus some support weapons including mortars, HMGs and grenade launchers.

I made a bit of a bollox of this as I foolishly took certain helmet types as part of the Russian infantry and they turned out to belong to a different part of the Russian defence forces and 40+ Russian figures had to be done again but the others will still be used but are not shown here due then being done pre-challenge. The figures are from Eureka Miniatures.

I made a bit of a bollox of this as I foolishly took certain helmet types as part of the Russian infantry and they turned out to belong to a different part of the Russian defence forces and 40+ Russian figures had to be done again but the others will still be used but are not shown here due then being done pre-challenge. The figures are from Eureka Miniatures.

Below is some Russian armour for the period including 4 T-80s on the back row, 3 T-72s, a Tunguska AA system, 4 BTR-80s and a BMP-1 and all based again, the T-80s, BMP-1 and Tunguska are from QRF and the rest are plastic from Zvedza.

Great work Fran! Those Eureka models are very nice indeed. We never seem to see this stuff featured at Posties - do you put on games at your place? I think I've only seen one irreverent AAR describing one of your Zombie games posted on Ray's blog... 

This fine force of Russians will give Fran 156 points.

From FranL: 15mm Modern North Korean Infantry, Armour and 28mm Non-Combatant

This is a classic Francis entry: a shed-load of 15mm with a few outlier morsels thrown in for seasoning.

From Fran:

The pictures were hastily taken after clearing a shelf of Christmas ornaments in the front room!

Here are fourty-nine 15mm  modern North Korean infantry from Khurasan Miniatures (picked these up when they came out earlier this year), this challenge will be mainly 15mm modern with a few 28mm thrown in here and there.

You also see a 15mm North Korean Armoured force consisting of 10 T-55's (a full company), 4 BTR-60's (including the command variant), a ZSU-23-4, 2 Gaz jeeps and a Mercedes for the General, the command tanks all have crew figures (7). I have started basing all my 15mm vehicles...I think it protects them but also highlights them?

Some Rayonian vehicles were sacrificed and repainted to add to the Korean forces and one Korean vehicle was omitted as it will be used as a challenge entry.

This is it apart from support weapons Khurasan will release next year, maybe Red Dawn 2?

....the 28mm female from Copplestone Casting is the non-combatant entry.

Whoa, like I said, that is a shed-load of minis! Interesting project Fran. Who will be the opposing force for this? South Koreans and Americans I presume? I'm looking forward to seeing how this all develops.

Too bad you were late with the fine Copplestone lady as I can only give you 5 points for her. Otherwise, she along with the North Koreans will give you a very tidy 218 points. Very impressive work all the same Francis!

For Fran - Naval Deck Gun & Crew For His Steampunk Cutter

I've been working (admittedly in fits and starts) on various mini-projects to return the kindness and favours extended to me over the past year from wonderful hobbyists who I've had the pleasure to become acquainted with. Last November, Fran, aka The Angry Lurker (a nom de guerre which is the antithesis of the gentleman himself), kindly sent me a team jersey emblazoned with the 'heraldry' of both The Rejects and Analogue Hobbies. 

I was quite taken by this and have been puzzling these past months over how to express my thanks. Then it came. Last month Fran posted on his blog a wonderful steampunk naval cutter that he had completed and I, being the typical wag, suggested that it needed a deck gun for it to be 'really' complete. Fran, to shut me up, graciously agreed with me and, eureka, the spark was struck!

These 28mm models are from Pulp Adventure, sculpted by the very talented Bob Murch. They were very fun to work with. I particularly like the lantern-jawed officer, who looks like the complete ponce, lurking about, making sure everything proceeds according to the King's Regulations.

Hopefully these lads find a place in Fran's steampunk adventures, banging away at tesla-powered Prussians, wily martians or perhaps cheeky interlopers from the dreaded Rayonia.

Speaking of which, I'm also doing something up for Ray 'Don't Throw a 1' Rousell (but more on that later) - Once done, both gifts will make their way over to Gravesend to their new homes.

From FranL: 28mm Plains Indians, Tunnelling Machine, Steam Tank, Wagons, Cowgirls and a Bleedin' Rocket (320 points)

From Francis:

This is my last entry and while the challenge has been a blast, it has drained me, well mainly listening to Ray has drained me, he gets a little obsessive!

We have a real mixed bag here and some of it was no internet for two days at home last week and this is especially evident with the V2 rocket, anyway here we go........

We have 19 28mm Foundry Plains Indians for the wild west shenanigans.

We have a 28mm tunnelling machine from Ironclad Miniatures erupting from beneath the earth possibly full of chinese invaders.

Two 28mm MDF wagons from 4Ground plus 2 resin wagon loads specially designed to fit the wagons, these were really well designed kits but very fiddly, you can see were there should be 5 wagon hoops but there are only fecking 4, damn these shovel sized hands!

Two 28mm Ironclad Miniatures Steam Tanks with gatling guns, currently painting some Hinterland Miniatures to go with these.

9 28mm horses from Dixon Miniatures, 6 are Apache and 3 are cowboy, these are primarily scenery.

A mounted and dismounted princess from Hinterland Miniatures with a queen Victoria from Eureka Minis.

Some apache females and scouts from Dixon Miniatures, 7 figures plus 1 horse (I promise there is a figure behind the horse). 

4 28mm female gunfighters from Eureka Minis called The Earp Sisters with Dr.Holly Daye.

This is either a 1/48th or 1/35th scale WW2 V2 rocket which will be used for 28mm Pulp gaming, there is a 28mm Ironclad Miniatures scientist pushing the button beside it and to give an idea of scale!

There is a rumour circulating that next year you're doing the challenge dedicated to the 300 at Thermopylae, just a rumour though Curt! An excellent challenge this year, congratulations my friend.

Ha! 300 Spartans? Now that is an idea... Can you imagine? God's Holy Trousers, I'd be a gibbering mess in the first 3 days.

Funny you should mention 300, I see my blog has just tipped over 300K hits today. Whoa. I would have never guessed when I started this ...

Okay, a tunnelling machine and a steam tank?! (sigh) Whatever. I'm too tired to say a word...

Lovely work Fran. Your submissions never fail to make me smile. That rocket is completely mental btw (your reflection in the window is excellent).

This final submission by my favourite Irishman will garner him a well deserved 320 points. Hey, this almost doubles what your original target was. Great work Francis! 

It has been a pleasure, mon ami. Until next year...