From KevH: 20mm Saracen Infantry and Cavalry (488 points)

...and the titanic struggle for 2nd place in the points roster continues into the night...

From Kev:

Well, we are nearly there. This will probably be my final entry. If I do get anything else finished, it may appear, but unlikely.

This lot is all Saracens (Ayubids). All 1/72 scale by either Strelets or HaT. This nearly completes the army, I only need some light cavalry units that I will add when I purchase or convert them.

First up are the last of the infantry. Another Ghazi Fanatic Warband, once again in the black garb (24 figures)

Two Light Infantry Bow units to add to the earlier one I did. (16 figures) 

And two small skirmish units with Javelins (6 figures).

Then at last the Cavalry. Two units of Mamluk Heavy Cavalry with Bows, (12 Mounted figures)

Two units of Mamluk Heavy Cavalry with Spears, (12 Mounted Figures)

One unit of Turks Heavy Cavalry with Spears, (6 mounted figures)

Two Divisional Command stands, (4 mounted figures)

and what better to finish on than "Camels" Well everyone has done them, or so it seems. A small unit of Camel riders with bows (4 mounted figures). Quite a few are conversions.

I will have to take a pic of both the Crusader and Saracen armies.

Well, thats me done I think. It's in the lap of the gods now...

Holy cow! That is an amazing entry Kev and such beautiful work. Those Ghazi Fanatics are still the bomb and I'm glad you managed to get some camels into the mix - all the cool kids are doing them y'know. :)

These Saracens will give Kev 488 points, slipping him past Dave in the final run into the finishing straight... The mind just boggles at the points being broadsided at this rarified upper atmosphere...

From KevH: 15mm AWI Command Stand & Artillery Limbers (22 points)

From Kev:

Well!!!! 

We are nearly there, I am rapidly trying to get some of the Saracen Cavalry finished in time. 

I aim to end the Challenge with a few Camels, haha. 

First up is a few bits I have been pottering away at over the last week. My first AWI, American Brigade Command. 15mm Lancashire Games Miniatures. A mounted and Foot officer.

Then followed by a couple of Limbers. These are the condensed limbers I will be using for our Black Powder games. Just two horses and a generic Rider. This was a couple of testers to see how they would look for the game. I am happy with them and the very quick simple paintjob.

I have got 22 of these lil buggers to make. They are 15mm Minifigs.

Test successful, I say! Another new project for us to enjoy, wonderful. These look marvellous Kev and I can't wait to see this army develop over the coming months. 

The command stand and limbers will give Kev 22 points.  I'll keep an eye out for those camels...

From KevH: 15mm ECW Earl of Essex Command Stand & Crusader Infantry (68 points)

From Kev:

Here is my current entry for the challenge. Not really had much time for painting this last couple of weeks. I have a lot of sculpting to do at the moment. First up we have a 15mm Essex Parliament command stand.

This is the opposite CinC for the Royalist Charles 1st I did earlier. This is the Earl of Essex and Staff. 3 mounted and 1 foot with another hand painted commonwealth Flag. (Jeeze, I hate how Essex sculpts the flag onto the figure!)

Also we have some more Crusaders. This time a mixed unit of Crusader medium infantry. Non Military order, a few French and germans. Warriors to the front with bows to the rear. Converted flag bearer with suitable banner.

This may well be the last of the Crusader force, I may add the odd unit at a later date. I will try to concentrate on the Saracens now. 1/72 Strelets figures.

Two wonderful entries Kev! Your high-contrast style is again making its magic with these fellows. Essex's banner is gorgeous and I'm very impressed with the shields of the Crusader front rank. Lovely, clean brushwork.

The Earl of Essex and this unit of Christian infantry will give Kev 68 points, which includes a bit extra for the finely wrought flags and heraldry. This entry will see Kev past his second Challenge points target of 2250 points. Great work and congratulations Kev! 

It looks like there will be a tight race right to the finish for all podium positions in the points standings. Many of us will be on the edge of our seats at we close in on the finish line in 23 days!

From KevH: 15mm ECW The King's Lifeguard of Foot (57 points)

From Kev:

15mm ECW. The Kings Lifeguard of Foote. This is the first full regiment I have painted for my newly acquired ECW 15's collection. 

I purchased a rather large collection from ebay, just before Christmas. This was all painted and has now been re-based. I then swapped a few unpainted FiW for a load more ECW from a good friend "Tink". These all need painting though and not sure of the make. They could be Mikes Models. I intend to use these unpainted to make the royalist regiments for the King and Rupert.

The queens lifeguard will follow and then Rupert's Foot will complete the army. That will make ten regiments. There are also enough foot to make three parliament regiments. But not sure what they will be yet. With a few spare pikes to make some pike companies.

Very nice work Kev (and a good score from 'Tink'). Again, your black-lined, high-contrast approach to painting smaller scales works very well with these fellows. Question: Why the extra base depth to the front of the pikemen? Is this for when the shote is in two ranked bases on the flanks?

These men of the Kings Lifeguard will give Kev 57 points.

From KevH: 20mm Saracen Infantry (65 points)

From Kev: 

I managed to get another Saracen unit finished. This time it's a Light infantry Egytian mob. Sixteen 1/72 Hat figures. I converted standard bearer with suitable flag.

They are actually Almoravids, but really do have the Saracen look to them. These lightly armed troops, wearing few clothes, really did seem to fit the part as a non regular unit.

They are pretty poor troops in the game, so I guess this will be the only unit I will do.

Ghazi fanatics next. I want these to look very nasty indeed.

Lovely work Kev. I really like the high-contrast style you've used for this project. The colours are incredibly punchy, which works brilliantly in this scale.

These Saracens will give Kev 65 points.

From KevH: 28mm WotR Infantry and Cavalry, Crusader Cavalry and Command & Saracen Archers (205 points)

From Kev:

First up are more WotR. All 28mm Perry's and a mix of metal and plastic.

This time we have the Earl of Oxfords MAA retinue on foot. 12 figures with command.

I decided to go with the blue star instead of the blue boar on these.

Followed by one of the few mounted units in the current army. This is a small unit of Mounted MAA that form part of the Duke of Exeter's Retinue. 4 mounted figures with livery banner.

Then we are back onto the Crusades. All 1/72 Plastics from Strelets, Italeri and Hat. Once again a mix from both sides, We have 6 mounted crusader knights first. These are generic knights and belong to no particular military order, they add a bit of colour to the Crusader force.

I have nearly finished the Crusader mounted element. A unit or two of Sergeants to go. Then we have a Divisional Command stand. This consists of 2 foot and 1 mounted. I decided to give this a Christian feel without it belonging to a particular military order.

The Knight in a plain blue surcoat and the addition of the Monk and a standard bearer fit the bill I think. Instead of the usual cross on the banner, I went for a crucifix. I left it as a simple representation as it is quite small.

Finally, some more Saracens. A unit of Light infantry with bows. Simple figures from the Hat El Cid range again. These are actually Andalusians, but fit the part.

I will be using some of the El Cid Almoravids for the Ghazi Warbands.

The Crusader forces are coming along fine, with the Crusaders nearing completion and the Saracens (Ayubids) growing slowly.

More to follow..

Another impressive entry Kev! Oxford and Exeter's retinues look suitably ferocious in their heavy plate. This is a period I know I'm going to get into in a big way soon.  Right Greg?  The mounted Crusaders are great but the pick of the litter is that lovely command stand. Gorgeous. The banner is just brilliant.

This varied group of WotR warriors, Crusaders and Saracens will give Kev 205 points (which includes a few bonus points for the excellent heraldry and banners).  Great work Kev!

From KevH: 28mm Wars of the Roses, 20mm Crusades & Challenge Desperado (200 points)

From Kev:

Here we go with my latest random set of miniatures for the Challenge.

28mm WotR. All Perry's and a mix of plastic and metal. All for the nearly finished WotR project. First up are a small unit of Exeter's Dismounted Men at Arms (8 figs with command)

Followed by John Neville, Lord Montagu, command stand. 

Then we have the Crusades again. First up are the Crusader Turcople light cavalry. Two small units of 4 mounted. All 1/72 Strelets. Done in a very typical turcoman style.

Then we have the first of the Saracen Heavy infantry. A unit of Mamluk H/I with bows. (16 figs with command) 

Once again, these are all Strelets 1/72 plastics. Great little chunky figures.

I mixed the bow armed and spear armed in the ranks to represent the mixed fighting capability of these troops. Spears to the front and the bows behind. A fancy flag to add to their prestige amongst the Saracen horde.

My final entry in this lot is the Mexican. This is my Challenge entry figure for Curt (hope he likes it).

The figure was given to me by Loki, as last year I gave him the Samurai. He had the Cowboy to paint and I had the Mexican, and here he is. 

A foul looking desperado, if ever their was one. 28mm Foundry, I think. Cacti, courtesy of Loki.

Wow! What a fabulous mixture of miniatures. Kev, I've been a great fan of your WOTR since I saw them last year - gorgeous work on the subdued armour and heraldry. Your Turcople cavalry and Saracens are marvellous as well. It's such a treat seeing this army come together before our very eyes. Finally, thank you for the fabulous Mexican gunslinger - I look forward to him taking his place next to the other Challenge Desperados in my display cabinet!

This fine selection of figures will give Kev 200 points, which includes a few extra points added for the excellent painted shields and heraldry. Lovely work Kev! 

The battle for the top three points position continues to heat up!