Form MikeP: 28mm Great War Characters & Safari Pulp Adventurers (28 points)

From Mike:

The three WW1 figures are 28s from the Great War Miniatures British personality set.  I bought it a few years back for the splendid padre in the set (he now graces my desk at work) but loved the other figures so much I almost got into the Great War in 28s.  

Curt, your blog doesn't help my resolve in staying out of this period.  The motorcycle dispatch rider and the football kicking Tommy are prizes just awarded for a contest on my blog.  

The officer with the shotgun will stay with me as part of my Weird War Two collection.  He will play a ghost, the father of one of the characters in my campaign, a Scottish commando officer, whose ghostly dad sometimes helps his son on the battlefield.

The dispatch rider was fun to paint.   I wasn't sure if the armbands were supposed to be Signal Corps white over blue - I've read that most dispatch riders were siggies, so I hope I got that right.  A quick look out my office window to the G6 det building shows the white and blue flag flying, so I guess I got the colours right.  A little poetic license and Canadian content in the road signs.

The two adventurers, Pith Hat Guy and Safari Girl, are also 28s, from fellow Canadian and two-fisted sculptor Bob Murch.  They were great fun to paint.  A like how Bob sculpts women who like real, vice the ridonkulous outfits and Barbie bodies one often sees.   These two figures are also prizes in my blog contest that's just finished.

Excellent work Mike! I love Bob Murch's sculpts as well - such great characters and very... pulpy. Your Great War models are brilliant. I especially like your dispatch rider and the signs are a great touch. (If the officer with the shotgun is a ghost then you need to do him up in greyscale!)

These five and the Douglas motorcycle will give Mike 28 points. 

From KevH: 28mm English Civil War Cavalry, AWI Infantry & 54mm Knights (342 points)

From Kev: 

Well, here I have a mixed bag for you. First up are the 28mm Empress ECW Heavy cavalry (12 mounted figures). Mmmmmm, what can I say about these. I'll start at the beginning. Beautiful  exquisite, finely crafted miniatures. Very realistic, accurately proportioned, they look fantastic,

BUT!!

Assembly is a git, although these were part assembled when I recieved them. They fell apart during painting on a number of occasions. The swords are very thin, although this is accurate, they break really easy, really easy.

The horses are ok but if you remove the run throughs on the hoofs, the entire horse bends with the weight of the rider, I left some on after removing some and having this problem. Much of the detail is so fine, be careful not to obliterate if when priming.

The figures are very unforgiving when painting. Some areas are hard to reach when assembled, yet you must assemble to paint. All in all, I did not like painting these, they took twice the time and effort to paint. Overall, I think they turned out ok, I just hope my customer likes them.

I fancied painting something different for a change so I decided to do some more work on my Muskets and Tomahawks stuff. AWI and FiW came out again. First up are 14 x 28mm Foundry American Infantry with command.

I did these with green facings so I could tell them apart from my regulars, they will act as light infantry for the moment.

Followed by 10 x 28mm custom Militia/Civilians for M&T games. These are converted from various manufacturers, but are mostly Foundry & Front Rank.

Closely followed by 3 x 28mm Brits. The light infantry is a conversion from a bugler into an NCO. He was started before the challenge, so dont include him please Curt. These Two 28mm Brits bring my British infantry up to full strength. (24 figs, 2 x 12)

And Finally. 2 x 6 figure units of 54mm Knights. Once again these are Accurate Miniatures plastics. Basic paint job as before. I am about a quarter way through my Siege game troops. Charlie is slowly progressing with the missile units. 

Gorgeous stuff Kev. Even though you describe the ECW cavalry as particularly troublesome I think you've done a beautiful job on them. The horses are splendid and I really like how you've done their buff coats. I think your client will be very pleased indeed. 

This fine assortment of figures will give Kev a very respectable 342 points, allowing him to close-in ever closer to his Challenge target...

From RossM: 28mm Ninjas! (45 points)

From Ross:

These Ninja models are from Dixon Miniatures. 

There are 9 in total. 25mm but on the smaller end of the scale.

 I not pleased with the finish from the varnish, so they will be getting another coat shortly.

The features and posing of these figures are quite accentuated but I really like them. Great job on the grounwork, Ross, and I really like how they all fit together with the hex-bases.

This team of assissins will give Ross 45 points.

From RayR: 28mm Analusian Cavalry (122 points)

From Ray:

Another one of those long forgotten tucked away units...

12 Gripping Beast Andalusian Cavalry to add to my El Cid army.

I've tried to paint these like the rest of my El Cid army, its quite difficult painting down???

I do have another of these cleaned up and ready for a lick of paint, but I don't think I'm going to get the time to start them before the end of the Challenge, never mind!!!

Another excellent medieval Muslim entry! Beautiful work Ray, and, bestill my heart, in the proper scale no less! ;oP Is that one of your banners? Its very, very nice.

This cavalry of the Faithful will provide Ray with 122 points, allowing him to slip past Tamsin into 7th place. Again, lovely work Ray!

From ChristopherS: French & Indian War Compagnies Franches de la Marine (62 points)

From Christopher:

These gentlemen are my Compagnie Franches de la Marine for my French & Indian War project to be used for This Very Ground and Muskets and Tomahawks. I used round bases as I prefer that for skirmish games. I will of course be taking the role of the French and their Indian allies and my friend Mike's the British. I depicted the Marines emerging from the woods conducting a flanking attack or perhaps even surprising a British column or camp.

The models are from Redoubt and like their Indians are packed full of character that just really draws me to them. For me the Redoubt line gives a very intense and dangerous take on the French and Indian war that I really like. The flag is from the superb GMB designs. Colours are mostly Foundry with some Vallejo.

I think like many of us what drew me into the period was Daniel Day Lewis version of Last of the Mohicans that I've watched repeatedly over the years. The film for me ranks as one of if not my all time favorite non documentary war movie where the cast, cinematography and music where about as perfect as you could get IMHO. The music has already started in my head just thinking about it!

Stonkingly beautiful work Christopher! I really like the vignette shot of the figures emerging out of the terrain. 'Last of the Mohicans' is a superb film, but my memories of it always seem to get hijacked by enchanting images of Madeleine Stowe...

These dozen brave Marines, with their proud standard, will give Christopher 62 points. Well done!