From TimB: 28mm Russian Infantry, Officers, Partisans & Casualties (128 points)

Tim sends us a fine collection of Russian WWI figures as we enter the final hours of the Challenge.

From Tim:

'The first are ostensibly WW2 Russian Partisans from Black Tree Design - but they'll see action all over the early 20th century... The guy with the pistol, camera and book looks perfect for some Cthulhuesque Pulp Adventure Action...'

'Next, three Imperial Russian Officer from Brigade Games (I think...)'

'Then  we have fourteen Imperial Russian Soldiers - modeled and mould by John Bertolini - cast and painted by myself.'

'Finally (but not really... there will be more in a couple hours...) Five dead and dying Imperial Russians from Battle Honors.  The latter three, more or less, finishes off an Imperial Russian/Tsarist force that could see action anywhere from 1914 to the end of the Russian Civil War...'

Lovely work as usual, Tim. I especially like seeing more of John B's stuff out and about. These lads will give Tim 128 points.

From JohnM: 28mm Napoleonics - The French Command (45 points)

Johns sends in these beautiful Napoleonic French command stands for you to enjoy. 

Overview of my French command stands. The 40x40 are Gen de Brigade, from Front Rank and Perry.

From John:

'Here is my next submission. I have been doing some work on my command stands, making them uniform with the Prussian stands I submitted earlier. Most of the figures predate the challenge, but they were all extensively touched up and rebased over the last week. I like out the terraining came out, I use a burnt sienna as the base color for my French bases (use a raw umber for Prussian). They were then dry brushed with a buff. The texture is provided by a Golden coarse pumice gel. I then applied a dark brown liquitex ink. Let dry and then glued on various grasses.'

'The figures on the Napoleon stand was painted in the past week though, and are a collection of Elite and Perry. It should be obvious whats what. The Perry's are from the "Hangers On" pack as well as Gen de Div Quiot. Certainly the Elites are odd especially the horses, sort of look flattened, but they have an attraction.'

Divisional Cavalry command stand, all Front Rank, I believe, aside from the standing dragoon from Perry.

French Marshall (Corps), the Marshall and the ADC are from Redoubt, the rest from Front Rank.

Infantry Division Corps command stand, same mixture as above.

Again, beautiful work John. The command stand featuring 'The Man' will give you 45 points. 


John tells me he's going to try to get something for the midnight deadline so check back later for that.

From FranL: 15mm Fanonian National Guard (FNG) (180 points)

Fran returns to us with his final 'Cafeteria Platter Specials'! He gives us more modern mayhem to enjoy (I can say this as it is only in 15mm). Again, we are treated to the protagonists/antagonists from those diametrically opposed states: Franonia and Rayonia.

Elements of the Franonian National Guard. Models are 15mm Peter Pig.

These Bulldog anti-mine vehicles serve as personnel carriers for the FNG (the acronym makes me laugh). Note: one of these broke in assembly and Fran made it into a wreck - nice!

National Guard casualties - poor chaps.

Looters, probably those reprobates from the Rayonian Republic... (figures by Peter Pig)

And finally some grisly body bags, figures from The Scene.

All told, this collection will give Fran 180 points to add to his tally. This will place him firmly in the 2K zone - Well done!

From KentG: 28mm Cowboys, Desperados, Civilians & Dismounted Cavalry (195 points)

I can sense a bit of good-natured panic with both Ray and Kent's emails, which makes the last hours of the Challenge that much more exciting and fun (well, at lease for me!).  Kent, knowing Ray is hard on his heels (in fact he is ahead of Kent at this point), submits this collection of Western cowboys, desperados, civilians and dismounted cavalry.

These 28mm figures are a mix of vintage Dixon and Foundry.

This group of twelve cavalry and fifteen foot will give Kent 195 points, reclaiming his lead. Nonetheless, I know Ray has a last effort on the horizon...

From SteveM: 15mm WWII D-Day Assault Craft & American Artillery (365 points)

Steve has been busy as well bashing-out these excellent troops for an upcoming D-Day event at this local club.

From Steve:

'I have some D-Day LCVPs that will go into services for a big D-Day event in June at the local store. This is the first batch of many that I need to do. On one of them I'm playing with adding some water effects to show the waves hitting it and water running of the top/sides.'

Then I have a battery of 105mm US howitzers.  These are us570 models by Battlefront and will be attached to some paras that are primed, but not getting painted by the deadline.

Excellent work Steve! I really like the look of the landing craft with the troops crammed inside - pretty sobering stuff. This group will give Steve an impressive 365 points, vaulting him into 4th place - Great job!