'There Will Be Grass Before Breakfast' * - Side Challenges and Painting Duels

*The old phrase, 'Grass before breakfast' simply meant that a duel would be fought at first light, usually in an out-of-the-way place like a meadow or field.

I've been having a great time following the blogs of many of the Challengers as they prepare for the Painting Challenge to start. It seems everyone is madly gathering, cleaning and priming figures, all the while exchanging healthy and boisterous banter. I've also taken note of various personal side challenges and the issuing of small painting duels. This is not completely new, as we've had them since the first Challenge, but they are becoming a little more structured and formalized which I find very entertaining. 

I can't get no...satisfaction.

With this in mind I thought it would be fun to list some of the upcoming duels that we'll be seeing played out over the next few months. The list below is just the opening gambit. The complete list will have its home on the right sidebar during the length of the Challenge and I will keep it updated as the event progresses.

So, here we go:

• Curt has declared he will beat both ChristopherS and MartinN to the 500 point mark.
• RayR, FranL, LeeH, ClintB, StefanK and DaveD will be dueling to  attain their 600 point target. The winner will get a painted figure from the others
• AndrewS and KevH will be racing to their 1K targets.
• MichaelA, StefanK, MarkG, AndrewS, Burkhard and IanW have declared that they will submit for each of the seven Theme Rounds.
• JaccoK, MichaelF and RobP (aka ‘The Dutch Water-Bicycle Detachment’) are racing each other to the 501 mark.
• TamsinP and IanW are competing for overall points.
• AlanD, PaulJ and JamesL are racing to the 500 point mark.
• Curt has challenged SidneyR to see who will meet their 700 point goal first. Whomever wins will receive a painted figure from the other to add to their Great War collection.
• PhilH, GregB and MichaelA are competing to see who can accumulate the most points in painting Victorian-themed entries.

There you have it - the first of the 'side challenges'. If any other participants wish to add to this collective March of Folly then please drop me a note.

'Sooo, remind me again, which is the shooty end....?'

The Ronin of the 3rd Challenge!

As we head into the last week before the kickoff to 4th Painting Challenge I thought I'd provide a retrospective of some of the wonderful figures I've managed to extort, er, gather over the past few events. Last week I featured the wonderful Vikings of the 2nd Challenge, for which it was great to have them all arrayed for their photo shoot, and so this week I present the figures of the 3rd Challenge for you all to enjoy . 

Last year's Challenge had a central theme based around the Japanese folktale of the attack of the 47 Ronin. The figures I received were absolutely stunning and, as you can see below, many of the Challengers put an incredible amount of time and effort into their submissions. Like the Vikings of the 2nd Challenge, these Japanese warriors have a very cherished place in my hobby cabinet. So with no further ado I give to you the Ronin of the 3rd Painting Challenge.

Millsy's Archer and Temple(!)

MichaelA's greyscale Seven Samurai

RayR

JohnM

JuanM 

AndrewS 

GregB 

PhilH

RobP

BenG 

MilesR 

Gotta love the Godzirra sashimono!

BurkhardS

KevH 

SylvainR

SamuliS

FranL

NicholasC

ScottB

TamsinP 

MichaelF

TimB (who was not in the 3rd Challenge but sent in a figure anyway!)

MichaelP's Lads

JamesB

DaveD 

IannickM 

ChristopherS

RossM

IanW

KevinH 

JaccoK

KevinS

SebG's Archers

...and my own Samurai-themed entries from that Challenge

As a final note, for a bit of fun, I've added a notice board of 'Side Challenges' on the right-hand navigation bar of this blog (below the points roster). I've put this up to keep track of the various duels, challenges and races that have been issued by participants for the upcoming event. So Challengers, if you have a grudge-match you'd like to broadcast just drop me a note and I'll broadcast it! 

...But remember, once you unsheathe the sword you'll have to throw away the scabbard and see the matter through!

The Vikings of the 2nd Challenge!

Over the past two Painting Challenges I've had the pleasure of collecting a wonderful assortment of figures from talented hobbyists from all around the world. I've been asked a number of times to put up a 'rogue's gallery' to display my ill-gotten booty, and so to answer that request here is the first instalment of my past Challenge fee submissions: The Vikings from the 2nd Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

As you can well imagine, I'm very proud of this collection. It's quite eclectic while still having a great central theme. I decided to add a sprig or two of yellow flowers to all the bases in order to mark them as 'Challenge Vikings' within my Dark Age collection. This way, when I have them out for a game, I'll know which figures will be the real fire-eaters. :)

From AndrewS

From RayR

From FranL

From MichaelF

From JuanM

From DaveD

From MilesR

From JohnM (actually from a related contest but I include him here)

From TimB

A Viking Descendant: A Norman Milite from KentG

SylvainR

ScottB

RossM

PhilH

In a spasmodic fit of hobby-room reorganization I shamefully lost the provenance of who painted these fine fellows seen below. Actually, I believe I have a good hunch of who-painted-what, but if past Challengers can help me identify the brushwork on these lads it would be greatly appreciated!

This last photo features the whole warband with my shameless addition of 'Hrolf Heldrid', a warlord vignette that I put together during the Challenge that year. A force to be reckoned with!