From DallasE: 28mm 1980s American Infantry in MOPP (120 points)

My good friend Dallas from Winnipeg sends in this great entry of 1980s era American infantry in MOPP suits. (aka 'Mission Oriented Position Posture' - wtf?! 'Position, Posture'? Good grief, can't these military guys ever speak english?) 

These lads are 28mm Eureka Miniature castings. I particularly like the amber effect Dallas used for the gasmask lenses - very cool.

Dallas, Greg and the rest of the guys from The Fawcett Avenue Conscripts use stuff like this to play alternate history Cold War scenarios, FutureWar scenarios (Gun Schwarm, FuturKom, SpaceKrieg, etc.) and that perennial favorite: surviving the Zombie Apocalypse. 

This group of 24 will give Dallas a very respectable 120 points. Welcome to the Challenge, Dallas!

From TimB: 28mm Great War British (40 points)

Today Tim sends in a unit of eight Great War British Tommies in early-war uniform (I've always liked the soft caps of the 'Contemptibles').

The new lads with their other pals and The Guv'.

These are 28mm Renegade castings which have a nice beefy look to them.

This group will give Tim 40 points to add to his climbing score.

From JohnM: Napoleonic Prussians '4th Pomeranian' (130 points)

John presents his opening salvo with this fine entry of Napoleonic late-period Prussians depicting the 4th Pomeranian Regiment (IR21)

These are from the excellent Calpe range of 28mm miniatures. 

John tells me that the figures for this unit were acquired over two purchases and he did not realize that the uniforms are slightly different between the two lots. Both depict a British-supplied uniform but the details regarding the lace and cuffs are slightly different.  So he decided to paint the two styles different facing colours to differentiate the two battalions, red and green. In the future he will get another 24 castings so he can properly fill-out both battalions and have them fully represented.

The basework is excellent on this unit and I particularly like the pose of the colour bearer - him charging with the colour lowered is very dynamic. Flag is by the excellent 'Flag Dude'.

John tells me that 26 of these were done after the Challenge start-date (one stand of skirmishers predates the rest). So, this gives John a tidy 130 points - Bravo!

From SteveM: 15mm WWII SSF Platoon 'The Devil's Brigade' (246 points)

Steve sends in a fine unit of Flames of War infantry depicting a platoon from the famous 'Devil's Brigade'.

These are 15mm Battlefront miniatures.

The 1st Special Service Force (or 'Devil's Brigade') was an elite formation composed of Canadian and Americans who were specially trained for operating in very adverse conditions.  They gained particular notoriety for their service in the Italian campaigns, especially in the mountainous regions of that country. In my work I've had the pleasure of meeting several veterans of the SSF and they were all very gracious yet still very impressive and martial in their bearing - 'Hard Men' as they say.

This group of 82 figures will net Steve 246 points. This shoots Steve to the leading group - well done, Old Boy!

Next for Steve is a German Sturmkompanie and then onto some figures for 'Force on Force'.

From KentG: 28mm Early Imperial Romans (129 points)

Kent comes in once again with another fabulous group of Early Imperial Romans and a base of slingers. (If it was during Caligula's reign that would be a base of 'Swingers'. Har, har, har.)

These are 28mm Wargames Foundry castings. Lovely groundwork, especially on the slinger stand. I quite like the high contrast effect of the dark greys and the foliage.

This group has 27 figures but I'm awarding these casualties 2 points each (basically as half figues), so that gives Kent 129 points. Excellent work.

Kent tells me this is the last of the Romans and now he's on to painting 28mm WWII British. More on that soon!

From GregB: 28mm Napoleonic Austrians (100 points)

Greg follows up from his Syrian T55s with this excellent battalion of Napoleonic Austrians, the IR#27 'Styria'. 

These are venerable 28mm Wargames Foundry castings. This unit is 40 figures strong but Greg tells me that of these only 20 figures fit within the timeline of the Challenge.

Greg and I are getting together later in January for a weekend gaming blitz. One of the games we'll be doing is Vandamme's assault on the Pratzen heights. This battalion will serve as one of the six battalions that made up IR#23 'Salzburg' that were part of the Allied position on the Stare Vinohrady.  

Greg's Austrian collection is beautiful so it will be a real treat to have it out for a big game (well, big for us anyway).

These 20 figures will give Greg 100 points to add to his score. Great work Greg!