From BenG: 20mm Napoleonic Italians & Ancient Germans (70 points)

From Ben:

Here's an eclectic entry; Italian Conscripts of the Guard and Germanic Warriors, all 1/72nd scale.

The Italians are the second battalion of Conscripts of the Guard I've painted for my Borodino project. As the OB I'm working from requires it to be an 8 figure battalion, I've also made small terrain panels to go beside the command figures, rather than have an empty spot on the movement tray (you can see them best in the second photo of the unit in column).

The figures are from the HaT French Light Infantry range of marching, action and command figures. I've only had to trim the epaulets of the soldiers to make them accurate. The drummer is painted in a speculative colours.

The officer is a conversion I did before the Challenge started, so I can only claim the other 7 figures. I gave him a new sword blade as his original sword looked rather puny in comparison.

The second is a stand of Scary, Hairy Librarians...err Barbarians, sorry. Though it'd be handy having a bunch of these at work: "You have overdue books. Return them or Guntheric will get angry!" They are a stand of Shock Infantry for Comitatus rules. 

The front row are figures by Miniart, which are nicely sculpted with active poses, but are let down by production values; lots of flash and misaligned moulds. 

The back row are Strelets Ancient German figures, which are probably a little too early to be incorporated in the same stand, but I'm not that fussy and they add a little variation.

I like the Swabian knot hairstyles they sport, and the range of animal skins and cloaks, too.

Great work Ben! Lovely work on those Italians - I may have to try a unit of these in 28mm.

Hmm, librarians with their hair up in Swabian knots? Could be sexy. Not sure how these lads would look in horn-rimmed glasses, black pumps and tube skirts though... Oh, probably still pretty fierce.

These two units will give Ben 70 points, including a few extra for the nicely painted shields and plaid cloaks.

From SebG: 15mm Thirty Years War French Regiment de Bussy-Rabutin (42 points)

I have to apologize for the delay in updates but work had me dashing around the province for interminable meetings. (I've tried to explain to them my responsibilities as a toy soldier blogger but they pay me no heed. I know, the pitiless, slave-driving cads...) 

So, lets start catching up with a submission from Seb.

For my next entry, I've sent you pics from my last French unit: the Bussy-Rabutin infantry regiment. They fought at Rocroi and in Germany afterwards.

They were lead by the count Roger de Rabutin, born in 1638. He started his military career at 16 in Lorraine, and fought under Conde and Turenne. He was also elected in 1665 at the prestigious Academie Francaise (s'il vous plait).

Once again, 20 minis from Old Glory, and flags from Flags of war.

Another lovely regiment under your belt, Seb! How many are in your collection now? You must be amassing a good sized force. You should give us a group shot of them when the Challenge ends.

Regiment de Bussy-Rabutin, with their white and grey colours, will give Seb 42 points.