From MilesR: 28mm ACW Artillery (40 points)

Miles starts off from where he left off last year with an ACW entry featuring two pieces of artillery and some crew.

From Miles:

Here is my first entry in the Challenge - a 28mm Perry ACW artillery crew and 2 guns (a rifled cannon and a 12lb smoothbore). The gentlemen firing the cannon has a bit of a holiday theme what with his red coat and white beard. Could it be that Santa took sides in the War between the States?

Up next is another regiment of ACW soldiers in the background.

I'm sure Santa was a rebel at heart so the theme fits. ;) These fine two guns with their four crewmen will give Miles 40 points. 

From KentG - 15mm WWII German Halftracks (64 points)

Kent kicks off his bid for glory with these German Sd.Kfz. 251 halftracks.

From Kent:

These seven 15mm Battlefront half tracks are the last of a batch that I decided to repaint. I need them for a comp early next year.

Great work Kent! These seven halftracks with their crew and passengers will give him 64 points.

...Ah, and my fleeting 28 point lead evaporates along with my dreams of grandeur. ;)

The Last Walk of the Wild Bunch - The 4th Annual Painting Challenge Begins

I thought I'd keep with tradition and open this year's Painting Challenge with its first submission. (And yes, they are already stacking-up behind me.) For our first entry we have The Wild Bunch, arrayed for their final walk out to meet their fate.

Pike Bishop

I've always been a great admirer of Peckinpah's films and when I saw this range of 40mm figures from Oniria Miniatures I knew I had both the opening and closing entries for the 4th Challenge.

Tector Gorch

The sculpts of these figures are superb. The models are incredibly lifelike and slavishly accurate when referenced to the stills from the film. 

All this being said they are quite delicate and finely cast, requiring a bit of patience and care with their assembly and painting.

Lyle Gorch

I was hoping to have them all based together but strangely they all came with 'slotta' style basing tabs (which I really don't like) so I had to go with individual bases. I think later I'll contact the fine folks at Warbases to see if they can make me a nice sabot-style tray to fit them into.

Dutch Engstrom

So with this entry I formally open the 4th Painting Challenge. To both participants and visitors I hope you'll delight in the wonderful spectrum of figures and models shown here over the next few months - welcome and enjoy!

...Oh, yes, and that's 28 points for me. :)

Prize Support for the 4th Painting Challenge - Thank You!

This year I've been very fortunate in being able to secure a wide range of generous prize support from various hobby vendors. In a later post I'll go into some more detail regarding the prizes but first I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the following wonderful folks who have thrown in their support for the Challenge:

Kawe's Westfalia Miniatures

Martin & Diane of Warbases

James' J&M Miniatures

Darren's Dragon's Den Games of Saskatoon

Chad's Comic Readers of Regina

Again, many thanks to you all!!

'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....?'