From ReneV: 15mm WWII Soviet Tank Riders (45 points)

Rene builds more steam from his Dreadball debut with this collection of T34 tank riders.

From Rene:

My second entry into this years challenge.

The red colour of not sending in anything has passed with my first contribution earlier this week. To keep some momentum going I decided to push on with a small addition of 15mil chaps. These were a present from a fellow clubmember from Murphy's Heroes (Dutch wargames club in Delft). He did not need them and I could find good use for them as Tank Riders / Mounted Tankodessantnicky for my T34's.

There are 10 improvised stands (Litko bases but home cut and trimmed) each with 2 figures. Not a whopping amount nor a lot of points but at this stage of the "competition" every tiny soldier counts.

The tanks were painted some time ago and need some adjustment since the soft tip pen did not work out to subtle (understatements are fun).

Even though I was very very tempted my left shoulder told me to stop being a IIIIAAAAAHH and declare them non competition entries. So Curt, only the 22 Tank Riders are point scorers for this entry!

Sorry to have to take pictures in the formation as shown but unfortunately the only way to fit them all in. I am normally strongly opposed to "line them up and roll them down the table games" but it IS only a picture after all.......

Nice work Rene. I quite like your idea of having the tank riders on their own base which fits on the rear deck of the tanks (thereby freeing up the tanks for 'solo' work if required) - very smart!

This group of dessantnikis will give Rene 45 points.  Well done!

From BenG: 20mm Dark Age Gothic/Germanic Command Stands (56 points)

From Ben:

Here's two command stands of Gothic/Germanic infantry and cavalry. The infantry is a mix of metal Newline commander, standard bearer and trumpeters, while the commander's guard are Strelets and Miniart. It was a risk putting the lovely Newline figures on the same stand as the Miniart figures, but if you don't look to closely, you'll miss the mold-lines on the Miniarts! 

The cavalry stand is all Miniart, though one of the commander's posse has been converted into a standard bearer after chopping off his lance and replacing it with a standard from the Italeri infantry set.

Beautiful work Ben. Its interesting to see the mix of metal and plastic on the same base. As you say unless you look very close your really can't tell - yet another benefit of figures seen in mass. I really like the hand painted shields and draco standards - the colours are very dynamic as well. Great job.

These two command stands will give Ben 56 points which includes a bit extra for the great work on the shields and standards.

From JamesL: 28mm WWII German Panzer II (15 points)

 From JamesL:

This time I'm sharing the Pz 11 from my German Bolt Action army, fresh from battle. Whilst it didn't survive all 5 of my games, it do give a good account of itself against much heavier tanks...

The model is a Warlords 1/56th scale. As an early war tank still fighting on in late 1944 , I painted this one in the Early War paint scheme of dark grey (German Grey ) then patchily painted it with Middlestone to represent a hurried paint job after bringing the tank out of storage in the desperate days of the war for Germany. To that end I left the edges of the tank untouched by Middlestone to represent the hurried paint job rubbing off....

The pics include one taken of the tank in battle at CanCon, proving we're not just about painting in this man's toy army...and if anyone reads this , I'd love any suggestions for a name for the tank, it just doesn't feel right calling it...tank...

Great job James! I really like the idea of gaming with vehicles that were pressed into service from 3rd tier stocks. It illustrates the desperate the desperate nature of those last months of fighting in Germany. I also quite like the effect you achieved to reflect the rushed paintjob over the original panzer grey - very effective.

A name for this feisty fellow? Hmm... From my reading of the period the German tank crews often had a dark, ironic sense of humour. Perhaps something like 'Der Kaiser' might be good as this little chap would be rubbing shoulders with many of the Big Cats during those final days of WWII. If you can't walk the walk you can at least talk the talk...

This Panzer II will give James 15 points. Well done!

From ClintB: 10mm Mahdists & 20mm Arab Civilians (41 points)

From Clint: 

20mm Arab civilians and six more Mahdist stands again rifle armed. This has finished the rifle armed marhdits still a lot of melee armed Marhdists to go though so more I suspect next week. They are again 10mm figures from Pendraken. 

I was given these Arab civilians by Tim at IT Miniatures. Seven 20mm figures 3 adult males and a young lad and 2 adult ladies and a young girl. The Children and Ladies come in one pack and the gents come in  separate pack. As mentioned they were an unexpected gift and are for my Arab revolt game. Not sure they will get too much of an active part but more as moving scenery. 

Having taken on the feedback with regard to patches on the Jibbehs I have mostly kept them but have muted the colours. The result I am happier with than the brighter patches.

Great work Clint. I like that you kept some of the patchwork as it keeps the unit varied and interesting. My favourites though are the Arab civilians. I love the kids dashing about and again the bright colours really work nicely for this group.

The Mahdists and civilians will give Clint 41 points. Well done!

From KentG: 28mm Napoleonic French Artillery (120 points)

Kent switches from the Seven Years War back to Napoleonics with these wonderful French guns of the line.

From Kent:

Here we have four 28mm Front Rank French artillery and crew. Two are line foot and two are horse artillery. 

They were very nice to paint - slightly bigger than my Perry guns, but I quite like them. Sadly they don't get to stay at my place.

Lovely work Kent. I base my stuff on thin steel in order to have a low profile, but I must say I really do like the chunkiness of your bases - they give a great aesthetic.

These four guns and their crews will give Kent 120 points. Great Guns!