From MilesR: 28mm ACW Confederate Infantry - Hampton's Legion (121 points)

From Miles:

I’m very happy to submit the 5th and final regiment of Hood’s Brigade (circa 1862): Hampton’s Legion from South Carolina. As with all my ACW Confederates, these are the 28mm Perry Plastics. Outside of some ironclad crewman and Confederate marines (Redoubt figures) all of my ACW collection are either Perry metals or plastics. This regiment has a very unique history as it was formed and financed by the leading land owner in South Carolina, Wade Hampton and was the only regiment in the Confederate army to boast integrate cavalry and artillery companies along with the infantry - hence the “Legion” designation. In practice, while on campaign the integrated cavalry and artillery units were parceled out to more traditional commands.  The unit was attached to Hood’s “Texas” Brigade in 1862 and fourth with distinction during all the major engagements in the east during 1862. The regiment took horrific causalities at Antietam and went into reserve until reactivated to join Lee’s Gettysburg campaign where it arrived in time to cover the retreat. Wade Hampton was a very interesting character. Not only did he personally raise and fund the unit during the war, he also became a leader of the opposition to the radical republicans reconstruction. Unfortunately, Hampton lead a political movement in South Carolina known as the “Red Shirts” which advocated violence to influence elections. Today we would refer to the Red Shirts as a para-military group. Despite his unsavory affiliations, Hampton was elected governor of post-war South Carolina twice and to the US senate after that. Perhaps the only redeeming aspect of Hampton’s post war political career is that he ran his campaigns from an infamous brothel in Columbia, SC called the “Big Brick House” - his stated reasoning was to assure “privacy”. I think it somewhat fitting for a politician to be based out of brothel. Next are a few photo’s of the completed brigade, including General Hood himself. During this year’s challenge 4 of the 5 infantry regiments were painted along with the 2 guns and crews. The brigade consists of in the front row, from left to right, Hampton’s artillery battery, the 1st Texas (completed during last years Challenge) and general Hood. The second row features the 4th Texas and 18th Georgia regiments. The back row has the 5th Texas and, finally, Hampton’s Legion. I’ve really enjoyed building out the brigade. It’s one of three full brigades I’ve completed for my Confederate army, with the other two being the Stonewall brigade (everyone has that one) and a generic brigade that has more of a Western theater feel to it. The command of Hood’s brigade at my upcoming game at Historicon this year will be reserved for any Challenge participants that make their way to the con. Of course, if you prefer the side of the Union, there’s always the Iron Brigade or even the Irish brigade awaiting your orders! Wow, what a great accomplishment Miles!  I've heard of Hampton's Legion but I was not aware of his chequered past - a great unit to finish off with. Also, I'm really delighted to see the whole brigade all arrayed and ready for action. Very, very impressive. Hampton's Legion, his final unit to this project, will give Miles 121 points which is enough for him to exceed his Challenge points target. Well done and congratulations Miles! Okay, a few posts ago I had given warning that once Miles had completed this segment of his ACW project I would submit something to mark the occasion and make you all laugh. So, to keep that promise and in recognition of Miles' dual achievements below is a picture of me from many, many moons ago when I worked in Biloxi Mississippi at the Beauvoir Museum (it was taken for a newspaper article and my boss, the head curator at that time, is seen loading his musket next to me). While I was down there I re-enacted with a wonderful group of folks from the 3rd Miss. and managed to take in many, many ACW events in the South. As you can see I was rather hirsute back then (I remember taping a couple mock arrows to my chest and going as Custer during Halloween that year). My wife laughs looking at this photo as she has borne witness to the inexorable 'deforestation' of my locks and tresses. Nonetheless, those were very good times and I grin whenever I see this picture. Yeah, laugh it up people...

From RobP: Challenge Desperado & Rubber Duck (20 points)

From Rob: 

My next entry is the Painting Challenge Entry Fee Figure.. The theme being anything related to Sam Peckinpah made me look at different options since I have seen almost all of his pictures.. 

I figured that almost everybody would choose the theme of the Wild Bunch (and so it seems now..) and enter a western figure in the contest; so i decided it had to be something else... 

Starting out with Major Dundee, I came across another film that is an iconic Peckinpah work.. For those who remember the movie 'Convoy' will know what I mean...

Here he is: one of the most mentioned characters in the movie: Rubber Duck...

Nonetheless, since I thought it best to please the Judge of the Challenge I thought it would be better to have an entry that can lavish his cabinet so decided to change plans once more and to come up with yet another desperado to make up The Wild Bunch. 

Figure is from Foundry, as always easy to paint and plenty of character...

Superb work Rob. The yellow is remarkably smooth, the highlighting spectacular and the evil glint you managed to convey in its eyes is especially chilling. 

...that cowboy isn't too shabby either...

Thanks so much Rob - that's 20 points for you! I very much look forward to seeing BOTH of these in my collection in a short while.  ;)

'Yep, that's a big 10-4.' 

From PaulJ: 28mm WWII Churchill Tank (20 points)

From Paul:

Introducing "Medusa", a British Mk VII Churchill tank.  This heavy tank may not have packed the same wallop as some of the German big cats in her tonnage range, but this was tank which saw plenty of action and could take a beating.

This 28mm vehicle is by Warlord Games and I was very impressed with it as a whole.  The casting was crisp and the detail very clear.  I was also impressed with the quick and professional service I got from Warlord when I reported that the tank commander figures were missing and they duly arrived the following week no questions asked.

I've painted this tank up as part of the 4th Coldstream Guards who served with the 6th Guards Tank Brigade in Normandy.  No 13 Troop of C Squadron to be precise, along with troop mates "Minotaur" and "Minerva" all named after famous Royal Navy warships.  Why did I choose this particular unit? Because my good buddy Alan (aka Dux Homunculorum) painted his own Churchill tank as "Minotaur" last year and I wanted them to be in the same unit.  Poor Minotaur doesn't have a tank Commander figure though, which is why I painted up a second one for him as his prize in our side challenge.  Congrats mate - I'll deliver him this weekend :-)

Excellent work on this tank Paul, and the commander is a very thoughtful gift indeed (Lucky Dux). I've always loved the design of the Churchill tank - I always thought it looked to be a proud decedent  of the Mark IV's of WWI. It has such a great, brutal aesthetic about it. 

'Medusa' and the two tank commanders will give Paul 20 points.  Well done and I hope you guys have a great visit this weekend.

From TimB: 28mm Hobbitses (55 points)

From Tim:

And now for something completely different... 

I've been taken with the Song of Blades and Heroes rules lately and have been playing it with the kids a bit. I thought I'd finish up a few halflings I've had kicking around for a while to form up a warband of them. 

These lads, I'm pretty sure are from Games Workshop. I've probably had them... oh... a while and I'd pretty sure I had them painted before and a few years back stripped all the paint off to repaint... but then didn't get around to it until now... The tall square shield Is actually a spare I had left over from a batch of Foundry Picts I painted up a while back. 

I think these guys are also from Games Workshop - but I'm not 100% sure. I picked them up a few years back off ebay when we were playing a lot of Hordes of the Things. Actually I have another eight of these that are earmarked for a couple of stands of Halfling Shooters. 

Also Games Workshop...? Maybe...? I think I got them at the same time as the batch above. 

The fellow on the left is from Prince August/Mithril Miniatures, which I got in some trade. The other fellow is one of the oldest miniatures I have. I have no idea who manufactured it. I bought it back when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons in the mid-late 80s and as with some of the others above, stripped all the old paint off a few years back - all that awful testors enamel paint I used when I first started... 

I have a half dozen other halflings already painted I can add these to to make a fun little warband... 

Next I have a batch of old elves that have been sitting around for a while awaiting paint...

These are a cute bunch. I like the archer, who's having 'Second Lunch', chomping on a turkey leg and I like that you resurrected an old mini from your first days playing D&D. Very cool.

These Men of the Shire will give Tim 55 points. Time for tea and a pipe of Old Toby...

From RayR: 15mm Napoleonic Hanoverian Hussars (48 Points)

From Ray:

My next entry is a unit of twelve 15mm Napoleonic Hanoverian Hussars for the Battle of Waterloo. (They are actually Baden Hussars from Essex Miniatures, but don't tell anyone!) These rather splendid looking chaps are the Duke of Cumberland's Hussars, unfortunately they were quite unfit to where their dashing uniform. 

During the Battle they decided they'd had enough before they'd actually done anything and fled the field, all the way back to Brussels. On arriving they spread the word that Wellington had lost the battle causing panic to spread across the town. Old Nosey quite understandably wasn't impressed, the regt was immediately disbanded and the Gentleman Volunteers were assigned to menial task duties!

Lovely work Ray. I'm not sure if I've ever seen you work on Napoleonics before but I'm sure you must have. This is a beautiful regiment irrespective of their rather chequered past. It would be great to have another rendition of these fellows, still dressed in the same uniforms, but post Waterloo, ie. chopping wood and digging latrines...

These Hanoverian hussars will give Ray 48 points.