From BenG: 20mm French Napoleonic Infantry (36 points)

Ben sends us this great entry of nine French Napoleonic infantry in 20mm scale.

From Ben:

Here's my first contribution to this year's challenge; a 20mm 9 figure battalion of French infantry clad in post-1812 Bardin regulation uniform based for our club rules, Cold Steel. They are manufactured by Schilling Miniaturen who are a German company, with a small range of mainly French and Brunswick infantry. Hopefully they produce more because they are sweet to paint!

Very nice work Ben. I really like that model of the loading fusilier with the close-positioned legs, biting the gun cartridge - very evocative of the period, I think. I was looking over the entire range and there are some brilliant vignettes available. A great find.

Ben gets 36 points for these lads.

From ChrisP: 1:285 Modern Air, Armour, Land & Submarine!! (150 points)

As you can see Chris has turned the heat up on the Challenge with producing a veritable invasion force in modern microscale.

From Chris:

First up here we have some USMC Armour. A platoon of 4 M1A1 Abrams tanks, and an understrength company of 10 M60A1 tanks (should be 14), upgraded with Blazer Reactive Armour.

Then we have the LAR Company, with it's 10 LAV-25 along with their dismounted infantry. In game terms, a LAV can't transport infantry, but is better in Firefight (actually one of the best in the game).

fThen we have the support elements for the LAR, consisting of 2 spare LAV-25's, 2 LAV Mortars and 4 LAV TOW.

On to the Infantry!

First up we have the infantry Command elements, 2 LAV Command and 1 M577 with a Battalion XO out front.

Then we have the grunts, 20 bases of USMC infantry armed with M16s and good intentions. They are in a representation of MOPP suits which they invaded Iraq in, but have been based pretty generic so that I can use them for Iraq, or for defending Germany.

Then there are the Infantry Support Weapons. Front rank is two Scout-Snipers, then 5 Dragon ATGM teams behind. Behind them is 4 Stinger MANPAD teams.

But of course, the Marines need a sweet ride. For all your amphibious assault needs, you have the AAV-7, an enormous amphibious vehicle. One is from Scotia, the others are from GHQ.

Lastly here are some random support elements, this time 2 HMMWV, a 1 M109 SP Howitzer and a ground mounted Avenger Missile System.

Below we have 2 shots of a US Coastguard Helicopter, which will be used as an objective/cool looking thing for our moderns game. The model is a plastic kit from Tamiya, and is slightly smaller at 1/350th scale. I do love the colours, so I can handle it being a little small!

Next up is some real support for the Marine landing party. This takes the form of a Trafalgar Class Attack Submarine! This is a 1/350th scale plastic kit which I simply couldn't resist when I saw it. A little converting, plus a made base with some putty to make breakwater later, we have a sweet as support weapon! Initially designed to defeat enemy submarines, the Trafalgar class was equipped to be able to fire Tomahawk Cruise Missiles out of it's torpedo tubes! Which is ridiculously cool. As you can see from the scale shot, it is enormous! 

Wow, that is a shed-load of little models Chris - very impressive. That submarine is 'da bomb' (and I'm sure it carries a few as well). For this entry Chris gets 150 points.

From JamesB: 28mm F&IW Woodland Indians (60 points)

James sends in this great group of Woodland Indians from the French & Indian Wars.

From James:

These 12 figures are mostly from Redoubt Miniatures I have been painting French Indian Wars stuff for over a year now and love the period. I chose these to do first for two reasons, first a shamless attempt to gain extra points by showing figures from a war that played a huge part in forming Curts country :) second any of these FIW figures I get done before boxing day I can drop off with my Dad.

Excellent stuff James! I really like what you've achieved with the skin tones - very nice work.

This war party will give James 60 points to put on the board. 

From MichaelA: 28mm British Camel Corps & 7lb Screw Gun with Crew (45 points)

Michael sends in this lovely detachment of 28mm Victorian soldiery.

From Michael:

After what feels like two days of non stop painting I've finally completed my first entry!  All from the Perry brothers' Sudan range, we have three members of the dismounted Camel Corps supporting a 7lb Screw gun and crew.  Delighted to get my first points on the board before the Christmas break.

You can almost smell the axle grease, sweat and gunpowder (and perhaps a wafting scent of qabili palao and chutney?).

Beautiful work Michael. These lads with their 'door-knocker' will give you 45 points, officially marking your entry on the points roster. Well done.

Cooking the Challenge Books

I've been wringing my hands, mulling over the score system for a few months now, wanting to make sure it is as fair as possible between the various scales. Since the Challenge announcement some folks have commented that the scoring for 6mm models may be too generous in comparison to the larger scales. I didn't want to hastily change anything, but having myself just finished some 6mm and 3mm (!) projects I now agree with that assessment. 

So, with the sweeping power of a (benevolent) despot I'm adjusting the scoring thus:

6mm foot figure = 0.5 point

6mm mounted figure, artillery piece, crew served weapon = 1 point

6mm vehicle = 2 points 

10mm foot figure = 1 point

10mm mounted figure, artillery piece, crew served weapon = 2 points

10mm vehicle = 3 points

To me this seems to jive better in relation with the other scales.

I'll adjust the scoring page accordingly. For those to whom I have already published their  6mm / 1:285 scale submissions (i.e. Seb) I will of course honour those points.

The Ministry of Truth thanks you for your attention to this matter.

Now, back to your benches - I want to see blood between brush and finger! Drummer pick up the pace! Flank Speed!