AHPC Entry 3-

As a change of pace this week I started work on Mithridates VI light troops and cavalry.  The grind of painting large blocks of pike was starting to get to me.  I still have at least one more pike unit to go, which I hope to complete this weekend.  I will be glad to get these done and move on.

Speaking of hold your nose and paint it style units,  I finished up 24 Greek bow this week.   I am not sure why but I have never enjoyed painting bow units.  I guess its weird but I always feel like they are just filler for an army.   (speaking of weirdness I also hate painting shoes)

While in the picture they are ranked up I plan to used them as 2-12 figure skirmish units.  All the bow are Wargames Foundry, collected during my misspent youth. 

I took the photography advice offered last week and went with a solid back drop and lots of light.  I think I may have too much light as it appears to have some glare on the pictures.  Sorry about that.  .



Heres a close up of the boys.




I was also able to finish one unit of 12 Greek style cavalry.   The figures are Wargames Foundry's Macedonian Companion's but I shortened the Xyston a bit so they look a little more generic .   Mithridates VI had large quantities of high quality cavalry. I plan for a least a couple units of Greek style heavy cavalry with some Persian or Armenian style cavalry to give it more of an eastern look.

Here's a close up



and like all good runway models they turn with attitude to give you the view from the rear.




24 foot at 5 points each is 120 points.  12 cavalry at 10 points each is also 120 points.  For a total of 240 points.  I will not admit to using a calculator in that story problem!

Analog Hobbies Painting Challenge- Second Entry

In continuation of my last challenge post the pike production continues.   I neglected to mention some vital details last go around. The figures are Wargames Foundry for the most part.  These guys have been sitting on my shelf for years and years.  I think it was partly intimidation and partly laziness that kept me from getting to them until now.  I think a combination of Simon Millers work Thebigredbatcave and the excitement of the painting challenge is what pushed me to start working on these guys.

The great thing about building a pike block, as some of you mentioned, is this will give me the core of multiple successor style armies. While Mithridates VI used pike only in the early part of his conflict with Rome, I wouldn't have felt right not building some Pontic pike.

This week I was able to finish two more blocks of pike, bringing total production to 5.   I love the look of massed pike but the repetitive nature is starting to wear on me.

To mix things up, I changed the formula a bit.   Most of my earlier pike were predominantly white.  I am pretty happy with the way this group in black worked out

 




This weeks second group in red didn't turn out as well as I would like.  The Foundry shields in many cases have a cast-on shield design.  Red design over the white shield came out a little sloppy.  But done is done.






The original plan called for a third unit this week but I was distracted by the Armor challenge and cut off painting on the last block of pike to knock out my Armor entry.

And of course the obligatory class picture.   Once I get all six done I will post the full group.   The photography part of the challenge has become a challenge in itself.   I really love the pictures you guys post of your figures.  I am still struggling to get the right level of detail, lighting and composition. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for taking a look. Check my math but 64-28mm figures at 5 points each should be 320 points.

Analog Hobbies First Submission

Hello all.  This is my first post for this years Painting Challenge.  This was such a great experience for me last year I am back for another go around.   This year I am planning on painting the core of two armies.   I am doing Mithridatic Ponts and Caesarian era Romans.  

I decided to start with the Ponts.  They are a mixed bag of Macedonian style successors with a strong Asiatic and Persian influence.  My first entry is part of the pike block I am building for the 1st Mithridatic war.  Like most successor style armies the Ponts were centered around the pike block. These guys are fun to paint but the big 32 figure units tend to wear the fun pretty thin.

Since the start of the challenge I have been able to finish three pike units.   I had some issues with deciding how to base them but settled on a semi-arid looking theme.  At least I hope its semi-arid looking . 

The last 10 days was very educational for me.   I learned that is a huge pain in the rear to paint pike when the pike is already glued in the hands of the figure. There is an obscene amount of "travel time" when moving from one figure to another. 

I also learned that whoever came up with the idea of using steel rods to simulate pike is equal parts genius and sadist. Those dang things are really sharp but very durable.

By my count 3 units of 32 figures is 96 28mm figures which I believe is 480 points. I hope to finish the last three units in the next week or so.  
 

Here's the class photo. The pikeman on the far right was not very attractive so the photographer partially excluded him. 

Analog Hobbies Painting Challenge Prep Work

With less than 24 hours to go until the kick off of the painting challenge I thought I would post pictures of my completed prep work.  By the rules of the competition we are allowed to base and prime figures but no painting until 12:01 December 20th.  

This year I am shooting for the moon.  I am aiming for 2500 points which equates to roughly 500 28mm figures.  Its a big stretch for me, as last year I was only able to paint 200 during the challenge period.  That was with a hiatus in the middle of the challenge for terrain boards and other distractions.

There are a couple of reasons I think I can increase my output this year.   I am ready.  As you can see from the pictures I am primed and ready to pain. Most of the troops I am painting are uniformed or have the same basic scheme. Primarily I think I can complete this because I will not be taking time off to build terrain boards.  Just to be sure I get started with the right motivation I am coming off a 2 week painting hiatus.  At 12:01 tomorrow I'll be on those pike blocks like a fat kid on a cheeseburger.

 

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Out of Hibernation

Despite the total lack of posts here gaming and painting have been in full swing.    Since the Painting Challenge is just around the corner I figured I had better blow the dust off this blog and see if I still remembered how to type.

I am pretty excited about the Painting Challenge.  Last year was my first year participating and I had a blast.  The community is amazing not to mention the motivation to paint the challenge provides.  

Last year I was able to paint about 200 WWI French and Germans. Of course in the middle of the challenge I took a 3 week break to make terrain boards (not the best plan).    This year I will be trying to more than double my painting output.  I am going to focus on Romans and Ponts.   My goal is to complete two armies and run a game at Cold Wars in March. Which should work well since the painting challenge runs from December 20th to March 20th

The rules of the challenge allow participants to prime and assemble figures before the start date but no painting can occur until the start on December 20th.    I will post some pictures of the process leading up to the challenge.  At this point I think I have gone through 4 cans of spray primer!

Check out the rules for this year and the posts from last year at

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

Last Post in the Analog Hobbies Painting Challenge

Its hard to believe its over.  This challenge has been a blast.   Thank you all for your support and encouragement!  A special thanks to Curt for playing ring master to this circus.   Dave thanks so much for wrangling me on a weekly (or some what weekly) basis. 

On to this weeks entry.  Fitting as a last entry is the last of the Senegalese Triailleurs.  I was able to add 2 more squads and a supporting heavy Machine gun.   All the figures are from Gripping Beast.

In addtion to the Senegalese I was able to finish my Curtgeld in the form of none other than Rudi Schweinsteiger "The Black Count" star of the game we are running at Cold Wars this week.  All credit for the name goes to Sydney Roundwood.  His amazing site has been a huge inspiration for me as we took the plunge in to World War I.  Here is a link to his amazing site.  Roundwood's World



 In our games using the cards that Sidney designed, Rudi Schweinsteiger became a huge favorite so I felt it was only fitting to give him his staring role. 

 In hindsight,  I would be more thoughtful in my planning for the challenge.   I would have like to participate in the bonus themes but taking on the terrain board project precluded any such fun. In other words I needed control my spastic nature and stay focused!

Thanks again this has been a great experience for me. 

25-28mm figures

Analog Hobby Painting Challenge--8th Entry

Sorry for the long delay between posts.  We have been working on terrain boards for the Cold Wars Game.
I was able to squeeze in a few Senegalese Triailleurs.  The figures are from Gripping Beast.  Really nice castings.  They come with a standard body but are provided with separate heads that include Senegalese, Regular Poilu and Foreign  Legion.  I really like the concept.

In the front right and in the back left you can see a special figure they make with a trooper wielding a coup coup knife. Sorry for the photography, I really have to talk to that guy.

19-28mm figures

There were some requests for pictures of all the French together.   Here are a couple with the new terrain boards.