Accepting the challenge

It's that time of year again, the annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

I've thrown my hat in again this year. It will be my third go around. My first year was acceptable. Last year I seem to have had assistance from painting elves in the middle of the night; blowing through my goals several times. Counting on the same elves to show up this year I put myself in for 1500 points, even though the Challenge is slightly shorter this year.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the spectacular models my fellows will produce, and hoping not to bring down the general tone of the affair too much.

Time Travel

I looked up today and realized that it is the last day of October. I'm flabbergasted at how quickly this year is passing. I have not been hobbying a lot this summer. The extent of it has been reading blogs, playing a few games with Rhys and assembling and priming models for the winter, in hopes of Curt running another Analogue Painting Challenge.

I need to get back in the habit of posting here, clearly. That means I need to get in the habit of playing games and painting, which seems like a pleasant obligation.

Conway Castle

So as a place holder, here's a picture of Conway Castle, looking out over the river, taken from the highest point of the town walls.

A blog prize and some insight

I recently won a blog giveaway from Jon at the Palouse Wargaming Journal.  Jon is one of those very generous gamers that you always hear about.  He has personally broadened my hobby horizons, beyond the first class content of his blog.

The prize I selected was Henry Hyde's The Wargaming Compendium; a book I've heard a lot about, but never seen.

Rebel Minis release the Widowmaker

Rebel Minis, a company that I talk about quite a bit, has a new release this week that looks perfect for 15mm mechs.  The Earth Force Widowmaker.  These are being released as 28mm battle suits, but look to be well sized as light/medium mechs for 15mm.

Picture from Rebel minis.  Used without permission.

Visiting Blighty

Off to the airport for a visit to England and Wales.  At least for the next week and a half I'll have an excuse for not posting much.  If I get to a computer then I'll put up some pictures of whatever we're visiting, though castles in Wales are a given.

Cheers!

Memorial Day

It is Memorial Day in the United States.  It's a three day weekend and Americans traditionally go camping and have BBQs on this day.  It's also the day we honor those who have fought and died for us.  As always today I'll be presenting you with my friend John Maloney.

An amazing gift

I recently received a box from Japan.  I have ordered a couple of models from over there before but this was something very different. Aaron from Here's not great matter saw my interest in some of the Japanese models for 15mm Sci/Fi and picked up a bunch of stuff from his local model store.

Plastic goodness from across the Pacific.

Entry 20 - "It's Alive!" Curt Geld and Anti-Hero bonus round

This entry is both my entry for the Anti-Hero round and my Curtgeld.  I did quite a bit of research on this one.  First off was just making sure I had a good definition for anti-hero.  Once I had that it was a matter of researching the available models to find one that was appropriate for this theme.  While I had great fun perusing the catalogs of my favorite manufacturers I didn't find anything until I got to Eureka USA's site.  As soon as I saw this set I knew it was my entry.

Dr. Frankenstein and his Monster.

Entry 19 - 24 Celtic Warriors

This entry is twenty four Celtic infantry as a four element warband for Hail Caesar.  These 28mm figures are a mix of Black Tree, Warlord and Wargames Factory.

24 Celtic warriors with spears.

Entry 18 - 3 Wargames Factory Celt Chariots

This week's entry is three 28mm Celt chariots from Wargames Factory.  This is the contents of a single box, so good value for money, but craptastic sculpts.

Three chariots for Hail Caesar.

Entry 17 - 12 Fireforge Men-at-Arms

As a change of pace, this next entry is 12 28mm Men-at-Arms from Fireforge Games.  I've painted these up for Lion Rampant, but with another eight models they'll work for Bretonnians for Warhammer as well.

Fireforge Games 28mm Foot Sergents.

Entry 16 - 11 28mm Dwarfs

This entry is the rest of the army from last week.  These are the eleven models that I wasn't able to prime until right before the weekend.

Eleven Dwarfs.

Entry 17 - Vth Analogue Painting Challenge - Hot Bonus round

Agent Lake is a 28mm model from Brigade Games (US), Pulp Heroines.

Agent Lake,

Entry 15 - Vth Annual Analogue Painting Challenge - Dwarfs

This next entry is 28 28mm Dwarfs from Games Workshop for Lord of the Rings; that being the unofficial theme of this year's challenge apparently.

Gimli leading a bunch of short and nasty Dwarfs.

Bonus round - Myth - 28mm Mumak of Harad

My entry for the myth bonus round was a Mumak of Harad for Lord of the Rings.  This is a huge model and dominates any table it is put on.

The base is amazing.

Entry 14, Part 3 - Vth annual Analogue Painting Challenge - The Raisuli

This last model was not part of the plan for the Challenge.  Of course once I hit my goal everything is extra, but I had no intention of painting Boromir any time soon.  I don't have anything against him.  He's pretty great in the game, but he's also very expensive.  I tend to shy away from the uber heroes and try to bring more guys.

Boromir.

Entry 14, Part 2 - Vth annual Analogue Painting Challenge - The Raisuli

The next entry was supposed to be for the Victorian themed round.  My son's birthday party was that Saturday and after three hours of wrangling kids around the pool I sat down to base this model.  Two hours later I woke up and it was way too late to get him based and have the sand/glue dry.

The Raisuli

Entry 14, Part 1 - Vth annual Analogue Painting Challenge - Pike & Shotte

The first entry for this week is an ECW Pike and Shotte regiment.  These are 36 28mm plastic models from Warlord Games.

The blue coat regiment

Entry 13 - Vth Analogue Painting Challenge - 28mm Celt Cavalry

This next entry is, surprisingly, more Celts.  These are six 28mm Celt light cavalry from Wargames Factory.  There are twelve cav in the box so I made six mediums and these lads lights with javelins.

Six riders with javelins.

Lion Rampant

One of my Christmas presents was a copy of Dan Mersey's Lion Rampant rules.  While these are designed for medieval warfare they will work just fine for any sword and board type of troops.  They are a skirmish level game, with units of twelve, or sometimes six models.  Much is simplified in the name of game play but they work very nicely and are very quick to pick up.  This, however, is not a review of the rules.

Cirion leads his men against Isengard raiders.