January Round-Up

 Hello all! January is now firmly in the rear-view mirror and all of our January entries have been posted. We've lost a few people along the way already, which is always something to be mourned, but we also have a lot of spectacular posts to review. So let's begin, shall we?

We opened with AdamH's spectacular Skaven Slaves - 25 of them!

Following them came James WRR's stunning daemonic incursion, in brilliantly vivid colors.

Jaakko brought us some wonderful Squats, including a fantastic banner.

Shadespyre produced an incredible number of Wood Elf Archers this month.

Filippo's Undead came shambling forth in impressive numbers!

JohnR painted some wonderful RT Mechanicus and servitors.

Ben's brought us some very attractive Eldar, complete with old-school decal work.

It's just not the OWAC without Mariano's Wood Elves.

Sybou's Beastmen are a marvel to look at. Love that banner!

JohnB's Dwarves made a strong opening showing with their artillery.

Tom's Chaos Renegades are wonderful. I can't get enough of the color scheme!

Slaaneshchild's presented us with a lovely (if that's the right word) collection of Plague Flagellants.

Bill's showing his Averland pride with a unit of Helblitzen.

Mustafa's got some classic beakies on display this month.

Byron is knocking it out of the park with his $5 craft paint Wood Elves!

George has made the bold choice of starting with his Bad Moon general.

PaulM's delivered the goods with some Dryads and Wood Elf Archers.

Pokrzyws' Witch Elves make a strong early showing, bringing the Cauldron of Blood with them.

Other Ben's Alpine Gnomes are looking sharp.

ChrisP's bringing da Waaaagh with these Goffs!

Ian's Undead look fantastic - I have fond memories of that skeleton kit!

Adrian's High Elf Archers are wonderful to look at - love those rich colors!

Skal's Nurgle Troopers are deliciously disgusting - and I love the black light shot with the glowing eyes!

Chris has been painting Chaos Centaurs, plus an incredible Cloud Giant as his secret santa offering!

Paul and his son Tom have had a banner month - 35 Wood Elves and 30 Skeletons, respectively!

Samuel's Grand Army of Nuln is looking spectacular - I am envious of those rich yellows!

Nathan's Dark Elf crossbows are looking sharp in a classic color scheme!

Nathan’s Dark Elf crossbows - rank and file month (222 points)

One month down and only five to go. For month one I did a unit of dark elf crossbows with command. I did eleven figures including the three command figures even though the pics show 13 figures all up. The extra two were test pieces I did last year. Points values for the figures I painted are:

- Level 5 champion with crossbow, light armor and shield, 54 points 

- Standard bearer with light armor, crossbow and shield, 28 points

- Musician with light armor, crossbow and shield, 28 points

- 8 troopers with light armor, crossbow and shield, 112 points

Total = 222 points

Anyway here they are:

Command figures (and that great Dave Andrew’s art as a backdrop)

10 crossbowmen

And my painted up figure as the price of the challenge

In February I’m doing some more rank and file figures plus a couple of cold one riders to break things up a bit. Already made good progress on them which I’ve found is the key to completing the challenge - if you can get to the end of March without using your free month it is easy from there. And my plan is not to use the free month…

Samuel's Empire: Grand Army of Nuln - Rank & File I: Captain Gruber's Guard

Okay so month one was a real slog. Caught a cold halfway through the month and then just managed to recover when my son brough home a stomach bug which took the whole family out for a week.

On top of that the Perry twin sculpts whilst incredibly beautiful miniatures are busy as all hell. It makes painting them very meticulous especially at the initial base coat colouring stages of the process. Probably the longest it’s ever taken me to basecoat a unit.

Anyhow that said I think that these are the finest paintjobs I’ve ever managed to achieve, and I’m really very pleased with them. During last years OWAC I really defined my painting style and the results are paying dividends. So, I couldn’t be happier and look forwards to painting up the rest of the army over the coming months.

The Black Guard, commissioned from the Nuln city guard with a lucrative offer. Of course lucrative normally means suicidal mission, so made up of those in crippling gambling debt, on offers to defer jail time or young and under the impression that they are invincible.

Captain Marcus Gruber, retired professional soldier and recent widower who has taken on the lucrative if doomed double commission to give himself something to do rather than drink himself into a stupor. 

For my not so secret Santa I have rat king himself AdamH, the 13th member of the council. Some years ago in order to rope me back into oldhammer after a beer fueled discussion on the matter he purchased me some Pink Horrors, just incase I decided to back out or the like (little did he know I'd already dropped a couple of hundred on evilBay). Until now I've not managed to find a fitting army for them even though I do like me some Tzeentch. However given the circumstances I thought it fitting that I paint one in tribute to his kindness:

Next month will either be the Nuln Ironsides (Handgunners) or the artillery batteries.

Peace Out

Samuel

 

Paul's Wood Elves of Avelorn: Rank and File 1: Archers sir, thousands of 'em! (506 pts)

Boom! A productive first month despite some additional obstacles away from the painting table. I decided to throw myself into the biggest unit straight away, or at least half of it at first, so I could start with some very basic plastic monopose sculpts. At the beginning of the month it honestly felt like all I was capable of painting through the post Christmas cheese fog, and it also gave me a chance to settle on a colour palette before I get to my elites later on. 

This strategy seems to have served me well as I was able to move on to the second half of the unit (which at one point was scheduled to be February's entry) and the command minis, as well as my entry fee mini (see below).

The colour scheme has ended up having a few themes or inspirations. I've continued with black undercoat, yes, even for Elves, which has resulted in slightly muted tones even when electing for bright colours as I have in green, red, and golden brown.  This has worked OK in my mind as I get the sense of a turning of the seasons and if we were going for a seasonal thematic (as many do for Wood Elves) then these are probably late Summer/Early Autumn, with the deep wine red reminding me of the nearly translucent red leaves you see at that time of year. 

The strong red and green for this main unit of the army was a slightly organic but not unwelcome tie in with the Caledor theming of my larger High Elf army. Still, I can't help thinking they look like "Rosy Apple" boiled sweets, which are also a blast of nostalgia so I don't hate that association either :)

I was considering just adding some red and green pennants to the standard and getting it finished this month, but I've decided I want to do some proper banners, so I will return to that later in the challenge.

Total for the month:

32 Wood Elf Archers (Hand weapons, Longbows) 11 pts each - 352
Wood Elf Archer Standard Bearer and Musician 22 pts each - 44 pts
Wood Elf Archer Champion (Hand weapon, Longbow) - 51
Wood Elf Mage (Hand weapon) - 59

Total: 506 pts

Entry Fee Secret Santa Mini:

My entry fee mini is a Wood Elf Musician circa WFB3. Up until very recently I thought it was a duplicate of the musician from the old Scarlok's Archers regiment of renown, who will make an appearance later in my challenge, but on closer inspection it seems that the sculpts may be related, but are not quite duplicates. It seemed the perfect entry fee mini given the number of Wood Elf armies being painted this year.

I've painted him in the same late summer/early autumn colour palette as the rest of January's output, but have hopefully made him a bit brighter and bolder with his green hair and red boots. I do like the process of painting up a mini for someone else, and think it really adds something to the OWAC., so he was painted with love and will be in the post to his new home soon :) 

Tom's bony bit:

This month I have  finished two refurbished units of Skeleton Warriors,  and created 2 new  skeletal beastmen. I found making them quite challenging (sticking the cheeky things together!) but I found choosing my own bits to create my own skeleton beastmen very fun. 

I've included beastmen because I want to show all my Dad's armies I've defeated and used to raise my skeletons, so I also plan to use High Elf and Orc and Goblin parts later in the OWAC.

I have used a mix of Vallejo and Citadel acrylics and contrast paints using the dark red as one of the theme colours for my OWAC project to match my undead giant and dragon which I painted last Summer.

Next month I shall be painting my Wraiths and Ghosts as I will need a break from my cheeky skeletons ! :)

Total for the month:

16 Skeleton  Spearmen inc. musician and standard bearer (w/ spears and shields) - 180 pts
14 Skeleton Warriors inc. musician and standard bearer (w/ hand weapon and shields) -  144 pts

Total: 324 pts

Good luck for the next month,

Tom

Well, that's it from us. It feels great to get the first month under our belts, but boy has it been a tough month away form the OWAC. The hobby has been a real refuge this month and I have really felt the benefit of bonding with my son, therapeutic batch painting, and the generosity of the group in the form of my Secret Santa entry fee mini arriving on a day when I really needed a boost. 

Thanks as always to everyone taking part and keeping it thriving, it really is a great thing to be a part of and this is just the beginning! :)

Chris' Chaos Army Month 1 - Rank & File

So it's been a good month, I haven't painted a centaur since the 1980's. I can't remember who made them but enjoyed painting. It was great to paint the Ral Partha Cloud Giant as my Secret Santa for this challenge. The unit is 10 strong, with shields and light armour, lead by a lvl 15 hero at 590 points

The secret Santa giant turned out well but the skin took forever before I was happy with it.

Next month I'll complete the thug cavalry. Don't much like painting cavalry so intend to get them out of the way early.

Skål's Blessing's of Nurgle (Troop, Rank and File choice)

In the shadow of a desolate world, Death Guard warriors, embodiments of decay and pestilence, descended upon the unsuspecting Imperial Guard regiment like a plague unleashed from the void. The Death Guard Marines, their armor corroded and dripping with vile ichor, advanced relentlessly through the toxic mists, their presence suffocating hope itself.

The Imperial Guard, valiant but outmatched, stood resolute, their lasguns trembling in the face of inevitable doom. With stoic determination, they formed their ranks, their commanders barking orders amidst the chaos, trying to hold back the encroaching tide of death.

But the Death Guard cared not for mortal valor. With baleful weapons and diseased might, they tore through the Imperial lines like paper, spreading contagion and despair with every step. Plague-ridden shells burst amidst the ranks, dissolving flesh and bone in seething cauldrons of corruption.

The battlefield became a grim tableau of carnage, as the Death Guard's inexorable advance left nothing but ruin in its wake. Against such overwhelming force, the Imperial Guard's resistance faltered, their valiant stand shattered by the relentless march of the Death Guard

As the last echoes of battle faded into the toxic haze, the Death Guard stood victorious, their triumph a testament to the unyielding might of Chaos. The once-proud Imperial Guard lay broken and defeated, a grim reminder of the unforgiving nature of war in the grim darkness of the far future.

This month I dove into my Rogue Trader Chaos Marines with the glee of a Nurgling playing at the feet of Father Nurgle. I had quite a few ideas in my head of how I wanted these marines to look. 

This is the first time I had ever used Contrast paints and I was super happy with the basic results of them. Of course, I only used them as the beginning of my paint job as I needed to add highlights, shadows, and gore, lots of beautiful gore.

I loved painting all of the gore, tentacles, and gross bits.

As the unit was not 10 marines strong (seven being the blessed number of Nurgle) I needed to add a few more models to reach the 10 model count. I could not think of a better thing to add a few bases of Papa Nurgle's little blessings in the form of a few bases of Nurglings. I love these little guys. The way they are presented in the stories, they are always such happy little disasters.

In the grim chaos of battle, Nurglings, mischievous manifestations of Nurgle's rot, capered gleefully at the feet of the Death Guard marines. Amidst the carnage, these jovial daemons scampered, their infectious laughter echoing amidst the din of war. Oblivious to the bloodshed around them, they tugged at tattered banners and frolicked, spreading contagion with each playful touch. The Death Guard, embodiments of decay, paid little heed to the antics of their diminutive allies, their attention fixed on the grim task of spreading Nurgle's blessings. Together, in the maelstrom of war, they heralded the inexorable advance of decay and desolation.

I also had a lot of fun painting up my offering which can be seen here receiving his marching orders to support the dwarven effort on this year's OWAC. I sculpted the Bugmans Beer mug to match my unit of Bugmans Rangers. I also left the base blank so that he could be properly based by his new commander.

"Forget no insult, my sons, as I have never forgotten those of my father, of the Emperor, nor those of Horus. Forgive no slight or grievance. Hold your bitterness deep within, and there let it fester. Let it roil and squirm and churn, until you are filled with bile so poisonous that all you touch falls to ruin. Thus shall you serve Nurgle best. Thus shall you spread his virulent gifts across the false Imperium, and watch its final rotting..." — Mortarion, Daemon Primarch of Nurgle

Welcome back to all of the returning painters. You know the drill, wait till the last two days and paint your ass off. To the fresh bloods, paint early, paint often, you are never ahead as Chaos is always present. 

Till next month, I raise my horn to all of the challengers.

SKÅL

(This just seemed fitting for my Nurgle month)

Adrian's Rank & File month 1 - Sharpshooters! (217 points)

 

The high elves are proud of their archery skills since their rise as an empire. Professional armies made good use of this elite troops. However, after the war of the beard and the disbandment of large portions of the once majestic imperial elf army, these corps have been made of trained levies.

Still highly skillful archers besting the elite marksmen of other races and usually commanded by war veterans.

By the time of the crisis of Tor Nimtala, one of the last settlements on the continent, Nevarth's Sharpshooters were an effective combat unit capable of defend themselves against hordes of greenskins and beastmen harassing their domain.

Nevarth's worked with the lack of support from Ulthuan after the High King's order of abandoning the continent, and opted to mix the levies from the tiranoc and nagarythean lineages of his lieges, in order to boost their camaraderie in case that the unit shall increase their numbers in a major conflict.

They sport the colours of the differnt houses and mix together to compose a colorful and lethal unit. If you see their banner, you're about to get a deadly shoot.

Apart of my theme of a combined army of Nagarythe and Tiranoc levies, I used the mixed colours and patterns to improve the character of the unit. I love the monopose archers and think that they retain much more character and are in every way better than more modern plastics or even many of the 3rd party attempts at elf archers.

However, as we all know, a regiment, not even a large one, can be tedious to paint and boring to display with only one pose available.

12x Archers with a Champion, banner and musician - 217 points

Lastly, my secret santa's offering

Sorry for the blurry picture of the front, but I almost forgot to take the photos besides it has been painted even before knowing that Mariano was my secret santa.

Next month, hope that I can complete the spearmen in time (with mixed colours AND freehanded shields!).

Until then, Adrian's out.