Paul D's army shot for the end of OWAC V

Having reviewed my efforts whilst taking these pictures I'm coming round to the idea that my struggles with getting them finished - was me, rather than the army choice, my mojo just simply evaporated in the last couple of months, and the only thing that got me there was sheer bloody grit (obviously, that's the Scot/northerner in me). So on with the show - a few close-ups of individuals and units to show off all my shaky brush work and casting lines I didn't file away.

First up, a general shot of the army without my face looming over it.

Ashigaru, hopefully, when it comes to actually playing with these chaps they'll provide a steady stream of bowfire.

One of my Samurai units - to slice and dice

A second Asigaru unit - you can never have enough bows

The mounted samurai to provide a mobile reserve

More ashigaru carrying more bows

A second unit of samurai to hold the other flank.

Finally, a photo of the army with my army pose!

Oh, and if you look very carefully, you might even find a ninga, good luck.

Next year for the tenth BOYL, these boys and girls will be playing the part of the rescue party of a big game, played over the course of the weekend, I've been planning for a number of years. So, if you're going to be there and want to play the part of a chaos wizard (wishing to commune with his god), a hard bitten Imperial captain (hoping to survive, until he retires), an ogre mercenary (looking for work), a gang of giants (looking for trouble), a family of trolls (on a camping trip), a band of wolf riders (escorting the wizard and his entourage), a clan of barbarians (bent on revenge) or an army of black orcs (playing the part of the local heavies), the choice is yours and if, the wizard makes the appropriate sacrifice there might even be a demon horde (next years OWAC), let me know? All will be catered for, with individual missions and targets over the course of the weekend!

My challenge for next year a Chaos undivided lesser demon horde, who could  show up in the game, if, the rescue party doesn't do their job! All inspired by previous entries, see you all next year.

Paul D's month Six, ten Samurai (500 points)

By hook and by I crook I got here, but, I'm not sure how! I'll be honest, haven't made the best job of this months entry - as I just wanted to get them done. So, no washes or fine details, just flat colour applied with all the grace of a household paint brush, or at least that's how I feel they look., sorry.

Here's their story in pictures from my initial application to their basing material being applied

                                            

Hopefully, when their mixed in with the others they'll be hidden.

May's contribution to the challenge has been a struggle (leader's month) (779 points)

Still not sure how I'm managing to keep in this fight to be honest, simply going through the motions and dabbing paint on to figures with little or no enthusiasm, really lost my sparkle on the painting front at the moment. Any way, less of me moaning and lets show you the results of my megre efforts - five magicians and nine samurai which have taken a battering before they reached a table!

Let their story unfold - First up, the magicians. on first inspection a fairly paint job, should be in order, but then you notice the beaded necklace, the flower decoration to the cuffs and bottom of the over garment and then you've got to make them look-like individuals when its the same figure!

The finished article, see the differences?

Then we have the slice and dice merchants - samurai.

If, you care to compare the figures you'll notice that a few are slightly damaged or have missing weapons - all down to an accident at the end of them receiving a coat of colour! these things are sent to try us, yes?

Anyway, according to Ravening hordes, this little lot pushes my total points up by two hundred and seventy five points for the magicians (level ones) and five hundred and four points for the samurai. Hope to see you next month.

Paul D's April contingent - More Ashigaru (170 points)

I'll be honest, after my initial enthusiasm with this challenge I'm really struggling to complete leaders month, so I'm throwing another batch of troops to simply make the cut for this month with a few extras and overs from my previous efforts to give a little variety to the final selection. A single mono-pose figure from the original C series collection.

 

 Here they are with a little colour behind the ears.

Finally, with the missing one and their mates.

Here's hoping I can complete the task, see you next month.

Paul D's March post - My wild-card month (645 points)

The way to hell is paved with good intentions - mine was learning quite quickly over the preceeding months that I may have set myself a hard goal for the month of April, which was to be my leaders month with a planned five magicians, ten samurai and five monks, I therefore intended to bring forward the painting of the five magicians and monks to March with the planned archers thus ensuring I can give the samurai the TLC they deserve in April.

Unfortunately, at the start of March I fell ill, as did most of my family with a heavy cold which left us all with a hacking cough, which meant I fell behind with work as well as my painting - I'm therefore going to throw my joker into the ring and give you what I can from my extras and overs and what I've managed to spread a little paint over in March.

First up the monks as they're a fairly straight forward paint-job being mostly half naked and thus simple to apply a lick of paint, managed to rattle them off fairly quickly.

http://solegends.com/citc/c005orientals/index.htm

A scattering of Ashigaru.

A ninga to be hidden somewhere with the army, to be called upon when required!

A half a dozen mounted samurai to add a touch of speed to this otherwise collection of footsoldiers.

Finally, here's a progress shot of the magicians, I hoping to finish them before the end of the month, but suspect I'll be carrying them over into April.

 So here's a group shot of my offering for March.

Paul D's January rank and file post for OWAC V (100 points)

Please find below pictures of my initial splashing of paint over rank and file miniatures for OWAC V, these will be playing the part of retainers for my Nippon army for a large game I'm planning to put on at BOYL 2023, yes, this is a very small part of a much larger project.

I'm drawing inspiration from the Osprey - men at arms series, Samurai amries 1550 - 1615AD by SR Turnbull and illustrated by Richard Hook and the Osprey, elite series, Early Samurai 200 - 1500AD by Anthony Bryant and illustrated by Angus McBride. I'm sure my efforts will prove dis-appointing when compared with either set of colour plates, I can, but, try.

A series of pictures of my initial duabing of base colours over my first batch of rank and file archers, followed with a bit of highlights, detail, washes, based and varnished.

I've added a few additional figures from this months 'extra and overs' when basing, so that I can mix in the mono-pose 'C' series figures to give a selection of different poses on the multi-bases. This will give me total of ten figures for January at ten points each, giving a total of a hundred points.

 Final series of pictures following the addition of flock and gravel with pva glue.

So 10 archers + light armour = 100 pts

 Next month more archers.