AHPC XIII: Turnip Rocket Battery

Obviously I need to close out AHPC13 with some Turnip related goodness. TBH additional travel recently saw me run out of time to do these overblown root-vegetable bangers the full justice (and extra crew) they deserve BUT they do add to our Turnip side challenge.

Master Gunner Molar oversees his Battery

Anyway, presenting two Rocket batteries for my Turnip army; one printed and the other other scratch built based on a completely impractical hitching post arrangement, and both protected from enemy musketry and giant crabs by gabions.

Squelchy rings his triangle to warn everyone that the Rockets are firing

The big hand painted banner is once again of the champaign foil design, naturally!

I couldn't resist a little homage to this classic!

Thats it for me for AHPC 13 - thanks everyone, its been a (mostly turnip filled) blast!

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/03/from-paulog-final-turnips-35-points.html

AHPC XIII: Stump Gun & Friends

I've put in some extra strangeness effort this week...

First up I present some fire support in the form of a Stump Gun, mounted on a giant slug in a vein attempt to generate some battlefield mobility. It doesn't, but on the bright side it is less likely to be stolen.

Sadly, the somewhat disturbing slime trails behind him aren't very visible in these pics

"El Slugo de Booma" is crewed by two rather, um, unusual...persons. This body horror duo are more than a little cringeworthy and Reilly made a number of complaints values based observations from across the hobby table during their creation. You're welcome.

These lads are metal Eureka models, to which I've added a pile of bits including the leftovers from a Victrix artillery piece that I converted to a bronze naval gun. Because naval guns are fabulous, obviously. I had planned a large pile of turnip ammunition next to it, but the slug ate them unfortunately. He's a rather voracious gastropod you see.

Warning: Touching El Sluggo usually results in rather unsightly skin legions...

Next up: a mounted Toady, accompanied by his faithful though emaciated (and somewhat mangey) root hound, who matches his boney carcass. 

The Toady likes to dress as a jester to give the battle a more festive vibe and keep up morale (but not morals unfortunately) amongst the otherwise dreary brawl.

Mr Maggot feels very fancy in his purple boots

These are also metal models by Eureka, though I have mixed and matched between different sets to get this combination.

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/02/from-paulog-slug-gun-friends-40-points.html

AHPC XIII: Crab Bisque

Yes - more Turnip madness! Introducing Lenny Krabbitz and Miss Shelly Snippins, a pair of Scuttling crab monsters for the "Feast of Charybdis" cult in Turnip28

Scuttlers are a unique burrowers that can manoeuvre in the subterranean filth and emerge unexpectedly to grab your turnips from behind. Bit of a nasty shock that. The howdah riders assist by helpfully pushing would be victims toward the claws and mandibles to ensure their Scuttler gets a good meal. Its a win-win for (nearly) everybody.

Lenny proudly cultivates his eyebrow tufts

I 3d printed these and in my typical fashion then obsessed with intricate details for an excessively long time. More importantly though, they were FUN to make!

Poor Lenny sports metal patches on his carapace where he came off 2nd in previous battles

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/02/from-paul-og-crab-bisque-50-points.html

Crustacean conga line!

AHPC XIII: More Turnip28 madness

Today I'm contributing to the Turnip28 madness squelching about this Challenge; apologies for my tardiness but Turnips mature slower out on the sludge sea you see. Root whales nibble at them you know....

Skirmishing Chaff. Extra long rifles give extra long range - it only makes sense really

Adding to my existing (pre AHPC) force is a unit of 4 Chaff (skirmishing types), a unit of 6 Brutes (melee specialists) plus two characters. 

Brutes - melee specialists in kilts

As usual, they are heavily converted with all sorts of bits - Medieval, Napoleonic, Afghan Tribesman, 3d printed components, home made bits, the odd Warhammer and 40k parts and of course much rummaging in the bitz box.

Yes one has a snail on his helmet and the holds aloft a Turnip standard. Judge not.

Adding rooty growths to one's helmet is a mark of martial prowess you know

This is a Toady, one of the Leaders of my motley crew. Super creepy.

He likes hugs. Do so at own risk.

His collection of turnips and tubors have taken over his body, even transforming his face. Still, despite a lack of eyes he can sniff out the best root tubers in the muck, so the boys continue to follow him. Conversion based on a 3d print from Knucklebones Miniatures.

I had fun building these, with all sorts of madness that made me chuckle often. From misaligned spyglass sights to double length rifles, hand painted flags and heraldry, it was a hoot. Its also wonderfully freeing to just do whatever one wants. Does take awhile though, to be honest. Not the most economical of hobby genres but worth it in terms of mental health and getting bewildered comments on posts :-)

And now the piece de resistance - the Toff (or General) of my army; Tiffin McSnobbingburn, self proclaimed Lord of the Carrot fields. 

'Bring me news of our Victory. And turnips - bring those also'

His snooty, holier-than-thou pose makes him far too good to walk in the filth with everyone else, so I built a viewing stand to keep him and his brandy out of the muck. Well, a suitably crappy and poorly constructed one, obviously but still, it keeps his shoes shiny and remarkably free of filth crusting.  Hand painted flag obviously, once again using the champagne foil method (Mrs Man Cave insists you know...)

'Bow down before my enormous Carrots!'

And so my Turnip28 collection now looks thus:

...with something a bit different on the horizon! :-)

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/01/from-paul-og-turnip28-madness-70-points.html

October Hobby Roundup: Heresy, Turnips and Roses

October saw another swathe of work travel, but a little bit more time at home and some actual gaming! The Horus Heresy has Reilly and I deeply immersed in the fluff and fun - the narrative gaming we are doing with club mates Marty and and Lachie is a real hoot. Here are my World Eater lads in action

The boys, eager for battle!

Turns out that clumping up like this attracts plasma like mosquitoes...

Rapier fire support

The only survivor of my Army! Kharn went on the survive 2 rounds of hand to hand combat with a Dreadnought and swagger away!

I'm working on some reinforcements...

Over the month more Turnip28 folks were constructed, so yes that madness continues...

I really like this pose, which comes from a Perry Afghan tribesman

Skirmishy type chaps with fancy longarms

Close combat Brutes in kilts!

And finally, an update for my War of the Roses Lancastrians, though I have another 70 or so figs built and ready for attention in the upcoming AHPC to join them.  I'm going to add some more character figures in livery, and then need to start considering their Yorkist adversaries.

I went initially with the 3-2-1 basing for the majority of foot troops to suit Lion Rampant but this army continues to...grow to a size that is probably beyond the scope of those rules.  I'm looking forward to Deluxe Never Mind the Billhooks being released soon, but I'll need to do some mixed Bill and Bow units which don't appear in Rampant.

I'll need to look farther afield if this develops into a larger project (like it hasn't already...) - thinking of Sword and Spear, or Clash of Spears. Would be convenient to have a common set of rules with my Roman Civil Wars project - To The Strongest maybe?

Be well!

Turnip28: descent into madness

Its been a bit busy of late, as usual, with lots of travel, but we did get to go to the local show last weekend - Mother of All Battles, aka MOAB. Nice to have it back after 2 years of pandemic cancellations.  Caught up with lots of gamer mates, bought way too much at the bring & buy - none of which I will admit to regretting - and it was a welcome injection of hobby invigoration.

My first foray into Turnip28...

Over the last month I have been drawn inexorably down the twisted and strange path of Turnip28. It started as a laugh to annoy certain historically focused gamers who frequently decry the lamentable 'space pixies', but its really grown on me.  People cleverer than I have described Turnip28 as a "delightfully dreary setting" and:

Turnip28 is a tabletop miniatures game and setting developed by British artist Max FitzGerald. The world of Turnip28 is a combination of postapocalyptic with napoleonics and root vegetables, and it's "about turnips".  (From the fab Gardens of Hectate blog: https://gardensofhecate.com/)

Its not meant to make sense. Its mad.

Toady (Leader) Porthos d'arTurnip and his faithful roothound, Vloorti.
Yes, that is a bunch of turnips attached to his fancy hat

More broadly, I am trying to develop better creativity, confidence in kit bashing and modifying figures, and just using up spare bits from old kits which might go together well. I can also take a baggie of bits and some tools with me on the road - the ability to sneak in some hobby time here and there has been great.

Making the troops look miserable in this tepid and squelchy realm is a sign of success

Hobby skills speaking, its a chop and then slap-chop paint process, which focuses on texture and grimdark appeal. Thus, its quite liberating at the hobby desk and has been a lot of fun.

Just prior to completing the basing so you can see the detail - there are bits from all sorts of sprue in there, and 3d printed bits

The rules are free (and fun looking), there is a discord to chat in, and there are free STLs available here:

https://www.patreon.com/Turnip28

Expect to see more of this deranged insanity