AHPC9: (Anti) Fellowship Bonus Round

I thought I would address this bonus round from the opposite side of the theme, while also completing my Season IX Curtgeld.

This is Lurtz, Saruman's first Uruk-Hai Commander - destroyer of the Fellowship of the Ring.  Leading a small warparty of Uruks, Lurtz tracked and attacked the Fellowship in the ruins of Amon Hen.  While he was defeated in this encounter, its outcomes saw the Gondorian hero Boromir slain and the Fellowship broken.

This is a 28mm GW fig in their smaller (and nicer IMO) LOTR proportions.  I have used Vallejo Mahogany Brown as the base for the skin to fit with his dark tone in the movie.  As a Curtgeld figure I have refrained from the basing so that it can match the rest of the horde when it arrives.

Points wise that is 5 points for 28mm fig, plus 20 points for Curtgeld an adding the bonus round 50 points - that's a high yield 75 points for a single figure! :-)

https://analogue-hobbies-theme-rounds.blogspot.com/2019/03/fellowship-from-paulog-find-halfling.html

AHPC9: DAK Infantry, Command and vehicles

Presenting the final submission for my DAK Army - Panzergrenadiers!

Infantry (with each 3 squads each separated into their rifle and LMG groups) a Platoon HQ squad, both light and medium mortars in support, and a flammenwerfer trooper in case I want to field the platoon as Sappers.  Forged in Battle (FiB) figures.

For early desert war encounters I will mount them in trucks as Shutzen but in later engagement during the Tunisia/Torch era they will be Gepanzerte Grenadiers riding fancy new SdKfz 251 halftracks (PSC Hanomags, FiB Command variant)

Here is the Kampfgruppe Kommander and his Command halftrack (FiB figures)

To keep the boys in fighting shape, the medical support team: a medic, stretcher bearers and a SdKfz 251 ambulance variant. Taking these in Battlegroup increases the resilience of your force, so they have a real, on table effect.  I haven't really in this capability before and am looking forward to trying them out. Combination of Peter Pig and FiB figures, Ambulance by FiB.

And to keep those Allied Jabos off their backs, an SdKfz 10/5 with a 2cm FlaK mount (Battlefront model)

I also finished off some minor terrain pieces - 5 haystacks for the 15mm Russian village I did back in AHPC 8 (and then misplaced before I could paint them), and a small area of rough desert terrain.

Thats a total of 56 Infantry and weapons crews (2 points each), a mortar (4 points), 7 vehicles (8 points each) and the terrain for a submission total of 180 points - 182 awarded with a couple of bonuses.

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/from-paulog-dak-infantry-and-vehicles.html

That is the last of my DAK submissions, which have been spread across both AHPCs 8 and 9.  While I am sure that there will be future additions that is the last currently planned. I'm pleased with their veteran but cohesive look, and all the early war vehicle diversity it incorporates.  I am looking forward to taking some Army pics of them all together soon.

And as if that wasn't enough, this submission not only a new AHPC Personal Best it takes me over 4,000 points totalled during my five AHPC seasons (yes, I know some people do that in a single season...).  Thanks to everyone for all the kind comments and words of encouragement along the way.

This is exactly how I feel having finished this army! :-)

Returning to the FIW with Rebels & Patriots

Light Infantry screen the flank of the advancing Redcoats

A wonderful return to the French Indian War last night with Alan, using the new Rebels & Patriots rules (the latest of the Rampant series of games, which we have really enjoyed). Didn’t get everything right but it gave a fun and quick game. It was nice to have forces painted and ready to go!

The British army in its element

French Indian allies failed to activate twice and then fled off the board - the British must have given them a better offer! French light troops and sharpshooters then took the objective ridge-line and the redcoat lines advanced upon them.

Having faced the French fusillade with resolve, British regulars go in with the bayonet

The British took some casualties and enjoyed the proximity of their commander to help with their morale checks and keep advancing. They then got stuck in with the bayonet and cleared the feature. 

The Redcoats pursue the retreating French without pause

The Grenadiers assaulted the last unit and the French Commander, Lieutenant Pierre Pouchot, was taken into captivity. 
Ransom has been set at one Matilda tank (its a long story...)

Lieutenant Pierre Pouchot gives his parole

AHPC 9: Jeanne d'Arc

As we enter the last 3 weeks of AHPC9, my latest submission is a foray into a new period for me, the Hundred Years War, and my first ever submission for Sarah's Choice.

Contemporary illustration of the Maid of Orleans

Jeanne d'Arc is an amazing historical female personality, and the ultimate glass ceiling breaker of the Medieval age.



From a humble French peasant background, Jeanne believed that she was chosen by God to free France from the Anglo-Burgundian invaders.  At 16 she persuaded a judge to nullify the arranged marriage her father had brokered for her.  At the age of 17 she petitioned and amazingly gained an audience with the Crown Prince.  Despite all advice to the contrary, he agreed to place her in Command of an Armed force to help relieve the besieged city of Orleans, which she forsaw would result in him being crowned King.

Joan of Arc by the incredible Craig Mullins

While the exact nature of her position remains unconfirmed (not well documented and the story has grown in legend through the centuries), her presence and the inferred divine inspiration definitely had an effect. The enemy was defeated and the siege lifted, though Jeanne was wounded by an arrow in the process.  The Dauphin was subsequently crowned King Charles VII in Reims, as Jeanne had promised.

Romantic period depiction

Jeanne was subsequently sent to Campiegne to attack the Allied forces there but her force was ambushed and she was captured.  The English moved her to their Headquarters in Rouen where they tried her for a range of crimes including heresy, witchcraft and dressing like a man (!) in order to discredit both her and Charles VII.  In 1421 she was found guilty of Heresy and burned at the stake in the town square, aged just 19.  A memorial and Church in her name stand there today and I had the opportunity to visit a few years back.  20 years after her death the Pope overturned the Heresy ruling and she was eventually cannonised as a Saint in 1920.  But long before that her martyrdom and reputation had been well established and she has represented French Unity and Freedom for centuries. Her annual feast is held on 30 May.

This model is a 28mm dioramic figure by Baueda Wargames and is a great tribute to this amazing Lady.  The figure herself is metal while the wood piles are two piece resin. I really enjoyed painting her and used a heavy black outlining technique so she would stand out more dramatically in her white gown. Its not something I have tried before and think it came out rather well.

I kept the pyre sections seperate so that I can also put her on the table in a less dramatic fashion

When assembled the two tiered pyre and figure stand at 75mm in height - my minion awarded 35 points for this submission.  Just 5 points until I hit my thousand point target!

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/from-paulog-jeanne-darc-35-points.html

Edit: My Jeanne received a Honourable Mention in the AHPC 9 awards!
https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/closing-awards-for-ahpcix.html