The Painting Challenge So Far

It's winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, which can only mean one thing: it's time once again for the annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge!

After a successful run last year, I've hopped on the merry-go-round once again. I found that the Challenge really motivated me to get through my unpainted lead piles, and I've been slowly stockpiling over the course of the intervening year in anticipation of doing so again.

As with last year, I'm starting off slowly thanks to holiday distractions (and, this year, a big writing project!), but I'm looking forward to really building up a big head of steam over the remaining weeks (the Challenge concludes on March 20th).

So far, I have two entries up for a total of 100 points out of a projected goal of 850 points (and putting me 45th out of 88 entrants). Not a bad start. If I can keep up a pace of 100 points per week for the remainder of the Challenge (that's the equivalent of 20 28mm figures, which seems realistic), I'll exceed my goal. Plus I've got a plan for the "Defensive Terrain" bonus round...

Here are my two entries so far:

Bug-Eyed Martians

Hoo-boy, I am shaking off the rust! I did a fair amount of painting over the summer, but it's been a few months since I picked up the brush. So a small project as I stretch my muscles by way of a Christmas gift for my dear old Dad.

He's a big fan of 50s sci-fi, and has a modestly-sized toy collection in that vein, so when I saw these figures from Hydra Miniatures I knew I had to get them, paint 'em up, and make a contribution to his collection.

Since they're meant for display, I didn't spare the garish colors and gloss varnish touches. I think he'll be pleased with the results.

Warmachine: Scruffy Desperado Types

January is a very busy month for me work-wise, but I'm still managing to put in a couple hours every evening, and here (finally) is my first significant accomplishment of the Challenge: a passel of figures for Warmachine.

These fellows (along with a Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew I painted a long time ago) are sufficient to field a good medium-sized force by the standards of the game. To be honest, the core concept of the force is meant to tweak the nose of my regular opponent, who usually fields the Cygnar faction. So here we have Magnus the Warlord, a traitor to his homeland of Cygnar, now a scruffy mercenary generalissimo conspiring to bring down Cygnar's current king.

He brings with him two Warjacks: the heavy Mangler and the light (and appropriately-named) Renegade. Although these are normally considered "mercenary" designs, Magnus has painted them in Cygnar blue--deep down inside, he still thinks of himself as a patriot--but life out in the swamps and badlands is tough, and the paint is peeling and chipping, the iron beneath beginning to rust.

To help in his plotting and endeavors, Magnus has contracted the services of the notorious bandit gang, Croe's Cutthroats. Armed with crossbows and "murder blades," these desperadoes are in it for the gold and plunder and couldn't care less about Magnus's political ambitions.

Even though my Warmachine/Hordes rules mastery remains woefully lacking, I'm looking forward to fielding these guys, and hopefully soon.