Thursday 13 November 2014

Winter is coming - Taking Curt's challenge again..

Winter is coming and that doesn't only mean the festive season but Curt's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge as well. 
"Official" picture by Curt
After my first participation last year I was lucky enough to get a slot this year again. This time the motto is "Anti-Heroes, Rogues and Ruffians". As usual the challenge lasts from early December (5th) 2014 until 20th March 2015 (spring) and the participants achieve points for painted figures they send pictures of to Curt. In addition he created a couple of bonus rounds which aren't mandatory but very gainful with 50 points for each fulfilled one. So my primary target is to complete each and every of the bonus rounds as I did last year:

1st Bonus Round: Cold (14th December):
There are some nice 1812 Poles by Paul Hicks (release by Murawski Miniatures) which are waiting for paint. Wonderful sculpts by this master of his business! At least a couple of them should be finished in time to achieve this bonus round.
Picture by Murawski Miniatures
2nd Bonus Round: Mounts and Riders (28th December):
Actually I wanted to start my Saga Normans earliert but probably they'll have to wait until December to become my entry for this round.

3rd Bonus Round: Victorian (11th January):
A unit of colonial British troops as a start for my North-West Frontier collection could be nice I presume. Or some of their 1860s British intervention force maybe...
Picture by Perry Miniatures
4th Bonus Round: Myth (25th January):
As mascot for my Vikings for the Of Gods and Mortal ruleset I bought a 40mm Thor from Wargames Foundry a couple of months ago. A good entry for this round I think.

 5th Bomus Round: Hot (8th February):
Not sure yet... Maybe another addition for the North-West Frontier project. Actually I have more than one unit ready to be painted...
Picture by Perry Miniatures
6th Bonus Round: Comedic (22nd February):
First I thought of some animals in uniform like Eureka's SYW Teddy Bears but more likely I'll go for a figure or two from Warlord Games' Dad's Army. Probably not the whole bunch since I'm not sure what to use them for afterwards... So maybe I'll turn to some of Artizan's Thrilling Tales figures. They make interesting sets and at least Big Joe and his mates should be comedic enough, shouldn't they?
7th Bonus Round: Anti-Hero (8th March):
Another difficult choice... Although I was first thinking of some great military leaders who finally failed tragically like Napoleon or Rommel but I'm not sure whether they really satisfy the term "Anti-Hero". So maybe I'll go for one of Batman's incarnations by Knight Models.
And besides this?
Actually I should paint a couple of French Napoleonics and a bunch of late WW1 Tommies during winter. We'll see how many of those chaps I'll be able to add to my Painting Challenge Account. Anyway my goal for this time is 750 points. That is slightly more than last year and would bring me into the midfield of the painters. With 350 points for the bonus rounds (7 x 50 points = 350 points) that would mean another 400 points to reach with painted miniatures. For example 80 28mm figures on foot or 40 mounted figures... Rather a lot for me but I'll take the challenge !
If anyone of you is interested in a little side challenge then let me know.
Last year Sir Michael from Awdry Towers and me decided to take all the bonus round together and in the end we suceeded. On the other hand I lost the 600 points race against Fran who got a pair of painted Scotsmen as price then. 
Although I don't fear to loose a bet I presume racing for points isn't my cup of tea. I'm simply too slow with painting...

36 comments:

  1. It is good to see you on board again as well!

    I am already planning the theme rounds as well... although mine are just scribbled down on a piece of paper right now! ;-) BTW... I am having trouble with the Anti Hero theme as well. I think I have come up with something, but I am not entirely happy there yet!

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    1. Thanks, Burkhard.
      Honestly Anti-Hero was the most difficult for me. There are a lot of historically interesting people who failed tragically but I'm not sure whether that only makes them a good choice as Anti-Hero...

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  2. Looking forward to the challenge and seeing what you produce

    Ian

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    1. Thanks Ian, I'm looking forward to it as well. The challenge is one highlight of this winter for me.
      ;-)

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  3. Excellent work Stefan! Very brave to set out the entries this far in advance, and amazing organisation to have some already prepared! Clearly, you're in the starting blocks...I'm not even in the stadium yet!

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    1. Thanks a lot, Sid.
      Planning in advance is my only chance not to get lost between all the temptations within our hobby.
      ;-)

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  4. welcome back - the challenge has become my favorite hobby activity of the year

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    1. Couldn't agree more, Miles.
      The challenge is for me definitely close behind the two wargaming show trip with the boys.

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  5. My word Stefan, you are organised! I thought that I might have a go at all the theme rounds again so I'm happy to try and keep you company!

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    1. Thanks a lot, Michael.
      Then I'd suggest the one of us who doesn't submit a workpiece to each and every bonus round owes a single 28mm figure painted by his own hands to the other? What do you think?

      Cheers
      Stefan

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    2. That's a great idea Stefan, I'm up for the challenge.

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  6. Some truly excellent choices and I'm certainly looking forward your 1812 Poles being painted. I'm going with super-heroes for the vast majority of my bonus entries but love how well thought out your entries clearly are. My first year but postings like this are really making me eager to get going :-)

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    1. Thanks a lot. I'm looking forward to seeing your superheroes then!

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  7. Looks like your all planed out and organized! I'm not sure how many themed rounds I'll do as I place priority on figure count above themed rounds. I'll go with the flow so to speak.

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks a lot, Christopher.
      For me it's the other way around. I'm such a slow painter that I'm in great want of the points from the bonus rounds to achieve my goal. 750 points this year...

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  8. Hallo Stefan, I'm in as well and can't wait to see the results of your work. I must put up a post like this on the blog as well soon!

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  9. Some good ideas for figures there Stefan, I don't think I'll be doing all the bonus rounds, I just haven't got the figures to match in with the choices???

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    1. Actually I don't have all of them yet too, but the gaps are small enough to be closed rather soon.
      ;-)

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  10. Crikey Stefan you are certainly right on your game. I've barely even considered what I'm doing yet! Well done sir.

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  11. Nice to have you on board. Looks like you're already in the right mood. Some interesting things you're planning to do this year. I decided not to bother with preparations this year so l'm curious how it works for you.

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    1. I'm in the mood for the challenge indeed. Can't wait to get started...

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  12. Some grand ideas there Stefan... Look forward to seeing them.

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  13. Should see lots of painting done. Looking forward to it.
    cheers

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  14. Looking forward to this years challenge... I've been trimming and preping figures for the last week or so... must admit I haven't given the bonus rounds much thought this time around, I just want to get a load of stuff painted!

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    1. The bonus rounds are my only chance to collect some points. And this year most of them actually hit some of my pet issues...

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  15. Sadly, I am obliged to sit out this year but I'll be watching with great interest.
    I got myself organised ahead of time last year to and found it really helped me.
    My sideline bets with two other Lads and tracking the points progression also helped a lot!

    Some great things here I'm looking forward to seeing - good luck Stefan!

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    1. A pity that you're not in this year but I'll appreciate your view as spectator alike.

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  16. Looking forward to seeing you excellent brushwork on your fine choices. I couldn't do something like this as it puts too much pressure on me! Best, Dean

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    1. Somehow I need such (positiv) pressure to have a productive period... ;-)

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  17. Good luck in the challenge Stefan! Really looking forward what you will paint!

    Greetings
    Peter

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