'BFG' from AaronH: Bombard and Crew - The Original BFG

This entry is for the BFG bonus round. This is a 20mm Bombard from Zvezda. I left off the small crew and added crew from some Hundred Years War artillery from Black Tree Design.

The bombard was the original big gun. They were laid out on the ground because they didn't have a carriage that could handle the beast.

These were wall breakers, but also prestige items. Henry the VIII had twelve of them cast for his war in France, the Twelve Apostles. Due to their high cost they were often heavily decorated.

The model itself is nice enough, though the canon has some unfortunate casting errors; which, come to think of it, is fairly accurate from an historical perspective.

The BTD figures are nice. Simple, easy to paint. Good clean casts as is normal for their stuff.

Looking at this I realize that I failed to cover a couple of the holes for the tabs on the 20mm figures. The timber bracing behind the gun is my favorite part of this model. It really looks the part.

The barrel is removable in case I want to do a wagon for it at some point.

The 28mm crew look just fine on this. Since there was not really a standard size for these guns this could easily be a smaller example of the breed.

I'm not at all sure on points. The three figures are 15. The terrain is about nine inches long and seven wide at its widest, but it is only an inch tall.

'Flight' from AaronH: Air Cavalry

This bonus round entry is six flying carpet riders. These are 28mm models from Black Tree Design. I have many historical armies, but I've always loved Fantasy as well. This year I'm adding fantasy elements to several of my historical armies. Ironically in this case, this is the first unit done for my arabs.

Top view to see the carpets.

These were easy models to assemble and paint. There are vague designs in the carpets, and I gave up on trying to pull them out with actual paint. My eyesight was just not up to it. Instead I basecoated them, hit them with a wash then dry brushed over them. It gives more of the impression of a pattern than an actual pattern, but it's good enough for the table top.

All six.

There are more than two poses of the archers, so I have no idea why I only ordered these two, and four of one of them. I have more of these somewhere in the lead pile, which is mostly inaccessible at the moment as it's packed up while I finish the basement.

'Nostalgia' from AaronH - Goblin Spider Chariot

I wasn't sure what to paint for this bonus round, and honestly had decided to give it a pass. Over the last week I've been reading through people's end of year/beginning of year posts (I love 'em). As I was preparing my own, something came to fruition in my tiny little brain. The death of Warhammer this year had made me (and many others) sad. It got me thinking to when I first started formal wargaming, with GW and Warhammer 6th Edition.

I look back on that edition of Warhammer as some of my happiest gaming. I was just starting to play, I hadn't learned to hate GW. Warhammer was fun and awesome. I played game after game and loved them all.

The front of this chariot is amazing.

There were some great sculpts back in the past of Warhammer. Characterful, eccentric and fun. I found this goblin chariot on E-Bay last year. It didn't have its wolves, but I have a LOT of spider riders.

I call the orange and blue spider Steve. He's painted after a mandarin Gobi I used to have.

I painted this up old school, though I couldn't bring myself to just pain the base green and leave it at that. The red whip and bow are a direct homage to the old orcs and goblins.

The Death's Head spider took forever because of the white.

The goblins were simple but great to paint. They just have so much character in their faces; malice and glee at hurtling at the enemy behind a couple of giant spiders.

I deliberately glued the wheels on wonky. They're gobbos after all.

I wanted to present this chariot as a rather desperate affair in construction, but blinged out for all the gobbos are worth, because they're awesome for getting to ride to battle and not walk.

One of those old school gobbos. This guy and his friends haven't been on a tabletop in well over a decade.

This model takes me back to when Warhammer was alive and vibrant and fun. A time when I could afford the models and everything was new and shiny.

'Antihero' from AaronH - 'Dr. Frankenstein (& His Monster)'

This entry is both my entry for the Anti-Hero round and my Curtgeld.  I did quite a bit of research on this one.  First off was just making sure I had a good definition for anti-hero.  Once I had that it was a matter of researching the available models to find one that was appropriate for this theme.  While I had great fun perusing the catalogs of my favorite manufacturers I didn't find anything until I got to Eureka USA's site.  As soon as I saw this set I knew it was my entry.

Dr. Frankenstein and his Monster.

The entry is Dr. Frankenstein, a deeply flawed protagonist indeed.  I found this story to be deeply saddening, mostly for the experience of the monster.  It does not paint a charitable picture of the nature of our species. 

Rear view.

I included his monster as it's really the only thing that makes this scientist identifiable.  The models were easy to paint.  I probably spent an hour total on both of them.  Having said that, they are all they need to be.  They do an admirable job of portraying the subject.  The set also comes with Igor, some mad scientist electricity doo-hickies, a book case and a gothic wall/window.  Igor will see the light of day for another project.

The Dr.  "It's Alive".

Clean, crisp detail.

The Monster.

The photo is a little bit too washed out but I made the Monster's skin lighter than the Dr's.

I was impressed with Eureka's service and their product.  The facade was cracked.  Robert sent it on but sent me an email ahead of time letting me know it was damaged and that he would send me a clean one when they came in.  You can't ask for better than that.  I look forward to doing business with them again.

'Hot' from AaronH - 'Agent Lake'

Agent Lake is a 28mm model from Brigade Games (US), Pulp Heroines.

Agent Lake,

She's wearing the classic cocktail and .45 combo that was so much the fashion in the 1960's.  The model was clean and easy to clean up.  Simple but with just the right amount of detail.  She was a nice paint.

Clean lines and nice detail.

The sculpting is very good.  The .45 has an ejection port and ridges to grip the upper receiver.

The dress has nice folds, though she is a bit busty.

I don't really have a use for her so she'll probably accompany the Curtgeld as a body guard.

'Myth' from AaronH - 'Mumak'

My entry for the Myth round is a Mumak of Harad.  I remember the first time I read the books and Sam was amazed at his first sight of a Oliphant.  He had thought they were mythical and was thrilled to see one.

The base for this model is not only huge, but comes with a modeled battlefield on it.  This is actually a terrible little vignette.  I don’t mean it looks bad, just that it really captures the horror of a battlefield.  Dead men, orcs and horses.  Severed arms.  Broken and shattered weapons and shields.

This shot is the base before I put the Mumak on it.  Six man sized casualties and three horses.

This next shot is a bit of a close up.  There is a lot of detail on this base considering it is going to be under the Mumak and hard to see.

This is the whole model.  It can hold 12 28mm models in its howdah.  That thing was a pain to assemble too.  I painted it separately from the body. 

That little platform sticking out to the front had to have four pins put into it to get it to stay where it is supposed to.

The howdah has pretty good detail as well.  The whicker is good looking and took a wash really well.  There is actually room to place and move models within it.

There is detail everywhere.  As I was painting I was impressed with the fact that the harness actually looked like it would work to hold the howdah on.  This is just a well engineered model.

This is a great example of Games Workshop at its best.  This is not only a great looking model but it’s very playable.  I’m glad to finally have it done so that I can get it onto the table.  I’ve had it since 2010, so it’s about time.