'Risk Taker' from PeterD - 'Jock Campbell'

So for the Risk Taker Bonus round I have Jock Campbell, a key figure in the early Western Desert Campaign.  Campbell was an artillery officer who was with the 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats), and later promoted to command first the Division's Support Group and finally the Division itself.  He was killed in a car accident in early 1942 shortly after getting command of the division.    The mounted (ok riding a cut down station wagon).  and dismounted figures are 15mm by Battlefront.  The mounted figure is clearly based on this print from the OOP Osprey Vanguard 1.  Battlefront mounts this on a base, so I used what it came with.  However, I added some baggage - the valise in the back seat and a tarp or blanket roll in the truck.  (I'm curious to see if anyone guesses the origins of these).  If Campbell was Canadian he'd be waving an extra large double double with a half eaten box of Timbits in the back.

Much of the early Desert Campaign (the period pre-Monty basically) was a largely improvised affair using what was on hand and a giant dose of chutzpah.  Campbell was one of the most respected Desert Commanders (by both sides).  He was awarded the DSO after Operation Compass and Beda Fomm where his guns played a key role.  Later his bravery on the Sidi Rezegh airfield during Operation Crusader led to a VC.     

There's a Timmies over that way!  I've gone for hand painted unit symbols looking to get the look right if not the details.

His name is also given to that most wargamer of formations the Jock Column.   Take a company of infantry, mount them in trucks and add a troop of light armour and some guns and bobs your uncle you got a Jock Column.  These were used to scout and harass enemy positions and just general mayhem.  Campbell did so well with them that they named the idea for him.

Best view of the clutter in the back.

I would also point out that I am also a risk taker on this post and I am stepping well outside my normal comfort zone.   First, while I have painted many 15mms in my time (Nappys, SYW, Tudor English) these are my first 15s since 1997 (at least), it's been 28mms only for night on twenty years.  Second, I have with one small exception, restricted myself to historicals pre-1900 - Nappys, Greeks, Medievals, Renaissance, SYW, Colonials etc.    So vehicles, battledress, modern weapons, etc,  well out of my wheelhouse.  The one exception was a dalliance in Western Desert in 10mm in the early 1990s, long since sold off.

So having been swayed by BigLee's 6mm wonders and the excellent 28mm East African work by Scrivs, I have been swayed back to Western Desert 1940-1.  And there's another risk here, as Curt has figures in the same scale and period which I know I won't be able to match.  However, this is a project that I want to do for myself.

The dismounted version needs a wash and highlighting on the base.  

I have been amused by the number "god I hate painting X" posts over the Challenge.  Horses, artillery, tartans, shields, terrain, etc, etc, all of which seemed like great things to paint and a lot of fun.  I did make me wonder what level of childhood trauma had led to these dislikes in some case, but whatever.  Anyway my point here i.e., quit yer whining, get over your self imposed obstacles and Challenge yourself.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and so can you.

FYI, comments, suggestions and feedback on my initial step into this particular madness are appreciated.

'Risk Taker' from RayR - 'The Duke of Monmouth'

I had a few ideas for most of the bonus rounds, but the Gambler-Risk-taker was always going to be The Duke of Monmouth. Now I did consider this figure to be my Curtgeld as well and be the start of Curt's Nine Years War collection!!! but he's got enough on his plate at the moment, so he'll be added to my collection, with another figure being painted for my Curtgeld.

The figure is from Reiver Castings ,who make an excellent dynamic collection of NYW figures, they're not my first choice of figures to be honest,I do much prefer Warfare minis, but haven't managed to get any of their figures painted so far??

James Scott, duke of Monmouth, byname (until 1663) James Fitzroy, or Crofts   (born April 9, 1649, Rotterdam, Netherlands—died July 15, 1685, London, England), claimant to the English throne who led an unsuccessful rebellion against King James II in 1685. Although the strikingly handsome Monmouth had the outward bearing of an ideal monarch, he lacked the intelligence and resolution needed for a determined struggle for power.

Monmouth was the illegitimate son of King Charles II and Lucy Walter, who claimed to be the king’s wife; the two, however, had little contact after 1649. James was born in the Netherlands, where the couple had met as both sought refuge during the English Civil War; the conflict ended in 1651 with the defeat of Charles’s forces. Lucy and young James moved frequently, and in 1656 she took him to London. Within months of their arrival, the two were arrested and briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London by the republican government. After their release in 1656, Lucy and James journeyed to Flanders. In 1658 an agent of Charles kidnapped James and took him to Paris, where he was looked after by Lord William Crofts. Two years later Charles was restored to the throne, and in 1662 James was returned to England and installed at court as a favourite of the king. On February 14, 1663, Charles created him duke of Monmouth, earl of Doncaster, and Baron Scott of Tindale and made him a Knight of the Garter. On April 20, Monmouth was married to the wealthy Scottish heiress Anne Scott, countess of Buccleuch; they were created duke and duchess of Buccleuch, and he took the surname of Scott. Even at this early date some Englishmen viewed him as a possible successor to Charles. Since Monmouth was a Protestant, his political opportunities increased when Charles’s brother and acknowledged heir, James, duke of York, converted to Roman Catholicism about 1668.

 

Monmouth was made captain of the king’s guard in 1668 and admitted to the privy council in 1670. During the Anglo-Dutch War of 1672–74, he commanded English troops on the European continent. He became captain general of all the armed forces in England in 1678, and on June 22, 1679, he triumphed over the Scottish Presbyterian rebels at Bothwell Bridge, Lanark. Meanwhile, the succession to the throne had become a burning issue in England, where antipapal hysteria had been aroused by rumours that the Catholics were plotting to seize power. Charles blocked all parliamentary attempts to exclude James from the royal inheritance, and in September 1679 he banished Monmouth from the kingdom. Nevertheless, the duke quickly returned in defiance of his father and set about building up a following. In this crisis Monmouth was championed for the succession by Anthony Ashley Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury, the leader of the anti-Catholic Whigs in Parliament. In 1682–83 Monmouth became involved in the Whig conspiracy against Charles and James, known as the Rye House Plot. Although pardoned for his part in this enterprise, he was banished from court and took refuge in the Netherlands early in 1684.

Upon the death of Charles II on February 6, 1685, the duke of York acceded to power as James II. Monmouth landed at Lyme Regis, Dorset, with 82 followers in June and quickly raised over 4,000 men, but he was unable to rally the gentry to his rebellion. On July 6 his army of peasantry was totally defeated on the plain of Sedgemoor, Somerset. He fled but was soon captured and beheaded.

'Risk Taker' from SanderS - 'Lando(s)'

Hoi,

For this last Theme Round of Gamblers and risk-takers, I can think of nobody who fits this description more than Lando Calrissian. Ok Han Solo himself perhaps but I have entered him in last year's Challenge so I will not fall into repetition here. Since I had two identical West End Games miniatures of Lando I decided to do one in his Bespin gear and one in his Rebel Alliance General's uniform. The bases are black lasered acrylics which I have ordered custom made to fit with the terrain being designed as we speak.

Without further ado here are the figures.

Cheers Sander

'Risk Taker' from StephenS - 'Pony Express'

Originally I had slapped some paint on a different figure, only to see it posted up on the blog by another worthy challenger.  =)

Luckily, I was able to quickly, some might say, expressly, pony up another figure...

I think any organisation that allegedly advertised positions in its firm with the lines:

Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.

Surely, must qualify for the tag-line of Gambler or Risk-Taker.

The Pony Express only operated for about 19 months from 1860-1861, but in that short time its riders achieved legendary status. They formed a vital role in connecting the East and West of the US, before the Civil War and then the expansion of the telegraph saw them disbanded. These chaps were quite dedicated to getting the mail through. Accounts such as those of Robert Haslam, who rode 190 km (120 miles) in 8 hours and 20 minutes with an  arrow shot through his jaw, are not uncommon.

The model is a 28 mm figure from Artizan Designs and the resin base is from Secret Weapon Miniatures. The cactus is from Great Escape Games. I'm not really sure if the Pony express operated anywhere there were cacti, but it looks cool!

The figure was a joy to paint up, which says something, because for some reason I normally loathe painting horses. This was my first attempt at a piebald colour scheme, the new challenge probably accounting for my abnormal enthusiasm!

Finally, I will leave you with an alleged copy of an original advertisement, in-case anyone is interested in joining up!

Cheers,

Steve

'Risk Taker' from SidneyR - 'The Flemish Cavalier'

One character we’ve encountered on previous themed rounds has been the Flemish cavalier, Antoine de Gautier, one of the young noblemen of the Flanders town of Laarden. He’s an impulsive, rash, proud and headstrong professional soldier whose military service has already taken him campaigning across the Europe of the 1680s. He’s sold his sword and pike across Germany, The Empire, the Northern Crowns, as well to his native Flanders and home town of Laarden. 

He has served mainly as a gentleman volunteer and aide-de-camp, becoming a very accomplished swordsman. He has been taught in the Spanish-influenced sword-style of Flanders, but has also studied hard during his travels to hone his skills in in the fighting schools of Germany and Eastern Europe. However, he has become over-confident – mainly as a result of numerous successful duels (caused by a variety of arguments mainly regarding women, gambling debts and politics). Swollen with the rashness of youth, he has taken to fighting with a wooden dueling sword, deeming all but the most skillful opponents worthy of his fine Spanish steel blade. He dresses ostentatiously, wearing the most fashionable clothes, a ludicrous wig and remarkable hat, complete with ostrich feathers.

We see him here in two characteristic poses. First, preparing himself for an opponent in the back-streets or Grote Markt of his native Laarden. Saluting with his wooden dueling sword (and clearly already having deemed his opponent unworthy of the contest), he is oblivious to the preening cockerel parading before him.

And we also see him on the field of battle, risking all in a typically dramatic and ill-considered charge. He is accompanied by his war hound, Ares, and two retainers from one of the Laarden civic companies of Horse, both dressed slightly more soberly than their lavishly dressed commander. As ever, Antoine is taking a huge risk – living by his wits and his (wooden) sword blade, like any true risk-taker or gambler.


***

In this last themed round, I wanted to add another character vignette set in 1688 and the fictional town of Laarden. I chose the young Flemish cavalier who has already featured in themed rounds 2 and 4 (having his portrait painted along with the Laarden Militia in theme round 2, and declaring his love and a proposal of marriage to Mademoiselle Brochet in theme round 4).

I decided to build out his life-story a little more, giving some context before his rash gamble in battle, attacking his enemies with a frontal charge, armed only with a wooden dueling sword.

In town and in the field, Antoine still wears the outlandish ochre-yellow clothes he was seen in during rounds 2 and 4. In his dueling pose, I’ve tried to recreate his “fashionable” wig from round 4, and also added a wedding ring to his right hand – a sign that Mademoiselle Brochet has melted to the young cavalier’s charms. I thought a preening cockerel (one of the many chickens of Laarden seen in themed rounds 1,2 and 4) parading around his feet was a suitable nod to the arrogance of the young popinjay. 

 The wooden sword was an idea shamelessly stolen from the Syrio Forel method of swordsmanship (for all you “Game of Thrones” fans). A couple of arm swaps (with some old Mordheim plastic swords) gave both figures a weapons downgrade, and I added lots of putty for extra feathers, cuffs, hats and wigs.

For the battlefield mounted version, I’ve given Antoine’s dog, Ares (previously seen in themed round 4), a larger bow – perhaps Mademoiselle Brochet tied it on Ares before Antoine’s departure for battle? The mounted cornet and kettle-drummer each display the Laarden coat of arms, a Pelican, on the trumpet banner and pistol holsters, and the colours of the Laarden contingent deliberately echo the yellow and pale blue civic colours of Laarden’s coat of arms.

'Risk Taker' from StefanK - 'Han Solo'

When the painting challenge started I had a look at the bonus rounds and all of a sudden an idea for the 'Risk Taker' theme stroke my mind. Who could be a better choice than daredevil who is bold enough to kick a hunk of junk hard enough to make the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs? Or the one who was stupid and daunting enough to pick a quarrel with a giant space slug supervillain? 

As you see I chose Fantasy Flight Games' incarnation of this well-known scoundrel. It's a nice plastic miniature the company is making for their Star Wars skirmish game 'Imperial Assault'. The details are worked out crisp and clear and the casting quality is pretty good. Maybe not as good as we are used from top-notch miniature companies like Perry Miniatures, Warlord Games or maybe Games Workshop but nevertheless much better than one would expect from board game pieces. Probably the material limits the quality in a certain way. It's slightly softer than those historical hard plastic miniatures, bendable and thus more suitable for board games who might not necessarily be careful tabletop gamers as well. Altogether a nice piece and much better than those old soft plastic figures from earlier days. 

As usual I painted this chap with Vallejo colours and used Wargames Foundry for the skin tones. I kept the base pretty simple as with all my Imperial Assault figures: Just a dark grey base colour and three shades of drybrushing.

'Risk Taker' from TamsinP - 'It's the Pits, Baby!'

When it came to deciding what to paint up for this bonus round, I had a number of options - my Curtgeld figure; Revenge on Ray Pt 2; a bunch of high-captive number Aztecs; or something totally different. I went with the last as when I was looking through what figures I had prepped yesterday evening, I found a bunch that I could put together to tell a story.

Welcome to the James Woods Memorial Autoduel Arena in Quahog, Rhode Island.

And what sport could be a finer example of risk taking than Autoduelling? Can you imagine anything more dangerous than letting loose a bunch of crazy guys and gals in high-powered cars loaded up with high-powered weapons, putting them into an arena not much larger than a football field, at high speeds, with lots of obstacles and then seeing who actually survives? That was indeed the premise of Car Wars from Steve Jackson Games all the way back in the early '80s.

Which leads onto my theme entry - the pits at an autoduelling arena.

But who exactly is the biggest risk taker?

Is it Tricia Takanawa, wearing a tight skirt and heels in a busy pit lane?

Is it Sean Griffin and Emily West, the autoduellists?

Is it this would-be autoduellist, letting these bozos work on his car?

Or one of this pair?

Or maybe the chap risking the pit-lane coffee or the lady risking the stew?

I'll leave you to decide!

The informational bit. All the cars pictured were painted a long time before the Challenge started so don't count for points - they're just there for scenery.

The figures are all 25mm from GZG, a couple from the Stargrunt range but mostly from the Street Level range. They were all painted today (nothing like leaving things to the very last minute - thank goodness Curt extended the deadline for this theme round!). I did do a little bit of a cheat with the painting - after priming them a darkish grey, I oversprayed them with white to give some pre-highlighting, then used thinned paints for most of the flesh and clothing (flesh was washed and highlighted; hair and some other parts were washed).

'Risk Taker' From TeemuL - 'Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan'

Like the Curtgeld entry, my bonus round entry comes from Middle Earth as well. This time she is a risk taker. She was told by King Theoden (and Aragorn) to stay at Rohan and take care of the people and rule, while the war host rode to help Gondor. She didn't like that and disguised herself as a man and joined the warhost. Merry was also ordered to stay in Rohan, but Eowyn took him with her. She was not officially a princess, but in practice she was the only heir of Rohan, so going to war was quite a risk.

Yes, I tried to get some red onto her face

During the battle King Theoden was injured by the Witch King and Eowyn went to help him. Witch King was on her way and promised to kill her. Based on the prophecy, no living man could kill him. Eowyn removed her disguise and told she was not a man. They battled, but when Merry (a hobbit, not a man) stabbed Witch King, Eowyn had a chance and managed to kill him. The prophecy fulfilled, but it was quite a risk, too.

I chose a red clothes for her, but rather brownish red than bright red - more suitable for a battle. In the end she was quite an easy to paint, or at least I painted her easy and fast. :)

Witch King Point of View

One 28mm human should add 5 points for my tally. And considering my bonus round history (5-3-5-3-4 votes) I'm expecting 4 votes. ;)