April 26, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Another Update

April 26, 2017/ Robert Avery

Less than a week since the last update, and I think it's time for another one: I've got to keep on top of all the submissions pouring in!

So, in no particular order, we have:

Jason Ralls, back from the dead, with some 28mm ACW figures
Andrew Helliwell continues his medieval collection, but makes the fatal mistake of trying a new scale. That road lies only to ruin!
Following Andrew down the two-scale path is Mr Kay: some lovely Pulp figures in 28mm followed by the start of a Team Yankee collection. The end is nigh!
Already a Cold War king, Egg adds to his force with some teeny-tiny modern West German infantry platoons. As he says: lots of firepower, but not a lot of points for the Challenge.
The Great Gatzemeyer pops in some more Dropzone Commander miniatures. Lovely sculpts: if only they did them in 15mm...
Is it a bird? Is it a 'plane? No...but it is another entry from Thomas Nissvik. Thomas' entries are like buses: nothing for ages, then three all at once! Here he has three Walking Dead figures from Mantic.
Carole Flint sends in a couple of female magic users and some CoC jump off points.
The increasingly prolific Mr Davenport submits another Napoleonic division in 18mm (and this one has tartan!) and a mighty horde of 28mm Baja warriors for some North Africa colonial action
And last, but by no means least, Steve Burt has, according to him, the last of the Carthaginians...but we don't believe him, do we!

As usual, clicking on the name of the person above will open their full gallery in a new window and, as I'm updating this before work, the Scoreboard won't be updated until I can get to my home PC.

Here are today's pictures. Little beauties, the lot of 'em!

Gorgeous Pulp figures from Hasslefree from Chris Kay

April 20, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Monster "Back At Work" Thursday Update

April 20, 2017/ Robert Avery

Well I'm back at work after my break: quite a shock to the system after just over two weeks off, but there's nothing like a good painting challenge update to get me back into the swing of things!

So today, in no particular order, we have:

Thomas Nissvik with some zombies
Mr Burt sends in the pachyderms
Two entries from opposite ends of the time continuum from Mr Duffell: a Churchill tank and some very angry Ikko Ikko monks
John de Terre Neuve crashes a 'plane in the Pacific
Joining Andy on the samurai front, Mr Haines sends in some ashigaru and their betters, and a few houses for them to inhabit as well
The Mad Padre returns with some lovely ladies to entrance the men of Gondor who accompany them
Mr Helliwell is still all Wars of the Roses
Loving the dangerous women from Ms Flint
Sapper pops in some Brits for CoC, and some New Kingdom Egyptians for variety
Ed Bowen returns to the fold with some carts and a rather nice little chicken house vignette
And last, but by no means least, Mervyn contains his excitement over Salute for just long enough to send us some Persians

As always, click on the names above to go straight to their galleries, which all open in new windows.

Today's pictures are below. The Scorecard will be updated tonight, when I'm on the home PC.

Lovely Churchill tank in 28mm from Andy Duffell

And, in contrast, Carole's female militia

And finally Mr Bowen's chicken coop. I hope he's got the frontage and depth size right for the chickens!

April 06, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Another Big One!

April 06, 2017/ Robert Avery

Yes, it's another big entry into the painting challenge, including two first submissions of the year.

So, in no particular order, we have:

Thomas returns with some more troops for French Indo-China
Mervyn is still playing with those barbarians: more figures from the world of Conan
We then have plenty more re-basing from Stumpy. Surely the collection must be just about done by now!
Mr Burt pops in some Carthaginian cavalry
A large submission from John de Terre Neuve: ghoulies, and US Marines for the Pacific
Mr Luther has finished some Commonwealth troops for Burma CoC
There's a Frostgrave warband from Carole
Also returning this week is Doug Melville, with a colossal entry involving some AWI Hessian types and a load of figures for Call of Mr C.
Mr Plowman has joined a cult
And last, but by no means least, Egg has gone all piratical on us, and sends in a Buccaneer for the Soviets to shoot at

Once again I have linked the names of the people above to their gallery, with the page opening in a new window so that you don't have to keep flicking backwards and forwards through things.

Today's pictures:

Steve Burt's Carthaginian Citizen Cavalry

Keep 'em coming!

March 31, 2017

Painting Challenge Update: Normal Service Resumed!

March 31, 2017/ Robert Avery

It seems as if last week's exhortations worked, as we have an update so large that I decided to do it today, Friday, as opposed to my usual Saturday post.

The update includes three returnees with their first entries of the year, including one who took the challenge in year's one and two then had a year off last year. Rumours of a trip "at Her Majesty's Pleasure" or of a secret mission to the former eastern bloc are, of course, utterly unfounded!

So, in no particular order, we have:

Mervyn with some Scottish horsemen
Koen de Smedt submits his first update of the year: vast numbers of 28mm figures including a couple of Frozen tableaus!?
And Ashley is also back with a bang, sending in some good looking walkers in a couple of scales
Also returning (from his long trip, LOL) is John de Terre Neuve, who has obviously spent his year away painting and sent all his entries in at once!
Andy Duffell has gone Japanese...well, apart from the burnt out CMP truck
The painting machine that is Matt Slade sends in a collection of 28mm beasties
Egg is still modernising: twelve assorted vehicles in 15mm
And last, but by no means least, Chris Stoesen takes a break from writing scenario packs and submits a very nice looking log cabin

I have also, at Egg's suggestion, linked all the names in the list above to their galleries, with the galleries set to open in a new window. Let me know if that makes browsing the galleries significantly easier as, if it is, I'll keep doing it and, if it isn't, I won't bother next time!

Now just because I've put some links in doesn't mean we'll be losing the weekly photos in this post. Here are today's...

March 25, 2017

Painting Challenge Update: Very Quiet

March 25, 2017/ Robert Avery

It's been a very quiet week for the painting challenge. After a couple of months of frenetic activity, only a very few entries this week.

Come on, the rest of you, get those brushes out and start painting!

Today's entries are:

John Davenport with some nice modern Soviet tanks
Some British Paras from Carole. So, how do you feel about painting that many Denison smocks?
Mr Helliwell offers a couple of Gaz trucks and lots of half-Russians!
There's more AWI goodness from John Haines
And finally Ralph Plowman has some fanstasy/sci-fi 28s, and a very nice 15mm walker

So that's it: five entrants this week. Not good!

March 18, 2017

Painting Challenge Update Number Eleven

March 18, 2017/ Robert Avery

After a week of Poland, it's back to the painting challenge for update number eleven. I am still sure that the challenge is far busier this year than it was last year!

So, in no particular order, we have:

The maestro, Matt Slade, with a big red dragon (and it is big!), a giant and a scorpion
Mr Weathersby sends in another of his hand-rigged Napoleonic ships
Chris Kay finishes his vikings
Here comes the cavalry, courtesy of Egg
Mr Hodge, fresh from proof-reading The September War, sens in over a hundred little Frenchmen
We have some archaeologists from Carole
The Mad Padre has scenery and elves for us to look at and admire
With an all new background, Mr Helliwell sends in more ACW figures and a few bits of scenery
Kev, our favourite Fat Wally, also does the ACW, with a suitably Kev-like, huge entry
And last, but by no means least, Mervyn pops in some Dark Ages types

Today's pictures are below. Just a few, as I have to nip to the post office to pick up a package: more miniatures!

March 12, 2017

Painting Challenge Update Number Ten

March 12, 2017/ Robert Avery

Is it me? Or has this year's Challenge started up at turbo speed? It certainly seems as if the entries are coming in thicker and faster than ever before.

So, in no particular order, here's this week's batch:

The Bowler Hat sends in an enormous entry: lots of Romans and Luther-like numbers of little 'planes
Speaking of which, Mr Luther pops in a couple of photos of his previous output: some nice Japanese tankettes
Mr Burt sends in some Libyans of the ancient variety
Jon Davenport submits over 100 British Napoleonics, and a sizeable number of slightly bigger Hessians
We also have more sci-fi goodness from Carole
And some lovely moderns from Egg
Stumpy sends in his first entry of the year, and its enormous, even if it is only re-basing. I've labelled the ones I can.
Mr Helliwell is still doing the American Civil War
And last, but by no means least, Mr Haines has a few more buckskin-clad irregulars for us to look at

So another large entry: keep 'em coming! Today's pictures are below:

March 04, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Week 9

March 04, 2017/ Robert Avery

Well the ninth update even if it isn't exactly week nine.

Another good-sized batch of entries so, in no particular order, we have:

Lardy stalwart Chris Stoesen rather unbelievably sends in his first entry ever for the challenge: some lovely eastern front terrain
Mr Naylor sends in some Germans to inhabit that terrain
Ever-present Matt Slade has been sowing the Hydra's teeth
Mr Luther is back to painting little 'planes, lots of little 'planes
Chris Kay has some vikings for us to admire
Carole might be playing some ASL, so has painted up some GZG sci-fi figures in preparation
Another newbie, Craig MacNeill, has some WW1 Canadians for us to see
And Mr Weathersby also enters for the first time: a couple of 1/1200 ships. That rigging must have taken ages...still only 12 points per ship though
Keith Davies prepares for Arnhem with a couple of German big cats
And last, but by no means least, here's John Haines with some more AWI militia

Today's pictures are:

Here's Chris Stoesen's terrain for the eastern front

One of Brian's lovely 1/1200 ships: hand-rigged!

February 25, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: possibly the Biggest Update Ever!

February 25, 2017/ Robert Avery

A truly enormous update to the painting challenge this week. I'm just glad I've had a chance to upload it all before the start of the rugby!

Right, here goes:

Steve Burt with some Ancients, and I've re-loaded his missing pic from last time
Mervyn with some Middle-Earth elves and peacekeeping Crusaders
Matt 'the machine' Slade, obviously, with some more Napoleonic Rifles and a couple of handfuls of mythical Greeks: harpies and minotaurs
Egg completes (allegedly) his Cold War Brits: lots of squishies and a 'plane
Mr Yuengling has gone all Aeroneuf this week
Jon Davenport sends in his first entry of the year...and it's enormous: enough 15mm Napoleonics to fill the largest of tables
And so does Kev: same century, different era...but enough 15mm ACW figures to fill the other half of the table
Mr Naylor pops in some 15mm German weapons teams
And Carole sends in a British platoon who might oppose them
Mr Plowman sends in his usual eclectic mix
Derek Hodge is also of the WW2 mindset, but in 10mm rather than 15mm. Lovely figures.
Andrew Helliwell has gone all ACW, with some foot and guns
The Mad Padre has been spreading the love with some campsites painted for a friend
John Haines is still in the AWI: more British infantry
And last, but by no means least, Cabey Cabey has a few more beautiful Nappies for us to admire

So many pictures to choose from...here are today's selection:

February 18, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Update Seven

February 18, 2017/ Robert Avery

A very slightly slower week this week, but still masses of entries.

In no particular order, we have:

The Mad Padre with some Falcata Napoleonic Spanish Light Infantry
Two Grand Manner manors from Sapper
Chris Kay pops in a huge Warbases building and a Humber armoured car, both in 28mm
We have some CoC jump-off points from Carole, along with some rather nice late war German infantry, all in 15mm
John Haines is back with some early Continental line infantry from Warlord
The Great Gatzemeyer has gone all Dropzone Commander on us
Cabey Cabey doesn't forget the pawns: some lovely Napoleonic 'minor characters'
A fan of Gaming Models, Jon Yuengling sends in three and a gun
and last, but by no means least, Mr Helliwell has some AWI Hessians for us to look at

A quick set of today's pictures, as I have AARs to post:

Mark Luther's Burma terrain, claimed in the last update but only just now photographed

I do like Dropzone Commander kit, just wish it was 15mm

February 11, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Sixth Update of the Year

February 11, 2017/ Robert Avery

A quieter week this week, but still plenty of new submissions.

In no particular order, we have:

Lloyd "The Hat" Bowler with his first entry of the year: a zillion little 'planes and some much bigger Romans
Sapper spans the ages: New Kingdom Egyptians, Grenzers and a couple of cracking 15mm helicopters
It's scenery time for Mr Luther: some more for Burma and even more the winter
Cabey Cabey submits some rather nice Austrian Jaegers...and their dog
Mr Yuengling sends in some 15mm WW2 Home Guard (I've actually just been watching 'Dad's Army' on the tv)
Matt Slade has already amassed an amazing amount of points. To this total he now adds some Cacadores and a large number of fantasy figures
Andy Duffell also mixes and matches his periods: some great looking 28mm WW2 vehicles accompany a Dropship Commander troopship
And last, but by no means least, Mr Helliwell submits yet more Thirty Years War foot

Today's pictures? See below:

February 04, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Update Number Five

February 04, 2017/ Robert Avery

Apologies for the slight lateness of this update: two games of Six Nations rugby to watch. A great performance from the Scots (really good to see them actually win a game after all the heart and soul they put into their play) and a scrappy victory for England that takes their winning streak to fifteen.

Now, on to today's update...in no particular order, we have:

Andrew Helliwell with, as he says, yet more Thirty Years War figures in 15mm
John Haines is in a last of the Mohicans Mood: AWI Woodland Indians
Mr Luther returns with a large 1/72 entry for his Burma 44/45 project
Chris Kay pops in another eight Napoleonic Brits
Mr Naylor rebases for Chain of Command
Derek Hodge also sends in his first entry of the year: four rather lovely Mediterranean looking buildings
Carole sends in two, contrasting entries: houses and barns...and hover tanks
Steve Burt is still in the Congo
Matt Slade sends in his usual enormous submission: the 95th Rifles and a horde of Dark Age warriors
The Mad Padre has a singleton Pasha, a brace of barbarians, and a trio of German AFVs to share
And last, but by no means least, Mervyn is still in Middle Earth with some Gondorians and some goblins

Today's pictures are below...

I'm off to the painting table myself now!

January 28, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Huge Fourth Update!

January 28, 2017/ Robert Avery

I can't remember the Challenge ever starting off so busy. Entries are flooding in, and I might have to move to doing updates more than once a week!

So, today, in no particular order, we have:

Sapper, with no less than three entries spanning three different eras: Napoleonics, modern MBTs and some Anglo-Saxon warriors
Steve Burt carries on up the Congo, with the mandatory bearers and a leopard that has definitely changed its spots
John Haines, new this year, has already sent in his second entry: some individually painted AWI Militiamen
Newbie Old Pivot is going to be playing Sharp Practice in 54mm: here is a group of his British Rifles
Jon Yuengling sends in his first entry of the year: some British WW2 minis in 15mm and a quartet of pulp figures
The weekly massive entry from Matt Slade: Hasslefree barbarians and bad guys of both the male and female variety
WillieB also makes a welcome return with two brigades of Sepoys for Sharp Practice Indian Mutiny: large numbers of lovely figures
The Mad Padre calls for the Mounties...and a moose
Carole sends in some terrain from Ironclad Miniatures
Keith Davies racks up some recce elements for his WW2 Brits
Andy Duffell has three 28mm Opel Blitzs for us to admire
and last, but definitely not least, Egg presents us with some more Cold War British vehicles...loving these!

So a huge number of entries today, so lots of pictures:

Just a few of Matt's barbarians: mine are okay, but I don't fancy yours!

January 21, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Third Update of the Year

January 21, 2017/ Robert Avery

More entries coming in all the time. Today's updates are from:

Mr Naylor sends in his first update of the year, some 6mm Soviets from WW2
Matt Slade, of course, sends in a large amount of Napoleonic French. How does he get the time?
Egg has some more Cold War goodness on offer
Ms Flint pops in her first entry of the year: five boxes of 15mm plastic armour
Keith Davies is also back, and includes a few leftovers from last year as well
Chris Kay is new to the challenge, and has some lovely Napoleonic Brits for us to see
Ralph Plowman is back to sci-fi, with an exquisite battlesuit on show
Mervyn Douglas adds to his Dark Ages collection, and has a few Natal Native Contingent for us to see also
And last, but by no means least, Andrew Helliwell has some more Thirty Years War chaps for us to see

So we're off to a very good start already this year. Today's pics are below:

January 14, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: Second Update of 2017

January 14, 2017/ Robert Avery

Things are starting to get moving now, with lots of first-submissions received this week.

In no particular order, we have:

Dave Humm with what was the last of last year's output, but we'll let him claim it this year as last year's books are now closed
The Great Gatzemeyer sends in his first entry of the year: some rather nicely painted WW2 German infantry
Andy Duffell follows suit, but his are British Commandoes. Perhaps if the two of you...
Matt "the machine" Slade slams in another batch of Napoleonics destined for the Iberian Peninsula.
Mr Plowman goes gNorman on us in a change from his usual sci-fi offerings
Newbie John Haines sends in his first entry ever: some AWI British infantry
And other newbie Cabey Cabey has some French Hussars for us to admire, along with some pigs and casualties
Steve Burt has been watching Daktari, although I can't quite see whether the lion has crossed-eyes or not
We welcome back Mervyn, with his first entry of the year: assorted Celts
Egg also sends in his first submission: some lovely Cold War Brits with helicopters rescued from varnish hell with a little olive oil
And last, but by no means least, Andrew Helliwell pops in his second entry of the year: some more Thirty Years War troops

Today's pictures are from the Gatz, the Cabey and the Egg...

January 07, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge 2017: First Update of the Year

January 07, 2017/ Robert Avery

And so it begins, with the first entries in already!

To start us off for the year, in no particular order, we have:

Ralph Plowman, with some very nice sci fi ship's crew
Mr Slade with an incredible 300 points-worth of figures already!
Sapper submits a sapper's cart
Steve Burt begins the year in Africa, Darkest Africa
Andrew Helliwell finishes his Tudors (for now) and starts on the Thirty Years War
and last, but definitely not least, the Mad Padre kicks off with some barbarian types

Today's pictures are from Steve, Sapper and the Mad Padre.

January 02, 2017

TFL Painting Challenge: 2016 Final Scores

January 02, 2017/ Robert Avery

A very quick update today with a few people's last minute entries into the 2016 painting challenge.

We have:

Matt Slade with some last minute Wars of the Roses fillers
Jim Catchpole sends his entire year's painting through in one go!
Mr Hodge completes some more Mutineers
and finally Lloyd Bowler adds to his Vietnam collection

So that's it for 2016. You can check everyone's scores on the Scorecard, and see their entries in their individual galleries.

The 2017 TFL Painting Challenge starts from now: first update at the weekend!

December 30, 2016

TFL Painting Challenge: Update 30th December

December 30, 2016/ Robert Avery

Thought I'd better do a quick update to keep ahead of the tidal wave of entries coming in. As you'll see, below, it's not so much the number of individual entries but the number of entries per individual that needs taking care of.

So, today we have:

The Mad Padre with a round up of his recent painting
Matt Slade with a huge number of 28mm figures: more WoR and some lovely Doctor Who kit as well
Andrew Helliwell gets into the winter spirit with some cold-looking Germans
Treadhead makes a welcome return with his latest Sharp Practice offerings
and last but by no means least, Thomas makes a surprise appearance with a very large entry of Star Wars and Zombie stuff

Today's pics are some of the best of the above. Do visit people's individual galleries to see all:

"When the tower is in our hands..." Cybermen from Matt Slade

Well, we couldn't not feature Thomas now, could we?

December 19, 2016

TFL Painting Challenge: Huge Update

December 19, 2016/ Robert Avery

Whilst I have been a bit light on posts recently (real world, heavy cold, blah, blah, blah) the rest of you have been pulling out all the stops to complete your painting projects for this year's challenge.

Still plenty of time to get them in, but here's today's rather large update:

Mr Hoooge pops in some dismounted dragoons
Andrew Helliwell hits us twice: once with the Tudors, and once with the WW2 Germans
Mark Luther continues his conquest of the skies with some 6mm aircraft, and a 6mm town to go with them
Mervyn does Dux, with some Picts, Irish and casualties!
The great Gatzemeyer goes Dropship Commander on us, with a PHR starter force
Matt Slade sends in his usual large dollop of painted lead: archers and knights, very nice
Owen submits a colossal entry: foot, ships, a town...all in 28mm
And last, but by no means least, Ralph pops in some rather good 15mm sci-fi infantry

Today's pics are from Garrett, Ralph and Owen...

Dropship Commander: if only it was in 15mm!

December 07, 2016

TFL Painting Challenge: Huge Update

December 07, 2016/ Robert Avery

Apologies for the lack of posts over the last week: real world and all that! Work is always crazy busy at this time of year, so just no time to process anything.

Leaving all that aside, here's a massive painting challenge update: everybody getting their entries in before the end of the year!

Thomas makes a welcome return and, much to everyone's surprise, pops in a few 28mm figures
Doug Melville has markers and a couple of 28mm WW2 squads
Lloyd Bowler has gone all Roman on us, and enters a mass of lovely 28's and some galleys
Mr Helliwell has been re-basing like crazy
Mervyn has been as busy as I am, but still manages a handful of figures
Matt Slade sends in his usual army of 28's, plus another army's worth of re-basing. The man is a machine!
Mr Hooge remembers the Alamo with some US Mexican War 15's
Ralph teases with three beautifully painted entries as we cry out for more
And last, but not least, Mr Naylor sends in a mass of 6mm WW2 armour

Today's pictures are from Doug, Lloyd, Mervyn and Ralph: