Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Gauntlet Dropped - The 2nd Annual Winter Painting Challenge


Sigh. He's back again. That spiteful, hateful, nasty git: Old Man Winter. 

Bugger. Him. 

Here in Saskatchewan the temperature is now well below freezing, the trees are bare, the ice is on the roads and I can categorically say I don't want to hear A SINGLE WORD from my sun-kissed compatriots near or below the equator about their warm weather. I hate you all (but of course in a benign, friendly way).

Oh well, the upswing is that it forces me to slow down and spend more time indoors, which in turn gives me more time for my hobbies. So, in order to further encourage industry, camaraderie and a bit of friendly competition I thought I'd issue another Painting Challenge similar to the one last winter.

The Painting Challenge Rules:

'The Analogue Hobbies Winter Painting Challenge' will extend from December 20th to the first day of Spring, midnight March 20th.


Those wishing to participate are to contact me via this blog.


As opposed to the previous Challenge, which was exclusively Napoleonic, I thought it would be interesting to broaden the Challenge to include ANY HISTORICAL wargames figures.


The Scoring:
  • 5 points per 25/28mm foot figure 
  • 10 points per per 25/28mm mounted figure 
  • 10 points per 25/28mm artillery piece or limber model 
  • 4 points per 20mm foot or unmounted horse figure 
  • 8 points per 20mm mounted figure 
  • 8 points per 20mm artillery piece or limber model 
  • 3 points per 15mm foot or unmounted horse figure 
  • 6 points per 15mm mounted figure 
  • 6 points per 15mm artillery piece or limber model 
  • Vehicles will be scored on a model-to-model basis 
  • We'll keep it to figures/models only - so no terrain, sorry! 
(Other scales/models points value will be determined by The Judge)

Figures can be primed prior to the start date (Dec 20th) but no colour can have been applied until the start date. In order to be scored the figures have to be based and any groundwork completed. The figures have to be painted by you. The honour system will be followed in relation to the completion and entry of figures to the Challenge. Woe goes upon the head of anyone who besmirches themselves in the painting of toy soldiers!




On top of general bragging rights, smack talk, etc. prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. (Prizes will be gift vouchers (or their equivalent) from a wonderful online hobby store.)


In order to be scored, photos of the completed figures/units are required to be submitted to me (The Judge) for posting here on the Analogue Hobbies blog. Updated scoring for 'The Challenge' will also be tracked on this blog.


The Judge (me) will participate in the competition but will not 'place' as a scoring competitor (i.e. no prizes for me).


But, you see, I have a cunning plan...




There is ONE condition to your participation to The Challenge. To be counted as one of the vaunted members of this august enterprise you will be required to paint one Viking figure for my collection. I will send out a figure to you with a self-addressed return enclosure. It will count as 10 points towards your score but it has to be submitted back to me before the end of the Challenge.


This way I get both a momento of the Challenge, and, in a sense, all the participants will form part of my Viking warband. Now, how neat is that!


So, there you have it. If you're interested please drop me a note. I hope you take up my challenge and join me in getting a bunch of stuff done over the coming winter months!


Warm Wishes,


Curt

54 comments:

  1. Ha, Class, so it isn't just Naps this time. Looks like you will have a good sized Viking army by the end of this 1. You can send mine out.

    Fingers crossed it reaches you by the end date!!!

    Oh it is roasting here in Scotland (is it heck, wet and wild, Wish it was snow!!!)
    Best regards
    Paul

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  2. Brilliant Paul, I was counting on you to be one of the first aboard! I'll send you a note to get your information. Looking forward to it.

    Best,

    Curt

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  3. I believe you have my address, what colour do you paint a viking by the way?

    John

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  4. I thoroughly enjoyed following your challenge last year, so would like to participate if that is ok. It may even encourage me to get more paint on figures (and give me an excuse to buy those Perry British Hussars!)

    Given the glacial pace at which I paint, I don't think I'll have much chance of winning though!

    Phyl
    Http://infrequentwargamer.blogspot.com/

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  5. Likewise, really enjoyed following last year's challenge, so... You're on!

    This winter's projects are 28mm Ancient British, maybe some Parthians, an ECW unit or three, a Russian WW2 squad and hopefully most of a Napoleon At War 18mm French Division. ;)

    Mike - troubleatthemill.blogspot.com

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  6. Hi Curt,

    I also really enjoyed following the challenge and I'd like to join up.
    As always I have quite a few projects going at once with ACW, Arabs, WWII, Samurai, maybe WWI, Naps and anything else that jumps on.
    How do you like your Vikings? Black lined or not? Eyes added or no eyes? Do you want them based or will you be doing that yourself?
    Looking forward to this.:-)

    Christopher

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  7. Nice challenge. Not really a competition man myself but I can paint a Viking for you. About to start my Viking Warband any moment so one more is no problem :-)
    Cheers, Michael

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  8. This is excellent! If you guys can drop me a note at curtcampbell at mac dot com then we can exchange addresses. If you have a viking 'in your stocks' and you want to paint and send him along that would be fine. I'll just send a replacement out to you. Whatever works best for you!

    @ John: Any colour except pink (and just so you know Vikings don't have turnbacks, pelisses or shako cords) ;)

    @ Phyl: Welcome aboard! Checked out your blog - great stuff. Quite like your Spanish guerillas.

    @ MikeW: I see by your blog that there will probably be some of that new 'Napoleon at War' 15mm stuff rolling in. Brilliant!

    @ Christopher: Happy that you're joining us! The viking can be however you want - gimme your best shot. Don't worry about the basing. I'll do it myself so they have a consistency as a group.

    @ Michael: Its great to have you join us! I loved the work you did with your ACW collection and so I look forward to seeing your SAGA project progress. (And if I can nick a viking from you in the process so much the better!)

    @ Greg: I knew you'd be in. I can hear your engine revving from here! I sense many Napoleonic Austrians on the horizon...

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  9. I like the idea of this challenge and would love to paint a viking figure for your warband, I hope that i won't be counted out being that your winter is my summer

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  10. My address is 13 Baker Street Timaru 7910 New Zealand email kcgalpin@xtra.co.nz hope to hear from you

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  11. Great stuff, Galpy! I'll post a hairy scandinavian to your southern address. (I will try not to hold your geographical location against you.)

    We also have PhilH from London joining us - Welcome! Start shaking your priming spray cans in preparation for the kickoff.

    Best,

    Curt

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  12. "ANY HISTORICAL"!?

    BOO-YAH!

    I'm in! might as well just send me that first prize right now!

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  13. Sign me up for the competition too!!!

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  14. Glad to have you aboard, Ray! I expect copious amounts of 15mm horse and musket figures from you.

    Ah Tim, I would like take your smack talk more seriously but I seem to remember your score last Challenge being, what was it? Oh yes, a sobering 4 points (thats more than 3 but, sadly, less than 5). Nevertheless, it should not be too hard to raise the bar on that one, eh? ;P

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  15. I need to question the scale and ask to add the 20mm scale, Ray is a cheater and bring it on!

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  16. Ah Curt, I would have taken your previous challenge more seriously but... what was it about again? Oh yes, I seem to remember is was Napoleonics.... Which is almost as exciting as getting a root canal... except without the drugs... (almost).

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  17. @ALurker: Glad to have you along, Fran. I'm going to look into rejigging the point system to better allow for 20mm submissions.

    @Tim: Ookay Tim, whatever, as long as you're happy. ;) Looking forward to seeing your stuff.

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  18. Great idea, count me in as well. I've been on a pretty long spell without painting anything but just finished assembling a bunch of 1980s US Army infantry in MOPP suits - fun!

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  19. Schweet! Great to have another Conscript aboard, Dallas! You could play 'Call of Duty' in 28mm with those. You just need some guys running with two machine-pistols and some others 'camping' with claymores all around them. :)

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  20. I'm in. Too bad terrain is not part of this challenge. Maybe a future one?

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  21. @Sylvain - I think Russian infantry will count as terrain...

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  22. Nice one, Greg.

    Sylvain, I'll consider terrain as a possible submission but I'm worried about being able to effectively assign points relative to each potential piece.

    Curt

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  23. I'm in - I'm still thinking about my project but it will likely be War of 1812 Americans and Canadians (I've British Peninsular who can stand in for the Brits) or yet more Romanss and Dacians - oh Decisions, decisions....

    As for the Viking, send him my way. I do have a good number of unpainted and unassembled Gripping Beast plastic Vikings if you'd rather me use one of those

    This should be fun.

    Oh yes, It's 60 degree F and rather nice here on the MD Eastern shore.

    :)

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  24. @Curt. I'll stick to figurines. But the thought gave me the idea of proposing a terrain challenge sometime in the future.

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  25. @ Miles: Excellent! War of 1812 would be very nice to see (and very topical considering the coming year).

    @ Sylvain: A terrain challenge is a great idea!

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  26. Why not, I 'm up for a challenge and enjoy painting Vikings.

    Let me know what info you need

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  27. Wow Curt, it looks like you have really have opened Pandora's Box here, you will have to quit your day job.

    John

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  28. Hi, I will join! Not sure on the outcome however!

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  29. @ Mr. Legion and The Belgian: Awesome, welcome aboard! Please send me an email so I can get your information.

    @ John: Its all good. Nonetheless, I will probably enact a cut-off soon otherwise I will have to put in for a leave of absence at work so I can manage this!

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  30. May I sign up also? Like Kent I am down on the South side of the world (up the road a bit from him in the shaky city). I reckon this is the push I need to actually finish off some Historical armies!

    My blog is here http://warpooch.blogspot.com/

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  31. @ Chris: Happy to have you join us! Drop me an email so I can get your information.

    Cheers,

    Curt

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  32. Your email bounced back to me, could you possibly send me one? chrisjpooch@gmail.com.

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  33. Are you full or have room for one more?

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  34. I think you may be just under the wire but I'm delighted to have you join us, Dave!

    Curt

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  35. Just heard about it, but I'd be glad to participate if it isn't too late, Curt. If the curtain's already fallen, I'd be interested in taking part in it for sure next time.

    Robert (who owns a sizeable collection of Vikings himself!)

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  36. I also just heard about the challange and I'm working on a 15mm Macedonian army, 6mm Naps French (will you score them?) and various 25-28mm figures so could do with the extra push to drive through to March. As also can be seen I am re-basing a whole Persian Army but would not count that LOL.

    Hope I can be included, something else to add to my blog LOL

    Ian (UK)

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  37. Robert and Ian: I was just about to turn off the 'Vacancy' sign but I'm happy to have the two of you along for our jolly painting gallop into March. Just drop me an email so I can get your particulars and I'll send out the Challenge info package.

    Thanks to everyone for the great response - this will be a lot of fun!

    Best,

    Curt

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  38. A very interesting competition. Do you want to have an Spanish viking?

    Regards,

    Juan

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  39. Oh my... Gosh, I don't have a representative from sunny Spain so how can I possibly resist... Ok, you're the last man under the ropes - welcome aboard!

    Ok, folks thats it - white flag of surrender. I can't accept any more Challengers unless I take stress leave from work!

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  40. Thank you a lot, and excuse me for ask so late (I didn´t see your last Entry...).

    Regards,
    Juan

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  41. Andrew, I'm sorry that we can't fit you in for this run (I'm probably going to loose my mind staying on top of this lot) but I'm sure we'll be doing it again next year.

    Best,

    Curt

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  42. Great idea and as I can see on other blogs the competition allready started in words. Isn't it Fran and Ray? :-D
    Curt good luck with this. It looks like a whole lot of work is wating for you. I hope you will still have some time to paint figures ;-)
    And if you want a viking painted out of competition, I volonteer.

    Greetings
    Peter
    http://peterscave.blogspot.com/

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  43. Thanks Peter! It will be a busy few months ahead, to be sure. Re: a Peter-Painted-Viking: Its very kind of you to offer, and certainly not necessary, but if you wish to add a recruit to the Viking horde I'd be silly not to accept - I leave it to you.

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  44. I did you the offer, so that's a yes. Let him row his boat at my direction ;-)

    Greetings
    Peter
    http://peterscave.blogspot.com/

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  45. Best of luck with this Curt, sounds fun. Looks like I dropped by too late to join up, never mind, maybe next year...I must admit you have us southern hemisphere types at a disadvantage - its difficult to stay indoors and paint, when the sun is shining outside; garden duties, bike rides, BBQs all seem to compete for time! ;-)
    Cheers
    Scott

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  46. Good luck with the challenge Curt/folks! I'll watch this one with interest.

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  47. Good luck to all the competitors, looking forward to following the outcome.

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  48. Thanks for all the well-wishes, guys! I'm looking forward to what will be a constant flow of entries over the next few months.

    Curt

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  49. A few more hours til start time.... must prep more figures but also pace myself.

    SteveM.

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  50. Curt,
    Sorry for the late request, but I would like to join the challenge! I have a ton of unpainted figures and this will motivate me to get to painting! Please sign me up! Thanks

    Mark

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  51. Sir,

    I know it's 4 days late, but may I join in the challenge as well? I could use the motivation.

    James Baconfat

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Thanks for your comment! As long as you're not a spam droid I'll have it up on the blog soon. :)