Wait, what?
Something different for next month. To celebrate the middle of the year, I thought that July’s challenge should be something a bit more open than Squads or Neglected Models (don’t worry, we’ll see a lot more of both of those!) Based somewhat on Decembruary, but more open even than that, since Decembruary was all about centrepieces, so it excluded small hero models and scenery. This coming month, we open it right up.
Oh – and all of the images I’ve stolen used in this post are illustrative of things that do indeed count for challenge purposes. This July is a wide-open month that above all, aims to be fun. Just as importantly, all images are clickable and will send you to that person’s blog post. So do indeed check out some stuff that’s new to you!
I’m under no delusion that everyone I’ve linked here will have the time/inclination/etc to participate this next month, so don’t feel “called out”, but I did feel like this post would be a good opportunity to provide a ton of examples of stuff that can be considered valid models for June July. JULY, and rather than just populate it with models from my own collection – use models from your collections instead with links so people can check out more of one anothers’ blogs. Because community and all that.
The Jewel of July is about painting (almost) anything you want that you think will be cool, or impressive, or just nice.
It’s for Heroes. Big or small. named or otherwise. A Lieutenant or a Medic or a Warlord Riding a Dragon. An Inquisitor’s aide or a Star Player or a Bounty Hunter.
It’s for Vehicles. A Motorcycle or a Maus. A Starship or a Gaslands Car. A Panzer IV to a Kettenkrad. A Rhino APC or a Konigstiger or a War Rig or a M’ak I. (or M’ak II?)
It’s for the more impressive scenery pieces. A desert oasis or a (ruined?) temple or a bunker complex or a single bunker or a skyscraper or a Ferratonic Incinerator or a Kwik-E-Mart. A forest worth of trees or a jungle worth of plants.
It’s for Monsters. Ogres or Ogors. Dragons, Giants, decent-sized Daemons. Bronze Bulls and Dinosaurs and Great Wight Sharks and Goremaw and Cthulhu.
It’s for Dieties and Demi-gods. Primarchs and Titans. Atlas and Aeres and Abaddon. Horus and Hercules. Venus and Vulkan. Saturn and Sanguinius.
It’s for Mechs and the Mechanicum. Steampunk walkers, Dreadnoughts, Imperial Knights, Warjacks, Tripods, Titans.
It’s for Dioramas and Vignettes. Historical, Fantasy, Sci-Fi. It’s all good. Even better if they also feature something from the above!
So yes. Anything from a USMC Corpsman to a 28mm scale Warlord Titan counts for this coming month’s challenge.

Some of Thomas’ many Shardwrack Spines along with a Rhino APC – both of which would count. And some Thousand Sons (though they wouldn’t count).
What isn’t it for? It’s not for the truly small stuff – units of line infantry, or barrels and crates. Little bits of scatter terrain.
Units are okay, if they would individually fit in with the above categories. This means units of tanks, or Inquisitors’ retinue members, or units of Ogres or Carnifexes (Carnifii?) or what used to be Space Marine Command Squads all work, but an Imperial Guard squad, or a Space Marine Squad, or a unit of Fallschirmjaeger don’t.
As always, the biggest distinction between this painting challenge and many others out there are that I only care about you completing these models. It’s not a “start-to-finish” challenge set during a single month, so regardless of whether you just missed out on finishing that diorama or tank this month, last month, or six months ago – or you’ve got stuff that you’ve been chipping away at for six months – or, indeed – if you’ve got models that have been shelved for months or even years, feel free to dig them out and join in.
Similarly, if you want to go start-to-finish, then feel free to go right ahead. It’s about completing cool things. The challenge is designed to easily fit into your (and my) painting schedule and be flexible enough to encompass quite a lot, and hopefully just act as a bit of an impetus or inspiration to get this stuff completed.
As I said up the top of this post, I don’t expect that everyone shown above will be able to join in, but if you’ve been on the edge of joining in on one of these challenges, or just painting some stuff anyway that fits into the many categories, please do feel free to join in. This goes for you, too Marouda!
Once again, I will NOT be posting regular updates over the course of the month on it. I WILL do a round-up of all the participants I’m aware of just after the end of the month, though – so once again – please DO LINK to this post when you finish something that you want counted in the round-up – because I WILL forget your post otherwise. It happens every single month. Also, if you’re doing June-It, be sure and link your finished units over there. There’s still a week left to go!
Cool man. I reckon I know you what you’ll offer up for July… Gaslands?! I think I might join in on this one and will have a look through my plastic pile tomorrow for a suitable candidate 🤘🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, the first part of my plan is to get motivated to finish some of the big stuff on my desk that’s been there for ages. Then maybe some of the hero models. Probably a good chance I don’t even start anything new and just try to finish a bunch of older things that fit the monthly theme.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure I can find something in my Adeptus Mechanicus pile to suit! Sounds fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a plan – welcome aboard!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh right! I’m very new to these challenges and decided I’d like to join in… but I don’t think the Possessed unit I’m working on fits into the June Challenge after reading this description so I’ll keep working on it for the July challenge! Thanks for the inspiration Azazel
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s still another week for the June challenge if you want to try and get the Possessed done in time. For July a single Aspiring champion will work – or a series of them for multiple challenge successes!
LikeLike
I was under the impression that i had to start and end the challenge in june based on what i saw in thia post. I was going to try and finish 10 by june but now i thought i coukd try to finish what ever i have by july. Ita only a unit of possessed space marines but they are pretty unique
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, not at all. The way all of (my) challenges work is that you just need to finish the thing in the month. Doesn’t matter when you started it. So in June, you can finish units that you started in the month of June, or back in 1996.
So next month, it’s all about the heroes/tanks/etc as listed above. Again, doesn’t matter if you start them in a week’s time in July or 5 years ago.
Rationale being that most hobby challenges are all about getting things start-to-finish painted in a single month, which rarely works for me – that style of challenge leaving people with more half-painted models if they miss out on completion, sucking the wind out of their sails.
Making them all about completing models on the other hand, works as motivation to go start-to-finish for some people ,which is super cool – but also works to motivate people to finally finish off this model or that squad or whatever that’s been sitting around half-done for ages.
LikeLike
Ah i see, then yeah this all sounds perfect for me. I have plenty to choose in terms of unfinished projects.
Looking forward to being a regular in the challenges!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Excellent, and welcome aboard. I think most of us will have *something* around that qualifies for July’s challenge.
LikeLike
Oh, and if you manage to finish 5 of the Possessed by the end of this month, then that will be a “June-It” as well.
LikeLike
Hi Azazel, So I have a new post up on our blog with my June-it entry in… but I dont know what I’m supposed to do with it now! you said something about linking it here? I’m pretty new to blogging and brand new to the challenges so any guidence would be very much appreciated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool! Easiest thing to do usually is to just drop a link into that month’s challenge post inside your post – in this case it’s the June challenge here:
https://azazelx.com/2018/05/25/june-unit-painting-challenge-2018/
And/or go to the comments section of that month’s challenge post and link to your post – both work by creating a link to your post of completed models from my challenge post’s comments section. Makes it much easier to find all of the participants and their stuff!
LikeLike
Oh ok! I did link to that challenge post, just because if I can then when I mention someone’s content I always link to it. But I’ll drop a link to the group pic of my models in the June-It post too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool thanks. Still working on the June round-ups. I need to finish posting my own June figs but I’ve been unpleasantly busy the last few days…
LikeLike
What a big post, damn, I see i only follow a few of the people mentioned in here. I will look the rest up when i have more time. Hope you have a good painting month
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, when I put the post together I was initially going to illustrate it with a few of my own models, then I thought “why not use some of the others that I follow/follow me?” Then those pics just grew and grew, and…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the shout-out! I’m still really happy with that Tervigon, even if it is kind of tiny compared the actual Model that came later.
I believe the actual Latin plural of Carnifex is Carnifices, but it probably varies by part of speech and such because Latin is stupidly complicated. GW just uses “Carnifexes”. I started using “Carnifexen” back in 4th because at the time I couldn’t find a GW source that mentioned them in the plural, and I like the way -xen plurals sound.
Also, that Balor is really cute!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reminds me of the plural of XBox that I tend to use. 😉
LikeLike
Oh man, I learned something new today. 1) You have a blog. 2) How to follow Blogger blogs through WordPress (that is super sweet!). 3) You’re also a Pacific Northwesterner. It sounds like?
Cool, looking forward to following your stuff Alexis (and even more Blogger sites in the future!).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you need to click the “like” star on her post for her to get the little notification thing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got it, thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome on board! Yeah, I’m in the Seattle area. Always nice to run into someone on the interwebs who’s also nearby in physical space!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alexis! I’m in Portland, so not too far. I’m probably biased from having lived in the Northwest all my life, but gotta say that I love the left coast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know any of the Ordo Fanaticus folks? I’m pretty active on their forum and they put on some great events. Really cool group.
LikeLike
I did manage to get something in under the line: http://cascadiangrimdark.blogspot.com/2018/07/if-two-of-them-are-dead-jewel-of-july.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s added into the WIP post. Dang there are a lot this month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the shout-out!
I’m way behind my schedule, real life gets in the way of painting (but so does playing Planescape: Torment)…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome mate – well, if you manage to finish anything in July that fits one of the many, broad categories…
LikeLike
There’s the Morikun Temple Contest mini, standing in front of me… That should do the trick.
Sort of.
I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve just had a look at that myself. I have a figure that would be perfect that I was sort-of holding off on for next Fembruary, presuming Alex runs it again.
LikeLike
Cheers for the shout! As usual my thought process has gone;
A – hmmm… sounds very interesting…
B – No! Absolutely not! You’re not doing another challenge, think of everything else you were planning to paint this month!
C – …Although… there is that one model that you’ve been wanting to take a shot at for a while, what better excuse to bump it up the line?
D – And then of course if I’m going to paint that one, what about this one and this other one as well?
Will anything happen? Let’s wait and see but consider me a strong maybe 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
See, the whole thing is designed to be flexible enough for all of the Cs and Ds that are on your desk already!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s why it’s so damn addictive! (Not to mention useful…)
LikeLiked by 2 people
My cunning plan in action!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like this idea a lot… now to choose something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍
LikeLike
I’m in. SFJY accepts your July challenge! I’ve actually just purchased the new GW Knight Castellan, so that bad boy should fit nicely😁 of coursecthis actually means I’ll have to sit down and get him painted now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now *that’s* an impressive task. I look forward to seeing the progress!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll find something to paint for this. Don’t know what yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good – look over what you were going to paint anyway and see what fits!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Challenge…accepted. This is the push I need to get back on the horse. Cheers for the shout and showing the one miniature that sat on the table for close to a year before you motivated me to finish it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Go BTH! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw you’ve already got the hammer out. Great stuff! I’ve got so bloody many posts to catch up on right now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that’s a really inspiring post. Thank you for the work you do with this small blogging community to make us actually be a community rather than individuals with a common interest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
No problem at all, AB. I thought it would be cool to showcase a whole lot of different people’s stuff to help encourage people to take part. Nothing like seeing your own models up there. 🙂
LikeLike
For some reason the ping-back I thought I’d done isn’t showing up as a comment here. So here is my offering: https://thebovineoverlord.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/painted-carrion-emissary/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got you – don’t know how I missed it in the first place as I’m subscribed to your blog!
LikeLike
Thanks for the shout out! I tried to think of something cooler than “shout out”, but I didn’t get enough sleep last night (#junit beckons!).
I’m with Wudugast. We’re both over there drinking beers in the corner of the tavern. Figuring out how we’re going to pull off this big heist…we just need 1 more on the team and in walks in…
Excuse my ramblings. I really should start an RPG blog, haha! Anyways, this is about Challenges and Painting the Minis! I really need to push get the next Necromunda gang painted. The dream is to get them done in a month, but somewhat doubtful right now. The Jewel-ly Challenge is really super tempting though. I’ll have to take a look if I have something close that would meet the challenge or if there is something new I might be able to squeeze in. Should have a better idea at the start of July. Even if I don’t end up doing it, many thanks for coming up with these cool ideas and organizing the Challenges! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All good, bro. Shout-outs to all my homies in da hizzouse!
Or something like that.
Jewel challenge would work for your gang leader(s) or heavies. Blood Bowl Star Players as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always, thanks for the shout out! I am still extremely pleased with that Angron model, so to see him featured elsewhere is always a treat! Some truly excellent work from everybody else as well!
Plus I have to say that I have just the model for next month’s challenge…
LikeLiked by 1 person
All good, mate and glad to do it. Embarrassing however to see how far behind I am in even replying to messages on my own blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: An unexpected challenge |
I’ve roped two friends into doing this challenge with me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent! Will you be posting them up on your blog?
LikeLike
Shockingly, you spurred me into action and so I’ve actually got two early offerings done already! https://backtothehammerblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/03/jewel-of-july-hobby-update-wood-elves-and-dwarves/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to see the production line ramping up! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea this is! I haven’t finished a model in about 6 months but the next one i finish is going straight into Jewel of July challenge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks mate – glad to have you on board!
LikeLike
Some great models of many different types! I think for July I will probably work on finishing my poxbringer from the Collect Nurgle box. After all, Urnafortunus shouldn’t get to have all the fun herding/ordering about/oppressing my growing band of Nurglites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good to me, Ann. That should make a nicely impressive model to (help) lead the Poxwalkers and Plaguebearers while footballing the odd passing Nurgling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: June “Turn It Up To 11” Painting Challenge Results | Wyrd Stones and Tackle Zones
Pingback: June-It ’18 (June-Unit) Community Round-Up | Azazel's Bitz Box.
I plan to submit a couple of science fiction tanks I recently finished.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Buck, Is there somewhere I can find your tanks? I can’t see anything posted at your blog?
https://bucksurdu.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
Cripes, talk about late to the party! I can’t believe I missed this post somehow! And I get a mention (appreciate that)! Now I need to frantically find something to paint which, for this particular challenge, is probably going to be tricky!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You got it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: July painting Challange |
Pingback: Bear Necessities! – Just Needs Varnish!
Pingback: Beauty is Only Skin Deep – Norris Thing / Possessed Marine – Krakendoomcool
Ok! Ive finished at least one option for Jewel of july, hopefully i can do a couple more as well for you to pick one. Here is my Norris Possessed though…
https://krakendoomcool.wordpress.com/2018/07/22/beauty-is-only-skin-deep-norris-thing-possessed-marine/
LikeLiked by 1 person
My other surprise entry is ready just in time!…
https://krakendoomcool.wordpress.com/2018/07/29/wait-a-minute-thats-not-40k-at-st/
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
I have finally finished my entry! I decided to forgo my Adeptus Mechanicus painting and take on a challenge I have had sitting around for a while. I have posted about it here
https://lavenderminiaturesandgaming.com/2018/07/23/the-idoneth-deepkin-eidolon-of-mathlann-aspect-of-the-sea/
Thank you for organising this challenge, it has been very motivating!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great work – and done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Paint job: Aramis in Skullstalker | High times on the Eastern Fringe
Pingback: August 2018 Hobby Challenge: Technical August | Azazel's Bitz Box.
Pingback: A Child for the Warrior King, pt.2 | eternalhunt
Pingback: Power-Armored Frinx on Glyptodons – Archive #2042, circa 1978 – Completed! – Mark A. Morin
https://annwycoff.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/a-two-eyed-poxbringer-and-the-yellow-mold/
LikeLiked by 1 person
In!
LikeLike
Here is my entry.
It’s an homage to myself in 40k as a techmarine.
https://krakendoomcool.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/magni-warbringer-homage/
Thanks for organising makes its very motivating currently sat on a beach in Jersey writing the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got you. Hope the beach was a lovely day out!
LikeLike
Cheers it was a great day out. I got a few looks from people while I was typing on the Mac. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Gunfight! – Just Needs Varnish!
July entries!
https://theimperfectmodeller.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/fantasy-island-featuring-nienna-a-28mm-reaper-elf-ranger-the-july-challenge/
https://theimperfectmodeller.wordpress.com/2018/07/07/28mm-reaper-dark-heaven-legends-mini-kelainen-darkmantle-evil-wizard/
https://theimperfectmodeller.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/28mm-reaper-dark-heaven-legends-mini-jack-harrison-the-july-challenge/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Done and added!
LikeLike
Pingback: Wait a Minute… That’s Not 40k! – AT-ST – Krakendoomcool
Pingback: Zombicide Survivor: Red Cap Ben (Jewel of July ’18) | Azazel's Bitz Box.
Pingback: Low Mileage, One Careful Owner! – Just Needs Varnish!
Finally! Have a contender!
https://justneedsvarnish.wordpress.com/2018/07/29/low-mileage-one-careful-owner/
LikeLiked by 1 person
got it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: A Child for the Warrior King, pt.3: The Hound | eternalhunt
Pingback: Horny Toad – Inquisitor Martyr Nurgle Helbrute Homage – Krakendoomcool
I’ve done my Jewel Of July entry…
https://krakendoomcool.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/horny-toad-inquisitor-martyr-nurgle-helbrute-homage/
I happen to think he looks a bit like an Emerald…
LikeLiked by 1 person
added in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I’m very excited to be taking part. Best of luck compiling it all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Rodents Of Unusual Size – July | Convert or Die
Pingback: July hobby challenge. Finished!!! Just… |
Pingback: Jewel of July Painting Challenge Results | Wyrd Stones and Tackle Zones
Our results over at Wyrd Stones & Tackle Zones are in. Check them out at https://wyrdstonesandtacklezones.com/2018/07/31/jewel-of-july-painting-challenge-results/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Added them into the WIP post. Thanks for joining in this month – hope you guys can do so in August and beyond as well!
LikeLike
Pingback: Star Saga: Large Doors | Azazel's Bitz Box.
Pingback: The Jewel of July 2018 – Community Round-Up | Azazel's Bitz Box.