This next month we go dual-mode again, with the two parallell themes being completing “Squads” (units, teams, gangs, retinues, etc) and completing “Scenery” (aka terrain, which includes vignettes, diorama bases, and whatnot). Here comes the very interesting explanation/clarification bit:
Well, obviously a “Squad” (a term I’ve chosen this month for alliteration’s sake) is often a military term, and often means a unit of about 10 or so individuals. Since many of us are wargamers (at least in theory), something like the unit of Skeletons here is a wargamning unit, and so fits perfectly.
Though in the interests of flexibility, inclusion and achievability, the “squad” size we’ll be using is a minimum of three models. This lets many of those boardgame units also qualify.
Of course, not everyone is a gamer of any kind, so Hell, the models don’t even have to be a strict “unit” or squad. Figures from different forces, ranges, manufacturers. All good, as long as they fit together thematically.
Three also lets those bigger bastards be an achievable unit for something like this. I should take new photos of my Ogres sometime…
Vehicles? Tank Platoon and Panzer Zugs? Sure, why not? We will stick with the “three or more” minimum, though. But by the same token again, they don’t all need to be the exact model. If you can make ’em fit thematically, then I’ll go for it.
The other half of the challenge is simpler to define. Scenery. Big stuff? Sure. Naturally. Of course.
Scatter stuff? Why the hell not? We’ve got to get it into these challenges occasionally, right?
Boardgame stuff? Definately!
Emplaced weapons, tanks that are dug-in? You might think that they’re a grey area, but I’m 100% fine with calling them scenery or terrain, as that’s the sort of thing they’ll be used for in many situations.
Similarly, models of things like GW’s new “Endless Spells” are something I’m happy to include in this category, especially cos they don’t fit well into many of the others, aside from perhaps “Neglected Models”.
Besides, some spells are clearly also scenery.
All the usual caveats apply. I don’t care what scale your stuff is. 28mm, 6mm, 15mm, “Epic”, 54mm, Micro-armour. They’re your toys, and the objective here is simply to motivate me, you, us, to get more of them finished.
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.
I WILL do a round-up of all the participants I’m aware of following 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. And frankly, it’s a bit worse as I’m rather behind in getting the Community Round-Ups posted up and I unfortunately don’t see that improving until at least a couple more months.
Also, if you’re doing the Awesome August ’19 Community Painting Challenge, be sure and link your finished units over there. There’s still a solid week left to go!
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
I’ve been thinking about digging back into the Rogue Trader and Blackstone Fortress boxed sets again now that I’m done with OFCC. Both of those have plenty that should fit in here.
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Yeah, the boxed games fit these pretty well. I’d like to get stuck into them myself, but I’ve also got SO many part-finished units that I feel like I should clean up first. Maybe just *one* set of BSF models, perhaps….
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For me, they are *among* the so many part-finished projects, so it fits even better 😀
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Yup, I haven’t even started on mine yet. I did try to on a few of the Rogue Trader figures, but ..that didn’t work out.
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Perfect, this ties into a few schemes I’ve got on the go – hopefully it’ll give me the necessary push to get them done 🙂
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Sounds like a plan, mate. One of October’s challenges will be Orktober, so something there for the both of us! 😉
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That’s good to know – I’ve got several orky schemes planned (on top of the infamous 20 more boyz – because like a fool I keep overdoing things) and I don’t think I’ll get a chance to look at them in September so I was planning a big push for Orktober anyway 🙂
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Yeah, I’ve got a few Ork things I’m hoping to get cleared in the next 2 months. Mostly the boyz for our little challenge, but a few other bits and pieces as well…
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Awesome, I can get my rabble of heretics ready for this challenge! It’s just the push I’m needing 🤗
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Excellent!
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Going to use this to try and get back on with some new scenery I need to finish off for the business, as long as that counts mate ?
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Yeah, no problem at all there, mate!
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Not what I’d hoped to get done but here’s my entry https://wargamesculptorsblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/its-all-white-now.html
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Well, having failed in July, and being about to fail in August, I’m hoping to be back on board with challenge stuff in September! Honest, guv!
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Sounds like a plan. Just make sure you have three times as many models done, to make up for it! 😉
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Ah! OK! I’d maybe not thought that through then! 😉
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Hmmm, how many platoons can I complete? 😁
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Uh…. seven. The answer is seven.
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I’m now getting into the habit of bookmarking these posts so I can find them again to link once I’ve painted my entry! I don’t usually paint squads but I actually have one for next month so nice timing!
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Just bear in mind that the squad challanges are also designed to be boardgame-unit-friendly, and that dancing troupe of Bones Zombies you just posted up would also count as it’s a small group (3+) of thematically-unified models.
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I have another Bones unit in mind for next month, these challenges are great at keeping me painting!
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Cheers Dave – they do help me get stuff done as well – especially useful for me in motivating me to get stuff that I get “stuck” on done..
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I may submit my terrain that I’ve been working on for September. I can’t say for sure but I think I will be working on more trees and terrain over the course of the next month as I want to wrap up that project. Looking forward to seeing what you and everyone else include as well!
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Terrain and trees fit perfectly in the wheelhouse for September’s challenge – so go for it!
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What a great batch of miniatures. I particularly liked the flames on the robes of those three guys. Also like he scenery; particularly the gun emplacement. I agree with just using it as scenery as opposed to having it being, say, an active weapons battery, etc. I noticed (and did this myself) that things like aegis lines and weapons batteries in 40K tended to get used as scenery a lot more once the rules changed and they weren’t “good” anymore. Worked for me — the mini’s were still getting used which is what it is about.
Also, I found it fun to occasionally play a custom scenario or introduce custom elements into a stock scenario where the scenery did stuff.
So September is neglected models? Always a worthy challenge and a profitable one for those who wish to perhaps decrease their piles of unpainted plastic!
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Not specifically Neglected models, that’s just empasis on not needing to do it as a “start-to-finish” challenge, like a lot of others are. September is Scenery/terrain and Squads/units/groups.
Thanks for the compliments, too – the trio is a good example of the models not needing to be models made as a specific squad for a game like Warhammer, as all three are from different ranges, but the paint makes them fit together.
Outside of scenarios, I always find that fixed emplacements and fortifications “bought” by one side or the other seem a bit silly and plenty immersion-breaking, especially when both sides have bunkers or buildings parked 150metres from one another!
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I should be able to put something up for September mate ,a nice little squad !
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Looking forward to that, Pat – you do get quite a lot of stuff done I notice.. actually, I just checked your blog and I haven’t gotten notifications for your last six posts for some reason, though it also does say I’m subscribed to your page. That’s a bit odd…
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Sorry mate ,Ill get the Tech adviser to check it out to see if this old fart hasn’t pushed some important buttons and stuffed things up !
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I highly doubt that it’s you, Pat – it’d be wordpress and something with the subscriptions.
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Excellent topic for me, it’s time to get back to Nightvault after a month’s break and paint those SCE wizards. Maybe dabble a bit on some SM scouts, but I’m pretty sure I won’t have time to finish those by the end of the month.
Now I just need to finish my August entry by Friday..
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I’m hoping to get motivated to get a few small squads finished. You know when figures probably only have a few hours work left on them but you stall out and it’s hard as hell to get back to them? Yeah. Lots of those…
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I’m in- need to get August’s entry finished too….
Cheers,
Pete.
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I’ve got one more for August where the paint is done, but I haven’t finished doing the flock. I’m still counting it, even if I don’t finish that stuff (and rimming the base black) until next weekend as the paint part is finished…
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Even earlier again this month – I painted pretty much all of these as a single batch through the last two weeks: https://rhodasreach.blogspot.com/2019/09/oath-of-creation-mutoid-vermin.html
The photos are a bit more “atmospheric” than usual. If I were not so tired this week i’d maybe try to redo them with better lighting. Oh well.
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More for the pile! Sons of Malice themed cultists:
https://rhodasreach.blogspot.com/2019/09/children-of-the-outcast-1-1-rebellion.html
Starting a new project-series-thing with these ones, so I hope you like black and white, because I imagine I’ll be sharing quite a few of these in the monthly roundups if the themes line up well.
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TODAY IS THE PRODUCTIVITY MONTH
https://rhodasreach.blogspot.com/2019/09/children-of-the-outcast-1-2-the-storm.html
MORE MALICE FOR THE PRODUCTIVITY
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Submitting my Hobbit Militia for Squaddie September: https://wp.me/p9OpCq-5H
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With only two figures I cannot claim a squad unless you count the rats so will submit under diorama/vignette scenery! 🙂
https://theimperfectmodeller.wordpress.com/2019/09/07/apocalypse-what-the-fk-was-that-september-challenge-a-28mm-diorama/
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Here is some terrain related 3D printed statues.
https://bogenwaldblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/statues-standing-silently/
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Hey, finally got this written up:
https://dreadaxegames.wordpress.com/2019/09/29/cultist-scumbags-final-part-squaddie-september/
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Here is my entry for the month: https://spprojectblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/30/from-the-shed-20mm-british-army-of-the-rhine-baor-from-under-fire-miniatures/
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https://historicalminiatures.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/le-conclave-de-vidar/
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