Saturday 21 February 2015

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2014 - Side Challenge - Part One

Killer Apes WIPs - A combination of black undercoat, charcoal highlights and black shade washes 
With four weeks to go before the conclusion of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge things are starting to get rather serious with a side-challenge I agreed to before the ‘contest’ began. “The Pulp Trio” was agreed as a bit of fun between Anne, Curt and myself to see who could paint the most points in Pulp Adventure figures during the main challenge. The winner will receive a painted miniature from each of the vanquished.

Currently I’m ahead on 40 points (thanks to my “Boy In Blue”), closely followed by Anne on 30 points and Curt on 25 points. With just under a month to go I thought it was time to pull out all the stops, and start concentrating on the handful of Bob Murch “Pulp Figures” I bought before the Challenge started.
Gunsels WIPs - The gangsters attire will range from shadowy brown to bright blue and pink
As a result I have finally managed to spend a little time progressing three gorillas from code PLT10 Killer Apes. To be honest these have been sat on my painting table for a while now, waiting for me to properly wash them with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. They now just need their fingers and toes, chests and palms to be highlighted in charcoal to be ready for basing. I have actually really struggled to paint these models, despite their beautiful sculpts and simple colour scheme, just because it has proved so hard to work with such a sombre dark palette. After just a few minutes highlighting black with charcoal I have found my attention wandering and enthusiasm draining...
Hired Killers WIPs - More brown overcoats, accompanied by light grey and dark blue suits
I’ve also based and undercoated these hired killers from Bob’s “Gangland Justice” range. I’ve actually got all ten miniatures from code PGJ02 Bugs Malarchy’s Mob and code PGJ04 These Guns For Hire based. But thought I’d concentrate on these six first. I have gone for as wide a choice of suitable colours for their suits and jackets as my “Vallejo” collection will allow. The gangsters also come with a nice range of weapons such as pistols, Thompson submachine guns and even a violin case.

24 comments:

  1. I don't know how you do it dude! You have so much going on, how do you keep track of it all, never mind finish anything? It's all looking good though Bk. Those Bob Murch sculpts are superb.

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    1. Thanks Bob. Its easy - I don't finish anything :-)

      Actually I have a load of nearly finished minis ready for their final touches. Unfortunately I've missed the submission deadline for most, so they'll have to wait until after next weekend before I can post them here (as they have to be posted on the AHPC site first). But expect some updates on the Yeti, B.P.R.D. and a finished Hellbaby over the next few days.

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  2. I totally agree with Bob. The three gorillas are really good figures. But the gangsters are quite exceptionally, especially the two brown coated guys with the Tommy Guns. Even though they look like they've had head swaps they are still full of character and menace. All six are up to Bob Murch's usual high standards.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. Wonderful figures and I'll be pleased to get a few of these painted and based so I can finally get gaming with my 'Boys In Blue'. I hope to have the Gorillas finished first, so expect a break out at the Kleric City Zoo some time soon ;-)

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  3. I'm looking forward to seeing those gangsters and gorillas Blax :)

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    1. Thanks Tamsin. Plenty of detail on the gangsters to paint.

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  4. Good progress all round with the 'side-challenge'. Looking forward to seeing how the gangsters turn out (I've recently started on mine too)

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    1. Cheers Zabadak. I'll be keeping an eye out for yours then :-)

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    2. With 160+ figures on the paint-table and another project underway it'll be some time yet before they're finished !

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    3. But that's good news as it means plenty more of your excellent postings are in the pipeline :-)

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  5. Ooo I like them apes. I will have to see how big they are Lucid Eye have released some fantastic looking apes up on there facebook page. Will be a fun side project to go with my ATDE stuff.

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    1. Thanks Simon. They're all on 40mm round bases, though the one stood tall would have fitted upon a 25mm base - but I thought that looked a little silly as these are meant to be giant apes. Big fan of "Lucid Eye" - just waiting for them to release their apes myself through "Arcane Scenery".

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  6. Good luck getting them all completed.

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    1. Cheers Roy. Probably the last load for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge... and then I've some 10mm and 15mm stuff I want to get into :-)

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    2. I've just the Curtgeld figure to paint up.
      The Challenge proved too big an obstacle for me.

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    3. It has been a tough test. Though for me its been not being able to post my minis on my blog as soon as they're finished which has proved my biggest obstacle. If I miss the submission deadline (which I have done repeatedly) for the Challenge I find all motivation to do that final push gone (as it'll be another week before I can post the finished minis) and so I move on to something else. More discipline on my behalf is needed for next time...

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    4. Yeah, I missed this last weeks post day, and I needed those zombies and survivors posted on my blog so I could host them to hotlink onto the pendraken forum. I just had to miss out with the Challenge for the reason you mention above.
      Also, Friday (my challenge day) is filled with getting the pbb game sorted and Thursday can be just as hectic.

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    5. That is spookily similar to the reason I haven't posted any BatReps for a few weeks, as I keep missing the Challenge deadlines for figures I plan to use so lose interest in the game. Then I start working on some other figures for the following submission/game and before I know it am in exactly the same predicament again. As I said I'll need to plan far more carefully and further ahead if I do the challenge next time.

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  7. some nice stuff there Simon as always, those gangsters look rather good (not an area I've ever gone into myself though I can see the appeal). But those apes are very nice and so "golden age" compatable (especially DC wise!). I'm looking forward to seeing them completed, I'd probably have to add a brain to one and a beret and robotic dustbin to the other,. but that's just me.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Many thanks Roger. I've actually already painted "The Brain" up [http://fantorical.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/heroclix-howard-duck.html] and have both a Gorilla Grodd and Monsieur Mallah miniature :-) I wasn't actually that impressed with the Gorilla City apes "Wizkids" produced. But I'm not sure these "Pulp Figures" will suffice either as they're a little big, and I certainly don't want my minions bigger than my super-villains :-)

      As an aside I've been holding off painting up your 'Terrific Trio' until I've painted these Gangsters as I wanted the Police to have a couple of fights against these before I introduced the first 'speeding' super-hero to Kleric City ;-)

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  8. Yep I remember your brain fig' he's got to be one of the silliest super villians there is in my book (which is probably why I like him!). By the way have you received your order figures yet?

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Indeed I have Roger. Their bubble-wrap envelope is already in my painting queue ready to be led by the “Ultra Retrovian”. I've got some big campaign plans for Kleric City this year. I just need to paint these gangster minis and get my motivation for the project going :-)

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    2. And I've checked the package and found the fantastic casting of the Dragon Grub too!! Many thanks indeed Roger and I'm so sorry I didn't spot it sooner. I simply tore open the package, saw the first Draxxon and plonked it on my shelf. A thousand apologies.

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  9. No problen Simon, was just worried you hadn't recieved it, oh and you aremost welcome.

    Cheers Roger.

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