An Old Belgian Otaku: AHPC

Posts tonen met het label AHPC. Alle posts tonen

maandag 29 maart 2021

AHPC11 Overview video

And so it came to pass, the 11th edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, and the 4th one I participated in.

How fast those three months have gone by...

For me personally, it was yet another succesfull edition, though like last year I regret not being able to frequently comment on the magnificent work of the other challengers, as free time was more then ever a utopia this edition.

But even then, I managed to get my two goals: break the 1.000 points barrier, and finish the whole Chambers of Challenge route to the Altar of the Snow Lord. This resulted in me totalling 1112 points this year, far off from my personal best but never the less a hefty total.

To reach this, I finished 25 entries, and that placed me nicely in the first half of the table again, ending at a 27th spot.

Here the progress I made for the chambers map and the followed route:

And a small clip showcasing all my entries of this edition:

It was great fun once again, and next year I`ll be back with a personal challenge, namely to try and enter (any maps if they are present permitting) solely with anime styled models, which i can pull from various ranges and boardgames hopefully to reach my goals then as well.

Just a small personal impression, maybe a points score for 28mm+ "Monsters" might be in order, they are often bigger then their sci-fi equivalent vehicles....

vrijdag 19 maart 2021

AHPC11: The Oldest of Rivalries

If there is one long lasting rivalry in anime, it is without a doubt the one between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable.

Ever since the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime aired back in 1979, the two have been protagonists, and it is actually a very complex villain.

Char is one of the most charismatic and loved bad guys around, and with a record service of 44 years and counting at the moment, one that remains incredibly popular even with new generations, as could be seen by the OVA series Char's Origin the past year.

For this entry, I went up and painted two 1/400 scale gasaphon, whic I plan to use in MechaTop, a kickstarter I`m eagerly awaiting delivery for (should be march btw). I like this scale the best to game, as the models are the size of a 28mm figure (I scored them as such below), and work really well with 1/300 scale infantry, vehicles and buildings without towering TO much over them. Even though your average Gundam stands at about 18 metres... as could be seen in the news as Japan is working on a functional RX-78-2 recently.

To that end, of course I need the famous RX-78-2 (it's also the Gundam appearing in the excellent Ready Player One movie btw), and one of Char's mobile suits in which he duelled with Amuro, the aquatic MSM-07S Z'Gok in his typical red colour scheme as he is "The Red Comet" for a reason.

Demaz!

woensdag 24 februari 2021

AHPC11: Lair of the Beast: Fomoroid Crusher

And so our descent through the Chambers of Challenge comes through an end, as we stand before the sealed door to the final challenge.

But in order to get there, one must first face this last quest, the Lair of the Spider (well, it became Beasts).

I decided to go for the Fomoroid Crusher from the WarCry range by Games Workshop, a game I read a lot of good things about, but which I haven`t gotten round to play yet, let alone finish a warband. But I really liked the model, and it is also your protagonist in the Underworlds solo game mode, though as I only completed him now, he has been stand in by a Mordor Troll when my Zarbag Gitz faced the challenge.

It's actually quite a tall model, about twice the size of a GW Ogre, and slightly smaller then the old giant, and it is full of details. I really liked painting this guy up, and of course being me I couldn`t resist from giving him a slightly Slaanesh influence with the pastels for his clothing and hair, providing just that hint of following the god of Excess as such.

And now it is time to enter the Altar of the Snow Lord, and face the final challenge that will be set before me!

Points wise I have no actual idea on this beast, it is a big bloke standing about two and a half times in height of a stormcast, and I guess it takes about as much plastic volume as for example a 40k attack bike or the likes. Better safe then sorry, I aim at 10 points for it? Together with the room that means 30 points total, AND putting me over my 1k goal for this year, huzzaaaah!

maandag 22 februari 2021

AHPC11: The Graveyard Beach: Zombie Horde

Well, I`m not really planning on building any 9th age or WFB Vampires army anytime soon, but these zombies, an old set from Mantic, would have been perfect for that.

Instead, I grabbed the box at a discount bargain, with the sole purpose of having "fodder" for games of Dungeons and Dragons or Rangers of Shadow Deep.

In that regard, I painted them in a fleshy, not to gory, colour scheme, because that way I can use them as crzed starved fanatical villagers or something as well, forming wave after wave of low hp and unskilled masses to throw at the heroes.

An added bonus is that it paints up really smooth as well, so a couple of hours later I had a nice heap of 30 zombies, ready to claw their way towards the unwilling opponents!

So that makes an excellent 150 points for the models, and a nice boost to my tally as it becomes 170 points due to the 20 point location bonus...

woensdag 17 februari 2021

AHPC11: The Tomb: Mausoleum

For the entry of the next room in this epic quest through the Chambers of Challenge, I literally went for what the quest says: a tomb.

A perfect chamber to get some scenery piece done, I printed up a small mausoleum and accompanying graves to build a piece of CD terrain (am I a year late here?).

The model has been scaled to fit the Shire games I`m planning, because unfortunatly Hobbits don`t live for ever either, even though they have long lifespans.

And now onwards to the third level!

vrijdag 5 februari 2021

AHPC11: Lady Sarah: Goldberry

After having braved the Armoury, I invoke the powers of the mighty sorceress Lady Sarah once again and have me teleported to the Orc Pit, a place of filth and despair.

And in order to do so, I grant this offering of Goldberry, companion to the mysterious Tom Bombadil.

Produced by Games Workshop in their excellent Middle-earth line, this model was released in the early nillies as part of the very first expansion for the game, Shadow and Flame. Yet, she perfectly stood the test of time as a sculpt for sure.

And she is not only a girl using mafic, no, the daughter of the river IS a being of the purest magic, so I guess that should be okay for the additional bonus points of using the service.

To that end, she yield me 5 points for a 28mm figure, an additional 5 for being a magic user, and 20 points for the teleportation, topping off at 30 points as such.

woensdag 27 januari 2021

AHPC11: Decorating the Dungeon

A small entry of essentials from me for this next update on my journey to the "1000" in that I painted up some dungeon furniture this week.

It is essential in such a way that while I have already printed quite some exterior scatter material for (solo) gaming, I realised I barely have any interior pieces.

To that end, I am going to be running my Ender 3 on that job (after I replaced the nozzle, this one has seen it's time, overextruding as a result) and make sure to get a lot of small stuff done, as well as piles of extra dungeon tiles.

Because who knows, this pandemic might actually end this year and I can get that planned DnD campaign going at last, only with a delay of 1.5 years. Which is still faster then your average public transportation bus here in Belgium...

dinsdag 26 januari 2021

AHPC11: The Hatchery: Dragon Hatchling

Entering the second level of our decent into the Chambers of Challenge, we arrive in a large room called The Hatchery.

And the theme of the setting is "something that came out of an egg".

While my initial idea was to paint up some raging dwarf shouting Leeeeroy Jenkinssssss I instead went for another model. Rummaging through my pile of figures I printed up for DnD (delayed due to you know what), I came across this dragon hatchling.

Now, there is no particular reason the little beastie is of the Blue Dragon variety other then that I was working on another entry with blues in it mostly, so that's rather easy going.

And as such, for this chamber I have a single 28mm figure painted up, and the journey continues onwards!

zaterdag 23 januari 2021

AHPC11: Ruffians

Not every entry in the AHPC is for the Chambers of Challenge, as the objective of this bloggers community event is still to reduce Lead Mountain.

And this is one such entry, not attached to any location, just some nice little pile of figures reduced from the unpainted stack.

The models are Games Workshop ruffians for the Middle-earth setting, and part of my grand plan for 2021 to paint all the needed models for the scenarios in the Scouring of the Shire campaign book. A good little rulebook that makes fantastic introductory scenarios to real new players into the game, with it's small tables and not to fancy rules laden characters.

Armed with a variety of weapons, these 7 guys are there to bully around some poor hobbits. The two archers provide some long range support, while the guy with the whip is there to put the p into pain on those he manages to catch.

So that makes a little entry of 7 models removed from the to do pile, and a small step closer to my target for this year!

woensdag 20 januari 2021

AHPC11: The Larder: Farmer Maggot

As we prepare ourselves to decent towards the second level of the Chambers of Challenge, it is time to gather some supplies.

I had found a nice heap of crops, with pumpkins and cucumbers as big as an arm, when suddenly wild barking emerged out of the darkness...

For the next of my entries, the Larder, I painted up some more models from Games Workshop range of Hobbits. namely Farmer Maggot and his fierce dogs Grip, Fang and Wolf.

In game, they are as viscious as the forces of The Shire can get, and I thought him the perfect match for this chamber as he protects his crops from wary adventurers... or pesky Hobbits setting out on one!

I also printed up a piece of crop for this entry, just to round it all out a bit better with the theme.

And now, we are going to decent into the second level of rooms for this year's challenge!

donderdag 14 januari 2021

AHPC11: Chamber of Darkness: ZGMF-1001/M Blaze Zaku Phantom Rey Za Burrel custom

We decent further into the abyss with perhaps the hardest of the entries to wrap my mind around: paint something in grayscale.

Now, my first idea was to be boring and go for a ruin or a statue or the likes, but then as I was preparing my hobby goals for 2021 (a post found on my blog from the beginning of january), inspiration hit me.

As part of my Gundam SEED Destiny inspired Tau force, the third bodyguard suit for the commander still needed to be painted. I already did the orange one and the burgundy one, but the third elite ZAFT pilot in the series, Rey Za Burell, pilots a light grey modified ZAKU suit, so I went along and painted that one for this entry.

And I admit, his drones have been used for the previous chamber, the Golem's...

Making use of various greys (bar the base), the suit is completely done in the spectrum from black to white, and about every grey I have lying around here in it. Add some small details for the eye and lenses, and voila, one greyscale battlesuit ready to fight for the Greater Good (or the ZAFT, depending your preferred franchise).

The Inspiration:

As I stated above, this is the modified Blaze ZAKU piloted by Rey. The suit has a generic loadout, so as such I also went for the pretty standard combination of a tracker, a meltagun and a missile pod, which is a bit of a good combination for all purpose duties on the field of battle.

Next up for this project, though doubtfull that will be during the AHPC, will be "regular" ZAKU suits in their traditional olive green liveries.

maandag 11 januari 2021

AHPC11: Golem Haunt: Tau Gun Drones

For the next chamber to be braved in the Chambers of Challenge, a place full of dreaded traps and horrid beasts, the Golem's Haunt has to be conquered.

The idea in this room is to submit something that has been "created", and while I initially thought of some beast to print for my DnD pile, I went for another route and chose AI.

The Tau empire makes extensive use of AI drones to accompany their troops, and as part of my Gundam SEED inspired army (work in progress, estimate finishing 2027) I painted up a couple of Gun Drones (in the colours of a "Ball" worker mobile suit).

These little discs of sheer annoyance add some additional firepower to a Tau unit, but their real use lies in the Saviour Protocols, in which they sacrifice themselves for their masters nearby when under fire.

So that is 2 models for the room, which with the room bonus yields a lovely 30 points for the tally.

And now, onwards to the one challenge I dread the most this year!

woensdag 6 januari 2021

AHPC11: Lady Sarah: Arwen Undomiel

Only one room has been cleared in the Chambers of Challenge, and yet I already call upon the mighty sorceress Lady Sarah.

With this offering, it will allow me to pass by the Pendulum, as I will take a magical ride to the Golem's hideout.

And that offering is none other then the lady Arwen, betrothed to Aragorn, and daughter of the master of Rivendel and Lord of the West, Elrond Half-Elven.

The model hauls from the excellent GW range for Middle-Earth, and shows the lady wielding her fearsome half and half elven sword, and while she goes to battle unarmoured, if you can`t even hit her...

For additional bonus points in these transports, if the lady in question is a spellcaster, an extra 5 points are to be added, and I found no less then 9 witnesses that can atone to her awesome magical powers.

So that yields a lovely 5 points for being a 28mm model, a bonus of 20 points for the Lady Sarah service, and another 5 for being a magic user for a lovely total of 30 points!

And gets us further in our adventure!

woensdag 23 december 2020

AHPC11: Classic Zombies

For this entry, I have some really old models I found in my bit box: the classic WFB zombies.

While I don`t plan on an army, they are suited for "NPC" zombies in various fantasy games, as they are so full of character compared to the current day plastic kits of various sources.

While I do use the plastics for the "masses" sometimes needed in games, these old metal jewels are used for that lost friend or fallen city guard in smaller scale games, and as such I painted them up in a variety of clothing schemes, though generally I took the old Empire city states as a guideline. Heck, I am still at heart a Warhammer player, as that was my first game back in 1994...

So now I have these 8 lovely chaps to shamble around my gaming boards in search of brains and daring adventurers, though those two often don`t go together if you look at the average Dungeons and Dragons session...

dinsdag 22 december 2020

AHPC11: The Fee of Entry

Something new in the AHPC since last year, is the fee of entry. In this, you paint up one figure, and this has to be mailed to another participant that reaches the endgoal of the challenge.

As the model has to be submitted within the first month of the challenge, I always go at it as soon as possible, and so I duly did this year as well.

The model chosen as an entry fee is a Shrewzerker, produced by Oathmark in their lovely Burrows and Badgers range, and a game I'm keen on collecting and playing more in the future.

This fella really looks the business, wielding his huge axe while taunting the enemy barechested!

But what's more, as I didn't have one for myself either, I opted to paint not one, but two of this mighty warriors, one for the lucky winner, and one for my own collection.

And as such, we are off for another year of painting extravaganza during the next three months, with a goal of 1000 points to score and not that much paint time at all with Baby Thorin. So carefull planning will be key, but at least the first 10 points are on the counter now!

Good luck to all the participants and may funtimes be had and lead mountains dwindle!

woensdag 16 december 2020

The AHPC 11 The Chambers of Challenge

I`m in again, for the fourth year in a row, and again I set myself a 1.000 points limit for this awesome community paint off.

No prizes are to be won in this Covid year, something I don`t mind at all, except for the figure exchange for those paying the entry fee and making it to the target of the challenge, once again with a map like last year.

When the Chambers and what they all are about where revealed here, I immediately realised I would be needing to some very creative thinking on how to go about them, because some are pretty hard and not much I glued and primed immediatly checked boxes to work on.

But after a day of ~~brainsto~~... I mean working hard, I did came up with a road map that should make me decent through the dungeon and hopefully reach the Altar by the end of february, giving me about 2 weeks to sort the grand finale out and see if I can reach my goal...

Starting out the journey, I will enter the dungeon through the Hall of Traps. From there I will call upon the Lady Sarah to bring me to the Golem Haunt and so onwards to the Chamber of Darkness. After some rest in the Larder, it will be time to decent further in this maze of madness.

Entering the second level at the Hatchery, I will proceed to the Armoury before going to call upon the Lady Sarah again to bring me to to the Orcs Pit. Braving that peril, some mental healing will be required in The Shrine, before looking for old treasures long forgotten in the Obliette, and continuing on towards the Tomb.

Arriving in the final level at the Knight's Solar, Lady sarah will yet again be equired to help me out. She will hopefully deposit me at the Graveyard Beach, from where a long trek through the Hall of Heroes and the Lair of the Beast will see me reach the goal of the journey: the Snowlord's Altar!

I must say, I find it a bit of a hard map and descriptions to fit anything non-medieval or fantasy in it, but luckily that is right upon my alley!

Let the fun and brushwork begin!!!!

dinsdag 7 juli 2020

My AHPC 10 Treasure arrived: Thanks Ray!

The past week a lovely little parcel arrived at my doorstep, and contained the figure I earned by completing the Treasure Island map on this year's AHPC.

The model was donated and painted by "floppy unformed tricornes" Ray from the Don't Throw a 1 blog, make sure to check it out, his current Haitian Revolution looks fantastic.

And so I did a true unboxing of the little parcel, as can be seen on this video clip.

The model took his rightful place on my memorabilia shelf.

Thanks for the figure Ray, it's a great one!

Pagina's

Check out Wayland Games

Il Directore

Blogarchief

The Investigations