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This month's challenge saw a great range of superb entries from newcomers and regulars alike, and now it's time to pick a winner from those pieces. Take a look at the entries below, and cast as many votes as you like for any reason you like, be it the quality of the paintjob, the effort and ambition involved, the use of a certain technique or just how cool the entry is! This poll will run for 5 days.

The Entrants:

Nevelon: Zoat


ZoBo: Squiggoth


Jadenim: Kroot Shaper


Kustomer D: Ork Boy


Midget Gems: Squiggoth


Januine: Dracosan Armoured Transport


ZergSmasher: Dreadball Free Agents


methebest: Blood Bowl Trolls


Farseer Anath'lan: Imperial Knight


ChaosDad: Bloodthirster


GiraffeX: Treemen


Bottle: Genestealer Patriarch


EverlastingNewb: Defiler


sockwithaticket: Space Marine Veteran


ssisal: Techmarine and Servitors




Gulgog TufToof: Ork with Big Shoota


Begel Dverl: Savage Ork


Guildenstern: Bob the Hell Pit Abomination


Dsmith10: Tyranid Heirodule


Whittlesey40k: Rhino


Snail22: Genestealer Patriarch


feltmonkey: Bashful Boris


Moolet: Ork Warboss


jah-joshua: Orruk Ironjawz Megaboss


Zach: Drycha Hamadreth


Paradigm: Ghazkull Thraka


SoldierOFortune: Ironjawz Brutes


Buttery Commissar: ‘Otterhound on a Bank’


vejut: Pig Demon


Manalishi: World Eater vs Ultramarine


Dabossofdaskullz: Ork Burnas

Sooo much awesome, Para, Jan, Bottle, Buttery, Jah, Midget, Snail, all get my nod of proverbial hat.

Another great month. A few of my favorites (although by no means the only ones I voted for) were:

sockwithaticket - A really neat, clean job, with a lot of very well-done detail. Great work particularly on the gem and the writing, plus the super-clean edge highlights.

jah-joshua - A spectacular model, and a very nice paint job. I'm not sure about the idea of painting without primer, it gives a strange look to the paint (although that might just be in my head!) The stippled, dotted highlights really work though. It makes the armour look as if it has little nicks and dents in it rather than the perfectly smooth look of sock's marine, both of which are well-suited to the specific miniatures. The hands and the skull on the shoulder are extraordinary.

Januine - Another spectacular model, and a nice gritty paint-job.

Bottle - Great job. Classic genestealer colours, nice glow effect on the brain, and I love the rusty pipe on the base.

Zack - Considering the fact that I've just spent a bunch of cash on Sylvaneth models and am having to physically restrain myself from buying more of them, how could I not vote for this? It's a simply-done but effective paintjob, and I love the base.

Buttery Commissar - It's very impressive that you've managed to get so much detal on such a tiny miniature. The fur, the muddy legs, and once again the base. The water effect is great, but those leaves! Amazing!

I did vote for more than this, but I'm being dragged away from the computer to set off on a long drive to my parents, so I can't write any more! Congratulations to everyone though.

Nevelon: I would hate to come across that beast on the field, it looks like my bolter shells will just bounce off the back hide and if i get too close its going to wack me with that gun and send me flying.

ZoBo: That guy hanging down like snack for the dino, could be his dentist. Seeing that across the battlefield just may make even the stoutest of the marines flinch.. especially if its charging acorss the field at them. Who doesnt love dinos, Never thought i would see one in 40k. You guys supprise me each month.

Jadenim: That is an amazing use of torquise, it looks almost like carvings and statues ive seen for sale in the southwest, very native feel to him. I think it should have a +1 to the cover save for being a native.

Kustomer D: That blood looks amazing, that ork boy looks mighty happy. I dont think i would like face him in the battlefield, he looks a tougher figher then most my marines.

Midget Gems: I dont know even know what the ork is riding, but it looks almost as scary as the stego that Nev used. Id hate to be on the recieving end of that guns your boyz got on its back, or its charge. The back almost looks like a hardened magma shell.

Januine: That transport looks like its seen some battles, I love the rust on the hull, Im more of a green plasma fan, but your made that blue look amazing. Id be worried about expanding all my troops at getting through that hull to hit at whatever is inside and having nothing left to figh it.. If thats just your transport.. id hate to see a tank.

Zergsmasher: I really like that tree looking thing, i have no clue what either of them are, but they look pretty good. That other guy looks like its a swarm type creature and needs to be a part of a pack, Very good looking teeth/bone/claw colorings. ive not tried to do any bone yet.

methebest: is that a witch being tossed by the troll? thats not very nice of them. I like the turquose-ish color on those scales, I would not want to be standing across from those guys, if they can toss a human woman around like that.

Farseer Anath'lan: I love you Knight, I aspire to include one or two those Knights within my court of gallants, I really like the spear, you did an amazing job with that. Im glad that I am on the imperial side.. I just hope your lord knight is not a heritic..

ChaosDad: Thats one nightmare that you created, idunno if your son helped out or if you did it all yourself but that.. would be very scary to face across the field, im glad i have something with monster hunter now though.

GiraffeX: I love those mushrooms, it makes the scene look real, i like one on the left, he seems like its reaching out for me. I can see those two stomping my wolfs and throwing them across the field.

Bottle: Thank you, i have a few genestealer's ive been wondeirng how to paint them. I really like your transitions/blending those purples and blues are amazing. I think of everything yours is my favorite. I hope when i get back to the Tyrannids i can do half as good as you.

EverlastingNewb: I love the lack of a proper foot. So like an ork to not care and keep fighting onwards. I think i could handle one of those with the ravenwing, but if you brought a squads of those.. i would be wary to meet you on the field. I love your basework.

sockwithaticket: That white is so amazing, your skull line so crisp, that blade so mighty, I am glad that neither of us are heritics or zenos. That shade you used on the laurals has got to be one of the best looking colors ive ever seen, they way you got the brass/copper around the ruby in the center. Amazing job.

ssisal: get off your tail and start basing your guys, youve been painting and modeling for a bit now. You dont have be scared to base your guys. even if the whole strikeforce doesnt match in that sense.. so what, you gotta learn sooner or later.

Gulgog TufToof: I love that hes got that little guy loading the ammo for him, like he cant be bothered to do it himself. I love your spent ammo discharge, your brightwork is amazing, shinny and dull where it should be. I love that tooth on the head of your Ork

Begal Dverl: that blue, holy smokes its awesome. I love the sinew on the hammer. you made that axe look just stone. i love the leatherwork on his loincloth and chest-thing. really love the glowing blue, cant say that enough.

Guildenstern: Good lordy. I do not want to see that across the table from me. That looks like it took out a couple champions and just kept on moving past time. I love the name bob for your abomination, The flesh tones look twisted just right together.

Dsmith10: the greens on him blend so well, he should definitely get a +1 to cover saves if nothing else. I love the spike shades of blue/purple, the bone plates being purple. I like that you really contrasted the pale underbody and weird green down there too. i do not want to face him, he will eat my greenwing and just keep rolling.

Whittlesey40k: I really like your rhino. That red is so pretty, so much better then ones ive got here. I love the metalwork on it, the stacks, the bent antena, is that working lights?.. you just took the cake, and ate the whole dang thing. I hope you have a how-to or could make a how-to video. I need to make so many rhinos, id love to give at least the vets/cmd squad lights like that.

Snail22: That Patriarch the various bone colors. Holy smokes you nailed it. The is the least bright genestealer ive ever seen, what made you decide not to go with the pretty blues and purples that most others do? The color on the claws is amazing too, you do great transitions.

fellmonkey: I have no clue who Boris is, but I love your gold work, i hope someday i can blend my gold as well as you did. That girdle is just amazing. The purple fur looks pretty amazing as well. That mace would just crush the the pore scout squad that ran into him.. no reports back. Well done.

Moolet: That gun is the size of the guy in the cage, holy smokes its like a cannon for his hand. and that claw, geeze.. Thank goodness marines dont need tetnis shots.. I love, love, love your rust. you continue to impress me each month. the blue on the cloth is just soo.. perfect to contrast everything else. the details on that cage too.

Jah-joshua: Orruk Ironjawz looks very frightning, I love the bone that has been covered in blood/red sorta on his right shoulder, the blue cloth you have on him also looks amazing. the skull pile at his feet, Your blood on the axe is really nice. I like that he has 3 kills marked on the axe too little details are awesome.

Zach: She is amazing. Ive never seen one painted yet. I love the colors of your wood, the flowers on the left arm. the honey combs. and those flowers at her feet. Holy smokes, you nailed the base out of the park.

Paradigm: Thats what a WAAAAAGH! prophet looks like. I am so thankful ive not had to battle against one of those in the field. your work is amazing, but this one almost seems too dark to pick out some of the details.. maybe its lighting. I do really love the armor that he is wearing, the weapons and totem look great. I do not wanna fight him.

SoldierOFortune: I really really like those brutes armor, it contrasts very nicly with their skin tones. I love the blue on the pants, your leather is very nice looking, I love the red accents, almost as though they are turning red from being successful in battle. I would hate to face a fully red armored force of them.

Buttery: I love your mud that the hound is in. His fur looks soo good, I love the leaves and the mud on his paws. such detail you do. You should do this stuff professionally. *coughs* and its that small.. Geeze what type of brushes do you use to get that level of detail.. toothpicks? beardhair?

Vejut: ive never seen a Pig Demon. Now that i have, i dont ever want to face one. I am very glad they do not use weapons.. something that powerful with a club would just sweep the board. I love your bone as well, the gold ring on the tusk. Your transitions are also amazing, you should be proud of yourself, that pink and purple really work good together.

Manalishi: Thats one less ultramarine in the universe, Gillyman is that much less powerful. Though i dont like the word bearers much. You did a very awesome job. Ive yet to see anyone actually model let alone paint something like that. intentionally destroying another mini to make the base. Great job onthe blood splatter, looks realistic.

Dabossofdaskullz: Last bot not least is your line of Ork Burnas. I like the leather, the metalwork, the blue for flamers, the red wires are a nice touch. Your brass is very very good looking.

If i missed anyone, im sorry. I enjoyed watching the wips, I hope to see more of them this month of august. Good Luck all of you.

Ssisal hes tossing a goblin in the name of goal scoring.

 Paradigm wrote:

Manalishi: Word Bearer vs Ultramarine

Uhh, para, I think that's a world eater mate, not a word bearer

@ssisal, cheers for the kind words mate, cutting up the mini was no big deal really, the whole thing was made of leftovers from BaC, and a few bitz I had lying around, nonetheless, I'm really happy with the effect.

Just wish that inspiration had struck a bit earlier in the month, had to use some real quick n' dirty techniques to get it done on time.

Best of luck to everyone, it's a really packed field this month.

Well, another month of fun and creative entries! My five votes for this month went to:
ZoBo: That Squiggoth turned out great, very well done!
Januine: That tank is really amazingly well done, looks like it's been in battle before!
Bottle: The Genestealer Patriarch is one of the best models in the Deathwatch: Overkill box, and you really did it proud.
feltmonkey: Bashful Boris is well done. Very cool paintjob on a very interesting mini.
Paradigm: Da profett of da WAAAGH! looks ded killy!

Thanks in advance to whoever decides to throw a vote my way, and of course a big thank you to Paradigm for continuing to run this challenge. See you all next month for some flying goodness!

@ssisal: My minis are an Avaran Treebeast and a Vlorox Spinpede, from the Dreadball Xtreme box set.

I love the voting topics, it's like an advent calendar of tiny awesome entries, and they're often so surprising.
Thank you para for putting it all together.

And thanks guys for your kind words. In all honesty I just have very clear eyesight, and the luxury of not needing glasses at nearly 30. I do find I need good light though!
I wanted to give the mini a sort of "home" on his base as he is so wee little, so I'm glad it worked.

Really awesome entries - once again nice job everyone.

Oh, and the Defiler does have a foot, it's just raised and the Spikes are scratching over the floor. It was a bit awkward to position it without looking to static.

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
I love the voting topics, it's like an advent calendar of tiny awesome entries, and they're often so surprising.
Thank you para for putting it all together.

Haha, what a great description. And yes thanks to Para, I hope you are feeling better now :-)

I was blown away by some of this month's entries. In no order my favourites were:

Januine - that tank looks like it weighs a 100 tons. A solid block of awesome metal - it really works well with your style of metalwork, rust and grit. I love the dancing lighting over the gun coils too.

Feltmonkey - on the complete opposite end of the spectrum I love this super clean and amazingly executed paint job. It looks like a 3D render of a game character. Stand out parts are the NMM gold, the eyes and the smooth skin.

Jah-Joshua - where do I start man, the reddish undertones to the green skin? The amazing colour blends on the skull or the mind blowing strippled highlighting method - or maybe your sheer audacity. What do you mean you didn't use primer and the paint also came straight out the pot!? Love it.

@ZoBo and @Midget - those squiggoths are both brilliant. And true beasts!

@Bottle: for me, that patriarch 'steals the show ('steals - geddit? ). Great detail and pose - love the glow from the head/temple.

@Sock: I like how your marine is so clean - great lines. I struggle to get such neat edge highlighting.

@Soldier: I think I said it before, but I really like the face paint on your orks (orcs? orukks?). Makes them look very feral and, well, beastly!

@Buttery: So glad you found the proof for this little guy. The detail on that scale is superb. If I could vote for you twice I would, because my missus said, "It gets my vote, it's clearly the best. It's a dog!"


@ssisal: Great job in commenting on everyone! That must have taken ages. Yes, those are working lights, and you're in luck, I do indeed have a tutorial on fitting the lights!. There's also more on the rhino in my P&M blog (linked in sig).

As always, thanks Para for organising the comp every month, even when under the weather. Hope you're feeling better today!

Thanks Zach, Whittlesey40k and ssisal for the mention

ssisal wrote:

Midget Gems: I dont know even know what the ork is riding, but it looks almost as scary as the stego that Nev used. Id hate to be on the recieving end of that guns your boyz got on its back, or its charge. The back almost looks like a hardened magma shell.

Great job in commenting on all the entries. I'm very pleased how mine all came together in the end and it was nice to build something unique
Its a Lizardman Stegadon in case you want your own
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Seraphon-Stegadon

Orks got a good representation in this months entries, I voted for 8 in the end and Standout favs were
Zobo - put a lot of great detail into such a big model, my Stegadon very much looks up to his bigger cousin
Bottle - a fantastic paint job
Chaos Dad - I like what you did with the wings and horns, feet etc and the background . I would like to see you do the same highlight style on the black skin to make it stand out more. your definitely improving in your painting.

Good luck everyone. I've voted on the galley for as many of the images as I can.

FFS folks......how the holy cog am I supposed to narrow this down???!!!!!
Unleash the beast - I kept thinking 'The Beast Arises' as I looked through!! Which btw is a fantastic series - if you havent gotten into it yet I really really rec/mnd you get reading - well worth it. I'm on book 7 now and its perfect to listen to while painting
Annyyywaaayss - bloody well done everyone. Think this month had me throwing down more votes than before. 6? bwhahahahahahaha....not even close!!
ZoBo (seriously inspired conversion idea - genius!), Midget (sheer energy captured in the piece is brilliant), ChaosDad (most improved - really sweet job), Giraffe (gorgeous natural paintjob there fella), Bottle (usually I'm not a fan of the purple/blue classic scheme but you've made it work; can see you really pushing yourself in this one and damn but you did a fine job. Love those metals btw), Guildenstern (probably the most evocative and true to the theme here - that perfectly personifies the whole 'unleash the least title), Jah (your box of tricks needs wheels to get it around - cracking paintjob and scene and totally love that sholder skull - wee tut please ), Zach (there's a beautiful, sad, scary, prphetic story going on here and I love it. The lovely natural pretty happy base with an angry mother nature sending forth a wrathful spirit of the earth to right wrongs done to her.......fan-fething-tastic), Para (this really made me think if the beast arises books, lovely paintjob and really suits the them - feel the power of the greenskins!!) and Buttery (cheat!! that's not a beast!! It's a gorgeous dog! Still got my vote as its a dog and i love love dogs and what a stunning little micro scene. The detailing is perfect - great stuff)

And I'm done and its 7am and I need coffee stat!
Well done all and cheers again to Para aas ever for making this whole thing work ever month

Thanks ssisal, it actually really made my day to get told that, and thank you for putting in the effort to write out a comment for everybody as well!

I ended up voting for 9 this month. The two really wanted to call out were Snail22 and feltmonkey. Both of those definitely just got dropped into my inspiration folder, but quite a lot of really good stuff came out of everybody this month.

Well done everyone! I usually narrow it down to a dozen or so, but this month I ended up voting for the top 17. A lot of these have some little aspect that push them beyond merely good to very compelling. I won't be competing next month, but I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is painting! As usual, thanks to Paradigm for organizing the competition.


Any month that is particularly orky and genestealer-y is a good month in my opinion.

Nice work everyone and thanks Sissal for commenting on everyone, I did it a few months back and I know it takes some time to do =)


These are not necessarily the ones i I voted for as i try to vote strictly on quality of painting, but these are the ones which stood out for various reasons:

Zobo: your squiggoth is great, the opening drop pod back is inspired as its the carrot/grot on a string
KustomerD: fantastic ork, love the gore, how did you make it? Such a great miniature.
MidgetGems: another great piece from you, i’m consistently astonished by your conversions and then great paint job on top, I find its often one or the other.
ChaosDad: most improved, I love the work you’ve done on this.
Bottle: This is my favourite this month, the glow is done so well, the use of colours really brings the sense that the glow is emanating from under the skin.
Sockwithaticket: again i love your whites and the cleaness of your lines, I’m agog every time i see your pieces.
Gulgog: i really enjoy the atmosphere you give to your orks (i especially liked your tank bustas)
Jah-joshua: lovely job on this model, i really enjoyed your WIP posts, they are really informative for people who are trying to ‘up their game’, such as myself; i very much appreciate the time you spent doing it.
Buttery Commissar: great little miniature and paint job. Its hard to do such quality work on such a small model, I really like him and his base is just perfect.

ssisal wrote:


SoldierOFortune: I really really like those brutes armor, it contrasts very nicly with their skin tones. I love the blue on the pants, your leather is very nice looking, I love the red accents, almost as though they are turning red from being successful in battle. I would hate to face a fully red armored force of them.

Thank you for the kind words Much appreciated !


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Whittlesey40k wrote:


@Soldier: I think I said it before, but I really like the face paint on your orks (orcs? orukks?). Makes them look very feral and, well, beastly!

Thank You !


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Definitely well done to everyone. This month had a major turnout with everyone putting forward some serious talent

 Moolet wrote:

MidgetGems: another great piece from you, i’m consistently astonished by your conversions and then great paint job on top, I find its often one or the other.

aww thanks Mootlet, I just try to have fun. I did like the little backstory you wrote and how your warboss was familiar but different plus I always have a soft spot for any entry with a snotling in it

P.S. I'd encourage people to post, talk about entries or ask people on how they did things etc on this thread so it stays near the top of the form and we get more votes

Given the level of talent on display here, I'm always happy with my mid-pack finishes. To say thanks for the votes, I'm going to vote in the gallery for some of my favorites, and I'd urge you all to take a minute and do the same. Cheers!

P.S. I'm still learning my way around these forums so I can't offer much in the way of how-to, but if people can click on your picture and be taken directly to the gallery page, you'll be much more likely to acquire gallery votes.

Thanks for the reminder, been through and put some gallery votes in where I can. Like you, I'm satisfied just to pick up a few votes, given the standard of painting each month!

Votes for:

ZoBo and Midget... in the Battle of the Squigoths, I just about prefer ZoBo's, but they're both superb pieces!

Zach and Jah: great to see some truly top notch work on some AoS minis!

Buttery: The base! That base! It's like a chunk of English countryside that you've dug up, miniaturised and stuck to the plastic!

Nevelon: something about those scale textures looks really natural, good stuff!

Votes:
Januine - I love your AdMech and this hunk of metal is a great centrepiece.

GiraffeX - those old Treemen bring out a lot of nostalgia for me, they also happen to look a million times better than the current kit imo. Really like the various wood tones you've used on them, stops the scheme looking too homogenous.

Bottle - Your Patriarch speaks for itself really, a very sharp paint job. The subtle glow on his big ol' noggin is my favourite detail and perfectly realised.

Guildenstern - that thing is horrible and thematically perfect. The patchwork od different skin tones adds extra creepiness; as if any were required!

Feltmonkey - that's a really cool model. Is it from the Super Dungeon Explore range? I like the bright, almost cartoonish scheme, seems very appropos/ It's clear you're pushing yourself and it's come out very well indeed.


Super kudos to ssisal, doing a rundown for everyone is no small ask, I barely had time to squirt out my meagre comments.



Thanks :

feltmonkey - cheers, boss. With non-colours black and white as the basis of my marines I put a lot of work into the details as they stand out more on such a plain canvas. Always gratifying to hear you're hitting the mark.

ssisal - thank you very much. Vallejo Scurvy Green is the base for the laurel, darkene with black and lightened with light grey for the shadows and highlights. It's easily one of my favourite paints.

Moolet - you're too kind, sir, but I'll take it. Thank you.

A day left in the poll, cast your votes if you haven't yet!

Amazed to see so many entries hitting the gallery and site front pages!

Results are in, and it's mighty close at the top!

In 3rd place, Midget Gems with a hulking Squiggoth








In second, Januine's beast of a Dracosan Armoured Transport



Tied with Jah-joshua's Megaboss






and taking the win this month, Bottle with a terrifying Genestealer Patriarch




Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who took part, see you next month!

Bloody well done, guys! Very much deserved!

And here's to next month.

3rd whoooo

Since the restart this year the standard as been exceptionally good so very happy to have now placed in a challenge. Thank you for the votes.

Think this has been the closest voting so far, it was very close at the top with just a few votes separating everyone. Congrats to Jan, Jah-Josh and Bottle for winning.

Great work to everyone, see you in the next challenge

Congratulations to everyone in the here, you should all be proud of you work.

The Hammer i finally finished, Im more happy with the tech marine and servitors and the landraider then anything else else ive painted this year.

I do have one question guys, gals.

What do I need to do, to get more then the lowest amount of votes a month, as ive done all year? How can i improve my painting and modeling skills? Im not looking to be the best, but not the worst in the contest would be kinda nice for a change.

When is the next Challenge? This looks like fun, I'd like to be involved.

It's running now, see the link here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/698134.page

Thanks to everyone who voted for my Genestealer. Can't believe it beat Jah's Megaboss to be honest :-)

@ssisal I would recommend one of the painting tutorials from Warhammer TV - I learnt so much from those tutorials. Why not try and follow Duncan's steps exactly on a model and see how close to his you can get yours through the same method. :-)