Welcome to the 48th round of the Unofficial Painting Challenge! For the unfamiliar, the challenge is a friendly competition open to any Dakka members, whether you're painting your first model or your 1001st! The more rounds you enter, the more points you accrue based on a public vote, and these are tracked in a League Table over the course of the year. With this being the final month of the 2018/19 rotation, it's your last chance to pick up some points and maybe gain some ranks in the league!
This month, the theme is 'Into The Breach'. Your entry should consist of models who can always be found at the very front of the fighting, charging into the thickest pockets of resistance and clearing the way for their fellows. From a vanguard of heavy cavalry to an enormous monster to an elite unit of Terminators, these troops are always the first in.
How To Enter
- You may enter up to 5 MODELS as a SINGLE ENTRY, and are permitted one entry per member per month. If you enter multiple models, they should ideally be related in some way, such as part of the same squad, unit or scene if you are doing a diorama
- You MUST post a 'proof' picture of your entry in the thread of the state it was in before you started working on it; this must be either unassembled, unpainted, primed or coated a single colour. Entries that do not submit a valid Proof Picture will not be eligible for voting.
- After this, you may post WIP pictures in this thread and your own if you wish, and on completing the entry, you may post up to 6 final pictures IN THIS THREAD that will then be used for voting. Please note that pictures in a montage or collage picture will be considered individual images for this purpose, so while these types of presentation are certainly acceptable, please keep the image limit in mind when compiling them. For example, a collage of 5 images and one separate image would count as your 6 picture allowance.
So What Do I Win?
- Points... and points mean... bragging rights for the next month! Following the vote, points will be awarded to every entrant. This year, the Points you receive will be equal to the Percentage of Votes your entry receives in the final Voting thread; if you get 10%, you get 10 points, if you get 6% you get 6 points, so on and so forth.
These points will be used to form a league table, which will be updated month on month as the results come in.
How Long Do I Have?
This challenge begins 1st of February and will end at midnight UK time on the 28th of February. After this, I shall compile the finished entries into a new thread, and voting will run for 5 days.
List Of Entrants:
queen_annes_revenge: FINISHED
Spoiler:
Proof
final
[imghttps://www.dakkadakka.com/s/i/at/2019/3/2/f7ee7898c6dfa120821422763b1d9c20_84410.jpg__thumb[/img]
So while my request to do an Imperial Guard squad of 10 models has been declined, I guess I will do the smaller Imperial Guard command squad for a breaching unit
"If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team."
I got some aberrants and genestealers just in time for the day of ascension that fit the theme. I will probably go with the aberrants (since they are 5) but paint them all together anyway since they has the same colors. I will edit a proof pic later.
Back in 6th? 7th? I put together a squad of LotD counts-as. 3++ from storm shields, bolters, and special/heavy weapons that could benefit from S&P and ignore cover. Then at some point they changed the rules to limit options. So the rest of the squad never got done being painted. I did get two guys done, but these 3 languished on the back of the bench.
My counts as fluff was a specialized boarding team with personal teleporters (ala interceptors) and shields to secure a landing zone for other troops to follow in. Very much first into the breach.
Wouldn't it be a Shokkjump DeLorkean? I'm really looking forward to how it turns out, MG!
My proof pic will come up shortly. I'll probably be entering the Spindle Drones from Blackstone Fortress. They would probably be the first things to react to the Fortress being "breached" by the explorers.
I'm in. My Van Saar gang has a set of dynamic entry specialists who are always at the forefront of infiltration and face smashing enemy strongholds. Also they might be getting a game soon so best get painted soon.
First off, MG, you glorious madman...that's bloody brilliant!
Secondly, I'm in! - what's more "into the breach", than a pair of massive, angry, living wrecking balls being vaguely guided in the right direction by a few crazy, shroom-eating gobbos?
proof pic (I'm just doing the mangler squigs in the middle as my entry, I didn't think to take a pic of it unpainted by itself, and I've already started painting it now)
Ugh, not sure what to do.....
Witch King on his FellBeast?
Mordor Troll?
Riders of Rohan with Gamling?
Roman Legionnaires?
Too many options, give me a few days and I'll drop the proof pic
I've entered at the beginning of the month so there's a chance. Also whilst stumbling around in the dark last night I accidentally stepped on the cardboard box containing my dreads. It's fixable but not nice to see on an OOPFW model.
My entry this month will be the storm raven gunship.
It breaches the enemy frontline to deploy troops while laying devastation on its enemys.
I bought it some years ago, when it got released within the formation set with two stormtalons and I never finished it, didnˋt even completly built it up.
ZergSmasher wrote: Wouldn't it be a Shokkjump DeLorkean? I'm really looking forward to how it turns out, MG!
Thank you Zerg, I do rely on you guys to name my creations Good luck with the Spindle Drones. WHQ was one of my favourite games when growing up and Blackstone Fortress is on my list to get in the future, will be watching them with interest.
LOL Zobo, Felt, Modock and Para, thanks for the encouragement.
I could use some advice on the painting side of it as well if anyone wants to impart some wisdom. I asked a question on it Here
Those Squigs look amazing already Zobo, really nice sculpts. I've been very impressed and temped by the new AOS stuff that's been coming out (trying to be good atm and not spend on anything till Bday in May)
Good Luck Creeed, just gives you and excuse to re-pose it
I usually don't work on the same time frame of these competitions or conflicting subject matters, however my current project fits with the theme and time frame, plus I think its just too cool of a project not to document WIP. Its a platoon of IG Armageddon Ork Hunters, I'll pick top 5 of the platoon as my submission. They were mostly prepped a couple months back, were primed a couple days ago, did the basing yesterday, and did the camo pants today. After seeing the finale of 'Helsreach' fan film, I was inspired to make couple of objective markers.
Bits used are mostly Catachan, but shoulders pads are from Necromunda Goliath gangs, heads are from various human kits.
I'd like to enter a squad of Waffen-SS from Bolt Action, I figure they fit the bill. They'll be part of the 9th SS Hohenstaufen who opposed the Airborne forces in Market Garden as I need some OpFor for my Red Devils. I'll choose the 5 ones I'm most happy with at the end to comply with the limit but here's the whole lot.
I shall throw my hat into the tub with this one with a previously entered squad which has been media-blasted back to the bare plastic and will have Vigil Pattern Storm Shields attached... Proof:
I will be entering this month, got a Custodes Squad, with Vexilla and Shield Captain. I cant think of anything more in the breach than those guys... And they won't be the gold version either!
I will get a proof picture up once I get my next 10 Cultists off the production line and get some time to make myself some suitable bases.
My entry for the month is done! The Lord Executioner of the Ultramarines surging into the breach against a Chosen of the Iron Warriors.
and finally, my ~5th picture is a nifty action-shot diorama which incorporates other miniatures for effect. I have put it in spoilers because I'm assuming other miniatures should not be included in the official final entry shots, but I wanted to share this image with you guys all the same because I'm chuffed with the composition
I forgot to post proof, but I doubt I need it, since this guy was released earlier this month. My original plan was actually also to post some Infiltrators, but my work schedule is complicating things, so just I expect only to be able to finish the Tech-Priest.
Gotta love the fact that he has a floppy disk with his keys.
Not enthusiastic about how long those tentacles and antennae are going to stay in place. One of each broke off during building. Had to reattach them.
Hardest part was the eye lens. It's pretty big, so I had to do some glare effect, but it had an overhanging shadow too, so the usual way didn't work. A thin curve of sky blue and a dot seemed sufficient.
Can I change my entry? I've fallen hard into the genestealer cult, and would like to enter a unit of aberrants, instead of the breacher squad... can it be done?
Would a Bik Mek on a Warbike be an acceptable entry? He might not be the first one to hit the enemy, but will definitely be WITH the first wave of loud smoking vehicles roaring their engines towards the enemy.
I'm working on a conversion and wanted to check if it would be okay.
If not, I'm picking a Deffkilla Wartrike as my entry.
ChaosDad wrote:Can I change my entry? I've fallen hard into the genestealer cult, and would like to enter a unit of aberrants, instead of the breacher squad... can it be done?
Absolutely, change away!
Ezki wrote:Would a Bik Mek on a Warbike be an acceptable entry? He might not be the first one to hit the enemy, but will definitely be WITH the first wave of loud smoking vehicles roaring their engines towards the enemy.
Peregrine wrote: Does it really have to be a 5-model limit? My poor 5-man engineer squad would really like their Hades breaching drill.
To be fair, I've made exceptions in the past when it's been to get a full unit of 6 in rather than leaving one out of the final pics, so yeah, feel free to include the drill as well.
As a base model, I'm using an Old Ork Wartrakk which I bought ~12-14 years ago. It never saw any action and has moved from one storage box to another over the years.
Trying to give it a new life as a Big Mek's belowed warbike.
And some WIP images from the last few days.
nice looking biker bigmek there Ezki! ...I always thought a wartrakk would be perfect for character biker conversions, but I never got around to doing it myself...
Peregrine wrote: Does it really have to be a 5-model limit? My poor 5-man engineer squad would really like their Hades breaching drill.
just stick one of the engineers behind the drill, out of shot, in all the pics...easy!
Ok, so I'll change my entry, and I'll be 'reasonable' by entering only one miniature, considering that i'm a bit rusty on the painting department, and that my left arm hasn't regained its full mobility yet...
So, I'll be painting this big guy with his big hammer...
WIP on my entry, though he's probably as good as done as I spent most of the day working on him. Just need to correct a few errors and tidy up a few details I noticed taking these pics, and maybe do something more interesting with the base.
Thank you ZoBo! This is something I've been thinking for a long time. The proof pick more or less shows the stage it has been since the time Nob Bikers were hot, so since 5th or 6th? I was trying to make it a painboy's wagon back then.
I'm in this month!
I'll paint up my Riot Grrl from the Infinity Nomads faction. She'll kick in the door, storm into the breach, and hose everyone down with her spitfire.
Proof:
WIP of the Troggoth. Still need to shade and highlight everything and I should be fairly close to being done. Unfortunately I also have to wait on a good light source and some circular bases I had my wife ship.
Argh. I built up.a good bit of momentum at the start of the month, but between waiting for some paints that haven't worked as inhad envisaged, family holidays and sickness it's all gone a bit static. Hopefully be able to wind back up over the next few days and get my forward team finished. I bought a new airbrush, so having a bit of a play with that is high on my agenda when it turns up.
My Command Section as a Breaching squad and a Commissar to make certain they succeed.
The Plasma Gun backpacks are scratch built, and every model is converted in some way with the exception of the Commissar. I am very happy with the Commissars trench coat that shines like leather despite being covered with a Matt varnish. All the "Spiders" have their gang patches on their right sleeves.
Proof Pic time at last! Here we have 3 Custodian Guard, 1 Vexilla and a Shield Captain, I doubt you can get more into the breach than the Emperors finest!
I have had a lovely month to be honest, finished off the 10 cultists that were in my queue ready for Ebay. I also moved over 100 paints into dropper bottles which took me an Ice Age to complete... hence the late upload of these guys!
Here's my proof photo for the month. I've got my PC working again. I bought a SSD and did a complete reinstall of Windows on it. Meanwhile, my wife went a bit mad and bought herself a new laptop!
Anyway, I'm planning on painting some Aggressors. I say planning on, I've been painting them for a couple of weeks already, having started early in Feb. Here is the proof pic -
And here's a WIP on how they look so far. I've spent hours and hours highlighting the power armour.
Sigh. New job is kicking my ass and killing my patience for dealing with DKoK melta guns (seriously, who designed that weapon with the hand, gun, and bracing arm as three separate parts) so I'm going to have to sit this one out after all.
I'm liking those Salies already Felt, they need some love after Istvaan V
Really cool model Power Elephant, looking forward to seeing it completed
PossumCraft your entry really reminds me of Gears of War, excellent work on the conversion
I've been really busy at work for the last week & 1/2 and then ill for the last few days so progress has been very limited (and why I haven't posted much) here is the current WIP. I'm away all week on a training course so its all or nothing now, trying to pack everything I need to carry on.
Since it is a shorter month and a couple of people have asked me about later submissions, I'm happy to officially extend this to end on the 2nd March if that helps.
The next round (the annual Space Marines one) will still go up on the 1st as usual, but I'll take submissions for this up to the end of the 2nd.
A few extra days would be nice. Month slipped by, and I took a week off for vacation. Not sure I’ll be able to finish all 3 of my guys, 2 is going to be close.
I'm liking those Salies already Felt, they need some love after Istvaan V
Thanks mate. The only worry is that they're supposed to be Dark Angels.
Looking forward to seeing your entry, I hope you find the time to get it done. No pressure! It's a sensible idea to extend the deadline by a couple of days, Para. I've found progress to be fairly smooth this month - all I have left to do is a bit of work on the bases, maybe a bit of weathering if I have time, and of course the nightmarish photography process.
Might be a bit of a squeeze to get my models done. A mixture of family issues and moving to a new house for a job has severely limited my hobby time. It also doesn't help the paints I ordered didn't turn up! I'll try though
My finished entry, 5 Imperial Fist Terminators.
Pretty proud of these guys, first time I have batch painted more than 2 models at once. Into The Breach they go!
I'm going to call him done. White scar has become the bane of my existence. Anyone have any recommendations on a good white paint that isn't too clumpy?
DrGiggles wrote: I'm going to call him done. White scar has become the bane of my existence. Anyone have any recommendations on a good white paint that isn't too clumpy?
I can highly reccomend getting White Scar into a dropper bottle with a little flo-aid and medium, alongside a glass bead to act as an agitator. As long as you shake it up every now and then it should stay workable for you.
for white, many, many layers, and much patience is required. I'm painting pre heresy world eaters at the moment. when I did kharn, his armour alone took me about 2 weeks.
Never base coat with a white for painting white. Pure white is just for edge highlights. You start with a light grey...then it's up to you if you want a warm or cold white.
For a cold white Vallejo Pale Grey Blue:
More neutral white Panzer Aces Splinter camo base:
Unfortunately, there's no way I'll be able to complete my Terminators on time (unless I spend my entire day off tomorrow painting them, but I'm not sure my wife will be happy since I have windows to paint...).
The breaching team of the Vortices gang of Van Saar ruffians is now done. Final pics below. Tried out some OSL using my new airbrush, to mixed success. I'll keep trying I think it just about worked on the heavy's face but I couldn't quite get a decent gradient on the other bits.
Good job, Flinty - I always love having a unit of multi-coloured members. Those Van Saar look a little 'Infinity' don't they just? Might have to get some for myself...
Great job as always, Felt - nice blending on the greaves and the battle damage looks good. Are you putting together a Dark Angel force running into March? 'Cos that's what I'm doing with my Emperor's Spears force, too!
Finished my demon-warrior guy now but won't have time to photograph until tomorrow as I have to work late tonight - thank god for the extra time!
I guess I’ll throw my lot in here as well, even though it’s not much time left...
Plan is to convert this plague marine to make it less Nurgle and then paint him up as an Alpha legionnaire.
So most of the delay for me is bouncing back and forth between like four different ideas, one of which I ended up not being able to use because I forgot to take proof pics (oops), and another got finished but the entry shaved down because I decided the 2nd model didn't fit. So, last minute, as I decided the third idea won't get done in time, predictable animal adventurer!
proof:
and final:
One Herman's Tortoise centurion, ready to lead his troops into the breach.
Looking forward to seeing you finish that WishWarGaming, you have done some very good entries over the last few months
@ Felt opps really sorry, my friend collects Salamanders so I just associate green marines with them, forgot that DA could also be green. my bad. still looks great so far.
Maharg, that ones definitely a salamander? right? please?........ nice highlighting on the model, well done
Thanks Chris56, loved our last bust so sure this one will be brilliant too
Are you able to do any bigger pics Dr Giggles, sadly very hard to see any of your hard work.
Modock wrote: Never base coat with a white for painting white. Pure white is just for edge highlights. You start with a light grey...then it's up to you if you want a warm or cold white.
Strongly agree and how I do my whites, also same applies to baclk, they are every few things in the world that are either pure white or black, (its all shades of grey... theres some philosophy for you)
wow missed odds and can't comment on it all
Very cool turtle warrior Vejut
An update from me, I did go away with work but had to pull out of my training course and get to hospital because I could no longer swallow, which does have its drawbacks. Turns out the cold I had last week hadn't completely gone and had lead to an infection in my throat that caused an abscess (called a Quinsey) to slowly build pushing my tonsil into my throat and blocking most it and making it very painful, even swallowing my own saliva was like chugging broken glass. Went to A & E and got admitted, they put me on a dip with some antibiotics and steroids and then the next day stuck a syringe down my throat to drain the abscess (that was fun....). Back home now recovering but not had a chance to do much painting lol hands are a bit shaken due to meds so there might be some wonky lines.
Thank you for extending the deadline Para I think its going to really help me finish
Ugh, yeah that usually happens after bacterial tonsilitis, which is bad enough on it own. I had it as an adult and it sucked! Theres been loads of it going round in the UK due to the mild winter. My little girl had it last week and it was horrible seeing her so ill. We were worried about it developing into quinsy but luckily the antibiotics got rid of it. Your recovery should be pretty rapid after the antibiotics kick in, so hopefully you'll have the brush back in your hands soon.
@Paradigm, We have till the 2nd right? I’ve got one of mine done (bar the flock and pictures) Just need to finish the gun on a second, but want to get the third guy finished so I can have them all together. Worst case I just enter one guy, but I’m working right up to the wire on this one.
Are you able to do any bigger pics Dr Giggles, sadly very hard to see any of your hard work.
Yeah I can post the original images when I get home tonight. I resized them for the collage since my phone uses an absurdly large resolution.
Thanks for the tips on white paint Garrior , queen_annes_revenge , and Modock . I'll try to do the exile markings with a very light grey next time and see how it looks. I was just worried the grey on grey would be make them a bit hard to pick out.
Are you able to do any bigger pics Dr Giggles, sadly very hard to see any of your hard work.
Yeah I can post the original images when I get home tonight. I resized them for the collage since my phone uses an absurdly large resolution.
Thanks for the tips on white paint Garrior , queen_annes_revenge , and Modock . I'll try to do the exile markings with a very light grey next time and see how it looks. I was just worried the grey on grey would be make them a bit hard to pick out.
No worries buddy! I know how lumpy and horrible White Scar can be as I just transferred it to a dropper bottle this month, but now its in there with some flo-aid and a little more medium combined with an agitator its like actual paint again! And white works for some things, for things that are pure white then deffo paint it very light grey.
And I made it! Has been a bit of a stretch, 30min to go till midnight on my clock. The back is a bit bland and maybe I’ll go back and put a proper handle on the sword, but for now I’m happy .
Well not my best work. But being deployed isn't making this very easy. The round bases that my wife shipped haven't arrived, so I have to go old school square base basic green.
Here is my entry for this month - he looks like he would be first into the fray to me!
It was nice to have a bit more time this month so that things were not so rushed. I am pretty happy with the jade effect on the necklace and shoulder pad and the vibrant colours. The freehand shoulder pad I am less happy with, but I simply ran out of time to re-do it after trying and failing four or five times...and the purples in the shades really don't show much in the photos.
Anyhow, good luck to everyone and see you in Space Marine month!
Almost there. Just put the last blue wash down on the WIP guy (And spilled half a pot of old Cote D’arms era blue ink in the process ) Still need a round of final touchups and to smear some flock around.
@Para: With the time difference and your schedule, I’m not sure exactly when the cut off is going to be. If I don’t get the formal pics done in time, just use my last WIP as an entry. Don’t want to break my streak!
Sorry to her your little one got Ill queen_annes_revenge, hope she is better now. (never good when its the small people)
I am getting better thanks for the well wishes, just a bit tired at times.
Nice work Pneumo, i like the metallic blue on the armour.
Well done for getting bigger Photos up Dr giggles, I can see you have put some nice extra details on the model now e.g. the mud splatter on the boots
Wow Chris that Jade does look amazing and lovely transition on the skin tone too. I wouldn't worry about the freehand, only way to get better is to do it and much better than I could do. Good job all round
Hope your get your final pics in Nev those guys are looking good, are they a mix of parts? (I'm sure you must know, but just in case you can still get the old Cote D’arms paints here if you need to restock that blue wash https://www.blackhat.co.uk/coat-darms/7791-2/)
Cheers Para, Will have my photos up by Midnight on the 2nd to meet your extend deadline (if I've got the date right?)
@Nev and Midget. Don't sweat the exact times, I know I'm waiting for your entries so I'll just leave it open until they're in (within reason, no 2-week extensions... )
I'm finally done with my own entry. Nothing like waiting till the last second huh? Here are my Blackstone Fortress Spindle Drones, probably the first thing in the fortress to react to a breach of the fortress' security:
While I think this is one of my lower-quality entries, I learned a lot painting these models. I used mostly drybrushes on them; mainly it's the eyes and lights on the legs that I did normally. I'm happy enough with how they turned out. Not happy that it took a whole month to do such simple models, but at least I finished them, right? Looking forward to the voting, and expecting to see even more awesome stuff come in under the wire (that means you Midget Gems, I want to see that Delorkean!).
Alright Chris, thanks for ruining the competition by blowing it all out the water.
Also, I fell happy to call the dread done, but now I want to put this boy on the base at the back, so the ironclad is stepping over his most recent victim, probably an astral claws marine. And that's not getting done today. Can I just submit as is or have I got to do the base?
PossumCraft wrote: You can submit it for the comp, but we also need better photos, and some of the base when done. I like seeing dead maurines getting trod on.
Yeah that photo was just to establish where he's at right now. And since it'll be done in the coming days I'll definitely post a follow up.
I think I built these guys back in 6th edition, maybe 7th. Little fuzzy on that. Made of parts from the GK strike box (teleport backpacks, some legs, helms) Vanguard Vet bits (Storm Shields), assorted tac parts (torsos, guns) and some random stuff (combat sheild, RTB01 gun arm with a RT-era ork plasma cannon)
I painted the first two guys in the squad a while ago, but these guys have been collecting dust for a while. Partially because the way army construction has changed, and I don’t think their gear is legal anymore. The relevant guns are magnetized, so I can make spares, but that’s a very low priority.
Not really happy with them, but they are done and off the bench, so I’m calling that a win.
Full squad for those curious (not part of the entry, as the other two guys were already painted)
The 2 extra days were much needed but I still couldn't finish my entry. I was on vacation from February 20 until yesterday. I mostly have a few details and highlights to do (except for the leader) but I dont think I can make it. Oh well... next time.
Anyway here are a couple pics of where they are now.
I couldn't make it, I had my brother and his family for a long visit. I will able to finish my entry tomorrow. Since it's the last challenge of the season,
I hope Para can extend it a bit more. I would greatly appreciate it.
This is a strong showing for the last challenge of the year, nice work everyone.
Here is my entry the almost finish "DeLorkean"
I did the license plate, "OUTATIME" last, it seemed appropriate lol...., there are many extra things and highlights I still need to do/could have painted on this entry, I did manage to get quite a few references in the scene. I hope you enjoy it and the idea
Chris56 wrote: Whooah - thank Paradigm for that extra time!
Here is my entry for this month - he looks like he would be first into the fray to me!
It was nice to have a bit more time this month so that things were not so rushed. I am pretty happy with the jade effect on the necklace and shoulder pad and the vibrant colours. The freehand shoulder pad I am less happy with, but I simply ran out of time to re-do it after trying and failing four or five times...and the purples in the shades really don't show much in the photos.
Anyhow, good luck to everyone and see you in Space Marine month!
Yeah, amazing stuff all round. Really glad we extended the deadline to let Modock and Midget Gems finish their superb entries. It's going to be a fun one to vote and give feedback on.
Apologies for the poll delay, once again it's rolled over just as I have a bunch of work due in. Should be up by the weekend, hopefully no later than that.
Not a worry Para - 48 rounds of this competition have proven your trustworthiness and capacity as a host I'm confident speaking on behalf of all when I say that we're in no rush. It's all for the love of the comp, no matter how long it takes
Also, thanks to Nevelon for setting up this retrospective thread for the 18/19 rotation. Head over there to post your collected entries from the last 12 months, and reflect on what you've achieved!
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/772291.page
Good luck with the Spindle Drones. 
weapon with the hand, gun, and bracing arm as three separate parts) so I'm going to have to sit this one out after all.
