Welcome all to the 88th round of the Dakka Painting challenge. For the unfamiliar, this is a friendly painting competition open to members of all skill levels and experience, whether your entry is your first or you thousand-and-first time painting miniatures. Each month, finished entries are collected into a thread where the community can vote on their favorite pieces, and those votes go towards an annual overall League that runs for 12 rounds.
This month, the theme is The Underdogs: "Soldier, grab this spear/axe/lasgun/sharp stick and get out there!" Common footsoldiery naturally forms the bulk of many armies, but often these folks find themselves hopelessly outmatched by the horrors they face. Nonetheless, they hold the line, and this theme is for them. Your entry should feature the most unlikely to be heroes, be they destined to punch well above their weight against a mighty foe, or simply die in droves catching sword strokes and bullets so that their more elite peers can do their work.
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 June and will end at midnight BST on 30th June. After this, I shall compile the finished entries into a new thread, and voting will run for 5 days.
List of entrants:
Daia T'Nara Syren, aspiring Noise Marine
Spoiler:
Mothsniper: Tyranid Termagants and Rippers
Spoiler:
Captain Brown: Necromunda gangers
Spoiler:
Nevelon: Tyranid Hormagaunts
Spoiler:
Geifer: Stormtroopers
Spoiler:
Lovejoy : Grots
Spoiler:
theCrowe: Mouse Warriors
Spoiler:
Viterbi: Sgt. Colon and Cpl. Nobbs, Ankh Morpork City Watch
Spoiler:
Snail22: Skaven Warband
Spoiler:
inmygravenimage: Fantasy Townsfolk
Spoiler:
Reavsie: Ultramarine Intercessor
Spoiler:
DV8: Awlrach the Drowner
Spoiler:
Freya: Jack Hugeman, Worgen Bard
Spoiler:
Arakasi: Ork Slugga Boy
Spoiler:
KidCthulhu "Verrückte" Hilda von Talabheim, Des Rattenfängers Tochter
Spoiler:
Turaxa : Empire Militia
Spoiler:
Vejut: Crossbow Levy
Spoiler:
JoshInJapan: Deadzone Rebs
Spoiler:
Jadenim: Orgyn Servitors:
Spoiler:
Pariah Press: Orcs
Spoiler:
These were originally released by Minifigs in 1977 and were part of the first officially-licensed line of Dungeons and Dragons miniatures. I painted them to belong to the Vile Rune tribe, including the hand with upraised digit described by Gary Gygax, and several runes depicted in the art of Blood Bath at Orc's Drift.
Going to paint some stabby boys this month. No respect for the humble hormagaunt. They just want hugs and snacks, is that so wrong? These came to me as part of a supply drop, so not my builds, but cleaned up a little and ready to join the swarm.
I have a scattering of old Necromunda figures to do. A Scum model, a Ratskin Renegade, and a Goliath Heavy. In addition I have some unpainted Cherubs given to me by a gaming buddy. They could all be classified as Underdogs.
Captain Brown wrote: I have a scattering of old Necromunda figures to do. A Scum model, a Ratskin Renegade, and a Goliath Heavy. In addition I have some unpainted Cherubs given to me by a gaming buddy. They could all be classified as Underdogs.
Cheers,
CB
That's a really good idea! I was going to do bog standard Eldar guardians, but I've got a load of old metal necromunda models - I might follow your lead and paint up a small team of Escher!
Okay, my underdog entry is my new Warhammer Fantasy RPG character, Verrückte Hilda-Des Rattenfängers Tochter.
Hilda is a ratcatcher's daughter who got orphaned when Skaven attacker her and her father during a routine job. Now she's slightly unhinged & paranoid about Skaven but everyone in Talabheim just thinks she's crazy. Compared to the dwarf-lords and warriors in the party, my teenaged ratcatcher is definitely the under dog.
(I'm still waiting on the Bretonian bit to represent her "small but vicious dog" that she's supposed to start the game with)
Ooh that's convenient - just last night (which was already June, because Australian timezone) I had a mad idea and did some amateurish hacking and slashing to create arguably my least-likely-to-succeed warband member (and in Queen Sylelle's warband, that's saying something), Syren (née Nakasha), a cultist with no genetic modifications, no psyker ability, no power armour, and clearly no common sense, who's decided she wants to join the Noise Marines (presented hostage-video-style on today's newspaper).
Got the idea while I was getting an Escher head for another conversion, and I noticed the faces with gas masks or whatever they're supposed to be - they looked a little like the speaker-mouths on Noise Marine heads, so I started with an Escher body, clipped off the lasgun leaving the hands intact, and threw together Baby's First Sonic Gun using the body of a Sororitas combi-weapon with the head from a Possessed as the barrel, since with the huge horns removed it kind of looked like the screaming-face ends of the actual Noise Marine guns, and superglued on a bit of detail from an old Incubus backpack - both because the skull at the back reminded me of how the old 3rd edition Noise Marines had skulls on the backs of their guns, and because I'm going to paint the spikes like multicoloured buttons to suggest that because she's not a real Noise Marine, she's got a Guitar Hero controller instead of an actual guitar. Haven't attached the head yet, I need to do some filing of her collar to make the hair fit, and I didn't want to disturb the gun while its bits were properly gluing together.
Will she die horribly outclassed in her first battle? Highly likely. Will she somehow gain the notice of Slaanesh and be rewarded with enough mutations to be able to survive the ridiculously suicidal path she's put herself on, and achieve her dream? Eh, anything's possible, the Eye of Terror's a weird place. Will Sylelle offhandedly murder-sex her to death one day without bothering to find out who she is first just because she's in a mood? Absolutely.
I need Stormtroopers for my army and nobody expects Stormtroopers to win. Ever. So I reckon that's a good fit for the theme. I'm going to try painting a box of Stormtrooper specialists. Ideally I'll manage to get everything painted, but that much white armor takes time. We'll see if I finish everything, but progress is progress.
theCrowe wrote: My entry this month will be my own little mousey underdogs based on David Peterson’s graphic novel series Mouse Guard.
I’ll probably paint them all up and select my five favourites.
Verminous rodentry!
Never read Mousegaurd, is it similar to Redwall?
Automatically Appended Next Post:
KidCthulhu wrote: Okay, my underdog entry is my new Warhammer Fantasy RPG character, Verrückte Hilda-Des Rattenfängers Tochter.
Spoiler:
Hilda is a ratcatcher's daughter who got orphaned when Skaven attacker her and her father during a routine job. Now she's slightly unhinged & paranoid about Skaven but everyone in Talabheim just thinks she's crazy. Compared to the dwarf-lords and warriors in the party, my teenaged ratcatcher is definitely the under dog.
(I'm still waiting on the Bretonian bit to represent her "small but vicious dog" that she's supposed to start the game with)
I love things of narratives.
Thanes of KARAK GARAZ-NGOL approve!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Will join with the next 5
Verminous rodentry!
Never read Mousegaurd, is it similar to Redwall?
Not really… they’re regular sized mice trying to survive in a hard world. The Mouse Guards are the kinds of mice who go out on tough missions to fight off larger beasts and visit far-flung mouse communities and make sure they’re not starving or suffering in isolation. There’s a good bit of mouse-politics and a historical war against the weasels and a legendary black axe in the mix.
And It’s beautifully drawn with wonderfully endearing characters.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Freya wrote: Painting Jack Hugeman the Worgen Bard. Quite the under-dog. After all... who even plays bards? And I mean other than Robbie Damond.
I just went down a whole rabbit hole wondering who Robbie Damond was and discovered that Critical Roll is a thing. Thanks for that. This because who even plays bards? This guy! That one time I played a real D&D game I played a Gnome Bard with a matchlock rapier and a harmonica.
Freya wrote: Painting Jack Hugeman the Worgen Bard. Quite the under-dog. After all... who even plays bards? And I mean other than Robbie Damond.
I just went down a whole rabbit hole wondering who Robbie Damond was and discovered that Critical Roll is a thing. Thanks for that. This because who even plays bards? This guy! That one time I played a real D&D game I played a Gnome Bard with a matchlock rapier and a harmonica.
And I’d do it again!
Haha that sounds hilarious I also play bards. Usually I'm a bunny girl bard with a sexy twist on my "performance" skill but... I mean who could resist Jack Hugeman? Definitely need to introduce him to my gaming friends once I'm done! Can't wait for you to see what he looks like even after day 1!
Also, you should watch season three first. They're very loose campaigns and the production on 3 has been amazing. 2 was okay. 1 is basically unwatchable to me. But now I'm hoping you'll watch them and tell me what you think!
All this bard talk, maybe next month we should have “music tames the savage beast” so people could do either a musician or a monster. Just limiting to bards might be a little restrictive.
I’ve played a few in assorted RPGs, but our guild motto from back in the early MMORPG days was “Have you killed a bard today?” Ah, classic Everquest. Azure Mist on e-marr. Somedays you killed a NPC, other times a party member. Good times.
Nevelon wrote: All this bard talk, maybe next month we should have “music tames the savage beast” so people could do either a musician or a monster. Just limiting to bards might be a little restrictive.
I’ve played a few in assorted RPGs, but our guild motto from back in the early MMORPG days was “Have you killed a bard today?” Ah, classic Everquest. Azure Mist on e-marr. Somedays you killed a NPC, other times a party member. Good times.
I have no idea what I would even do, but I approve of this idea.
Not sure I'll get anything in for this one. I'm finishing up perturabo and itching to start jaghatai khan after. I might be able to sneak a dkok engineer or something in I suppose. I'll see how we go.
Getting in early (because more time wasn't going to make my painting any better; I'm just here for the participation trophy), may I present Syren, aspiring Noise Marine, because apparently just being a chaos cultists wasn't demented enough for her. But you know what they say, if you never aim high, you'll never find out how quickly you can be reduced to a stain on the landscape when the fighting starts and you're comically out of your league.
(Just editing to have these linked from the gallery rather than attached directly to the post, if that's how it's supposed to be done?)
Here's my proof pic for this month, assuming I don't get sidetracked or run out of time. I'm already some way into painting, though, so I'll most likely be finishing these.
Got a little more paint on my insane ratcatcher just in time for my next WHRPG session:
It wasn't until I saw the photo that realized how many touch ups her face, neck, and shoulder strap need. Still waiting on a Bretonian bit for her "small and vicious dog".
After some pretty poor showings the last few times I have entered, I'm going to set the bar low and attempt a single mini.
Bought multiple copies of the 3 marine issue of Conquest magazine to use as test mini's. This guy has been painted and stripped multiple times and was never really destined to be fielded in any army. Now that I've completed my Speedpaint tests, this could be the month that he finally joins his battle brothers - I leave it to Dakka to judge if that qualifies as an underdog.
I've changed my mind, again. I'm going to do some of my remaining Moonstone/Fantasy Townsfolk who've clearly had enough of marauding fae, goblins and other creatures and taken up arms against a sea of trollish troubles. Certainly a Barmaid, Merchant and (very) Angry Librarian, maybe a creepy wee juggler and deranged potion seller also. Pics anon.
First 4 ready for flock, 2 more getting paint, and two final ones waiting their turn in the wings. Then for the deathmatch to see which 5 are the strongest.
Quick and crappy pic of the first of the Townsfolk:
Agatha, Tavern Frau (though that really should be frauline).
She is a brilliant support piece in game, giving your troops Dutch courage whilst getting the enemy blind drunk.
More Necromunda, I'm making progress iwth my Escher. One nearly finished, a couple more on the way. I'm thinking of swapping out one or two, though. If I do, it'll be from the proof pic of the three posted below.
Hello, this will be my first time having a go at something like this... I realised recently that I only really paint Burrows & Badgers stuff (which is my job). And although I've got loads of other minis, I never get around to painting them.
So I figured I'd join in here, and force myself to paint something!
I'm doing some Gretchin... I reckon they definitely count as underdogs!
Here's the just-been-built before pic:
It's been 13 years since I painted a 40k mini (or any plastic minis at all!) so I'm looking forward to it!
inmygravenimage wrote: @Lovejoy are you on insta? I'd love to see your B&B stuff in detail, I've been eyeing up the scenery for Moonstone. Also, woo grots!
Automatically Appended Next Post: First one done! Agatha, Tavern Frau (though that really should be frauline).
She is a brilliant support piece in game, giving your troops Dutch courage whilst getting the enemy blind drunk. Nightmare to photograph though.
And state of the rest (plus my mess of a workbench):
Gertrude (lass with blunderbuss), Kaufman (fat merchant), Old Cadders (older guy with sword) Quack (Alchemist) and Tabby (lethal Librarian) will give me 6 to choose from, 7 if I get Fritz (the Landschneckt chap) done. Don't think The Beast or Tubby the Faun really qualify for Underdogs
Obviously, as rebels they are skilled in evading surveillance.
Calling these guys done.
All 8 that I painted, not for entry:
Spoiler:
These guys came to me second hand, so pre built and painted/stripped at least once. I did my best to tidy them up and bring them into the fold of the hive fleet. These guys are the poor unsung masses of the swarm. All they want is a hug and some snacks, but what they often get is death. Overlooked for better options, they are the poor underdog of the troop slot. But this lot will bring me up to 20, so hopefully in numbers they can achieve something. Or at least look cool carpeting their section of the battlefield.
To my surprise I finished the Stormtroopers with time to spare. I might have prioritized them too hard and at the expense of other stuff, but I really wasn't sure if I'd otherwise get them done in a month.
I finished a couple of Grogans:
Two more Rebs finished-- this time Grogans:
They are both supposed to have ammo belts, but I could only find the one. I replaced the missing one with some wire to simulate a power cable. For some reason, these guys opted to stay in focus.
Next, I have some Zee scavengers, and after that Shayo SIlverback, a super-intelligent gorilla who acts as a reb leader. That will be about as much as I can get done before the Challenge deadline.
Finally got my grots finished off... this is the first time I've entered the painting challenge, so fingers crossed I'm doing this right! I'm posting one pic of the set, and an individual pic of each mini, so six images in total.
You don’t need to do the group shot +individual pics, but it’s one of the reason we upped the pics to 6. You can choose whichever pics you think showcase the minis best. If that’s 3 different aspects of the squad leader and then 3 full squad shots, that’s just as valid.
Thanks Nevelon, that makes sense...I'll leave these ones as they are then, but when I (hopefully!) paint something for next month, I'll be a bit more creative with the pics!
Hi folks. I don’t really have the best painting set-up these days but I throw a bit on when I can and I’ve managed to get my Mouse Guards to a presentable state.
There’s seven Mice in all but for this challenge I believe I can only enter 5?
So I’m going with this lot.
Left to right we have Celanawe (with the Black Axe), Saxon, Kenzie, Lieam and Sadie.
Celanawe and his protégé Leiam.
Friends and rivals Saxon and Kenzie.
Sadie is a bit of a loner but here she is with Leiam.
Then this is all their trademark guard cloaks.
Not the best pictures I’m afraid as the direct sun was a bit too full on. I’ll maybe try and take some better ones before the end of the month.
Then just for the craic (and the Mouse Guard fans) here’s the whole lot.
Including the leader of the Guards Gwendolyn and her stalwart Shield Mouse Rand.
I do rather like Rand, but didn’t include him in the cut as he’s not such a main character as the others. Though maybe he’s a better mini so I shouldn’t let that influence my selection… any thoughts anyone?
I'm still waiting on an Ebay order for my ratcatcher's "small but vicious" dog to complete my entry. I'd hate to have to enter Hilda without little Hansi.
Undisciplined & poorly equipped,
relying on their weight of numbers & driven by black hunger,
roiling alongside the teeming masses of Skavenslaves,
Clanrats are as likely to die as sacrifices or decoys as they are as warriors at the front ranks for the mad plans of their warlords.
Always regarded as expendable by any higher skaven,
they can randomly be sent to Clan Moulder for experimentation and mutation or to Grey Seers as sacrifices.
They must always watch their backs while rising in the Skaven heirarchy where power frequently changes by murder.
Had to redo the pics, because the first batch was really bad. Wasn't able to get a good photo setup going, because the usual table is packed with stuff from new furniture and an excercise bike. And going on vacation tomorrow means this is the best I could do.
I give you Sgt. Frederick Colon and Cpl. Cecil Wormsborough St. John Nobbs, Ankh Morpork City Watch (currently Traffic Division). You can't get more underdog than those two. No physical strength and no mental prowess was given to them. But given what they got, they make the best out of it.
“We-ell, no point in going to war unless you’re on the winning side,’ said Nobby, sticking the white feather in his helmet. ‘Nobby, you was always on the winning side, the reason bein’, you used to lurk aroun’ the edges to see who was winning and then pull the right uniform off’f some poor dead sod. I used to hear where the generals kept an eye on what you were wearin’ so they’d know how the battle was going.’ ‘Lots of soldiers have served in lots of regiments,’ said Nobby. ‘Right, what you say is true. Only not usually during the same battle,’ said Sergeant Colon.”
Tried to paint Nobby a lot more scruffy and dirty than Fred.
touched up the 4th clan rat!
will be these for submission.
I feel a different colour for their skirts wouldn't be terrible,
but maybe its just the brown of the fur making them seem a little gummy?
Or because they're not on square bases.
Their tails could use a wash.
lol, nice prep for 120 clan rats
also minus 4 models to the pile of shame
Right, I've sorted out my entry:
Quack the Alchemist, Kauffman the Merchant, Old Cadders (with his onions), Tabby the Librarian and Agatha, Tavern Frau.
I'm actually done (obviously not above), as I'm now away from my painting setup - so trying to catch up on my back log of pics before the end of month...
KidCthulhu wrote: I'm really biting my nails today; the last bit I need for my entry is supposed to come today in the mail. It's getting down to the wire here!
fixed my doorbell button today.
hydrate and do some pullups if you can!
Paradigm wrote: Subject poll for July will be up tomorrow, so any ideas you've got, now's the time!
At the start of the month we were talking bards, so I’ll put forth “music tames the savage beast” for a music/monster/both meadly.
“We are legion” would be a nice tie in with the 30k release. Not seething undisciplined hordes, but organized rank and file troop types. Or endless zombies, we don’t judge. Might be a good one to lift the 5 model cap on.
Get’s Hot! Or some variation for the start of summer.
How about "All Things Great and Small" or something like that. Entrants could try something in a different scale, or else things that are larger or smaller than their usual work-- Daemons, Halflings, things like that.
Nevelon wrote: Don’t sell yourself short. That’s a nice looking Ultra. Plans for unit markings/decals?
I'd like to do that in the future. That will be another learning curve for me though as I've always had problems with decals in the past, even with Micro Sol/Set.
Nevelon wrote: Don’t sell yourself short. That’s a nice looking Ultra. Plans for unit markings/decals?
I'd like to do that in the future. That will be another learning curve for me though as I've always had problems with decals in the past, even with Micro Sol/Set.
Micro sol/set do help a lot, but they can still be touchy.
Personally I find the nice crisp whites really offset the blue and make the model feel finished. Although I skipped the step for years, due to how fussy it was. I’ve had much fewer problems since starting to use the magic little bottles.
Maybe a bit late to the party, but maybe, just maybe, I can get a couple of Hobbits done. Proof:
These are the metal sculpts for Merry and Pippin in their Rohan and Gondor armor, respectively. I figure Hobbits fighting in a war of Men, Elves, and Orcs are definitely underdogs.
ZergSmasher wrote: These are the metal sculpts for Merry and Pippin in their Rohan and Gondor armor, respectively. I figure Hobbits fighting in a war of Men, Elves, and Orcs are definitely underdogs.
You would think so, but my Pippin earned his reputation as terror hobbit by mercilessly slaughtering anything in his path, up to and including Gothmog. Guard of the citadel indeed.
I think this is probably my first month where I'm not taking the month's theme literally (largely because I've been crunching a lot of other projects (mostly new units for my Nighthaunt) and don't have time to specifically paint something for this).
So here's Awlrach the Drowner. The Nighthaunt army was severely underpowered since their original Battletome when AoS 2.0 came out, something something about the Underworlds, and he also ferries all those poor dead souls across the river Styx (little bit of Greek mythology for you), and I like to imagine its the poor souls of all the underdogs who don't succeed.
KidCthulhu wrote:Ah, I see I'm not the only one to use old school Mordheim models for this one
Yes, the classic militia/mordheim kit. We may never see their like again (from GW, anyway).
Primed and (mostly) base coated. They're further along than this now, but I fear I am running out of month!
Nevelon wrote:..it’s one of the reason we upped the pics to 6.
We did? When?
Paradigm wrote:Subject poll for July will be up tomorrow, so any ideas you've got, now's the time!
JoshInJapan wrote:How about "All Things Great and Small" or something like that. Entrants could try something in a different scale, or else things that are larger or smaller than their usual work-- Daemons, Halflings, things like that.
This would get my vote, and not just because I have a 1/20 scale Nausicaa that goes with last month's Ohmu.
Or if people want a summer theme, I propose "Sun, Sea and Sand".
Nevelon wrote:..it’s one of the reason we upped the pics to 6.
We did? When?
Round 27, May 2017: BOOM! was the first with the new rule.
Paradigm wrote:Rules Change this month, the picture limit has been upped to 6 so folks entering 5 models can do individual and group shots of their entire entry.
All other rules still apply
Sorry for not getting both done. I will finish the other fluff butt later but I've gotten a few too many commissions this month to keep up with both models. Hope you like him!!
Okay, I've officially finished my entry, "Verrückte" Hilda von Talabheim, Des Rattenfängers Tochter:
I've come the weird revelation that this model is nearly entirely made out of OOP parts; the Middenheim youngblood as the base model, the metal Ungor club for her Ratschläger, the giant rat skull is from a metal Necromunda Ratskin, Hansi is a plastic Bretonian bit, the parchment on her rat pole is from the original Black Templar upgrade sprue. The only piece of this model still in production is the Scourge Powerlance haft I used for Hilda's ratpole!
I've finished my entry, but I can't upload the images from my mobile. I'll get them posted tomorrow if that's okay.
For some reason I thought yesterday was the last day, and burned the midnight oil to get these done.
I didn't detail the faces because I didn't have enough time to do them well. I may go back to them later, or at least dot the pupils in their eyes, but I consider them done for the purpose of being my entry.
Eff me, your painjobs are equal parts intimidating and inspiring!
@Paradigm
Since my last update pic, I've had almost no time to paint due to my work going crazy on me. I'm close-ish to a few, but I won't get them finished today. Any chance of a stay of execution for a few days? Don't worry if not.
These were originally released by Minifigs in 1977 and were part of the first officially-licensed line of Dungeons and Dragons miniatures. I painted them to belong to the Vile Rune tribe, including the hand with upraised digit described by Gary Gygax, and several runes depicted in the art of Blood Bath at Orc's Drift.
Linemen are the underdogs on the bloodbowl field, the least skilled players on the team given the job of getting in the way of that ogre, or keeping those black orcs busy on the line of scrimmage..
My entry for the month, a wood elf lineman
Sorry it's so late, hope it's still okay to enter. Work this month has been a nightmare:
I only managed to get three done in the end. Also, please excuse the crappy bases. I have painted necromunda bases to put them onto (really cool ones with spray paint graffiti), but they were painted by someone else, so I didn't think it was right to enter them as my own work.