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Time to pick some winners for December! This month saw the return of the annual Open Round, where entrants are given no restrictions beyond the normal rules and asked to let their creativity run wild! We've got festive entries alongside one-of-a-kind conversions, tiny battleships to enormous tanks and all manner of genres and styles represented!

As always, you're free to hand out as many votes as you like, and for any entry you feel deserves recognition, based on anything from technical proficiency ro model choice, a neat conversion or a cool take on the theme, or anything else! You're also very welcome to leave some feedback here for the entrants, and many of the images click through to the Dakka gallery if you'd like to give out a vote or two there as well.

List entrants

inmygravenimage: Core Space Auxiliaries


Giefer: Shoretrooper Captain and Civillian


Mr Nobody: Word Bearers Dark Apostles


JoshInJapan: Dragon


FrozenDwarf: Dwarven Battleships


Daia T'Nara: Doomrider


KidCthulhu: Chaos Knight and Imperial Soldier


Lovejoy: Stormcast Archer


Nevelon : Parasite of Mortrex


theCrowe: Ninja Weasel and Highland Viking Dog


Flinty: Stargrave Alien Lizards


Pariah Press: 8th Necromunda Regiment, the "Spiders," Company F, 2nd Platoon.


CancelledApocalypse: Raven Guard Librarian, Battle Sister and Inquisitor Greyfax


Snail22: Torgillius The Chamberlain


Vejut: Giant pikachu sloth,


Jadenim: Ultramarine Lieutenant:


Boringstuff: Cartoon Thief


Captain Brown: Escher Gangers


Gulgog TufToof: Ork Kommando


Maharg: Blue Horror and Tzeentch Acolytes


ZergSmasher: Exorcist


Turaxa: Chibi Commisar


Midget Gems: Santork's Little Helpers

I always have trouble voting for the open round. So many cool things. I think I voted for twice as many as I normally do.

Well done all!

The fairydragon, orky santa helpers and Slaanesh biker really stood out to me, so voted for those 3.

I gave out 8 votes in total, but my top three picks were Lovejoy for the beautiful paintjob and lovely colour choices, and for Daia T'Nara and Midget Gems for sheer bonkers modelling fun! Great job guys

Gotta give it to Midget Gems for this. Great modelling, lively paintjob and very much in season.

That said, Lovejoy's archer is pretty damn impressive too, great job.

 Nevelon wrote:
I always have trouble voting for the open round. So many cool things. I think I voted for twice as many as I normally do.

Well done all!

Think I was in the same boat; excellent work everyone!

Wow, so many cool models! I'll be giving out a lot of votes, I think.

inmygravenimage: I like your use of very drab, utilitarian colors for these models. It really makes those spots of light and/or colors really stand out.

Giefer: The colorful civilian model really pops against the simpler colors of the trooper. The yellow-to-orange fade on the sarong is really well done.

Mr Nobody: The pale green flames really pop against the dark reds and greys. Your edge highlighting is very subtle-- much better than I can ever seem to achieve!

me: I painted this model using only red, blue, and yellow gouache paints-- custom mixing whatever colors I needed. I don't think I will ever do that for a standard infantry-sized model, but I think it works well for something as large as this.

FrozenDwarf: I'm not familiar with Armada, but I did paint up a set of Dreadfleet, so I can appreciate just how tiny all those little details are. Well done!

Daia T'Nara: Did you really kitbash this model? Every part goes together so well, it looks like a production model! I love your purple-to-pink color scheme, and of course the purple crystal base.

KidCthulhu: The horse looks like Archaon's, but I don't recognize the rider. I like your use of blue rather than grey to highlight the mount.

Lovejoy: It almost seems unfair that you can both paint and sculpt! The 5 o'clock shadow really adds character to the face.

Nevelon: You have really mastered the use of Contrast paints-- the various light and dark areas of the wing membranes really takes the model to the next level.

theCrowe: Your sculpts continue to be delightful. The shuriken and the design on the axe are super sharp, to the point where I almost can't believe they are greenstuff.

Flinty: Wow, you got some really amazing results with the slap-chop method (I hate that name, as well). I rather like all the black-- it adds contrast without having to do a lot of highlighting. I may have to give it a try.

Pariah Press: Another cool set of classic models. I like that you leaned into the mid-80's aesthetic, especially the red-and-yellow unit badge.

CancelledApocalypse: I love how you did the reds on the sister-- deep, deep shadows with vivid red highlights. I also like your use of metallics-- mine always turn out flat.

Snail22: I like your subdued color choices-- it really lends the model a sinister air. The candles are a very small but very effective little detail, as well.

Vejut: What a fun model! I honestly never thought I would see something like that. I hope this guy gets a lot of time on the tabletop.

Jadenim: The rank stripes on the helmet is a nifty callback to the earliest years of 40K.

Boringstuff: I like the cel-shading-like effect on the robe, and the blending on the face is superb.

Captain Brown: The bright, cartoony colors of the hair stand out nicely against the very businesslike outfits and equipment.

Gulgog TufToof: I like your use of earthy tones rather than the garish colors one normally sees on Orks (including my own!) The highlighting around the scar on the arm is a nice touch, as well.

Mahrag: Your skintones are immaculately blended. Also, the white is clean and crisp.

ZergSmasher: This is among the best models you have shared, if not the best. I especially like your work on the yellow, from shading to edge highlights. Very impressive, indeed.

Turaxa: Cute, yet zealous! You really captured the model's personality, especially in the eyes.

Midget Gems: I love all the little stories being told in this diorama. The snotlings all look so happy with their peppermint mushrooms, and the red nose on the squig is just plain delightful!

Superlative work all around. A great way to close out a year of hobbying.

 JoshInJapan wrote:
KidCthulhu: The horse looks like Archaon's, but I don't recognize the rider. I like your use of blue rather than grey to highlight the mount.

Thanks! It's just Archaon with a headswap:



I always hated Achaon's little peanut head, so I used the metal Champion head from the first multipose plastic Chaos Warrior kit.

Voted... and I forgot I submitted something for once. That was a nice suprise.

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Boringstuff: I like the cel-shading-like effect on the robe, and the blending on the face is superb.

Thanks, but I think the robe only came out like that as I misjudged the colours and didn't use enough steps in-between them. The face looks better, although I only see the errors I made of course (hand, nose, etc.).

No feedback from me as I just vote for what I like the look of and don't feel qualified to comment.

 Boringstuff wrote:
Voted... and I forgot I submitted something for once. That was a nice suprise.

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Boringstuff: I like the cel-shading-like effect on the robe, and the blending on the face is superb.

Thanks, but I think the robe only came out like that as I misjudged the colours and didn't use enough steps in-between them. The face looks better, although I only see the errors I made of course (hand, nose, etc.).

No feedback from me as I just vote for what I like the look of and don't feel qualified to comment.

Well, intentional or not, it's a pretty neat effect.

The only qualification required to comment is being able to type. Everyone like to get comments!

 JoshInJapan wrote:
CancelledApocalypse: I love how you did the reds on the sister-- deep, deep shadows with vivid red highlights. I also like your use of metallics-- mine always turn out flat.

Thanks! I think I've pretty much got nice rich reds mastered, now. Just got to manage the same with... all the other colours, really.

The metallics I just paint in exactly the same way as any other colour: base coat, all over shade (and maybe a second more focused shade for deeper recesses), spot highlight bringing the base colour back up on upper raised areas and edges, then more focused edge highlights in a lighter metallic, usually stormhost silver.

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:

 JoshInJapan wrote:
CancelledApocalypse: I love how you did the reds on the sister-- deep, deep shadows with vivid red highlights. I also like your use of metallics-- mine always turn out flat.

Thanks! I think I've pretty much got nice rich reds mastered, now. Just got to manage the same with... all the other colours, really.

The metallics I just paint in exactly the same way as any other colour: base coat, all over shade (and maybe a second more focused shade for deeper recesses), spot highlight bringing the base colour back up on upper raised areas and edges, then more focused edge highlights in a lighter metallic, usually stormhost silver.

You make it sound so easy! Whose paints do you use? The Vallejo metallics that I have a kind of "grainy," which is to say the metal flakes are glaringly large and thus look like metallic paint rather than metal.

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:
for Daia T'Nara and Midget Gems for sheer bonkers modelling fun!

It was a blast to put together - although a bit intimidating when it came time to start painting.

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Daia T'Nara: Did you really kitbash this model? Every part goes together so well, it looks like a production model! I love your purple-to-pink color scheme, and of course the purple crystal base.

I've rambled on about it in my thread in the Showcase subforum, long story short it's chaos bike plus the chariot from the Sigmar Slaanesh starter box (and a couple of heads and claws from its crew), Sororitas meltaguns, base terrain from the Venomcrawler (plus its tongue, added to the skull on the front of the bike like the original had), and for Doomy he's a mix of Raptor and Possessed, with hair from the chariot's lead daemonette, pistol from the Warhammer Imperium issue one marine, and the daemonsword's made from a Possessed arm with a leftover horn (I think from the Possessed head I used as the front of Syren's noise gun) added as the hilt. That 'crystal' base is actually just super cheap glitter paint - it's really watery and has virtually no coverage as a colour, but slopped on really heavily over a purple painted base enough flecks of glitter wind up on the base to make it work.

So I ended up just voting for everything, which isn't much use in separating the Boyz from the Grotz, but whatever, everything looked like fun this month.

inmygravenimage: It's great how the different colours and looks on the various minis all have a similar kind of finish to them, they really do look like they belong in the same world (also high five for the Prodigy nod).
Giefer: Very characterful pair, I like the use of colour on the Shoretrooper, he's restrained enough to fit in with the overall monotone feel of Imperials but there's enough on him that he doesn't make the civilian look garish by comparison. Love the spots on her scalp and shoulders too.
Mr Nobody: They look great, the red on the armour's very impressive, and those green flames are icing on the cake.
JoshInJapan: Great work all over, I particularly like the palette used on the dragon, vibrant but has a 'desert creature' feel that matches the base rather than clashes with it.
FrozenDwarf: Lovely metals on those, sharp detail and heavy-looking.
Daia T'Nara: Yep that's what your army needed, a character who got written out of the rules in a single edition.
KidCthulhu: The minis look great, and I love the narrative - that chaos knight should be careful, even the best can roll a 1 when it matters.
Lovejoy: Those gradients are so silky looking, and the aqua and crimson are a great contrast.
Nevelon: The wings in particular look great, very leathery.
theCrowe: Love the fabric and fur textures, and the little bits of more vivid colour like the blue on the viking and the throwing stars.
Flinty: Great shading on the armour, and the colour schemes look so natural it took me a moment to realise the actual sculpts are the same design for both.
Pariah Press: I love those old sculpts (got the heavy gunner and cleavage lady in my old guard command squad), and the paint jobs really flatter them. (Also I remember the Spiders featuring in the first WD I ever got, 105, in the Land Raider gallery.)
CancelledApocalypse: Wonderful looking trio, and such different finishes to the armour on each of them, they suit each other side by side but stand out as individuals at the same time.
Snail22: Great painted textures on him, the wooden beam and bird especially.
Vejut: That fur looks really good, the stripes stand out but fit in, if you get what I mean.
Jadenim: Classic Ultra, and the gold trim on his shoulders especially stands out.
Boringstuff: So much character in him, the colours are lovely and bold without being flat.
Captain Brown: Great looking group, they've got the colourful look of the original Eschers, but restrained rather than cartoony, very convincing.
Gulgog TufToof: Love the 'camo' vest and army cap, and his weathered skin looks very convincing as a veteran.
Maharg: Those colours are so rich, they've got a real 'realm of chaos' feel to them without being over the top.
ZergSmasher: Great golden yellow paint job on that hull, and overall a lovely mix of heavy machinery and the pageantry of the sisters' religious zeal.
Turaxa: So cute! I like the colour choices, the red on his cuffs and hat brim particularly.
Midget Gems: That's pure orkiness, I love it. 'Rudolph' especially.

 JoshInJapan wrote:

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:

 JoshInJapan wrote:
CancelledApocalypse: I love how you did the reds on the sister-- deep, deep shadows with vivid red highlights. I also like your use of metallics-- mine always turn out flat.

Thanks! I think I've pretty much got nice rich reds mastered, now. Just got to manage the same with... all the other colours, really.

The metallics I just paint in exactly the same way as any other colour: base coat, all over shade (and maybe a second more focused shade for deeper recesses), spot highlight bringing the base colour back up on upper raised areas and edges, then more focused edge highlights in a lighter metallic, usually stormhost silver.

You make it sound so easy! Whose paints do you use? The Vallejo metallics that I have a kind of "grainy," which is to say the metal flakes are glaringly large and thus look like metallic paint rather than metal.

Haha, well, not so much 'easy' as very time consuming and occasionally tedious...

I'm a citadel chump, still, so not using many other paints than citadel. All my metallics are GW. Some of citadel's metallics are kind of hit and miss (and some are just straight up bad), but there are a few I wouldn't swap for the world, like Retributor Armour, Leadbelcher and Stormhost Silver, maybe a couple of others. Quite often with large flecks, though, it's just a case of layering extra on top as they'll start to overlay and fill in any gaps. Again, though, it takes time...

 Daia T'Nara wrote:

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:
for Daia T'Nara and Midget Gems for sheer bonkers modelling fun!

It was a blast to put together - although a bit intimidating when it came time to start painting.

Well, you did a great job with the paintjob, too. I particularly like the work you've done on the chestplate with the blues used for highlighting over the purple. Very cool lighting effect!

 Daia T'Nara wrote:
CancelledApocalypse: Wonderful looking trio, and such different finishes to the armour on each of them, they suit each other side by side but stand out as individuals at the same time.

Ah, thanks very much!

Hi All, its been a really busy start to the year for me, I've been away with work for most of Jan.

Decembers open challenge is always lots of fun seeing what different ideas people submit. I like to do my Xmas themed entries, thank you very much for the comments and votes so far

My comments
inmygravenimage - Nice colour and details on what seem like small models.
Giefer - The scene has an interesting story to it and well painted
Mr Nobody - Very good painting and highlight, the weird fire is excellent
JoshInJapan - Loads of nice bits to the model and base, bigger pics on the final post if you can next time
FrozenDwarf - A nice metallic look to them and very dwarfy
Daia T'Nara - Crazy and fun, the chest face is very well painted
KidCthulhu - lol a very fun entry
Lovejoy - Smooth and wonderful colours, nice work lovejoy
Nevelon - the Leathery wings look great
theCrowe - Nice details and blue ties them together.
Flinty - interesting models, the visors look good
Pariah Press - its very hard to get good facial expressions and you have painted these very well.
CancelledApocalypse - Nice combo of models and you have really paid attention to the details like cloak shadows and snow flecks which is nice
Snail22 - the Green looks well done but would like to see more photos
Vejut - heheh, very inventive
Jadenim - decent painting standard and transfers + freehand done well.
Boringstuff - Painting matches the models style which is fun and well done.
Captain Brown - bright and vibrant colours perfect for the escher style
Gulgog TufToof - Good work on the camo, thats very well done
Maharg - nice contrast in colours, pink flames and skin both look good.
ZergSmasher - a lot of work gone into this and it looks great, well done Zerg
Turaxa - a fun model
Midget Gems - not the best painting but I really enjoyed thinking all the bits through and putting this all together

Good Luck everyone

Thanks for commenting on each entry JoshInJapan, Daia T'Nara, and Midget Gems!

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Giefer: The colorful civilian model really pops against the simpler colors of the trooper. The yellow-to-orange fade on the sarong is really well done.

 Daia T'Nara wrote:
Giefer: Very characterful pair, I like the use of colour on the Shoretrooper, he's restrained enough to fit in with the overall monotone feel of Imperials but there's enough on him that he doesn't make the civilian look garish by comparison. Love the spots on her scalp and shoulders too.

 Midget Gems wrote:
Giefer - The scene has an interesting story to it and well painted

Thanks for the comments, guys.

It's another crowded month on the podium for December, with a 3-way tie for third place!

Up first, JoshInJapan's colourful and delightfully oldschool Dragon







Sharing the spot with Nevelon's monstrous Parasite of Mortrex:


And CancelledApocalypse's trie of Imperial warriors:



Next up, Midget Gems brings the seasonal cheer and takes home second place with Santork's little helpers!



And finally, taking first spot, Lovejoy's characterful converted Stormcast archer











Well done all, see you next time!

Excellent job, everyone!

Cheers for all the work, Para! And well done to everyone who entered something, loads of great stuff this month.

Well done Lovejoy on the win, and another gem from Midget Gems.

Grats to all on the podium and thanks as usual to Para for looking after us all.

Congrats everyone, a nice spread of votes across the board for this challenge.

Thank you very much for 2nd place, I'm glad you guys liked it, I always try to have a fun Xmas themed entry for this month

I'll very busy for most of this weekend so will get the League table updated next week.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered and voted. I honestly thought the podium would be much more crowded with all the excellent models this time around.

Congrats to all and thanks for the votes!
There was so much cool stuff this time - such a wide variety too! I really enjoy seeing all of it, as I keep getting ideas for new projects and minis to collect.

cheers,
Michael

Congratulations to the winners and good job everyone getting something painted. What a month.

Wow, only 3 votes away from being on the podium myself. Probably the closest I've ever come, yet it's not the most votes I've ever gotten. Those who did make the podium definitely deserved to be there though, fantastic work!

Thanks for the votes all. Was not expecting to do so well here. I guess you really like the flappy bugs.

Amazing work from everyone. Alway a great time to see what’s working its way across our paint benches.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to postpone holding new challenges until these winner-vote-in's are actually finished because right now theres a backlog of two contests while already starting the next month..

It's a monthly challenge, so there's always going to be some overlap, as each round goes from the 1st to the end of the month to maximise how long people have to enter. I have got a bit behind on the December/January votes as the new year has been busy and these things do take time to compile.

However, the voting/competitive aspect has always been secondary to the actual challenges themselves, so the priority is getting the new round up and running each month, and a bit of lag on the voting is not the end of the world.

 Leopold Helveine wrote:
Wouldn't it be a good idea to postpone holding new challenges until these winner-vote-in's are actually finished because right now theres a backlog of two contests while already starting the next month..

There is sometimes a bit of a backlog with the votes, but I think we are just waiting for the Jan one at this point. If we held up the painting for the results, we’d loose a lot of time. It’s not like one month’s vote impacts the next month’s painting.

Right now we just need to be patient and wait for Para to find the 2-4 hours to sift through the last contest and put the new vote thread up.

(Which he can always ask for help with if he needs a hand)

Edit:
And ninja’d by the man himself.