Dakka Painting Challenge Round 96 February 2023: Location, Location, Location

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**Jadenim**

A) Thanks to Paradigm; as others have said, this competition has been a great motivation to get something painted every month. My pile of shame cannot express it’s happiness!

B) I suggest “salute” as a theme for next month

C) @Gulgog, if it’s going well, you can always add some models to this month?

**Nevelon**

Next month is going to be the traditional “Space Marine” start of the year, but I can put “Salute” into the topic bin for April. Which I should start gathering notes for... Business as usual is the plan for the competition. I’ve got big shoes to fill, but will do my best to keep us trucking along. The only change planned to to reset the stop time to Eastern, but that’s always been a fuzzy deadline anyway. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and we seem to be doing well. If people have any ideas for changes, I think the year end summery thread might be a good place to talk about stuff. It’s a little early, but I’ll try to get that running with a state of the union and some rambling this weekend.

As a reminder, Feb is a short month, so we have less then a week to go. Get painting!

Speaking of which:

Lictor is waiting for the snipers to get done so he can join them getting based. Marines are getting there. A couple of washes and some cleanup needed. Oh, and all the camo. So still a chunk of work, but most of the fiddly stuff is done.

**Paradigm**

Thanks for the kind words, folks!

Gulgog TufToof wrote:
This competition has been the primary driver for me to complete dozens of miniatures even during the months when I didn't enter. Something about the word competition has pushed me to paint to a higher standard than I would have otherwise and also try new techniques. In creating the competition, you inadvertently (or maybe intentionally?) created a community of good folks who provide motivation, constructive critique, and invaluable advice.

This was 100% the intention when we started up, but it almost immediately expanded beyond what I had imagined when a few of us were kicking the initial idea around! I think we were expecting maybe a dozen or so entries on a good month, not the regular 30+, and the sense of community that's grown up around it is wonderful (especially on an increasingly cynical and critical internet, it's an island of positivity and inspiration for me!). If people were pushed via friendly competition to up their game, try new things, or just get in the regualr habit of painting a mini or two a month, then mission accomplished!

**Geifer**

I'll add another round of applause for Paradigm, even if I'm a little late to the party.

**Olthannon**

Thanks for all your excellent work over the years Paradigm, although this is my first time entering I've watched these for some time and it's always fantastic to see everyone's work. Good luck to Nevelon taking on the mantle!

**ZergSmasher**

Paradigm, you and this yearly challenge you've created have definitely inspired me to get better at painting. Looking back at some of my first entries and then comparing them to my most recent ones has been a real eye-opener for me as to just how far I've come as a painter, and I mainly have these comps to thank for it. I'm sorry to see you go as the person running it as it was always obvious how much of a labor of love it was for you, but I totally understand your reasons for stepping down. I do hope you'll get some more entries into the challenge in the future, as your style was always very different and interesting. Nevelon's got some big shoes to fill, for sure, but I'm confident he's more than equal to the challenge (I think he's the only person who has entered every single challenge thus far).

**Vejut**

Joining in on the general thanks to paradigm for running these and good luck to Nevelon for the future.

Got my mechs done, needs better photos, but for now:

**Lovejoy**

Just wanted to echo the general sentiment, and say a big thank you to Paradigm for your efforts! I've only managed to actually get stuck in to this challenge over the last 9 months, but it's been a fantastic way to get me doing random, fun hobby stuff, and I'd been really missing out on that for some years... so, thank you!

**JoshInJapan**

Nevelon wrote:
Next month is going to be the traditional “Space Marine” start of the year
.

So, this is official? There was some talk earlier in the year about changing this. If it really will be Space Marines, I'll have to figure out what I have that fits

**Nevelon**

JoshInJapan wrote:
Nevelon wrote:
Next month is going to be the traditional “Space Marine” start of the year
.

So, this is official? There was some talk earlier in the year about changing this. If it really will be Space Marines, I'll have to figure out what I have that fits

I do recall there being some rebels and pushback, but don’t remember if a decision was made. But then again, it’s national margarita day, so I’m not trusting my memory much at this point in the evening.

I’m a big fan of tradition, and it’s one less poll I’d need to set up, but we’ll switch this from “definitely” down to “probably” until I am sober enough to dredge through the old threads with sober eyes. Things might change to a slight broader category, but space marines should still be included in whatever we run with.

**JoshInJapan**

National Margarita Day? Sounds brutal...

Even if March ends up being Space Marine month again, I've no doubt that I can find something. Heck, I might even paint an actual Space Marine for the first time in years...

**Geifer**

I don't mind Marine month, nor knowing ahead of time that it's happening. Gives me more time to figure out what I feel like painting.

**Lovejoy**

I liked the sound of 'salute' as a category... but only because I have to spend most of March painting stuff for a game at Salute!

I'm sure I can squeeze a space marine in there, though...

**Nevelon**

Looking at the last March challenge, there was a bit of “If I remember next year” going on. Obviously, not so much with the remembering.

I’ve tossed together a quick poll to get things rolling. I would have liked to ramble longer on all the aspects of the challenge, but it’s a workday and I need to do stuff like drink coffee and eat breakfast as well.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/809030.page#11496491

So the poll question right now is about the Space Marine challenge of March. I wanted to get that rolling early, so we can get votes in with time to spare before the new month. If we do want to go to a more open month with a poll, that will also need time to run. I didn’t put a timer on the poll, but we’ll see where it’s at in a couple days.

I’ll also use that space to ramble about the hows and whys of the challenge, some behind the scenes stuff, and take opinions on if we should change things up.

But for now, I need to get my day moving.

Keep painting everyone!

**urbanevil**

Welp I actually finished up early this month, despite waiting on the delivery to get here lol.

I present to you, Lord Felthius & his Retinue, These guys were a blast to paint, and since I'm working myself back into it (ordered a Votann Army Box, already managed to knock 2 out with a Tran Hyperion Scheme! while working on these guys). With the monthly being Location, I tried to emphasize on the basing, the pure rot aura of these Nurgle as they move about, while also keeping them within the same scheme as the DG I painted last month!(Thank you for all the feedback & compliments, much appreciated to all!).

Warning, I am terrible at Photography lol. - Updated Pics

Thanks and cheers!

**Captain Brown**

Starting the rubble and added some angled supports for the missing roof (as the kit does not have one).

Spoiler:

Cheers,

CB

**Gulgog TufToof**

Done with my Kommando, pics to follow soon.

@Jadenim: I'm getting "faster", I'm still not "fast" lol.

Three orks will take me at least a month, so I'll be calling my next three kommandos "space marines" for March. They're kinda like recon marines, right?

Also, (where are my manners?) thanks to all the others who have played supporting roles in keeping this thing running and a special shout out to Nevelon for taking up the torch going forward. Clearly from the feedback here, this comp means a lot to a lot of us.

**Olthannon**

I'm going to call my other photos my completed model. I don't think there's more I can really add.

**Flinty**

Nice load of completion coming now. And I'm glad to say I can join it

The next set of demi-lances are done. One in parade colours, one in camo, and one poor confused Merc, who doesn't really know how camo works (didn't come out as I had hoped, but is at least done)

**JoshInJapan**

I finally finished the chupacabras:

I tried to capture the feel of the American Southwest in their bases, but it didn't feel like enough, so I took the plunge and made a display base for them. The grass is static grass and tufts, and the cacti are (somewhat amateurishly) hand-scultped. The rabbit came with some Bad Squiddo minis that I have lying around waiting to be painted. As predicted, their tails are prone to snapping off, but I think they'll hold as long as I don't touch the models.

**Flinty**

The display base looks great. You missed a trick not having a goat there though

limited availability on that though I guess

**Midget Gems**

Paradigm wrote:
Hey folks, just dropping in amidst all these great entries with a quick update on the future of the challenge. The short version is that from March and the start of the 2023-24 rotation, Nevelon will be taking over my duties in terms of running proceedings, including the monthly challenge/vote/subject poll threads, fielding rules questions and generally being the go-to guy for anything related to the Monthly Painting Challenge.

Having managed this whole thing for most of the 96 rounds to date, I'll be stepping aside as it's become harder and harder for me to find the time and motivation to keep things running smoothly (as you can probably tell from the somewhat delayed voting threads in recent months)
The start of a new annual rotation feels like a good time to hand things over, and in Nevelon's capable hands I'm sure the Challenge will continue to grow, inspire and retain the fantastic, supportive and creative community that has sprung up around it over the last 8(!) years. I will still be dropping by to be inspired and encouraged by the superb work and effort on show every month, and might even get back to throwing my own entries into the ring every now and then!

I'll be doing one last bit of admin in setting up February's voting thread, but for now I'll sign off with a huge thanks to the people who've kept this fantastic thing going, and those who will continue to do so in the days ahead! To Midget Gems (and TP-DC before him) for keeping the League running and updated and to Nevelon for stepping in when I needed breaks and agreeing to take over now. To the absolute heroes that spend time every month providing thoughtful, constructive feedback to every entry, to the regulars that show up round after round and keep this Challenge rolling, and to everyone who's dropped in for a round or two, left some feedback. offered advice or suggestions, and who just painted cool stuff for us to feast our eyes on! Bravo!

A sad day Para but who knew it would come this far when we first started, our lives have changed a lot over the last few years and I have tremendous respect for how long you have keep this challenge going, I hope you are proud of what you have achieved and the community you have helped build

Will send you a PM with some more stuff in as well

Thank you for everything mate

Also league table updated

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/732117.page#9481149

**Captain Brown**

Running out of time.

Built up that rubble.

The two pieces that fit together.

The third piece.

Cheers,

CB

**Jadenim**

That is looking epic CB!

**Captain Brown**

Thanks Jadenim.

Painting started.

There are the three pieces together.

The two whose bases join.

Another angle.

One that shows the interior destruction.

Here was a case where the kit did not have an even number of column sides, so I filled with one with chicken wire to create the illusion of rebar in the core.

Cheers,

CB

**Flinty**

The rebar and random busted construction elements are looking awesome!

Good luck in getting the pigment slapped on there!

**Gulgog TufToof**

@CB: Those buildings are truly a thing of beauty, the rebar and rubble are brilliant. Good luck with the painting of it all!

I've got photos of my lad done. He's the alternate build of the breacha boy from the Kill Team Octarius Kommandos set and is easily one of my favorite minis in the bunch now, I call him Action Jackson because he's locked and loaded and just looks so ready to go. For his location, location, location, he's brought along everything a sneaky Deffskull could ever need; he's got his gasmask, his trusty rusty slugga and choppa, a landmine to keep out the riff-raff at night, a sledgehammer since some doors need a little persuadin', and dynamite with a plunger since sometimes you have to make your own doors! I tried a stippling effect to weather the landmine that turned out really nicely so I'll be using more of that technique in the future. I hope you like him:

**Nevelon**

Coming down to the wire. Just finished the last assembly, so I have to do a clean-up pass, decals for 2 marines, and then base everyone. Should be able to do that tomorrow, and get pics. We’ll see how Monday feels like treating me.

**Captain Brown**

Thanks Flinty and Gulgog. Good luck to both of you.

Afraid I have just run out of time and will have to call these finished for the Round.
Location, Location, Location - Ramparts Eternal Cathedral Core Set.

Cheers,

CB

**Jadenim**

So finished my Necromunda bar & grill, The Last Drop; best location in the Underhive!