Tuesday, 3 February 2026

January Update: Anne's Miniature Assembly Challenge Results

I joined Anne's 2026 Miniature Assembly Challenge near the beginning of January with the aim of building enough Frostgrave gnolls for the second mission, converting some MESBG Rangers of Gondor into Dunedain, and possibly building a couple more minis. 

How did I do?

The back two ranks are ten more gnolls plus a RoSD ranger, at the front are two converted Dunedain.  Everything unpainted of course
Assemble miniatures, gnolls, a ranger, and two different rangers

Well I managed ten more gnolls, more than enough, but it finished off the sprues. 
I also built an extra Ranger, nominally for T'Other One to use when we tackle the second mission.

Dunedain
The Dunedain were less successful; I finished two, but they were more work than I anticipated. 
Two converted Dunedain

both with backpacks
I wanted them to look sufficiently different to the Rangers of Gondor, so I decided to do away with any masks, shift the quiver to the hip, remove the sort of tabard thing and add extra equipment.  This was inspired by the official miniatures from GW. 
Alas I didn't take any pictures of them prior to converting them, but you can find plenty of pictures online if you're interested. 
The masked head on the firing ranger was removed with a razor saw and replaced with a bare head from (I think) the Frostgrave Soldiers sprue. I used quivers from the Oathmark Human Infantry sprue and concealed the mess made by removing the back quivers with Frostgrave backpacks etc.
I filled in the gaps with a 50-50 greenstuff and milliput mix, and made some attempt at showing the straps, but it's not perfect. 

I didn't complete the required nine Dunedain, and never started on the Dark Emissary I'll need for Boưvoc's Dark Shadows campaign, but even so I'm pleased.  I've got plenty to paint in February for Dave Stone's Paint What You Got Challenge. 

I missed the target for several reasons.  The Rangers were far trickier than anticipated (and I realised that I was short of four minis anyway). I've also been busy playing a lot of music, which has been glorious (Renaissance town bands and verse anthems among others), but hasn't helped assemble anything. 

If Anne runs the challenge again next year,  I certainly want to take part. 

And a Show
I did manage to get to York Wargames Society's Vapnatak on 1st February.  
My haul was modest, but useful. 
Five more Rangers of Gondor undercoated black, a skeleton, seven skaven and an Ugnaught, a a Twi'lek, a Dark Hellion, a Dug and an elite militia (surely a contradiction in terms?)
Vapnatak haul

I picked up five more Rangers of Gondor, so that's one excuse gone (see above). Seven monotone Skaven,  in case I ever get around to Vengeance of the Lichemaster (the seller threw in a skeleton missing it's slotta base,  but that's not a problem. 
I also got a selection of the old WotC prepainted Star Wars minis. 

Apart from the second hand stuff I got some more d10 dice for games of Warlords of Erehwon. 


8 comments:

  1. The Dunedain are great, having a noble air to them. I look forward to seeing them painted.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I'm pleased that I was able to give them a different look.
      The official Dunedain minis are actually quite scruffy looking.

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  2. Great work on all the construction, and conversions, if not for the little bit of green stuff, they would look straight out of a box.
    Nice haul, from the show and some great looking star wars miniatures.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I'm enjoying doing them, but they take me a lot longer than anticipated.
      Those WotC Star Wars minis can be pretty good. Great price too.

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    2. I have quite a few in my collection, and they paint up pretty well ! LOL

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    3. Good to know. I've a box of them in the loft somewhere.
      How well do they scale with the more modern minis such as Legion?

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    4. They matched Imperial Assault for the most part (some of the characters and Death troopers were closer to Legion), so are a bit smaller than Legion, and a lot smaller than Shatterpoint

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    5. Thanks, that's very useful to know

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