Thursday 13 April 2017

We Three Kings

In the run up to Christmas a flurry of emails passed between fellow challengers Stefan, Sander and myself as we started to come to grips with the idea of joining forces in order to produce the Curtgeld required to meet this year’s entry requirement.  This was always going to be the highlight of the challenge for me as the idea of collaborating with two friends over three countries in order to produce a single coherent piece was a challenge we all wanted to be part of.
There were several ideas floated as to what to do, but we all felt that ideally we should submit something that might fit with one of Curt’s existing collections and before long we were all thinking Italian Wars and in particular Landsknechts.
This in turn pricked a memory and after a bruising and exhaustive search of the loft here at ‘Awdry Towers’ I fell upon my quarry.  Some years ago I had been gifted, from my good friend the Provost Marshal, a collection of 'Redoubt Miniatures' Landsknechts, these were little vignettes and so seemed perfect for the job.  
True, their appearance was a little ‘of their time’ and perhaps lacked some of the finesse of modern day sculpts, but nevertheless they seemed to fit the bill.  Unable to decide which of the groups of characters to work on we agreed to have a go at finishing them all and after the random distribution of miniatures (random in so much as I closed my eyes and counted them into piles, they were duly packed and posted to the continent.
We bravely attempted to embrace new technology with a group web chat to discuss tactics and colours and it was during this that I discovered the more mischievous side of my compatriots as when deciding on colours it was agreed to go for a particularly odd mix, perhaps in a bid to encourage Curt to create his own, equally resplendent unit in response. How we chortled.
After our initial exchanges things fell a little quiet as we all started to get on with our own personal challenges, but I am delighted to say that we have finally arrived at an outcome.  I can’t explain how thrilling it was seeing the miniatures reunited and then assembled to the bases and if I have one regret it is that Stefan and Sander couldn’t see them together before they were sent to Canada.
This proved to be my final post of this year's challenge and I am delighted that it was to showcase the collaboration of Sander’s, Stefan’s and my own work as we fulfilled our obligation to provide Curt with a suitable memento of our involvement in this year’s ‘Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge’.

Also added to the 'Command Stand' page.

75 comments:

  1. Excellent looking scene!
    Great work!

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  2. Drinking till you pass out. Such a thing is beyond.... erhm... (looks into the air and twiddles his thumbs and looks firtive)....


    What excellent Curt geld.

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    1. Thank you Clint and surely the occasional glass wouldn't hurt? ;)

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  3. I do love these collaborative efforts. The slightly different takes of the different painters definately adds an element of 'real world' where individual people would dress and present themselves in different ways.

    The finished article looks fab!

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    1. Thank you and that was certainly one of the things that I was most pleased about. We had had obviously decided on a colour palette, but the subtle variations in the application really made it work.

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  4. That was a truly wonderful piece of work by the three of you :)

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    1. Thank you Tamsin and something that I was very proud to be part of.

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  5. What a great piece, individual yet cohesive

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  6. Great work, and I love the idea of a joint project.
    Well done.

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    1. Thank you Mike, it was certainly a great experience and a real blast to see it all come together.

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  7. Very nice vignette and thankfully nothing to do with Magi or George Clooney

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    1. Ah yes, sorry about the misleading title, but thank you Joe.

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  8. Possibly the best Curtgeld we've ever seen. Brilliant stuff guys.

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    1. *blushes* Now steady on old chap, but very kind of you nonetheless.

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  9. While every single piece is a work of art, the combination of the three is what makes the project so interesting.
    Nicely done, by all three of you.

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    1. That's very kind of you and certainly seeing it all come together was such a thrill.

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  10. One of my favorite from this year's Challenge. They look amazing all together.

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  11. Wonderful scenery, atmospheric and splendid!

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  12. great group, it tells a story by itself!

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  13. I really like that, and can't tell which bits were done by different people. Excellent!

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    1. thank you Kieron, it was a deliberate move not to say which miniatures were painted by which challenger as it was a collaborative piece and I was so pleased that they fitted so well together.

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  14. Very nice work collectively guys, and what an awesome idea. Kudos. :)

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    1. It was certainly the highlight of the challenge for me.

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  15. Michael, you conveniently forgot to mention that you did the basing after asking Curt how he did his and it apparently took you a gazillion layers to get the same effect! Kudos to you for organising this and for Stefan and you both to allow me the honour of joining up!.

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    1. It seemed rude to distract from the collaborative nature of the project, but thank you for mentioning it here. Let me assure you that the honour was all mine.

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  16. Wonderful work from all of you!

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  17. That is quite an accomplishment, getting multiple people to paint towards one goal. Well done to all those involved!

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    1. Thank you Terry, it certainly was a thrill seeing it come together at the end.

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  18. Really like this Michael! Beautifully painted characterful minis in a scene that is jam-packed full of stuff to look at.
    Well done all!

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    1. Thank you Dai, we were all delighted with how it turned out.

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  19. A fantastic bit of collaborative work - well done indeed chaps! I also really love your your group project is aligned with our in Sydney, where we did a collection of looting Landsknechts. Combined with Curt's brilliant units, he will have a wonderful collection. I'm rather chuffed that something that I painted will be amongst it

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    1. Than you Paul and I was thrilled when I saw yours posted, knowing what we had waiting in the wings. Like you, I love the idea of adding a little something to Curt's wonderful collection.

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  20. What an excellent piece, Curt must be thrilled

    Ian

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    1. Thank you Ian and I do hope so, just waiting to hear that it has arrived safely.

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  21. Brilliant work from all the contributors, I struggle to co-ordinate with myself never mind other people. The effort you guys put in in amazing 😀

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  22. Excellent! That looks fantastic.

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  23. Well done to you all Michael what a great idea and they have turned out great.

    Best
    Willie

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    1. Thank you so much Willie, it was such a fun addition to the challenge.

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  24. It was great to work with you and Sander. Many thanks for creating those splendid vignettes and featuring them here!

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    1. It was such a highlight to work together on this Stefan and delighted we managed to get it finished in good time.

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  25. Brilliant stuff. The sculpts made be old but by lord the three of you have painted them in such a way as to make them seem fresh.

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  26. absolutely exellent diorama!!!

    you got so many greate ideeas, and to see them in minis are great and so very inspiring!

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    1. Thank you Michael it was lovely to work with two splendid chaps in putting this together.

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  27. Great looking vignette, still got to base mine and Phils, the three different hand's merge together nicely.
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain, it was certainly a nice twist to this year's challenge.

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  28. A splendid result to your collaboration. Gotta love that purple/yellow combo.

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    1. Thank you Mr. Finch, what started out as a bit of a joke really came together in the end.

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  29. what a great collaborative project, love how they fit together.

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  30. So many colours AND they all go well together. (Bows in respect!)

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    1. It was certainly fun creating such a vibrant palette.

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  31. What a great idea, both from a modelling and social aspect Michael. Superb work by all three of you. One for all and all for one.

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    1. Thank you Pat, this was the first time that I had tried something like this and was delighted with the results.

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  32. What a fabulous, collaborative work, bravo and thank you! The vignette was unpacked today and is now safely ensconced with their fellow Landsknechts, awaiting a suitable Italian town to celebrate in. ;)

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    1. I'm so thrilled it arrived safely Curt and that you like it. Looking forward to seeing it on the table one day.

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