Continuing my journey through Dante's Divine Comedy, I having completed The Abyss, find myself on my way to Paradise, so here are my 5 Sphere's.
First up we have the First Sphere The Inconstant, I had to look the word up.....just to make sure, of course...
First Sphere: The Inconstant
No Ray, not the Incontinent... :) Instead, think of something which may try its best but often falls a bit short.
No Ray, not the Incontinent... :) Instead, think of something which may try its best but often falls a bit short.
Its nice how I still get the odd mention in the rules and regs of the Challenge, its usually something to do with Sandbags, Badgers or Budgie Smugglers, never usually about crappin' yourself!
Anyhoo, something that falls short.
It was the look on the first Mules face, he's not gonna budge, even if your'e waving some carrots in his face! But is it the Mule or the cloaked Vivandière who falls a bit short???
I was a little stuck on this one, then remembered these models. I bought them from Col Bill's sometime ago, again for my Haitian Revolution project. But decided, to use them for the Retreat instead.
The figures are from Warlord Games, Napoleonic range, I added a cloak to the poor lady, I don't expect she's gonna get far though, with all those provisions on the 3 Mules.
These should earn me 20 points for the figures and another 20 for the bonus round.
Next up we have the Second Sphere - The Ambitious
Second Sphere: The Ambitious
A figure that is as keen as mustard, an overachiever (yes, so annoying, I know).
The first ever Napoleonic figure I ever painted was a figure from the Neuchatel Battalion, who unusually wore a yellow or mustard coloured coat, not a red coat like other Swiss regts or blue like every other French unit
So I thought I'd paint up a mustard coated, keen as mustard Officer, I may have to paint up some infantry as well, trouble is they'll probably be wearing a overcoat, so you won't see their mustard/yellow coat??
The Neuchatel Battalion had a bit of a rough time during the retreat, having joined the Grand Armee in March 1812, the regiment included, Infantry, Engineers, Artillery and the Artillery train, from an original 1,027 men, only 13 Officers and 7 men returned to camp at Besancon!!!
Points.... 5pts for the figure, plus another 20 for the Ambitious bonus
Next in line is the Third Sphere - The Lovers.
This could be platonic love, romantic love, but not love based on lust - that's for the 'other place'.
This pair of lovebirds are once again from pack FN 193 Camp Followers
A wounded Cuirassier and his lady friend, struggle through the snow.
Hoping to make their way home???
The Lovers will give me 10 pts plus 20 pts for the bonus round.
Next we move onto the next Sphere, the 4th - The Wise
Something contemplative and sage. Essentially no figure having any kind of resemblance to me. :) Think that's me as well as Curt??
This fine looking chap's from Eureka and comes along with the Napoleon figure I painted up for the Greed bonus round.
This is Jean Baptiste Eblé, a French General, Engineer and Artilleryman. He is credited with saving Napoleon's Grand Armee from complete destruction in 1812.
In 1811, Eblé was put in command of the Dutch Pontoon bridge builders (pontonniers) for the Grande Armee which Napoleon was assembling for the invasion of Russia. Eblé discovered he had inherited a rag-tag collection of boatmen, yet in less than a year he had turned them into a disciplined, highly trained and skilled force who would soon prove indispensable. Besides training, Eblé also issued his pontonniers specialized tools and equipment, the most notable of which were the mobile wagon-mounted forges, that could quickly make any needed but unavailable metal parts or items.
This wise man will earn me 5pts and another 20 for the bonus round
Next I'll call on Sarah the Seraphim to take me along to my last Circle No 8
But instead of the usual female figure fee, I've overpaid and give you 3 female figures
Lula the dog, Cossette and Clementine
The pup is from Front Rank and Cossette and Clementine are from the same pack as the Lovers above.
These 3 will earn 15 points
So onto my final Circle.....
Eighth Sphere: The Fixed Stars of Faith, Hope and Love
Submit a figure depicting any of these laudable themes.
Well I'm going for Hope.....
Poor Nadine, has given up all Hope and cannot move another muscle.
Will she ever rise again?
Probably not.....
Nadine is my last figure from pack FN 193 Camp Followers from Perry Miniatures, she will earn me another 25 points!
So all in all we have....
1st Sphere - The Inconstant 40 points
2nd Sphere - The Ambitious - 25 points
3rd Sphere - The Lovers 30 points
4th Sphere - The Wise 25 points
Sarah's Seraphim 15 points
8th Sphere - Hope 25 points
So a grand total of 160 points!!
PS
My biggest post points wise in the Challenge so far in Challenge 15, pushed my way up to 13th place. My highest position so far!!! I'm hoping for a top 20 finish, so Its looking good. A top 10 place is probably not gonna happen, but never say never!!
Ray
Certainly poetic choices, and nicely executed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe!
DeleteQuite a haul of points for a fine batch of figures. The tales behind the figures are a bit depressing with the exception of Colonel Mustard who must be frozen by now.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely needs a woolly coat!
DeleteLast one is very sad.
ReplyDeleteMules look great and the guard looks mean. He might be able to get the mules to move.
You never know, Alex!
DeleteI love those mules, they've got so much character, wouldn't want to be near them as you'd get a kick in the unmentionables! I can't wait to see all the work you've done on this all together.
ReplyDeleteThe mules are great aren't they? I can't wait for that moment myself Andy!
DeleteGreat work and well done on a grand points tally, well dexerved.
ReplyDeleteCheers Donnie, I appreciate it!
DeleteAnother here very impressed by the Mules, best I have seen. Everything looks great Ray, well done.
ReplyDeleteKind words OB, thanks!
Deletegreat job finding miniatures for all the categories. 😁
ReplyDeleteTo be honest this years Bonus rounds were pretty easy to fill in from figures I already had, so I was lucky really.
DeleteBeautiful work, although I'm not sure the mules will last long on the retreat before the end up as dinner. The Berezina has always fascinated me in terms of how the pontoniers would willingly go into that freezing water knowing that it was going to kill them.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, don't think they'd last long at all!! It is amazing what the Pontoniers did, they wouldn't have lasted that long in the water at all?
DeleteOh my! Another awesome additions!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal.
DeleteSome great figures in that camp followers pack Ray and the bio on the engineer officer is very interesting too....well worth all those points!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I'd never heard of Eble before I started this project, but he certainly saved Napoleon's bacon, that's for sure.
DeleteA man who knows the rules and points! Some nice additions, Ray.
ReplyDeleteGotta be a little clever to win those bonus points!
DeleteAnother interesting bunch of well done figures .
ReplyDeleteThanks Sgt!
DeleteBig fan of all of these and the reasons and backgrounds you've provided. Really flavourful and interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun working out how and what I was gonna do, it changed quite a few times, I can tell you!!
DeleteAn excellent collection Ray.
ReplyDeleteCheets Rich!
Deletefabulous work as always
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy.
DeleteWonderful evocative painting Ray, very nice work!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteLovely collection of figures, really characterful sculpts well painted and smart use of the figures to get the bonus points, although I'd have pulled you on the dog, 5 points ? You're having a laugh and the last figure is virtually prone so let's say half points for her?!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
You're a hard man to please, Iain lol!
DeleteSuper figures and back stories Ray.
ReplyDeleteThe stories from the retreat are so amazing, but that of the crossing of the Berezina is one of the most remarkable, gut-wrenching and moving of them all, particularly the super-human efforts of Elbé and the engineers.
Regards, James
Couldn't agree more James.
DeleteA super collection of useful figures and vignettes for the game.
ReplyDeleteThanks David.
Delete