Painting Challenge Submission 8 - XVI Legion Apothecary

Are you feeling the hope? No? I can help with that...

Curt always looks for new ways to make his Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge a little different. For this 10th edition of the painting event, he has developed, with the assistance of some creative Challengers, the idea of "Challenge Island".  The idea is to encourage participants to "travel around" the Island, and accomplish different themes or tasks associated with the different locations. Curt was kind enough to name one of the spots after me, and invited me to develop the theme for the location, which he called "Burch's Bluffs".  I had no hesitation - I asked that a participant paint up a 30k-themed figure or model for that scenic locale.

Burch's Bluffs...I mean, wherever I managed to travel on Challenge Island, there was just one spot we all knew I had to visit, right?  I've been on a real WW2 trend in the past couple of months (and WW2 subjects have comprised the overwhelming majority of my Challenge X submissions to date), but it was time to get a 30k figure set for painting and visit this location on the Challenge Island map.

Ah, what a lovely spot on an at-times dodgy Island destination...

My 30k collection is fairly large - in multiple scales. Lining up a figure to paint for this spot of Challenge Island did not take long...

Such a fine-looking legion symbol, embossed on his shoulder plate.

Here is an Apothecary from the 16th Space Marine Legion - the Sons of Horus, the Warmaster's very own Legion - wearing Mark II legion powered armour. He's carrying a bolt pistol on the off chance that he needs to shoot anyone, and the obligatory chain sword (he is a Space Marine, after all) but the spooky optics, drill/saw blade "glove" and assorted fluid containers all speak to his specialist function. He will accompany his fellow Sons of Horus on the various battlefields of the galaxy, and in those rare instances where the feeble efforts of those still loyal to the so-called "Emperor" might cause losses or injury in battle, will do his bit to make sure his fellow legionnaires keep on fighting with a minimal loss of time.

Right shoulder pauldron sporting the, er, "symbol of the medical profession"...

This is a resin model from Forge World. Some years ago they released a pack of two Legion apothecaries. I picked up a set second-hand from a local hobbyist who was moving on from 30k. I painted one for the Sons of Horus last summer. At one point I thought this second one should go to a different Legion, but then, come on...naturally the Warmaster's personal forces would need at least TWO apothecaries...it only makes sense.

No dirt on this apron. He has standards to maintain!

Because of course the Warmaster is also very busy with charity work, and this chap will also contribute to these worthy not-for-profit efforts, helping to provide vaccines and basic medical care to the survivors of planetary communities which took too long to see that things are changing and got in the way fell victim to pro-"Emperor" terrorism.

Very cool figure - lots of detail.

Supported by the Dark Mechanicum, he will also support valuable medical research - for
example, how long could an average human lung system survive on a planet that was, oh, I don't know, hit with a virus bombardment followed by a pan-continental firestorm? Does being run over by a Land Raider alter this? The medic will help Science answer these sorts of important questions. It's all part of the Warmaster's bold commitment to...knowledge. Yes, that's right. Knowledge.

The new apothecary takes his place with his Warmaster and XVI Legion bretheren.

Here is the obligatory "Challenge Island" progress shot (many other participants do much cooler versions of these, with better graphics - me, not so much). My next "Challenge Island" will be "Mudry's Mesa".

Progress so far...up next, Mudry's Mesa...

This single figure was only worth 5 "points" of painting toward my goal of 1000 points, but you get a bonus of 30 points for visiting a "Challenge Island" location, so it all helps. Thanks for looking - and when you are finished visiting with us, be sure to check out the 10th Edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge for all sorts of wonderful and creative figure painting from hobbyists around the world...