After wrapping up the 40k Second Edition Challenge – Mark V I started thinking about all the great entries we have seen over the years and I wondered how much we all accomplished. Combined 79 entries led to 4,221 models being painted for a total of over 133,475.5 points!

Note: These data points require some explanation. Entries are just that: entries into the challenge. We did not have 79 people as multiple people participated in multiple challenges. I suppose I could figure out how many individuals completed the challenge over the years but no matter how it appears on this blog I do have other things to do!

Different data was requested and provided in each of the challenges. For Challenges 1, 2, 3, and 5 a model was a model no matter what size it was. A tank was as many models as a single infantry figure for example. In challenge 4 tanks were counted as 4 models, bikes as 2 models, and things on bases larger than 25mm counted as 2. I did not change the values of the miniatures to be consistent across all five challenges so this number is slightly off. Additionally, in some challenges people didn’t provide their totals so I had to manually add them up from the final picture.

In Challenge 3 the final entry posts did not have a requirement for contestants to provide their total point count so unless they specified their total points I just counted their completed army as 1,000 points. So while the actual model count should be lower overall, the actual point cost is probably higher.

That raw data doesn’t tell the whole story because not only have we collectively painted some real nice armies we have made friends from across the globe. One of the most iconic pictures from the early era of Games Workshop is Bryan Ansell posing with his Mighty Avenging Chaos Army. I asked some of our challenge finishers to provide pictures of themselves with their armies in their best Bryan Ansell poses and they responded! You’ll also see the shiny new name plates made for them with the honors they have received in the challenge to date, and the armies they are working on in Mark VI of the 40k Second Edition Challenge! (Note: Niklas is taking a well deserved break so I used his old banner.)

I’d like to thank Dr. The Viking for all his hard work and creativity, this post is dedicated to him. Without him the world would have 4,2221 less painted models, and the battle fields of 2nd Edition would have 133,475.5 points less spreading brightly colo(u)red warfare! I’m glad he has allowed me to continue to shepherd this challenge for the sixth iteration, I look forward to helping to continue his legacy and add to our point and model count!

-Wachtmeister