Hobbiton

 Just to prove we were really there in Hobbiton, a few snaps near Bag End.


The front door was open but neither Bilbo, nor Frodo were in.

 At the bottom of the steps, that famous notice about the party.


Note we took our own map with us, wrapped around Rebecca

Here's something I've never done before, despite this being my third visit.

They have opened up The Green Dragon for a little something before a long journey.

Henry and Lewis get stuck in.

Here's the whole gang, Henry, Anne, Rebecca, Lewis and myself.

OK It's nothing to do with Games Workshop.

It's just me showing off.

Now where's that paint brush!

Games Workshop near Hobbiton

Nearly forgot.

Here's the inside of a Games Workshop outlet that few of you will have seen.

Only a few hours drive from Hobbiton itself is Auckland's Queen Street store.



I have, of course, forgotten the name of the guy in charge but here are Henry and Lewis, checking out the games table.

They had a commander each from the store and I came away with 4 of the Iron Guard.

As if they aren't dear enough, I have to buy them from one of the most expensive outlets in the world!

I

Riders of Rohan

  These Riders were also enjoyable to paint though I was not very confident painting the horses.

These were all from Ebay and there is one more due to join the troop but the horse is lame.

I'll need to support the weak ankle with some wire.

It would be a shame to put it out to graze as it has a fine shiny black coat.

I tried for the look of the wide river bed near Edoras and for the grasses there but it's not quite worked.

The colour here and in the Ent pictures are, unfortunately, not true.

However, focus has improved and we've a bit more depth of field.

The rider far left in the first pics is missing his spear.

I'm on the lookout for some wire of the right type for a penant for him.

You might also notice that one of the archers has a bow borrowed from his good friend, Legolas. Actually he's borrowed the whole arm!

Ent - Not like that, like this.

 I enjoyed painting this Ent but not putting it together.

Those arm sockets are clumsy and the knees are very limiting and darn ugly.

I used green-stuff at the joints and liquid green-stuff at a few bad joins.

I've added a few extra branches, there are plenty of spare ones in this kit.

That hanging lichen I've seen for myself when visiting Fangorn.

The foreground 'rock' is also from Middle-Earth, it's a shell from a NZ beach.

Don't let on, they'll want it back.