Faramir's Rangers

 Here are the new Rangers too, with more dry brushing than the originals.

I tried their 'bibs' in Balor Brown but didn't like the result.
There are some Uruk Hai all painted up too but you know what they are like.

Because I put them on the shelf with other Uruks, they're off chatting to them and, as per Asimov's 'Lost Robot', I don't now know which is which.

I'm onto one of the Great Beasts now and it really is a great beast, to work on at least.

The two legs that are separate from the body are difficult to align and the howdah is quite distorted.

It requires hot water treatment and green stuff in several places.

Orthanc Orcs 2

 Well, as promised, improved photos.

Unfortunately, they show how bad the free hand hands are.

Orthanc Orcs

No, I've not been doing nothing for the past three weeks. I've completed a box of 12 Orcs which I've painted to be part of Sauman's force. A bad representation of a hand is supposed to show this (Orcs are bad painters but not that bad!) The photos are particularly bad because the weather is so gloomy and because I can't get to my normal photo spot while the kitchen is being renewed. I'll redo them later.

I've also done another batch of Uruk Hai which I'll put here when the sun comes out.

Galadrhim Knights 5

Despite the quality being under par, these fellows will have to take to the field as they are.

The gold should have been washed and dry brushed (to be properly tried next time though I did experiment). The faces are down to my usual standard. The silver detail on saddle cloth and flag are poor. The horses, likewise. Gold could do with a polish. There's plenty more.

The drifting leaves from 'The Golden Wood' are in Balor Brown and Yriel Yellow or mixed with a few Shining gold thrown in.

Again, I must comment what excellent models these are but need a better man than I to do them justice.

Galadrhim Knights 4

Well, that's three of the Galadrhim Knights finished though I've not done these excellent models justice. I'm just not up to the detail they require, nor is my painting of horses up to the mark. They are up there with King Theoden as the most difficult models to paint.

The other three are not far behind. Two bowmen and one who will carry the banner which is also tricky painting.

They are leaving 'The Golden Wood' and the other Elves (painted last month) who are still coming through, on foot. Hence areas with leaves and areas of grass.

The blue of the cloaks shows more here than in reality (must sort out this 'white balance business' but no harm there as there is a stronger ling between the three blues here.

Galadhrim Knights 3

 They are coming along slowly. Test matches and War in Middlearth don't help.

I'd intended painting the saddlecloth the same dark blue as the Knight's cloaks but there was too little contrast. The turquoise chosen reflects that colour and will hopefully chime in with the highlighting on the cloaks.

The silver patterning on the darker blue is tricky. Silver pen maybe?

Galadhrim Knights 1

The Galadhrim Knights are coming alnong slowly. They are a dreamy lot. I've attempted grey horses as there are white horses opposing them. I'll get the hang of it.

The armour, once again, because of the white basecoat, is tricky. Two coats of Bronze, then two coats of Shining Gold. I've yet to try washing and drybrushing the armour though the centre one has had a flesh wash as an experiment.. The alternative was to spray them black but have the problem of painting grey/white over black.

Galadhrim Swordsmen

The inner clothing was Regal Blue again with Badab Black in the folds.

Highlights were simply by adding white. though I may have underdone them on both inner robe and on cloak.

I've tried to convey The Golden Wood by including a few yellow and golden fallen leaves on the bases.

Mr. Blake helped on the swodsmen bases - hence the enlargement.

I did tell Grandson Number One that I'd finish them four days ago but we've been busy with birthdays and visits.

Nex up - Galadhrim Knights.

Galadhrim Archers

 This is the first archer I've seen with an arrow to his bow and just noching it too.

Is the slight difference in the two vertical bows, I wonder, because one is being drawn, the other has just fired?

The cloaks are a 50/50 mix of Hawk Turquoise and black with highlights becoming more blue and a shade of Badab black in the folds.

The set needed very little cleaning up before painting though I can see I could have done better on some areas.

Galadhrim Spearmen

I really liked these models.

The best set of plastic models so far, I think.

Lots of nice detail and they are all well finished  apart from where two points have to be glued at the same time as in the archer.

Hence a right shoulder that looks a bit dodgy.

Shining gold on Warlock Bronze for the armour with a stab at greening it with Waywatcher Shade.

It shows on the left hand shield but I didn't do the other armour as it seemed to make little difference

This metal model of King Theoden took some painting.

Paint the head, varnish it, paint to the waist, varnish it, paint the arms, varnish them etc.

The usual thing, the paint rubs off as it's being handled.

I've seen folk use a paint tub top and Bluetack to avoid touching the model but I find the figure comes off in no time.

He was painted using the DeAgostin magazines again (Number 29) and White Dwarf 277 and 316.

The Armour is Shining Gold (undercoat Warlock Bronze) and Undercoat Black rather that Abaddon Black as it's glossy.

The shield is Copper rather than gold, again with Undercoat Black decoration.

I use that black for horses eyes too as it shines.

The figure came from Ebay and the hind leg of the horse is rather bent.

I didn't risk trying to put it right.

Banner Bearer

Good grief. Is it really that long, as the actress said to the bishop.

Sorry to have been absent for the past two months but I've had a lot to contend with.

Summer hols means an invasion of grandchildren who seem more numerous by the minute.

Then there's the Test Matches and Olympics, the pacemaker op and a spot of gardening in the fine weather.

However, the biggest problem has been the addictive qualities of 'War in Middle Earth'. I must kick the habit but not when the nun is wearing it.

OK, so here's the Banner Bearer I started in July. Nothing special and I notice that the coat of gloss varnish has not been dulled down by the matt varnish that followed it.

He's on a rock rather than the streets of Minas Tirith so perhaps he's been defending Osgiliath.

Merry and Pippin

Merry and Pippin pretty much as per the painting guide in number 73 of the DeAgostini series.

The tunic that Merry (or is it Pippin?) is wearing came out more brown than green but I was happy with it.

As I was still having that trouble keeping the paint on metal, I varnished it before the problem could arise.

I can always paint it again, later.

The base that Pippin (or is it Merry?) stands on is supposed to be a wrecked area of Minas Tirith with a few bits of masonry and roofing wood laying about.

(I do actually know that Pippin served as a page to the Steward of Gondor - I chickened out on painting the tree and stars on his tunic -.and that Merry hitched a ride with Eowyn so wears Rohan gear)

Thinks - or was it the other way round?

Lurz

Here's Lurz, looking a little suntanned.

The base completed in a similar manner to the other recent Uruks.

He really does need those teeth seeing to.

Two Shagrats

 These two should have taken no time at all but War in Middle Earth took up too much of my time.

The silver look to the Mithril shirt doesn't show, as it should, in the photos.

Fun doing these but the usual problem with metal showing through the paint was a pain, despite a spray coat of brown and a brushed coat of 'Undercoat Black.
(I've said 'Two Shagrats but the one on the right is actually Shagrat's twin brother Cecil.

I've no idea where he found that Mithril shirt.

Ebay?

Uruk Warriors 2

These were spray based with Rhinox Hide and, at first, seemed to have a rather dowdy look to them.

The armour was duller.

I've weathered these a little and assumed them to have been the beastly lot that set fire to a village, sending everyone running to report it to the police.

A splash of blood, here and there.

Mostly there.

And Rocks.

This bunch have rocks.

Uruk Hai Demolition Team

 These guys benefited from an extra painter - Lewis lent a hand.



He also had the idea of using grains of black sand as the gunpowder.

Originally they were as bright and shiny as the Uruk Warriors but  I gave the armour a wash in Badab Black.



Again, no rust (except on the ladder) but that might change.

Uruk Hai Warriors.

Here's the first box of Uruk Hai Warriors finished.

I tried to keep the bases similar to those of the Scouts painted ages ago.

The armour was drybrushed rather than painted, with Gunmetal (a very old pot) highlighted with Chainmail.

Flesh of Doombul Brown with Steel Legion Drab added for the highlight.

I've not used rust or blood but I'll think on.

Three - One to Lewis

At last, Lewis and I got down to actually playing a game.

Well, four, actually.

Three 40K, all of which he won, and one LOTR in which he was pipped at the post.

Here he is, trying to find that elusive rule the says anyone a head taller than his opponent always has priority and can roll any dice if it fails to give the required result.

As well as playing, he even dabbed on a splodge of paint here and there on a set of Uruk Hai Demolition Squad.

They will be along shortly.

Minas Tirith Rocks

Specially imported from Ludlow - Minas Tirith or Osgiliath masonry dislodged by Mordor catapults.

Warriors of Minas Tirith

 That's the dozen Minas Tirith Warriors practically finished.

There's varnish to go on the armour and I may give a blue wash on one as an experiment.

I may also sprinkle a few rocks about illustrating Minas Tirith or Osgiliath under attack.

These are the poor fellows who were glued down before I remembered to lay the Minas Tirith road on their bases. 

I was able to prise most of them out but you'll see a couple of them appear to be standing in holes in the road.

Bernard Cribbins has a lot to answer for.

I tried sawing one off so he has no soles to his boots - there will be moans.