Minas Tirith Foot Knights

Following less the painting guide in DeAgostini number 23 and more the advice of Steve Cumiskey's in number 33, I've based these guys black, then painted the armour with Tin Bits, then Boltgun as here.

It was then that I remembered that I was doing the bases with plastic sheeting as per the streets of Minas Tirith and that I'd have to saw them off the bases, smooth down the base and the soles of their boots and then recommence.

It will be a while till they are done.

Meanwhile, I remembered the dismounted version of King Elessar - painted alongside Sheree's mounted version.

Half Trolls

These Half Trolls were originally Henry's - thanks mate, they are quite cool.
   I followed computer chat on painting and the skin colour is much darker than in all the illustrations.
   It's hot out there in the desert, especially only wearing a nappy and a wicker bib.

 I've noticed that, despite the statement on the GW site that, 'Note that various designs are available and are supplied at random.' I've yet to see any but these two in any of their books, nor on the net.

I tried to get the right base colours as per my Khandish warriors using Vomit Brown, then Bubonic Brown dry brushed with Bleached Bone and a light dry brush of White.

Troll Chieftain

If, to you, it seems that there is a sudden flurry of activity, you are mistaken. While working on the scenery for Sheree's present, I was also prepping both the Knights of Dol Amroth and this troll.The troll was considerably simpler, however, I still experimented a bit with it, taking up a little time. The knights took forever. This guy started with Rhinox Hide spray but I always had in mind a different skin colour to the other trolls. This is not to accuse The Dark Lord of racism of course. I merely wanted him to stand out from the crowd.
At first his skin was yellow washed with a left over pot of what might be green ink. The result, on the game board, would have been a requirement for another rule for as well as inspiring 'Terror', he would have produced a 'Bilious Attack'. I therefore dulled down both green and yellow by dry brushing much of the skin with Steel Legion Drab, still leaving a reptilian green on most of the skin.
The armour and sword are simply black, dry brushed with Boltgun with a bit of rust here and there.
I'm not at all sure about him. Nor am I all that happy about the base. Hey ho!

Dol Amroth Knights completed

 No wonder that Prince Imrahil and his crowd barely get a mention in Lord of the Rings, however, I bet Tolkein had less trouble with them than I did.

They might be great looking models when well painted but I'm not up to it.

Painting flat flags is tricky enough, thank you very much, but these wavy ones I found very difficult.

Still, I suppose the answer is blowing in the wind.

Even the armour was a challenge. There are areas where you need some shadow lines such as the shoulders and the wings on the helmets.

Dry brushing over the black base gave me a guide and then I painted in the non-shadow areas to bring them up to the rest of the armour.

The shield faces were sprayed white and the blue painted round the motifs, though not well, I'm afraid.

Another troop that will rarely go to battle as they are so fragile.

(Where they originate is from a hill top town. You may note it's a very rocky hill.)

Umbar bases

Having given up on the beach idea for the Corsairs of Umbar, I tried copying the dessert bases of the Haradrim.

After all, they are close relations and, when on shore leave, occupy the same region.

The base on the left, in the second photo, is the original Harad base.
The rest are the finished Umbar Corsairs.

Slightly different as they hang out in a small patch of desert found by their navigational expertise under the direction - 'Left hand down a bit'.

(In truth, none of them would ever make it to the battlefield - they'd all have turned ankles with all those rocks.)

Aragorn - From Osgiliath to the Black Gate

This is the 'secret project'.

I couldn't put it on the blog till Sheree's Birthday (her party, yesterday) as it was my present to her.

She requested an Aragorn but I couldn't find the right sized dome and ended up filling this one with scenery.

I'm afraid the shots are all over the place.

I can never jiggle them right.

He's magnetised on so that she can display him separately if she wishes.