Fellowship, Aragorn

 Aragorn, scruffy as usual.

Feeling fair and seeming ...

Poor light for these two shots and I've just noticed that ring that he wears.

I've done a little 'wear and tear' weathering to the boots and cloaks of all of them.

Just the bases to do, once I can decide how to do them.

I've enjoyed painting these characters so next I'll be tackling Haldir with bow, Weathertop Aragorn, three Axemen of Lossarnach and Prince Imrahil, (foot and mounted) as a sort of batch.

The primer applied to the Fellowship eliminated the paint slip problem except for the tip of Gandalf's hat.

I used Humbrol acrylic spray primer.

I'd made sure that there were not too many points on weapons and clothing too.

I now feel happier painting metal models.

The Fellowship, Boromir

Boromir with only Aragorn to come and he's nearly finished.

Then I have to decide what to do about the bases.

It's another fine model and I think I have another, in a drawer, somewhere.

I think most of my 'guide' came from a U-tube called CREATIVE, from MJ Shokunin though I tinkered around a bit, especially on the horn.

I've normally arranged/painted bases as a theme showing where these guys come from whereas this Fellowship might be as they start their journey.

I think Boromir does blow the horn when setting out (in the book, not the fillum)

You do notice errors, once they appear on the blog, and I see there is a splash of silver on his cloak.

Also, I'm not sure if his left ear is showing or if that is just a lock of hair.

The Fellowship, Gandalf

Gandalf the Grey arrives, precisely when he means to.

That's mostly because he's easy peasy.

As with all the other shots, he seems too weather beaten.

In fact, that's just slightly darkened Elf Flesh.

I must get around to sorting out colour balance on the camera.

Boromir is coming along but we're busy over the next week and then follows a Test Match.

The new chap, Westley. Isn't he that ace swordsman from Princess Bride? If so, that should help, 'the flashing blade' and all that. Sorry. Off subject.

I used a weak wash of Guilliman Blue on the crystal

The Fellowship, Legolas

Closely followed by Legolas. Another neat model which I enjoyed painting  I used DeAgostini number eight and White Dwarf 277 as painting guides.

Just Bormir, Aragorn and Gandalf to come.

The Fellowship, Gimli

Gimli took a while using DeAgostini magazine number 12 as a painting guide.

Again there are colour changes in these shots.

The helm is scorched brown, not black and the clothing has more light and shade about it than here as does the beard.

It's a nice metal model. Yes - I'll take another look at the axe.

Maggie's Rohan Cottage 3

I forgot that Maggie and I got together for half an hour to do a little more on her Rohan cottage.

Here she is busy thatching.

I think we needed to soak the thatch more as the teddy bear fur (actually it was a lion) is not looking as much like thatch as it should.

Perhaps the glue mix needed to be thinner too.

Much more work needed before they can move in.

The Fellowship, Sam

Sam. Late as usual.

You try running with half the contents of the kitchen strapped to your back, never mind all the pipe weed he's smuggled through Elven customs.

I though Sam was finished but have just noticed his non-hairy feet.

Again, the stained oak skin is less pronounced in the real thing.

The Fellowship, Frodo, Merry and Pippin

Slow progress recently because of Test Matches and visitors but here are three Hobbits from the Fellowship set, Frodo, Pippin and Merry.

I notice a little rust on Frodo's sword and it needs a little Mithril anyway.

I used the White Dwarf 265 masterclass though reduced the number of mixed colours.

There is such a good range of colours now that you can get very close without mixing.

It also avoids the problem of an accidental touch of colour on the mixed area requiring a complete re-mix.

Merry's cloak is a mixed colour and, wouldn't you guess it, there are two small spots where I missed painting.

The skin colour, though darker in these photos, still needs re painting.