Warg Riders

 A few experiments with these Warg Riders.

Firstly, as is obvious, I used a Mephiston Red spray rather than Black for the simple reason that I have more of it! I bought it for use for the kids, at school and still have some left.

Secondly, I did the rounds on the brown paints. The foreground left to right are painted in Scorched Brown, Rhinox Hide and Vermin Brown. The back ones are Steel Legion Drab, Balor Brown and Mournfang Brown.

Thirdly, I used washes which I don't think I did on the previous six, a few years ago. Agrax Earthshade on the lighter three and Nuln Oil on the darker ones.

The red is still obvious and may still be after some drybrushing. (These Wargs eventually evolved into Red Setters, ie the print workers in the Wapping dispute of 1984)

Dreadfleet - The Curse of Zandri

The last of this trio (back to LOTR next) is The Curse of Zandri captained by, wait for it - King Amanhotek the Intolerant (known as The High - Handed Avenger of Zandri)

Bilge might be very appropriate but the inventiveness of these guys does take some beating.

I left this model till last as it looked the easiest of the three to paint.

I should have looked more closely.

The red and blue triangles, in particular, took ages and they are not at all, well done.

The shot above shows the deck and some strange arrow shaped objects around its edges.

No idea what they are so I just gave it a light brown coat and a dark wash to bring out the detail.

The skeleton wreckage was washed with Guilleman Blue after a coat of Ushabti Bone though I notice I missed a bit.

I'm next working on six Wargs and their riders that I bought on Ebay, months back. Unfortunately they need a lot of work. I tidy up components before assembly but the previous owner GLUED them all together without the slightest bit of trimming. Glued was in caps as the damn stuff is smeared everywhere. See you in a week or so!

Dreadfleet - The Black Kraken

An easy model this, at least to paint to my standard.

Metal parts are painted with Leadbelcher and with Warlock then Dwarf Bronzes.

I used some Guilleman Blue shade on the tentacles  to try to indicate they are wet, having recently risen from the depths.

Perhaps another glaze all over or a coat of gloss varnish?

The drips are Enchanted Blue with white added as a highlight.

The Black Kraken is captained by the dwarf engineer Tordek Hackhart and not a lot of people know that.*

*This is in no way a reference to the Caine Mutiny.

Dreadfleet - Grimnir's Thunder 2

I thought I'd finished with this nice little model, having decided not to wash the silver, but I see there is painting yet to do.

I often spot missed areas only when I've seen them on screen - a different angle, so to speak.

I'll stop the next model (The Black Kraken) and come back to this one for a mo.

There's the area of fore starboard railings to do  and perhaps some silver highlighting on both the hull and the eagle on the bow.

It would be nice to have the split in bow and cannon repaired but I'm worried that I'll cause more harm than good.

Still, she's not very seaworthy with that great split there.

Caulking with tar ropes isn't it?

Dreadfleet - Grimnir's Thunder

Below decks on Grimnir's Thunder.

Lots of fine detail on a really nice model.

I've kept fairly well to the advice in White Dwarf but widened the range of colours a little.

Now with more of the engine and the dirigible attached.

Lots of time spent on this already and the hull will also take a fair bit of painting because of all the portholes.

I've yet to wash the silver areas with Nuln Oil and to paint the cannon.

Elf Command?

 Here's what I bought as Elf Command though I rather think there should be a musician there too.

Perhaps one of these guys plays the penny whistle.

I'm ashamed of the Banner.  Freehand painting of Elvish detail is beyond me.

The colours are not right either but I didn't want the pale blue/pale green of the previous banner.

They are supposed to be a rally point so it's no good if they are all the same colour.

I've tried to keep to the same or similar colour scheme as the earlier wood elves.

Mechanicus Grey and Catachan Green for the cloaks and Knarloc Green for the bases.

The 'blue' is Shadow Grey built up to Fenrisian Grey.

One head is based with Mournfang, the other with the last drop of Calthan Brown that I have.

Then the hairs painted Yriel Yellow and Balor Brown.

Dunedain etc 3

Here are the other trio. Wearing armour as they are, they must surely be Dunedain to fit in with Halbarad? Even that complicates things as I understand there were three versions of Halbarad and certainly one was without armour.

I've used Warboss Green for the tunics and went for Fenrisian Grey for the cloaks. (The Pale Grey Company?) I'd probably have been better off with Shadow Grey as they look too Elvish but, as usual, I want to get on with the next thing. (Yes, I know it shows)

These models were fairly tricky with lots of difficult places to get to. They also had a number of 'spikes' (on boots and tunics) which I'd not spotted even with the primer on. (Note the grass around the toes of the boots)

Dunedain etc 2

The first three Dunedain or Men of the North. It's all very confusing and even they don't know who they are. The next batch are clearly The Grey Company who are Dunedain yet Games Workshop has these guys listed as Dunedain and the ones to follow, wearing armour, as Men of the North!

Cloaks are Dark Angels Green, Boots and bags, Rhinx Hide, jerkins Mournfang Brown. The bases I've rimmed with Kabalite Green. My theory was that it's the closest you can get to a 'Royal' green'. Blue blood and all that.

I also used one of those 'tufts' for the first time. The size of a bush!

The dark pole that one is carrying is, I presume, Aragorn's banner, specially knitted by Arwen.

 There seems to be no rules covering either set for games.

Dunedain etc

Here we go again with 3 Dunedain, 3 Men of the North, 2 Elf command and Prince Imrahil.

The latter might have a long wait as there wasn't quite room in the spray box.

Dreadfleet - Seadrake 2

Well, at last the Seadrake has put to sea, though workmen and painters are still aboard (Do you see that lean on the foremast)

She's taken some time, part because of the various invasions over the past three weeks and part because it's a nicely detailed ship.

I didn't entirely follow the WD painting guide which seemed over complex yet full of omissions, such as hints for the Dragon.

I didn't undercoat the gold detail with bronze, which is my usual practice, as that would give me twice the chance of error, especially as I was missing my usual headset magnifiers.

The detail on the sails show this lack.

I did undercoat bronze on the ram, figurehead and above the rudder.

I used Regal Blue on the sails first but applied the Enchanted Blue directly onto the white base on the roofs.

When assembling, note that the decking has to go in before the two halves are joined.

Otherwise assembly is easy and very neat.

The captain is Prince Yrellian of Ulthuan. If you've never heard of him, no worries. Nor have I.

Dreadfleet - Seadrake

Regrettably, the launch of the third ship from the Dreadfleet box has been delayed by a strike at the docks.

The yard owners, Harpic and Wolfit, have been forced to employ non-union labour over the past two weeks.

Clerks, cooks and Elven coffin makers have all worked on the Seadrake (the latter always have time on their hands due to Elvish immortality)

When she does put to sea, we hope she floats.