Rohan Civilians 16

 

No progress over Christmas, of course.

 Afterwards I discovered I'd failed to drill out

and file a chaps hand to take his staff. 

So drill, file and paint again!

Then just two chaps sat on barrels to do.

Rohan Civilians 15

 

Realising the goods can fall off, front and back,

I've drilled into the 'wood' of the cart and inserted cut down pins into them.

Then slung a 'rope' across. That should fix it.

This spare rope was meant to lay across the goods in the cart but wasn't flexible enough.

Even hung like this, it needs better shape.

Two shepherds, one taking instruction from the other on fishing.

The other two benefit from the addition of the lambs

which looked ridiculous on huge bases.

Overhead view of the goods in the large cart.

As the horses were unlikely to go far on their own 

(as per Gripping Beast illustration)

I fixed it that one of the staff carriers would hold a rope instead.

That's that till next year because I'm crowded out.

Rohan Civilians 14

 

A preview of the horse drawn cart. It awaits dry-brushing and grass on the base

and two pieces of rope to finish it.    Where the hell have I put that rope?

It was last seen when I needed it for the well.

(Still uncompleted!)

Rohan Civilians 13

 

In the Gripping Beast illustrations, the cart is on one square base

and three chaps with vaulting poles are on a separate one.

As it seemed unlikely that the hand cart is an electric one,

I've changed the layout of these models.

I've filed out the hand of the green coated one and glued it to the handle.

Clearly, he's not pulling it in that pose but he's heard or seen something amiss

and has called a halt.

The other beast of burden has snatched up his nine-iron,

ready to defend the trade goods.

The cart in GB's illustration has no side wall.

I think the one here is simply an alternative to the square one

provided for the horse drawn cart.

The cart now looks a little light on goods.

I'll see what I can do to provide more.

Rohan Civilians 12- Traders (Baggage for the escort scenario)

 

I have realised that I've been mistakenly calling these chaps 'Traders' all along

when the 'Traders' are actually the chaps with sacks and barrels previously painted.

Gripping Beast describe these fellows as 'Baggage for the escort scenario'

The chap in the middle originally had six fingers on his right hand

yet was unable to read minds.

(See 'The Chrysalids' by John Wyndham)

I spotted this only when preparing to varnish so had to do a hurried re-paint.

That right hand will be important when I come to his twin brother

but it's his left that you want to watch.

(Another cunning plan!)

I think that they are excellent models which have turned out fairly well.

Rohan Civilians 11 - Traders

 

The hand cart awaits its wheels

and the horses need painting before they are fit to go.

Awaiting a primer spray and an undercoat are four shepherds 

and the three traders who accompany the horse drawn cart.

There should be another trader for the hand cart

but he's either in the Gabba watching the disaster there

or he's at a party in Number Ten.

The goods were neatly laid out for the hand cart

but the sides intrude on the available space

so the goods are not so well arranged.

I've added another plank at the rear.

Now to find something to put on it.

Rohan Civilians 10 - Traders

 Here's the arrangement for the trade goods for the handcart 

and the cart itself at an early stage.

The horse drawn one has its wheels.

(Damn clever horse to draw a cart as well as that)

Rohan Civilians 9 - Traders

The previous post should have been up yesterday

but we were without connection all day - AGAIN!

The wagon is packed with goodies.

Painting these trade goods has been fun as they are excellently detailed,

if occasionally rough and ready on their execution.

Quite what the green squid is doing on the back of the cart is anybodies guess

(and, as you no doubt know, he's a terrible guesser)

I think it's meant to be material but tossing it in like that is so blokey.

Draping it tastefully across the woolens would display it so much better.

Rohan Civilians 8 - Traders

The horse drawn cart's sides are super-glued with 4 year old glue,

 then the new glue used to fill gaps.

Black undercoat used, then a mix of grey, brown and a touch of green.

 

The trader's goods are starting to shape up for both carts.

Rohan Civilians 7

 Slow old business but the staffs have arrived. House invaded frequently.

Rohan Civilians 6

Getting to the end of the first bunch.

             Just two chaps sitting on barrels to do now as well as the staffs that four of them carry.

Of course, I should have glued them on first, I think.

Rohan civilians 5

 

This chap is getting a second outing after a coat of gloss varnish.

It's improved the contrast no end.

Both these ladies will look more at home in Bree, I think.

Coming or going.

These chaps await their staffs or whatever.

In all these recent models, the ground has yet to be built up a little.

Grass has also to be added, of course.

However, I thought it best to get something up here, even unfinished.

It's been a while.

Rohan Civilians 4

Some of these good people have put in a previous appearance.

However, they are now varnished with gloss

and have a little more lawn at their feet.

I'd given them a sprinkle of grass but was not happy with the result 

(see previous post)

I then gave them another turf or two using the WWS Grass Applicator.

 

The pair of apparent twins in the centre are due to part ways soon.

The blond hair is due to Rohan ancestry 

whereas the bright red coat is more in keeping with Bree.

Rohan Civilians 3

In the main, completed, but certainly the two peasants

are missing their quarterstaffs. 

I used to always give a rear view so here we are.

All of these have been given a coat of acrylic matt varnish which

not only dulls them down but, unfortunately, also reduces contrast.

Perhaps I should revert to gloss as it avoids this problem

and also gives much more protection.

These metal models certainly need it.

This image reminds me of the time when Sonia's dog Chance

ate two bags of sugar we'd left in the hall.

We returned home to find sugar everywhere and Chance mouth encased in crystal.

Chance couldn't look us in the eye and scarpered

but our dog Shadow, denied everything.

I thought that, the previous time these appeared,

they seemed out of focus, so here they are again.

Any better?

 

Rohan civilians - children

 

I've hurriedly 'finished' these two children from Gripping Beast

after weeks of chaos in this household.  

         

I meant to put something in the shot to give these fellows scale.

Next time, maybe.

I hope to have a larger crowd together by tomorrow.

Rohan Civilians

Inching forward.

The middle fellow, who is asking for help

removing the two barrels from his feet, just needs a base.

The young women is nearly finished.

Needs a wash and boots.

She's quite delectable on the box

but here appears snooty and short sighted.

The chap on the left has a few more items of clothing to be done

and his face and hair.

(I know I should have done that first)

 

Ponies in Rohan

Just to show there is a little progress being made,

here are a couple of ponies from Saga.

They are good models but not easy to prepare for undercoating.

There is lots of flash, some very difficult to get to.

Yet to be based, of course.

Rohan house and well

Some views of the third Rohan House, complete with well, as it nears completion.

I think the bread box thatch looks fine.

Is the well too large?

I have yet to have a little moss growing on the ground and up its walls.

I think I have a bucket but am starting to realise that the rope is too thin.

A horse I'm working on, has a rope halter, much thicker than the well rope.

I'm thinking I should plait my cotton, perhaps then plait the result.

Here and below, you can see the two dormers made from scraps and a bit of balsa.

One more to go but, because of a non paying visitor,

number two has been put away and cannot be found anywhere.

 

Two dormers and one well

 

The third Rohan House complete with two dormers.

The completed well.

Note the uplift on the top piece of thatch is now fixed.

Yes, it is all a bit ramshackle.

Better try next time, now I know what I'm doing.

Still bucket hunting.

Well construction for Rohan House

When butting the dormer thatch up to the jerry-built fascia boards,

a chunky piece of plastic has to be removed from the part shown above.

Components for the well include a container made of thin rough  timber.

That's it, top left.

My good friend John buys his bread in these things

and one is earmarked for imitation thatch.

Rather a large (paper clip) handle.

The 'roller' is a piece of bamboo barbeque skewer

and the handle a piece of cocktail stick.

Rope will be cotton.

More difficult is the search for a bucket.