Second Mordor Catapult

 This really is a second catapult, not just the first with an extra helping of muck and rust.

Note that one wheel was damaged on the way from the Black Gate, hence the different colour of the timber.

As these giants launch their payload, the beam swings up and crashes into the cross beam.

This batters the whole contraption forward at an angle so that the blade at the front digs into the ground.

Which is why we have mud and even a sod of grass collected on the front.

Talking of angles, how on earth did they aim the thing?
All I can assume is that they used crowbars to lever the back end, either right or left.

See below for mud, tuft and replaced wheel.

First Mordor Catapult

 Here's the first catapult off the blocks.

The light brown base coat washed a couple of times in Nuln Oil seems OK, I'm just unsure about the rest of it.

It's very tricky to paint once assembled, especially this one as I've mislaid the small gizmo that keeps the arm in position.

This means the damn thing constantly flaps about and gets between your eye and the brush.

I think the metal needs more rust and grime.

The wheels I did a more conventional way, painting them with Mournfang, a light drybrush with Balor Brown and then a wash with Nuln Oil.

Both rocks are worked up from a base of Mechanised Standard through dry brushes of Dawnstone, Fortress and a light brush of white.

Then the iron bands, tyres and the bucket etc were painted black and then Boltgun.

John's catapult 2

The excellent Mordor siege engine workshop known as John Curtis, duly handed over his scratch built Mordor Catapult.

A fine job of work John - many thanks.

I'll endeavour to give it a decent paint job and recruit a likely Troll and team to operate it.

Castle walls, watch out!

 Incidentally, as I understand the rule book, it is suggested that one of these contraptions can be reloaded and fired in the same time as an archer can set an arrow and loose his shot.

Even more ridiculous is that the addition of a Troll doubles this rate of fire.

I've yet to use these in battle but would guess that one shot every eight moves would be more realistic.

I'd also suggest that without a Troll, only scatter shot can be used.

Show me an orc (or three) who can stagger over with a damn great rock and heave it into position in the 'bucket'.

So, John. When do you start on the full sized one?

Catapult Crew 2

Here's the crew for John's scratch built catapult which I hope to get a look at tomorrow morning.

I think they are rather smart.

Perhaps too smart for Orcs?

And too colourful?

Perhaps another coat of Nuln Oil?

I've tried to switch clothing colours around so that they are not too like the first crew.

I originally thought to use Gorbag (minus his Mithril Shirt) with two random orcs but then, what would I use these guys for?

Catapult Troll 4

 My first mistake was to start with a base spray of  Mephiston Red in an attempt to end up with a seriously different looking Troll.

The small patch of Greenstuff is an attempt at a cloak for the arm if it turned out too bad.

After the ghastly bright vermillion base I tried Dark Flesh - still too red (Ok with black as a base but the Mephiston leaked through)

Then a coat of Scorched Brown with a little Dark Flesh added, dry brushed with Steel Legion Drab and Balor Brown (mainly on the back)

 I'm not over the moon with him but he is different enough from the first one.

The new arm certainly didn't have enough scales so I may rethink some sort of cloak.

Catapult troll 3

Replacing the troll's left arm has given me a mismatch on the skin.

The trolls supplied with catapults are scaly on the back of the arm, drummer trolls etc are not.

I've experimented with plastic glue but find super glue placed carefully using a cocktail stick looks OK.

I won't really know till the paint job is complete but, if it's a disaster, he'll have to wear a natty little cape!

(I realised, too late, that I do have some thick plastic glue which might do better still)

Meanwhile, I'm building up the rock pile on the base.

Catapult troll 2

The more upright stance created by standing him on a bank of Milliput, the slight lean in the opposite direction to the original and, mostly, the arm swap complete with hammer, should make these two look very different.

There will be a colour change too, of course.

I'd thought of using this fellow for the third catapult but think he's altogether too fine for manual work.

I thought of him because of the existing rocks but I think now I'll keep looking out for a troll on ebay and start from scratch.

John's Mordor Catapult

My good friend John, chief construction engineer at the Mordor siege machine workshops, has sent over this photo of his catapult.

It's an approximate copy of the GW one I'd assembled before Christmas.

Excellent work John.

I look forward to seeing it in the flesh and enhancing it with a good paint job.

I regret that might be it for a while as being laid up with 'flu and a day in hospital are taking a little getting over.