Orcs (this week only!)

 14 Orc warriors and 4 Orc bowmen were available for a short time only (1 week?)* and here they all are, Greenstuffed into their bases.

While nothing compares with the problems with GW's 'resin' models, metal has its problems.

The main one is the need for a varnish finish after painting as the paint chips easily on this hard material.

A minor one is the difficulty setting them in their bases.

The tab beneath them that supposedly fits their slot in the base, rarely does being too narrow.

As with these chaps, you have to bend the tab till it gives some purchase, then glue them.

Once the glue is set, I fill up gaps with Greensdtuff which helps with the adhesion.

This is an unusual and very dynamic pose.

I've cut away the useless spike of 'grass' that his other foot was attached to which leaves a particularly large gap to be filled with Greenstuff.

They look excellent models and I look forward to them producing more 'one offs' like this.


(* Of course I fully expect a further issue at some point 'due to popular demand')

Scouring of the Shire

The Scouring of the Shire models were easy to paint though not so easy to keep in one piece.

Two of the Hobbits have arms that are fixed with super glue but one of them sneezed and his sword arm fell off.

He'll be along later.

I should have given them all a dusting down as I see they are sprinkled with a fair amount of grass, here and there.

The pairing of 'Sharky' and Wormtongue doesn't quite work for me.

'Sharky' belittles Wormtongue one more time as he leaves Hobbiton and is then stabbed.

I see him walking away, not pointing.

Why would he point?

He expects Wormtongue to follow him.

Nice models though.

Gondor Trebuchet 3

Not much has changed since yesterday but here is the finished article with the engineer's bases given another coat and a sprinkling of bent copper wire tools added.

I figured they might need a crowbar or two to shift those rocks.

The scouring of the Shire set is painted and varnished (being metal) but not based yet.

After that should be those 'once in a lifetime' orcs that they produced six weeks ago.

Or the Mordor Siege Bow if I can locate all the parts.

I wouldn't put it past Smeagol to have traded them in for fish at the scrap metal dealer's.

Gondor Trebuchet 2

Finally the Gondor Trebuchet is nearly finished.

The engineer's bases need another couple of coats and they could do with a couple of crowbars to get those large rocks into the sling.

There were many problems along the way, mostly to do with the material it's made of.

I hate resin!

I've already moaned about the breakages to the 'rope', now replaced by a piece of string, and the width of the construction requiring a self made  winding shaft.

However, had the engineers been plastic they would have been easy to glue to their bases.

The plastic glue would have melted them firmly into position.

Using so called 'superglue' led to them leaving their bases behind.

I had to scrape a hole in the paint and then pour in extra glue (hidden behind rocks) beneath their feet.

The trebuchet should stay in place as it has much more in contact with the base.

The base for the trebuchet and for the engineers is Slater's Plastikard painted with Administratum Grey and                                                                                                      washed in Nuln Oil.

Gondor Trebuchet and Citadel Guards

The resin Gondor Trebuchet is, of course, proving difficult. Painting it is fine. It's getting it together correctly and without breaking it.

I've given up on the feeble 'rope' as it's come apart three times (OK, I know I'm careless and clumsy but neither plastic nor metal would have snapped off!)

The piece in the shot with the resin rope around it, fails to reach both sides of the Trebuchet because of the distortion of the main frame. I've had to make another one. I'm still working on the rope.

Meantime I've been painting these Citadel Guards.

I think I bought them thinking of Guardians of the Fountain Court and I've painted the bases accordingly.

After having done so and checked out previously based Minas Tirith soldiers, I realised I'd used plastic 'Brick' sheet for them and should have used it here.

The base in Administratum Grey represents the upper levels of The White City'.


These chaps are the crew for the Trebuchet.

I've often wondered why two of the crew always seem to be boasting about the size of fish they caught in the Anduin the previous evening.

Either that or it was something more personal.

I've finally realise that they are supposed to be winding the windlass up.

Back to the 'brick' pavement that should be on their base. I've cut them off the bases and will either find the plastic sheet I have or get down to the model shop in Cheltenham for some more. I'll base the machine in the same way.

Nine Walkers

These were the black bases discovered when I was trying to base Gandalf.

Now they are all painted in Hobbiton colours with a hint of The White City on Boromir's and a fallen branch on that of Legolas - a hint of Mirkwood.

I think my painting was better then!

Faramir, Foot and Mounted

                                                                              Sorry about the faces on these models.

I'm just not good enough to paint faces generally but within a helmet, I find it impossible.

Those gnashers!

I had as much fun doing the bases as I did doing the models, now that I've found my 'cobbles' wallpaper.

Faramir is stood within the ruins of Osgiliath and leading the pointless charge against the occupying orcs.

Gandalf the Grey

The last of the three Gandalfs with his twin brother hanging around in the background. I think he was with an early metal set of the nine walkers.


I went to check them as I was uncertain how to base him and discovered that none had been based, they were all on black bases. I assume that I had the same problem then as now. As I try to base my models according to their origins, they should be in Hobbiton or Rivendell area style but then, what to do with Boromir? Give him a Minas Tirith base? Even Legolas would have a dark green rim.

SO. What I've decided is, to paint the original nine walkers all in brown earth, rocks and green grass with brown rims as per Hobbiton but this Gandalf as he is in Moria, to match the scenery there.

The staff here is Mournfang but I think, as in the mounted version, Rhinox hide is better.

The crystal on the business end has a wash of Guilliman Blue on the white paint.

Gandalf the Grey Mounted

Here's the second of the three Gandalfs in that package.

The cloak was worked up through Mechanicus Standard Grey through Dawnstone to Fortress and White edging highlights

Then it was washed with Nuln Oil and the highlights brought up again through the greys.

His hat, on the previous model, I thought too blue, so this is Dawnstone/Shadow Grey with a Fortress/Shadow Grey Highlight.

The horse is Mournfang, the leather, Rhinox Hide.

Note the three white ankles and one dark brown one and the odd hoof colours.

I tried to have the base as per the recent Hobbits but with Ruffian grey rocks (which I might change)

The last Gandalf is not far behind, then it's Faramir and Faramir mounted.

Gandalf's Cart

Not hitched, as you can see.

Despite several tries with glue,  Gandalf would not stay seated.

I've given him a cushion of Greenstuff to sit on (for which he is most grateful) and I await seeing if he's firmly fixed now.

The model looks good but I found it terrible to work with.

Resin not only loses it's detail advantage over plastic and metal, because of the many bubbles that appear on the surface, but it's also very fragile and warps easily.

At least mine did.

Perhaps I washed off the mould oil in water that was too hot.

I'll make a bigger base than that provided and try to make it look like a track.

Once I'm sure G is sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.