Haradrim Spear-men

I opened another box of Haradrim in order to provide enough archers for the Howdah as I did not see the point of spear-men on high. (Is that another dreadful pun?)

This left me with the spear-men from that second box.

I had trouble matching the desert as I'd done the earlier ones before starting my little notebook.

I tried varying them without resorting to a saw blade.

Colours of clothing, rock in front, rock behind (or is that more a Troll?)

Mamuk base

 The base supplied was fun to do but I'll be painting up my own to match the rocky desert theme of the other Haradrim.

Meanwhile, Blue-tack to the rescue.

The whole beastie is rather fragile.

Tusks and particularly the tail look easy to break and the Howdah is rickety.

Not sure how many games it would last.

At 275 points, I'm not likely to find out for a bit.

War Mamuk of Harad

Well, I've had a few tough models but this Mamuk was a real brute (sorry, couldn't resist).

Really though, why not better fixing points for the Howdah - pin and hole?

Even the tail could wander around a bit.

Green stuff required in unexpected places. A rather square trunk that failed to line up. Worst of all, the Howdah failed to sit right without greenstuff support at the front.

I expect most of it was the modeler, not the model.

For the most part, I followed a White Dwarf guide which went for a brown, rather than a red look, then drybrushed scab red.

Of course my rubbish photos don't really give the correct colouring.

Must find that camera manual!

Rohan mud

Further to 'Rohan Warriors' below - I tried using Agrellan Earth on a couple of them..


I was aiming for areas where those wide rivers had dried up leaving cracked mud but I don't think it was too successful.


That's a broken Orc bow in the grass - care of spares in a box of Mordor Orcs, I think.

Rohan Warriors

Then a big project - two complete boxes of Rohan Warriors.

24 in total.

I tried to make each set a little varied, not going so far as red or blue cloaks, just an adjustment of colours of boots or belts

One set has a coarser sand on the base.

I was trying to portray the area round Edoras and the wide flat rivers of New Zealand.

Some are on terrain where rocks have been swept down, others on the grassy silt soil.

There are a couple of arm adjustments too.

They are all set out in their 'twins'.

Rohan Fort

I think the next project was this Rohan Fort from a Degostini magazine.

The boys were involved (though I'm still waiting for the flags Henry!)


Even Maggie contributed by painting the walk boards behind the barricade.

The whole thing took some time as there were more than a few trees to cut down and branches to sharpen.

It's about 14 inches by 12 inches giving plenty of room for tents and a watch tower later and, of course, there's a 'floor' to go in.

The flagpoles lock the thing together though not very accurately I'm afraid as this was the first fort these riders had tackled.

Wargs!

 Yes, it's been yonks.


I have been doing a bit of painting though.


I've got the back fence done and varnished the bird table.


Plus these Warg Riders.


I've actually done five but tried to make them each a little different from the previous set of six.


Sometimes only by changes in paints used and sometimes simply by swapping arms or altering bases.

Young Andrew

At the car boot in Bourton last Saturday, I picked up 4 GW LOTR guides and a box of LOTR  maps. Even better news was that I bumped into 'Young Andrew', who used to bring in his excellent models. He's now at upper school and has less time for his painting but hopes to get back to it in second year.

Apologies for not spotting you sooner, Andrew. I'm not great on recognising people. I've sometimes been puzzled by the face in the mirror!

Swell club in Cheltenham visit

Four members of Lower Swell School 'modelling club' had a trip to the Games Workshop store in Cheltenham where James gave them an introductory game.

They learned a few rules and seemed to enjoy themselves - why wouldn't they with all that scenery?

Easterlings

 These Easterlings took me ages.

Mainly because we have visitors so I'm unable to sneak in a bit of painting during the day - I have to pretend to do the garden instead.

Another reason was that I was uncertain about the 'desert'.

I tried all sorts of combinations on the bases before settling on Armageddon dust instead of my usual glue and sand/rocks.

This was followed by a coat of Vomit Brown and another of Bubonic Brown over most of the area.

Then a dry brush of Bleached Bone and finally a light dry brush of White.

The Haradrim I did earlier, have a rocky desert look as per advice from somewhere.

One other thing held up the process - varnish.

Especially when I accidentally used Gloss for their clothing and then had to cover that with matt.

As you can see, that wasn't very successful.