Faramir's Rangers

 Here are the new Rangers too, with more dry brushing than the originals.

I tried their 'bibs' in Balor Brown but didn't like the result.
There are some Uruk Hai all painted up too but you know what they are like.

Because I put them on the shelf with other Uruks, they're off chatting to them and, as per Asimov's 'Lost Robot', I don't now know which is which.

I'm onto one of the Great Beasts now and it really is a great beast, to work on at least.

The two legs that are separate from the body are difficult to align and the howdah is quite distorted.

It requires hot water treatment and green stuff in several places.

Orthanc Orcs 2

 Well, as promised, improved photos.

Unfortunately, they show how bad the free hand hands are.

Orthanc Orcs

No, I've not been doing nothing for the past three weeks. I've completed a box of 12 Orcs which I've painted to be part of Sauman's force. A bad representation of a hand is supposed to show this (Orcs are bad painters but not that bad!) The photos are particularly bad because the weather is so gloomy and because I can't get to my normal photo spot while the kitchen is being renewed. I'll redo them later.

I've also done another batch of Uruk Hai which I'll put here when the sun comes out.

Galadrhim Knights 5

Despite the quality being under par, these fellows will have to take to the field as they are.

The gold should have been washed and dry brushed (to be properly tried next time though I did experiment). The faces are down to my usual standard. The silver detail on saddle cloth and flag are poor. The horses, likewise. Gold could do with a polish. There's plenty more.

The drifting leaves from 'The Golden Wood' are in Balor Brown and Yriel Yellow or mixed with a few Shining gold thrown in.

Again, I must comment what excellent models these are but need a better man than I to do them justice.

Galadrhim Knights 4

Well, that's three of the Galadrhim Knights finished though I've not done these excellent models justice. I'm just not up to the detail they require, nor is my painting of horses up to the mark. They are up there with King Theoden as the most difficult models to paint.

The other three are not far behind. Two bowmen and one who will carry the banner which is also tricky painting.

They are leaving 'The Golden Wood' and the other Elves (painted last month) who are still coming through, on foot. Hence areas with leaves and areas of grass.

The blue of the cloaks shows more here than in reality (must sort out this 'white balance business' but no harm there as there is a stronger ling between the three blues here.

Galadhrim Knights 3

 They are coming along slowly. Test matches and War in Middlearth don't help.

I'd intended painting the saddlecloth the same dark blue as the Knight's cloaks but there was too little contrast. The turquoise chosen reflects that colour and will hopefully chime in with the highlighting on the cloaks.

The silver patterning on the darker blue is tricky. Silver pen maybe?

Galadhrim Knights 1

The Galadhrim Knights are coming alnong slowly. They are a dreamy lot. I've attempted grey horses as there are white horses opposing them. I'll get the hang of it.

The armour, once again, because of the white basecoat, is tricky. Two coats of Bronze, then two coats of Shining Gold. I've yet to try washing and drybrushing the armour though the centre one has had a flesh wash as an experiment.. The alternative was to spray them black but have the problem of painting grey/white over black.

Galadhrim Swordsmen

The inner clothing was Regal Blue again with Badab Black in the folds.

Highlights were simply by adding white. though I may have underdone them on both inner robe and on cloak.

I've tried to convey The Golden Wood by including a few yellow and golden fallen leaves on the bases.

Mr. Blake helped on the swodsmen bases - hence the enlargement.

I did tell Grandson Number One that I'd finish them four days ago but we've been busy with birthdays and visits.

Nex up - Galadhrim Knights.

Galadhrim Archers

 This is the first archer I've seen with an arrow to his bow and just noching it too.

Is the slight difference in the two vertical bows, I wonder, because one is being drawn, the other has just fired?

The cloaks are a 50/50 mix of Hawk Turquoise and black with highlights becoming more blue and a shade of Badab black in the folds.

The set needed very little cleaning up before painting though I can see I could have done better on some areas.

Galadhrim Spearmen

I really liked these models.

The best set of plastic models so far, I think.

Lots of nice detail and they are all well finished  apart from where two points have to be glued at the same time as in the archer.

Hence a right shoulder that looks a bit dodgy.

Shining gold on Warlock Bronze for the armour with a stab at greening it with Waywatcher Shade.

It shows on the left hand shield but I didn't do the other armour as it seemed to make little difference