More Mahud

 The second set of Mahud warriors have been a problem from start to finish - when I do finish.

I first ruined some of the detail by spraying too close or perhaps it was too cold.

It's not too noticeable but I know it's there.

Then I discovered that the notes I took on the previous batch were incorrect.

The base colour for the shield is Rhinox, not Mounfang as noted down.

I tried to correct this, after dry brushing (when I'd noticed the error) by washing the shields in Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil.

You can see the difference between the shields.

Then there was the discovery that the witch-doctor type in the picture to the left is, in fact, the Mahud King.

Trouble is, he is missing a piece of kit from his back and I'll have to make one up with wire and Greenstuff.

Then I've got the desert part of the base wrong in my notes and I still cannot work out the original paint scheme.

I've tried half a dozen paints but none of them seem right.

Again, the difference is discernible in the last shot showing new and old.

Lastly, I'd intended to have a sprinkle of dead grass on some of them.

Can I find the glue!

I've sent for a couple of camel riders but more problems there. The inverted camel in the background is not at all happy with his legs.

John's ruined fountain

John has again had the builders in and constructed for my table top, a ruined fountain.

Excellent work John.

I hope you gave them a bonus as well as gallons of Assam Tea.

Constructed largely from polystyrene and gravel with a base of two layers of foam board, it is perfectly topped off with a joss stick holder*,
as the fountain, which has survived the ravages of time and bored teenage orcs remarkably well.

John has even provided some green slime which, even more remarkably, was still sticky after 3000 years.

It will need a reset of the base colour to grey and a dry brush of light grey and then white to bring it into line with the previous ruins.

*Joss Stick Holder is the centre piece and is not to be confused with Joss Charles Buttler, the England batsman.

Rohan Royal Guard and Banner Bearer

I realised that, though the troopers were as finished as I can cope with, the horses were only partially so.

I've given a little more highlighting and finished painting horses head and leather work.

I'd not even given them teeth.

How on earth could we tell their age?

Note that the Royal Guard's horse is one of those expected to balance on one leg.

I have given him a piece of broken fence to tether a front hoof to.







I've yet to finish the rocket but I've cleaned up (washed) the new set of Mahud Warriors purchased from ebay, a few weeks ago.

I look forward to painting those but I'm unsure if I should use primer, then undercoat.

They are partly painted and I don't want to lose too much detail on the shields.

Perhaps I'll try removing some of the paint before I start.

Rohan Banner Bearer

The Rohan banner bearer has finally climbed into his saddle, staying there with the aid of a blob of Greenstuff.

The paint job on the horse is more carefully built up but is practically invisible on the table top.

Not sure if the subtlety is clear on this blog.

I thought I'd finished the Rohan captain and he is mounted up.

However, I've noticed his horse is yet to be highlighted and shaded.

He will follow.

Fences 2

After Henry's effort, I first added to the fences by producing another 2 along the lines of his.


That is with balsa used for posts and rails.

The next two were made using balsa posts with split kebab sticks to imitate split log fencing.

Then, as I'd recently stripped out some telephone wires, I used cock tail sticks for posts and inexpertly wove strands of the wire through them.

It would have held together better if I'd used wire the same lengths but real fences don't do that.

Perhaps, if I do it again, I'll go for the neater look.

I used spray cans from my hardly started 'Flames of War models.

Firefly Green and German Armour.

Both seem suitable.

The 'soil' is a mix of 'Brown Earth' and 'Dark Earth'.

I've used this for bases, rather than painted sand, for some time and yesterday read the instructions!

Seems that the 'Brown Earth' can be used on metal as rust.

Henry's fences

Henry's fences finished, though painting them with dark brown and dry brushing with green hasn't given me what I wanted.

I'll go looking for that on the next two fences, coming soon, which Blake helped with.

Ponds and fences

Despite the invasions of dozens 0f grandchildren, I have done a little in Middle Earh.

Using the plastic container from some profiteroles as a mould, I've cast a pond for Osgiliath.

I was happy that there were bubbles in it as they could easily be made into war damage.

However, falling into several pieces is too much damage.

Not enough glue in the filler mix?

I cajoled Henry into making two short length of fence using balsa wood.

I've sprayed them green and applied 'Brown Earth' and a few rocks but they are Henry's work.

Apollo progress

JPL in miniature.

The plan of the plin plon in our kitchen.

Busy with the second stage after spotting my error.


The fuel tank, top and bottom, of the upper stages, must be glued in before joining the two halves.

I made the same mistake on the third stage which was even trickier to correct.

The housing for the Luna Lander is yet to be painted but its legs are ready to go.

Rohan Captains 2

Just a couple more shots of these guys as I think the others were too brightly lit.

Though, looking at them now, I'm not sure there's much difference!

Rohan Captain

Slow progress with a house full of kids and the paints hidden away.

Here, though, are the two versions of the Rohan Captain.