Got back to painting this week, with a couple of orcs and my alternative Oldhammer Balin finished. Since I had a couple of extra Mordor and Isengard orcs, I decided paint them up using the paint scheme from the other group. So, the Mordor orcs gained an orc from the White hand and visa versa.
And I also finished the Talisman dwarf who will be acting as Balin in my Oldhammer company of Thorin Oakenshield.
Rob
After the new alternative Balin makes it out of the paint stripper. It is time to take a good look at him. And it turns out he has had a tough life. I hadn't noticed he has got a bit crushed at one stage. So, time for a bit of green stuff repair. The broken arm got pinned as I had no intention of putting that in the paint stripper as it would be bound to get lost!
I had a bit of debate about trying to make a new wing for the missing one. But in the end decided it would be good to make him a bit different from the classic Talisman dwarf mini. And painting continues on the Oldhammer orcs.
Rob
So, no surprise it didn't take long to finish off the Black Rider when I finally managed to squeeze a painting session over the weekend. And I also got time to finish my Oldhammer Thorin for the start of my alternative Company of Thorin Oakenshield.
I decided that I wanted to try and stretch my freehand skills a bit by putting the names of each of the dwarves in runes on the bases. So, after a quick internet search I was able draw up a list of names.
These feel like very different minis! And how tall does the film version look compared to a classic 28 mm dwarf.
And I came across a new Badger beer over the weekend - Iron Hart* pale ale (very enjoyable) and had to double check that they were also still doing my favourite - Hopping Hare pale ale. Fortunately still seems readily available (Phew!).
*I wonder if there is a Burrows & Badgers - Iron Hart?
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Rob
Now, as I was thinking about the range of classic Lord of the Rings miniatures from Citadel in the 1980s and it occurs to me that there are some notable gaps such as Galadriel, Arwen, the company of Thorin, and the goblin king. And this then leads me think are there some alternatives from the 1980s that could be used to fill some of these gaps?
This is a bit of tricky one to start as there are no elven magic users from the mid-1980s as Citadel had already transitioned to a wargames focus in the C08 Elven range but they had not yet started to create a range of army characters such as wizards. However, Tom Meier comes to the rescue with Syndil Starsynne who was still available through Citadel in the mid-1980s. Now I had a look on eBay and there are a few about but as part of bigger sets so a likely candidate if I can get hold of one at a reasonable price.
Arwen is another tricky one as there aren’t many obvious choices on first inspection. There was a range of pre-slotta warrior maidens from 1983, some of which might fit the bill but by 1985, the only female fighter in the C01 Fighter range definitely does not say Arwen to me!
This time it is one for the orcs of White Hand. I picked him up recently and knew he was scabby but I didn't realise just how scabby until he turned up. However, once I got some paint on him I feel much better about him.
.webp)
The problem with putting all of these minis along side each other. Just highlights how much my painting has moved on since returning to serious painting. And these half-orcs are some my favourite minis from the Oldhammer Lord of the Rings mini range. But now look a bit basic however for now they will escape the paint stripper...
And another thing, I don't understand why these are listed as Half-orcs of Saruman and yet the Uruk-Hai are clearly in the service of Sauron. Surely these should also be Uruk-Hai?
While I had a bit of green stuff left over from gap filling, I upgraded the next EM4 dwarf. I am enjoying thinking about different ways to improve these minis. So, after adding cloaks to the last batch, I decided this chap needed a bit more luxury. So gave him a fur lined cloak and a new breastplate.
And still working through my stockpile of Hopping Hare on a Friday night.
Rob
It started with needing to make a goblin banner and then moving on to make a few more dwarves. I decided to move away from paper banners, so have been collecting various foils from around the house. Which sort of led to making a few capes for a couple of dwarves who then of course needed the green stuff adding.
The dwarves are sort of a slow burn project, to be done when I feel like a change.
I am experimenting what small changes I can make to give them a bit of variety. Like some quick armour panels.
Rob
Painting some of the big stuff from Warfare in the form of some prehistoric beasties. Obviously the mammoth is looking a bit worse for wear but will provide a good focal point for a game or two. Quick and easy paint jobs on these minis but suit the subject.
Working on some more dwarves, the EM4 body provides a good starting point.
The first Roman gang is starting to take shape. I decided I was going to make the objective counters and tried to create some cobble stones on the base. I wasn't happy with the cobble effect, so I ordered a texture roller!
A dark beer for a dark Friday night.
Rob
Finally finished the latest round of work trips and time to do some painting, not really geared* for a long evening painting so went to a 30 minute finish a figure session.
This was the first test mini with the Oathmark head on the EM4 spear dwarf body.
Once I started painting him, I realised I hadn't remoted enough of the original plastic. So, I painted it brown to look like leather and fortunately it will be covered by the shield. Something to look out for on the next twenty!
*mentally geared that is!
Its obviously not Friday night but is time for a beer.
And one from my work trip.
Rob