Isengard Scout Troll

As part of my gaming groups secret Santa I've recently completed this Isengard "Scout" Troll

It's a minor conversion from the standard kit, basically adding a leather coat using greenstuff and some minor alterations to the left leg to put it in a running pose. 

It took me a while to get into painting this model to be honest, mainly because I can't paint a leather effect very well at all. It came together though with the basing however and I'm pretty pleased with the overall look in the end, as was the person I was gifting it to! 

The White City - Avenger Bolt Thrower

I've been somewhat productive lately with the painting and have completed yet another unit. By my standards it came together pretty quickly as well, although probably helps it's a warmachine.....

The Avenger Bolt Thrower gives my Minas Tirith force some much needed ranged punch, especially important when facing the forces of darkness who have a rather unpleasant tendency to include trolls, fell beasts and other assorted nasties in their rosters.

I toyed with the idea of a Trebuchet, but the theme (if you can call it that) of my force is a band of warriors fighting in Osgiliath, or serving on a fort on the Rammas Echor, so something a bit more portable seemed more fitting at this point.

As I've said, the model was quick to paint, using pretty much the same colours as I've used for the Knights and Warriors up to this point. I did try and make the bolt Thrower itself look like it's made of aged wood to show it's been in service for many years. The photos aren't the best though so that probably doesn't come across too well.

With this war machine I've finally hit the 500pt mark of completed units for Minas Tirith, which is enough for a standard game (I think), so hopefully I can try them out on the battlefield soon enough. A certain friend has a horde of Orcs that are getting a bit big for their boots, perhaps the men of Gondor can put them in their place....

The White City - 3 warbands completed

It's been a long time since I last posted anything, but that's not to say that I've been idle on the painting front. At least not by my standards when it comes to completing stuff anyway....

I've got back into the Lord of the Rings miniatures game from GW and have made decent progress so far this year in a modest Minas Tirith army.

With army lists in this game working on the basis of a character and then models that form their warband, it's a much more modular way of building an army (in my opinion anyway), than say Age of Sigmar. In addition the average size game for LoTR seems to be around the 500pt mark, which is surely some thing I can achieve in a year right???

Without further Ado I present the first warband:

This is a Captain of Minas Tirith leading 12 Warriors of Minas Tirith. 

With the banner, spears and their shieldwall ability, as well as a couple of bows in the rear rank to keep the enemy honest, this serves as the anvil of my force than the enemy shall (hopefully) break upon. 

Next up is warband 2:

This warband is led by none other than Damrod, my first named character who serves as part of Faramirs Rangers. He's leading 6 Rangers of Gondor into battle, who provide the bulk of the firepower of the army. Granted their only packing strength 2 bows but their shoot value is pretty good still so you never know!

Warband 3 that's been completed is:

Another Captain but this time mounted. He's leading 5 Knights of Minas Tirith who should be the hammer to my warriors anvil. At least that's how it'll be in my head. 

So good progress so far this year, with the 3 warbands I'm well on the way to achieving a 500pt army for Minas Tirith, at which point I'll look to get some games in! 

Next up is a mounted banner bearer and an Avenger Bolt Thrower.

Mortal Realms Progress 9 - Lord Arcanum on Gryph-Charger

So it's been a while since I posted anything but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy!

I recently have completed the next addition to the Astral Templars a Lord Arcanum on Gryph-Charger!

Introducing the leader of my Sacrosanct chamber Lord Arcanum Phoram the Ascendant. 

I've been painting this guy on and off since about the start of December, as and when time allowed, but it's still taken me alot longer to finish than I thought.

I'll go out on a limb and say this was the hardest model I've ever had to paint, mainly because of all the different textures. You've got feathers, animal hide, leather, armour and claws all on the one model! 

Still I'm very chuffed with how it's turned out and think he makes quite the centrepiece to the army so far. I'll have to do a full shot of them all once I get to the 1000pt mark. 5 Evocators on foot are being lined up for painting as we speak, so fingers crossed I can get them done quicker than their Lord and get over that first 1k for the Astral Templars.

As to whether I'll get a game in with them this year, well that depends on whether we'll be allowed outside again!