Wonderful stuff!!

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http://bdhobbymadness.blogspot.co.nz/

May the wind under your wings bear you to where the sun sails and the moon walks!

Cheers for your comments guys. I was right to post my WIPs here in order to get some motivation. Your encouragement spurs me on to get things done.

I think I will do some more to the Isengard force next. It's great as I now have a new painting buddy. Tyler (my 7 year old son) bought his first GW minis last week with his own money. A box of 40K Ork Boyz. 40K is much better set up to target younger gamers. The range has lots of mini box sets of 4 to 6 plastics for around £5, ideal for youngsters pocket money. It's a shame LotR doesn't offer the same way of collecting minis. Okay it would cost a little more in the long run, but it is a much more affordable method.
Wouldn't it be great if you could buy 8 plastic haradrim for £6. No kid I know likes having to wait several weeks in order to save up the funds to buy a box set of 24 for £16.15. Perhaps this is partly why LotR is not so popular these days. Come on GW, smaller LotR boxsets would be a smart move!

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

The reins are a great improvement!

What did you make them out of?

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TO9G - 2010 Isengard

Flattened packaging wire. You know the stuff that keeps new toys in place within their boxes, twisted together at the back? Just strip off the plastic, and squash it flat with pliers (the metal, not the plastic!), then tidy it up with a fine file. You can bend it to whatever shape you need and it stays there.

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

its just an idea, but you could provide those smaller boxes. you buy the box, and then 'sell' 8 of the haradrim to your son, for 6 pounds. this way he doesn't have to save, yet he will play LotR.

just an idea though

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Everything that has a beginning has an end
There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time

Well yes in theory it would, but it is kind of defeating the issue of him gaining the independence and responsibility of going to the store with his own money and making a decision over what he wants to buy. If he wants to start collecting 40K because it is more affordable then I will stand by him.

We had a game of space hulk today and he kicked my butt!

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

I missed the update where you added the reins. Brilliant!! I love they way they turned out. I'm going to have to keep that tip in mind.

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There and Blog Again ...

Interesting, thanks very much for the tip!

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TO9G - 2010 Isengard

Update time.
Right, as usual I have gone off on a complete tangent and started yet another project. I blame it completely on Natarn. His Army of the Dead conversions article, coupled with the cool banner bearer I received from him inspired me to get these bad boys painted up.

I have twenty metals, and will also be getting a box of twenty plastics for my birthday later this week. I intend to do the usual head/weapon swaps to minimise the cloned look.

I have to say I'm not a great fan of the neon green paint jobs I have seen for this army, and I much prefer a more grey look with just a hint of a green tone.

First up is my command unit. Yes I know Army of the Dead doesn't need a horn blower but I had this chap with no sword, and I thought the horn would make a nice variation. I just sculpted a new sword handle with it sheathed.








The King of the Dead was pretty simple. I initially gave him a red cloak, but it didn't sit right with the rest of the model, so I toned it down to almost nothing. If you look closely you can just see a hint of red remaining.




The banner bearer is the focal point of the command, and Natarn has done an outstanding job with his first cast mini. I'm lucky to have one. Having said that, I also knew that a few others would be receiving the model so I decided to give mine a few little additions to make it unique.

First up was some hair. Not too much, but enough to emphasize the windy conditions that the flag is suggesting. I also roughed up the bottom of the cloak a little. I remember the scene from the movie with all the skulls, so I chose to hang a couple from the flag post and put one on the base. I extended the chainmail a liitle too.

At this stage I was going to sculpt a raised pattern onto the flag itself to make painting it easier. I was aiming for a similar pattern that the official GW banner bearer displays to keep continuity within the force. I decided against this however as the model was my entry for the One-Ring March painting compy - So I reluctantly had my first ever go at freehand painting.

Okay, I'll be the first to admit it ain't all that, but considering it was my first go I am fairly happy with it.







Then I painted up the six different variations of the metal warriors.



I've also done four very basic metal conversions. The first one is a weapon switch with a beard added. The second is a weapon switch and a repose. Models 3 and 4 have just switched hand weapons.



So now I have enough to fill the command company.




I also now have 5/8 of the second company done. Next up will be the painting of the 10 different plastic poses, before I move on to convert the last 10 plastics and 7 metals. Once the 40 strong footmen are done I will move on to the riders.

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

Great looking company Dave!

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" I think I'm... quite ready for another adventure!"

Bilbo

Dave, those are fantastic!

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Flying is the practice of trying to crash into the ground and missing.

They look great, the standard bearer blends in perfectly with the king and the horn blower, along with the rest of the AotD figures..

Great looking company Dave, really great!!

Every time I see your banner guy I keep wanting mine to get here in a hurry.

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No one feels as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish.

Lovely stuff Dave
Always love seeing your work.

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My Hobby site.

That looks cool, Dave.

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Painting again...

I am jealous (well who wouldn't want such a beautifully painted AotD?) This and the presence of Natarn's superb Banner/Standard are making me want to get the paints out again - it has been too long.

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Superb painting! They really do look great - nice conversions!

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TO9G - 2010 Isengard

Thanks for the encouraging comments. Seeing as how a couple of you have mentioned the paint scheme, here is a step-by-step guide to painting dead the UKFB way.

I apologize that the light varies from pic to pic, but I can't be held responsible for the Sun going in and out all day!

Initially I prime my dead minis white.

Then:

1)Basecoat the entire mini with a 50/50 mix of Camo Green/Codex Grey
2)Heavy drybrush the entire mini with Fortress Grey
3)Light drybrush the entire mini with Skull White
4)Wash the mini with a 50/25/25 mix of Badab Black/Thraka Green/Water



5)Highlight with a 50/50 mix of Rotting Flesh/Fortress Grey
6)Wash with 50/50 mix of Devlan Mud/Water
7)Drybrush the chainmail with, erm, Chainmail
Wash the chainmail with Badab Black



9)Highlight the chainmail with Mithril Silver
10)Highlight cloth/shield etc with Skull White
11)Give the whole model a glaze using a heavily watered down mix of the original basecoat
12)Base the mini as you see fit. My rims are Bestial Brown. Sand is stained with Brown Ink, then drybrushed with 50/50 mix of Snakebite Leather/Fortress Grey, followed by a light drybrush Dheneb Stone.



So although there are 12 stages, they are very easy stages of drybrushing and washing most of the time.

Did a small conversion on this metal warrior. He has been given a plastic spear arm, beard and had his helmet rounded off. I also drilled out the eye sockets.



So he joins the second company with seven of the plastic warriors.




The third company is also done. A mixture of metals and plastics.




So that's three companies done now. . .



Next up, 6 metals and 10 plastics to convert to make the last two companies.

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

Great job on these guys Dave...really excellent work!!

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No one feels as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish.

Great work UKFB! I'm overcome with jelousy.

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Sun is by sea-men always hoped for,
when they fare away over the fishes' bath,
until the brine-stallion they bring to land.
OERP