Daersalon's Minions - Warriors of Arnor

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

It's about time I added my own WIP thread I guess seeming as I have something LotR ongoing most weeks, in terms of the hobby.

Here then is the latest project, almost completed. Sharkey's Ruffians. In WotR these fellows are a cheap unit that can count as having bows. But cost an arm or a leg to get together more than a single company.

After a while browsing I settled on Gripping Beast's Dark Age Warriors Box set. The box was 40 minis on 8 sprues of 5 with a fair selection of weapons. The sculpts aren't bad. Not the best or like the Perry Boys' but perfectly functional, and with the more casual peasant/day-to-day clothing you would need on Ruffians.

Anyway the 40 'lads' trayed up to go:

A closer look, the tray behind at 90 degrees is to show the fact the models are all magnetised for easy transport and handling on the battlefield:

Bases: Magnetised. Modelling clay used to blend the way the model is attached to the GW base (the minis have a small diameter flat stand). This was given a very light sculpting to make paving stones. Ballast added for stones and some flocking yet to go.

Weapons: Slings and axes were used from the box. A few spear arms that came with the set were converted to metal pipes (impromptu weapons to scare little hobbits). The left arm is outstreched on some model to carry a shield, so i drilled these and places some bent were in to make simple bow conversions.

Other conversions. Very few and simple: a few green stuff quivers sometimes with another wire-made bow. One fellow has a full metal (Perry Miniatures) helmet he obviously scavenged somewhere...

Trays. made to match bases using wet air-rying modelling clay and magnetised

Finally a white hand was painted on most of the tunics to give them all that Isengard feel.

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:07 pm

They are well thought out. They look very good

Fëanor, the mighty elf · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:24 pm

Love it! I thought these might work well as Ruffians, and indeed they do!
The painting is very good, and I just love the bases. Very nice! :yay:

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:27 pm

A very nice alternative to use and I suspect a damn site cheaper ?
The choice of paints looks appropriate and well executed. With the addition of the bases and the magnets, a great all round job.

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

Thanks!

Indeed, the 40 Warriors cost about £16 -£18 if you shop around, for 40 models. Much cheaper than the £100 40 metals would cost from GW if they are still available.

Harfoot · **Posted:** Wed Oct 30, 2013 7:13 am

Great work Daersalon, particularly like the matching bases. Hope I don't meet them a cross the gaming table any time soon!

Rognarr · **Posted:** Wed Oct 30, 2013 7:39 am

Nice minis and well painted too! Good job

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

Now to work on the first batch of metal ruffans... WIP shot.

All cleaned, magnetised and based ready for undercoating

The fellow front left had had his whip removed.. already so i used a spear arm from the plastics to replace the hand with a lead pipe. Adds some variety to them anyway.

Ellorindar · **Joined:** Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:41 pm **Posts:** 111

These guys look amazing in person. The chaps in purple (?!) are also visually very striking.

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

About time I updated. been a busy bunny, but as part of the Tale of 20 Painters challenge, I am undertaking some Arnor models over the next year, and I'll keep the WIP pics here, as well as parallel work on my Isengarders

To start here is a company of Arnorian spearmen ready to roll:

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

The 8 warriors assembled and ready for undercoating.

I don't why it took two evenings to assemble, watching TV at the same time (Kingdom of Heaven) probably played a factor.

Oropher · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2014 6:56 pm

Nice looking bases on those!

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

Cheers they are looking better painted...

Put some on a certain popular auction site, but no joy...

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

I completed these for the Tale of 20 painters Challenge.

I decided to eschew the rather bright green of the GW standard paintjob, and go for a slightly 'dustier' blue for the shields and blue/green for the tabards. It seemed appropriate as Tolkien seemed to favour the slightly more muted colours and tones on the heraldry samples he made for Middle Earth.

The white on the tabards I thought was a nice idea, and I was proud of thinking of it, until I glanced back at the 'Ruin of Arnor' GW sourcebook, I had been using for and saw it there on one of the sample paintjobs. Ho hum. But I think I'll keep variations of this scheme for the rest of the Arnorians I am painting up as part of the challenge.

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Thu Nov 27, 2014 10:54 pm

Excellent painting. Love the colour scheme. Basing is fantastic too. well done.

p.s Kingdom of Heaven rocks to paint too.

daersalon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:34 am **Posts:** 265

Cheers DMS. It was great to get them done. Magnetised the bases as well to make it easier to use.

Here's another pic courtesy of my Other Half, who was experimenting with her new camera, but still hasn't quite solved the focus issues.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:37 am

Another great set of figures, very well done. Once your other half has sorted the focus it will be nice to see these clearer.

Daersalon's Minions - Warriors of Arnor

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