Wow. I haven't updated this in a while. For those of you still watching, boy do I have a major update!
I'm going to apologize now for this post. I'm just going to post alot of pictures and Describe some as I go.
This is my WIP, I like pictures to go with the words, and so it shall be.
Alrighty then. Let's get started.


First, I'll start off with Gimli, my entry for this month's challenge.








The other Gimli:






The two Gimli's together:




And now for Tom and Goldberry!











Finished Haradrim warrior (not the base):




The War Mumak of Harad:








Unfinished base:




The Witch-King Conversion:






Riders of Rohan:







And now, the biggest update of all.
The main reason for this WIP!
The fortress of Helm's Deep!









Me messing around:












Further update:










...And still more to come!

Thanks again for all the help and comments. It keeps me going. I applaud you guys.
I'll get more pictures and hopefully get more work done to finish this half of Helm's Deep. The two boards are 4'x4' each so that's total of 8 feet long!
I'll add another two 2'x4' board extension in front of the two boards so the Uruk-hai have a place for deployment.
Comments and Criticism welcome!
Till next time!

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil

Very nice job on these models...really liking the Gimlis!

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

Wow! You have been busy. Love seeing all your work. Gimli's muddy cloak looks great. Very realistic. And Helms Deep is a monster project - you're brave tackling that one, but it will look awesome when finished!

_________________
"...that there's some good in this world Mr Frodo - and it's worth fighting for."

Very nice models, good luck with Helm's deep and I love your Goldberry

Indeed u have been busy nice paintjob on your mini's! and what is that cenario? a castle? looking foward to see the end result

_________________
Want to see all my work and my collection of mini's? Check here http://bloodiest-frodo.blogspot.com/

Wow, amazing. You must have a lot of space for a fortest in your room.

A lotof nice stugff there. I like your W-K (even though it looks like you copied my idea but made it better, for I too used the flaming sword from the fell beast set on my W-K on foot). I also like the details on the Mimak's skin and hide, and the amount of work you must have but into the Helms Deep, looks good, even better when painted. Nice Gimli's but why has he got an identical twin?

_________________
"I am the Flying Spagetti Monster. Thou shall have no other monsters before me"
-FSM.

Woah! Lots of pictures! Really looking forward to seeing how you progress with Helms Deep. I have been stuck on mine for over a year now, sat in the attic so perhaps you can inspire me to finish my own

do you know what material you are going to case the wall in? cardboard bricks? polyfilla? carve into polystyrene?

Keep us updated?

_________________
The Southern Fiefdoms: http://www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21928

Man I really envy you with that fortress, it looks great!

Nice work on the mini's aswell, I especially like the Gimli's (are they twins? ) How did you paint the axe handle? It looks really good.

Also, interesting scheme for the haradhrim, I might have to give that a go!

Looking forward to more pictures!

Edit: Also just noticed the freehand on the Galadhrim banner - great work!

_________________
http://www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=22290
MY WIP. Please feel free to take a look :)

I really like the handle on your gimli's axe, good work with that. One negative that stood out right away was his eyes. They're a bit too big for my liking, and the dark splotch around them is too stark a contrast to his skin, imho.

I love the cloaks for your Gimlis could you share how you did it? I like your overall painting style on alot of minis, the sort of 'chalky' look that photos just don't do justice they need to actually be seen

_________________
CMON Gallery http://www.coolminiornot.com/artist/Green_Dragon

Helm's Deep to be exact.


Well, let's see. I think I followed the paint guide in the TT Journeybook using the guide on painting Frodo and Sam's cloaks.
So on a Chaos Black undercoat, basecoat with a mix of Bleached Bone and Chaos Black, highlight with added Bleached Bone to the basecoat, then a final highlight with more Bleached Bone added to the mix. I then decided to dirty up the cloak by brushing on a dark brown wash (Burnt Umber- another brand) onto the bottom of the cloak and in random spots. Then I think I Drybrushed on Bleached Bone. I don't remember.



Haha, thanks. I wish that were freehand. But unfortunately it is sculpted on. Oh well.
The axe handle was rather complicating. Let's see if I can put it into words. I usually just paint what looks good to me. No particular pattern.
Ok. The handle was Basecoated in Dark Flesh and then stripes of Scab Red ( I think. Came with the Goblin paint set) were painted carefully. Bestial Brown highlighted the Dark Flesh, then Blazing Orange for the red followed by a line of Sunburst Yellow. Gimli's eyes, if anyone notice were painted Green. I don't know why. It just seemed like a good idea at the time and it suits him.


I wish. I have maybe a foot of space all around the board and the other 4'x4' board is on its side outside my room. Not much room to work with. The pictures were taken with the board in our dining room on the table.


I'm going to put a layer of Foamboard on the outside of the wall to make things more smooth. Working with a Wire Foam Cutter is quite difficult. Then, I think I'll add some polyfilla as Onyx did for his Helm's Deep and find an engraver to carve the stones.

Thanks for all the comments. I'll see if I can improve some of the things you've mentioned but for now, I'm working on some test models for Rohan Warriors.
I put all of my Uruk-hai I have onto movement trays thinking I'd have enough(21) , but turns out I don't. Counting, I would need at least 5 more not including the orcs I could use in my Isengard force (2 boxes with Captain and Banner). That's alot of Uruk-hai!

My biggest worry is the Hornburg tower and the Mountain around the edges like in this photo.


Any suggestions?

Well, I'll continue to pop in every now and then till things get less busy and I actually have time to sit and think.
Till next time!

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil

For the mountain, I'd make a rough shape out of foam, and then use putty to add details. BOTWT had a very nice "the Hobbit" supplement on thepalantir (assuming it's the same BOTWT) which included a guide to building Erebor, maybe you could ask him to send it to you and copy that techique, as mine has not been tested (and will not be, probably).

_________________
"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings

Well, here's just a small update on what's happening.

Here is the beginning of my entry for the Sauron Paint Challenge:


Elf for scale purposes.

And I just finished gluing the lower part of the Hornburg. I also glued one side of the wall but don't have pictures for that yet.




Not much of an update but one nonetheless.
What do you guys think about the Sauron idea? Is it doable?
Comments welcome.

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil

Well, it's about that time for an update of some sorts.
To begin, here's what the fortress looked like before.







The Stairs along the wall:




The wall for the stairs:




And now, what the fortress looks like recently:

The Gate: (It is incredibly difficult to cut smooth, straight lines or make corners.)


Outline of Gate:







To show scale of how big this is:


I still have to take pictures again as I've glued the cut out stairs, the wall, and the towers together.
So that is where it stands to this day. I'm almost to the point where I can start details, then paint it. Emphasis on almost.


In modeling news, I didn't make it very far on my scratch-built Sauron.
Here's the first layer that I put on to him:





Scale Picture:


...and now for the present pictures:





My attempt at muscles. Since it's just going to get covered, I didn't finish them.



And some other models I've been working on:
Banner of the Dead: (Model from Natarn)
The colours seem to have been washed out by the lighting. I'll get better ones when I have time. The 2nd pic shows the colour more than the others.




Scale pic:


Edit: Better pictures: (sort of)




Merry and Eowyn:
I decided to give Eowyn purple eyes. I don't have any idea why though.








Some Warriors of Rohan:





Haldir's Elves:
This is basically a basecoat of most of the colours, excluding the gold mail and the skin.
The Gold mail is Burnished Gold with a wash of Blazing Orange + Dwarf Flesh.
(In the TT Journey book, it says to use a Flesh Wash. I don't have that, so I improvised. )
The silver armour will eventually be gold and the blue cloaks will be white. The silver is actually Chainmail + Dwarf Bronze.





Another new project, Khandish Warriors:


What's weird is that the blister came with two weapon arms but was missing the front leg. So now, I need to make it from scratch. Or attempt it rather.



And so, again I'm sorry for such a long post with a lot of pictures.
Please comment. I want to know if my Helm's Deep looks any good. I like it but I like your opinions.
Hopefully I can update sooner than before. We'll see.
Till next time!

PS- One more thing. There is another model I just received recently that I haven't mentioned.
He's unexpectedly hidden in one of the photos above. Can anyone spot him out?

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil

Helms Deep is shaping up nicely, good luck with it and Sauron, who is looking a bit skinny atm. (The other model is possibly the W-K) Nice painting on the others

_________________
"I am the Flying Spagetti Monster. Thou shall have no other monsters before me"
-FSM.

Thanks Gothmog. No it's not the WK.
Also, sorry for stealing your conversion idea. I remembered seeing a picture somewhere but I couldn't remember for the life of me. Guess it was yours.
It's a much better pose than with the flail above his head though.

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil

Is the hidden model Bilbo then?

I agree about the W-K's pose, and don't worry about idea stealing, if I wanted it secret, I wouldn't have posted it. good to see its catching on.

_________________
"I am the Flying Spagetti Monster. Thou shall have no other monsters before me"
-FSM.

You got it! Sadly for me though, he looks the same as in the picture as he does right now.

_________________
My WIP page: Click Here! -->So It Begins

Current Project: Ringwraiths - Haradrim - Mumakil

Really like how you painted Nathan's undead banner bearer!

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