Siege Tower - Harad edition

Mapper · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:44 pm

Trying to decide how simple or complex I want to make this, just really need a platform for the orcs to jump off to onto the walls.

The Siege of Gondor book has a simple tower that I am looking at doing.

While deciding, I thought I would prep some of the materials. The book uses foamboard and cardboard would work too but I like working in wood. This time of year in the States the stores are having back to school sales so I picked up a packet of ten pencils for 49 cents.

I first scraped off the yellow paint using the back of a sturdy xacto blade, keeping the eraser on to hold onto.

Next I used some joint pliers to add grooves to the wood and round the edges some. I had seen this technique on another site and it worked quite well on the soft wood of the pencils.

Finally added some wash while I decide how to use them. I also have a box of wooden drink stirrers that I will use for planks.

Some pictures.

Wan Shi Tong · **Posted:** Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:42 am

Impressive! I look forward to watching it to come together.

GreatKhanArtist · **Posted:** Sun Aug 11, 2019 3:51 am

Huh, pencils, eh? Well, if it doesn't come together, it's simply a write-off.

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

Mapper · **Posted:** Sun Aug 11, 2019 6:03 am

GKA -

Stewhr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:17 am **Posts:** 92

Great start. Interested in how this comes together.

draked · **Joined:** Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:17 am **Posts:** 266

Watching for sure!

Kuribo · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:12 pm

I can only echo what others have said that this should be an exciting project. Keep us posted on your progress, Mapper!

Mapper · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:46 pm

Finally got some hobby time this weekend to work on this.

Regarding using pencils: pro - cheap and easy to buy, soft wood easy to cut; con - the graphite in the middle, cutting the pencils got that nasty stuff everywhere if I wasn't careful and clean up after each cut.

Because the platform going onto the wall was the reason for this, I started building the tower at the top.

While this made sense to begin with, it made it harder to build in the long run. Should make building the next one easier though.

After building the frame

and doing the rest of the top

I was initially going to use coffee stirrers and frame in the sides. The next step was going to be covering that with either crumpled paper to paint like armor (GW way) or use paper towels soaked in glue and painted. As usual, I changed my design and went with just more framing.

and doing ladder steps vs using the ladders from the demolition set

The whole thing isn't quite square (non-union orc workmanship) and black paint hides a lot of errors. Most of the problems at this point was doing the additional framing vs doing the framing separate and putting it together.

At this point I can do the detail work and drybrushing when my eyes are tired and focus on painting orcs.

One reason I did the ladder is to have the troll join the battle

GreatKhanArtist · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:48 am

That looks so fun to play on and cinematic too. I can just imagine the look on the faces of those poor men, and the troll grasping at and tearing off a chunk of parapet that falls crumbling down after it as it is driven, flailing, off the ramparts.

Stewhr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:17 am **Posts:** 92

Great job and really well done siege tower. That ramp is a good idea and pretty cool that the models can move up it.

Overall outstanding!

draked · **Joined:** Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:17 am **Posts:** 266

Looks amazing. I really like how the models can climb the ladder.

Non-union orc worksmanship made me laugh! Thanks for the write up and all of the photos.

Hoping I find some hobby time soon.

Mapper · **Posted:** Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:11 pm

Thanks everyone! Another word of caution when using pencils and pliers to add grooves. Make sure to do the edges, they show up when drybrushing.

Edges done

Not done well enough

Drybrushed the tower, adding some greens and browns to break up the darkness. Not worth a picture.

Added a Mordor eye to the bottom of the ramp - what the sentries see coming out of the morning fog.

Instead of hooks, I did warg heads on the ends (leftover fell warg heads)

Time to paint orcs and build the next tower.

Stewhr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:17 am **Posts:** 92

Great finishing touches to the tower. The eye is great psychological warfare.
Great project.

Kuribo · **Posted:** Sun Aug 25, 2019 7:58 pm

I completely agree with Stew, the Siege Tower looks great and the picture of it "in use" really underscores how fearsome it will look on the battlefield for the defenders of Minas Tirith!

Mapper · **Posted:** Sat Aug 31, 2019 8:22 pm

Second one went smoother, had the engineers in to make sure things were cut and put together straight.

Went a different route on this one, added tusks to the ramp to drop down onto the wall. My Haradrim wanted to join in on the fun of storming the castle.

CarlosTheDwarf · **Posted:** Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:27 am

Love it! They've got me wanting to start building some siege towers of my own!

Kuribo · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:12 pm

That is smartly designed, Bret! The tower looks as if it came from Harad but would also fit in with your other siege tower. It looks fantastic in the shot with your Gondorians as well. I really enjoy pictures like that one as they bring the books and films to life!

Stewhr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:17 am **Posts:** 92

That’s a great twist to the siege tower design. Came out great. Good thing those engineers were at hand.

Siege Tower - Harad edition

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