ZombieSmith

paint monkey · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1603 Location: Oaktown

Or, My day job project. Re posted form the Endgame forums - www.endgameoakland.com

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As the Third Age draws to a close, Middle-earth is ravaged by the War of The Ring. Great battles are fought across the lands as Sauron's fell armies invade from Mordor to bring the Dark Lord's dominion to all.

As some of you know already, I am super excited about the new game for GW, War of the Ring. It combines a couple of things that I have been looking for for awhile-

*Mass combat in 25mm - Lots of figures in lots of ranks, a truly epic feel.
*Quick yet deep game play
*The IP that started the genre - I couldn't ask for a better setting for the above two items.

I'm starting a project with a couple of volunteers to have two rather large armies ready for the launch of the game in April. My minion Alex will be assembling and painting Warriors and Knights of Minas Tirith and Bill Teefy, who took top prize in the last leg of the Army challenge, has been enlisted to finish some Riders of Rohan and Gondorian Rangers.

Meanwhile I have been gathering the forces of evil, mostly Isengard and a few Easterlings.

I decided to "blog" the process, or my part at least, here as I assemble and paint close to two hundred figures over the next month. (or two Embarassed

)

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The Beginning

I started last night (Monday 3/9) with the following goodies-

Seven boxes of Fighting Uruk-Hai (140 models)
Two boxes of Uruk-Hai Scouts (48 models)
Two Isengard Trolls
One Unit of Uruk-Hai Berserkers (8 models)
One Unit of Uruk-Hai Sappers (8 models)
Two units of Uruk-Hai Crossbows (16 models)
Eight Command Models and four characters

Saruman, Grimma, Vrashku, and Ugluk. Lurtz was still at home.

I decided to start with the biggest group, the Fighting Uruk-Hai. Starting at 7:30 last night with 140 models on the sprue. An hour and a half later I had finished assembling the Uruk-Hai Pike Phalanxes. (70 models)

Midway through the construction

On to the Warbands, 70 more little plastic guys. Over the next hour there was much cutting and gluing, and by 10:30 the Fighting Uruk-Hai were done.

I quickly assembled the eight command models.

RPGA was running late last night, so I went ahead and assembled the units of Berserkers and Sappers.

And I was done, for the night at least.

My back is still a little twingy. Rolling Eyes

Tonight-
More Uruk-Hai, the two units of crossbows and maybe the scouts.

Anthony
more to follow...
_________________
anthony@zombiesmith.com

questions? me too! ask away...

paint monkey · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1603 Location: Oaktown

Part 2: End of Assembly

On Tuesday night I was reminded why I don't like GW multi part metal models, cause they suck! It took me the same amount of time to assemble 18 metal Uruk-Hai crossbowmen as it did 70 of their plastic counterparts. GRRRRR!

Friday night I put together the remaining 48 Uruk-Hai scouts.

Plus the 2 Trolls

The Forces of Isengard in all their assembled glory!!

Their enemy, the men of Gondor, were finished by Minion Alex this morning. Here he is knowing he is behind.

Assemble Monkey, Assemble!

Monday night

The basing begins!!

Anthony
looking forward to that Rolling Eyes

_________________
anthony@zombiesmith.com

questions? me too! ask away...

Orkdung · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 3678 Location: Fidwog

SO AMAZING!! Shocked

I would play LOTR if folks would bring armies out like this (I do own a lot of LOTR, just nothing put together, because no one plays)

Those movement trays are bad assed too! Who makes those?!?!
_________________
Tokish prisoner to Constable Edgyr Nikklys on the Fidwog border in Year 8 of the Crusade, after being taken along the frontier "Is the war nearly over you think?"
to which Edgyr replied "It's over for you anyway"

paint monkey · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1603 Location: Oaktown

Base and Prime

Monday night I based the forces of Isengard. All 234 in one sitting, whew.

I use the cheater method of super gluing the gravel to the base.

I start by smearing super glue on the base, artistically of course. Rolling Eyes

then dip the mini in the gravel.

And done. One down...

And so it goes...

Three hours later and I'm done. Figuratively as well as literally.

This morning I came to work a little early to start priming them.

This also took about three hours, thanks Finn.

Somehow I think the painting will take a little more time... Rolling Eyes

Anthony
gots to do some Quar first though...
_________________
anthony@zombiesmith.com

questions? me too! ask away...

paint monkey · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1603 Location: Oaktown

Orkdung · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 3678 Location: Fidwog

Yup thats how I base!

headzombie · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject:

Why not do the same with white glue? Then you can quickly clean it off a foot if you miss.

Orkdung · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 3678 Location: Fidwog

Bah! It sets faster and troops were meant to have dirt on their boots!

Now get back to the rear, polish your parade boots and prepare for all your wretched Crusader Balls and extravaganzas! Razz

.
_________________
Tokish prisoner to Constable Edgyr Nikklys on the Fidwog border in Year 8 of the Crusade, after being taken along the frontier "Is the war nearly over you think?"
to which Edgyr replied "It's over for you anyway"

paint monkey · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1603 Location: Oaktown

colneher · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 365 Location: Western Arnyara

All I can say is ... That's EPIC man!!!!! Too awesome!!! Very Happy

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"Caerten Nay’ar's right behind me apparently, and says calm as can be ... "Strip the Crusader dead." Can you believe that?" -- 772nd Line Catrawd, Army of Western Arnyara, "Errant Sons."

Lowtardog · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 682

Lovely stuff, I wish I hadnt sold all of mine a couple of years back I had around 150 Urujs and 100 goblins Rolling Eyes

YOur collection is very impressive. I still plan on picking up the rules as I would think they could be used for other periods which will make a change from WAB etc
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The soldiers of Kryst have two famous euphemisms: The sun was in his eyes and delayed by contrary weather. These phrases spend quite a bit of time in each other's company

Trencher · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject:

Now that's an impressive collection! Shocked

Your way of planning ahead is admirable. At least you seem to have some little gobbos for those more mundane tasks such as completing and the like... Very Happy

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TANK POLO? God, how our gardener hated that game!

paint monkey · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1603 Location: Oaktown

Part 4 Drybrushing

Well, they are all primed and after a week away from them its time to start basecaoting. I'm starting with a drybrush of Boltgun Metal (Metal!!)

Here we go...

I decided to drybrush all 260 something at once, I know, crazy.

Slowly, but surely.

And done, about three hours later. There is that number again.

Next Basecaoting.

Anthony
can't wait for the release this Saturday!!!
_________________
anthony@zombiesmith.com

questions? me too! ask away...

bravofour · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 86 Location: Western Arnyara

Youve humbled me sir!!!! I was complaining about 90 Zulu, 40 Brits, and 50 or so Romans but you take the cake in projects for the year!!! Good luck to you and my hats off!!!
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Better to be judged by twelve, then carried by six.

colneher · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 365 Location: Western Arnyara

speaking of which .. the last photos were from back in June. how's it progressing?
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"Caerten Nay’ar's right behind me apparently, and says calm as can be ... "Strip the Crusader dead." Can you believe that?" -- 772nd Line Catrawd, Army of Western Arnyara, "Errant Sons."