Goblin Snagas

EDIT: Stop the presses! Forgot this: Reality hits you hard, bro

I've got myself some failcast here, but it doesn't matter - I was going to redo the arms and hands anyway, so...

One of the "flying" goblins will be mounted on one of the Fenrisian Wolwes I just finished painting. They look better now, as suspected. When unpainted, they looked very cartoony.

A neat little formation is forming. They will be really nice to have alongside the regular Goblin Warband (a large one) and the Gundabad Blackshields. This project really makes the creativity flow for me.



Here's a little leprachaun song to celebrate the little leprachauny Goblins (song by Schmoyoho, the creators of Double Rainbow song and Backing Up, two awesome songs).

A last note: Thank you mr FoB for the link on the awesome Perry Miniatures' Mounted Men at Arms. I would like to promise the purchase of three (3) boxes of these.

Another last note: Forgot an entry in the post about unreleased models: Elves of Finrod - which I would assume one use ANY Wood Elf models for, but again, more models is always great.

The Woses

Ugly aren't they. Especially the models from Games Workshop. Anyway, the page "McBride" have been updated with some images that aren't that well-known. In retrospect, I must admit that Veta (not really sure how they came into the picture, but I would guess they were the 3D-dudes) and New Line Cinema and all the designers and people involved with tLotR did an awesome work. Yes, many things weren't exactly what I wanted (the enormous Mûmakil, as an example - even though I own two of the plastic ones from GW) but all in all, a great big thumbs up.

Who do you see when you watch, for example Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? Well, not mr Wood, that's for sure, he died when Frodo was born. So, what am I getting at here? Angus McBride may be awesome (may he rest in peace) but the movies really made it all come alive in a "realistic" way. So, yay for the movies, and it is not long now before The Hobbit is released!

PS) Can you find the inspiration for my Edheldu Stone Guardian? Hahaha, it's beutiful!

Unreleased models for Lord of the Rings

During the short life of our hobby's existance, the producer of the models have promised, and made, dozens and dozens of miniatures. However, some of these half-made promises, like those in Legions of Middle-Earth, were never fulfilled. I have, in between of working, eating and sleeping, managed to scribble up a little list of unreleased, but promised (sort of) models. So, without further ado, here it is:

Unreleased from Legions of Middle-Earth
GOOD GUYS

Guardian of the Havens - this could have been the Guard of the Galadhrim Court, but I believe it wasn't, since the Guardian of the Havens was put under The Grey Havens, which was intended as a High Elf army-list.
Elf Ranger. Ah, what an interesting little thing. I see a meld between the nice idea of the Sentinels (bad models, IMO, even though the details are good... ) and something High Elfish, understated but still grand and majestic. Needless to say, these would have been magnifically overpowered, if I had designed their rules.
Elf Knight. Again, not the Galadhrim ones - the Elf Knights in LoME were printed under a High Elf faction. Some decent efforts have been made of converting a High Elf warrior and RoR to a High Elf Knight.
Elf Chariot. Very intriguing. There's a simple conversion in the back of Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition (from 2006, I think) which I will scan in the near future for the interested to gaze upon.
Elf War Catapult.
Galadhrim Siege Catapult.
Galadhrim Pathwalker. Also an interesting idea. Would be nice to hear what you think about this slot...

For Fangorn there is the Huorns, which in my opinion REALLY don't need a model, but then again, I wouldn't complain if it were to ever be released, despite the obsolete-ness of LoME, but in these SBG-times, one can never know... There are also named eagles, namely Landroval and Meneldor, but I consider these released with the existance of the regular Great Eagle-model.

Helm's Guard only got their command released and it would be nice to see actual models, although, again, the need for these models are questioned.

Just noticed, Celembrimbor? Is this something that has been made? Appearently an Elf commander of 140 points with the choice of an armoured horse for 15 points...

Grimbeorn. Would be an interesting dual model, one in regular and one in bear-form. But I have said this earlier...
Beornings.


BAD GUYS - Dunland
With Dunland it seems GeeDubb went the Viking-way. All these Huscarls and Berserkers all play into the traditional Viking-theme of Scandinavia - and also into the Rohan-Vikings-without-longboat - which the Dunlendings are said to be at a distant kinship with.

Royalblood Huscarl.
Dunland Berserker.
Dunlending Horseman.
Royalblood Chieftain (of Dunland).

I really like the models for Dunland and would have no problem doing a whole army of them if I hadn't so little hobbyspace left. And now also the shortage of time...


Unreleased bad guys - all other from LoME

Werewolf. I would expect this to be released sometime. Perhaps if they show off something like this in Bilbo, when Gandalf & Co battles the Dol Guldur-dudes in the (probably) second part of Bimbo Berklin (like the Swedish translator wanted to name Bilbo - true story).

Black-Hearted Tree. Unlikely to be released.
Black Numenorean Catapult. Meh...
Easterling Siege Bow.
Keiseimu, Ravager of Ithilien.
Corsair Reaver.
Corsair Ballista. Meh, again.
Stone Giant. It will be very interesting to see the design of this creature. It seems difficult to do something that is so narrowed down to look human, when in fact it would be so much better do it really bizarre (without crossing the boundry to over-the-top-high-fantasy), but still, of course bi-pedal and relatively believable. I have some plans myself.

So, these were the ones I found in LoME. Here are the ones from WotR, without an abundance of commentaries, due to lack of time:

Royal Guard of Arnor (probably already released as the Warriors of Arnor).
Wardens of the Keys. Here's wishing for OTT! Would be sooo nice!
Hurin. With command for the above.
Black Root Vale archers. Already got their command, is there a need for actual BRV-archer-models?
Elfhelm + Elfhelm's Riders.
Iron Guard Ancients. Probably just use the Iron Guard, on second thought.
Erebor Guard.
Quickbeam and Beechbone. Unnecassary IMO.
Naurandir and Sûlrandir. Would like to make my own. Allatar Pallando? something like that...

Black Uruk Shaman is released, yes? With the Black Guard of Barad Dûr?
Queen Beruthiel. Spirit. I will do my own, so I won't have to hope and wait for this higly anticipated model no more.
Carn Dûm Warband. Unlikely to ever be released, as most I've typed here. A chieftain for these guys is listed in Angmar, as well.


Awesome list, don't you think? Took me ages, but anything for the hobby and hobbyists of LotR-miniatures! See ya!

Gondor project nearing completion

What was intended with this project was to beef out my Gondor army. Especially with some units that would stand out. I haven't had time to look at ideas for rules for the command base (the one with three models on a 64mm base) but I have definite direction with it, that I want to go.

The Avenger Bolt Throwers have quite a few years on their necks by now, and are rather crude, but look acceptable. Added a renendra plastic barrel to each tray for aesthetic reasons.

The big wagon is put on hold due to constrictions in personal slash hobby time. And the rest is just a company of WoMT archers, the command base and the Golden warriors. They are all very much WIP.


Other news: Tried out a new type of silicone (rubberized, I would presume) that flowed really slow. Not sure if the mould of my three basic snaga gobbos will be okay. When, and if, the gobbo-mould is ready, I will use the casts of those three, rather crude models I did, to make another batch, more detailed and better looking.

The mould making is part of my first serious sculpting project, but I go about it swiffy-swoffy and not especially serious. Which is what I like to say here: Personally, I am sort of a perfectionist (mr FoB may beg to differ, but he is wrong), but when it comes to hobby, I just do it. Just do it. I sometimes overplan something but execute it bad. And sometimes underplan and then, of course, make a bad model or really shitty paintjob. My goal is not to have one or two perfect little miniatures, no, it is to just go about making a large army that looks okay from a distance. Satisfied with the overall, not the detail, and having fun doing so.

Which leads me into a rant. A rant about so called Anoraks, detail-oriented douches. Unfortunately, this will have to wait for a future post (like so many other things promised here), as I am halfway to the batmobile right now, so we'll put it on the long to-do-list.

With many wishes of a happy thursday. Cheery o'!

Minas Tirith Field Command

Minas Tirith Field Command. Base. Command Base. Will be used in conjunction with the enormous Gondor Carroccio.

The Banner Bearer (BB) stands in the back, and is originally a Citadel Guard Longbow-man. His head has been replaced with a Mahdist head (from Perry Miniatures) and he will be sort of leaning against a shield with his left hand whilst casually holding the grand banner, if one can wield a grand banner casually... The right hand guy (from the viewer's direction) will be holding a parchement, like the one made by some GW-guy in an article on their old homepage.

And lastly, the guy on the left, which is the leader of the command group with their little command table with maps and scrolls. A shield is leaning against the table. In the background there is a little bowl or cauldron or something, just wanted the base to look busy. The end result will hopefully look tidy but "commandy".

The captain's head is from Perry Miniatures Bows and Billmen. The captain is also a modified/slaughtered Citadel Longbowman.

Have a nice weekend, I will be working and also going to a course, so my weekend will be efficient, if not nice :)


NOTICE: It says jaows.blogspot.se... not dot com... hmm... is this something to worry about?

Ultima VII and WotR

My workplace is still stressed out and it seems to not be getting better, so the WotR and LotR will have to wait for a while on this blog. In the meantime I can recommend one the blogs linked from this page, this week especially dramatickatastases' blog where he is showing off some kewl chariots.

This will be what Friday will be all about for me. I'm guessing at least one of the readers here have played this game. It is the best game in the world, well shared first place with Command and Conquer.


Do you concur?!

Gondor CoEF

Gondor Cart of Everliving Flame. An inspirational thingie for the warriors of Minas Tirith. Rules aren't ready, but should be no problems. Coming up with rules is easy: Just don't go over the top, keep the points within reason and you should be okay.

A billion things left to do, especially considering the paintjob on the flames. And also the position of the bowl of flames and the mini-pillars at the back of the wagon.

Originally, the Guards of the Fountain Court (GotFC) were intended to slowly walk by the side of the oxen, but I forgot this when the base took shape and no holes for their bases were made. Now, where to put them? On top of the cart?

--- --- ---

Three days ago I bought this, after looking at the preview pictures on blogs and then eventually on the GW homepage. They are huge but still fit a 40mm base. To fight one of these would be more comparable to fight a Cave Troll rather than a Warg, which I first intended to use them for: Spicing up the Warg packs.

They didn't look that cartoony on the pictures, but when I put it next to a Warg (which I didn't particulary liked in the first place) it looks stupid. But fear not, Llama will fix this with his crappy painting skills and some fantastic basing, they will be allright. I do doubt another package of these will find its way into my home, however.

Good day, and may many fine food items find their way into your belly this fine Saturday.

Angus McBride

Today it is four years, four months and four days since mr Angus McBride passed away. Perhaps four was his lucky number.


Good old Angus McBride, the greatest inspiration for this particular Llama in his doings in the imaginary world of Arda. The pictures previously posted made by said illustrator/genius was from some other webpage, but I never found scans of Angus' Treebeard and Arwen - I just so happen to have access to these, but they are yet unscanned. Perhaps there should be another little page with Angus illustrations to further tie this blog into Arda? As it is now, it lacks the spirit of Tolkien... something needs be doing!

Gondor Cart of Everliving Flame

It has been christened: Cart of Everliving Flame. The name has a backstory, naturally, but I will spare you it for now.




The reason why there will be few updates this month is because the company I work at is having a midlife crisis and everything is wrong and bad and needs to be redone. This, naturally, generates a lot of extra work for me and some of my workmates.

Weekend coming up, people, so I traditionally wish you all a happy such!

Carroccio for War of the Ring

As one can see, I will sculpt the banners somewhat, instead of just the ordinary paper and watery PVA.

I might just order an oxen cart from Perry Miniatures and move the two large banners and the two flag-racks to that one... For now, this current construction with its somewhat small wheels will have to do.

Colours: Black, silver and some white here and there. Don't know how to paint the oxen to best fit in with the "Cart of Everliving Flame"-theme... it will be a grand cart, but how do ordinary, smelly oxen turn out grand?

Orcs from above

A sloppy, dark basecoat with two likewise sloppy washes is all I have managed these last few days. March will be slow hobby-wise, it seems. Of course, you will all be greatly compensated for this malheur in the future.

It would be nice if this painting project would happen to end up like these beutiful pieces, found on CMON:

Unknown creator, but I bet he's a swell guy.