Radagast Sleigh base Progres

Harfoot · **Posted:** Thu May 16, 2013 5:24 pm

Have not updated my WIP recently, due to no decent camera, will borrow one again soon. I have been painting more of the old metal Orcs and 3 Gandalf the Greys. Also Radagast, the FC upright figure, Hobbit Eagles and the new Wild Wargs.

Today i started this - The Ruined Watchtower of Amon Sul

Early days, glue the base layers together and later will add Cork Bark to the sides to form texture.

It will be a long on going project fitting in when time allows. probably 3 - 6 months until completion

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Thu May 16, 2013 5:31 pm

Awesome - I have the piece in my collection too but am still counting down the days until i can start work on it. Look forward to seeing your progress.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Thu May 16, 2013 7:59 pm

This is one to watch.
Looking at your rough cuttings for the base, have you remembered the stairs/path to the tower ?
I have clean forgotten the name of the company but if the same aren't we looking around £200 for this beauty ?

I also found this which may help

http://www.shiftinglands.com/amonsul2.htm

Harfoot · **Posted:** Fri May 17, 2013 11:28 am

Hi Gandlaf, its the Forge World Weathertop, stupidly priced, they reissued it when the hobbit came out. Cant find it on their website but every couple of years they cast a few.

I have put a slope at the back and may add stairs and even a third layer, then mount on either a MDF base or a GW Realms of Battle board.

Thanks for the link, i have not seen that site before, its really good. A dilemma i have, and its been bothering me for months, do i paint the ruin with grey stone or a white/cream colour?

The grey i like, Helms Deep for example, the white/cream as in Minas Tirith stone work (as most Weathertops i see have been done in) also looks good. I have read a few books (Atlas of Middle Earth being particularly good) on the area but they dont mention colour of the rocks in the Eriador region.

Any ideas anyone (for some reason it is important to me !!!)

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri May 17, 2013 12:13 pm

My choice would be the Helms Deep style for the following reasons
The darker look would be more fitting with a ruined building left to decay in the weather for hundreds of years. A clean white ( or similar ) finish doesn't seem right to me.
The darker would also give a more foreboding look.
Once you marry that with a nice array of undergrowth / ivy / weeds and what ever else you have in mind then you will encapsulate the correct look, for me anyway.
You would need your rocks to look truly weathered and have all sorts of different colours in them and I offer you my way of painting rocks for you to experiment with. I find it brings in various soft colours to add to the finished effect. I did pinch this idea off a website though I cannot remember where it was.
The idea is to build lighter colours of greys and browns, done by simple drybrushing.
From a black undercoat use progressively lighter drybrushed layers through these colours - Shadow Grey - Snakebite Leather - Codex Grey - Graveyard Earth - Fortress Grey - Bleached Bone - Skull White. Now wash with Catachan Green with a drop of Chaos Black and water to 4 parts water 1 part paint and apply all over. Once dry reapply Fortress Grey then Skull White.
Below is an example of how it looks

If you look close you can see the different colours of the weather beaten rock which gives me at least, the look I want rather than a simple grey then white rock.
Hope this helps.

Harfoot · **Posted:** Fri May 17, 2013 5:57 pm

That great thanks Gandalf, I am going to go with the Grey as you suggest. I always think Grey looks better in Northern Middle Earth and White/Cream in Southern.

I have printed out you painting technique, and will give it a try in the next few days
Cheers.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri May 17, 2013 6:58 pm

A piece of terrain that can be used in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Good thinking

Harfoot · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 4:24 pm

Slow going, due to finding Cork Bark in any good Quantities.

Now i have gone hunting in the woods on Salisbury Plain and found some nice old dead bark, which i am currently treating, will post more photos when done.

On another topic, Mrs Harfoot bought me a present - I am pleased to present

Azog the Defiler and his giant Warg!!!!

LOL, the present was the Gargoyle, not my dog, Poppy! who is to soft to be a Warg by the way.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 4:31 pm

So early to comment but I see your idea taking shape. It's one I'm keeping an eye on.

.:Gunslinger:. · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 4:34 pm

Wow, this starts to turn out really great!

Here's maybe some more inspiration:
http://terranscapes.com/custom/customgallery-amonsulnweathertop.php

http://forum.tabletop-hdr.de/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=27215 (This link is for a german forum, but I think the pictures speak for themselves

)

Harfoot · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 5:13 pm

Incredible, I am having a major rethink, going to make it removable and bigger!
Thanks for the links Gunslinger

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 5:16 pm

Best place for cork bark is reptile shops mate - huge chunks for cheap. My reptiles are non too happy with me - half of their houses are stuck to bases lol

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 6:07 pm

DMS now = Dead Marsh Snakecharmer

More Amon Sul please - I have the Thomarillion equivalent and am wondering what sort of way to tackle the beast.

Gene Parmesan · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 8:52 pm

.:Gunslinger:. wrote:

Wow, this starts to turn out really great!

Here's maybe some more inspiration:
http://terranscapes.com/custom/customgallery-amonsulnweathertop.php

http://forum.tabletop-hdr.de/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=27215 (This link is for a german forum, but I think the pictures speak for themselves

)

Both immense. Slightly prefer the first, but if I were to ever attempt one id go for a mix of both styles. Keep it as playable as possible.

good luck with the project

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 9:31 pm

The cast rock has the edge!

Harfoot · **Posted:** Tue May 28, 2013 9:39 pm

Dead Marsh Spectre wrote:

Best place for cork bark is reptile shops mate - huge chunks for cheap. My reptiles are non too happy with me - half of their houses are stuck to bases lol

Lol, maybe tortoise shell will do?

One thing these pictures don't get over is how big they must be, Big!

Harfoot · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:43 am

Well i have kept the original shape but made the Building itself separate from the scenery, this way i can always make a larger base in the future and use this base for other games, such as Amon Hen or a watch tower.

So far i have attached old tree bark, filled the gaps with "decorators chalk", base coated with some old brown paint and then added the sand and rocks.

Next step is to seal it all in and then start to paint, i have a load of old WW2 grey tamiya plaint left from an old project, will probably load it into the airbrush and spray it.

Haven't posted any WIP of figures recently as i have to borrow a decent camera.

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:31 pm

Very nice! As good as any I have ever seen :yay:

.:Gunslinger:. · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:32 pm

Perfect! Looks really good! I'm so looking forward to seeing this painted

Rognarr · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 7:41 pm

This will be an awesome weathertop!

Radagast Sleigh base Progres

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