Mapper - Metal Elves

Mapper · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:24 pm

Across the narrow valley, now almost on a level with his eyes, the walls of the evil city stood, and its cavernous gate, shaped like an open mouth with gleaming teeth, was gaping wide. And out of the gate an army came. All the host was clad in stable, dark as the night. ... small black figures in rank upon rank, marching swiftly and sliently, passing outward in an endless stream. .. and at their head was one greater than all the rest: a Rider, all black, ...

The Two Towers, The Stairs of Cirith Ungol

Once I had reached the 100 orc point, I felt I had to recreate this scene. So of course I had to cast some plaster (Fieldstone Bridge Mold #74 and Flagstone Floor Tile Mold #260)

Still have more orcs to go. The assault force still seems skimpy.

Seriously though, I collected orcs when they first came out and stores put them on discount, plus I bought the metal ones recently. It is all coming back to haunt me.

I also have no need for all those blocks - anyone have a project in mind?

Thanks everyone on my Hirgon conversion!

GreatKhanArtist · **Posted:** Thu Oct 31, 2019 10:36 pm

Doom! Doom! Death to the world of Man!

Really cool photo. Kind of makes them into trebuchet fodder, though...

Osgiliath can always use more ruins, if you want to do something with the leftovers. Or download Rangers of Shadow Deep, build a village and play along with me. You can totally use Middle Earth models and it's a solo game.

Kuribo · **Posted:** Mon Nov 04, 2019 1:32 am

Amazing shots, Mapper! To own and have painted so many orcs is impressive. I hope you get to play some of those scenarios with crazy high participants list like The Black Gate and The Last Alliance! Rangers of Shadow Deep is not a bad suggestion by GKA. I would think Osgiliath or even generic ruins for a place like Arnor would be a great project if you find it interesting/inspiring.

Mapper · **Posted:** Thu Nov 14, 2019 7:20 pm

Had been on a short trip, hadn't picked up a paint brush in two weeks. Not quite willing to jump back into painting orcs, decided the garrison needed warning of the horde coming.

A beacon.

Played around on how to use it.

The torch bearer and his escort.

An orc patrol came across the beacon, the fight to retake it and warn of the impending horde.

GreatKhanArtist · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:42 am

I wouldn't be too concerned if I were the scions of Rohan. It's three of anything to indicate an emergency. :lol:

Pretty cool marker and a great objective for your games.

Kuribo · **Posted:** Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:08 pm

Very inspirational as always! Is this something you'll be using for a game? Even if not, the photos you took look fantastic. You always do an excellent job taking thematic pictures with terrain and minis together :yay:

Mr Gimli · **Posted:** Sun Nov 24, 2019 9:58 am

Great job on the beacon!

Mapper · **Posted:** Sun Nov 24, 2019 8:34 pm

Final ten of my plastic orcs

Joined by 123 of their friends

Still have 16 metal orcs and 4 forgeworld (Christmas present - I hope) to go.

The idea for the beacon was built from a scenario from one of the few BGIME magazines I have where Rohan has to light a beacon on a hill while being attacked in their village. Have matchsticks cut for a larger one and will see if I get around to building it.

On a side note - over 100,000 page views!?!

And only 99,999 are mine. :-D

The bots must be busy, can't imagine that many views on my work.

Gzero · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:56 pm

Why can't I see the images, it seems the image links are broken

GreatKhanArtist · **Posted:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 4:29 pm

Good job in finishing the horde. Looks like a few conversions there as well.

Mapper · **Posted:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 5:29 pm

Gzero, just the last postings, or several of them? GKA - can you see them?

Kuribo · **Posted:** Mon Dec 09, 2019 3:57 am

The pictures are showing up fine for me. Nice job getting all those minis painted up too. That is quite a lot and they look great as a combined force on the battlefield.

Mapper · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 8:11 pm

The weary commander informs his captains that a new force is approaching and prepares the response.

Rather simple conversion, WOMT archer; head cut off and helmet drilled out, bow cut off, left arm cut at shoulder and elbow, hand rotated. New head of Aragorn from the Mines of Moria set.

Bought some WOMT cheaply off of EBay, converted some spearmen to sentries. Put some cloaks from Victoria Miniatures on their backs and you have some Citadel Guards at a reasonable price.

Rognarr · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:17 pm

Nice conversion, that captain looks very dynamic!

Kuribo · **Posted:** Sat Dec 14, 2019 8:50 pm

Excellent conversions (as always!). The captain, in particular looks really cool. Have you ever tried layering your highlights and shadows for the cloaks, Mapper? I think some shadows in the creases will make those Gondorians look even nicer. It takes a little bit more time to do but I think it could be worth it to really show off the conversions you've done. Always look forward to your updates as you're a wealth of ideas and inspiration!

Mapper · **Posted:** Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:08 am

Kuribo, I know my cloaks need help, doing white clothing is especially hard for me.

Christmas week I was away from my hobby desk, but made the mistake of taking The Return of the King with me to read, I wanted to read the appendices again. Even if you haven't read the books, the appendices are worth a read, especially A and B. The chapter of Durin's Folk is very good and just reading the The Tale of the Years suggests many scenarios that could be done.

In reading the appendices again, I realized I should have given my Gondor Commander a name: Thorongil. Thorongil was the name Aragorn took when he served Gondor. He led a small fleet to Umbar and overthrew the Captain of the Haven in a battle upon the quays.

So of course I went on Ebay and found a metal Gondorian Captain to buy. I wanted a metal figure to be sightly bigger than the plastic figures and I got it at a good price as it was very poorly painted. Stripped the old paint off the model, replaced the sword arm and head with a extra metal Aragorn I had and had myself a Thorongil.

I need to go back and do the faces again, not happy with them but that will have to wait another week as I will be away again. This time I am taking a western to read.

Now I just have to remind myself I still have a lot of figures to paint before I buy some Corsairs to do battle against.

Kuribo · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2020 11:11 pm

Cloaks can be tricky on their own. Trying to tackle cloaks and white at the same time is no small task. I'd tackle one thing at a time if it is something you ever want to try and get better at. No sweat if you don't want to too

I like how you take a concept and apply it (with a conversion no less!) in a lot of your projects. It is really impressive and I'd love to give that a try some day. I think your suggestion of reading the books is a good one too. I haven't read LOTR in a long time and I bet that I'd get a ton of inspiration from it if I give it a shot.

I really like the little scene you created below (as usual). I'd say treat yourself to some Corsairs too. Having a few extra minis in the backlog never hurt anyone! I'll be looking forward to seeing what projects you get up to in 2020!

Mapper · **Posted:** Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:08 pm

Finished my metal orcs (if you want to see how well they can be painted, go to PoW's wip

)

Took some of the named orcs (Shagrat, Grisnakh, Gorbag) and made them captains.

Wished I had bought the metal orc archers when they were up for made to order - all the distinct metal orc poses make a nice battle company.

Just have Gothmog and the Forge World orcs to go.

Kuribo · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:15 am

These look great, Mapper. You've really painted up a horde of orcs recently which is no small feat! I know exactly what you mean about the Made to Order minis. I've tried to buy stuff that I wanted or thought I would want in the near future but there are already minis I can think of that I wish had bought now. I guess all we can hope for are some more Made To Orders in the future.

Mapper · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:34 pm

My wife has been making spiders out of beads for a friend, had to throw them against some dwarf rangers!

Mapper - Metal Elves

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