Well, guys, it’s been a few weeks since the last post!
The main reason for this was our long trip to Japan. I hope I’ll be able to write a short travelogue here – there really was so much to see. My enthusiasm for samurai was understandably very high when we got back, though that only lasted about two weeks… What a shame, really! I did manage to finish a few 18mm samurai, but more on that in a later post.
In the meantime, I’ve dug out the old Games Workshop Wood-Elves box again. Yes, the figures are a bit dated and have a bloody bad reputation in the community, but for some reason I’ve always really liked them.
For me, these are the ultimate designs when it comes to Wood-Elves. Whether used for Lothlórien or for Mirkwood, these figures simply embody exactly what I had in mind when I first read:
“The elves were the first to charge. Their hatred for the goblins is cold and bitter. Their spears and swords shone in the gloom with a gleam of chill flame, so deadly was the wrath of the hand that held them. As soon as the host of their enemies was densely packed in the valley, they sent a shower of arrows against it, and each flickered as it flew as if with stinging fire. Behind the arrows, a thousand of their spearmen leapt down and charged. The yells were deafening.”
The Hobbit – The Clouds Burst
Brilliant, isn’t it?
In any case, I’ve set about tackling the old box set and have painted some of the figures. The casting really isn’t particularly good, and the level of detail in the sculpts leaves a lot to be desired… But I’ve put a lot of time into them and am now quite happy with the results.
I’d love to paint the whole set; let’s see how much time I can spare for it.
And here are a few more where I’m particularly proud of the faces.
In some cases, I had to paint in details that weren’t there before. I’d say I’ve learnt a great deal in the process, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Last but not least:
I’ve found the very first miniature I ever posted online anywhere. It must have been sometime in 2009, on the old German Tabletop LOTR forum, if anyone still remembers it... I have so many fond memories and, above all, close friendships associated with that forum; to be honest, I miss it almost every day. It’s such a shame it’s no longer there.
Here, in any case, is a comparison between the old miniature from 2009 and one I painted this week, 15 years later.
That’s it for today, thank you very much for reading!
Let’s see what’s next, I’m almost afraid it’ll be even more elves… But I really must finish painting my Amon-Hen box!
All the best
Lucas