Creating Cardolan soldiers

This is a suprise project I've jumped on after watching a YouTube piece about the war in Arnor against the Witch king. 

I was quite taken with the doomed struggle against the forces of Angmar around weather top and surrounding hills. I instantly started thinking up ideas for conversions using different figure manufacturers. I ordered some Fireforge Northmen as a start and saw that lots of gamers have had the same idea.

I thought a great place to start with these tough warriors was the Oathmark heavy infantry box. The torsos are really nice and have loads of character. Having made up my five bodies I had, I searched my spares box for other torsos that could be used with the left over arms on the sprue.

A while ago I had bought a set of late Roman heads for my Saxon project. These were now used to add some dark age flare to the figures. The heads are really nice and are from Victrix. They produce the exact look and feel I was after with these warriors.

A early Saxon was pulled into service too. He was finished off with a sword swop, this bigger weapon fits in better with the others.

This is my favourite figure and the first I made. Unlike my rabble from Lake town, these men actually look like they have come dressed for war.
 

A tough old Dunedain veteran with one eye.

A leader looking figure with an added horsetail plume for rank. The body is Oathmark with the Vitrix head added.

This shield is from the Heavy dwarf warrior box and goes well with the figure.

As well as the armoured warriors, there are a few with poorer quality equipment too.

Being Cardolan, there has to be a few ranger types scattered in. I plan to make actual units of rangers too, they should come in handy for missile support.

Dunedain rangers, deadly with bow or blade.

A Fireforge Russian warrior with Oathmark bits added. The bearded head is from the Oathmark sprue rather than from Victrix.

Light armoured warriors with large shields to make up for their missing chainmail.

Oathmark heavy infantry come with lots of nice weapons and poses. This is a Fireforge Russian with Oathmark arms and sword. I will give him a cloak to cover the joins.

"For Arnor!"

The Oathmark armour is very good and should look fantastic with mud splashed up it.

I have some Arnor resin shields coming from eBay, these will hopefully finish off the Cardolan look. I plan to have units that mix both Arthedain and Cardolan together.

My idea is that I have big armies of orcs and trolls already, why not use them for another theatre of war. The Witch king striking into Arnor from Angband just seems like a good idea.

 Most of the work is already done. My Lake town units can be used as Arnor militia too. A couple of units of warriors and rangers should give me a nice Cardolan force.

This is a force of tough Dunedain fighters and i think these chaps look the part.

Cardolan troops from a computer game.