Battles in Middle Earth

 A call to arms from the Wargaming in Middle Earth Facebook group for battle pictures got me pulling out an old roll of static grass, some trees and my orc army. After years of painting and researching and basing, it’s funny to me why I hadn’t done it before. I quite enjoyed it. It was nice to see them all together for the first time.
The real successes have been the plastic warlord games Orcs armed with spears from the Perry’s medieval Hundred Years’ War set. They look great advancing with their long spears.

 I have tried to give each faction in the battle it’s own colour code, the orcs being black and red. The Dwarves having red and white shields with lots of gold on their armour. I also gave the Dwarven armour a coat of gloss varnish to really make it pop on the field. Also blue and purple inks were used on the armour to give it a more polished ‘magical’ look. This is to help contrast them against the orc’s rusty brown, dull armour, splattered in mud and filth. Dwarf armour is the highest quality in the land and the workmanship should be clearly seen.

 The new goblin skirmishers and scouts take their place in the vanguard.

 The great worm of Morgoth. Glaurung, the Father of dragons lumbers forward surrounded by a huge orc army.

The Time Of The Orc Is Here

 The new guys settle into their new home. They are just absorbed into the black mass of swirling death. I don’t think I will ever get bored of creating these unique figures out of various plastic kits. They are so easy to paint too and look good when based up.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

 These Union troops started off as Confederates that I had painted back in 1997. Now, hundreds of years later I know that sack coated infantry were mostly Union. This in mind, it’s time to update the ancient collection into something more historically accurate.

 Another tasty crop of Blue berries to be harvested. Some of these I had bought off eBay many moons ago. A quick touch up and a Dip and they’re ready for the Rebs.

Parliament shotte

 I took the chance to grab these musketeers that had been started a few months back and finish them off. I can’t believe that with all of my Napoleonic stuff, my first finished red coat regiment will be from the civil war.

 My new basing technique is to put four guys firing in the front rank. This looks better than three and looks like a proper volley is being delivered.

 This is a nice idea from 1st Corps, resin battlefield detritus. Guns, hats, boxes etc will really add to those larger scenic bases. My infantry bases are slightly too small, but artillery and commanders bases will be perfect for it. The dropped drum is ageless, I was looking for such a thing when I was basing my ECW. This drum may end up on these musketeers once the Kepi has been cut off.

Massing the forces

 It’s that great time again when you take the new stuff upstairs to join it with the old stuff. They fitted together really well even though they were painted in different Methods.

 The poor Confederates have some catching up to do. These were a select few figures that seemed to scream Confederate and I couldn’t bring myself to paint them as Union. They became the first new bases of the Confederacy.

The latest troops were matte varnished using brush on Vallejo matte varnish. It gives a slight more glossy finish which is quite appealing in its own right. The old lot were sprayed with Windsor and Newton matte varnish, which gives a very, very matte finish. However, after my disaster using this process on my ECW Forlorn hope, I think I have been put off the spray method for life. At least with brush on varnish you know what your getting and there’s no nasty surprises.

 There’s still a lot of bases to come, my goal is around 120 bases for the Union. I think I can do it as I’ve got the Irish Brigade to come and the Iron Brigade would be nice too.

Another day, another batch.

I have to say, I love the way the strong tone shades these light blue trousers. I don’t think I have ever got the same result from ink washes. Churning out these blue belly regiments using Army painter is definitely the right way to go. Don’t be precious just get the units on the field. I remember being so apprehensive at the start of this process, but the results are good and the regiments seem to be stacking up.
For large armies this Dip is the way to go for sure. Units I have planned for years can actually be painted and completed within days. I have even started to dig out my Iron Brigade figures that I have been collecting for over twenty years.