From VincentC - The Witch-King on Horse (10 points)

Keeping with a theme I'm continuing to paint ringwraiths, though I do also have a very different character that I'm half way through for next week. After feeling terrible over Christmas I'm trying to just keep things ticking over whilst I get some hobby impetus back, I also got a bit of a surprise over Christmas which may put a little dent in my free time however I'm still going to push for my 500 points!

Curt asked me what I had left to paint to achieve my goal, which is to have a painted set of models required for the Fellowship of the Ring journeybook, and the list is as follows;

Haldir (unarmoured)
Gildor
Mounted Arwen
Tom Bombadil
Goldberry

Mounted Ringwraiths (2 more remaining)
Ringwraiths on foot (6 more remaining)
Wild Wargs (12 remaining)
Warg Chieftain
Goblin Captain x2
Cave Troll
Balrog
Barrow Wights x4
Tentacles x6
Lurtz
Uruk Hai Captain
Uruk Hai Scouts x10

So that should give you a pretty good idea of what you'll be seeing from my posts over the next couple of months. If by any chance I get that little lot done I'll be working on my Numenor army.

From Curt:Great work Vincent! As with the previous wraiths you've submitted I really like the shading on the Witch King's cloak - it's very nicely blended and subtle. By your list it looks like you have your work cut out for you over the next few months and I certainly look forward to seeing them emerge from your hobby desk. 

Well done! 

From VincentC - "Find the halfling! Augh! Find the halfling!" (40 points)

Being poorly is the pits!

These Uruk Hai scouts were finished almost two weeks ago but a long weekend away in Lincolnshire sans internet and the mother of all man-flus has meant a delay in posting them, not only that but the next projects (including this week's bonus rounds entry) just haven't happened. Bummer!

Fortunately I think I'm coming out the other side and can resume normal hobbying activity.

"Do you know how the Orcs first came to be? They were Elves once, taken by the Dark Lord, tortured and mutilated. A ruined and terrible form of life. And now, perfected. My fighting Uruk-hai."—Saruman

In contrast to the rangers I painted previously (which got a surprisingly good reception) I found these guys a breeze and really enjoyed painting them, they were very quick to do as well taking only a few hours, I have to paint 18 in all to complete my objective so I'm very glad this was the case.

They're painted predominately in browns and reds using vallejo paints (for the most part). Games Workshop did a great job of sculpting these and I love the swordsmen charging forward especially.

From Curt:Nice work Vincent! I quite like the red skin tone of these. Have you started playing any of the scenarios from the book yet, or do you still have some models yet to complete?

From VincentC - "Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild" (45 Points)

Well I decided I didn't like languishing down in 21st so I thought it best to get a wiggle on with the rangers! I must confess I got half way through painting these when I decided that I really don't like these models at all! but I pushed through and, though they aren't some of my better works they are done to a good table top standard and so I'm happy to put them with the rest of the collection, I think they look especially good as a group and for the most part I really like the green of the cloaks.

I have a not insubstantial collection of Gondor and these will make a nice little warband for Faramir to lead in normal games however these were painted for the Fellowship of the Ring sourcebook. Along with the 2 Nazgul in my previous post that means I just need to paint the Witchking to have the first phase of my project completed!

This is definitely going to happen (this time...)

What do you all think of these guys?

From Curt:

I think they look marvellous! The shading on the cloaks is excellent, but what really draws my eye is the yellow buff leather of their jerkin and aprons - those really make the figures leap out. It's interesting how this first week of the Challenge has seen so many figures from LotR - a very nice change of pace, I think.

From VincentC - "To Mordor we will take you!" Ringwraiths from 'The Lord of the Rings' (10 points)

"Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the domination of the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his great Shadow, his most terrible servants."

—The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"

Better get going as some people are already off to a remarkable 130+ point head start!

Over the course of this painting challenge I'll be completing the models required to play every scenario from the Fellowship of the Ring journey book and the first batch of those is from the first scenario which involves 9 Rangers, 2 Ringwraiths and the Witch-king.

I've got the nine rangers about half way finished but I wanted to get my name on the board before too long in to the first week so I thought I'd get these two done today!

They have to be some of the easiest models I've painted by a long shot and I think they look pretty neat.

I'll be getting the Witch-king done as the first fortnightly challenge entry for 'cold' if it's deemed suitable.

Hope you enjoy.

From Curt:
They may have been simple to paint but they turned out marvellous Vincent (those empty cowls have always done a wonderful job in creeping me out). With these guys I always found that they look their best when you don't overthink them too much - they need some restraint to turn out their best. For example, I like that you left just enough black on their Morgul-blades to convey that wickedly decayed-yet-powerful-look seen in the films. I look forward to seeing your upcoming work with the Witch-king of Agnmar...  

Well done and welcome aboard Vincent!