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The rebasing of the older IW isn't that bad, actually. I'm just going to do it a few at a time and there's not that many of them. Even the "finished" ones were only about 90% complete, so this gives me an opportunity to properly finish them off with decals and final details while I also do their new bases.

Metallics can be an easy option, but I guess so can most other Space Marine options with the quality of paint and washes that we have these days. Besides, I like to spend more time messing around with the details, so it works for me.

Much like Archer and his Crazy Army Plan, I've also got plans for various-sized forces and contingents of loyalist and traitor marines in red, crimson, blue, dark blue, grey, blued steel, dark green, sea green, bright dark green, green & white, khaki, khaki & white, black, other black, other other black, blue and gold, red and gold, various metallic shades of many of those.... and so on it goes - you get the idea.

This is essentially a "State of the Army" post, showing off all of the completed elements of my Gondor Army at present, which I've been properly working on over the last two or so years, with a bigger focus during the last 6 months and the painting challenge that I keep harping on about. Models that aren't yet completed are missing from the photos, so things like the Cavalry units that are part-painted will have to wait for an update down the line. While I don't intend to buy any more Gondor models, with the possible exception of any new heroes that GW might release or the odd figure to "clean up" and finalise a more difficult unit (Men at Arms of Dol Amroth, Warriors of Arnor etc) I've got all of the models for this army in my possession. I just need to paint them!



The army is nominally set up as a Kings of War force, but obviously can be used in LotR SBG, or with a few tweaks in War of the Ring (those bloody bases!) We've even used a small number of them in SAGA. Most Minas Tirith/Gondor models generally aren't very exciting at all as individuals, even with a decent amount of work put into them, but they do have a nice effect ranked up en masse.

I'm not up for a lot of typing right now, so I think I'll go with more of a "show, don't tell" for the rest of this post.

That's a great looking army. They may have been hell to paint, but all those Gondor troops look great ranked up like that. If you'll pardon the soapbox, I love that you fill the movement trays with models rather than rocks, trees, and scatter terrain like so many other KoW armies I see online.

Those Gondorians are amazing! The Gondorians had probably my second-favorite look of all the factions seen in the movies (the only one I thought was cooler was Easterlings, and we barely got to see them), and you've really done them justice. You're making me want to get my Gondorians out and paint them (I have one 24-man box of Warriors, a box of Knights, Faramir foot & mounted, and Denethor). Too bad I have enough 40k stuff to last me a long time.

Oh, and your Iron Warriors turned out great as well!

That army is looking awesome Az. Really top notch work

Lovely army shots of Gondor, really fantastic looking army.

EDC

Thats a huge Gondor army you got there, Azazel! Looks stunning mate

Beautiful army. You should be very pleased with how they have turned out. Now to get them into action on the tabletop.....

An epic army, one of the most impressive LotR forces I've seen. Not just the quality and quantity but the dedication to painting so many rather repetitive models!

ZergSmasher wrote: You're making me want to get my Gondorians out and paint them (I have one 24-man box of Warriors, a box of Knights, Faramir foot & mounted, and Denethor). Too bad I have enough 40k stuff to last me a long time.

Just so you know, for standard LotR gaming, as opposed to the larger and less popular War of the Ring version, that is pretty much all you need for a force. Faramir can lead the Knights, Denethor can command a dozen Warriors and all you need is one more hero of some kind to lead the other 12. Add in Boromir to do that job and you'd have a compact, effective and highly thematic army ready to play. Off the top of my head that's around 600 points, a pretty common points level to play at. Worth doing when you want a change from 40k, I reckon!

Now those are nice armies I'd love to own or a least battle across the tabletop . Sorry, wifi and power outage here, bad storm knocked out 100,000 homes power yesterday.

Thank you all very much for the kind words. I'll have to get them out and about onto the table next! I haven't played much KoW in the last year unfortunately as work has been pretty intense, and my downtime has been spent painting models, blogging and playing PS4. Game time with friends has been a lot of Zombicide with a bit of Pandemic (and more recently, more PS4).



These three models were painted some time ago, around 2005 - give or take a few years, and long before blogging was a thing to me. They've recently been drafted into Marouda's Kings of War Undead force as Soul Reaver Cavalry - that is to say Vampiric Cavalry, which seems about as reasonable an approximation of Nazgûl as you can get within the Army list. These three represent a "troop" of Vampire Knights, which would ordinarily be made of 5 models. Works well enough for me!



So while the models are old, and their paint is old, what's new is that I've gotten some custom-cut MDF and been able to make a unit base for them, in much the same way as I did with the Swarms that I painted recently. I think it makes them look quite nice, and certainly looks better than having them blu-taced down to a bare piece of MDF. I don't believe I've shown these models before, so it's all good.



For now, the Nazgûl will reside in the Undead Army, but at some stage they'll be split off into their own Mordor force - When I have enough Mordor models painted to field them as a reasonable army in their own right.

Really thanks Az! the army shot looks amazing :-) I totally love seeing things like that!

Mounted Nazgul looks great.

EDC

One hell of an army there Az, one to be rightfully proud of. In spiet of the Nazgul being more than a decade old painting wise they hold up very well, and testament to whatever storage you use as there is no chipping or other signs of wear.

Probably my all time favorite scene from LOTR is when the Nazgûl are on Weathertop to take the ring from Frodo.

That and the confrontation with Arwen at the Ford of Bruinen

Awesome work

Thanks guys. Having sorted that base, I'm much happier with how they look as a small unit. I haven't gotten much painting done in the last week or so, but I have managed to finish off these four Iron Warriors, who have been part-done for ...years.



I've slowly been buying Forge World bits and accumulating them for years now. Lots of those bits and kits and models are Space Marine ones. I've also bought my fair share of parts from Anvil Industry, Kromlech, Maxmini, etc and more as well. (All awesome guys to deal with, by the way!) I originally started purchasing these many models and components for my nascent Iron Warriors Chaos Space Marines and Crimson Fists Space Marines armies. This started long before Forge World began riding the Horus Heresy money train, and the concept of "30k gaming" wasn't yet a thing. I wanted MKIII Iron Armour in particular for kitbashing into my IW, and obviously Mark VI "Beakie" armour works for a RT-inspired marine force, some Mk IV and V to mix parts in seemed appropriate as well.



Now it's 10 or more years later, and "30k" is now a thing - with a growing in-depth and generally well-written background. 40k is now a borderline-unplayable cluster fethed ruleset - but still a first love, at least in terms of background, and I'm finally restarting on these old Iron Warriors - beginning by rebasing and completing the models I started in the mid-2000's, paused and then came to a stop on again around 2009.



The question for me to ponder right now - much more for the Iron Warriors - is how do I build them? Do I build them as a 40k Chaos force, replete with a mix of chaos armour, scavenged modern and also heresy armour - or do I try to build them as two separate forces - 30k and 40k Iron Warriors. Though to be quite honest I don't know if I'll have the painting stamina and interest to build and paint a full army of the massive size that 30k seems to demand.



Unlike the three push-fit "starter kit" style Chaos Marines from Execution Force that made up my "proof of concept" models as far as rebasing my IW on the new Citadel bases, every other model of my Iron Warriors is.. well, they're far from all something one could consider conversions, but they're at least kitbashes from the CSM kits, Iron Warriors and Iron Hands metal upgrade parts, and of course loyalist marine parts. In this way, pretty much every model will be in some way unique. The Close Combat-oriented squad, which I'll get to work on after I finish this "Tactical" style squad also features bionic CC parts poached from a variety of sources.



I'll continue to kitbash my CSM Iron Warrior models from all of the previous sources of course, plus parts from the "Horus Heresy" models. The question is on how many do I leave in the "30k pristine" state - looking somewhat like these guys. Because let's face it, those models linked look bloody awesome as well, without a hint of Chaos in their paint or mixed armour in their modelling. While I'm not averse to using sculpted parts with chaos stars on these guys, I'll be avoiding the gribbly side of Chaos as much as possible for the Iron Warriors, so No Rogue Trader models, nor any Dark Vengeance-styled ones either.



What I (eventually) do with the Imperial Fists models and bits will be a much easier choice. I don't want no yellow marines in my collection. People like Nerdfest have done some great models in the Imperial Fists livery, and I think they're great, but still, no yellow Marine armies for me. (ok, maybe one squad integrated into the Crimson Fists, down the line - damn you, Damo. I even bought VMC Lemon Yellow when I was in town today!) The mantle of the hated foe of my Iron Warriors will be taken by both the Crimson Fists and the Black Templars, so pretty much all of the "Imperial Fists" upgrade parts I've gotten will be shared between those two venerable loyalist chapters.



I guess the other question is whether I drop all three of the Execution Force Iron Warriors into this squad, or whether I try to space them out over multiple (three?) "Tactical" CSM squads to avoid repetition of pose within each unit. Another question to ponder. Then again, I don't even have a current army list (or anything like it) drawn up, since the last time I used these guys in their semi-painted state was in 3rd or 4th edition using a slightly-modified set of the Combat Patrol rules and based off the Index Astartes Iron Warriors list.

What are the current CSM rules? 6th Edition Codex plus the PDF errata? Gah. I don't look forward to writing up an army list for these guys.

I see you got your mitts on Sector Imperialis bases what do you think to them?

Loving your Iron Warriors. The blue eye lenses give them that cold hatred look

 angelofvengeance wrote:
I see you got your mitts on Sector Imperialis bases what do you think to them?

Loving your Iron Warriors. The blue eye lenses give them that cold hatred look

The criticisms of the bases are well founded, and quite reasonable. The details are soft - softer than we're used to with GW kits but they're still very decent for bases, and especially so given the asking price. Just don't expect them to be on a quality par with Secret Weapon or Micro Arts or Back to Base-Ix or any other "boutique" resin bases. What is in their favour is that they're still made of HIPS, so plastic cement works perfectly with them and plastic kits, and I've found that you can easily drill tab slots into them if you want to mount slottabase minis to them without clipping off the tabs. They're also quite flat, and so work well with miniatures - whereas I find a lot of resin bases seem to want to be their own bits of unique artwork, being too raised and/or featuring too much detail. These GW ones are quite happy to let the miniatures be the stars of the event.

Lol, I aim to please Az happy I can impress and annoy you in equal measure maybe one day when my fists are done we can meet up one weekend for a game against each other? just using basic rules and house rules? i'm sure a flight over and back won't be too much! but you're buying lunch

I really love those IW, I can now say at this stage they are probably my favorite painted examples just the way you treat them with just enough yellow and black to offset the metals it's perfect.

 Azazelx wrote:

The criticisms of the bases are well founded, and quite reasonable. The details are soft - softer than we're used to with GW kits but they're still very decent for bases, and especially so given the asking price. Just don't expect them to be on a quality par with Secret Weapon or Micro Arts or Back to Base-Ix or any other "boutique" resin bases. What is in their favour is that they're still made of HIPS, so plastic cement works perfectly with them and plastic kits, and I've found that you can easily drill tab slots into them if you want to mount slottabase minis to them without clipping off the tabs. They're also quite flat, and so work well with miniatures - whereas I find a lot of resin bases seem to want to be their own bits of unique artwork, being too raised and/or featuring too much detail. These GW ones are quite happy to let the miniatures be the stars of the event.

Yeah pretty much agree with you here. Not a fan of resin bases at the best of times.

The bases look great for what they are, as you say if they were more raised attaching miniatures would be a pain.

I think that spreading the three static Marines across a few squads is the way to go, otherwise they really stand out as sub-par sculpts.

If you need an army list written up just PM me the details of the army and equipment and I will try and get one written up for you ASAP.

This has also motivated me to revisit my IW army a la my BA. Damn youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

It's got ideas percolating for my iron warriors

Why do the Australians on Dakka Dakka that seem to share similar hobby/gaming philosophies have to be so spread out?

There's supposedly some new Chaos rules coming this September along with a revamp of Kharn the Betrayer. I just hope they do him justice...

That Gondorian army is just jaw dropping mate. The consistency and patience that that must have taken is phenomenal, I am truly in awe!

Sounds good, Damo - despite my painting focus being predominantly Fantasy for the past couple of years, I still think of myself as a "40k" player first. Just that 40k has become such a mess since I last played regularly, that the whole gaming aspect is discouraging - right when KoW renewed my interest in Fantasy that had fallen for so long. Having a game with these bloody things again would be great! I reckon our boys would look pretty impressive arrayed on the table across from one another!

AoV - I dug out my "Back to Base-IX" resin bases that are of a vaguely similar theme to these. A few are okay, though most of them are 25mm - and I'd rather use my new plastic ones for the IW cultists, and the same goes for most of the 40mm options as well. New Kharn? Sounds like a plan. For my World Eaters, at least!

Thanks Thraxas. I might get a few more units painted up and then give you some "theme" before I trouble you for a list write. Since I'm much more of a friendly/themed player over a RAW or Tournament-oriented player, I might have some "broken rules" in the list once I get more models painted. I've got a Basilisk set aside as well as an old FW Vindicator that I need to fix up for my IW for example (both were legal in the past). I need to find them! Also I need to find the other half of my IW dread that Leonard the Cat broke via a suicide drop from a shelf...

Sounds good, Theo. I look forward to seeing them!

I think you and I are about as close as it seems to get, Archer. Same city - just on the completely different sides of the sprawl!

Thank you, Oni! They just about did my patience in, unfortunately. I'll still try to get some more finished, but I think after I finish what's on the desk I'll be taking a break from Gondor by and large. The consistency does look great when they're all arrayed together, but does wear out one's patience!

This is my second “State of the Army” post, this time showing off all of the completed elements of my (Marouda’s) Undead Army at present. Like the Gondor army, I’ve been working on it on and off over the last two or so years, with a recent push during the last 6 months and the painting challenge. I’ve kept Undead on as one of my main options for the second half of 2016, though I’ve opened up my options quite a bit as painting mostly Gondor and Undead got very old by the end. The Undead aren’t so bad though, as there’s actually quite a lot of variety in there, especially when you combine “Vampire Counts”, “Tomb Kings” and even the spectral elements of Lord of the Rings in general and Mordor specifically.



These photographs were taken during the same session as the Gondor Army and 6-month showcase photos, so there has been a little more movement on these undead since then, specifically the unit base I put together for the trio of Nazgûl. I held off publishing (and writing) this post until now as I could see three sets of army showcase posts in a row getting a little tedious. Besides, I wanted to share my Spehss Mahreens.



The Barrow-Wights in the front row need to have a new unit base built for them as Mantic first Squatted them in KoWII before a protest from players (and with myself as one of the first, if not the first in the departed Beta forums) caused them to be reinstated, though now they’re “Large Infantry” with 40mm bases. I’m not going to rebase my LotR SBG figures, so I’ll be making a – hopefully slightly interesting and imposing – multibase for them. My first failed attempt already sits abandoned on my painting desk.

No comments at all for the Undead army showcase? Ouch!


I've gone and (finally) completed the last four models for my first squad of Minotaurs Space Marines. Their designation is V squad since I needed a squad number that would fit in their teeny little sculpted tactical marks, and I have almost entirely 40k 2nd Edition decals - at least easily accessible. I plan to have I squad as blinged out, II squad as somewhat less blinged, but still a little bit fancy pants. III wouldn't fit, and the old-school solution to IV and VI squads seems to be "make your own by combining the V and the I".



Three more models from Assault on Black Reach (2008), and a Missile Launcher marine from the Second Edition Boxed set (1993).



And yes. I've had that guy sitting around in various boxes ever since I bought the starter set right after release back in '93.



Looking at this squad, made of 2e and 5e models, it's amazing how little that the Space Marines have changed since their "update" from the initial run of Rogue Trader "Oldhammer" Beakies to the current form in the early 1990s. A little more bulk, and a little more bling, but very much the same series of models. And I've finally got a bunch of these starter models painted! Now working on the next squad, - VI - using some recovered secondhand marines as the base models and some resin pads including a few miscast ones. Sure, FW replaced them, but it would be wasteful to not use them anyway in some form, right?

Those brazen minotaurs are looking sweet. Really nice job Az. You keeping them parade ground or filthy img them up?

That squad looks amazing. Really great result on the armour colours. Love the 32mm bases as well. Definitely going to revisit my Iron Hands and change the bases once I get the Bretonnians finished.

Also bought a box of the new sculpted bases. Surprisingly good value I think. Going to make their first appearance when I get to the Alpha Legion.

Any plans for assault or devestator squads to go with the Tacticals?