Build me an army worthy of Mordor…
Pictured above is a 500 point Isengard army for Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game. I built and painted this army over 4 months, for a slow grow league with my local gaming club. ‘Slow grow’ as a concept is essentially an excuse to start a new army every January. You start with low points – only a handful of models, then each month add more models, until you have a full fighting force at the end.
Fun fact: I bought some of these uruk-hai 20 years ago, and only recently painted them in 2026! How’s that for lifetime warranty.
“It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.”
Samwise Gamgee
Say Hello
Greetings Hobbyist!
Thanks for visiting my blog! Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:
Completed Projects: Mainly progressing a Black Templars army, an Isengard army, and a 20 year backlog of mismatched Middle Earth SBG models.
Battle Reports: My games are mostly 40k games or Middle Earth SBG tournaments. Immersing in both these communities has meant squaring up against armies of all shapes and sizes, so I’ll try to share a variety of matches!
Lore Drops: In early 2026, after finally getting to grips with the 10th Edition 40K rules, I joined a group of veteran crusade players for an Armageddon crusade. In a nutshell, crusade games add an extra narrative element to the game, allowing you to flesh out characters and build some great stories.
While teams of Imperium, Chaos and Xenos factions fight for control of Armageddon, there are also prizes for painting and lore. This was the first time I’d tried creative writing since school… and I loved it! As the narrative around my characters develops, I’ll share lore from battles they’ve fought.
Painting Guides: I started painting warhammer back in 2006, hooked by the old Lord of the Rings strategy game models, many of which are still in production today! After an almost 20 year hiatus in 2024, the first thing that hit me was the steep learning curve. Inspired by Warhammer box art, Golden Demon, White Dwarf and other pinnacles of painting culture, I decided to double down on the craft of miniature painting.
I understand that there’s a steep learning curve. I’ve seen painters at all levels become frustrated and overwhelmed with the time and effort required to finish impressive looking models. I created these painting guides to help new painters or burnt out painters get over that hurdle. I’ll share what works for me and tips to get satisfying results with minimal expertise.
Terrain and Dioramas: Terrain building was a part of the hobby I fell into very early. I was obsessed with recreating famous scenes from Lord of the Rings like the Bridge of Khazad Dum and Helm’s Deep.
it’s also a part of the hobby that’s way less complicated than miniature painting once you get the hang of it!
WIPs: What I’m working on, what challenges I’m facing and what I’ve learnt – so you don’t have to make the same mistakes that I do (ahem thin your paints).
Finally, if you’re a fellow hobbyist please feel welcome to get in touch! Instagram is currently the best place to contact me, link’s at the bottom of the page.
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