Lord of the Rings (MESBG) lot painted to Level 2: War Mûmak of Harad, Dead of Dunharrow, Tom Bombadil, Saruman, Galadriel and the White Council.
Private commission · Level 2 · Delivered in December 2025. Extensive miniature lot for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game painted to our Level 2 standard. Ranges from the massive War Mûmak of Harad to spectral forces of the Dead of Dunharrow and legendary heroes like Tom Bombadil, Saruman and the White Council.
The project
Delivered in December 2025, this varied commission brings together several factions and legendary characters of Middle-earth for Games Workshop's Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game (MESBG). It was painted to our Level 2 (Standard Studio Level), a standard designed to maximise visual contrast on the gaming table and keep large armies or very large pieces logistically viable.
The visual anchor of the project is the gigantic War Mûmak of Harad. To handle the oliphaunt's massive scale without losing definition, the skin texture was brought out with successive drybrushing/overbrushing layers in smoky greys, contrasting strongly with the desaturated red of the siege howdah and the aged ivory of the tusks. At the other end, the Dead of Dunharrow feature a fast and highly effective spectral scheme based on blue-green technical inks over pale primers, creating the ghostly aura of the oathbreakers of the mountains.
The heroic part of the commission is extensive and demands absolute respect for classic lore. Clean colour blocking defines iconic figures such as Saruman, Legolas, Elrond and several versions of Galadriel (including Celeborn and the Mirror). Tom Bombadil and Goldberry stand out in particular, with vibrant colours faithful to the books —including Tom's unmistakable yellow boots and bright blue jacket— setting them apart from the generally sober tone of the saga.
Every miniature, regardless of faction, is tied together by a standardised basing scheme. Fine natural earth, shade washes and dry grass tufts unify elves, spirits and southern beasts in the same earthy, realistic Middle-earth setting.
Featured techniques
- Macro-Texture Overbrushing: fast drybrushing and grey layers over the Mûmak's deep sculpt to bring out the elephant's rough skin.
- Spectral Wash Effects: ghostly technical inks that tint the robes and armour of the Dead of Dunharrow with full consistency.
- Lore-Accurate Colour Blocking: strict, saturated schemes on unique characters (blue and yellow for Tom Bombadil, grey and pale-blue elven robes).
- Standardized Middle-earth Basing: earth and arid vegetation bases that place every faction in a shared visual context.
Miniatures included
- 1x War Mûmak of Harad (oliphaunt) with red siege howdah.
- 4x Warriors of the Dead of Dunharrow and 4x casualty markers.
- 2x Elf warriors with golden armour, two-handed blades and blue cloaks.
- Characters and heroes: Tom Bombadil, Goldberry, Saruman the White, Legolas, Elrond, Galadriel (light and spectral versions), Celeborn and the Mirror of Galadriel.
System: Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game (MESBG) · Haradrim, Elves, Spirits and Heroes.
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