Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge XIII Submission #5 - Units of the BEF (Balin's Expeditionary Force)

This week's submission is a mix of units from Balin's Expeditionary Force for the reconquest of Khazad-dûm, commonly known as Moria or the Dwarrowdel, It consists of a box of 24 plastic Dwarf Warriors, a box of 24 Dwarf Rangers, 22 metal Dwarf Warriors, and three resin figures from the Dwarf Command set, all produced by Games Workshop. I had picked up the metal figures over a decade ago, and had used some to form a seven figure Battle Company. I later expanded this group into a larger force using additional plastic figures that were eBay rescues to form Nali's Household. The two boxes of plastic figures I had purchased new more recently, while the three resin figures were acquired in late November of last year.

In terms of detail, I liked the metal figures best. It is interesting that they were sculpted wearing chainmail, while the later plastic figures were sculpted wearing a coat of plates. The resin figures were based directly on earlier metal figures. They have the same detail, but are more fragile, and the banner pole was very warped.

The only assembly required on the plastic figures were the separate shields on eight of the Dwarf Warriors. I left these on the sprue until all the painting was complete, and then glued them in place with super glue. All the figures were fitted to their slotted bases, and some small pebbles and sand were glued to the base using PVA glue.

They were then primed black with either a rattle can or an airbrush. Painting was done primarily using Vallejo acrylics, although I used a few colors from some old containers of Partha paints that were still in good shape, specifically True Blue and Bronze Metallic. I also used some Citadel washes, especially on the Dwarf Rangers. Here is the end result.

 

A Host of Dwarves

Dain's Household 

Dain's Household consists of 8 dwarves with hand axe and shield, 8 dwarves with two-handed axe, and 8 dwarves with bow, plus a captain and a banner. Nine of the figures are metal, the captain and banner are resin, and the rest are plastic. The main colour I used for their tunics was blue, a few with yellow trim. I used the same blue on their shields, while the banner was painted with a combination of blue and yellow. 

 

Dain's Household

A closeup of the Banner and Captain

Dwarf Rangers

The composition of the ranger company is similar to that of Dain's Household, except none carry shields. Instead of hand axe and shield, 8 of the rangers wield two throwing axes. The ranger figures have nice animation in the sculpts, and were very enjoyable to paint. I gave them all green tunics and leather jerkins but used four different shades of green, and four different shades of light brown. Vallejo Leather Brown was used for all the boots, belts, pouches, and quivers, and a medium grey for the trousers. Vallejo Beige Brown was used for all the bows, ax handles and arrow shafts. I then applied a wash of Agrax Earthshade before painting the cloaks using a light grey.

 

Rangers with eyes of hawks and ears of foxes

The Remnants of Lóni's and Frár's Households

 I was left with 13 metal figures, 10 plastic figures, and 1 resin figure which were 4 dwarves with two-handed axes, 7 dwarves with hand axe and shield, 12 dwarves with bows, and the war horn. The backstory I created for them is that they are all that is left of two households involved in the defence of Durin's Bridge and the Second Hall. As the Dwarf forces fell back from the bridge, Lóni's Household was surrounded and overwhelmed with only 4 dwarves with bows managing to escape. With the number of goblins growing ever larger, Frár asked for four volunteers from those in his household armed with two-handed axes to defend the entrance to the Second Hall and buy time for the rest to fall back to safety. Neither Frár nor his volunteers survived. They are painted in a similar style to Dain's Household but I used dark green on the tunics of Lóni's four surviving bows, and red for Frár's household.

 

All that remains of Frár's and Lóni's Households

 

A closeup of the war horn

 

 I have a few more character figures in the painting queue, but the bulk of my Dwarves are now done. Thanks for reading.