Work continues with Amon Hen - I kinda promised to have the terrain & figures on display at the local hobby show in little less than three weeks, so much like with the Watcher's Pool terrain a year ago, I have again given myself a very hard deadline.
But on with the show - I've created molds for the Seeing Seat parts, as well as Helm's Deep columns. I'll use the latter mold later. Mixing the hardener with the RTV rubber was a bit messy.
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Moldmaking1_zpsc279e7c7.jpg)
I painted the rubber on the Seeing Seat parts first to ensure air bubble free molds.
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Moldmaking2_zps5930969e.jpg)
Although the instructions said the working time with the mixed rubber was half an hour, I noted that the mixture was starting to get noticeably harder almost instantly. I had no choice but to pour the mixture on the Helm's Deep mold box and hope for the best.
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Moldmaking3_zps89c1b331.jpg)
Luckily, the molds turned out rather fine. Only one of the columns in the Helm's Deep mold had plenty of air bubble holes, and I can live with that.
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Moldmaking4_zpscaf0550d.jpg)
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Moldmaking5_zps404295ef.jpg)
The rubber instructions said to let the molds be for 3-4 days before casting, so I haven't added the cast parts to the Seeing Seat yet. Nevertheless, I've basecoated the Parth Galen and other bits black.
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Basecoat_zps8b2f538b.jpg)
I've also started work on a 90x40 cm bit to represent the shoreline of Anduin. I've given this piece a priority over the other terrain parts... I remember how long it took for Woodland Scenics Realistic Water to harden, so I don't want to cast water only a couple of days before the model show.
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Anduinshore1_zps327be88b.jpg)
Finally, I've added four dead evil (Evil Dead?) models just to dress up the display for the model show:
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Casualties_zps1cab6d5c.jpg)
The 39 Uruks (including Uglúk and two Lurtzes) have received their share of tin bitz / chainmail drybrush and scorched brown. Next they'll receive dark flesh (although Uglúk should rather get something akin to very dark grey/purple - I'll experiment to find a suitable color).
![Image](http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u638/Celevue/Behind%20the%20scenes/Amon%20Hen/Uruksdrybrushbrown_zpsceee3b0d.jpg)
I skipped painting dying Boromir late last year when I batch painted heroes, because I wanted to keep the option of modifying him into dying with a sword / axe wound instead of arrows. Now he comes back and bites me... but I still have plenty of days to paint him for the display, too - I just have to leave the arrows fairly loose. I'd also like to paint another Gimli (with elven cloak). Let's see if I have enough time, or if I have to either remove my other Gimli from the dwarven statue base, or, alternatively, hide the statue behind a bush. We wouldn't have any dwarven statues at Amon Hen, now would we?
More work with the shoreline to follow, as well as dry-fitting of all the individual pieces to anchor the overall board layout. More pics to follow rather rapidly throughout the next couple of weeks.