Well here I am - 91 issues later. Its been a long ride.
Issue 90 comes with farmer Maggot, and three dogs. Apart from the conversion sprue, this is the most metal miniatures you with an issue. Astounding huh? There are rules for playing with the Hobbits that live in the Shire, some cardstock guys to play it with, and the Battlee for the Shire Scenario starts. The baseboard for this game is really fancy, with some nice scenery. The painting guide paints the farmer with white-ish clothes (avoid! - avoid!) The Modelling workshop is for a battered hobbit hole - which looks good, and some fields, which also look quite realistic.

The final issue - number 91 comes with a metal Sharkey, which by an amazing co-incidence is the name of my predecessor in my new job. Putting that aside the issue gives you some rules for him and his Rogues, to help them scourge the Shire, and the remaining battle report for the Shire Scenario started in 90. There are some cardstock hobbits, and some more ruffians for the game. The obligatory painting guide looks sort of straight forward. I have mounted Sharkey ready to paint, but life and more important things than painting has got in the way of that. Finally there is a really excellent scratchbuild Mill to finish the series off.
My only regret, (apart from the colossal cost) is that the mag just finishes. Usually on the back there was a teaser for the next issue. Yet on this there is just an advert for back issues - they could have at least put a thank-you for staying with us this long.
Oh well. Thats commercialism.

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Not a long post this one. But here is a momentous image. The message from the invoice on the last delivery of BGIME. Yes its arrived.
But I've just started a new job, so havent got a lot of time to post. I feel like there should be some kind of celebration but I'll just leave it with this rather dull, but rather significant picture for now.

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88 has a metal Lord of Dol Amroth miniature, decorated in a fetching blue and white. There is a scenario and rules for staging a battle at Dol Amroth, defending the fortress. I comes with 6 card stock miniatures, of mounted Knights of the afore mentioned fortress. Prince Imrahill gets the nice painting guide treatment which I’m itching to do, the miniature was mounted before I wrote this and I’m waiting for the glue to dry. Then there is an excellent model of the fortress which isn’t too big, and I really want to make this one.

89 comes with Woses, well one Woses to be exact, namely Ghan-Buri-Ghan (forgive me for not doing the diacritics) This model is reminiscent of the orc shaman model, as he stands the same way. As he likes to ambush beings, there are instructions for this and a scenario entitled the Dangerous Journey, where the Rohirrim travel down a secret road on the way to Minish Tirith. We get a painting guide, detailed as ever but this guy has interesting face painting to ruin your lovely graded flesh tones. Finally there are some traps that he can set, in the modelling workshop. Not too exciting but there is a nice one where an uruk-hai finds himself upside down suspended from a tree by the trap.

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Issue 86 comes with a metal Suladan, who I admit having no recollection of (although it is years ago that I read the LOTR trilogy) He’s quite a colourful miniature with a rather fetching shiny gold mask. Obviously as he wasn’t in the film there is a rather weak drawing of him on the front cover, not that I could do any better though. After some rules for the Haradrim, we have a Battle in the desert scenario, where they get to fight the Gondorians. Then Suladin gets a four page painting guide with a rather juicy looking inner purple cloak. The modelling workshop gives you ideas how to make desert boards (!! Blocks with sand on – big deal) But they do show you a blue tent at the end, but apart from the blue bit this has been done before.
BGIME 87 comes with a Hasharin assassin. This is a nice metal miniature and doesn’t really look LOTRish. Although he sports black outer robes (Ask a Ninja) he has the Haradrim colourful inner clothing. Next comes an expansion of the Grand Strategies rules for the uses of races and forces in the game, followed by a desert forces Scenario.
The assassin gets another four page painting guide – must do this one – I like this miniature and hope that I can do it justice. I feel like some more paint purchasing might me needed though as my paint collection looks decidedly earthy at the moment.
The modelling section has some really good looking desert buildings which make up for the ‘modelling sand’ section last time. I might make some of these just on principle. There are some nice detailing effects, such as embedding some brick plasicard into foam board to give the impression that the render has fallen from the wall due to damage. There are also some nice interior details including rugs and a swimming pool!! Then there is a wall that is used in the scenario earlier to make.
Four more magazines, two more deliveries to go..

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Two more arrived, both with more of a literary than a film theme. Both issues have metal miniatures. 84 comes with Durburz, the Goblin King. He is commanding the evil forces in the Drums in the deep scenario, which is followed by a Moria and Dwarf-y game. The painting guide is again top notch, as all the recent articles have been. I think I already have this figure, but the general scheme isn’t much different than the original goblin models. Finally there is an excellent article on building a Moria gaming board, with lots of ‘been taken over by goblin’ touches. Nice. Big! But nice.
85 comes with a survey in which you could win £100 of Games Workshop vouchers! Closing date is 31st MAY!!! Should I say that this arrived in August? But you get a nice Balin dwarf , some instructions about battling with Dwarves, and then a scenario with the Balrog (versus the Dwarves, not verses Gandalf and the fellowship) Of course this need a spectacular gaming board, and there are instructions on how to build one, with really bright, glowing red lava. Balins painting guide is even more detailed. Again the dwarves bring some much needed colour into the middle earth figures range. Next time is Suladan… Who?
So. We’re on the home run for part-work deliveries. Six more issues to get me to number 91. It also looks as if all of the remaining models will be metal, which is good. (on a must-get-them-painted sort of level) Issue 90 looks fun, with Farmer Maggot and all three dogs. I wonder if they will be separate? I also wonder what is in store for the final issue – how do they go out with a bang? There should be some reward for us idiots who’ve stayed subscribed to the bitter end.. Will my fellowship stand ever arrive? We’ll wait and see.
I assume that my postings will drop when the issues stop coming through the door. At the moment it gives me a nudge to post to this site, so it cant be a bad thing.

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Well as they arrived tonight I thought I better get these blogged as well. Issue 82 (only 8 more till the end!!) comes with a Mordor Shaman metal figure. Thats quite a few consecutive metal figures, I wonder if I'll get to the end of the series now without any more sprues? I can hope! The Mag starts with issues around Shamet tactic and how you use them in the games. There follows a Rivendell campaign and a painting tutorial. In the Campaign pages there was this really good looking statue, but then on the painting pages a tatty old tent that the shamen is standing in front of. 'That'll be the scratch build then,' I though. But no - its the statue. I'd really like to make that but it uses that dense foam. Its pink in most builds, but this time its yellow. And I dont know where to get it from. Oh well wouldnt get time to make it anyway.
With 83 comes a metal miniature just marked 'DWARF' on its base slot. Inside its revealed as a Dwarf Captain. Now I like Dwarfs. I like the concept of Dwarfs (even the totally different Dwarves in Eoin Colfer Stories...) But dont really get on with painting them. Anyway some rules and Stats for Dwarf, probably from Shadow and Flame, Some more card dwarves and a battle game in Moria. Theres a painting guide to paint your Dwarf 'Nice Blue' (My description) and then some scratch builds of general Moria rooms and scenery.

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Had these for ages and the photo taken to upload them, but today the next issues arrived so I better get going.
80 has Tom Bombadil included, and a scenario with him and Goldbury versus the nasties,
There are some cardstock khazad guards, barroweights a goldberry and some elve twins (or are they brothers?) And some cool Barrow tomb stratch builds, which suggest using real bits of Slate. I was also impressed by the little model money sacks as well. Sweet.
81 has Glorfindel as the metal miniature with a Defenders of Rivendell Scenario and rules. No card pieces this time but the painting guide for the elf and then a rather nice painted Rivendell Hall. Really nice but the diamond shaped tiles on the roof let it down a bit in my opinion.

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This has to be the last Aragorn! Issue 78 comes with him as King Elessar, in a colourful costume with his sword raised above his head for a hard chopping blow. It has what looks like the last parts of the campaign with "The end of All things" campaign conclusions. You get the idea for a Mount Doom set in the moddelling workshop, which is quite nice as it works from both sides (inside and outside the mountain)
Issue 79 moves away from the films, and back to the books, with Radagast. I already have this figure, and painted it a few months ago. I'd like to say it would go on ebay, but my king of the dead didnt go for very much, even when I painted it, so I dont know. Theres a bit about Radagast and how to use his magic, then a scenario called Kill the Wizard. Then you get to build him a log cabin using real wood - quite clever - but looks like it would take ages to make. Involves finding real wood (twigs that are straight and all the same size) and then constructing the cabin very much like a real one, apart from it uses Dremel's and not chainsaws.

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On an absolute roll with these issues, got home at 5pm and they were on the doormat. I was releived to see that there were only two metal figures in this delivery again. As you can see by the picture I have completed all but two of the supplied pieces... Well, maybe not, for some unfathomable reason I decided to make the card pieces up, to give me a set of easterlings, which came with issue 77.
But back to issue 76 first. This came with a Legolas, which I'm not sure if I have or not, but armed with my quick setting epoxy I managed to get this cleaned and mounted and then painted in about 30 minutes. The issue, however, begins with the start of the Return of the King Campaign, with sections on Shelob's lair and the assault on Osgiliath, then a Capture the Fleet game with a Corsair ship which Aragon arrives on. Then there is a really good section on painting Legolas, with some pretty stunning close up photos of him being painted. This is a really nice article which makes up for the awful one at the start of the series. And then you can 'scratch build' a fantastic Corsair ship that was used in the game earlier. Wonderful looking sails on this - amazingly made out of paper towels.

Issue 77 turns to the Easterlings and the Black gate into Mordor. It starts with a battle for Gondor Scenario, then a The End of All Things game, where the hobbits have to finally destroy the ring. This game uses some cut out fellbeasts which come with the issue. Then it turns to the gate and what is happening to the rest of the Armies. Then you get to paint the Easterling captain which you satisfyingly get to undercoat Hawk Turquoise, which I did tonight - the same day it arrived! But then stumped at first base, I needed Dwarf Bronze then, which I dont have - oh well. Finally for this issue you get to make the black gate, with working hindges made out of a Pringles can...
Finished the evening by basing a few of my models, and generally sorting stuff out. Got about 7 primered models out, about 25 basecoated, and 4 more nearly finished. I've got to get some batch work done soon to get a handle on this.

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A grusome front cover for a grusome issue. This comes with a metal conversion sprue which is really interesting.
The theme of this issue is Heros of Middle Earth. The concuding article on battle companies is followed by a piece on larger battles and then some company scenarios.
There are then 3 pages of conversions based on the sprues. These are more ideas than full blown guides. One of the sprue pieces is a metal crossbow to use to convert one of the uruk-hai pike men. As I have loads of these that break sooner than looking at them, it is a nice way to breath some life into these damaged models. There are some fists, some wands, some weopons and some heads to change some of the plasic pieces. One great looking one is an old blokes head to put on one of the gondorian models. I'll definately try that one.
Finally theres a new head to add to a plastic ork to turn him into a hero, he has an emergency back up head attached to the spike on his helmet for good measure. All in all a very useful sprue.
The model section just explains about dioramas, and shows you a few. Again not really a guide.
Good set of issues these two. Only 15 to go!

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Well I'm glad that for once I managed to get a few posts in between deliveries of the magazines. This one is quite good though with a metal Lord of the Nazgul figure, with a nice pointy hat!
Articles are provided on Battle companies, and then a witch-king and fell beast scenario. Details of how to paint the model, which looks a strait forward hours work - might try that quickly tonight along with my king of the dead.
There then follow a bit about terrain and boards, including a 'Where do you store them' comment. Then some example battlefields, the Bree looks lovely and the Shelob's layer is quite nice.

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I've had these reviews written for a couple of days, but been waiting to take the pictures of the mags. Decided I better get around to it tonight.
Heres the other two:
Issue 72 comes with more plastic orcs – I really must finish my other half painted ones, but also gives a few examples of painting these in a different style to the ones I did – so I might use that for inspiration. Two massive card Fellbeasts with the witch king and another wraith. And the conclusion of the Minas Tirith battle report. Some more guides on pinning figures, painting large models, wargs, shelob and a Morgul Army – some good pictures and tips here, much more like the articles in White Dwarf used to be. Finally you have instructions to make a rather good looking siege tower.

BGIME 73 has two armoured Merry and Pippin Characters, which I don’t own, (but really must get around to painting the Merry and Pippin I do own first) It starts however with pages on assembling battle companies, and then outlines some for Mordor and Gondor. After the again comprehensive guide to painting Merry and Pippin, you get some pages about modelling details, such as battlefield casualties, book cases, weapon racks and Tables full of food. The two guys here are probably the only ones from this delivery that I will get around to painting.

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So four more arrived – with two sprues and 3 metal miniatures.
BGIME70 is Haradim themed, so you get a sprue with a set of these guys and a painting guide. These are really colourful compared to most other characters in the game, but they also provide several other colour variations for painting these. The scab red/desert yellow/bleached bone is by far the best one. The modelling workshop is a boring set of Pelennor Fields base boards. Nothing to see here, please move along. You get some mounted forces of good, namely Gamling, Eowyn, Theoden and a couple of royal guards in the cutout range to play the Siege of Minas Tirith scenarios.
Issue 71 I was interested in as it came with a Metal King of the Dead, which I think I might have already shown a painted version of – this one will probably end up on ebay. I wanted to see how they had painted this because I struggled to find a painting guide for them. Their guide was very complex, but I think my way of doing it more batch orientated was much easier, and produced pretty similar results. The only thing I learned was that the king has a robe that fades from red to the glowing green, so I might repaint mine – but probably not. You get a full set of card army of the dead – but I have these already – to continue with the Minas Tirith scenario from the last issue. Scratch builds are simple details of Pelennor, some docks, a ridge and some urban boards.

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Issue 66 is a break from the norm as it comes with a campaign map with cut out pieces and markers and rules for running a campaign this way. An article on converting the supplied riders of Rohan comes next, with instructions on how to build destroyed cottages.
Issue 67 has more parts of campaign, building on from previous issues. IT comes with loads of "Wild men of Dunland' cutouts, and some horse models for the riders supplied last time. More conversions for the horses, and some hovels that you can build for the cutout wild men to live in.
Issue 68 comes with several plastic wargs, something that has never appealed and I have never owned, however the painting guides outline how to paint these in brown, white and black, with separate pages for each colour, with a filler article about landscapes, yawn.
Finally issue 69 has some riders to sit on the wargs, more campaign ideas, a pretty pathetic article on 'assembling the riders' with no new paint ideas. Finally there's an article about creating a cute scratchbuild Wagon Train thingy, which ties in with one of the scenarios.

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65 comes with a mounted figure whom I couldn’t immediately recognise – which turns out to be Theodred, if you follow these posts (the counter keeps on going up so someone must be reading them…) you know I don’t get on with mounted models unless they have a metal horse, because they are way too fragile, made worse by the fact they are hard to store.
There are some rules and a guide to using different weather conditions in the game – which – if I played, would be useful, followed by The Fords of Isen scenario. Instructions on painting Theodred are followed by a guide to making winter terrain. Not the most useful issue for me.

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Hot on the tail of the last two issues, BGIME 64 and 65 have now arrived. 64 starts with some filler articles, and then a Escape from Edoras scenario, which spans for several pages. Then an article on painting the supplied standing Eomer, which I could take or leave. A mostly metallic and armour clad figure, which does have a few red leather straps to brighten him up a bit – this figure might go straight to ebay… The scratch build is a rather large Rohan Stable – which as I still haven’t finished my Rohan house (or indeed my Bree house) I’ll give a miss. For something you cant climb over though I think this one is much too big.

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A nice smiling Golum greets you when you open the packet, as well as the Golum eating fish miniature, that I didnt have. I'll be painting Golum and Bilbo from Issue 63 as soon as I get a spare evening.
Theres Golum rules and a painting guide, and The Path to Mordor, The Forbidden Pool and Shelobs Lair scenarios, with a card Shelob, supplied with Gothmog, and a standing and mounted Mouth of Sauron, which arent used in the scenario.
The forbidden pool is also described as a scratch build, and it looks really good, although it does have the Games Workshop designers skills behind it. It has a waterfall dropping to the pool, and several high ledges that you can stand miniatures on. Much too big for me to store and build, but impressive to say the least. I'd love to put a picture of it on here, but I dont want to get into any hassle about publishing them.

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Well I mean that I only just finished some painting before these issues arrived. Smug Grin. And as a good link, Bilbo has a very smug grin on the cover. Theres a couple of Scenarios, Ambush at Amon Hen, one update to a previous one, and a Gifts from the Elves section as well as Ambush in Hobbiton. The Bilbo Baggins miniature that you get with this issue has a nice brightly coloured painting guide, which I WILL use. And the scratch build is a really good looking Hobbit hole, which, given the chance, I'll build.

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BGIME issue 61. With a metal Strider. The one thing I could do without at the mo is another Aragorn, I nearly have as many of these as uruk hai.. I dont care about the rest of this issue - although i may use the painting guides to try and finish my other aragorns.. But the model section at the end is excellent. There are some wonderful tudor style 'village of Bree' buildings, including the prancing pony. This has come at a real brilliant time, as roo is doing some work about the great fire of london at the moment, and wants to make a model of the houses.. Chi-Ching!

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Issue 60 sports a morose Sean Bean wearing a shiny military number. The campaign continues with a "Counsel of Elrond' article, and a War in Osgiliad scenario.
The painting section describes the painting of the included Boromir, using a startling 21 different paints and ink. Thats about £36 worth of paint if you dont have them - you can see what a great hobby this is - even more so if you are the supplier!! The finished model looks good - but I'm sure you can do it with less paint than that.
After that there is a really cool page that encourages you go go back and redo the boromir from the fellowship that you got way back with issue 11. I thought this was a real good idea, as if you only started painting due to BGIME, then making these additions will 'make it the equal of your more recent figures' Modeling section has some funky siege weapons out of balsa wood - a good and way cheaper way of obtaining some.

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