April 2021 2nd Round vote is CLOSED.

[Michael O'Brien]

Thanks to all members who have taken part in the first round. There were three contenders that got through. The head of Grond had a slight lead by 3 votes.
Remember to comment as you can sway those who are undecided with a quote, some reasoning and/or a wonderful drawing or image.
As this month ends on Friday. I decided to leave it to the following Monday (May 3rd) to end the vote.

[barliman]

Not sure what I'd do with a Grond head, or what kind of model a detached head would make. (Mind you, this is perhaps because I was lucky enough some years ago to obtain an entire huge Grond model from Thomarillion before a "cease and desist" order halted its availability.) At the moment I'm therefore continuing to back the Rohirrim horn-blower I supported in round one, since these played such a significant role in the Pelennor battle.

[Halbarad II.]

Understandable,
What sense does draught-beasts and driver make if they don't pull anything?
With the addition of the head as a model, there is a chance to create the huge ram-parts with modelling materials
I know at least one or two members, who definetely will create a diorama with a pulled Grond, others will follow.

[Axel]

I imagine the rider in the moment before the line starts to move, his spear upright and the horn in the left hand, blowing to announce their change of winds.

[olivier]

I also wonder about the quantities. If all the units are produced in 100 copies but 2 or even 4 draught beasts are needed to reconstitute the set, these will be quickly sold out and there will be Grond's heads left which will be less easy to sell... Wouldn't it have been more relevant to plan a set composed of the pilot, several draught animals, Grond and the mobile structure that accompanies him? If all the units are produced in 100 copies but 2 or even 4 draught beasts are needed to reconstitute the set, these will be quickly sold out and there will be Grond's heads left which will be less easy to sell... Wouldn't it have been more relevant to plan a big vignette composed of the pilot, several draught beasts, Grond and the mobile structure that accompanies him?

[olivier]

For the rohirrim with his horn, we are of course talking about a foot soldier, aren't we?

[Axel]

Nope. I suggested a MOUNTED mini, but the rider alone, to fit upon the horse of MM201 (currently on clearance sale for €6.58.

This means we get a mounted Rohirrim without a horse.

As to the Draught beasts... IF I will make a diorama, it will be probably showing Grond at the gate. The Draught beasts will not be able to draw it up to the wall (for spacial problems), so the last short distance Grond will likely be pushed by Orks or more likely Trolls. I will use the single Draugh beast on the sideline, in the process of being led away. Perhaps I will make a killed beast with some lumps of Greenstuff. I am not sure, however, on wether I will find the time to do that - in my mind its always far easier then to place it on a table :-)

In response to Barliman - Thormarillon has a "final sale", with a comparatively cheap (mdf) ram. It looks a bit on the realistic, means small, side for representing Grond, but I will definitely try to find an existing ram to modify before I start to scratchbuild one from zero.

[ddaines]

Apr 25, 2021 8:11:31 GMT Axel said:

........

As to the Draught beasts... IF I will make a diorama, it will be probably showing Grond at the gate. The Draught beasts will not be able to draw it up to the wall (for spacial problems), so the last short distance Grond will likely be pushed by Orks or more likely Trolls. I will use the single Draugh beast on the sideline, in the process of being led away. Perhaps I will make a killed beast with some lumps of Greenstuff. I am not sure, however, on wether I will find the time to do that - in my mind its always far easier then to place it on a table :-)..........

The scene at the Gate is what I personally would envisage (based upon the McBride painting) for the Grond Head  and would include the Gandalf and the Witch-King vignette (ironically as mentioned elsewhere, I had previously suggested the Grond but can't remember if it was rejected as an idea or just didn't get the support, hence not bothering to re-suggest it, LOL ).

The Draught Beasts I will (probably) simply use with the Driver figure when released as your points make perfect sense Axel regarding the distance.

[barliman]

As an aside, I personally think that the "great beasts" that drew Grond were larger creatures than the excellent (no, I'd go so far as to say superb) aurochs just produced by Mithril, which I envisage as towing Wainrider wagons and smaller siege engines than Grond; they're certainly too small to "go mad and spread stamping ruin among the orcs innumerable that guarded it", as JRRT describes. (For my own Grond I use several of the "Great Beast" figure from the Collectors' Model figure series.) It's even possible that JRRT actually means mumaks whenever he says "great beasts",

[Axel]

If one of these "auerochs" goes berserk he will most certainly spread ruin, especially when the guardians are of the smaller type of orcs (likely, as herding is probably not a job for the great orks and Uruks). It depends upon the size of Grond, but using 24 draft animals for war engines was not unheard of. Siege towers could be pretty large in ancient and medieval times. Using larger and stronger animals makes of course sense when available, and having Mumaks and probably the ability to command their usage, the actually used animals must have an advantage over these. Perhaps Mumakil are no good drawers, having to move their own heavy weight around.

I am pretty content with Grond winning this month - as I found a way to sneak in mounted riders (wiwthout a mount) into single mini-month, I can resuggest my Rider next month, and not the next "mounted month" which happens once per year at most. :-)
Who knows - once he won, I can suggest a more fitting mount as a single mini later :-)

[Halbarad II.]

The Rohirrim blowing a horn will also have my support next time for sure!
on foot or on horseback, either way

[Axel]

To say it Entish: Don't be hasty. Lets see what other suggestions will show up. One day the Rohirrim will blow his horn :-)

Congrats to Grond - looking forward to Chris version!