Epic fail & finished Gondor Trebuchet – scratchbuilt model 🎯

So here it is – my Gondor Trebuchet scratch-built model is finally done, and I wanted to share some last details about the build.

Modeling materials & miniature details

Besides balsa and PVA, I used XPS foam for the carved stone projectile and Milliput to shape the sling. Recently I came across a tutorial suggesting mixing Green Stuff with Milliput to create your own epoxy blend that combines the best of both: the rigidity and durability of Milliput with the flexibility of Green Stuff. You just need to find the proportions that work for your project. In my case it was roughly a 3:1 mix in favour of Milliput.

The chain came from a local haberdashery shop – repainted and sealed with CA glue. Thin cardboard became the metal borders of the counterweight, and tiny droplets of PVA stood in for rivets. Balsa (you can read more about it in the previous post HERE) worked surprisingly well at this scale, looking convincing right away, though I added some extra weathering with a wire brush and hobby knife to give it that veteran, battle-worn look.

Comparison with the original Games Workshop model

For comparison, in the photo below you can see my scratchbuilt trebuchet standing next to the old metal model from Games Workshop. That miniature was probably bought 15+ years ago (already glued and painted back then)… and yes, it desperately needs a repaint someday 😉

👉 Epic painting fail – the brown-wash distaster

So far everything went pretty smoothly. Sure, there were some ups and downs with cutting balsa, but that was merely a minor inconvenience.

And now about that epic fail: after all the weathering and texture work, I thought, “Hey, a quick brown wash will tie everything together, right?” Well… turns out balsa drinks liquid like a thirsty dragon. The wash seeped into the glued joints, and suddenly about 70% of the model collapsed in front of me.

After waiting impatiently for everything to dry, I had to rebuild the trebuchet almost from scratch. At least this time most parts were already prepainted — but the experience made me too wary to risk more watery paints. So I settled for a light drybrush, called it finished, and moved on.

Lesson (partially) learned

Balsa wood, often described as a very user-friendly material, surprised me twice during this project. While these were valuable lessons for future builds, I’m still not sure how to paint it safely. I like the wash effect on it, but to avoid another brown-wash disaster I will probably need to either:

- seal it first with… something?* If you have any experience or suggestions – please share! 😉

- prepaint the elements with wash before assembly.

Mixing Milliput with Green Stuff was a great idea though, and I already have a few ideas where to use it again in future miniature projects.

Final effects – showcase and 360 spin

All in all, I’m really happy with the build itself, even if the painting left me with mixed feelings. Still, it was a great learning experience, and I hope you enjoy the final result.

Below you can see a short video with a 360° spin of the finished trebuchet scratch-built model.

Reminder – FREE BLUEPRINTS!

If you want to build your own copy of this beautiful siege weapon, check my first post of this project HERE, where you can find technical drawings with dimensions and even free PDF blueprints for download.

Thanks for reading and for now… FOR GONDOR!

*If there’s anything else I should know about working with balsa… please tell me before the next project. 😉