LORD OF THE RINGS - voted BEST OVERALL DISPLAY

The Battle for Minas Tirith and the Pelennor Fields drew large crowds. The public joined in the epic battle in the struggle of good against evil by helping in a siege tower attack against the mighty walls of the city and joining the horsemen of Rohan as they battled a huge Mumakil.

This impressive model of the city made by John Shaw towered over the battlefield. John was helped on the day by Glenn Harvey and son Murray. To see lots more photos of this display, click on Games 2004 Lord of the Rings

If you want to see how this mammoth project was put together click on Lord of the Rings. Making Minas Tirith.

To see how the Mumakil was made click on Lord of the Rings. Making A Mumakil.

Dominating the main hall was the model of the giant city of Minas Tirith. Incorporating all seven levels of the city, the model was over 2.4 metres (6 feet) high above the table and over 2.4 metres (6 feet) wide. A Mumakil and four siege towers head towards Minas Tirith.

Above and below. Denethor surveying the oncoming hordes of Mordor, or maybe getting ready to jump?

It was later that Denethor regretted not inventing the bungie rope before he jumped.  

Above. Two siege towers make the wall but the two on the right hand side were both destroyed by Trebuchets.

Below. Each siege tower carried 33 orcs for the game, but it is possible to pack in more.

Above. Mordor Trolls are needed to push the heavy siege towers, but are also useful for gaining two shots per turn on the Mordor Catapults. In the scenario the catapults were used for counter battery fire against the trebuchets.

Above. Lots of trebuchet towers on the walls in between the detailed buildings. The trebuchets are brown and can be seen against the grey-white walls of the city.

Above. One of  two siege towers approaching the right side of the outer wall.

Above. John explains the rules to some newly recruited Orc commanders.

Clockwise from left top. Building based on one in the film with statue behind main gate. Siege tower. Men of Minas Tirith on the 1st wall. Another building behind the 1st wall. Another view of the Mumakil packed out with Haradrim archers.

Above. John Shaw (right) and son Murray (centre) explain how combat works in the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle game.

Above. Heavily armoured front section of a siege tower protects the orcs before they flood onto the walls.

Above. The view of the 1st wall towards the main gate. The detailed battlements were made from polymer clay. Click on Making Minas Tirith to find out more about this.

Above. The Mumakil with its deadly spiked tusks was often able to wipe out most of the riders of Rohan. But sometimes a rider would sneak through safely and manage to wound a leg. The 4 successive waves of Riders of Rohan would win the scenario if they managed to damage all four legs

Above. Riders of Rohan racing in against the Mumakil. Their battles were very close. They won two scenarios, the last of which was on the last die roll (thanks to a might point from Eowyn). They lost two other times, one of which came close where they only just failed to wound the 4th leg.

Above. Each time the wall assault scenario was played, the four trebuchets firing at the siege towers were usually able to knock out one or two siege towers before they got to the walls.

Above. Bowmen of Minas Tirith attempt to stop the onslaught as the row of swordsmen behind await the arrival of the siege towers.

Above. With the Haradrim figures released only 10 days before setup for the games day, it was an epic effort to paint 72 of them whilst finishing other pars of Minas Tirith.

Above. It is always safer to see the back end of a Mumakil.