Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Miniatures: Treebeard and Hobbits

A recent project was Treebeard from the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game (MESBG). I used a few quick and effective techniques to get him tabletop-ready with minimal effort—perfect for hobbyists looking to balance quality with efficiency.

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Step 1: Priming

I started by priming Treebeard with Army Painter Leather Brown Primer. This warm, mid-tone base works especially well for organic textures like bark and helps paint adhere more smoothly.

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Step 2: Basecoating

With the primer dry, I blocked in the main colors—earthy browns for the bark, muted greens for mossy areas, and other natural tones. At this stage, speed and solid coverage were the priorities, laying a foundation without stressing over precision.

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Step 3: Highlighting

Using lighter versions of the base colors, I added highlights to raised surfaces and textured areas. A quick drybrush over the bark and details brought out depth and helped accentuate the natural sculpt of the model.

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Step 4: Shading with Quickshade

Instead of dipping, I brushed on Quickshade, letting it flow into the recesses to create natural shadows and enhance contrast. It’s a reliable technique for fast shading that also provides a protective coat for handling during games.

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Step 5: Flocking

To finish Treebeard, I applied model tree flocking for a realistic, forest-grown look. I was initially hesitant to use flock instead of painting the foliage by hand, but this method saved a lot of time and still delivered a convincing effect at tabletop distance. A thin layer of PVA glue in targeted areas, a sprinkle of flock, and a bit of drying time was all it took to complete the look.

To enhance the base, I also added tufts of grass and small model flowers, bringing extra color and texture that tied Treebeard even more closely to his woodland environment. These small touches go a long way in elevating the final look.

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Conclusion

This five-step process—priming, basecoating, highlighting, shading, and flocking—made it easy to bring Treebeard to life quickly and effectively. The combination of painted-on Quickshade and foliage flocking offered great results with minimal time investment, proving that efficient techniques can still deliver strong visual impact on the tabletop.

Although they ride atop Treebeard, I painted Merry and Pippin using a completely different method. They were primed in white and painted almost entirely with Contrast paints. This allowed for quick application of vibrant colors and natural shading in a single step—perfect for getting small characters done efficiently while still maintaining visual punch.