Nirnaeth Arnoediad

Morgoth sent a vanguard of some 100,000 orcs to the foot of the Ered Wethrin, to coax the Elvish Army to attack. King Fingon (standing on the parapets of his fortress Barad Eithel, seen in the lower right-center of photo), with his Western Army planned on waiting for Maedros and his Eastern Army to advance up from the south first and then to attack with combined forces. So while the orcs stood at the base of the Mountains of Shadow, the Elves and their Edain allies bided their time...

To bring more pressure to bear on the Elves, Morgoth's orcs brought forth a prisoner they took at the Dagor Bragollach (Battle of Sudden Flames). He was the Elf Gelmir, brother of Gwindor of Nargothrond. He was tortured by having his hands and feet cut off, then finally beheaded (note the center orc)...

The view towards the Ered Wethrin, from Angband. That is Barad Eithel in the center (you can see King Fongon a little right of center), with the Edain on the left, Elves from Hithlum in center; those from Nargothrond right of center; Elves from Falas on right; and Morgoth's orcs in foreground)...

Unfortunately for Fingon's plans, the Elves stationed under cover, directly in front of the execution of Gelmir, was none other than Gwindor, his brother! Unable to withstand the gruesome murder of Gelmir, Gwindor, followed by his men, charged the orc herald! The battle was on!

The view southward across the Anfauglith towards Himring (left) and the passage of the Sirion (right). The fires of Dagor Bragollach had burned more of the land, but I wanted some contrast for my field and so left some of the plain only browned...

View towards Angband (upper edge, and right of center) ) with the Fens of Serech in the lower right. The right flank of Fingon's Western Army is seen to the left of the Fens...

Feanor

Had already perished in battle before Nirnaeth Arnoediad, but how can the Wars of the Silmarils be discussed w/o the "mightiest in all parts of body and mind: in valor, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and subtlety alike: of all the Children of Iluvatar, and a bright flame was in him." Feanor...
  

He is a Pathfinder miniature, who fit my image of the Noldor King...

The Dwarves and Men of Maedros' Eastern Army

Coming from their chief strongholds, Belegost and Nogrod, the Dwarves were led by Azaghal (unfortunately forgot where online I found this, looking for a totally armored-up dwarf)...

His bodyguard consists of GW Grim Hammers, as above, was searching for totally armored Dwarves that could resist dragon-fire!

To flesh out the rest of the dwarfish force, I dug into my old collection of Der Kreigspeiers...

Next up, the Men of Bor, starting with the chief himself (a very old unidentified Celtic figure)...

Then his three sons, Borlad, Borlach, and Borthand (again, so old I don't remember where they originated)...

The the warriors of Bor, made up of a Minifig D&D line from the 80s...

Finally, some more unknown miniatures standing in for Bor's picked troops...

Lastly, comes the Men of Ulfang, the chief first (a GW Corsair/Umber taking his place)...

...his three sons, Ulfast, Ulwarth, and Ubad (made up by another corsair in center, flanked by two unknowns)...

...and the warriors of Ulfast (including more Der Kreigspeiers on left)...

...some more Minifig D&D...

Next up, the field of battle, Anfauglith, originally known as Ard-Galen before it was tuned into a wasteland by the Dagor Bragollach (Battle of Sudden Flame)...

Maedros' Eastern Army

Now to the Sons of Feanor and their forces. First is Maedros himself (From GW LotR collection)  followed by some of his men. And, yes, I did remove one of his hands...

These figures come from GW Age of Sigmar. Decided to go beyond the LotR box for added diversity

Feanor's second son, Maglor and a selection from his men, also taken from Age of Sigmar...

Celegorm, Feanor's third son, with his men (again, from Age of Sigmar)...

The fourth son, Caranthir and his men (GW LotR line)...

Next, Curufin, the fifth son and his men (GW Galadhrim Warriors)...

Finally, the twins, Amrod and Amras, and their troops (Also from GW LotR)...

Some Elven cavalry (filled in by Elrond and his men from GW LotR)...

Final Elven forces include a small detachment of Green Elves from Ossiriand. Scale creep over the decades is very apparent here, with some old Minifg (25mm) in foreground and a new 28mm from Bones I believe in the background...

Up next, the men of Bor and Ulfang...

Heroes of Doriath

The first photo shows Mablung, one of two Elves from Doriath, who answered the call of Maedros. I believe it is another Bones miniatures

Another Bones minister I think, standing in for the second hero from Doriath, Beleg.

The Armies

Prior to moving on and seeing the Eastern Army lead by Maedros and the Feanor brothers, here is the Western Army, drawn up against the Ered Wethrin (Mountains of Shadow)...

and the Orcish Vanguard beginning their advance (with the entrance to Angband on the left)...

Just a small note, there are over 500 Orc miniatures shown in this army!

Next, the Eastern Army of the Feanor brothers...

Continuing Simarillion

Now to the men allied to King Fingon and the High Elves. From Brethil, came the men of Haleth under Haldir. I took a figure from the Classic LotR line of the 80s.

The following three photos of old Minifigs filling in for the men of Brethil...

This is another figure from the Classic LotR line of the 80s representing Hurin himself, leading the men of Dol-lomin...

Huor, Hurin's brother is next, yet another Classic LotR...

The following four photos are a collection of old Heritage, again from the 80s, these specifically were Riders of Rohan. I liked the idea they were now men of Hurin...

The entrance into Angband with Thangorodrim in the background. The model was constructed out of foam board and a lightweight plaster purchased at Hobby Lobby. The background is a painting downloaded from online. The orcs in the foreground are from Games Workshops' Urak-hai...

The final three photos depict orc captains (with the first being an early Classic LotR Azog)...

Well, that completes the Western Army led by Fingon at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and some examples of the first Orc horde that would tempt the opponents from their hiding places on the slopes of the Ered Wethren (Shadowy Mountains). Next up will be the game recreating this first phase, as the Fingon's Army fights to the very entrance of Angband...