@Pugwash: those look great. I'd almost certainly add the grass. The stuff you've used looks good to me although I might be tempted to continue experimenting a little. Maybe some slightly bushier scrub material (rather than grass) might work? I'd also sacrifice realism for tabletop effect too, so the slightly bright look of the flock you've used (or GW grass) would be my choice. It might not replicate an actual desert but it really adds a bit of 'pop' to the stands. It also breaks up the transition from the base to the strip the models are based on rather nicely. Oh, and once again they look superb (my favourite is the unit with the blue banner I think).
@Lex: I see what you mean about the chaos! Mainly though I'm intrigued by what looks like a castle!
As for my week so far, it's not going well for the painting. An evening playing Space Hulk has put paid to tonight's efforts. It was fun though. If you've not yet tried the new rules I'd recommend them, the minor changes are all pretty entertaining.
