Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Daeothar on 11 November 2011, 10:42:23 PM
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As part of my RPG group's growing penchant for miniature use (totally commendable of course ;) ), our DM approached me one day, requesting me to deliver a huge troll, for half of the group to fight, as a sort of end-level-boss.
And because he had a very clear picture of what he wanted to see, I first had to source pictures off the net and scetch out some ideas, to see if my vision of the monster matched his.
(http://www.fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/EarthElemental.jpg)
I finally found this picture, which served as the main inspiration for my creation. Of course the scale is way off, but the idea of rocks assembling to form an anthromorphic figure appealed to me, as did the shape of the head. He wanted it slightly lopsided though, wanted a tree growing out of it somewhere, as well as a smaller troll growing out of its body. I finally added a small troll riding its shoulders though, as I didn't see the siamese twin look happening really... Also, I clearly wanted it to look like it had been asleep underground for decades, centuries or even millennia, with only its shoulders/back rising out of the ground, like a rocky outcrop.
So, with that settled, I set to work. First I needed a basis to work from, as building such a monster completely out of putty would be too (time)costly. I finally sourced a cheap 'Gormiti' action figure with an already rocky look to it (Half Elf Rogue for scale purposes only, just like the hapless Necromunda Juve in the following picture ;) ):
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%20WIP%201%20-%20750.jpg)
I cut it apart (the silly head had to go of course) and glued the arms and legs back into a more menacing pose, stooping over a bit, because I wanted him to be massively hunchbacked.
To give him more mass, I used air-drying clay (DAS) to sculpt the larger additions to the torso and limbs, scribing the lines dividing the little pieces of rock, before the clay dried:
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%20WIP%202%20-%20750.jpg)
As he required even more mass though, I slowly built up his mass, by adding consecutive layers, especially effecting the lopsided look. The basis for the head was also done at this stage. It is that knobly thing on the front with all the little holes, which is more clay over a metal pin. I did this to ensure the ProCreate, which I would be using to sculpt the head around it, would have enough surface to cling to (and also to ensure I didn't have to exhaust my entire stock of the stuff for just this head).
I also added the dead tree on its back from a wire frame covered in Green Stuff:
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%20WIP%203%20-%20750.jpg)
Because the thicker parts of the clay dried at different speeds, a lucky occurance took place: the clay cracked in places, adding a very real rocky effect to the sculpt. And I wasn't even trying! :D
I've taken a leap here in the process, to spare you the boring details. The sculpting is done, including the head, I've added real rocks (read: gravel from the garden) and sand to the shape, sometimes even tacking them on haphazardly, to create this manshape-out-of-a-jumble-of-rocks look.
I've also added some dead leaves to the tree, mushrooms, fallen leaves, the skull of a hapless soldier, on what will become the part of the troll which had been above the surface, and a little troll friend, which is more of a fantasy version of Salacious Crumb than anything else... (note that here, he still has his sculpted sword in his right hand. I will later decide to give him an icicle to swing around. In the painted pics, you can see the hole I drilled to accomodate this).
Here, the entire figure has been undercoated a light brown (with a cheap acryilic spray paint, approaching GW's Vomit Brown in colour). The shiny spots are those I missed whilst spraying, and I had just touched those areas up with a brush (and actual Vomit Brown ;) )...
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%20WIP%204%20-%20750.jpg)
And then on to the (almost) completed product.
I initially wanted to add ice to his fists, with icicles hanging off them, snowy patches here and there, as that was what the GM explicitly requested. However, due to time restraints, I was only able to get him painted, without the added ice effects. That's why the little guy is still missing his club here...
As the figure got used immediately after (and performed horribly underwhelmingly, I fear to confess), it ended up in my miniatures cabinet, without ever getting properly finished as it should.
But I'm planning to do that some time soon. I will then add those pictures here of course.
So, without further ado, here he is, my 'Vampire: Dark Ages, Faery Winter Court Stone Troll 'Endl-level Boss' Antagonist':
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%201%20-%20750.jpg)
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%202%20-%20750.jpg)
(http://fierylions.nl/Pictures/ForumPictures/WinterCourtTroll/Winter%20Court%20Troll%203%20-%20750.jpg)
PS: the last picture best approaches the actual colours of the paintjob; the first two completely washed out for some reason; I still suck with a camera...
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That is absolutely wonderful!
:-* :-* :-*
I love all the little details that really bring him (?) to life.
Great representation of the artwork.
Very well done, Sir!
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That REALLY is INCREDIBLY WELL DONE...much better than the concept art. I love the soil & foliage clinging to his back...a very nice touch. You definitely produced an inspiring, highly imaginative piece.
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I gotta say: This piece of work... It's something else! :o I love the creativity and beauty of the conversion. Shame it didn't get it's proper dramatic sendoff. All the same, such a great piece ought to be able to find *some* use now, eh?
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Very well done!
tt43.
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Inspired work, great stuff!
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I quite like that :-*
The tree works paticulary well 8)
cheers
James
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By the GODS! wow that IS GREAT!!!!!! great job! :-* :-* :-* :-* :o :o :o
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This is pure awesome!
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That's fantastic work! Great sculpt, wouldn't be able to tell it was a toy if you hadn't shown the pic at the begiining. :)
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From a toy to what it turned out to be.
Great job. Love it. :-* :-*
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Brilliant transformation :-* :-* :-*
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whoa... you make sculpting look easy! :-*
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Very impressive, the addition of the dirt and the tree is a stroke of genious.
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Great! Really imaginative, well done. May just steal that idea if I can find the mini!
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Gorgeous! One of the best things I´ve seen here!
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That is absolutely fantastic - great idea for an earth elemental/troll, and on an enormous scale to boot.
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:o That is an very impressive beast. Especially seeing what he started out as....
And the paintjob just takes it to another level. :-*
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This is a marvelous conversion, you've really made something special here.
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Wow, that is especially cool. 8) Really impressive sculpting. You nailed it.
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Wow! That is awesome. Your group is doomed!
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:-* :-* great
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Very nice!
It was a bit of a surprise to see that artwork, too, it's used for a Facebook App game that I play, "Castle Age", it's "Genesis, the Earth Elemental". Good source material for a sculpt, definitely.
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Looks very, very good. And yes that head definately had to go!
There's a danish guy recently who's done a whole unit of scratch build trolls with similar details (ie trees and rocks as parts of their bodies). Here's some of his work:
(http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz144/MrtnC/StonetrollsFinGroup1.jpg)
http://www.powerfist.dk/forum/index.php?topic=49926.0 (http://www.powerfist.dk/forum/index.php?topic=49926.0)
You might be able to get some inspiration for your next ;) there.
Duncan
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Fantastic work, I'm jealous of those who get to see this mini in action!
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@dijit: those are TERRIFIC looking Trolls; they look like they just escaped from a Jim Henson flick...barely.
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Yep just plain awesome on both accounts. I would buy both!
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Only just seen this and have to add to the general praise too! Excellent work!
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(http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz144/MrtnC/StonetrollsFinGroup1.jpg)
This guys are awesome!!!
Your earth titan is very well done too, I am impressed by the technic. At the first step I was very puzzled by the gormiti toy but when I saw your advance, I was stunned.
Your work and this trolls unit made me think to the movie troll hunter. Not a must see but it s still fun.