Author Topic: A Rare Foray Into Fantasy - GW LOTR Elves (A Colour Scheme Test) (Read 4363 times)

guitarheroandy · « **on:** December 30, 2012, 10:20:02 PM »

Ok, so with new members at the wargames club keen to revisit Lord of The Rings SBG and with my Tolkien interest reinvigorated by The Hobbit, I have dragged out all the GW Galadhrim models sitting in the depths of my painting pile with a view to getting some on the table. Not only that, but I have found some Saga battleboards online for LOTR AND I have a hunch it could be fun using Dux Britanniarum mechanisms with Elves, Orcs, etc, so there is some method behind my madness.

Thing is, what colour scheme to use...??

I didn't want a total carbon copy of the movie/GW scheme (and anyway, I mostly use Foundry paints and Army Painter dip now, so I'd never get an exact match) so I have had a think about possible schemes and painted up 2 archer models to see which I like best. One has a movie-themed golden armour approach and the other goes with Tolkien's descriptions and silver mail, etc. Both have a grey-ish clothing and cloak vibe going on (the cloak is Foundry Night Sky light) as that is what I think of as 'Elf' colours really...

I do think my Army Painter and highlight technique works well enough. For those who haven't read about it before:
White undercoat whole model
Undercoat mail black
Drybrush mail with relevant colours
Tidy up undercoat
Basecoat in flat bright colours
Brush on Army Painter Strong Tone
Add highlights with original basecoat colours
Brush on Testors Dullcote

The only difference this time was that the clothing got very fine highlights with a lighter shade to sharpen cloak folds, creases, etc and the armour on the silver guy got a final highlight AFTER Dullcoting, just to bring up some shine which I felt was lacking. I didn't feel the gold model needed it although I might add some now just to see if it adds anything. Also, the cloak decoration was added at the highlight stage, not at the basecoat stage.

So, what do you think? Silvery armour or Gold? I'm not sure...

So, if you have a preference, do let me know. The silver model screams 'Tolkien Elf' to me but the combination of bluey grey and gold on the other chap is very nice, however the gold seems a bit overpowering of the other colours and it's the lightest I have (GW Burnished gold). Decisions, decisions...

OSHIROmodels · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2012, 10:26:55 PM »

Silver for me Andy, the gold looks rather bling

Good idea using Dux for the rules, you might even get away with using some of your existing figures for humans

cheers

James

Mr.J · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2012, 10:31:34 PM »

I think I prefer the gold but I think that this could be as it is more film-esque and maybe that is what I am used to seeing.
Both are lovely though.

Estarriol · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2012, 10:34:51 PM »

Both are good.
I think the gold one would look at home defending a palace or something, but the silver one looks more like he'd be out campaigning.
If it were me I'd go silver, but that's just a personal preference.

Jet Simian · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2012, 12:03:35 AM »

For me silver looks more... practical, whereas gold has a Pre-Raphaelite look, which is no bad thing if you're after that. But silver has the edge for me - it goes well with the grey.

Lovely work, by the way! I like the hand-painted edging on the cloak in particular.

Little Odo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2012, 05:33:36 PM »

Or is the gold really a shiny bronze? This would work well with Runequest stylee elves. I'm actually torn between the two colour schemes. Both work very well for me. Sorry I can't give you a definite one way answer. Could you have a unit of each and thus allow you to play two different units/tribes of elves?

CyberAlien312 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2012, 06:11:27 PM »

I agree with the people who say silver, in my opinion silver fits much more with Middle-Earth elves than gold.

Funghy-Fipps · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2012, 06:51:58 PM »

Looks fine to me. Excellent brush-work.

AzSteven · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2012, 07:05:42 PM »

Defnitely the silver, just because of how it goes with the cloak. A different cloak color would go great with the gold. As far as the metal litself, botht he gold and silver look great, its just the overall combo I am voting on.

Johnno · « **Reply #9 on:** December 31, 2012, 07:14:42 PM »

I really like the silver scheme.
However, the gold provides a nicer contrast and I believe catches the eye better.
Not to throw a wrench in but perhaps not using white/grey for sleeves and tabard on silver model would really "pop" the silver.
Well done either way.

YPU · « **Reply #10 on:** December 31, 2012, 07:33:54 PM »

I'll provide some counterbalance and say I prefer the gold much more. Nice application of the technique, I have also used it in the past to finish models quickly with great results.

Quendil · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2012, 07:50:36 PM »

I do prefer the silver bit the gold also look good. Why not have a mix of both?

Ray Earle · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2012, 10:50:31 PM »

Silver for me. Works much better with the grey/blue of the cloak and white of the robes.

The gold is just a bit too much bling.

Captain Blood · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2012, 11:53:16 PM »

Both! Lovely paintwork

Modhail · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2013, 12:31:24 AM »

Please, do foray more often! Those look good, the edge on the cloak is dead sexy.

I have to add my vote to the silver pile, it just looks more Elvish.

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Author Topic: A Rare Foray Into Fantasy - GW LOTR Elves (A Colour Scheme Test) (Read 4363 times)

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