Minas Tirith - Black walls!

[Dr. The Viking]

Here's an idea. You can do a 28mm scale at the base, 15mm near the middle and 6mm at the top. Forced perspective for the win. Now planning this out would be a pain, especially considering all the work you'd have to do making different sized brick for each level. Then again, you do love a challenge. 

Maybe that could work. I'm having a bit of trouble seing it though.



Another idea: You could do the court yard with the white tree as a seperate small gaming table.

[Silent Invader]

I voted for something different because I think that the Tolkein sketch is vastly superior to all the other imagery.  

[OSHIROmodels]

Liking the suggestions thus far chaps  

As mentioned, the John Howe version is my favourite but I'm not adverse to making a different one...

Unfortunately the different scaled version wouldn't work. We've done something similar in the past at work and it isn't a dissed up solution unless its a film model where that sort of thing happens a lot.

I think I'll be doing a bit of net surfing tonight for more ideas but there is also a website that has Tolkien's original sketches and descriptions in for most of the locales in the books (I mean all the books, not just LotR which is just one book   ).

cheers

James

[Mason]

And you are, of course, mental for even considering it.
Do you have any idea of how much time and space this is going to take up?
 

[Hammers]

I remember Sir Ian McKellen saying that he liked walking along the Minas Tirith set and was always half expecting a nice little taverna or jewelry shop around the next corner.

[Michka]

Unfortunately the different scaled version wouldn't work. We've done something similar in the past at work and it isn't a dissed up solution unless its a film model where that sort of thing happens a lot.
James

I'm going to have to be more careful when I make a ridiculous suggestion. The scale idea was one of those things that come to you in a flash, and then you realize it's a terrible idea. It sounds kinda neat, but you can't control a forced perspective effect when people are walking around the model. I just wanted to make a smart-ass remark about how far this could get out of hand.   

For a realistic approach I'd say go with the John Howe design elements, but not so much negative space between buildings. Maybe the same layout as pictured, but with some in-fill of buildings and structures so it doesn't look unfinished.

[Doomhippie]

For one thing I remember that Tolkien mentioned this huge rockformation like the bow of a ship cutting through the city (as can be seen in the Alan Lee/PJ version. So I personally found it quite fitting.

However, I think the city is too narrow. I've always imagined it a place where light is found in abundance. In the movie it looks like the people live in a constant shadow of their own city. And even though the word "Minas" means "fortress" it is, after all, a city constructed at the very beginning of Gondor, a short time of peace and beauty.

And from a literary point of view it is the antithesis to Minas Morgul - hence it should be light and reflect a feeling of freedom and joy. The architecture is quite nice if a little "lifeless" at times. But afaik Legolas mentioned that there are too few trees and things living in the city, so it might actually fit.

[Argonor]

Tolkein was a professor of Anglo-saxon and I have always considered Rohan to be an Anglo-saxon state based on cavalry. Likewise for me Gondor was the Normans with a hint of baroque. This is reflected in the film by their use of the curved Norman arch.

While I like Peter Jackson's vision of Middle Earth in most respects I though his Minas Tirith was a tad 'pristine' and uniform. I would have loved to have seen it a bit of a more organic city with some different styles as parts were rebuilt over the centuries. It was an ancient construction after all.

I would like to see Mr Bibbly interpret Minas Tirith in his own inimitable way. A city inspired by the books without slavish copying of anyone else. Let your imagination loose James.

You're spot on with Rohan, but the Gondorian architechture in the film is clearly influenced by Byzantine style (which fits the image of  the East Roman Empire surviving the onslaught of the eastern (islamic?) forces - and is this case resurrecting Pax Romanum to the western realms - and the black and white arches of the throne room/hall is a very clear nod to the neo-byzantine palace of Aachen: https://www.google.dk/search?q=charlemagne+black+and+white+arches&rlz=1C1CHMO_daDK485DK487&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=WCLqU_nqO-KgyAPFqIHIDA&ved=0CF8QsAQ&biw=1454&bih=898#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=5At7uWRiroxUXM%253A%3B6bJXYWCbjL9T9M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffarm8.static.flickr.com%252F7042%252F6899773672_69c26a9baf_m.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fflickrhivemind.net%252FTags%252Fcharlemagne%252Cgermany%252FInteresting%3B1024%3B680

[Argonor]

And even though the word "Minas" means "fortress" it is, after all, a city constructed at the very beginning of Gondor, a short time of peace and beauty.

I'm pretty sure the translation given is "tower" - Minas Tirith = "Watch Tower" or "Tower of Vigilance", Minas Anor "the Tower of the Sun" as opposed to Minas Ithil "Tower of the Moon", later transformed into Minas Morgul "Tower of Sorcery".

Actually, I think that the title 'The two Towers' refer to these two entities, rather than to Orthanc and Barad Dúr, as hinted by the posters for the second film.

[Argonor]

I have visited that link and you are exactly right Argonor.

The Byzantine connection is closer than Norman and the "enduring outpost at the edge of civilization resisting the attacking hordes" feeling may have been what Tolkein was trying to achieve.

I still hope JB takes all the versions and influences and filters them through the creative sieve of his brain to arrive at something new, a fusion. I'd love to see his unique take on the city.

Ah, yes - any new and hitherto unexploited take on the visual appearance of 'Middle-Earthian' features is most welcome. The films have carved a strong image in the minds of many, but of course it's not set in stone!

[OSHIROmodels]

Actually, I think that the title 'The two Towers' refer to these two entities, rather than to Orthanc and Barad Dúr, as hinted by the posters for the second film.

That's my thought as well 

cheers

James

[Doomhippie]

I'm pretty sure the translation given is "tower" - Minas Tirith = "Watch Tower" or "Tower of Vigilance", Minas Anor "the Tower of the Sun" as opposed to Minas Ithil "Tower of the Moon", later transformed into Minas Morgul "Tower of Sorcery".

Actually, I think that the title 'The two Towers' refer to these two entities, rather than to Orthanc and Barad Dúr, as hinted by the posters for the second film.

My mistake, of course it's "tower" (fortress being "-ost"). And I, too, have always seen the title as referring to the two cities.

I have never seen Gondor (or Arnor) for that matter as representing Rome or Byzantium. But that's probably because for me (as a 12-year-old reading LotR for the first time) Rome had no positive conotation. It was "that decadent evil empire down south that enslaved the rest of the world". Even if I do see the Roman Empire under a different angle today the image of Gondor=Roman Empire has never had a chance with me (no matter what Tolkien might have written in his letters. Maybe he got it wrong!  ).

Of course I can logically see the point and there's a lot to it. But I remain the ignorant Little brat and for me it just isn't Rome.

[OSHIROmodels]

Romanus aiunt domus 

cheers

James

[Mason]

Romanus aiunt domus 

That's right.

Now write it a hundred times.
 

[Westfalia Chris]

Romanus aiunt domus 

cheers

James

That's right.

Now write it a hundred times.
 

And that, kids, is why Latin is a dead language - it's murdered on a daily basis.

Back to the topic, I'd love to see you do a full Minas Tirith. That said, I'd certainly be in the "vintage" or "pre-Jacksonian" camp. As marvellous as it was done (and I've watched the "Making Of" pieces on the DVDs over and over again for their ingenuity), Minas Tirith always felt much less "alive" than the other "settlement sets", especially Bree and Edoras. I wonder if you could tone down the "monumental" flair of the Tirith designs down to a more "human" perspective (and yes, it SHOULD actually be larger than life, what with the old Numenoreans etc., but it just feels cold in the movies).