Lord of the Rings Collection

[Gangleri]

Hi, folks.  I was inspired by some of the other LotR threads to take a few pictures of my own miniatures.  This is a long-running (and very slow-moving) project that I've been working on here and there for years - usually a spurt of activity followed by months of neglect.  The focus of my interest, and the setting of my "narrative," is the period of disquiet and ominous activity in the years prior to the War of the Ring - say, about the year of Bilbo's 111th birthday and subsequent departure from the Shire - in Wilderland.

Here are two wizards, Radagast and Saruman.  I picture Saruman traveling incognito up and down the Anduin, searching for more information about the disappearance of the Ring at the Gladden Fields, so he is in his mysterious 'traveling outfit' rather than in his classic white robes.


I absolutely hate the new Radagast from the movies, so I used the old metal model instead.  Much more fitting, I think, although I wasn't crazy about the bird on his arm, so I replaced the limb with a Perry arm and gave him a moth to talk to instead (a nod to the moth in FotR, which I quite liked).  The bird wound up on Saruman's base, painted as a Common Grackle, a local bird whose cunning eyes and iridescent feathers always remind me of Saruman and his shimmering robes. (It didn't come out in the photo, but his white robe has patches of other colors.)

Here are some dwarves.  Some of these I painted about three years ago, and although I liked them at the time, I have second thoughts about them now.


And some warg riders.


More to follow when there's enough sunlight to take some decent pictures.

[harleyface]

Beautiful minis!!!!
And really like the style of your bases
Regarding the dwarfs...
i have the same problem when pausing a project
Feels like old and new minis doesnt fit together...
But believe me...they look great and if you havent told they are older no one has recognised...

[Duke Donald]

LoTR minis tend to be fantastic sculpts and your painting does them justice!

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Wow, very impressive

I like your painting and your bases too.

[matthais-mouse]

VERY nice work here. Fantastic paint jobs and the bases really accent the miniatures well too

[joe5mc]

Terrific conversion work. Love the Radagast and the dwarf conversions!

[joekano]

Really look great!

[chrisw]

Great painting on those figures.  I, too, hate the new version of radagast - I wish PJ didn't try to make things slapstick in his films but i suppose he was going for a wider market than just me!!!
I also find it very difficult to stay on track with projects but am having a real go with LotR this time as I have loved the books since I was a kid and have always dreamed of gaming it.  Now I am determined to!!!  Keep going with the painting and post as much as you can - it might keep me on track and I will try and do the same 

[Rob_bresnen]

It's worth sticking with this projects as they look great. I think teh Dwarfs look lovely too. Are they out of the box or converted?

[Gangleri]

Well! I have to say I am quite flattered by all your kind comments  They will encourage me to keep working and posting. 

Regarding the dwarfs...
i have the same problem when pausing a project
Feels like old and new minis doesnt fit together...

Yes, one's painting style and color preference changes, one's sculpting and basing gets better, and even the style of the miniatures themselves changes (there's a big difference between the proportions of GW's pre- and post-Hobbit dwarves).  But in this case I'm just dissatisfied with the one in the brown hood because I don't think I made him distinctive enough.  May get around to fiddling with and re-working him.

I, too, hate the new version of radagast - I wish PJ didn't try to make things slapstick in his films but i suppose he was going for a wider market than just me!!!

I still can't decide whether PJ was making an attempt at humor or whether the only way he could devise to show Radagast's affinity for birds was to have some sparrows nest in his hair and crap on his forehead.  Either way, I could practically feel Tolkien spinning in his grave.

Keep going with the painting and post as much as you can - it might keep me on track and I will try and do the same 

It's a deal!

Are they out of the box or converted?

Those ones are based off the plastic Escape from Goblintown miniatures released in 2012.  I have very mixed feelings about the dwarf designs in the new movies, however, so I converted all of them (some more than others).  For one thing, they needed hoods!  All of my dwarves have hoods (of different colors), which sadly didn't make it into the movies despite their being an apparently essential part of dwarvish clothing.

If the sun is out tomorrow I will try to take some photos of the rest of my dwarves.

[Sterling Moose]

Lovely figures complimented by a great paint job!!  I often wonder if the boxes and boxes I have from LOTR will ever see a paintbrush!

[Suber]

Really nice work! 

[olyreed]

Very nice work on those minis, I'm finding myself buying more Lott and hobbit  stuff at the moment, and your work is inspiring

[DeafNala]

Even for someone like myself who has little interest in The Lord of the Rings, those are WONDERFUL creations BEAUTIFULLY painted & based with an abundance of character. VERY WELL DONE!

[Gangleri]

Many thanks to all for the kind comments! 

I'm finding myself buying more Lott and hobbit  stuff at the moment

Glad to hear it! One thing, however, is that some of the best (and, not coincidentally, oldest) miniatures are getting harder and harder to find.  Many is the time I decided not to buy a figure, only to wish two or three years later that I had when I had the chance.

So the sun is finally showing its face today, and I stole some time to take a few more pictures.

First up, the dwarves.  The original premise for this LotR project revolved around a little dwarven expedition that set off to reclaim a mountain (much like Thorin & Co.) prior to the War of the Ring - one of the many events in the North during that uneasy period that never made it into the books or appendices. Each of these has a number of associations to other LotR material, figures from early Icelandic literature, and other personal interests. Perhaps when I've finished all of them, I'll give some more details on each


From the left: Gangleri (it's me!), Steinmal, and Bodwar;


the brothers Grettir and Ormfrothi;


Ondott and Andwari


and Njal and Kweldulf.

There are still four more to round out the 13-strong expedition.

Here are some of their opponents.

I had mixed feelings about the goblins in Hobbit 1, but I did like the miniatures.  I imagine them as deformed, primitive outcasts who inhabit the lowest depths of the goblin mines (hence the pale skin).




(The one on the right herds them into battle.)

One of Saruman's goblin-men, out to spy and cause general mayhem.


And some WIPs:


Another goblin-man and a ruffian.


And another warg-rider.

Should be able to get some paint on them soon.