The Thread of Middle-Earth by Hammers

[Plynkes]

You've hit a rich seam of form lately it seems, H.


I can't say I like the design of those Haradrim (they look like they're from some kind of Middle Earth Mad Max movie), but your treatment of them is magnificent.

[Pattus Magnus]

That’s some beautiful painting!

[Hammers]

You've hit a rich seam of form lately it seems, H.


I can't say I like the design of those Haradrim (they look like they're from some kind of Middle Earth Mad Max movie), but your treatment of them is magnificent.

I really like them. Very remote and exotic.

I do have a problem with some of the decisions Peter Jackson made about human races under the sway of Sauron; they were not to be based on any recogniceable culture of our age. This is of course something GW picked up on.

The stories that Tolkien wrote is a a mythical pre-history with a distinct Nort Western European point of view. I don't find the stories racist even if xenophobia cetainly is expressed in the stories.

 It is quite obvious that corsairs of Umbar took inspiration fron the barbary states of North Africa, the haradrim from moors and saracens of North Africa and the Middle East, and the tall, black skinned men are sub-Saharan Africans.

You've got to ask yourself what's more offensive: to be depicted as fighting for the wrong side or to be not be represented in any way at all.

[Freddy]

Great job on those desert dwellers!

[Plynkes]

I really like them. Very remote and exotic.

I do have a problem with some of the decisions Peter Jackson made about human races under the sway of Sauron; they were not to be based on any recogniceable culture of our age. This is of course something GW picked up on.

The stories that Tolkien wrote is a a mythicak pre-history with a distinct Nort Western European point of view. I don't find the stories racist even if xenophobia cetainly is expressed in the stories.

 It is quite obvious that corsairs of Umbar took inspiration fron the barbary states of North Africa, the haradrim from moors and saracens of North Africa and the Middle East, and the tall, black skinned men are sub-Saharan Africans.

You've got to ask yourself what's more offensive: to be depicted as fighting for the wrong side or to be not be represented in any way at all.

For the Easterlings and the Haradrim I would have been happy with either a look based on historical peoples, or something more culturally sensitive that wasn't directly inspired by such. That aspect of it wasn't something I ever really gave a thought to. But for me the key was that the designs needed to be good, whichever path they chose. And I think they failed at that rather badly. I always felt like they'd barged in from some other fantasy movie that had a completely different design aesthetic. They simply didn't fit.


Anyway, that's enough moaning about Jackson's Tolkien from me. Even though I loved his LoTR trilogy, I occasionally find myself nitpicking the details that irk me. It's a bad habit.

[Hammers]

...what is the plural? Legolai, Legolii

Anyway, here goes...




There is actually a chronological order to these. The above is before Lorien, ergo he doesn sport the Galadhrim cloak nor the bow he was gifted by Galadriel.




Here he does...




..and here he is legging it across Emun Muir in the hunt for Sarumans uruk-hai.




Here at the defence of the Hornburg, ergo he has girded himself woth a rohirrim longsword and wears light leather armour.




...and here an action pose from the same scenario.




Legolas on Arod

[Hammers]

...or Gimlii



Before Lorien...




...and after, he is wearing three strands of Galadriel's hair about his person, which I of course have meticulously painted.




Before the battle of the Hornburg trying to peek over the parapet




..action pose at Helms Deep...




...and post battle, enjoying a few well earned comforts

[Hammers]

This is the reson why I painte all these Gimlis and Legolases in one go. As I had the paint scheme down for both it was the most effective use of my time.

[Hammers]

A family of badgers [Mithril Miniatures]




A sole vixen [Reaper]




An upgraded version of the White Hart of the Firien wood [Dungeons & Dragons]

[Plynkes]

They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!

You maniac, are you trying to form Gimli and Legoland volleyball teams? If so, my money's not on the Gimlis.

[Hammers]

Well, yes, I admit you have a point. Not about the volley ball, you silly man, but why I do many versions. The answer is that I trade and root through bargain bins a lot, and I have found these often at a really good discount.

The Defenders of Helms Deep set is really nice, an ensemble for a diorama really. Leggy looks like a  devil-may-care young buccaneer, with his white knife resting on his shoulder.

[Malamute]

Very nicely coloured in Hammers.

[syrinx0]

What ever your motivation, those look great. 

[Elk101]

Great stuff!

[Freddy]

Cool models, I really like the little animals!