A CROWN IS BORN../ The Hobbit Dwarves etc.. WIP's & Finished Builds Part 2

Wow, fascinating to watch this take shape..... wrote:

Thanks SWS!

Stryker2011 wrote:So cool, Alex. Love the Jason and the Argonauts reference. Nice work thus far on all the mods.

Cheers Stryker!

Finally found that rubbery guts piece I've been looking for to use under his ribcage, wasn't with all the other rubbery guts stuff which is just as well since I still haven't found that while going through my entire storage room! I was a bit dirty so cleaned it up and coated it in silicone oil. I also made his cloak and may attach that black patterned gauze to it so it kind of replicates the patterns on the cloak on the statue. I then did a full mock up to get an idea where I'm going from here.

Once you had it all primed in black, it looked like a complete figure already, perhaps something along the lines of T-whatever-hundred endoskeleton, but indeed Jason and the Argonauts style. Nice job revitalizing the guts, make sure you hang them the right way -- if there is one. The mock up really helps explain where you're going.

Oooh, i love the fabrics you chose for the cloak!

GubernatorFan wrote:Once you had it all primed in black, it looked like a complete figure already, perhaps something along the lines of T-whatever-hundred endoskeleton, but indeed Jason and the Argonauts style. Nice job revitalizing the guts, make sure you hang them the right way -- if there is one. The mock up really helps explain where you're going.

Yes very T-900? With the red power light from my fan coincidentally right next to his eye socket! I didn't notice until later but thought 'that's kind of cool. que: Terminator music!'   As for the gut, well he's sort of a magic, cursed, mummified, zombie, ghost so probably doesn't need them working!    There is something that looks like a heart in there, a stomach, some colon but his lungs and liver have gone to the rats! LOL. Probably doesn't help that these organs belong in a giant alien monster in a different scale and in a different galaxy a long time ago and far, far away!!  

skywalkersaga wrote:Oooh, i love the fabrics you chose for the cloak!

Cheers! Funnily enough I don't like them at all for this figure anymore because I think he should be more Celtic and have a woolen tartan style red cloak instead!

Just a couple of lazy pic grabs (ooh, grew up with this artist!) Bloody impossible to find much in the way of Irish historical references since the English Bastards destroyed most of it and we were tribes for a long time hell bent on killing each other before that! But this is a gist of what I'm going for.

Thankfully I easily found this great tartan/checkered like wool sweater in the perfect colour and scale to make my king's cloak from in my storage room (another 'gift' from my neighbours). I'd been having dreaded thoughts of having to dye old checkered boxer shorts red and the mess that would go with doing that!

You were never afraid of a mess, but this does look more practicable!

Ah, fair enough, the new fabric does look the part!

Really coming along, Alex. The fabric choices look really good. The weathering on them so far looks good. The internal organs is a new idea. And the jaw work is really awesome; 50 attempts! Yeesh!

GubernatorFan wrote:You were never afraid of a mess, but this does look more practicable!

Practicable?! LOL sorry couldn't resist! I know you spend hours kindly writing replies to ALL the threads on this website!!
This would have been particularly messy as 1) Red stains everything! 2) I have a bucket full of red paint and dyes already mixed but it's pretty potent stuff and would be bloody (pun?) hard to remove any spillage!  

skywalkersaga wrote:Ah, fair enough, the new fabric does look the part!

I think so as I'm going for the Celtic look he is inspired from in the film and many pieces of fanart of the 'Army Of The Dead' like below.

Stryker2011 wrote:Really coming along, Alex. The fabric choices look really good. The weathering on them so far looks good. The internal organs is a new idea. And the jaw work is really awesome; 50 attempts! Yeesh!

Cheers Stryker! There will be more weathering of course and detailing. Well it felt like 50! Could have been 40!

What's wrong with "practicable"? For all the reasons you proceeded to list, it makes sense to reach for simpler solutions wherever they are available. Can't wait to see you tackle that crown.

GubernatorFan wrote:What's wrong with "practicable"? For all the reasons you proceeded to list, it makes sense to reach for simpler solutions wherever they are available. Can't wait to see you tackle that crown.

I thought you meant 'practical' is practicable a word? Hmm not coming up with any spelling errors must be, never used it myself.. learn something new everyday! I think I might take a break from LOTR and start a Star Wars thread (I have so many partial or unstarted builds I want to do) beginning with the new Boba Fett and The Mandalorian then more bounty hunters..

I suppose it is a little old-fashioned (apparently it peaked in 1914!), but since I mostly work on things before 1500, that is still quite modern for me. It is similar to practical, but rather more specifically something like "reasonably feasible," "pragmatically doable." Looked it up, and here is what I found:

prac·ti·ca·ble /ˈpraktəkəb(ə)l/

Adjective: able to be done or put into practice successfully; able to be used; useful.

Example: "the measures will be put into effect as soon as is reasonably practicable"; "signal processing can let you transform a signal into a practicable form".

Similar: realistic, feasible, possible, within reason, viable, reasonable, sensible, workable, achievable, attainable, doable, accomplishable.

Opposite: impracticable, impossible.

Origin: mid 17th century: from French praticable, from pratiquer ‘put into practice’.

Is your shift to Star Wars figures going to take place after you complete this figure?

Jeez you are a workhorse, great jobs!

How convenient to have rubber guts laying around.

Is that an updated 'The Bones book skeleton"? Remember them from my first custom undeads. It will be a year of the Undead!

GubernatorFan wrote:I suppose it is a little old-fashioned (apparently it peaked in 1914!), but since I mostly work on things before 1500, that is still quite modern for me. It is similar to practical, but rather more specifically something like "reasonably feasible," "pragmatically doable." Looked it up, and here is what I found:

prac·ti·ca·ble /ˈpraktəkəb(ə)l/

Adjective: able to be done or put into practice successfully; able to be used; useful.
       
Example: "the measures will be put into effect as soon as is reasonably practicable"; "signal processing can let you transform a signal into a practicable form".
   
Similar: realistic, feasible, possible, within reason, viable, reasonable, sensible, workable, achievable, attainable, doable, accomplishable.

Opposite: impracticable, impossible.

Origin: mid 17th century: from French praticable, from pratiquer ‘put into practice’.

Is your shift to Star Wars figures going to take place after you complete this figure?

Wait... you're a Californian medieval historian who works on pre 1500 literature/language? That is completely bizarre to a European! Are you specialised in continental American native history or focused on us lot over the pond?
Not sure about the Star Wars thread timing, might even start it today and then go back and forth as the mood takes me confusing the crap out of everyone!    I like to multitask as I usually have about five ideas going on at the same time, ideally I'd have a gun project on each thigh, a figure in each hand and be thinking out the fifth project!  

Ovy wrote:Jeez you are a workhorse, great jobs!

How convenient to have rubber guts laying around.

Is that an updated 'The Bones book skeleton"? Remember them from my first custom undeads. It will be a year of the Undead!

Thanks Ovy!! No but very similar to that kit. I bought it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08X77CGV9?m=A12VZIJDUKRMHW&ref=psp_pc_a_A15GCI6O0KKCW8

Well, not so much on you, but yes, Old World. Why is this weird? I do get the interest in juggling several things at the same time... beyond 1:1 concerns anyway.

Okay, a little break from TKOTD build as I noticed my custom Gimli a very old figure made when DID and ToyBiz were the only options for parts so must be getting on for 20 years now!! Needs an upgrade or two... I have used no modern parts ie Asmus etc.. and made do with what I have at hand. Made a bit of a mess with the real mail at first but got there in the end. Thinned him down a bit, articulated his hands somewhat (so they are still strong enough to hold his full metal and wood axes by DID) then did a bunch or repainting, adding more screen accurate patterns, shortened his jerkin, fixed his double headed axe properly, gave him a new braided moustache and oiled his beard with real beard oil! LOL.

WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE BEFORE UPGRADES









REFERENCE PICS



















TAKING HIM APART









CHANGING THE MAIL, I CAN'T DO THE WIRED WASHER MAIL USED IN THE MOVIE (IT WAS PLASTIC ANYWAY) SO GONE FOR THE MORE HELM'S DEEP INSPIRED MAIL. REMOVING THE GLITTERY MAIL FIRST THEN TRYING A FEW THINGS UNTIL SETTLING ON REAL MAILE.



PAINTED IT WITH TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SILVER TWICE BUT JUST DIDN'T TAKE, NO IDEA WHY.













USING DOUBLE SIDED TAPE TO KEEP IT IN PLACE WHILE I SEW IT ON AND TOGETHER











NOT PERFECT BUT DOES THE JOB AND BEATS THE HELL OUT OF TRYING TO JOIN TINY RINGS WHEN YOUR EYESIGHT SEEMS TO BE GOING AND YOUR HANDS SHAKE!







THIS IS WHERE I NOTICE A FLAW IN MY PLAN ON HOW TO BE STINGY WITH THE REAL MAIL..





IT JUST MADE THINGS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED! LUCKILY SOME 'OFF CUTS' FILLED IN THE GAPS PERFECTLY.























INSERTED WIRE TO CONTROL THE TUNIC'S HEMM.



PATTERNS! DID I MENTION I'M PATTERN BLIND? LOL..













IT DOES GET CHANGED SLIGHTLY LATER





MOUSTACHE, PAINT ETC..











TOO MANY ISSUES THIS WAY





SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE AND STRONG



1ST OF MANY WASHES, SANDING ETC..





BLACK INK AND PAINT TO BLEND, AGE AND CREATE MORE OF A VISUAL 3D EFFECT FOR THE CHAIN MAIL











HIDES THE GAPS AND AND THREAD TOO







AS WAS





STARTED PAINT





MORE BLACK THEN SANDING ON MAIL AND GLOVES/BOOTS



ADDRESSING A MISTAKE BY DID







HAVEN'T GIVEN HIM ANY POUCHES AS I MIGHT PUT CLOAK BACK ON IN DISPLAY



ALL DONE.













































I AM....MITHRILMAN!!

That is some excellent work. Your solution to the chainmail was well done. He turned out great.

[quote="Stryker2011"]That is some excellent work. Your solution to the chainmail was well done. He turned out great.[/quote]

Thank you very much Stryker! It ended up being a war of give and take lol.

Some more pics, with his cape this time, then with his dad (who's on a stand but still a bit taller than Gimli). After that (I feel like going into a Frodo emo diatribe everytime I hear or write that) he's on his shelf in his new place since I've been moving stuff around for the new shelves, getting there! I now have all 9 Ring Wraiths!! YAY! Bummer you can't really see them though... Took me awhile to find the nice ToyBiz 'Collectors Edition' versions with the full armour and fabric clothing, swords still suck and they're certainly not $20 anymore, closer to 75gbp with postage and tax, one came from the States another from Greece.
Got a major new build coming very soon, something I've wanted in 1/6 scale for my LOTR collection since the beginning of the first movie, that's a hint, here's another...18-20 inches tall!




[img]https://i.imgur.com/DqrNJi0.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/CVVcaoS.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/MJGGUYY.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/4cyqC7o.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/n1RdDwJ.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kqL6OMq.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/06CJOdc.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/sliJXwQ.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/OKpRD90.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/idPC4vI.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/sTpghhj.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/UH25Adg.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/DJIeAcp.png[/img]


[img]https://i.imgur.com/mvNbK9Q.png[/img]


Why aren't the pics showing? Is there a new daily limit for uploads or something? Forum bot asked me if I was a bot! Had to do a stupid security test, what's up with that?

I don't know why they are not showing, Alex. Surprised me too. I noticed the link seems to include the [ / img ] part, which seems odd, but when I went into edit mode to separate it with a space, it still didn't show in the regular post, so I reverted to what you had. By the way, in preview mode they show. And they are formatted exactly the same way as the links in your previous post which showed just fine. Had to do the security test too, twice. I don't know what it is that makes a difference here -- it could be a single setting somewhere higher up in either Forumotion or Imgur, or it could be the number of items in a single post, or the number of items in a single day across posts, from Imgur to Forumotion or whatever. In principle, there should be no limit, but sometimes cross-image-storing malfunctions. Hang in there. Meanwhile, we can open each link (preferably in a new window or tab) and enjoy your photos anyway.

The Gimli upgrade looks excellent. I was worried when I read you are going to slim him down, but he turned out great in the end, which is of course no surprise. Very neat solution to the (chain) mail issue, glad that worked out so well.

Funny you should be upgrading a 20-year old set at the same time that I'm doing that myself. Except, of course, mine is infinitely less ambitious. Check it out, just posting it.

Testing:




Seems to work when I try to insert your links with the insert image button.

So cool!

GubernatorFan wrote:I don't know why they are not showing, Alex. Surprised me too. I noticed the link seems to include the [ / img ] part, which seems odd, but when I went into edit mode to separate it with a space, it still didn't show in the regular post, so I reverted to what you had. By the way, in preview mode they show. And they are formatted exactly the same way as the links in your previous post which showed just fine. Had to do the security test too, twice. I don't know what it is that makes a difference here -- it could be a single setting somewhere higher up in either Forumotion or Imgur, or it could be the number of items in a single post, or the number of items in a single day across posts, from Imgur to Forumotion or whatever. In principle, there should be no limit, but sometimes cross-image-storing malfunctions. Hang in there. Meanwhile, we can open each link (preferably in a new window or tab) and enjoy your photos anyway.

The Gimli upgrade looks excellent. I was worried when I read you are going to slim him down, but he turned out great in the end, which is of course no surprise. Very neat solution to the (chain) mail issue, glad that worked out so well.

Funny you should be upgrading a 20-year old set at the same time that I'm doing that myself. Except, of course, mine is infinitely less ambitious. Check it out, just posting it.

Testing:




Seems to work when I try to insert your links with the insert image button.

Thanks for looking into it for me GTF! Perhaps they just don't like me using so much bandwidth with all my build threads!! Probably some dumb analogue bot thing. Still can't see them today either, if it continues it will become a problem for me though.
I'll check out your new thread.

BAMComix wrote:So cool!

Cheers BAM!

Yes, they don't display today, either. I really don't know what happened to them, but I will still mess with it a little more. I doubt it is a question of how many images, but it might be one of how many images from Imgur at one time, or some detail like that. Due to some glitch, the ending of the code ends up as part of the link, which does not seem right, but my first attempt to fix that did not help.

Thanks, and you're right about the Hoth Trooper, which is also an upgrade of an older figure, but I actually had in mind the medieval one.

PS, I tried again, redoing each link. Apparently for some reason it thinks it is spam and gives the security challenge. And when you pass it, it messes up the images so that the links still work as such but they do not automatically display. I do not know what triggered it, possibly a ratio between text and number of images, possibly it remembers deciding this was spam before and still treats it as suspicious. By the way, were your photos always in png format? Although I see some of the earlier posts are also like that and there was no issue.

We have had issues with Imgur before, but have not encountered them in a long long time. I don't know if this covers the same issue, but here is a link to our attempt to get help from Forumotion back then:
https://help.forumotion.com/t155601-imgur-images-and-insert-image-function?highlight=images+do++-display

I don't think it is the same thing, and posting the image link directly (without code) now only inserts a link, not a displaying image. Did you edit the post after first posting it, but before reporting that the images do not display? Because apparently pressing the edit button might (in some cases or at some previous point in time) mess up imgur image display here?

I don't think it is the same thing, and posting the image link directly (without code) now only inserts a link, not a displaying image. Did you edit the post after first posting it, but before reporting that the images do not display? Because apparently pressing the edit button might (in some cases or at some previous point in time) mess up imgur image display here? wrote:

I'm not sure mate tbh but I doubt it, I normally create a post have a read through then swear as I see my typos etc.. and edit after that.

Back to The King Of The Dead (TKOTD)...

Mostly paint and toes I think..





































I also used a dark green wash but didn't take pics before the purple wash. Not sure whether to go with a dry and dusty look or a wet rotten look for him...

That is coming along nicely. I love the green wash (is it also glow in the dark paint?).

Stryker2011 wrote:That is coming along nicely. I love the green wash (is it also glow in the dark paint?).

Cheers Stryker! No glow in the dark paint yet, that will go on last as it's clear. Done a bit more purple work with a paint marker but it's going to be a lengthy process to get the depth of colour and mottled skin colours I want.

I agree, coming along very well. Perked right up after the primer layer was replaced with bone and even blue coloring. Got some Skeletor vibes, too.

GubernatorFan wrote:I agree, coming along very well. Perked right up after the primer layer was replaced with bone and even blue coloring. Got some Skeletor vibes, too.

Thanks GTF! Done more pen painting, looks like 'The Grateful Dead' for now! LOL but these are the 'under colours'.

Very intricate.