My Custom 13 Dwarves & Bilbo From 'The Hobbit' Movie WIP. Bombur Weapons & Accessories.

Great intro to this phase of your mega project Alex, really looking forward to seeing you develop the Dwarf characters in your inimitable and inventive way.

I'm a fan of both movies, and of your interpretation of their characters.

Cheers,

Peter.

peter the painter wrote:Great intro to this phase of your mega project Alex, really looking forward to seeing you develop the Dwarf characters in your inimitable and inventive way.

I'm a fan of both movies, and of your interpretation of their characters.

Cheers,

Peter.

Thanks Peter! Well these builds wouldn't be possible if you hadn't accepted my commission for the sculpts! Or if I'd actually had the drive to sculpt them they certainly wouldn't be as recognisable as your sculpts! I am actually striving for movie accuracy this time, more so than the Wraiths but there will be concessions due to reality of course, I'm not fanatical enough to get every texture or pattern of clothing movie accurate as I work with what I have at my disposal and can't devote my entire life to perfection when I have so many other projects as well.

Nearly finished the first body, I need to add stabilising struts to connect the chest pieces and insert soft foam to fill the gaps but still allow articulation; the neck cover is just 'stand in' for now as I'm not even sure whose body this is! Sorted out 14 pairs of hand pegs.

Done what I said I would then tried a mock up with the Austin Powers suit unaltered (cut the cravat off) and a pair of Toy Biz Gimli's boots and gloves as well just plonked in place so no actual hands or feet yet. I noticed that only one bicep articulates and that's only on the Dr. Evil figures, how lame is that? AP doesn't have any bicep articulation, bummer going to have to fix that to then, probably using a screwhead as a mushroom connector with a swivel hole dremeled out for it on the connecting piece. Thorin's head looks a bit weird as his hair is too close to the back of the body stopping it from sitting naturally but no bother as I'd planed on giving most of the Dwarves with loose long hair real hair anyway (sorry Peter! It was on the cards before we even spoke...I just didn't explain it, I've always preferred real hair on most figures). This is why I think Dori's head comes across more natural on the body.

Looking good!

It was pistol hands I could never find from any brand. My assortment would probably add to ones that you don't need.

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:Looking good!

It was pistol hands I could never find from any brand. My assortment would probably add to ones that you don't need.

CHEERS!

Sorry my mistake got it backwards obviously! Then I'm totally confused as I've got a stupid amount of pistol hands, it was something about the trigger finger not being curved enough wasn't it? Brain's fried with this bloody heat! Hate it! Nearly 30c In FRONT of my room cooler on max loaded with ice! I was shooting a spring airgun sniper rifle behind it to get maximum range, after 60+ shots the damn bolt action seized up due to heat expansion and I blew the front brass nozzle off it! Basically blew the rifle's charging system up!

Back to the build.. I took off the front brace as it was aesthetically horrible and hard to hide plus just the one on the back is plenty for support. I made a bicep swivel for the other arm, drilled holes to add the hands and feet, then added more foam to complete the body's shape, gluing it all in place so the first body is now complete! Shame I don't have a factory...only 13 more to go...at least some of them are variants to keep it interesting for me, probably bore you guys to tears!











Bolts for all the other biceps to articulate...ugh..





Well I'm calling it finished, could do with thigh articulation but it's hard to do as I have no specialised tool for milling out the mushroom shape for any bolt head connection, it has to be done very carefully with a tiny dremel bit and a scalpel which takes quite a bit of time to do. Actually I'll fix those shoulder 'bumps' by either removing the bumps or adding foam to the lower parts.



And my poor L96 with it's bolt action piston blown apart..



I'd just put it back together from the scrap heap too!

The dwarves are coming along pretty well from what you show.

And we’re off!

Man, what happened to your rifle? That sucks!

Shame about the rifle. Rifle grip hands, when you try and put a pistol in them, leave the pistol pointing awkwardly downwards, so you cant do any decent aiming poses.

Ingenious custom bodies by the way

CHEERS!

GubernatorFan wrote:The dwarves are coming along pretty well from what you show.

Thanks GF! You make it sound like I'm hiding something I know that's not you're intention at all and are running around the forum like mad trying to comment on all the threads!

Stryker2011 wrote:And we’re off!

Man, what happened to your rifle? That sucks!

Yup got a body to make a costume for now!
As for the rifle, I was already 'skating on thin ice' since I'd done a power upgrade with a much stronger spring and heavier piston inside some parts that weren't exactly high quality so I expected a failure at some point but not for it to be caused by the heat! Regular firearm bolt action rifles can have their bolts seize due to rapid fire and heavy loaded cartridges causing heat expansion, the same seems to be possible with an air piston bolt action rifle too, if you have ever used a bicycle pump you'll have noticed the compression tube gets hotter the more you pump it due to friction and heat generated/transferred from the compressed air molecules to the pump's casing. It's exactly the same with this type of bolt action only you also have eternal friction to add heat (lubrication usually solves that) and then being used repeatedly on a very hot day under a stupid solarium (I hate that damn thing, it's like a microwave!) and the bolt casing expands so much with the heat it gets stuck and the nozzle must have expanded just enough to get trapped so when I pulled the bolt back too forcefully trying to unjam it I must have ripped it right off the bolt casing!
Well you did ask!

Rogerbee wrote:Shame about the rifle. Rifle grip hands, when you try and put a pistol in them, leave the pistol pointing awkwardly downwards, so you cant do any decent aiming poses.

Ingenious custom bodies by the way

CHEERS!

Thanks! Why not just use pistol grip hands? I must have a hundred spare of the damn things!

I don't use them because I hardly have any. All the DML figures I bought because I liked the sculpts were all riflemen.

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:
I don't use them because I hardly have any. All the DML figures I bought because I liked the sculpts were all riflemen.

CHEERS!

I can send you some you like, there's a post box outside my house so if it can fit in the slot all I have to do is weigh it and print off a label from the post office website.

Shoulder bumps were an easy fix and avoided 'giraffe neck' too. Done a second mock up more complete this time as he has hands and feet attached with the body finished under the clothing, just wanted to see how other clothing and another head looked on this body; pretty good I think.. as long as the bloody room cooler doesn't blow him over!















Oh, and look what I found on eBay! A T-slot cutter the perfect size for 1/6 figures to make those mushroom joints for swivelling biceps and perhaps now thighs too! Shaft fits in a regular dremel, most only fit in their 3 in 1 router that I don't have! YAY!

Looking good so far. Clothing really helps hide all the chop-shop you had to do on the bodies. Very promising.

shovelchop81 wrote:

Rogerbee wrote:
I don't use them because I hardly have any. All the DML figures I bought because I liked the sculpts were all riflemen.

CHEERS!

I can send you some you like, there's a post box outside my house so if it can fit in the slot all I have to do is weigh it and print off a label from the post office website.

That's the thing, I don't really need any now. The whole point of my inventory was to get rid of all the bash fodder as I'm not bashing anymore. I'm concentrating on garage kits now.

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:

shovelchop81 wrote:

Rogerbee wrote:
I don't use them because I hardly have any. All the DML figures I bought because I liked the sculpts were all riflemen.

CHEERS!

I can send you some you like, there's a post box outside my house so if it can fit in the slot all I have to do is weigh it and print off a label from the post office website.

That's the thing, I don't really need any now. The whole point of my inventory was to get rid of all the bash fodder as I'm not bashing anymore. I'm concentrating on garage kits now.

CHEERS!

I know, I just thought I'd offer.

Going to bed now it's cooled down a bit, supposed to be cooler the next few days so hopefully I can get more done. Just been looking at the Dwarves clothing more carefully, damn they have SO much detail they make Elves look plain in comparison! One of the reasons I love them but this is going to be a hard road ahead... I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!

Gone through a few massive bags of materials looking for usable stuff, still got a big back of black material and another big bag of white material to go through, then my bags of 1/6 clothing; I'd only grabbed the LOTR related baggies before but I'm sure there's still usable stuff in the other organised baggies. I was mostly looking for unusual stuff with patterns, surprisingly the best I found was that bra that has some really cool intricate patterns (imagine it in metallic colours over another colour like red or blue etc..) that could be cut for borders and panels on their outfits. I also found a padded bra that could make Bombur's fatsuit!  Plus it has lots of strapping that if painted/inked brown/black could make good belts or harnesses, the funniest part for me was that I discovered the front is only held together by strong magnets (useful), where were these easy open bras in my youth?!!

Most of this stuff has come from bags or suitcases I found left outside my house.





























Again, nice patterns that look Dwarven if picked out in paint and a wash of ink.





Okay, I might be pushing how useful this could be but we'll see.

I am loving this build !!
The reworked body looks excellent once covered in clothing - crazy amount of work though !

Interesting ideas for the clothing, are you sure they're not meant to be collected by charities though!?

I'm sure they won't miss it though

CHEERS!

Allotropos wrote:I am loving this build !!
The reworked body looks excellent once covered in clothing - crazy amount of work though !

Thanks! Only 13 to go...

Rogerbee wrote:Interesting ideas for the clothing, are you sure they're not meant to be collected by charities though!?

I'm sure they won't miss it though


 

CHEERS!

Your bloody low spaced 'cheers' got me again!

LOL, no these are left in normal bin bags, supermarket bags etc.. and even in a suitcase once! Charities post special bags through your letterbox to use that are clearly marked for charity, I live at the end of a street junction that is a cul de sac with the post box and a big brick flowerbed thingy, people just like to leave stuff there kind of like an unmanned 'swap meet' except not much swapping goes on. Kind of like fly tipping but with smaller more useful stuff to me at least, I guess they figure "well I don't want these any more maybe someone else can use them". Charities are actually very fickle about what they take as they have to be sure they can sell it not just clog up their stock rooms so they ask for designer clothing, handbags, belts, footwear etc.. I've never even owned anything they'd want!

I just send this to the government about article 15 of the Offensive Weapons Act since I signed the petition against it, some other UK members might want to know about the petition to stop the law being passed that will make delivery of ANY bladed item to a residential address ILLEGAL!

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/222776

https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2018/june/have-your-say-on-the-offensive-weapons-bill/

Dear sir, madam, I suffer from agoraphobia and cannot leave my house that is classified as a private residence so I rely solely on the internet for the delivery of all my purchases from food to work/hobby related supplies, I have no family in the UK and friends are always too busy for me to bother with my daily requirements. I am a sculptor and custom 1/6 custom action figure builder as well as a model builder. These hobbies are integral to my coping mechanism and therapy for my illness and other illnesses, chronic depression and acute anxiety disorder. To continue with my therapy I need tools, one of the most essential being hobby knives that use disposable blades that need to be replaced on a regular basis as well as mini hacksaw and jewellers saw blades, my rotary tool (a Dremel) also requires bladed tool bits to operate. The proposed ban on the sale of any bladed items to residential addresses would destroy my coping mechanism and therapy as well as my mental health and the well-being of my day to day life. Please consider people in my situation, I am not unique in this situation, many fellow sufferers use the same coping mechanisms to create beautiful items and pieces of art that when shared on line whether it be in forums, public photograph sites, or video hosting sites are a benefit and inspiration to many people who appreciate and/or would like to pursue similar crafts and hobbies for their life style, therapy or even as businesses. Please don't take away what little joy sufferers of agoraphobia may have as hobby/craft knives are used for so many constructive and therapeutic indoor activities/hobbies/crafts/art. Yours sincerely, Alexander Smith. wrote:

Good for you and well said!

CHEERS!

Well, if government gets in the way of your magnificent creations, I'm flying over the big pond to protest.

Rogerbee wrote:Good for you and well said!

CHEERS!

Thanks Roger, it's only the ban of blades being sent to a residential address and ownership of certain blades being made illegal I'm opposed to, the rest to do with firearms (is totally stupid but expected) I'm not worried about personally. The whole acid thing seems to make sense, I would say under 18's need it for their 125cc bikes but batteries are mostly sealed gel nowadays or at least the decent quality maintenance free ones are, I guess they should do a trade in option sponsored by the government, ie bring your old acid battery and trade if for free for a new sealed one? Ironically guys on mopeds with their visors open are some of the most common victims for acid attacks! Not sure about young aspiring chemists but I'm pretty sure they do their work in school labs where chemicals should be under lock and key.

dadrab wrote:Well, if government gets in the way of your magnificent creations, I'm flying over the big pond to protest.

Thanks for the sentiment! The government allows organised and licensed protests but then ignores them, if it's not licensed and you merely have a gathering of 15 people who might not even be protesting anything anyway they arrest you for public something or other, illegal gathering? A bit nuts really.

When are these idiots going to wake up and realize it's not the tool that does the killing, it's the person wielding it.

Stryker2011 wrote:When are these idiots going to wake up and realize it's not the tool that does the killing, it's the person wielding it.

They think they're placating the public and sadly there are a lot of ignorant and stupid people out there who run for cover whenever they see the word gun or knife, sadly I know some of them...bloody irritating argument with someone I've known for 30 years about it on FB today, bloody depressing how even a friend can't be reasoned with because they've been brainwashed by the tabloid newspapers

Anyway..screw all that... second body done mostly, given this one slightly narrower and lower shoulders. I'd like to say I'm getting the hang of it now but I'll be dealing with different parts for the next ones! That's what happens when you scratch build from stuff lying around I'm saving lots of money though so I can stock up on swords and knives I've always wanted this month before the ban can be implemented They don't seem to have taken into account all the sword, knife, hunting and fishing shops that used to be brick and mortar in town shut down years ago due to online sales! So there's nowhere to go to buy them anyway even if I wasn't agoraphobic... I actually bought my huge fan shaped sword display stand (holds 20) from what used to be our local sword and knife shop when he had to close down.

Coming along nicely!

CHEERS!

Rogerbee wrote:Coming along nicely!

CHEERS!

Thanks Roger! Forum's very quiet today, did I miss something?

Anyway don't really care if I did, been busy enjoying season 1 and 2 of 'Colony' excellent post invasion sci-fi series. Finished off the second body and have started Dwalin's, he's the big one! And my favourite looks wise. He has bare muscled forearms but luckily I have the perfect parts for that, arms that came off a 'Prince Of Narnia' armoured Cyclops, I used his decorative breastplate on one of my Wraith builds. Anyway Dwalin is taller and broader than the other dwarves so needs those mods incorporated into his body along with the forearms.

Cool. Dwalin was my favorite look of the Dwarves, as well. Looking forward to seeing how you pull this off.

I noticed it was quiet,

Well, there is an England match on...

CHEERS!

It's been pretty quiet for the last few days actually. Must be Summer vacations, or folks are just sick of us already.