"The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow... "

The Steward's Son

Well it has been awhile since my last update as life has gotten in the way of hobbies. I have been working, just at a slow pace, and here and there. Also the models you are about to see took a lot of fiddling to get just right in my opinion. As I mentioned in my last post I painted Boromir, however at the last minute I decided to paint the Dying Boromir model as well. In hindsight this was a good choice as I had a lot of mixed colors which would have been hard to duplicate again if I had waited. The reason it took so long is that there were a lot of different area's to paint on these models, not to mention the horse for the mounted sculpt, which is essentially a model in its own right.

Boromir as a character is an interesting one for me as I used to hate him. This is partly due to Peter Jackson. In the films, Boromir is portrayed as kind of whiny, not Tatooine Luke whiny, but whiny nonetheless. Furthermore I don't think the films did a good job of showing why Boromir was so easily corrupted by the Ring until the Two Towers, after he is dead, making it hard to connect with him. However after a closer reading of the books at a later age, I came to realize how awesome and tragic his fall is.

Basically, Boromir was just doing his best to protect his homeland. He had seen brutal warfare in the fighting for Osgiliath, seen friends die, and watched as his country slowly lost a long war. All of this while dealing with his bat-shit crazy father, and trying to look out for his younger brother, Faramir. When he decided to make for Rivendell and the Council of Elrond, he was essentially looking for the last option he could. When he then learned that the Ring was found, it is only natural that he would covet it, being a desperate man, open to gaining whatever advantage he could over the Enemy. To put it in modern terms, this would be like Hitler finding a hidden atomic bomb in his basement as the Allies invaded Berlin, you're damn right he would try to use it, but he could have no clue of the consequences. Also the atom bomb in this scenario has a willful malice and a dark sorcerer spiritually connected to it.

Finally Boromir redeems himself at Amon-Hen. After trying to take the Ring from Frodo, he realizes what he has done, and sells himself dearly to defend Merry and Pippin from the Uruks. Again, here is a link to some more information about Boromir from a canonical standpoint. Also here is a link to a great operatic interpretation of the death of Boromir:

 

"I ask only for the strength to defend my people."

So I approached this project with a little bit of apprehension as I haven't painted a decent horse and rider in a long time. I don't count the Nazgûl as the riders are so incredibly easy to paint. Other than that these models were fairly straightforward besides having quite a few different shades of brown to figure out, as well as the hair. I think the parts which turned out the best were the black cloaks. I used Reaper Master Series Pure Black for these. What sets it apart from Chaos Black is that it really is pure black. Very matte, and very dark. I've always thought Chaos Black was a bit glossy personally. Black is a tough color to work with, although I think I did a pretty good job in this case, although the pictures here don't really do it justice. I'll shut up now and show you the eye candy (scheme to follow per model as usual):

 

Cloak: Reaper MS Pure Black, 2 progressively lighter highlights using Codex Grey mixed in.

Cloak Lining: Codex Grey

Under Robes: Wazdakka Red/Doombull Brown, Wazdakka Red highlight, tiny Blood Red highlight on the front.

Gloves/Boots: Scorched Brown, Bestial Brown.

Silver bits: Boltgun Metal, Chainmail, Mithril Silver (big surprise there).

Skin: Bestial Brown, Dwarf Flesh, Elf Flesh.

Hair: Doombull Brown, Doombull Brown/Fiery Orange highlight.

Belt/Shield Strap: Doombull Brown, Doombull Brown/Vomit Brown highlight.

Gold Bits:  Shining Gold, P3 Flesh Wash, Burnished Gold

Horn: Vomit Brown, Ushabti Bone, Skull White streaks.

 Horse: Scorched Brown, Doombull Brown, Doombull/Ushabti Bone highlight.

Tack/Bridle, etc.: Bestial Brown, Balor Brown

Metal bits: Same as above.

Blue Heraldry: Mordian Blue, Mordian/Skull White highlight, Skull White livery.

"...and Boromir was pierced by many."

 As I mentioned above, I finally decided to do this model just to get it through with. And given that I used literally the same pallet which the exception of the arrows and cloak, it wasn't really that difficult except the time involved. Plus I'm glad I finally gave in as I think its an excellent model and turned out really well.

Elven Cloak: Codex Grey, Fortress Grey, Astronomicon Grey

Arrows: Same as belt from above.

Flights: Skull White

Blood: Wazdakka Red

On Deck

The coolest thing about finishing these models is that I now technically have every member of the Fellowship painted (most more than once!). I will still be doing another version of the Hobbits, but I think first I will be painting Glorfindel or Arwen, but most likely Glorfindel because he's AWESOMESAUCE! But really really for real, I will paint both for my next update. I also may include a post of my WHFB High Elves simply to keep everyone happy while I work on Glorf-Arwen.

Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-menu!

Axe(s) of the Dwarf(ves)

So after tackling the taller parts of the Fellowship, I have to move on to everyone's favorite dwarf, Gimli, Son of Gloin. As most of you know, Gloin was a member of the party of dwarves in the Quest of Erebor (The Hobbit), and Gimli is his son. Dwarves are very long lived, not as long as the elves, however Gimli was not allowed to participate in Thorin Oakenshield's quest as he was deemed too young (a measly sixty years old!) by dwarf standards. Although relegated to comic relief in Peter Jackson's trilogy, Gimli is remarkably notable in the story of the Third Age. Most notable is the fact that he was the first dwarf of his age to readily fight alongside an elf (Legolas), and to later leave on the ships into the West, to the Undying Lands!! Probably the most important thing about Gimli as a character is his relationship with Galadriel. I have already touched on Galadriel's massive importance to the saga a few posts back, but it is speculated that it was Galadriel's influence amongst the Valar which gave Gimli leave to visit Valinor. Before I get too long winded I'll go ahead and point readers to this page to read the rest of Gimli's history.

Tiny Beards, Big Hearts

So, as with Aragorn and Legolas, I chose to paint two different sculpts of Gimli. The first, the normal Fellowship sculpt, and the second, the Amon-Hen version. The only real difference is that the Amon-Hen sculpt is wearing an Elven cloak, which obscures much of the rear detail on the model, meaning it was quite a bit easier to paint.

At first I had a terrible time painting these models, as I had to mix a lot of colors. Furthermore, like Aragorn, it seemed like I was just painting a bunch of different shades of brown and it looked bad and muddled. However as I got closer to being finished the scheme really started to come together and I think it really came out well for the most part. I particularly like how the gold detailing on the upper sleeves appears, as well as the cloak on the AH sculpt. On to pictures and scheme discussion to follow!:

 

Jacket: Dark Flesh, Wazdakka Red (Red Gore)
Boots, Gloves, Shoulder Straps, Helmet: Scorched Brown, Bestial Brown
Axe Hafts: Doombull Brown, Bestial Brown, Bestial Brown/Ushabti Bone mix
Axes, Helmet, Mail, Metal bits: Boltgun Metal, p3 Flesh Wash, Chainmail and Mithril Silver drybrushes
Gold Bits: Shining Gold, p3 Flesh Wash, Burnished Gold
Skin: Dwarf Flesh, p3 Flesh Wash, Elf Flesh, p3 Flesh Wash, Elf Flesh
Beard: Doombull Brown, Doombull Brown/Ushabti Bone mix, 3rd Highlight w/ more Ushabti
Top Sleeves: Reaper MS Pure Black, Shining Gold
Backpack, Elven Cloak: Codex Grey, Fortress Grey, Astronomicon Grey

On Deck

Next update expect Boromir! I may do the mounted version as well simply to save time, although I will probably NOT be painting dying Boromir at this time as he isn't really essential and is more of a diorama style piece. Following that I will paint better versions of the 4 Hobbits and then eventually move on to some Elves.... (*looks at Glorfindel*)

Legolas of the Woodland Realm

Planning and Research

With the exception of the Dúnedain and Nazgûl, I have been using the schemes provided in the Journeybooks almost exclusively. Any parts of models not covered, or which I think look stupid get a redux using my oft ill conceived color schemes (remember, I'm color blind). I also tend to fiddle with some of the browns, typically going for darker shades or mixes to paint leather straps and packs. I took some freedom with Legolas, mainly because the scheme given in the Journeybook is wrong. It calls for painting all of his tunic with Dark Angels Green (Caliban Green), however in the films Legolas is actually wearing a brown leather covering over the front of his outfit, as well as soft leather pauldrons on his shoulders. I thought this was funny so I turned to a book I've been using when I can't quite figure out what the sculptor was going for:

 

I picked this book up ages ago on a whim from Barnes and Noble, not knowing how useful it is. Its about 220 pages with lots of commentary and good photos of props used in the movies, including stuff from behind the scenes, such as Gil-Galad's armor, and some good full color concept art. So I went to the section on Legolas, and I confirmed my suspicion about the leather coverlet over his tunic. I also remembered (and confirmed) that the sculpts I would be painting had different bows. The first has a Mirkwood style short recurve bow. The Amon-Hen scuplt has Legolas wielding a Lorien bow, made from mallorn heartwood, and much stronger, longer, and stouter than Legolas' earlier bow, however it lacks the gold detailing of the shorter Mirkwood bow.

With these two I tried my hand at painting inside out. Meaning I started with painting the skin, something I usually leave until last. I really enjoyed doing it this way as the model started feeling more "done" ealier on, which is always heartening. I think from now on I will be painting inside out with characters and one-offs, and outside-in for batch painting as it usually involves drybrushes and washing which can mar an underlying layer. On to the scheme discussion and pictures!

Skin

Skin: Bestial Brown, Dwarf Flesh, Elf Flesh.

Hair: Vomit Brown, Ushabti Bone (Bleached Bone) drybrush, P3 Flesh Wash.

The scheme in the book recommened the final high light be a mix of Dwarf and Elf flesh, but I like my elves to be really brightly skinned, so I opted not to tone down the final highlight. Notice the lack of eye painting, again that's because I am terrible at it, and the true-scale the LOTR models used (as opposed to Warhammer's heroic scale) means you can't really tell at gaming distance if the model's eyes are painted or not.

Everything Else

Underclothes: Shadow Grey, Fortress Grey

Tunic: Caliban Green (Dark Angels Green), Caliban Green 50/50 mix with Ushabti Bone (Bleached Bone)

Leather Coverlet/Shoulders/Boots/Gauntlets/Quiver: Scorched Brown, Bestial Brown

Leather Straps: Scorched Brown, Doombull Brown (Dark Flesh)

Fellowship Sculpt Bow/Arrow Hafts: Dark Flesh, Bestial Brown

Amon-Hen Sculpt Bow and Quiver/White Knife Handles: Bestial Brown, Ushabti Bone, Reaper Ivory

Arrow Flights: MM Acryl Dark Green, Interior Green

Elven Cloak: Codex Grey, Fortress Grey, Astronomicon Grey

Gold Details: Shining Gold, P3 Flesh Wash, Burnished Gold

Silver Details: Chaimail, Mithril Silver

All in all these were a joy to paint, much more fun that Aragorn(s). In the coming days look for an update as I start painting Gimli(s), at which point he only Fellowship members left to paint will the Boromir, and additional Hobbits! I also am acquiring, through a trade: Balin and Khazad guard, 3 Knights of Dol-Amroth, 3 Fountain Guard, 3 Rangers of Gondor, Gandalf at Khazad-Dum, and Haldir in Lorion (unarmored). Super excited about that.