Kili - 2/9/2014

I suppose all you really want to do is see the finished model so here's Kili the dwarf: 

Next: Oin

More of a Letter Opener Really - 15/8/2014

Balin was one of my favourite dwarves in the story, and here he is!  

Getting the highlights and shadows on the coat was very tricky, but I was very pleased with the results:

I was also quite happy with how the beard turned out, this is something I have always struggled with but perhaps I'm finally starting to get the hang of it!

And the finished product, I think I'm getting better at the highlights with the flesh tones as well, I was perhaps being a bit heavy handed before...

I've already made a start on Fili so watch this space, disappointingly it means a move back to boring brown. I've quite enjoyed having the chance to use some of the brighter colours! 

Dwalin, at your service - 8/8/2014

With a crew of dwarves to get through I decided to start with Dwalin.  First his coat...

It took me longer than expected to get to this point, but here he is nearly finished...

 I think I'm getting better at some of the details, the highlights on his face for example, and I was quite pleased with the belt buckle too!

Finished Dwalin:

Next up is Balin.  Though I may have to watch the film again in between! 

What is Bagginses? - 25/7/2014

Firstly, as promised, here is the finished Thorin figure. It's amazing how much difference painting the base makes (and yes I did paint over my thumb print!)

Next was a certain Mr Bilbo Baggins.  I really enjoyed this one, though it was quite tricky in places.

The detail on the clothing is always important, but it's the flesh colours that really bring these things to life.

You can just about make out the blue glow of Sting, a warning of the looming goblin army!

The Dwarf company is next on the list, should be good as they're all wearing different coloured clothing! 

Far over the misty mountains cold... - 25/7/2014

Time to paint Thorin Oakenshield.  It was quite nice to start painting someone whose main colour wasn't grey!  As ever it was just a case of building him up, colour by colour, layer by later...

The boots were quite fiddly, but other than that his clothing was fairly straight forward to paint. 

His hair though, was much trickier than Gandalf's, I think it looks OK, though I feel perhaps I could have done better here.  His oaken branch shield was also quite tricky to paint, but this was my fault - there were 2 options for his arms when assembling him - and it was the other option (with no shield) that was in the instructions for how to paint, so I had to improvise a bit here!

So with the exception of the base, here he is all done!  

You shall not pass... - 12/6/2014

I was almost surprised by the number of different paints I've had to use this afternoon to get Gandalf looking like Gandalf, but I am learning that it's important to get the details right!

The next job I had was getting his hair and beard sorted.  3 paints (one base, one highlight and one shadow) and here's the result. Quite odd sitting "washing" Gandalf's hair.

 Then, to get him looking like a person it was time for the fleshy bits.  This part was quite tricky as the areas are getting very small, particularly when it came to highlighting his cheek bones!

 A few more finishing touches and he's done.  I feel like I could have been a bit tidier with it, but I don't think he looks too bad!

Thorin Oakenshield next!

Are you sitting comfortably? - 12/7/2014

Then I'll begin...

Sitting comfortably is very important with the painting - spent all afternoon yesterday hunched over the table and am feeling the effects of it this morning!

But I finally finished the primer stage with the figures!

 So first on the list of figures to paint properly is Gandalf, not sure it was the best idea starting with one of the most tricky ones but here goes nothing.

Here's a reminder of boring black all over Gandalf:

All that I need to do now is carefully add in the colours one by one. I'd forgotten how much concentration it takes!

 Here's where I'm at with him now:

There's a few stages to go (flesh, beard, weapon etc.) and once I've done them all I intend to go back and tidy up the few rough edges that I've left.  I think the robe is looking a bit messy, but quite pleased with the staff so looking forward to see how it all looks when I've finished.

Am hoping to get the rest done later on today so check back later!