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Post by Michael O'Brien on Sept 16, 2010 15:12:28 GMT
"Thank you for another batch of interesting suggestions. I have carefully read all the comments about the Balrog and have decided to include it in the list, as it will be only slightly larger than troll sized. The crouched position and lowered head sounds like an excellent pose. I have only excluded Frodo and Gollum as I would really have to make 2 figures. The buyer would then have the option of including the Frodo figure. Please suggest it again on a double figure month". by Chris Tubb.
This is blind vote so you will only see the current status AFTER you cast your vote. Please can EVERYONE vote.
This vote ends on the 23rd.
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Post by Theobald on Sept 16, 2010 15:58:50 GMT
Once again a very difficult choice ... let's go ...
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Post by twrich on Sept 16, 2010 16:00:55 GMT
Many good choices!
HIRGON BEARER OF THE RED ARROW!!!
His month has come! He is a named charachter never created by Chris. His arrival in Rohan from Gondor helped convince King Theoden to ride to Gondor's aid, and without the Rohirrim, Gondor would have fallen and I think Frodo's quest would have failed. Mordor would have turned its eye inward and found him out.
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Post by erchamion on Sept 16, 2010 16:16:40 GMT
I have little time for hobbies lately ..... I have not had time to suggest a figure .... But no matter. Two old ideas of mine are suggested this month: Guthlaf and Grimbeorn That's good! Sorry for the dwarf (figure very nice too), but Guthlaf has my vote. However, I won´t cease to see Guthlaf riding and blowing the horn ..... ;D By the way, you shouldn´t apologize, David
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Post by imisel on Sept 16, 2010 16:20:05 GMT
my vote goes for Sharkey's ruffian leader... I think is time to come back to the Shire, and not only for hobbits!
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Post by cfisher on Sept 16, 2010 16:35:29 GMT
The Troll!
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Post by Axel on Sept 16, 2010 16:52:09 GMT
Hmm. Not easy.
I know I suggested Smeagol, but I DO love the dwarf prospector, too.
I fear the Dwarf in me is stronger then the Halfling, so I abandon Smeagol - just as his family did. Sneaky gitch. Now lets look for some Gems and Mithril.
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Post by pteratom on Sept 16, 2010 18:32:56 GMT
mmm, i'm not so sure that, when the 2 figure's time will come, Frodo and Gollum will be the choice (too much nice ideas will born), so this time i go with my Gollum again! Please, let him do his work with that big living fish! ;D
...Gollum! Gollum!
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Post by ddaines on Sept 16, 2010 18:40:48 GMT
Guthlaf, and the sketch explains better than words
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Post by Gildor on Sept 16, 2010 19:31:58 GMT
I really like the Balrog idea, besides it would be VERY original as we only have two demonlike creatures in the mithril range : the MB300 Balrog and the M78 Razarak which is quite akin...
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Post by craftinfool on Sept 17, 2010 1:27:26 GMT
I find it odd that , although this story starts and ends with Hobbits , there is only one GF figure dedicated to them "Bilbo the barrel rider" also Bilbo is included in "Thorin entombed". FROM 2006 MIND YOU. LETS GO SAM OR SMEAGOL OR GOLLUM If niether of these wins maybe we can suggest a Hobbit only month ? just a thought.
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 17, 2010 3:55:44 GMT
For thousands of years the great demon remained entombed, with only the darkness and the bitter cold to keep him company. Time had no meaning to the ancient being. Still, what to do for the duration? Did he pace back and forth, entertaining himself with demonic fireworks? Perhaps he made shadow puppets with the bones of the deceased? Of course not. The Balrog composed himself and sat down. There he remained, as quiet as the stone around him. All of his splendor left him, and he appeared to lessen in size. And if you dared to peer into his black eyes, you might see, way down inside them, a tiny flicker of light. [glow=red,2,300]Huh? Awww, and I was having such a wonderful dream![/glow]
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Post by fulvio on Sept 17, 2010 11:45:13 GMT
...but without a DWARF MINE PROSPECTOR that dig it, the entombed Balrog will rest in his tomb forever!
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 18, 2010 5:23:39 GMT
I knew I could count on you fulvio. Keep up the good work!
This is a moot point that I‘m sure an enthusiast can shed some light on. Has J.R.R. Tolkien ever described the Balrog as having the ability to fly? More specifically, did the Balrog actually have wings? Because now I’m thinking that maybe it was a kind of shadowy void or peculiar displacement of light surrounding the demon that created the illusion of wings. I guess it makes no difference. All the miniatures and pictures I can think of typically depict the Balrog as having them. They certainly make him look more wicked!
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Post by Axel on Sept 18, 2010 11:35:44 GMT
No mention of actual flight, nor wings. Just flames and smoke that look like wings.
The description of siege of Gondolin probably hint to them NOT having the ability to fly. An alternative Balrog without wings certainly would be something new, though I fail to see how you can sculpt the aura of fear that these creates emenate.
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 19, 2010 2:40:12 GMT
That's what I thought. If not wings, then perhaps behind the hulking figure, spreading upwards and out, is a wall of fire that resembles a setting sun. Or maybe he wears the flames like a great fiery cloak. Naturally, we're talking more metal, weight, cost, etc. I guess that's another reason why bat-like wings are preferred. One thing is for sure, Melkor must have wielded immense power to have controlled a host of these things. Thanks Axel.
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Post by ddaines on Sept 19, 2010 12:42:17 GMT
I knew I could count on you fulvio. Keep up the good work! This is a moot point that I‘m sure an enthusiast can shed some light on. Has J.R.R. Tolkien ever described the Balrog as having the ability to fly? More specifically, did the Balrog actually have wings? Because now I’m thinking that maybe it was a kind of shadowy void or peculiar displacement of light surrounding the demon that created the illusion of wings. I guess it makes no difference. All the miniatures and pictures I can think of typically depict the Balrog as having them. They certainly make him look more wicked! You'll open up a can of worms here Grond ;D, the do they, don't they debate is, unless someone finds a 'lost' physical description by JRR himself or Christopher T has some previously unpublished description pretty much a no win argument for the other side. the following link may be of use (Encyclopedia of Arda)... www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/b/balrogs.htmlI admit to being in the no wings camp and made my first Mithril Balrog without, but if you read Frodo's comment when Legolas puts an arrow into the flying creature over the Anduin, he mentions something about a Balrog, which then made me think that he had seen [the Moria Balrog] one with wings hence the comment (I don't have the Good book to hand). Anyhow, if this excellent suggestion is chosen I think for the best visual impact it would probably look best with wings to create the effect.
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Post by pteratom on Sept 19, 2010 19:57:13 GMT
.....Or maybe he wears the flames like a great fiery cloak. ...this is a very nice idea, well i think that the flames must be not a dress but something like an elemental burning from the feets to the shoulders
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Post by bombadil1963 on Sept 19, 2010 20:42:12 GMT
Hmm . . . If he wins, as seems likely, you should keep in mind that he is entombed. Provided that he is really kind of asleep I would guess that there will only be some very small flickering flamies, less than candlelights.
I don´t care if he has wings or not! But it will be difficult for Chris to create some "looks-like-wings"-wings! Let´s wait and see what will happen! It´s the same with unvisible moon-letters . . .
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 20, 2010 6:02:41 GMT
Interesting. After visiting the link, the arguments presented there tend to favor the no-wings faction. However, I like the closing statement best: Wherever the evidence lies, it's a fact that nobody knows for sure what the answer is. Only Tolkien himself could have told us, and he never made a definite statement on the topic. It seems appropriate, then, to finish with the most definite description of a Balrog he did provide: [16] 'What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape, maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it.'The Fellowship of the Ring II 5 The Bridge of Khazad-dûm That description is not only chilling, it also beautifully conveys the presence of evil. And it makes me feel kind of sad inside too. I concur with ddaines. I don't think Balrogs actually had physical wings. Nevertheless, they work very well with the figure and give the Balrog that classic demonic look. I can't imagine the entombed Balrog without them. The dwarves enter the chamber, not taking particular notice of the crouching figure in the center of the room. It's covered in dust and looks very much like a large statue shrouded in darkness. The Balrog does not spring forth, like some jack-in-the-box, at the mere site of intruders. Instead, it remains motionless. The dwarves cautiously pan out. One prospector (sorry fulvio) works his way toward the figure. He prods it with a stubby finger, before he realizes something is terribly wrong. 'The statue is ablaze!', cries the dwarf. The poor little fellow is subsequently engulfed by flames and falls to the floor. The room trembles as the Balrog slowly rises to a great height, and its shadowy wings are spread from wall to wall. The entombed one has been... SWISH-SMACK! GRRRRRRR! AHHHHHHH!
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Post by pteratom on Sept 20, 2010 18:15:19 GMT
Ah yes, sorry, forget my words about flames, he is entombed, right. Well, i hope in wings, because, if the figure will be like a classic demon, i cant imagine a demon with horns and without wings. Anyway, i belive in "Chris Art" so, if Balrog wins the mounth, it will be another great job!
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 21, 2010 5:57:04 GMT
Ah yes, sorry, forget my words about flames, he is entombed, right. Well, i hope in wings, because, if the figure will be like a classic demon, i cant imagine a demon with horns and without wings. Anyway, i belive in "Chris Art" so, if Balrog wins the mounth, it will be another great job! Very true! Well, it's far from over yet, and the Troll Champion of the North is here! Yeaaa! Demon droppings! If it's not some back-shooting Variag, it's a blasted uber troll!!!
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tolwen
Mithril Captain
Posts: 65
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Post by tolwen on Sept 21, 2010 19:22:06 GMT
Interesting. After visiting the link, the arguments presented there tend to favor the no-wings faction. However, I like the closing statement best: [snip] You might also have a look at the most recent Issue of Other Minds Magazine (see my signature for link or the 'Other Minds' thread in the Events & Auctions section of this forum). In Issue #10 there is an article of nine pages dealing with "Balrog wings" matter, and the author being firmly of the "no wings" faction. You may want to read his arguments if you're interested in in-depth information about the matter and the sources.
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 22, 2010 1:58:35 GMT
Nine pages??? Although I respect the arguments from both sides, I've already made up my mind about them; I don't think they actually had physical wings. Nevertheless, if the Balrog makes it, I hope Chris will sculpt it with wings wrapped tightly around its upper torso. I originally pictured it looking like a bat does when it sleeps. Thank you for the reference link though. I'll check it out.
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 22, 2010 2:35:30 GMT
That nice Southern gentleman's Northern Troll has picked up some...momentum.
I know you been singin' your song on the other side of the river, but ain't no troll gonna whup a Balrog! Aww Hell nah! Let's get it on! ;D
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Post by Thingol on Sept 22, 2010 7:02:21 GMT
I hope that Guthlaf or Hirgon will be in next round... those creatures are nice but I preferred characters.... with or without all those Balrogs descriptions.... vote for the real hero !!!!!
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 22, 2010 7:18:27 GMT
I hope that Guthlaf or Hirgon will be in next round... those creatures are nice but I preferred characters.... with or without all those Balrogs descriptions.... vote for the real hero !!!!! I know where you stand when it comes to such creatures as orcs, trolls and the Balrog. Not to worry Thingol, Guthlaf and Hirgon are still in the fight. More power to them!
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Post by ddaines on Sept 22, 2010 20:28:58 GMT
Nine pages??? Although I respect the arguments from both sides, I've already made up my mind about them; I don't think they actually had physical wings. Nevertheless, if the Balrog makes it, I hope Chris will sculpt it with wings wrapped tightly around its upper torso. I originally pictured it looking like a bat does when it sleeps. Thank you for the reference link though. I'll check it out. I am reminded of Disney's Fantasia (Grond's visualisation) when the demon Chernabog awakens on top of Bald Mountain (or at least the passage is called Night on Bald Mountain [English translation I belive]) and his wings stretch out. I'm still a no wings believer though ;D My favourite part of the film along with the breaking of dawn and the procession bearing torches.
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Post by ungoliant on Sept 23, 2010 19:03:52 GMT
Nine pages??? Although I respect the arguments from both sides, I've already made up my mind about them; I don't think they actually had physical wings. Nevertheless, if the Balrog makes it, I hope Chris will sculpt it with wings wrapped tightly around its upper torso. I originally pictured it looking like a bat does when it sleeps. Thank you for the reference link though. I'll check it out. I am reminded of Disney's Fantasia (Grond's visualisation) when the demon Chernabog awakens on top of Bald Mountain (or at least the passage is called Night on Bald Mountain [English translation I belive]) and his wings stretch out. I'm still a no wings believer though ;D My favourite part of the film along with the breaking of dawn and the procession bearing torches. If the greatest amusement park in the world has a Balrog, then the demon can’t be all bad. Saaay, old Chernabog was created and controlled by Disney right? That means Walt Disney must have been…dare I say it…the Dark Lord himself! [glow=red,2,300] CRAAACK! BOOM![/glow] That explains everything. The beady-eyed maintenance workers in Magic Mountain… Goblins! And that big dude at the window who sold me my ticket when I was twelve… Troll! Thank you David! ;D
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Post by imisel on Sept 24, 2010 8:21:08 GMT
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