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Post by ddaines on Apr 13, 2021 10:39:15 GMT
'Merry' Elf in the Elven King's Cellar Roll-roll-roll-roll, Roll-roll-rolling down the hole! Heave ho! Splash plump! Down they go, down they bump!For this month’s suggestion a scene from The Hobbit (Barrels Out of Bond) where several elves are sent down to the Elven King’s wine cellars to help the butler send empty barrels back to Lake Town. Upon finding Galion the Butler and the Captain of the Guard having already drunk some wine they demand a taste themselves and as it is strong, potent wine , they are soon quite merry themselves. The figure depicts an elf rolling a barrel towards the trapdoor ready for its onward journey. He is looking back over his shoulder with a wine-induced grin on his face, maybe singing the barrel-song. This could even be the barrel upon which the ‘invisible’ Mr Baggins clung to as it is pushed through the dark opening. As this is a single figure month the barrel could be sized accordingly as not all of them were necessarily large kegs.
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Post by ddaines on Apr 10, 2021 21:55:04 GMT
maybe its a good time now as we have a Draught-beast and the fitting driver has won sympathy also. so I'd like to suggest: The Head of GrondSuggestion is just the wolf-like looking metal head of the large siege-ram at the siege of Minas Tirith. The ram itself can be created by diorama builders more easily then. the cast could be in two halves, for better production. Lord of the Rings The return of the King Chapter IV The Siege of Gondor
... The drums rolled louder. Fires leaped up. Great engines crawled across the field; and in the midst was a huge ram, great as a forest-tree a hundred feet in length, swinging on mighty chains. Long had it been forging in the dark smithies of Mordor, and its hideous head, founded of black steel, was shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf; on it spells of ruin lay. Grond they named it, in memory of the hammer of the Underworld of old. Great beasts drew it, orcs surrounded it and behind walked mountain-trolls to wield it. ...
a nice picture sample here, where the wolf head is interpreted (behind the Witch-King):
i.pinimg.com/originals/c5/49/8e/c5498efc0a96edad975771b59862bc5f.jpg
Good luck with that Harold, I suggested it a couple of times way back with no success, but maybe with the other two it will stand a chance
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Post by ddaines on Apr 10, 2021 21:52:33 GMT
When I uploaded the mail it showed the image. Now it does not. I included the link. Somehow he does not show the image anymore. It looks nice from the Avatar picture
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Post by ddaines on Apr 10, 2021 15:45:46 GMT
Just trying to step up my painting rate by at least putting a paintjob on the newest Fellowship mini: It looks quite a bit better when you are 20cm away :-) I can't open the image Axel, does it open when you click on it?
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Post by ddaines on Apr 8, 2021 21:38:31 GMT
A Nazgûl of Dol Guldur2951 T.A. Three Nazgûl were sent by Sauron to reoccupy Dol Guldur. I see the Nazgûl in dark robe, parts of chain-mail are visible, but he has no armour and he wears a face-mask (like Annatar) under his hood. His weapon is a two-handed axe or a huge mace. His pose is "Grimbeorn"-like or "Thorin from the Hobbit-Box"-like. This would make a nice companion piece to the Necromancer and the Necromancer's Servant
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Post by ddaines on Mar 24, 2021 10:15:48 GMT
Don't let your Draught-beast run amok....... it needs a 'driver' to keep it in order 8
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Post by ddaines on Mar 2, 2021 17:35:59 GMT
Draught Beast Driver As the Draught Beast figure is near release, my thought for this month’s suggestion is for a companion piece in the way of a ‘Driver’ for the Draught Beast. Although not mentioned, I would think it would be natural for the Beasts drawing Grond to have a driver or two to keep them in order and to stop them from drifting away from their objective, the Gate of Gondor. The Driver – well at the point of suggesting I don’t know how big the Draught Beast figure is so I am suggesting that the Driver is either a man, albeit a tall man, heavily built and strong, as you would expect for someone who needs to be in charge of these beasts, or some form of half-Troll (hopefully the second image explains my thought-process ). This would be the sculptor's choice as to what option looks best. I see the Driver (man or half-troll) with a leather type cap that covers the top half of the face. He is not armoured but wears a reinforced leather jerkin, and for extra protection he wears a fur cloak of bear or wolf pelt, or maybe another draught beast’s mane. In his hand he holds a prodding spike for keeping the beasts in order while his other hand is dipping into a sack-bag that contains food-stuff that the Draught beasts like (like dog-treats ) and which keeps them following the Driver.
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Post by ddaines on Feb 13, 2021 21:24:49 GMT
The Ruffian of Bywater Apologies if this has been suggested before by A N Other. For this month my suggestion is from the Scouring of the Shire when the hobbits are returning home and find things have changed..... When they reached The Green Dragon, the last house on the Hobbiton side, now lifeless and with broken windows, they were disturbed to see half a dozen large ill-favoured Men lounging against the inn-wall; they were squint-eyed and sallow-faced……… I see the 'chief' Ruffian standing in a threatening pose and holding his club in a threatening manner as he addresses Merry (alternate idea was to have the club being held in an outstretched arm).….. “The ruffians had clubs in their hands and horns by their belts, but they had no other weapons, as far as could be seen. As the travellers rode up they left the wall and walked into the road, blocking the way. ‘Where d’you think you’re going?” said one, the largest and most evil-looking of the crew. ‘There’s no road for you any further. And where are those precious Shirriffs?’…….” The suggestion is for the Ruffian figure and NOT both illustrated
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Post by ddaines on Feb 2, 2021 9:55:09 GMT
I will need to see the outcome of the last vote
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Post by ddaines on Feb 1, 2021 9:49:30 GMT
Same voting problem here in the Pony. That or I'm drunk? (always a possibility). Probably both . Michael can only deal with it when back in work
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Post by ddaines on Jan 31, 2021 22:03:55 GMT
Michael is now aware of the issue
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Post by ddaines on Jan 31, 2021 15:16:37 GMT
I've just posted the problem on the FB Fans of Mithril Miniatures page and tagged Michael.
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Post by ddaines on Jan 29, 2021 16:25:33 GMT
I can vote only for 1 month... Why ? Same here
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Post by ddaines on Jan 29, 2021 16:24:18 GMT
It will be interesting to see transformation of Beorn... something completely unusual ! I hope he wins, interestingly when I suggested it before along with a sketch it was rejected as an idea . I shall cast my vote for it though
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Post by ddaines on Dec 30, 2020 11:58:38 GMT
December:A Blue Wizard conjuring up a ......... The Blue Wizards are not named in LotR (and I don't think their 'colour' is either, although these details are included in other writings), however they are referred to by Saruman after the fall of Orthanc..... "Later! Yes, when you [Gandalf] also have the Keys of Barad-dûr itself, I suppose; and the crowns of seven kings, and the rods of the Five Wizards"My suggestion is based upon one of these two 'other' Istari, somewhere in the East of Middle-Earth, conjuring up either a spell or maybe a creature for some purpose or another. He will be wearing his blue robes and an outer cloak, but they will be well-worn as befits a traveller in the hot, dusty places of the world. As it is a hot climate in which he travels, his legs are bare and he wears light leather slippers rather than heavy boots. Upon his head he wears a cap (in hindsight this should perhaps have a wide brim to give some shade to his head). He is bending over a pot of some sort and the tip of his 'rod/staff' is dipped in this with a plume of smoke or flame coming out of the pot and enveloping the tip. Who knows what he hopes to summons...... It would appear in later writings that Tolkien himself felt that the Blue Wizards failed in their missions! January:For this suggestion I am staying in the lands of the East and suggesting a ......... Desert Troll of Far-Harad We have a Snow-Troll in the Mithril 'stable', so working on the basis that Trolls like orcs and other races/creatures would travel around Middle-Earth, this suggestion is of a Desert Troll. My thought is for a creature that is just raising itself from its lair under the sands of Far-Harad (I suppose the Blue Wizard could be summonsing it ) as evening approaches and the land begins to cool down, the Desert Trolls come out to hunt the unwary caravans of the nomadic people of the area. Ideally it would have sand and rock sliding off of its body as it comes out of its slumber and its hide would be cracked and uneven as befits a desert-dweller. Pose-wise it would be half kneeling.
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Post by ddaines on Dec 30, 2020 11:10:21 GMT
[DEC] Beorn transforming I don't think the book ever explicitly describes Beorn transforming, but he obviously does, and it would be a cool mini. [JAN] Merry and Pippin trapped by Old Man Willow It can be sculpted as one mini, with only parts of the hobbits' bodies visible. (It would go well with the Tom Bombadil mini!) I love the Beorn transforming suggestion, but I have twice suggested it - mid transformation, once it was approved as a suggestion (and didn't win LOL), the second time the suggestion was rejected by Chris (I don't recall the reason). Maybe with the new sculpting tool it may be achievable . Good luck if it gets approved
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Post by ddaines on Dec 1, 2020 6:50:08 GMT
I am looking forward to seeing how Chris interprets the 'Servant', will it be man or monster?
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Post by ddaines on Nov 18, 2020 10:22:18 GMT
about the Necromancer servant, in the MERP RPG and CODA, there was a man, name the Grimburgoth, who was serving the Necromancer (or Khamul, the second Nazgul "easterling king", who was ruling in Dol Guldur later when Sauron was in Mordor) you can have the link there : notionclubarchives.fandom.com/wiki/GrimburgothThanks for that Gildor, I hadn't realised that there was a specifically named character (albeit non-canonical) although I have heard of Khamul.
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Post by ddaines on Nov 14, 2020 15:22:53 GMT
The Necromancer’s Servant Now that the Necromancer of Mirkwood has been released, perhaps, given the pose, a companion-piece in the form of a servant kneeling or bowing before him receiving orders maybe, or even awaiting a judgement of doom to be made for some failure.... What form the servant would take I would leave up to Chris Tubb, but it could be of human form, or an unknown creature that haunts the deepest and darkest places of Mirkwood that surround Dul Guldur, maybe a werewolf, or a vampire-like creature in part bat-form. Size-wise the servant would be similar to a standard human figure.
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Post by ddaines on Oct 10, 2020 10:00:53 GMT
Dúnedain Ranger at Rest The idea for this one was to depict a Ranger at rest cooking his supper (a Coney or a wild bird) over a small fire. The meat is skewered on his sword as he holds it in the flames. I see the Ranger sat on a small rock or maybe part of a fallen tree, his bow and other equipment close to hand, his cloak pulled up about him and hood up. This could be either a Ranger of the North, or of Ithilien. View Attachmentooooh.... my long forgotten idea.... and my vote this time will go to.... the the ranger near the campfire... I hadn't realised (or remembered) you had made this suggestion before Nino, if it wins we can share the glory
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Post by ddaines on Oct 6, 2020 12:14:15 GMT
Dúnedain Ranger at Rest The idea for this one was to depict a Ranger at rest cooking his supper (a Coney or a wild bird) over a small fire. The meat is skewered on his sword as he holds it in the flames. I see the Ranger sat on a small rock or maybe part of a fallen tree, his bow and other equipment close to hand, his cloak pulled up about him and hood up. This could be either a Ranger of the North, or of Ithilien.
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Post by ddaines on Oct 1, 2020 6:48:50 GMT
It was one of the more exciting votes to be sure. I look forward to seeing how CT interprets this suggestion .
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Post by ddaines on Sept 30, 2020 21:39:41 GMT
I think it is time to put Olivier out of misery and help the spider first past the post. Perseverance deserves to be rewarded
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Post by ddaines on Sept 25, 2020 15:47:29 GMT
Could be an interesting race, will Olivier's misery finally end after many attempts? Will eight legs be better than two? Still a few days to go, claw-biting stuff
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Post by ddaines on Aug 28, 2020 14:17:21 GMT
This could be another nail-biting finish, will the astrologer see his future, or will the archer shoot him down?
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Post by ddaines on Aug 25, 2020 20:06:54 GMT
The image of the astrologer has caught my interest I have to admit
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Post by ddaines on Aug 22, 2020 17:27:26 GMT
Gondor astrologer.View AttachmentThe image can serve as an idea. The pose can be this, sitting looking through the telescope. But I do emphasize that the clothing must display the Gondorian heraldry. the telescope support base must have dwarf runes to prove it is a dwarf artifact. the appearance of the nobleman must be elven, without a beard, long hair, a diadem on his forehead. All this reflects that Gondor was the cultural nexus of the races of Middle Earth. You can also put some astronomical objects at your feet. This would certainly be an interesting addition to the range
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Post by ddaines on Aug 17, 2020 19:33:56 GMT
Beregond Captain of the White Company I'll resubmit Beregond, son of Baranor, who was the first Captain of the White Company, the guard of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien. Having been pardoned by King Ellessar for slaying Denethor's men, he is banished from Minas Tirith. Beregond would be attired in ornate armour and mail, with sword and cloak and a high helm. I see him in a pose that depicts him perhaps looking out over Ithilien, or even pointing back towards a distant Minas Tirith, an unseen Faramir at his side, maybe his son Bergil who may have been a Page to Faramir is also there. This is a single figure suggestion, the other two are illustrative of the scene as I see it.
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Post by ddaines on Aug 13, 2020 14:59:21 GMT
The Fallen Balrog of Celebdil ‘There upon Celebdil was a lonely window in the snow, and before it lay a narrow space, a dizzy eyrie above the mists of the world……….. …… I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side where he smote it in his ruin…..” LotR The Two Towers: Chapter V, The White Rider I (and possibly another) have previously suggested this version of the defeated Balrog laying upon the mountain-side, I would envisage a prone Balrog, probably more like the smaller sketch and designed in such a way as to keep part-count to a minimum. And to further (hopefully) reduce costs, not necessarily with a full base. This would be the size of the Entombed Balrog as I believe scale-wise this matches the description of the Balrog compared to an actual person/Gandalf. This 'action' was a pivotal point in Gandalf's history as it saw his transition from Grey to White. I was going to suggest a different figure, but this would have been too similar in terms of 'race' to misterbliss' suggestion this month, so I will pass that over for now
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Post by ddaines on Aug 4, 2020 7:55:23 GMT
Ok... Next time, I will suggest an unmounted arachnid ! Oliver, as Harry suggests, perhaps a name for your spider will help 'her' past the finishing post. Although another name for Ungoliant (who I think would be outside of the license and would need to be huge), perhaps Wirilómë could also be the name of one of her Mirkwood descendants and would give 'her' a bit more 'personality' maybe? Don't give up on the suggestion, it will get there
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