LOTR diorama attempts - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sauron the White · 06-25-2007, 07:19 AM

If anyone is interested, I build dioramas in my spare time and use the LOTR films as the subject. I use the Armies of Middle Earth figures which are between two and three inches high. I have eight of them including one from the SILMARILLION.
You can see them here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideonccz/page1/

the best one is on page four.

Any criticism or suggestions for improvement would be welcomed.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 06-25-2007, 08:55 AM

Those are mighty impressive. How in the world are you able to 'make' water??

Sauron the White · 06-25-2007, 09:12 AM

Thank you Fordim.
You make water using a resin. I buy a product from Unreal Details called Magic Water. Woodland Scenics sells a product that is useful in forming water effects like whitecaps and frothing water. It takes many small applications and lots of good timing to get it right. It is probably the most difficult part of making these.

alatar · 06-25-2007, 10:01 AM

Sauron the White - too cool! Are the figures commercially available, or do you make or alter them? Same questions for the environments as I have no clue as how it's all done. Next question is: why? Why do you make these dioramas? Do you 'play' with them (like trains) or is it just a hobby that you enjoy - to see if you can recreate a scene in miniature? And do you have to consult the Peter Jackson films to create the scene?

Sorry for all of the questions.

Bêthberry · 06-25-2007, 10:20 AM

This certainly isn't home made papier maché! Very professional-looking. I can imagine a Games Workshop game being played in these sets, although they do look more like "stills" to me.

Do you have a great deal of time on your hands? If so, can I have some please? Am willing to trade for other work, which may or may not be as aesthetically pleasing.

Sauron the White · 06-25-2007, 10:25 AM

Alatar
the figures are from the Armies of Middle Earth series by Play Along which is no longer in business. Some are standard figures and I use them as they were designed. Others are customized such as the Orcs in the Pelennor one. Morgoth was made from three different SPAWN figures and then customized some more. I do not play with them - just look at them. Once they are made, they are as solid as rock. I both consult the PJ films and read the books. For example, the one on page four - FORDS AT BRUNIEN - I tried to really capture the scene exactly as in the film but scaled down the river a bit. But in reading the book I noticed that it took place at the height of Fall and Frodo describes all the trees turning colors from his bed at Rivendell. So when I did the trees I added some fall foilage trees to capture that effect. In the film they are all green. And of course, there is no Morgoth and Fingolfin in the films so that is strictly by the book.

The fun part is the landscape. Some of which is created from scratch and some is cobbled together using other available parts like styrofoam rocks and trees. I use lots of molds and other things that railroad builders employ. A company called Woodland Scenics is a godsend for folks like me.

btw- are you the same Alatar from b77?

alatar · 06-25-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

btw- are you the same Alatar from b77?

Don't understand your question.

Anyway, your dioramas are excellent. Do you enter them in contests?

06-25-2007, 07:19 AM	#1
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	LOTR diorama attempts If anyone is interested, I build dioramas in my spare time and use the LOTR films as the subject. I use the Armies of Middle Earth figures which are between two and three inches high. I have eight of them including one from the SILMARILLION. You can see them here http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideonccz/page1/ the best one is on page four. Any criticism or suggestions for improvement would be welcomed.

06-25-2007, 08:55 AM	#2
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Those are mighty impressive. How in the world are you able to 'make' water?? __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

06-25-2007, 09:12 AM	#3
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Thank you Fordim. You make water using a resin. I buy a product from Unreal Details called Magic Water. Woodland Scenics sells a product that is useful in forming water effects like whitecaps and frothing water. It takes many small applications and lots of good timing to get it right. It is probably the most difficult part of making these. Last edited by Sauron the White; 06-25-2007 at 10:53 AM.

06-25-2007, 10:01 AM	#4
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Sauron the White - too cool! Are the figures commercially available, or do you make or alter them? Same questions for the environments as I have no clue as how it's all done. Next question is: why? Why do you make these dioramas? Do you 'play' with them (like trains) or is it just a hobby that you enjoy - to see if you can recreate a scene in miniature? And do you have to consult the Peter Jackson films to create the scene? Sorry for all of the questions. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

06-25-2007, 10:20 AM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,996	This certainly isn't home made papier maché! Very professional-looking. I can imagine a Games Workshop game being played in these sets, although they do look more like "stills" to me. Do you have a great deal of time on your hands? If so, can I have some please? Am willing to trade for other work, which may or may not be as aesthetically pleasing. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

06-25-2007, 10:25 AM	#6
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Alatar the figures are from the Armies of Middle Earth series by Play Along which is no longer in business. Some are standard figures and I use them as they were designed. Others are customized such as the Orcs in the Pelennor one. Morgoth was made from three different SPAWN figures and then customized some more. I do not play with them - just look at them. Once they are made, they are as solid as rock. I both consult the PJ films and read the books. For example, the one on page four - FORDS AT BRUNIEN - I tried to really capture the scene exactly as in the film but scaled down the river a bit. But in reading the book I noticed that it took place at the height of Fall and Frodo describes all the trees turning colors from his bed at Rivendell. So when I did the trees I added some fall foilage trees to capture that effect. In the film they are all green. And of course, there is no Morgoth and Fingolfin in the films so that is strictly by the book. The fun part is the landscape. Some of which is created from scratch and some is cobbled together using other available parts like styrofoam rocks and trees. I use lots of molds and other things that railroad builders employ. A company called Woodland Scenics is a godsend for folks like me. btw- are you the same Alatar from b77?