Tom's WIP after 10 years "out of business"

tkoellne · **Joined:** Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:32 pm **Posts:** 14

Hi!

I started a new WIP - Thread to show my process. I started the hobby in the age of 12 something around 2004 and stopped around 2005. I was never as good as i wanted to be. But i thought giving it a try 10 years later would be bette :-D

.

I started with repainting my Gandalf the Grey and with buying a Balrog.

Gandalf: I never was familiar with facepainting - tried to get a solid base with dwarf flesh. Gonna buy sepia wash this week to get some shade...after that I'll try to highlight with kislev flesh...

Balrog: Started with basecoating it with chaos black spray. Did another base of skull white on the cracked skin recesses. Used gitz yellow and a blood red wash. Immediately dabbed the colour with paper. I started only one side, trying to get the right wing done today...
Add: The transision on the mane of Balrog looks like yellow - red. In fact it looks like a smooth transision with orange and black smoke. I try to get better pictures while daylight.

Question: Should I add the whip instead of the sword? ... now i like the whip more...??

Gandalf:

Balrog:

Sorry for the not optimal pictures, these are only iphone 5s pics. I do not have any alternative.

P.S.: Spotted some missing cracks on balrog's right bizeps. Gonna add these soon.

P.P.S.: Spotted missing belt buckles on Gandalf. Gonna add these soon.

Greetings Tom

)

Paradigm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:56 am **Posts:** 264

Very nice work there! Gandalf's robes look amazing and the Balrog is very sharp too.

A tip for face, when you get to it; after the highlight, if your model's face ends up too bleached or pale, make up a very thin red or purple wash, and apply this very lightly. It should do a good job of adding some colour back into the face.

I look forward to more.

tkoellne · **Joined:** Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:32 pm **Posts:** 14

Thank you for your positive feedback. This week I try to move on with my Balrog and maybe Gandalf's face. I'll try what you just said

!

Harfoot · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:22 pm

Balrog is looking excellent, welcome back to painting!

Mars_2000 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:30 pm

Hi Tom,

Welcome "back" to LotR business after 10 years break

You are very skilled painter. Both figures looks very nice.
I am also in the middle of my Balrog paint job (just in these days), so it is so good to see someone's else doing the same and report progress.
Must say your beast is looking sooo fine so far. Especially transitions between red, orange and yellow colors are very natural. Keep going this way.

If I can give you a small tip for your next projects (especially multipart minis), before you undercoat them and paint, I recommend to fill all the gaps between parts with green stuff to remove those and increase final figure effect.

Xintao · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:45 pm

Looks great. Keep it up.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:17 pm

You don't seem to have lost your touch in 10 years, lovely Balrog. I would like a touch of white in the shoulders to show some heat.

tkoellne · **Joined:** Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:32 pm **Posts:** 14

Mars_2000 wrote:

Hi Tom,

Welcome "back" to LotR business after 10 years break

You are very skilled painter. Both figures looks very nice.
I am also in the middle of my Balrog paint job (just in these days), so it is so good to see someone's else doing the same and report progress.
Must say your beast is looking sooo fine so far. Especially transitions between red, orange and yellow colors are very natural. Keep going this way.

If I can give you a small tip for your next projects (especially multipart minis), before you undercoat them and paint, I recommend to fill all the gaps between parts with green stuff to remove those and increase final figure effect.

I have some old , 10 yo, Green Stuff. I am afraid of using it. I never really got it right. I think i'll use it next time. In fact my models are alive just to look good...but some little cracks don't kill me....yeah just some excuses. I will use it next time. Thank you for your advice and nice feedback! I'll go and see your Balrog, maybe i can learn something

!!!

Gandlaf the Grey wrote:

You don't seem to have lost your touch in 10 years, lovely Balrog. I would like a touch of white in the shoulders to show some heat.

I'll add it. Keep looking for updates. it will be not later than the weekend. Semester goes on since today, monday. I'll go and find some time

!!! Keep looking!

Sithious · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:32 pm

looks good. for basicly a noob you are doing fine. Little things like the gaps mars pointed out, Gandlaf the grey mentioned heat (he probably has a few more tips up his sleeve don't you doubt). I would add the cuff, or separation of cloth from Gandalfs robes tho his hands could use a bit more definition, it looks like the flesh and sleeve blend a bit (on the right hand holding the sword).
Anyway, looks great, and keep watching other peoples threads too, as you will pick up idea's and develop more.

Hodush · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:26 am

Balrog looks sweet as is

Gene Parmesan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:24 am

Nice work. It's not easy coming back after such a break. I think I had something like 5-7 years away, but I've improved more in the last 2 years than I ever had previously. Keep pushing yourself, you're off to a great start.

tkoellne · **Joined:** Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:32 pm **Posts:** 14

Thank you for all of your support!

I managed to go on a shopping spree on ebay... look at those miniatures on the pics. The Mûmak was a gift from my daddy in 2005 i think - it is now the perfect time to give him a appropriate look.

I will change the sword to the whip on my Balrog. Seems to be a burden to me to not give him the movie look so I feel to change it.

Keep looking for news

Cheers everyone,

Tom

Paradigm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:56 am **Posts:** 264

Cool stuff! The Balin's Tomb piece is very nice, you should have fun with that!

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:25 pm

Looks like your getting back into the swing of things Tom.

Balrog is really coming together nicely, I can almost feel the heat!

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:39 pm

From nothing to explosion, pouring yourself back into the hobby.

BrushStroke · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:08 am

Looking great so far Tom

I'm a massive fan of the mumak model... looking forward to seeing that progress... the tusk mods are just how I did mine... already bringing back happy memories

tkoellne · **Joined:** Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:32 pm **Posts:** 14

BrushStroke wrote:

Looking great so far Tom

I'm a massive fan of the mumak model... looking forward to seeing that progress... the tusk mods are just how I did mine... already bringing back happy memories

Thank you

.

In fact I used your pictures to modify my mumak! feel proud of your work, i really enjoy looking at your "mini's" and find some things to adapt!!!

BrushStroke · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2015 1:12 pm

tkoellne wrote:

Thank you

.

In fact I used your pictures to modify my mumak! feel proud of your work, i really enjoy looking at your "mini's" and find some things to adapt!!!

Lol! that'll explains it then

I'm very flattered that you have been inspired by my work. Please feel free to borrow anything you like from my WIP pics, it's a massive compliment.

Of course, feel free to ask any questions too and I'll try and remember what the heck I did

Amy · **Posted:** Tue Jan 20, 2015 7:00 pm

Excellent work! I love the clean and sharp look to the Balrog. Looks like you've never been away!

Tom's WIP after 10 years "out of business"

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