News from today:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/10/11/great-news-for-middle-earthfw-homepage-post-1/

Looking good on the re-release of new models, not sure about the new gandalf but probably looks better in person.

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Gandalf is cool, but he doesn't look like Gandalf. I can't quite put my finger on it...maybe he's too youthful? Pip looks like a bit of a chunkster. Eating too well in the Steward's Court?

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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock." -Will Rogers

I really like Gandalf's pose, but his cape looks too thick. Other than that I don't see anything wrong with him. Some might not like his face, but I think when it comes to miniatures, a lot of how the face looks is dependent on the paint job.

Definitely picking up a plastic Gandalf, main reason being that the staff on my existing metal incarnation was extremely thin and didn’t survive for long.
The likeness isn’t quite as good on this new model, but still pretty terrific.

They seem to be contracting out the painting for a lot of these new releases to someone who's a bit more used to the fantasy or 40k aesthetic. The Gandalf especially looks very off compared to the paintjobs the Eavy Metal team put out in the heyday. Hopefully it's a learning curve issue.

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Yeah the paintjobs on this Gandalf and those new knights of dol amroth are definitly too warhammery for my taste. I'm curious to see what the actual model looks like. The pose seems a bit dramatic though, regardless of the paintjob.

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"Mickey, my friend!"

I believe that the new models are painted by the team of painters hired by FW and not 'eavy metal. This is why the styles differ a lot; it's like the quality between the HH stuff and the 40K stuff. I have no doubt that in the flesh they are amazing and that the plastics will be a thing of stunning quality and that there are extremely talented painters out there that will maximise the potential.

FYI, actors have to approve the use thier faces on products, GW probably didn't want to faf around with that, so that'd be why these two look a little too "generic".

Releases are always a good thing, regardless, and I could go a pip after a second breakfast.

I still feel bad for international buyers and those who need discontinued models though, hopefully we shall see every metal model in a made to order.