Halbarad Dúnadan--Update

What with "Rebuffed!" and Wolfie occupying all the front burners on the bench, there has been little time for the "wee folk"--90mm is shockingly small after one has been working on 1/8th scale projects for over a year!

Nonetheless, I had some left-over putty from a tweaking/touch-up session with Wolfie, and I took the opportunity to rough-in the extension of the boot-tops to depict riding boots, and fit the front-panel of the erstwhile surcoat.

Slowly but surely. . .

Halbarad Dúnadan--Graphic Update

(click to enlarge)
Nothing much to add, save that regarding the erstwhile portion of mail formerly visible between the legs of the subject, how did the mail go from being the second layer of garments to the first, front to back?

Halbarad Dúnadan: It begins. . .

This posting is about a week late, but what is one to do. . .

Unfortunately, Chuck didn't receive it in time for the Show, and--in fact--didn't receive it until this past week. . . mid-week to be precise.

In any case, the figure is now before me. All I can say is that going forward, I will buy a figure within the first quarter of its release, or not at all--ever! The molds are in dire need of replacement (mold- shift and flash abound); and while the packaging is ample and sturdy enough, the cavalier placement of the components in the box resulted in unnecessary dings and blemishes which will have to be addressed. In spite of this, the figure is eminently suitable for what I have in mind.

In the last hour, I have made considerable headway on the preliminaries:

• Ground-off the mounting lugs on the soles of the boots.
• Reduced the length of the surcoat--front and back--by some 10mm.
• Ground-off the rosary.
• Reduced the shield fittings molded on figure.
• Began tweaking the fit of the half-face to the 2-piece hood, as well as that of the hood to the mantle.
  

I will probably peg the figure (feet) over the weekend, and follow-up with some images in the next fortnight.

UPDATE
The figure is now pegged and mounted on its working base. I've also separated--carefully!--the clasped hands.

Most of the work this evening has involved the the mantle (2 pieces), which has now been assembled. While the mantle is cast in two pieces, there are actually three elements to it: the individually cast pieces, and a folded-over portion that has been molded in situ comprising the right shoulder of the figure. This latter portion has been ground-off, paving the way for the reworking of the former surcoat, and--more importantly--the creation of a one-piece cloak.

Halbarad Dúnadan: Planning the Conversion

With less than a fortnight to go before the Show, and since I am unable to spend any productive time at the bench today, I thought I would get a head-start on planning the major issues to be addressed in converting Pegaso's 90mm Templar Sergeant, 1240 (90-38) to Halbarad Dúnadan.

1. Conversion of boots to riding boots, thereby eliminating mail chausses. Add spurs.
2. Elimination of shield fittings molded on figure.
3. Sculpt missing portions of cloak.
4. Repositioning of hands to depict gripping a staff.
5. Sculpt a new scabbarded sword or work with kit-provided pieces.
6. Rework surcoat to a more suitable tunic-style garment--including the addition of sleeves.
7. Remove all in-situ religious items.
   

Full review of base figure to follow once I have it in-hand.

Halbarad Dúnadan, Ranger of the North

Hardy's gracious and generous interest in my first venture into Prof. Tolkien's breathtaking "Secondary World" has prompted me to dust-off some notes and re-assess some projects. I'm not ready to relocate Dáin Ironfoot to the "stovetop", but I think I will resume the research and design work on Halbarad, Ranger of the North, Captain of the Grey Company, and Aragorn's Standard-Bearer.

Stay tuned!