Saturday, November 18, 2006

Aragorn Finished!

At last! The final images of my new Aragorn model. If you have been keeping up with me on the "Re-making of Aragorn" posts, thank you.

All said and done, it took about 2 months of work (4 hours a night - give or take) to take this model all of the way from the ground up. Be sure to check out the VR turn-around posted at the top of the page.

Next up, I'll be working on my final LOTR model (and final model for a while), Gollum! See you next post!











Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Re-making of Aragorn (Step 17)

Well, you've made it this far, let's see this model finished! Welcome back to my "Re-making of Aragorn" model-making series. In this post, I will assemble the final painted pieces and mount the model to the wood base.

I chose to paint the model in a completely unassembled state for a deliberate reason. Due to Aragorn's dynamic pose, with many overlapping pieces, in was easier to get paint all around the model with the pieces loose.

Before I can assemble the model, I must scrape any paint from the surface of the joints.










I need to get the areas where the glue will go back to bare resin. With a little fore-thought, you could always mask over these areas. I find that with the area a little scratched and roughed-up, I get a better adhesion with the glue, so I don't mind scraping the paint.










This time around, I chose to use a resin-based "gel" glue. This glue has a little body to it and is great for filling in gaps and gluing hand-made parts that loosely match. Apply generously.




Drum roll (bum bubm bubm)... And the finished Aragorn! I mounted him to the final wood base using the foot pattern (from earlier) and re-using the same wood screws I used to mount him to the temporary base. I will finish the model with self-adhesive black felt on the bottom of the base and set him in a nice place on a shelf with the other characters.












I'll be taking my VR photos soon and will add Aragorn to my links at the top of this page. Check back soon for news of my next character... Gollum!

The Re-making of Aragorn (Step 16)

Oh, There you are! Welcome back to my "Re-making of Aragorn" model-making series. Short post this time. During coats of paint (last post) I prepared the final wood bases.

I don't use anything special. I buy simple pre-cut wood from my local craft shop. I inspect them for flatness and for the fewest defects (knot-holes, sap, knicks...etc).

I sand them and pre-treat them with a wood conditioner (helps the wood absorb an even stain)






5 - 15 minutes after applying the conditioner, I apply the wood stain (Cherry Wood). It is the same stain that I have been using for this entire series.





After allowing the stain to set overnight, I wipe off the excess stain and applying a polyurethane gloss sealer. 2 coats works best and makes this cheap wood look great!





Ready for final assembly!

The Re-making of Aragorn (Step 15)

Thanks for dropping by again for my latest installment in my "Re-making of Aragorn" series. We're in the home stretch now! In this step, I take the finished resin pieces and wipe a little paint on them.

First, I need to mount the body to a piece of wood so that I can hold and turn the model without getting my grubby fingers all over the paint job. For this, I re-use the wood base that I sculpted him on (Thanks for dropping by again for my latest installment in my "Re-making of Aragorn" series. We're in the home stretch now! In this step, I take the finished resin pieces and wipe a little paint on them.

First, I need to mount the body to a piece of wood so that I can hold and turn the model without getting my grubby fingers all over the paint job. For this, I re-use the wood base that I sculpted him on (something I don't mind getting paint on).



Since I will need to drill and mount a second Aragorn and the final wood bases, I need to take a pattern of the feet and mark the drill holes.





I keep the drill level and drill about 1" into the legs.







I use 1 1/2" wood screws drilled up through the bottom of the base to mount the models to the temporary bases.










Resin can be easy painted, but it is preferred to use an oil-based paint as a primer coat. Oil-based paints adhere more firmly to the resin and will not easy peel off. It also helps to seal the resin from moisture. In this case, I will be using darker colors for Aragorn, so a gray primer will work super.










For my paints, I have specifically designed a limited color pallete that I have used for every one of my Lord of the Rings models. Any and all colors that I need are mixed from these same colors in order to create a sense of harmony (oneness) with my set. They "feel" like they belong together and look great on a shelf together because the colors belong to the same family.

For these models I am using Liquitex acryllics:
• Cadmium Red Deep Hue
• Yellow Oxide
• Ultramarine Blue
• Emerald Green
• Burnt Sienna
• Ivory Black
• "Apple Barrel" Antique White (off white)

For an easy paint job, you have to start with the lowest areas (areas lower than surroundings). I start by laying in deep base tones and build colors up in layers. Paint the pink of the eyes. Then the yellow/white. Then the pupil. Then the eyelids (building in layers).


Then I paint on the deep base tones for the face...






...then the highlights.







For small details, I use a technique called "scumbling", or dry-brushing. It is where you wipe off most of the paint before you start applying it. This helps prevent the paint from entering the crevices and allows you to brush over just the top of the details. You can create varying degrees of contrast with deeper undertones and lighter dry-brushing.










Still working in layers, I paint the inside of the tunic (between the legs), then the tunic and boots...









...then overlapping areas like the coat, then the bedroll, and finally the hair and any small details not yet painted.








With the paint-job finished, I must now assemble the model!

omething I don't mind getting paint on).



Since I will need to drill and mount a second Aragorn and the final wood bases, I need to take a pattern of the feet and mark the drill holes.





I keep the drill level and drill about 1" into the legs.







I use 1 1/2" wood screws drilled up through the bottom of the base to mount the models to the temporary bases.










Resin can be easy painted, but it is preferred to use an oil-based paint as a primer coat. Oil-based paints adhere more firmly to the resin and will not easy peel off. It also helps to seal the resin from moisture. In this case, I will be using darker colors for Aragorn, so a gray primer will work super.










For my paints, I have specifically designed a limited color pallete that I have used for every one of my Lord of the Rings models. Any and all colors that I need are mixed from these same colors in order to create a sense of harmony (oneness) with my set. They "feel" like they belong together and look great on a shelf together because the colors belong to the same family.

For these models I am using Liquitex acryllics:
• Cadmium Red Deep Hue
• Yellow Oxide
• Ultramarine Blue
• Emerald Green
• Burnt Sienna
• Ivory Black
• "Apple Barrel" Antique White (off white)

For an easy paint job, you have to start with the lowest areas (areas lower than surroundings). I start by laying in deep base tones and build colors up in layers. Paint the pink of the eyes. Then the yellow/white. Then the pupil. Then the eyelids (building in layers).


Then I paint on the deep base tones for the face...






...then the highlights.







For small details, I use a technique called "scumbling", or dry-brushing. It is where you wipe off most of the paint before you start applying it. This helps prevent the paint from entering the crevices and allows you to brush over just the top of the details. You can create varying degrees of contrast with deeper undertones and lighter dry-brushing.










Still working in layers, I paint the inside of the tunic (between the legs), then the tunic and boots...









...then overlapping areas like the coat, then the bedroll, and finally the hair and any small details not yet painted.








With the paint-job finished, I must now assemble the model!