You know, that's the one part of this model I've been looking at and scratching my head about. I'm tending to agree with you, but I'm also not terribly excited at the prospect of trying to get that greenstuff off there and starting over.

If you have a scalpel or sharp hobby knife, cut carefully through the strands. You will probably find you will be able to bend them out away from the tusk fairly easily to break them off.
Shouldn't be very hard at all because GS stays a little bit rubbery when set - especially when rolled really thin like you have there.

Nice Job by the way. I have my Mumak to do soon, but with so much other stuff on the horizon I don't think I will convert it as heavily as you have.

You realise this is how it starts. You begin converting things more and more heavily until you find yourself eventually sculpting things from scratch!

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

Great looking mumak - the only problem for me is that GW shortened the legs so they could fit this beast on to fewer frames for moulding.

ukfreddybear said:

First he uses Greenstuff, then Pro-Create, now Scratch? I have been scratching furiously for ten minutes and so far nothing has happened...

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Wow Brent, your painting technique keeps getting better and better! I absolutely adore your woses and am very tempted in getting some myself now. The sculpts GW did aren't really breath-taking but the complexion and their war-paint makes them look brilliant.

The mumak is coming along very well also - a very ambitious modelling project - can wait to see more

ps. could you email me about those woses please, or are you planning an article

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. I think the modeling is now officially complete.

Here's the last photos of the Mumak before the priming begins:



I added some additional supports around where the skin breaks through the Howdah railings.


I added some plasticard "railings" under the Howdah to make it look like its supported a bit more.



Also, I did remove all the greenstuff around the tusk weapons. I'll add some threads instead.


Here's a preview of the Monster when he's got the howdah in place:




Priming starts today with peinting beginning tonight or perhaps tomorrow.

This is one sweet mumak. It really makes me want to take mine apart and asemble it like this one.

Ditto!

It looks awesome, great Pose you've chosen too... Great work!

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Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Jake

Wow Brent! That's one stunning Mumak figure! I wish I could've done something like that, but as mine has to be ready for Bash Con, I had to assemble mine as soon as I got home and prime it that evening ...looking at my work schedule for the next few weeks, I should've started assembling it while I was driving home on the interstate

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Tale of 9 Gamers 2010: The Misty Mountains/Angmar:

April: 0/3 choices complete

Yearly total: 50/74 models done O.o

This looks great
Can't wait to see this beauty painted.

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"Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn’ Ambar-metta" - Elendil

Here he is in all his Black Glory:




And so that slow process that is painting the Mumak begins. Here's my first steps in painting the Howdah:


I'm still experimenting with techniques on this one.

It looks awesome in its 'black glory' and I can imagine it looking even better! Keep at it BrentS I will definitely be following this

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what is 'signature'

I like the painting on that tower very much.

What a wild looking beast! What were the Rohirrim thinking when they charged the mumakil? Idiots! If I saw this coming towards me, then I know which direction I'd be heading!

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Painting again...

Here's an update on my Mumakil of Far Harad.

I think I finished painting the Howdah tonight. Here are some photos. The pieces are not all assembled yet.

I went with less red than typical for the Howdah. However, there is a good bit of scab red on the cloth portions. My color-blind eyes have a hard time distinguishing the brown shades from the scab red shades so hopefully this looks okay to "normal" eyes.

My camera was doing some funny things tonight. Or maybe I should say I was doing something funny with the settings. I hope the "true" colors come through. This image is with a flash and I think it looks more like the real colors:


This was is with no flash. I don't think it looks as brown in real life as this image may make it appear:


Here's the Howdah on top of the Mumak:


P.S. Sorry for the smaller images, I thought I sized them the same as the others.

The smaller pictures are better for me. They fit on the screen without having to scroll.

Cool paint work, Brent. This project is coming together really well.

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Painting again...

Brent I totally understand about the red/brown issue - i am colourblind too Its a real pain lol

This project is outstanding - and the howdah looks brilliant all painted up

cant wait to see more

The first image is probably the most accurate in terms of true colour - and it looks fantastic! This thread has been fascinating to watch and I am looking forward to seeing how it finishes. The increased height of the tower makes this one stand out from the crowd.

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

With so much drybrushing, this model almost paints itself. I wonder if it would look better if I took more time painting and highlighting? I think it looks okay like this, but its really just a bunch of greys and grayish browns. I think the detailing in the Howdah will hopefully make it stand out on the battlefield.









I don't think he looks quite so "chaulky" in person. I need to play with my camera settings some more.

Here's another update on the Mumak. He's starting to shape up for sure.



A close up of the newest painted parts:



The "shinyness" is from the brown ink I used on the ropes. That will dull down once its properly matte coated.

Looking good mate, but I'm still not totally sold on the "hump" which is holding up the howdah. However I guess theres no real way around it The drybrushing on the mumak's skin looks absolutely great at the moment - are you planning on darkening the hide any more?

The mumak looks fantastic. The toughest part to make really convincing is the warpaint - I have seen quite a few mumakil where the painted icons ruined the overall effect by being too strong and 'fresh'. have a long look at the movie version - the markings show signs of 'wear and tear' and are faded (by time and dirt probably - elephants like to take dust baths).

Examples:
http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... tk1641.htm
http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... tk1656.htm
http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... tk1664.htm

And not forgetting 'That still only counts as one!'

http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... tk1786.htm

Keep going!

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!