Converting a Rankin-Bass Style Witch-King

Earendur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:06 pm **Posts:** 27

Hey, y'all. I was wondering if anyone had an idea for how to make a Witch-King model more like the one from the Rankin-Bass Return of the King.

(Sorry if linking videos is a no-no. I'm new to this forum.)

I personally don't care for the pointy-helmet of the PJ model, and I think this design is more regal and subdued.

I was thinking starting with either a Dark Marshal, or the Numenorean Spectre model, and sculpting a hood and crown for him, with the Eye of Sauron device on his tabard as per usual. Do any of the more talented sculptors on this forum have any insight, or ideas?

Thank you!

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:57 pm

I agree that the 'floating crown' look of the animated one was cool. The Dark Marshal is probably the best starting point though you can probably use the actual WK mounted and do a had removal too.

Constantine · **Posted:** Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:52 pm

I cannot advice you about your conversion, but this video is amazing!!!

Earendur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:06 pm **Posts:** 27

@Beowulf03809: Yeah. The Dark Marshal has that great, regal posture about him. It's just far too heavily armoured for my tastes, and I'm worried it would be confusing. Also, it reads quite obviously as a Nazgul. I want to set this army some time before the Battle of Fornost, so Sauron's involvement with the Witch-King wouldn't be apparent.

Aaron Diaz did a great sketch of the Witch King for his Silmarillion project, that also hits the mark in a lot of ways.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XST8V77XyfA/UQg-n53TMfI/AAAAAAAAARA/wnPhZh1mfmI/s344/tumblr_mfau2vGKe51qcbajko1_1280.png

I might just have to do some drastic scratch-sculpting for this bad boy

@Constantine: Yeah, unfortunately I haven't seen all of Rankin-Bass' Return of the King. It's neat to watch how they interpreted the writing, and managed to be so similar and yet so different to Peter Jacksons. The designs of the uniforms in RB are more practical and realistic, which contrast the more fantastic designs of the characters.

Also I get a kick out of the Witch-King's voice. He sounds like Skeletor. It's almost exactly the WRONG voice for him.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:27 am

The RB cartoons (both Rankin/Bass and Ralph Bakshi) were the best we had for many, many years. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I saw them when I was pretty young so they are part of my personal imagery for Tolkien. I like some things about each and regret other parts.

As for the conversion, what if you stared with the WK of Angmar FC.

I know it's a chunk of money, but you really only need to do major work on the head (I think they got the horse, sword, etc. pretty good here) and the FC model will be easier to work with than any metal will.

kidterminal · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:43 pm

This is a really cool concept can't wait to see it. Considering the outfit in the cartoon, I'd say use use an unarmored Theoden figure. You remove the head, then sculpt the crown and eyes as one piece. You could try attaching it to the body with a piece of clear plastic. Like GW flying base. I'm not sure if it will look right but that's best idea I have.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:43 pm

Way to think out of the box EW.

The armor on Theoden is pretty distinctive but I think you're onto a good direction.

Earendur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:06 pm **Posts:** 27

Hmm...I can't seem to find unarmoured Theoden on the GW site. Was it discontinued? Either way, the Helms Deep Theoden might work too. Very regal pose about him.

For some reason I keep coming back to the Numenorean Spectre. I might give him or Theoden a try. That, or it might be worth it to try a scratch-sculpt. The tutorials on here seem straightforward enough.

SidTheSloth · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:55 pm

Ebob does a nice nazgul sculpting tutorial here

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:35 pm

Ebob just flippin' rulz

Fëanor, the mighty elf · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:42 pm

I've been toying around with this idea too and I've seriously been thinking about the following.
The best possible way to achieve the wanted effect, I think, is to make a clear-resin cast of a Twilight Nazgul head (the clear resin that was used for Invisible Frodo). Then you can apply a red wash to the eyes and paint the crown silver or gold. I guess that would be the very best solution, but it won't be an easy one! The head can be fixed to any Nazgul mini you like, but I'd prefer the old Witch-King.

kidterminal · **Posted:** Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:32 pm

Earendur wrote:

Hmm...I can't seem to find unarmoured Theoden on the GW site. Was it discontinued? Either way, the Helms Deep Theoden might work too. Very regal pose about him.

For some reason I keep coming back to the Numenorean Spectre. I might give him or Theoden a try. That, or it might be worth it to try a scratch-sculpt. The tutorials on here seem straightforward enough.

Yes I think he has. I just traded him away too.

Joansean · **Joined:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:23 pm **Posts:** 760

kidterminal wrote:

Earendur wrote:

Hmm...I can't seem to find unarmoured Theoden on the GW site. Was it discontinued? Either way, the Helms Deep Theoden might work too. Very regal pose about him.

For some reason I keep coming back to the Numenorean Spectre. I might give him or Theoden a try. That, or it might be worth it to try a scratch-sculpt. The tutorials on here seem straightforward enough.

Yes I think he has. I just traded him away too.

Teeheehee..

I noticed the Warg Attack box is still there?

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat980022a&prodId=prod1500508a

Draugluin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:01 am

I can't take that seriously. Skeletor on auto tune was the worst possible choice for the voice of the WK, and a Pegasus with bunny ears is just too laughable. While very accurate to the book, that's just hilarious.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:23 am

@Draugluin - yeah...that's what I meant earlier with the love/hate relationship I have with both sets of animated attempts (the LotR rotoscope and the Hobbit/RotK pair).

Earendur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:06 pm **Posts:** 27

Draugluin wrote:

I can't take that seriously. Skeletor on auto tune was the worst possible choice for the voice of the WK, and a Pegasus with bunny ears is just too laughable. While very accurate to the book, that's just hilarious.

Haha, yeah. I love the design, but across the board they couldn't have gone with worse voices. And I assure you if mine DOES get a steed it won't be nearly so fluffy(much as I think Sauron would approve)

Earendur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:06 pm **Posts:** 27

Joansean wrote:

Teeheehee..

I noticed the Warg Attack box is still there?

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat980022a&prodId=prod1500508a

So it is! Thank you! I just found a Helms Deep Metal Theoden on foot I scored for the unmounted King, but I'll grab that set as soon as I get paid.

Does anyone perchance know if Theoden's Torso and Horse are separate? I'd prefer a more evil steed for the Chief Nazgûl

Rognarr · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:04 am

I have that Théoden and can (unfortunately) tell you, that they arent seperate pieces.. you could cut off the upper body half but then again you could save the money as well and build it completely from scratch.

kidterminal · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:12 am

Yes I was thinking of the Warg Attack Theoden. FYI just be cause it's on the site doesn't really mean they have them anymore. They are not producing metals so its very much what they have in hand.

Earendur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:06 pm **Posts:** 27

Well, I'm bidding on one online, but if that doesn't pan out, hoping GW still has a box is my only hope!

Converting a Rankin-Bass Style Witch-King

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