Yeah it actually is quite a risk taking an eagle to do something like this. If it failed it would have ruined a quite expensive model. But if it works out fine like now, then it's one hell of a cool thing to have.

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goblin: "people associate me with boogers because i am green"

Thanks a lot Telchar! I know how 'touchy' (for lack of a better word, no offense intended!) some people can get when individuals tamper with the source material and this is more of a 'What-if...' piece purely for display reasons - obviously not viable in an official game as there are no rules or profiles! It was just something I wanted to try out, really, and I had no idea that it would turn out quite this well! Thanks for the kind words, Telchar!



I understand what you mean, JW. I'm not much of a player anyway, I'm more interested in the converting/painting side of the hobby... But thanks for the compliment



I tried not to think about the price too much but I suppose it was always in the back of my head - and Sid reminded me all too clearly, too, haha. I'm looking forward to painting it up and am hoping that it can lead me to victory in next month's painting challenge

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Manners maketh man

What, you mean me? I'd never do that!

You could have a profile as an Eagle with Gandalf as passenger?

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"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings

nice work.

game rules wise, you could always just use it as Gwaihir and ignore the fact that there is a wizard on top. He is merely a cosmetic element

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Travel beyond the Sea of Rhûn at your own peril...

For more projects and batreps:http://tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

That's a very well executed conversion. For some reason it wouldn't let me see your pics every time I tried earlier.

I don't know why people complain about theme - he does ride an Eagle, (as a passanger) though the staff aloft is a bit much.

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"I am the Flying Spagetti Monster. Thou shall have no other monsters before me"
-FSM.

Good idea, philoking!



Yeah I know what you mean with the staff... It's mainly like that because of the model I based the conversion on. And who knows, maybe PJ will have Gandalf riding Gwaihir into the battle of the five armies, in which case, I am psychic.

So a quick update. I started painting my Gandalf entry, spent way too long on the face but I'm very satisfied with how it turned out, all thanks to my new 000-brush (the tip is teeny, wahey!):




It's way too dark over here so he may look a bit off, I'll try again in daylight.

In addition, seeing some exemplary Grey Companys in the last couple of weeks (Thermo, ste, looking in your direction) has inspired me to give mine a bit of a do-over. I haven't got past the faces yet, though. I seem to have a bit of an obsession with faces, I spend waaaay too much time on them. At least I didn't paint them all with eyes, my OCD must be receding

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Manners maketh man

Very flattering my friend, but your advice was vital so I credit how they turned out to you guys!

Isn't it interesting how we all start differently?! I would never have thought to do the faces first, any particular reason of doing it that way around? Might try it! Doing my second batch now, I've been starting with the most dominant colour and work my way down.

By the way, your Gandalf is looking lovely. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gandalf riding an eagle into battle, pre-empting PJ's mind, so I think we might see that model someday!

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*5th in 2014 GBHL

The batch painting on the grey company is looking great so far! really nice faces!

Gandalf is also looking very very neat! I especially like his beard
IMO Gandalf's face is a wee bit dark, but that just personal preference.

Well done!!

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'Though my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior'
-John Newton

On the rare occasions that I do paint, I always do the faces first too. Painting the mini from the inside out.

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

Loving these.
My paints are coming tomorrow or the next day.
Maybe I'll be able to catch up with you.?...

It's just the way I've been doing figs for a while now, I guess. I like to spend a lot of time on the face and occasionally, if I'm not happy with how it turns out, I'll use nail varnish remover to start completely over so if I do the faces first at least none of the other details get destroyed. And like Dave said, it's like working outwards.

Thanks for the compliments, Thermo!




Thanks on both counts, Sid. I know what you mean about G but I think it was just the bad lighting last night, I had a quick check of him this morning and he seems much lighter in the 'light' of morning (it's still pitch black here haha). However, he could do with a last highlight, perhaps... I just hope I can leave him then and go on to his other bits haha



Yeah, makes sense to me, too!



You'll probably overtake me, Lord E, I can be notoriously slow and easily distracted when painting

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Manners maketh man

You see, my painting speed depends on how much homework I get

Haha that's a factor for me, too



I had a drastic re-go at Gandalf's face. Now I'm satisfied - at last! Spent way too long on it though and I feel the photo still doesn't do it justice - c'est la vie!

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Manners maketh man

Eyes and mouth are fantastic

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*5th in 2014 GBHL

Wow!
Eyes are amazing!
(Still waiting for my paints)

His face looks awesome Matt! Keep up the good work

That face is really one of the best I've ever seen.

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"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings

Thanks for all of your nice comments guys. Unfortunately, being the complete fool that I am, I messed up the second face trying to put the finishing touches on it... So I started over again - numerous times! Finally I got a face I'm happy with (it took a fair few hours :S) and I started painting around it so that I don't try and overwork it and end up having to start him from scratch again. My room still stinks of nail varnish remover... :



I based this face on the White Council Gandalf and added some more greenstuff-hair to resemble WC-Gandalf's hair. The grey of his hair and beard is much lighter than I usually go for, again emulating WC Gandalf (see the red nose haha). What do you guys think?

So yeah, a bit of a disastrous day really and what a fool I am to ruin one of the best faces I had ever painted :/ Will chalk that down to experience and carry on I guess

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Manners maketh man

Love him.
However, his wrinkles have disappeared and there seems to be a random hire blob on is cheek

Also, that 000 brush you were talking about, is that the same size as a GW fine detail brush abouts?

wonderful! only thing to improve maybe, as said above: his cheek. then again, i know the problem with photos of minis and their appearance in pearson: it's a huge difference. and when you're happy (that is what counts) leave him like that!

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Check out my WIP: www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=24858