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David Daines 's Painted Dioramas. Page 1

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The White Rider

A small diorama of the scene when Gandalf the White appears in Fangorn Forest to the surprise of Aragorn, Legolas & Gimli.

Gandalf's white robes are not quite as white as they should be I guess (due to an ink wash ) and Legolas is missing a bow string. Gandalf's hat and cloak are scratch built.
The rocks are plaster moulds from Woodland Scenics range.

The King & his Squire (below). A small uncomplicated scene of Theoden and Meriadoc chatting away as Merry tells the king of his home and the doings of the Shire-folk. This scene is at the beginning of the chapter The Muster of Rohan as the Rohirrim approach Harrowdale. The Tolkien purists will note that Merry's pony should be grey!

The Mewlip (below)- based on the Angus McBride painting using the Mewlip figure plus running figure M37 Cutpurse (painted some years ago when I could still paint eyes on Mithril figures!!). The boat is a spare from the Smeagol & Deagol release. I have given the running figure a fighting chance to escape the Mewlip, whether he did or not is not known.

These three dioramas are from the Fellowship series.

'Roast Mutton': The base is from a MacFarlane Ozzie Osbourne 'Action Figure' set which included the trees, the name plate 'Roast Mutton - The Three Trolls', is created from scratch (oven-hardened Polymer clay) and the barrels and sacks are resin castings from Antenocitis Workshop which work well.

The colours were chosen to try and emphasise the 'lighter' mood of The Hobbit. As the fire has not yet been lit Bilbo and the Dwarves have not yet come on the scene!

The staircase for 'Celebrimbor and Annatar' has been replaced by an accessory from Grendel Scenics.

'Eomer and Aragorn meeting on the Pelennor' are accompanied by some dead orcs from previous releases.

Mithril The Hobbit 'Roast Mutton' diorama

Mithril The Hobbit 'Roast Mutton' diorama closeup.

Mithril Lord of the Rings 'Celebrimbor and Annatar' diorama

Mithril Lord of the Rings 'Eomer and Aragorn meeting on the Pelennor' diorama

'The Prancing Pony' Diorama.

"The Prancing Pony range plus assorted other town's-folk from other ranges. the 'Pony' should have a ceiling but this has to be removed to take the photographs which slightly detracts from the darker look of the place.

The diorama is actually illuminated (when connected) including Aragorn's candle, but this doessn't show up too well in photographs.

The scene was actually completed several years ago, but it has taken me that long to prise the ceiling off.

The addition of the Ent (not in the main photograph) is a touch of humour relevant to the Pony's regulars over at the MMP web-site.

Furniture accessories where not Mithril are by Grendel."

Thranduil Elven King of Mirkwood forest. Christmas 2007 figure.

MX463 LotR Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth.

Beregond, Guard to the Citadel (MS461): The back-drop is meant to show a small alcove where the Citadel Guards could get a little shelter from the wind - it must have been chilly up there!

Beregond with his son Bergil and the hobbit Pippin.

I thought I would depict Gothmog (below) who having just taken over command of the army of Mordor is going through some form of 'transition to power' ceremony with a Modorian 'Wise-man / Shaman' type figure, who through the touching of sword and staff is trying to perhaps pass on some of Sauron's power to his new battlefield commander.

The scene depicts Gilraen and Aragorn being escorted by a couple of elves into the valley of Rivendell. The rocks are plaster casts by Woodland Scenics' and the waterfall is made using clear plastic sheet with 'Water Effects' gel (by Woodland scenics') squeezed onto it to give the effect.

I utilised the MERP figure because I would like to illustrate that even if MERP figures are not canonical to Tolkien's work, they can be successfully used to create scenes where a more 'regular' figure may not meet requirements, and therefore in my opinion add flexibility to the Mithril collection . The other figure is hurrying Gilraen on and makes a nice little trio.

Garden of Arwen (using Elf Princess Vignette -below).

FRUMGAR - Designer series

MS453 - Throin Entombed with the Arkenstone vignette (below).

'Farewell Thorin Oakenshield, King under the Mountain'

Chris's superb little vignette (above) doesn't really need any additions to it but I thought it would be a nice, moving scene to have some of the key characters included.

To that end we have Bard (adapted from a Ranger of Ithilien), stepping back from the dias having just laid the Arkenstone upon Thorin's breast, Bilbo and two of the dwarves look on, one gently straightening Thorin's hair perhaps. Gandalf and Beorn also look on. To the right the Elven-king stands next to Dain who holds Orcrist, ready to hand it to the King to lay upon Thorin's tomb.

Overlooking the ceremony stand a spearman from Mirkwood and a warrior from Esgaroth.

The base is sculpted from a material called Balsa foam (more likely to be familiar with US members), which can be cut, carved, sanded etc. to shape. I have deliberately made the stone-work look a little 'distressed' as there would not yet have been time to repair the Dragon's damage.

Finally the scene was glued to the wooden base slightly at an angle.

Contact me at dainesfish@hotmail.com