COMPLETED- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

[p0rtalman]

Well its been a long 10 weeks, but its finally finished! It could be better, but some shortcuts had to be made to complete it in time. Not too bad for my first large scale sculpt.

Latest pictures:

It has begun!

A lot of polystyrene...

Armature for the poly,

Hey everyone, so this is my first big project since my Phurba Daggers. Its the first project at my second year of studying props at NIDA.
The Argonath from LOTR, I'm sculpting a 1:10 scale model first, which the 2m tall polysculpt will be based off.
As much as I would love to have it 100% movie accurate, I'm working within the brief that our head of course has set out, so I will be taking some artistic license with the sculpt.
Please feel free to comment and offer any advice (Ill probably be asking for some!). This is the first polysculpt I've done.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the 1:10 scale sculpt. The polysculpt will commence when this is complete, probably late next week.

A lot of progress has been made since these photos, which ill post tomorrow.
In the mean time, does anyone know what kind of mountains are around the area that the Argonath/Amon scenes were filmed? I need to get some rock texture references.

 

[TomVDJ]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Great work! LOTR is filmed in New-Zealand, but I don't know if the mountains behind the argonath are real or CGI in the movie...

 

[jollyskeleton]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

I'll certainly be staying tuned! Hopefully some day you'd do a version of the Elven Sentinels in Rivendell in the Hobbit too!

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Haha yeah I know its NZ, I'm right next to it in Australia I found the locations, but still having some trouble identifying if they based the stone from any mountains or like you said just CG.
If anyone could identify the stone that it looks like that would also be very helpful?

I would love to try that at some point, just cutting my teeth on this one first

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Here are the latest shots.
Apparently I need to to make the hand bigger or make his arm shorter, and look into proportions of a real person for the face.

 

[jollyskeleton]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Have you the miniature Argonath bookends from the Fellowship of the Ring Dvd Collector's box set? That might be useful reference

 

[grapejuice]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

This is fantastic. Can't wait to see the finished product and everything in-between.

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Jollyskeleton- I don't have one on hand, but I do have heaps of reference pictures thanks to another very helpful RPF member I'm trying to do a more detailed version of that though, it was pointed out to me that the arm on it is rather out of proportion.

So the Poly has been ordered, still working on the 1:10 sculpt which is due on thursday, hopefully ill have some almost completed photos of the mini sculpt early next week.

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Some progress has been made on the armature. needs to be finished by thursday, so I'll be pretty busy over the next few days.

Before getting stuck into the face...

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Fun stuff...

 

[Shylaah]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

That is looking great! If you need more reference pictures you might try a search for pictures from the LOTR Exhibition. They had Argonaths at the entrance. Might show a bit more detail than the miniature bookends........

Here's a few I found on a quick google of LOTR exhibit

http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/...statues_fg.jpg

http://img-nex.theonering.net/images/scrapbook/orig/15941_orig.jpg

http://lotr_aotearoa.tripod.com/General_LOTR/TePapaArgonath1.jpg

http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Exhibit/Travel/Lyric/te_papa_lotr_statues_fg.jpg

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Thanks for those shylaah!
I'm struggling a bit with sculpting the mountain area, anyone got any tips for doing that with clay?

 

[jollyskeleton]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

I see. I have the bookends but did not realise they're not as accurate. Regardless, I'm saving up and hopefully I'll eventually manage to afford one of Weta's Argonath sculpt released in last year or the year before.

Aside from that, this is taking shape well! Just wasn't sure if you noticed, but the arch of the helm on Isildur in that first pic of your latest update is a bit higher on the left of his brow (my right) than on the opposite side. Not sure if it has been rectified

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Thanks Jolly, that should be fixed, or at least not noticeable when its done. I really wish I had more time for it, but I need to have it essentially done by the end of thursday, then its onto the big sculpt.

 

[jollyskeleton]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

That's alright. The more important version is the large sculpt

 

[Shylaah]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

...clip....
I'm struggling a bit with sculpting the mountain area, anyone got any tips for doing that with clay?

Is it required that it be done with clay?
Cause I'm thinking it would be easier done model railroad scenery style.

Click HERE for larger image

 

[jollyskeleton]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

I just looked through the photos I took when I was at the Kawarau river last year end... seems to me that at least most if not all of the rock face looks like the one in the movie, except de-vegetated and maybe touched up...

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Well its thursday and the 1:10 sculpt it done! I had to make a few changes so I could finish it on time. I went and had a look at some sandstone cliffs to get ideas for the mountain, after that it only took me 30 mins to finish that part off.
I'm not 100% happy with the helmet but it will still look great on the full size sculpture.

Here are the pictures, the 'brick' look will be continued over all the parts its supposed to be, I didn't have time to do the entire thing but thankfully I can get away with that on the smaller sculpt by saying its a texture reference.

Ill be starting on the armature today/tomorrow. Should have the polystyrene soon!

 

[jollyskeleton]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Looks awesome already!

 

[p0rtalman]

Re: WIP- 2m tall LOTR Argonath polysculpt

Update!
Today I cut all the wood for the armature (saving some money on poly, and a requirement of the project)

Some Texture tests for the hardcoat over the poly.

This is my new tool... THE GRIBBLER! Its demolishes poly.