I am told that translating a book into a movie is no easy task. Certainly, there have been examples of this being done well. Jaws, for instance, is a much better as a film than it was as a book, in my opinion. It was more visceral, had a much better ending, and dropped one of the most unnecessary subplots in favor of simplicity. Unfortunately, there are many more examples of poor adaptations, some of which completely destroy characters or themes. While I will admit that Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy did a wonderful job of visually capturing the wonder of Tolkien’s fantasy, I am afraid that some of the plot choices were not to my taste.
The unnecessary fake death of Aragorn in The Two Towers served only to waste screen time and fooled absolutely no one. The modifications to the Dead Men of Dunharrow created a very large plot hole while diminishing the importance of the living forces at the Minas Tirith. But worst of all is the severe damage done to the character of Samwise Gamgee, who is arguably the most important character in the book. While other characters were stronger, wiser, and more noble than the humble gardener, it was Sam’s doughty courage and stouthearted devotion to getting the job done that… well, got the job done. Sam was the consummate everyman who succeeded with only his willpower and common sense while others failed all around him. This was all undone by the filmmaker’s decision to give Gollum “a win” by turning Frodo against Sam, and Sam’s willingness to be dismissed by Frodo. There is no clearer example of valuing a superficial “payoff” over substantive writing, but I digress.
Today we are talking about something that I think DOES do justice to this most compelling hobbit. Of the four halflings featured in the Fellowship of the Ring box, I think Sam’s miniature is the most interesting, well sculpted, and was the most fun to paint. There was very little cleanup, the likeness was acceptable (other than the left side of his face being a bit flattened), and since his clothing is all very utilitarian and simple, there was no confusion over the color palette! In addition, there was a pleasant variety of materials to render, given all of the various supplies and gear that he carries on his back. In short, I greatly enjoyed painting this miniature.
And with that, I have finished the hobbits! As I had previously stated, these miniatures are SMALL! It may be difficult to appreciate in the pictures, but these are mounted on standard 25mm bases, at least until I finish the 3D modeled base I have been planning for the group. To give you a better perspective, here’s a group shot with a US penny for reference.
Like I said… small! Anyway, now I can move on to some of the larger members of the Fellowship. Despite being easier to see, some of these models have some rather problematic sculpts, but we’ll cover that when we get there.
Flesh:
The skin received a base coat of VGC Heavy Skintone (72.140), followed by shading of the eye-sockets, lip crease, and the underside of the nose with a 1:1 mix of Heavy Skintone and VMC German Camo Black Brown (70.822). The eyes were then blocked in with VMC Ivory (70.918) and the iris was dotted with German Camo Black Brown. The major forms of the body were then lightened with a 1:1 mix of Heavy Skintone and VMC Flat Flesh (70.955), followed by initial highlights with pure Flat Flesh, followed by point highlights with a 1:1 mix of Flat Flesh and VMC Light Flesh (70.928).
Some tonal variation was added with the inclusion of some VMC Old Rose (70.944) to the highlight tone and some Vallejo Fantasy Pro (VNP) Burned Flesh (74.002) to the shade tone.
Hair:
Blocked in with VMC German Camo Black Brown (70.822). Major forms were picked out with a 1:1 mix of GCBB and VMC German Camo Pale Brown (70.825), then lightened with pure German Camo Pale Brown. Individual tufts were then highlighted selectively with VMC Cork Brown (70.943).
Pants:
The entire area was base coated with VMC German Fieldgrey WWII (70.830). The major folds and creases were lightened with a 2:1 mix of German Fieldgrey and VMC Green Grey (70.971), followed by highlights with a 1:1 mix of the same colors.
Shirt and Coats:
For Sam’s jacket, a base tone mix was created with a 2:1 ratio of VPA Dark Mud (70.316) and VMC German Camo Black Brown (70.822). This was left in the recesses, while the major forms were brightened with the incremental addition of VMC Medium Grey (70.987) to the base mix, with final highlights being pure Medium Grey. Texture was created with short stippling strokes.
His shirt was base coated with a 1:1:1 mix of VMC German Camo Pale Brown, VMC Sky Grey, and VMC Ivory (70.918). A small amount of German Camo Black Brown was added for a shade tone, and additional Ivory for a highlight tone.
Sam’s waistcoat was painted in a striped pattern a 2:1 mix of VMC Neutral Grey (70.992) and VMC German Camo Black Brown for the darker stripes and the mid-tone of his shirt for the lighter stripes.
Pack Items:
Sam’s pack contains several varieties of items.
Canvas packs were base coated with a 2:1 mix of VMC Medium Grey (70.987) and VMC German Camo Black Brown (70.822), then lightened with pure Medium Grey, and highlighted with a 1:1 mix of Medium Grey and VMC Deck Tan (70.986). Some smaller pouches were with this mix, then highlighted with pure Deck Tan.
The water bottle and leather pouch were painted with my standard leather colors: VMC Chocolate Brown (70.872), VMC Flat Earth (70.983), and VMC Dark Sand (70.847). A slight glaze of VMC Mahogany Brown (70.846) was applied to the mid-tones of the water-bottle.
The bedroll and shoulder straps were base coated with a 1:1 mix of VMC Pastel Green (70.885) and VMC Dark Sea Blue (70.898), lightened with pure Pastel Green, and highlighted with a 1:1 mix of Pastel Green and VMC Green Grey (70.971).
The rope-sausages were base coated with a 1:1 mix of German Camo Black Brown and Mahogany Brown, lightened with pure Mahogany Brown, and highlighted with a 1:1 mix of Mahogany Brown and VMC Sunny Skintone (70.845).
The pots and pans were blocked in with VMC Black (70.950), then base coated with VMC Black Grey (70.862). Highlights and scratches were added with mixes of Black Grey and VMC Ivory (70.918).
DarthTom's Gaming 