Our friends at Weta Workshop have an awesome new goodie called the Weta Collecta. This item contains a collectible from all the ranges of collectibles that Weta makes: t-shirt, and various mystery items. The coolest part about the box is that it’s a key to a chance to win a trip to Middle-earth. That’s right! By buying this box, getting some very cool items, and entering the contest attached to the box, you may well end up in Middle-earth. Before October 31, snap a photo with all your Collecta goodies, upload it to Collecta Contest, and you and a friend could be flying to Wellington, New Zealand, from anywhere in the world!
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We here at TORn have teamed up with our friends at Weta Workshop for a special review of the 1:30 scale Dol Guldur Environment set with figures. This set made its debut during Comic-Con 2016 and since then each piece has come up for order. This entire setup is really awesome! There is so much incredible detail in every  piece that makes up this entire sequence. Also, if you have space issues it allows you to add some quality Weta Workshop made pieces, and still have room for the next amazing sequence to come from this line.

One of my favorite things about this set, which covers the Dol Guldur sequence from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is that you can create your own battles. You’re not limited by what was decided before you got it, and that gives you so much room to have fun with this set. Ranging from $50 for the figures to $250 for the largest environment piece fans have plenty of wiggle room to create whatever display they’d like. All of the figures Galadriel/Gandalf, Elrond, Witch-king, and Ringwraith of Forod are open editions. Fans will want to make sure to get not wait on any of the environment pieces North Courtyard, South Courtyard, Colonnade, Palantir Courtyard are limited to 500 pieces.
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Come One, Come All, the Baggins Birthday Bash is coming in just 3 weeks, time to party like Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves and Men, and maybe the more well behaved Orcs.

We are moving back to Griffith Park, huzzah, and to the Mineral Wells location we’ve used the past 5 or 6 years before last year’s jaunt to Long Beach. Directions can be found on our Facebook event page in the party description. The picnic will start at Noon, with activities wrapping up around 5pm so we can clean up and clear out before it gets too dark. Here are a few of the things to note:

Costumes welcome, but not required. There will be a contest, with all pomp and circumstance.

The Cake and Cupcake contest is back as well, Tolkien themed designs only, please.

Quotes contest – The Hobbit is 80 years old on September 21, so let’s keep quotes to just The Hobbit, film or book in honor of the book that introduced Middle-earth to the World.

There may be a few games as well, such as Golfimbul, depending on how much yummy food and fellowship there is, or the temperatures. Actually, the weather may also impact the number of costumes or the viability of the Cakes. I’m sure some of you remember the great Cake meltdown a few years back.

Survival, on hot days, an umbrella or pop up tent work really well, so bring them, and chairs because the park benches don’t move. On not so hot days, still bring the pop ups or at least the chairs.

Food, yes, this is a Potluck party, so bring food, at least 6 servings worth, but let’s not forget cups, plates, napkins and flatware. If you have an ice chest, bring it. Whether it is personal sized, for your own beverages, or super big to help keep lots of water, soda or juice cold. Bottles are preferred because yellowjackets do seem to like picnics too.

Please check out the Facebook event page (linked above) to RSVP your attendance and what you plan to bring, or you can RSVP to me at Garfeimao@TheOneRing.net just so we have an idea of what is being brought and where we need to fill in the gaps.

And yes, children are very welcome, bring the whole family.

 

 

 

Our friends at Weta Workshop have two new awesome pieces for us tonight and both come from the Dol Guldur sequence of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. The first piece is The Torturer of Dol Guldur who Galadriel easily dispatches when she comes to help save Gandalf the Grey. This piece is freaking awesome! You can see lots of great detail, paint, and it just looks nasty. Fans are not going to want to wait too long to get this Orc as he has an edition size of only 500 pieces. He comes in with a price tag of $449 but you have time to save as he doesn’t ship until January of 2018.

The final piece of the awesome 1:30 Dol Guldur environment is now available to order. The Colonnade is easily the largest piece of this set and gives fans even more options to create this sequence, or their own personal sequence. The final piece of this mini-environment comes  in with a price tag of $249 but there are payment plans to make getting this even easier.

My favorite piece from Comic-Con 2016 has arrived and I’m super excited to finally get a chance to review it. The Lady Galadriel by our friends at Weta Workshop and sculpted by the phenomenally talented Lindsey Crummett is without a doubt the best Galadriel that’s ever been done. It just blew me away back during Comic-Con and the production version does as well. As you will see in the video, this piece has some really awesome detail, from the face to that intricate outfit. These are just some of the reasons why this piece sold out during pre-order and with an edition size of 750 pieces will be difficult to tack down.
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The Dragon is upon us! It’s only Thursday and yet, even though DragonCon doesn’t officially start until tomorrow, there was merriment and partying even last night here in the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta. Deej and greendragon are at DragonCon to represent TORn, and we’re looking forward to a fun weekend with our fellow fans! Here’s what’s going on:

Even though the Tolkien Track has sailed into the West, there will still be lots of Middle-earth related happenings over the course of the convention. Check out the High Fantasy Track schedule for details! Some highlights:

Friday 10am: ‘Namarie: Farewell Tolkien Track’. TORn staff will be joining Track staff to reminisce and celebrate the Tolkien Track – and look forward to the continuation of friendships and community, for many years to come, even without the Track.

Friday 7pm: ‘Elf Choir’ – come along and join in!

Saturday 4pm: ‘Preciousss Moments with Gollum and Sméagol’ – lead by Constance Wagner, whose very popular panels are always fascinating and insightful.

Saturday 5.30pm: ‘Beren and Luthien’ – a closer look at the latest Tolkien publication.

Monday 10am: ‘Still Tolkien About It: 80 Years of Middle-earth’. Join TORn staffers deej and greendragon, together with scholar Constance Wagner, to look back on the past 80 years since The Hobbit was first published. What has made Middle-earth such an enduring passion – and to what can we look forward?

All of the above are in the High Fantasy Track Room – L401-403 in the Marriott (where the Tolkien Track was in the past).

In addition, on Friday night we have, of course, the ever popular Evening at Bree! This will be held in the Hilton Grand Ballroom West, from 8.30pm – be sure to get in line early! We have a party of special magnificence planned this year! Bands Toucan Dubh and the Brobdingnagian Bards will be providing live music, followed by a dance party hosted by our very own DJ, deej. We’ll also have the costume contest and the performance by the Elf Choir, plus this year you can expect one or two special surprises. With the theme of ‘Class of 3018 Prom – Enchantment under the Mountain’, we’ll say farewell to the graduating Tolkien Track seniors; and your host Prom Bombadil will be there to make the evening go with a ring a dong dillo!

On Sunday night you can hear the Brobdingnagian Bards again, playing Hobbit Drinking Songs in the Hilton Crystal Ballroom from 8.30pm.

And of course TORn has a table! Come and find us in our usual spot in the Hyatt. For shirts this year we’re bringing back an old favourite – the Lake-town Fire Department – and we have a fabulous new design, encouraging the races of Middle-earth to Coexist. We also have new buttons, fans, and lots of prizes you could win. Come and check out all the goodies – and be sure to say hi to deej and greendragon!

There may not be a Tolkien Track, but Tolkien fans are here in force, and we’re ready for a great weekend of fun and companionship. Half the Shire’s been invited – hope to see you, too!