As you all know, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has landed for audiences around the world and to…
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As you all know, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has landed for audiences around the world and to go with that the amazing folks at Weta Workshop have a couple of brand new statues for fans to order.
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s Balin and Dwalin Stautes”
We’re just a little over a week away now from the world-wide release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and fans are getting a final tease of what should be a superb collectible. Jerry Vanderstelt has released the last of his teaser images for his upcoming print that will capture The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. In this image we get a fantastic look at brothers Dwalin, Balin, a small glimpse of Thorin, and the eagles. Stay tuned and as soon as this goes up for order you will know so you can order this great collectible for your collection.
Jerry has this to stay about his last teaser image:
“Well friends, here is the last teaser of my Hobbit art. I am getting very near the end of finishing up the Original and soon this art will be available as Fine Art Giclee prints in Canvas and Paper editions, but here’s a little something for now!”
Following the successful series of art prints from both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Weta Workshop is making another beautiful print available to collectors. The second print in The Hobbit art print series takes us to one of the most memorable moments in the story: the Riddles in the Dark sequence between Bilbo and Gollum. The print is priced at $50 U.S. and will ship shortly after purchase. Be sure to order today so you can have this before The Hobbit opens in early December.
As the premiere of “The Hobbit: and Unexpected Journey” draws closer, we continue to get more information on what will certainly be one of the coolest items associated with the movie: today we have a third teaser image from artiste Jerry Vanderstelt. In this teaser image we get a glimpse of the three Trolls Bert, Tom, and William. The image also includes a shot of some of the Dwarves and of Bilbo running to catch up with them after they’ve left Bag End. Here is what Jerry has to say about teaser number three:
“Well, it’s another week of painting on the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey artwork, and It’s getting pretty close now to a finish. For now, here is my third little teaser approved by Warner Brothers. This one shows just a small corner of the art with the three trolls, Bert Tom and Bill. Enjoy!”
“You shall be The Fellowship of the Ring.”
-Elrond to the Fellowship at the Council of Elrond
Of the many things at Comic-Con 2012 Weta had three items that fans like myself had been waiting years to finally see. That amazing scene of The Fellowship cresting the hill has been long called for by fans to be turned into a collectible. Well, in June of this year the long wait for something representing this was over. Weta Workshop announced a three part set capturing this long awaited moment and set one has arrived. On the heels of set two going up for order its time to review set one.
PACKAGING
Graphically the box for set one is similar to what we’ve seen before with past items from Weta. The Lord of the Rings logo appears once again on the front of the box with a great group shot of The Fellowship as they make their trek across Middle-earth. In the center of the box you have a great picture of the piece number one of this set. On one side of the box you get a great picture of set one while the other contains multiple great images of items that you can find on Weta’s website. The back of the box has one final image of set one a nice story about this piece and what it took to bring it to life.
SCULPTING
A team of Weta artists was tasked with finally bringing one of the most demanded pieces to our collections. Based on how the pieces looked at Comic-Con and how set one came out in production they did a great job. One of the biggest challenges in a piece this size is the likenesses. The team at Weta was successful in making sure that each character in set one, which contains Gandalf the Grey, Frodo, and Legolas bears close resemblance to the actors that played them. Detail-wise, this piece is as good as anything you will find. Hair detail on Gandalf, Legolas, and Frodo is there and you even get individual hairs, you get great detail in Sting’s hilt, Glamdring’s hilt, Gandalf’s staff (even has the G-rune), and the detail in Legolas alone is really very good when you look at the size of these statues. The clothing of each character is not without detail either as each outfit is done successfully so that their outfits look like cloth. Finally, the base is as good as anything with its great rock, grass, and even detail in the dirt.
PAINT
As hard as it would be to sculpt a piece of this size the biggest character is only 5.5 inches tall would be to make sure the paint works with the sculpts. Well, Weta did not miss anything with this piece and it really helps set this piece at the highest level a collector could want. Skin tone on the three characters is on par with a statue two or three times the size. Another possible issue with a statue of this size is how the little details can be covered and that does not happen with this statue. As I said the hair, details in things like Sting, Legolas outfit, etc are all enhanced by the paintwork on this statue. The base is even brought to life and feels real with the sculpt and paint working together. Simply put, it’s a fantastic piece and the paint/sculpt work hand-in-hand to create something special
Overall
Set one costs $199 via Weta’s web site as does set two, which is up for Pre-Order now. As I said at the start of this little review this is something I know many of us have been waiting years for so now is the time to jump on these items before they vanish. I know for me personally this is something I’ve dreamt of owning for years and to finally have it coming to the collection piece-by-piece is simply fantastic. In other words this a must have item I think for any fan of Middle-earth!
SPECIFICATIONS: The Fellowship Set 1 is an open edition and comes in at: 5.5″ x 7.5″ x 5.1″ (H x W x D)
14 cm x 19 cm x 13 cm
PHOTOS
You may remember reading about these awesome ‘Dwarvish’-looking 3D glasses, when we posted this story back in August. Now you can buy your very own pair! The folks behind the glasses, Look3D, tell us this:
‘Look3D, along with Warner Bros. and RealD, have created these ‘Middle-earth’ inspired 3D Glasses specifically for the new Hobbit film! Look3D has only created 5,000 units of the limited edition packaging, and these will be available for a limited time on Amazon.com in the US, and through www.look3d.com. The limited edition pack comes with the 3D glasses and branded soft cloth bag.’
There are a few ways you can get your hands on these fabulous glasses. They are available at ‘Made in Middle-earth: Wellington’s Hobbit Artisan Market’ – so those of you lucky enough to be in New Zealand for the Premiere can head over there and snap up a pair. We’re also excited to let you know that the good folks at Look3D have given us pairs to give away at some of our Line Parties – so if you come along to one of TORn’s Line Party events, you may win a pair of these glasses. Click here to look for a Line Party near you.
If you’re NOT in Wellington and you don’t want to chance your luck on winning a pair, don’t despair – you can order online at Amazon.com! The glasses are only $10 – order your own pair now, and watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in style! Click here to order.
