Gandalf vs. Balrog Diorama First Pics

[Fremen]

Those are just your standard 70.00 canadian dollar detolf units that everyone gets from Ikea. They are cheap and work pretty well and seem to be able to hold a lot of weight on the top because mine are loaded with heavy stuff on the top of them.

Alot of people really like Ikea bestas as well. They are better for big things like busts I think.

The lights are just dot-it lights from home depot.

 

[SquiderM3]

 

[GrueSam]

Fremen, I have never seen detolf's look so classy!
Beautiful collection.


SquiderM3, your pictures are truly beautiful and obviously very professional...
but they still don't help my lack of love for this piece.
In fact, the more I see the less I like.

And that's very sad for me...

 

[Havok]

I think it looks pretty good, the Balrog especially looks great. Maybe it's just me though, but it looks like Gandalf is looking off into the distance instead of down at the Balrog like he should be.

 

[The Josh]

Those are some great pics!!

 

[SquiderM3]

I think it looks pretty good, the Balrog especially looks great. Maybe it's just me though, but it looks like Gandalf is looking off into the distance instead of down at the Balrog like he should be.

This may be true but one thing to remember is that Gandalf is only about 2.5" long, his head approx. 3/4" in size with a long beard. I agree it could have used a little more expression but I think it would have been difficult to sculpt with the limited size. Great piece overall!

 

[DinoDB1975]

This may be true but one thing to remember is that Gandalf is only about 2.5" long, his head approx. 3/4" in size with a long beard. I agree it could have used a little more expression but I think it would have been difficult to sculpt with the limited size. Great piece overall!

Fabulous pics, man. They put my pics to shame. I think Gandalf looks fantastic for the scale he's sculpted in.

 

[Mr Fell Beast]

Those are just your standard 70.00 canadian dollar detolf units that everyone gets from Ikea. They are cheap and work pretty well and seem to be able to hold a lot of weight on the top because mine are loaded with heavy stuff on the top of them.

Alot of people really like Ikea bestas as well. They are better for big things like busts I think.

The lights are just dot-it lights from home depot.

DAM!

Looks nice, but I just have to ask, where in the HELL do you store all of the BOXES!!!!!

 

[Fremen]

Spare room, big laundry room, closets, outside shed and garage.
You have no idea how many boxes I have as I have hundreds of enchantica and dragonsite dragons as well and I keep all of those boxes too.

Those pictures are beautiful!

 

[LOTRFan]

SquiderM3, your pictures are truly beautiful and obviously very professional...
but they still don't help my lack of love for this piece.
In fact, the more I see the less I like.

And that's very sad for me...

Agreed, those pics are amazing; the best yet! The double-edged sword here is that it shows the piece as it actually appears.

 

[SquiderM3]

Agreed, those pics are amazing; the best yet! The double-edged sword here is that it shows the piece as it actually appears.

Thanks Fan, appreciate it!

 

[Sky_Rider]

Fabulous pics, man. They put my pics to shame. I think Gandalf looks fantastic for the scale he's sculpted in.

I agree on both counts. Those pictures having been shot in even lighting doesn't make Gandalf stand out unnaturally to me. Having viewed mine in a few different kinds and levels of light gave me the same impressions. It's kind of hard not to stand out considering he's got a black background. I think the whip material is interesting and in keeping with the flames on the 'Rog's back. To me, the material change around Gandalf's ankle is of no consequence considering I have to look down his robe to see it. Anyway, I like it and I'm glad I made the purchase.

Now were's that Ikea catalog...

 

[The Josh]

Agreed, those pics are amazing; the best yet! The double-edged sword here is that it shows the piece as it actually appears.

Which is sad how? Its an awesome looking piece.

 

[Sky_Rider]

Which is sad how? Its an awesome looking piece.

Some of the "Fans" have made it abundantly clear that they don't like the piece and have stated why. You need only go back through the thread to find their reasons. Just start paging backwards to see...

 

[vracula]

pretty much smack on what i felt after assembling my piece also.
definately not up ssc standards imo. also in regards to the very obvious horn/gandalf seam. i really wasn't to happy with the huge seams on the attachment of the wings either.
the whip is not only hard to attach to gandalf, but mine doesn't seem to fit completely into rog's hand either, the square part of the whip sits up slightly in his hand. not to mention that where it attaches to gandalf, it's way to thick in proportion to the rest of the whip on gandalf's ankle. i believe it should of been alot thinner.

overall for me a 5 out of 10 is high maybe a 3-4 for me.
i'm most likely going to return mine, since it also has some slight damage to rog's body also. very sad, this piece has so much potential.

I felt the same way when i got the fellbeast diorama,usually when i buy stuff it should looks like it's worth more than i paid for it.and usually SS delivers! but with these Dio's just blech!

I was out of this line after just one dio.

 

[LOTRFan]

Some of the "Fans" have made it abundantly clear that they don't like the piece and have stated why. You need only go back through the thread to find their reasons. Just start paging backwards to see...

And respectfully too I might add Mr. Rider; I was waiting for some good pics to see just how the production piece turned out, and unfortunately for me at least it isn't an item I want to add to my collection. Yes, for the reasons I have already stated.

 

[The Josh]

Well, I guess for me the last couple sets of pics just confirmed to me how cool it looks. Gandalf looks really well done for this scale. I wouldn't expect him to just be sculpted beyond some craizness at this size. He could be a bit dirtier looking but that would be my only complaint about him. Otherwise it looks like a homerun for me and its just a matter of looking at things to see how I can try to get this one.

 

[Sky_Rider]

And respectfully too I might add Mr. Rider; I was waiting for some good pics to see just how the production piece turned out, and unfortunately for me at least it isn't an item I want to add to my collection. Yes, for the reasons I have already stated.

I never said otherwise

 

[GrueSam]

Josh, I guess Matt and I are the only ones who didn't like it when we saw it at Con last year... and I still don't.

I was kinda hoping to warm up to it after all this time and see the in-hand shots but, like Matt, it makes me sad that it hasn't.

Why does it make me sad?
1) You know how much I love the 'Rog! I would love to have this dynamic piece in my collection but I can't do it.
Why?
2) This is the first SS LOTR piece that I've wanted that just has too many things about it I don't like. And the more I look the more they bug me...

And that makes me sad!

 

[The Josh]

Josh, I guess Matt and I are the only ones who didn't like it when we saw it at Con last year... and I still don't.

I was kinda hoping to warm up to it after all this time and see the in-hand shots but, like Matt, it makes me sad that it hasn't.

Why does it make me sad?
1) You know how much I love the 'Rog! I would love to have this dynamic piece in my collection but I can't do it.
Why?
2) This is the first SS LOTR piece that I've wanted that just has too many things about it I don't like. And the more I look the more they bug me...

And that makes me sad!

Its not the exact pose I'd want for this piece either. I really wanted them in the moment on the bridge. So I can relate in understanding that it could have been different. Like you I love the Rog and so that helps me but I have grown to liking the moment of them falling through during this sequence.

I do feel for you guys that want to like it but it just doesn't hit the mark.