Armored Dwarves

[jFox]

I really love the dwarves from the Fantasy Era sets, but felt they could be a little tougher. I set out to create an armed, armored, unstoppable juggernaut (in miniature form), and here are the results! Like the title says, it's also my first attempt at customizing figures by modifying parts.

The armor is from BrickWarriors. I bought it in brown, and it never seemed to look right anywhere. So I spray-painted it gold, and when paired up with the gladiator's helm it looked pretty badass, though the color was off. The gladiator's helm was almost copper-like, so I sprayed that to match.

He needed some weapons, so I painted some spiked maces I got from Brickforge, as well as a shield:

Ignoring the fact that he can't lift his arms very high, this guy is not to be messed with!

I wanted to give him a really big tower shield. I tried the roman shield on the right, but didn't like the red. So I sprayed a shield, and the color is fine, but it's missing something in the middle. A spike, a stud, some emblem, etc. Maybe I'll try to find a stencil that I like and spray a silver pattern on it.

More shield shots. It's not bad, just plain.

And here are some armored dwarves using only purist options. I really like these too, and will build up a few more. If only that gladiator helm were in pearl gold it would be perfect.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the results. He looks like walking, talking armor, and the gladiator helmet is so huge and goofy on him, I love it. I keep worrying about the paint, even though I sprayed some Krylon sealer on it. Comments and critiques welcome!

[purpleparadox]

The purist ones are okay, but it's the custom dwarf that I like! You did a great paintjob. I like the colour of his armour and helmet, and his weapons are painted nice and cleanly too. I'd love to see a silver stencil or design of some kind on the shield! That'd complete the fig.

It's hard to believe this is your first custom! Most people's are sloppy. I guess you're an exception!

[Nightshroud99]

Really nice job, that full set of armor reminds me of the Dwarf armor in Skyrim. It's certainly menacing enough, I wonder how an orc could kill a Dwarf armored so well?

[jFox]

The purist ones are okay, but it's the custom dwarf that I like! You did a great paintjob. I like the colour of his armour and helmet, and his weapons are painted nice and cleanly too. I'd love to see a silver stencil or design of some kind on the shield! That'd complete the fig.

It's hard to believe this is your first custom! Most people's are sloppy. I guess you're an exception!

Thanks! Though I can't take ALL the credit... it was the spray paint that did much of the work. That, and some paint markers I used on the spiked ends of the maces. The paint is very thin and goes on very smooth, almost like ink. I don't think I would try to hand-paint anything detailed on a flat surface though... my hands aren't steady enough at this small a scale.

Really nice job, that full set of armor reminds me of the Dwarf armor in Skyrim. It's certainly menacing enough, I wonder how an orc could kill a Dwarf armored so well?

Ooh, I hadn't even thought of that, but now that you mention it I like it even more! :) That was my favorite armor set in Skyrim. I think anyone would have trouble killing this dwarf. That was what I was trying to go for. An unstoppable, (tiny) mountain of metal. Maybe another 3 or 4 of these to make an elite force, king's guards or the like.

[Wardancer]

Good dwarf! The armor and the helmet work well together. If you want to stab him, you would not know where to do it.

Maybe it would be worth trying different legs and torsos underneath. Mixing two dofferent kinds of gold might be an overload.

[jFox]

Based on some feedback here, I decided to try and add some more details to what I already had.

First, based on Wardancer's suggestion I changed the torso and legs to black. I don't know how I feel about the dragon chain armor poking out from underneath so I might see if I have an all-black torso to use instead. I painted a gladiator shield, added some silver to the armor pieces, and also recolored the gold using my paint marker. This makes it easier to do small changes, and the color is consistent across the board. Spraying takes a while to set up, dry, and if I'm not careful the humidity outside can cause problems. The hammer is a BrickWarriors Skull Crusher, and here's all of the gear:

Rear shot

A golden axe for a more offensive mode. RAWR! *Chop chop smash chop*

I really like these results, and feel like I might have the "bug" for customizing. I do like purist options though, because of their consistency across the board. This is really fun, however, and pretty rewarding afterward... at least if it comes out okay!

Edited July 26, 2012 by jFox

[purpleparadox]

Wow, I can't believe it! You managed to make it even better! Seriously, it looks awesome with silver as a secondary colour. I hope you've got the bug for customizing, 'cause I want to see more!

[jFox]

More armored dwarf goodness! With BrickWarriors releasing some new helmets and their "Muscled Cuirass" armor in silver, I picked up a few and tried them out on my dwarves. First, the plain options:

Personally, I like the Rhino Helmet on the right much better. The Celestial Crown on the left is growing on me. Both helmets are fantastic though, and the detail on them is great. I really like the cape on the back. I feel like it looks a little off on a full-size figure (it's too short), but it's the perfect length for a dwarf!

The silver is pretty close to BrickWarriors' steel color, and both of them are close to LEGO's dark bluish gray. I gave these guys some humongous minotaur axes:

I put my trusty gold and silver paint markers to use again, and painted up a cuirass and helmet:

At first the cape on the back was black, but then I added some blue on top for at least SOME color. The draped bit in the middle is still black (whoops, forgot that), but looking at it I don't think it's all that bad. Could just be a different piece of cloth.

From the front view the helmet looks a little TOO silver. Maybe some gold around the face area?

I also tried swapping helmets with my previous efforts:

From the rear view, I love the gladiator helmet and the cape. All other angles, though... it looks off. Like the armor is too small and wimpy for such a gigantic helmet. The rhino helmet and horned plate armor together work well, though the helmet still looks like it has too much silver.

And all together now:

Dwarves don't mess around when it comes to battle.

And just for laughs, some dwarves refuse to trim their beards... ever. Unfortunately for them, they can't put on a helmet because of it.

[The-Hulk]

XD

That last picture is hilarious!

I love the way they all look together! I agree about the gladiator helmet looking great with the cape from behind, but not so much from the other sides.

[jFox]

A few more additions! I found an amazing shield from BrickTW, and it was the last piece I needed to finish this guy:

The detail on the shield is superb, and the handles in back can rotate and let you pose in a variety of ways.

I added some gold to the rhino helmet I started, and gave the other dwarf a two-headed axe.

And a last side-by-side shot. The immovable object, and the unstoppable force. Good thing they're on the same side! Who knows what would happen if they ever collided...

[Thrash]

I love the way that painted cape looks with the LEGO gladiator helmet! I'll have to design some new helmets and armor so you can keep expanding your dwarf army...

[MihaiMariusMihu]

Great painting skills. I especially love the work you did on the gladiator helmet.

[natelite]

nice! not much to add to it, except maybe you can color the studs on the shield in a different color - say black, perhaps - might make it better to contrast with the gold/silver. don't want you to ruin your custom - so maybe you can take a picture and test it out in photoshop first before you do it.

oh, and even if you use a sharpie for your colors, you may need to apply a coat of lacquer to seal it in. i colored my woody long arms and legs silver and the color rubbed off in a few months.

[jFox]

I love the way that painted cape looks with the LEGO gladiator helmet! I'll have to design some new helmets and armor so you can keep expanding your dwarf army...

I love the short cape on the muscled cuirass, and certainly wouldn't mind seeing it on other armor pieces!

nice! not much to add to it, except maybe you can color the studs on the shield in a different color - say black, perhaps - might make it better to contrast with the gold/silver. don't want you to ruin your custom - so maybe you can take a picture and test it out in photoshop first before you do it.

oh, and even if you use a sharpie for your colors, you may need to apply a coat of lacquer to seal it in. i colored my woody long arms and legs silver and the color rubbed off in a few months.

I may try to dry-brush some brown or black on the studs for a little bit of extra detail. I picked up a couple of extra shields from BrickTW for experimenting as well. I would really like to get a look similar to the dwarven armor from Skyrim: http://www.uesp.net/..._Armor_Male.jpg However, at this small of a scale I don't think I'd be able to pull it off to my satisfaction.

As for protecting the paint, I've been using a Krylon clear spray on them after I'm done. Haven't had any problems so far

Edited August 22, 2012 by jFox

[natelite]

I may try to dry-brush some brown or black on the studs for a little bit of extra detail. I picked up a couple of extra shields from BrickTW for experimenting as well.

As for protecting the paint, I've been using a Krylon clear spray on them after I'm done. Haven't had any problems so far

Wow... it's hardly visible. It's a very good finish. I'll have to note to use Krylon if I make any customs.

Bricktw's bucklers are pretty awesome too. have you tried that?

[jFox]

Wow... it's hardly visible. It's a very good finish. I'll have to note to use Krylon if I make any customs.

Bricktw's bucklers are pretty awesome too. have you tried that?

I tried several types of Krylon spray with bad results before trying their "Crystal Clear" spray. The others that I tried left a gray, dusty layer on top, dulling the color of everything. The Crystal Clear stuff is... well, clear. I can feel it, but haven't noticed any discoloration. As for the bucklers, I got a few of them as well. Not sure what I'll do with them just yet, but I have some ideas.

[natelite]

I tried several types of Krylon spray with bad results before trying their "Crystal Clear" spray. The others that I tried left a gray, dusty layer on top, dulling the color of everything. The Crystal Clear stuff is... well, clear. I can feel it, but haven't noticed any discoloration. As for the bucklers, I got a few of them as well. Not sure what I'll do with them just yet, but I have some ideas.

Krylon Crystal Clear. Got it.

Can't wait to see what you do with them!