The legendary Elrond gallops into pre-order this weekend. To celebrate, we sat down with Gavin Newton, the designer responsible for the new miniature, to get an insight into the Master of Rivendell and his banner-waving companion.
Warhammer Community: Elrond is one of the most recognisable characters from The Lord of the RingsTM. What was it like to work on this noble Elven lord?
Gavin Newton: There’s always added pressure whenever you’re recreating such a beloved character, but it's also an exciting challenge. Elrond's determination in the opening scenes of the film is something I was keen to capture in his expression – that unflinching courage that leaves no room for doubt.
WarCom: What did you enjoy most about sculpting Elrond, and are there any elements of the project that you were particularly proud of?
Gavin: Elrond’s clothing is made of lightweight materials like silk and satin. This allowed me to sculpt light, windswept fabrics, which was fun to do and allowed me to add more dynamic features to the model. I would also have to say his braids! These small details often go unnoticed, but making them work at such a tiny scale was really satisfying.
WarCom: The pose of a miniature is an important part of capturing a character's personality – what made you choose these two poses for the Master of Rivendell?
Gavin: Often there will be an iconic moment from the movies that heavily influences the pose of the miniature. For example, the foot version of Elrond is reminiscent of when he sees Sauron stride onto the battlefield during the War of the Last Alliance. While we don't see Elrond fighting from horseback in those scenes, I wanted to capture the speed, grace, and precision Elves fight with while mounted, so I decided to have him charging into battle at full tilt, with Hadhafang at the ready!
WarCom: Elrond is the Herald of Gil-galad and is accompanied by a High Elf Warrior carrying the Elven King’s banner. What was that like to work on alongside Elrond?
Gavin: I love the design of the Rivendell Elf livery, it’s so elegant. The helmets in particular are just awesome, and it was lovely to be able to revisit those designs. The Rivendell Elves have graceful curves and detailed filigree across their attire, architecture, and weaponry – those ornate shapes are delightful to sculpt, and it was great to work on them after all these years. One challenge with sculpting such fine detail at this scale is the ability to manufacture it – we used the finest cutting tools on our machines to bring out such delicate details.
WarCom: How will you be painting up your own Elrond?
Gavin: I'm often drawn to the colour blue, especially the dark shades the Rivendell Elves wear, so I think I will be sticking with the traditional scheme of gold, blues, and sea green for my Elrond.
Thanks, Gavin! Get ready for the arrival of your own Elrond by checking out our step-by-step painting guide for the Master of Rivendell.
You can pre-order Elrond, the Master of Rivendell from the Games Workshop webstore on Saturday, along with the incredible new Battle of Osgiliath boxed set.