Final Balrog Reveal!

The problem with posting crafts-in-progress is then you guys know how long it takes me to finish and write up each project. Which is a very long time. What can I say, I'm slow. And easily distracted. Heck, I will wander off this second if someone starts pulling a whoopie pie on a string past me. (MINE.)(::pounce::)

But!

I *do* finally have finished Balrog photos for you! Remember that one? Ages back? When John and I started jamming LEDs into poor Boggy's head?

 I've decided to name him Boggy, by the way. I find it helps distract from the fact that - at least at night -  Boggy looks like a Hell Beast Come To Claim Your Soul:

'SUP BOGGY?

Then again, that's kind of how the Balrog looks in Lord of the Rings, sooo... nailed it?

Since my first update we've finished the base, aged the existing paint job, added a few more lights to Boggy's head, and added some cotton "smoke" wisps from his eyes and mouth.

I did a lot of experimenting with different kinds of cotton for the smoke, as well as with coloring the cotton - dyes, powders, paints. In the end it turned out simple was best, since coloring the cotton blocked too much light and looked more fake, as you can see on the right here:

Of course it's also essential to "joosh" the cotton just right. That... is NOT right. 

This one's better:

I tried to get the cotton smoke to look good both lit and unlit, so there are only tiny shreds of it.

I ended up keeping the existing paint job, but I blacked out any too-bright red and orange areas. Then I aged down the red on his face, whip, and head flames:

For the base we used - get this - cheap kitty litter for stone gravel, followed up by some crushed walnut shells for the smaller crumbly bits. (The walnut shells are used to soak up spilled paint, so we already had some in the garage.) I attached it all with hot glue, then painted everything black.

I built up little piles of the gravel to hide the 3 LEDs embedded in the base - can you tell where they are? 

You can also see my aging better on the whip in that one. I like the black bits near the handle, reminds me of crusted-over magma.

Still loving those teeth; they're just so gross, ha. Again, all I did there was wipe off most of the factory brown paint with acetone, revealing the translucent yellow plastic underneath.

So that's Boggy during the day, with none of his lights on.

And here he is at night in John's room, all wired up:

I keep thinking about how horrific/hilarious this would be for a kids' room nightlight. I also keep thinking it's a good thing I'm not a mom. :D

Oh, and if you remember, we used the flicker LEDs taken out of cheap tealight candles, so there's a great sense of movement to Boggy at night: 

Woo woo woo, so fancy.

I have to admit I'm bummed the whip doesn't light up - and now that I've pointed it out I'm sure that's all you see, too. (WHY JEN WHY) I originally wanted to fashion something with EL wire - which you could do - but I'd have to make a whole new whip, and then wire THAT in with the other LEDS, and frankly by that point I was distracted by something shiny and ready to be done. 

If any of you get inspired to do this and make an EL wire whip, though, be sure to send me photos so I can bow before your genius and then glare resentfully at my sub-standard, non-whip-glowy Balrog.

Now, MOAR BEAUTY SHOTS!

You understand "beauty" is subjective here.

::pteradactyl screech::

A darker night shot, for DRAMA:

Aw yeah, werk it, girl.


UPDATE: Someone in the comments asked to see Boggy lit up during the day, too - good call! So here he is this afternoon, no photo editing:

The lights still show reaaally well, since he's recessed a little on the shelf.

And one final image to carry you through 'til sleep time:

YOU. SHALL. NOT. SLEEEEEP!

(Seriously, you guys. Balrog nightlights need to happen.)

Hope you liked seeing the finished product, and as always, I hope this inspires some of you to get out there and rip up your toys! FOR SCIENCE! 

::mwah::

***** 

As always, if you're looking for more crafty inspiration be sure to check out my Gigantic Page O' Tutorials! Over 150 posts of DIY goodness, just waiting to waste your time. ;)