Weta Lord of the Rings Masters Collection Escape off the Road 1:6 Statue

Hoping to sneak out of the Shire, Frodo and Sam cut across the countryside, only to find themselves entangled in the escapades of Frodo’s cousins Merry and Pippin. One near miss with an angry farmer and a shortcut to mushrooms later the four Hobbits find themselves on a shaded trail collecting tasty fungi when Frodo is overcome by a sudden need to get off the road.

No sooner have the Hobbits scurried over an embankment and sought shelter beneath the eroded roots of an old tree when a tall, black-robed figure emerges from the mist. Dismounting its midnight horse to sniff unnaturally at the air, the stooped, black-cowled creature sweeps this way and that, drawn inexorably toward the huddled Shirelings.

Dropping to its knees, steel-gauntleted hands groping, the faceless wraith looms over them. Around the Hobbits’ hairy feet, the ground writhes with worms and other small creatures seeking to escape its terrifying presence. As the figure closes in upon them and its shadow threatens to swallow all hope of escape, Frodo falls into a trance, the Ring around his neck calling to him, his finger edging ever closer to the promised safety of the magical golden band…

FEATURES OF THE MASTERS COLLECTION: ESCAPE OFF THE ROAD

- Limited Edition (500 worldwide). This is #491

- 1:6 scale statue;

- Made from high quality polystone;

- Sculpted by Middle-earth masters Brigitte Wuest and Gary Hunt;

- Sculpted using both physical and digital techniques;

- 360° diorama depicting the Hobbit’s first encounter with the forces of evil.

- 550 x 530 x 790 mm at 33kg (volumetric weight 47kg)

It's such an iconic scene, so it was exciting to be asked to create this. I tried to capture the eerie silence when the Hobbits held their breath as the Ringwraith crept closer; his senses on high alert. You can even see the evil look of the Wraith Steed as it seeks to sense their presence too.

I really enjoyed sculpting the Steed in its solitary standing position, which had the potential to be…