3D Printed Lord of the Rings Action Figures: Middle-Earth Diorama

The fantastic Middle-earth world created by Tolkien has long gone beyond the pages of books and screen scenes. Today, every LOTR fan can recreate their favourite fictional scenes in the backyard using a 3D printer. Annie Moberg, for example, 3D printed Lord of the Rings action figures, Hobbit miniatures and statues to exhibit in her driveway in Sweden. The impressive diorama with cool 3D prints attracts much attention. It can be visited by you even if you live in another corner of the world.

Annie 3D printed a breathtaking LOTR diorama and shared the stunning scenes and 3D printing process on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Besides, she took beautiful photos and is happy to talk about her charitable project with Gambody readers.

The 3D printed Tolkien’s World diorama is a non-profit exhibition that is free for people to attend. This charity project aims to inspire preschoolers, schoolchildren, adults and all people, including those hospitalised and isolated, for new creations. Figures and miniatures made on a 3D printer can act on people like magic, giving them purposeful energy, positive emotions, and motivation to art and craft themselves.

Lord of the Rings Figurines

The LOTR diorama created by Annie includes many great Lord of the Rings figurines and The Hobbit action figures:

• 3D printed Treebeard, one of the most fantastic Lord of the Rings tree creatures;
• 3D printed The Hobbit action figures, most amazing Lord of the Rings miniatures;
• 3D printed LOTR villains (Sauron, Lord of the Nazgul, Balrog);
• 3D printed dragon Smaug and Fell beast;
• 3D printed Lord of the Rings statues of elves (Lady Galadriel, Legolas, etc.);
• 3D printed Hobbit house;
• Other cool 3D prints from Middle-earth world.

Each of these Lord of the Rings action figures are 3D printed and painted with love to detail. Long months of hard work have resulted in a magnificent diorama. Annie, with tenderness and love for the Middle-earth world, exhibits it in her driveway. These cool 3D prints deserve your special attention!

1. Annie, it is a pleasure to discuss your new fantasy project! When did the idea to combine all the 3D printed Lord of the Rings action figures and miniatures into a giant diorama first come to your mind? How long did it take you to make it real?

Thank you! Well, it did start with my love for J. R. R. Tolkien Middle-earth world with the Hobbit House.

You can read Annie’s interview about 3D printing and painting a fantastic Hobbiton Hole bonsai pot.

Besides, there was the mighty Fell beast I 3D printed about 1.5 years ago. I made that piece in 200%, so it turned out huge. I had her in the staircase, flying under the ceiling. And then, about a year ago, I downloaded the Treebeard 3D model STL files for 3D printing, and I made him 87 cm (34 inches) tall.

I enjoyed working with dioramas. So, then I had the first thought about combining the Lord of the Rings miniatures and action figures in a diorama.

And after I put out the Harry Potter display in December 2020, I started working on my LOTR diorama. I 3D printed it around the clock to have it up for March 1, 2021, so I could welcome my new Puppy.

But well, I thought, if I was not done by then, I would give myself a deadline to finish by July 1, 2021, at the latest.

2. Please tell us how such physiotherapy helps you and other people? What do your visitors say about your fantastic 3D printed Lord of the Rings collectables?

I live in a wheelchair. And the pandemic did not let me attend any physiotherapy at all. My hands, neck and back started to worsen, and the coordination from my thoughts to moving my body was getting worse. I have a spinal injury, and without coordination training, I have problems; that’s why I like airbrushing.

And I have been in lockdown since March 2020. So, I needed something to make me go up and do something. And I thought that so many people, especially kids, were sad. I just wanted to do 3D printed dioramas to bring some joy to my neighbourhood.

I have a lot of feedback from people who visit the Lord of the Rings miniatures and statues in my driveway. This exhibition makes them relieved. Seeing the scenes from the movies coming to life and your favourite characters is fantastic! People say they change their ordinary walk trails just to come by and look at the 3D printed Lord of the Rings action figures.

3. You display your Middle-earth Hobbit and Lord of the Rings statues in your driveway and welcome other people to visit you and adorn the 3D printed fantasy world. How many people have already taken this advantage and enjoyed your cool 3D prints?

I notice people coming by all day around to visit the exhibition with 3D printed Lord of the Rings miniatures and figurines. I can hear people talking outside, or leaving a message, etc. I have to say many people are not just coming from a walkway distance but also pulling up their cars.

4. How many 3D printed Hobbit action figures and Lord of the Rings figurines have you included in the diorama?

Well, I had to send out the Hubby to count them. So, there are 71 Lord of the Rings figures 3D printed in filament PLA and 11 Lord of the Rings miniatures 3D printed in resin. Also, there are about 13 buildings or terrain bits.

5. So, not all Lord of the Rings action figures are 3D printed with PLA. How many rolls did you use?

No, not all LOTR figurines are made on the FDM 3D printer. As I said, 11 of them are 3D printed in resin.

I believed I used 68 rolls of filament until I remembered that only the 3D printed Fell beast had 15 kg (33 lbs) of filament in it. So, it is about 83 1-kg of FDM rolls out there, totalling 83 kg (183 lbs).

6. How many 3D printers were running to make these Middle-earth Lord of the Rings miniatures real?

I have 4 FlashForge machines. They all have printed around the clock nonstop. Besides, I have one Anycubic Photon Mono X resin printer used to make some of these 3D printing Lord of the Rings figurines real.

7. Did you work on these 3D printed Lord of the Rings collectables alone? Or did anyone help you?

I have done them all myself (3D printed, assembled, painted). Only about several small skeletons in resin were made for me by Speira miniatures, so I could specially paint them to look like the dead army.

8. You airbrushed each of the Lord of the Rings statues in your driveway. How do you protect the figures from rain and bad weather?

Each of these Lord of the Rings action figures was first primed. It was essential to ensure to get a firm grip. Then I used Vallejo air. It has excellent water resistance in it. Besides, every single 3D printed piece has a coat of outdoor varnish on it.

9. Some of your 3D printed Lord of the Rings collectables have an adventurous story behind them. For example, your Fell beast had an exciting life after being 3D printed and painted. Can you tell us more about her battle scars?

Well, it was Brian Taylor’s support that made me think I had to fix the 3D printed Fell beast. She was taken down from the ceiling and on display for LOTR diorama. And one morning, she was in pieces and badly damaged. The culprit was a young deer!

The Fell beast 3D printed figure was so damaged I nearly had to say goodbye to her. Then my Hubby got an idea. Even though the beast will never fly again, we can build a platform for her to rest on. With the supports and additional pieces, she can be ok. I call it battle wounds. She has nicks and sword cuts in a few places, but she is there!

Everyone who comes by and visits the 3D printed Lord of the Rings miniatures and figures in a diorama wants to see her. She has her own Mordor/Gambody table, and I believe it is the favourite piece for most people.

10. What part of the LOTR diorama is the dearest to your heart? Why?

If I have to name just one, it is 3D printed Treebeard, one of the most amazing Lord of the Rings tree creatures.

I have always loved that character! He was a labour of love!

To be truthful, I cried with happiness when I saw the Hobbit action figures for 3D printing released on Gambody marketplace. I bought them both on the spot, and have I used those STL files! You can see those two hobbits in 8 places in the diorama because I have done some magic with paint to turn the two hobbit figures into four hobbit characters!

11. Can you tell us which of your 3D printed Lord of the Rings figures and miniatures is the biggest and smallest one?

The biggest Lord of the Rings figure is for sure the Fell beast. And the smallest is Frodo. This Hobbit action figure is 21 mm (0.8 inches).

12. What was the most complicated 3D print in your Lord of the Rings diorama?

It was absolutely the Smaug. This 3D printed dragon was a challenge, but it was all my fault.

I wanted to have him in shimmer red, but the filament was not the best one for so many details. So, it clogged, and I had to order more 3D printing material. Then I ran out again, so I had to create my particular paint shade to match the filament. The result still looks rather good!

13. Where do you plan to display the Hobbit action figures and Lord of the Rings statues in the future, after the exhibition is over?

I hope it will go on display in an Art and Culture Department located near where I live. I would hate to just magazine them up. And really, I don’t have space to keep them all here. But I am open to suggestions as I want these 3D printed Lord of the Rings miniatures and statues to go on display!

14. What theme do you plan for your next art exhibition?

The upcoming Christmas season needs a new winter theme. And when the Winter is coming, it is Game of Thrones! I have to start collecting STL files for 3D printing to begin working on new 3D prints on August 2.

15. What 3D printing figures are you making now?

Right now, I am 3D printing and painting a live storybook in my garden for my granddaughter. I have a deadline on July 31. And then a day to celebrate my birthday. Maybe the printers can have some TLC before I start 3D printing the Game of Thrones figures and miniatures for a new diorama.

Everyone can feel the fictional Middle-earth world created by J. R. R. Tolkien much deeper after reading the books and watching the films. With a 3D printer, you too can recreate your favourite Lord of the Rings miniatures, action figures and statues to exhibit in your backyard, at home on the shelves or at work. Or, you can turn your driveway into a museum under the sky, as done by talented hobbyist Annie Moberg. Welcome to Gambody 3D Printing Community on Facebook to get inspiration for 3D printing beautiful figurines in filament and resin.