[Ask Weta] Questions for David Tremont

[Weta]

If you have any questions for Weta's senior model maker Dave Tremont, please post them here. Dave has been at Weta for several years, starting from LOTR days when he built Grond and many of the miniatures used for filming. Dave is a huge Doctor Who, Torchwood and Thunderbirds fan. He has crafted most of Dr Grordbort's Rayguns, our Doctor Who collectibles, the new LOTR shields and been involved in many of our collectibles.

Please understand Dave won't be able to answer all your questions, as some projects still need to be kept confidential

[MM]

I amongst others love "Grond",will we ever see Weta release a Grond collectable?
Another i'd like to see is Minas Morgul Gargoyle statues,bookends maybe?What are the chances?

May i just say this site has just got a whole lot better,Thanks to Chiuck and Weta!!

[CharlesSong]

To me, Mr. Tremont is one of the "unsung heroes" especially for the longtime SSW collectors:

Originally Posted by Daniel Falconer's article

David's deft model-making hand became an asset that could never be overstated in value. The only crew member who can say as much, David's hands have touched every single piece in the Lord of the Rings range. David is Weta Workshop's collectible model-making supervisor, in charge of preparing and cleaning up all of the company's pieces for molding and manufacture. He is tasked with getting rid of seam-lines, removing unwanted sculpting marks and creating perfect masters of every single piece ahead of production.

My question is how do you go about fabricating the mini-shields? Do you build them entirely out of clay?

[lcummins]

Hi David,
When designing and building a model, do you always go by a scaled plan or do you sometimes just "wing it"?

[Darth Rage]

I would like to ask Dave if he would like to come over for a barbeque.

Sorry, I couldn't think of anything good off the cuff.

[Melkor]

Didn't Tremont come up with the design for the War Mask of the Morgul Lord? Awsome job.

starting from LOTR days when he built Grond

When are we going to get a Grond Enviroment? :hint hint:

[HôS]

Would just like to say "Hello Dave! "
Don't have any questions off the top o' my noggin,
but I'd also like to extend my thanks for all his wonderful work over the years.
It's been a true pleasure!
I'm a big fan.

[Leaflock]

Hi Dave!
As Chuck said, I think Dave is largely an unsung hero in general, but not in my books!

So Dave, I love the Grordbort's rayguns because they're so beautifully detailed and perfectly structured, it's just unbelievable. How long does it take to build a raygun?

[JacKo]

Wow Dave, you have your own thread!

Thanks HEAPS for the time you put in for the tour today, much appreciated!

Jack

[Darth Rage]

Originally Posted by Melkor

When are we going to get a Grond Enviroment? :hint hint:

Now that's a good question.

[theguru1]

Originally Posted by JacKo

Wow Dave, you have your own thread!

I have a feeling that was the easy part, getting him to sign up for an account will be the next trick


Also, to avoid any possible 'repeat' questions, don't forget the SCE interview with him: http://www.wetanz.com/special-collectors-edition/


As for questions, here's a totally loaded one which likely won't be answered yet, but since Doctor Who had no news at SDCC, are any more in prototype development?

[Shadow King]

I would love to see a Grond piece made.


As seen in the LOTR commentary Grond broke the gate in one swing, so by that do you develop a bit of a competition with other creators to out do them in some way?

[Figwit]

Hello Dave, I was wondering if you could tell us if we'll be getting some more statues of the other actors that played the Doctor?

I'd be really interested in getting a Doctor statue as played by David Tennant.

[Abstractharmony]

What's his favourite medium to work in? Pen and Ink, Wax or the CGI realm?

Also, out of all of the designs used/unused for LOTR which is his favourite? either by him or by someone else.

Romana I, Romana II or Peri?

[bullhorsetook]

Grond

[LOTR Fan]

Originally Posted by Melkor

When are we going to get a Grond Enviroment? :hint hint:

[Sundeep]

Just the person to ask about the new LOTR mini-shields -

Was the Númenorean shield prop used in the films mostly wood? Is the Númenorean mini-shield replica also wood or all metal as the rest of the mini-shields seem to be?

And what do you call that shade of blue in the Gil-galad shield? It's entrancing.

Thanks!

[WetaBloke]

Originally Posted by Weta

If you have any questions for Weta's senior model maker Dave Tremont, please post them here. Dave has been at Weta for several years, starting from LOTR days when he built Grond and many of the miniatures used for filming. Dave is a huge Doctor Who, Torchwood and Thunderbirds fan. He has crafted most of Dr Grordbort's Rayguns, our Doctor Who collectibles, the new LOTR shields and been involved in many of our collectibles.

Please understand Dave won't be able to answer all your questions, as some projects still need to be kept confidential

Sent on behalf of David Tremont by your friendly neighbourhood website marketing dude :


Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggg!!!!!!! OK.... over that now.

Sorry for the delay... someone stuck a weekend in here.

#2 – MM I amongst others love "Grond", will we ever see Weta release a Grond collectable?
Another I'd like to see is Minas Morgul Gargoyle statues, bookends maybe? What are the chances?

This is something that I have loved the idea of doing from day 1. All I can say at this point is that there is a desire but no commitment, at this stage. Refer to Tim on this one as I tend to suffer from ‘foot in mouth’ disease and usually only open my mouth to change feet so don’t want my enthusiasm creating something that isn’t going to happen...... maybe?
The other statues, I simply don’t know but who knows where this new line may lead.

#3 – CharlesSong To me, Mr. Tremont is one of the "unsung heroes" especially for the longtime SSW collectors:

Your right.... I can’t sing!

My question is how do you go about fabricating the mini-shields? Do you build them entirely out of clay?
The shields stared as plastic strips glued together over a curved metal form. This then gave me a curved (shield) shape to build on. The base was then shaped more, if needed, then thin plastic added for the build up of detail. The ornate detailing is thin laser cut plastic carefully laid on and blended in. Gil-Galad’s shield had a couple of layers sat on top of each other to give it the woven look. This was then blended with fine putty to put in the sculpted forms. Rivet details are tiny drops of thick super glue and the Easterling Shield had a turned aluminium central hub. Hope that this makes sense. Most of what I do is in hard materials simply because this is what I grew up with and what I’m used to.
Gil-Galad took about two weeks to produce, Numenorean about three days and Easterling a week.

#4 – LcumminsHi David,
When designing and building a model, do you always go by a scaled plan or do you sometimes just "wing it"?

All of the above and is very job specific. With the LOTR collectibles there are no plans needed as we can go and get the original piece and measure direct from them. With that said, environments are a little different and we can usually get the original studio plans to use as reference, plus lots of pictures.
Doctor Who collectibles was a mixture of plans and ‘winging it’ as most references were frame grabs from the DVD’s. For drawn plans, I do basic sketches then marquette’s. It is a great deal easier to hold up and rotate a 3D model to get a feel of its accuracy. This would get change until it looks right then onto the finished patterns. The sculptors can continue to shape and change the clay or plastacine until it looks right then onto the finished detailing.

#5 – Darth Rage I would like to ask Dave if he would like to come over for a barbeque.

Sure, I’m hungry.

#6 – Melcor Didn't Tremont come up with the design for the War Mask of the Morgul Lord? Awsome job.

No! Definitely not me. That came from the incredible mind of Warren Mahy. I did the ¼ scale helm collectible.

When are we going to get a Grond Enviroment? :hint hint:

Refer to #2. Yes Tim how about it.... Tim...... TIM....... TIM!

#7 – HoS Would just like to say "Hello Dave! " Don't have any questions off the top o' my noggin, but I'd so like to extend my thanks for all his wonderful work over the years. It's been a true pleasure! I'm a big fan.

Hello, many thanks.


#8 – Leaflock Hi Dave! As Chuck said, I think Dave is largely an unsung hero in general, but not in my books!

Gosh!

So Dave, I love the Grordbort's rayguns because they're so beautifully detailed and perfectly structured, it's just unbelievable. How long does it take to build a raygun?

They average around three weeks. The minis are usually two to three weeks but the mini Blunderbuss was closer to six weeks. This equated to three of the minis. I did not work on the full size Blunderbuss. The Moon Hater was close to seven weeks.

#9 – JacKo Wow Dave, you have your own thread! Thanks HEAPS for the time you put in for the tour today, much appreciated!

It was a pleasure, glad you enjoyed it.

#10 – Darth Rage (Posted by #6 – Melcor When are we going to get a Grond Environment?)
Now that's a good question.

That’s a bloody good question........ TIM........ TIM!

#11 – theguru1 I have a feeling that was the easy part, getting him to sign up for an account will be the next trick

Oh.... you know me!

As for questions, here's a totally loaded one which likely won't be answered yet, but since Doctor Who had no news at SDCC, are any more in prototype development?

In my head there are plenty, as for the future... you guessed it...... TIM...... TIM..... TIM!!!

#12 – Shadow King I would love to see a Grond piece made.

So would I...... Tim?

As seen in the LOTR commentary Grond broke the gate in one swing, so by that do you develop a bit of a competition with other creators to out do them in some way?

Competition is good, could be interesting... will follow your lead.

#13 – Figwit Hello Dave, I was wondering if you could tell us if we'll be getting some more statues of the other actors that played the Doctor?

Hello. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you at this stage. I love this stuff and would produce all of the above at the drop of a hat.... but I’m not the one running the business, I’m getting to build the cool stuff and, all too often, the two don’t always agree. I had all this planned from day one and know exactly what they would be. Have also been very fortunate in being able to meet a couple of the Doctor’s and asked them what they would like to see.... great conversations were had.

I'd be really interested in getting a Doctor statue as played by David Tennant.

This has been high on the request list, especially from young women, including a full size. Oh to be a good looking man!!!!!

#14 – Abstractharmony What's his favourite medium to work in? Pen and Ink, Wax or the CGI realm?

I’m a model maker / prop maker which means I work with products such as wood, plastic, metal, putties etc. I’ve not been very good at design so leave the pen and ink to the clever designers. CGI is something that I would like to learn a little more about but that would be for another time. I love to be able to build something on a computer, it is a totally different experience but my true love is for solid hands on work.... in 3D. I started this long before anyone knew about computers and don’t have a desire to go over to ‘that’ side.... until I’m made completely redundant. The little sculpting I do is with plastacine and haven’t used wax though others swear by it.

Also, out of all of the designs used/unused for LOTR which is his favourite? either by him or by someone else.

I had nothing to do with designing for LOTR. As to a favourite, I can’t answer this as there is so much that is brilliant and not one that I could put a figure on.

Romana I, Romana II or Peri?

I am not sure if this is a question, but if it for a favourite I suppose it would be for Romana II.

#15 – bullhorsetook Grond

Definitely!

#16 – LOTR Fan(Posted by #6 – Melcor When are we going to get a Grond Environment?)

Keep them coming..... take note TIM.

#17 – SundeepJust the person to ask about the new LOTR mini-shields - Was the Númenorean shield prop used in the films mostly wood? Is the Númenorean mini-shield replica also wood or all metal as the rest of the mini-shields seem to be?

They are cast in a urethane resin. They were built and painted to look like wood. A lot were made and this is the only way Weta could do them in a short time. The mini is metal and made with the same thought, to look like wood.

And what do you call that shade of blue in the Gil-galad shield? It's entrancing.

This one I have put to Daniel Falconer........

The blue device in the middle of Gil-galad’s shield was designed to recall his heraldry, as designed by Tolkien himself, which features gold and silver stars set upon a blue background. Gil-galad’s entire costume and armour was derived from those colours and icons so it made sense to carry it into his shield as well.

Thanks Daniel. The variations of shade is an artistic choice that would resemble how a real one, of its age, would have been built and certainly gives it a beautiful look.
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Thanks everyone, just put the kettle on... anyone want a cup of tea?