War of the Ring Chess – Iconic Middle-Earth Pieces

NOTE:

MakerWorld only shows the first 3mf (the board) in the main section above. To download the border and the pieces, you'll need to click the dropdown arrow.

Chess Board:
Entirely original, used Autodesk Fusion. Some bits are weird in the print in the internals, my apologies, I'm still learning how Autodesk.

Chess Board Border:
Entirely original. (I used a dwarvish font to write "The Board is the Battlefield".)

Pieces:
In general, tried to make them tough even at small scale. Made swords and hands hugely fat, but they seemed to print fine. Where possible I kept swords and limbs attached to bodies for strength and attached capes to the ground for more support.
I chose models for the pawns that were smaller than the main pieces but tried not to rely on just scaling.

There was lots of tweaking to get each piece to be within its boundary on the square, which also restricted what models I could use.

Tried to chose pieces that reflect their importance and mirrored with their adversary in the lore. For instance, made the queens Gandalf and Saruman. This made it tricky to paint Saruman (the White) as he had to be dark, so I made him dark speckled grey to show white gone corrupt.

Many of the pieces I made myself. For this, I used Bambu Labs AI (https://makerworld.com/makerlab/imageTo3d) for the starting model, but had to do a fair bit of work after that to fix up the weirdness of AI and also change poses, add pieces, etc. I'm still new to Blender so forgive the primitive design in places. I also used Fusion to model weapons and things which were imported into Blender.

White Bishop 1 (Elrond):
Homemade.

White Bishop 2 (Galadriel):
Taken from:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2192624-the-fairest-lady-galadriel-the-lord-of-the-rings?from=search#profileId-2380804
With very little modification other than trimming her dress.

White king (Aragorn):
Homemade.

White queen (Gandalf):
Homemade.

White rooks (Argonaths):
Used the pieces from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/675876-argonath-bookkeeper-the-lord-of-the-rings?from=search#profileId-607167
(each piece slightly different.) Modified heavily to make into a round base, shrunk them and made them taller and skinnier so they would fit on the board piece.

White knight 1 (Arwen):
Homemade for Arwen, but used the horse from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1188737-rearing-horse?from=search#profileId-1200149
but chopped out the large mane.
White knight 2 (Eowin):
Homemade. Started with the Arwen model and removed the elvish clothes and added a spear and a shield. Used the horse from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1188737-rearing-horse?from=search#profileId-1200149
but chopped out the large mane and mirrored the model to compliment the other knight.

White pawn (Legolas):
Based on
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1491917-legolas-elf-archer-the-lord-of-the-rings?from=search#profileId-1559537
but to make him a pawn he needed to be short, so I chopped his legs and rotated them around so he's kneeling. I have poor Blender skills so it's a bit strange, I think I made his thighs too short.

White pawn (Gimli):
Came from two models. I combined the cloak and hair from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2214241-gimli-lord-of-the-rings-lotr?from=search#profileId-2419563
with the body from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2368780-gimli-son-of-gloin-lord-of-the-caves?from=search#profileId-2592432
and edited the axe to be his signature doubled headed axe, plus made axe handle larger and attached to the body for strength.

White pawn (Boromir):
Poor Boromir, in order to get him small enough for a pawn he had to be on his knees with some arrows in his chest. o7
Adapted from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2421822-boromir-darts-holder#profileId-2656026

White pawn (Frodo):
Taken from
https://thangs.com/designer/Fotis%20Mint/3d-model/Frodo%20Baggins%20Figure%20-%20Lord%20of%20the%20Rings-960838?srsltid=AfmBOooTlKQey_Q0HrczZEP1eU6QrirtRW9UegCSlWXzwTi1is0lk3Ds
Made Sting fatter to print at small scale.

White pawn (Sam):
Started with a Y-pose Sam from my AI generated model and then modelled him using armature to give the "I'll have you Longshanks!" pose. Oh, and he has a frying pan for extra stability.

White pawn (Pippin):
Homemade.

White pawn (Merry):
Homemade.

White pawn (Bilbo):
Homemade.

Black bishop (witch king):
Yes, strictly speaking there is only one witch king but I have two on the board, but it was hard to match with something. I did mirror each piece though. Taken from this very nice model:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1986744-lord-of-the-nazgul-witch-king-3d-model?from=search#profileId-2137794
but that model doesn't have legs so I drew some up in Blender.

Black knight (Nazgul):
Homemade.

Black king (Sauron):
Homemade.

Black queen (Saruman):
Homemade.

Black rook (Balrog):
Homemade.

Black pawn (Gollum):
Taken from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2417954-gollum?from=search#profileId-2651544

Black pawn (Uruk hai):
Taken from
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1971750-uruk-hai-warrior-lord-of-the-rings-miniature?from=search#profileId-2120091

Black pawn (warg rider):
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2329562-goblin-worg-rider?from=search#profileId-2545170

Black pawn (cave troll):
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1720761-cave-troll-for-dungeons-and-dragons?from=search#profileId-1826501

Black pawn (goblin archer):
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-goblin-archer-tabletop-miniature-157383

Black pawn (Grima Wormtongue):
Homemade.

Black pawn (Berserker):
Taken from
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/white-hand-dark-orc-berserkers
But heavily modified by removing the sword and changing the pose so he's running, and adding a torch (and an arrow in his shoulder).

Bonus pieces:

I realise that using the Two Towers is something obvious that would look cool, but I already had my Balrogs. Including these incase you'd rather the towers:

Orthanc:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/466759-the-orthanc-tower-thicc-edition-no-supports?from=search#profileId-382023

Barad-dur:
https://www.printables.com/model/234578-barad-dur-the-dark-tower/files