When flicking through the hobbit an unexpected journey rule book i came across on page 98 (points match games) a photo of Thorin, Kili, Bombur, Oin and Dwalin with different poses. If any one can shed a bit of light on these that would be great.

Don't think there's ever been a definitive answer to this one. An alternative company was evidently sculpted, and used in promo shots, but it's never been released. Probably not likely to at this stage. It's happened over the years with a few individual models, but never a whole set. Release is usually held back due to a casting error. They appear to be finecast too.

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Instagram @abbmodels

yeah these guys will (sadly) never see the light of day.

One more set for DMS to track down though

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12th GBHL 2013.
13th GBHL 2014
9th GBHL 2015


Mid Sussex Wargamers

There is also a picture from the small Hobbit rulebook on page 97 IIRC, if you look closely, you see two Fili's, pretty funny.

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- RIP Fimbul and Narzug -

Why is everyone so pessimistic about the odds of these ever being released? Surely they could be released sometime before GW's rights to the Hobbit movies expires?

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Currently painting: Thorin's Company

A whole alternative Thorin and Company seems to have been made, and can be viewed on page 128 of the big Hobbit rulebook. By the look of the models, they indeed seem to be made of Finecast. They were never released...

The reason seems to be the plastic Thorin and Company from The Escape from Goblin Town Boxed Set (Limited Edition). GW is following basic sales policy. The EfGT is currently the only way to purchase an ordinary Thorin and Company, thus encouraging sales for this Limited Edition. Only when all EfGT stocks are sold out, will GW release the alternative Thorin and Company. The theory that they were discarded due to casting errors seems unlikely.

Having said that, the EfGT Boxed Set seems to be one of those Limited Editions that isn't really limited...

Elladan & Elrohir

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The Sons of Elrond

We have the Appearance of Men, the Souls of Elves, and Behave like Dwarves.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. If the sales of the Goblin town boxed set had been as good as GW had hoped, they may possibly have released the finecast company as a replacement. However they probably decided that there would be no point mass producing them, when they still had huge amounts of EFGT sitting in warehouses.

I am doubtful that these sculpts will be released.