Hi there,
After seeing the work Allyster Wick had put in to his terrain, I got a little inspired to try my own terrain.
starting simply with a plasma reactor objective (because who doesn't like a "destroy/overload/save/sabotage the reactor mission?)
inspiration was drawn heavily from the Dawn of War plasma generators:
(http://warhammer-game.narod.ru/wiki/images/SoB_Thermo_Plasma_Generator.jpg)
(http://warhammer-game.narod.ru/wiki/images/SoB_Plasma_Generator.jpg)
And so I dug out some bits to use.
The cities of death parts, mixed with drop pod turbines gave me a good start!
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/903/D3KTC7.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p3D3KTC7j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/540/DwfdDi.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f0DwfdDij)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/661/yfSfHq.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/idyfSfHqj)
I am also planning to make the generator plasma core light up with blue/green LEDs to really give some atmosphere...
to my mind it looks like it should have a necron monolith crystal sitting inside it :P that or any old piece of coloured translucent plastic tubing.
read my mind Vendile,
I will be getting some opaque/cloudy white tube from somewhere (suggestions?), and put a blue and a green LED light in it so it will look all plasma-y...
Looking good my friend! Seeing this makes me want to raid the bitz box for some special terrain pieces...
I was going to suggest an LED light and some foggy tube, but since you've made the leap already I'll just say that my local Blick (or Utrecht, depending on where you live) store has many assorted sizes of tubes that would fit the bill. I don't know what country you're located in, but you may find something reasonable: http://www.dickblick.com/
Failing that, a well stocked art supply store should have something for relatively cheap.
Ah I am afraid we are Oceans apart with our store names, but yes an equivalent UK shop would suffice!
I have zero experience with LEDs, but that would look excellent with a real light within if you can pull it off!
Ruaridh
LEDs tend to only become a messy problem if you're mixing them.
On my Rhino, despite all the LEDs being the same model type, the red (hold light) and yellow (headlights) LEDs work on lower voltages and kept short-circuiting the blue and green (interior screens) ones until I split the two groups off onto their own current limiting resistors, 20 Ohms for the R&Y and 10 Ohms for the B&G.
If you're just trying to wire up several completely identical LEDs though, it's not usually a faff.
Quote from: seaglen on September 04, 2014, 02:38:02 PMbecause who doesn't like a "destroy/overload/save/sabotage the reactor mission?
Any sufficiently advanced power source is indistinguishable from a bomb.
Thanks for the advise marco.
I'll e using some pretty cheap LEDs that run off of watch batteries.
They won't be super bright but should give a nice effect...
Well, I was largely offering advice to Ruaridh, but I suppose the points could be more generally useful - LEDs for all!!
Really, the only mistake people are likely to make in ignorance is to not put in a current limiting resistor*.
*For those not in the know, it's a necessity because most semi-conductors have a negative temperature coefficient and their resistance falls as they get hotter - hence you get into a positive feedback loop where the current just keeps rising until the thing destroys itself.
So you need something with a positive temperature coefficient in the circuit to produce a counter-acting negative feedback. The internal resistance of batteries will sometimes do in a pinch, but if you're choosing to glue things permanently into a model... let's just say it's best to play it safe.
Well I had a play yesterday with getting a nice effect for the plasma core, and after a while deliberating over plastic tubing etc, I found that PAPER (that's right, standard plain cheap paper) covered in a layer of PVA glue give a nice opaque look:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/540/qz2Fay.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f0qz2Fayj)
And here are the simple LEDs I will be using. They come from cheap finger lights designed for raves (not that I've been near a nightclub in a good few years!) and seem to work well enough when coupled with a watch battery:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/909/eL5mjc.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p9eL5mjcj)
And once added to the tube, gives an effect of:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/673/bY2FD6.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ipbY2FD6j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/901/7OfpjQ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p17OfpjQj)
This should certainly give some atmosphere to a table when playing a game!
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/538/zYdwTU.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/eyzYdwTUj)
Not bad for just under £5! - I will be wiring a switch into the circuit and hiding all the parts to look like part of the power generator.
Quick question: do I try to add a blue LED to the top part so the tow colours merge, or leave it as plain green, and save the hassle?
if you have a blue led already then give it a try, it wont cost you anything, if you dont then i would just go with what you have, looks great already
Could you post a list of the bitz you use from what kits? I'd love to make one of these myself!
No problem Dionzi.
The main parts for the centre parts are from the Drop Pod: http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk/drop-pod-main-engine-assembly-p-2951.html
I cannot remember exactly where the housing for the "plasma core" was from, but it was from something like this: http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk/stormtalon-vtol-jets-x4-p-8830.html
The gothic external bits are from the Cities of Death range: http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk/cities-of-death-basilica-buttress-p-900.html
Thanks!
Slight update in the way of basing it onto some of the modular movement tray bits - this stuff looks to be great for bases for buildings, as it even includes a "tile effect" :)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/538/xXqMom.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/eyxXqMomj)
I also had a play with some effects to get an Idea of what it may look like when finished:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/743/1d5rcN.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/kn1d5rcNj)
More to come on this over the next few days, including some more terrain projects!
Time to revisit the terrain I am constructing...
I am looking to now put together some modular buildings with interior and exterior details, so models can move into specific rooms, as well as use rooftops/gantries etc.
I have just started to work on a few bits and bobs, and have just ordered a few sheets of plasticard and some textured sheets to get it started.
This is my first attempt at working with Plasticard, so any tips and advice would be appreciated!
* any idea for ideal thicknesses? - I am looking to use it as the walls to the buildings, rooofs too - so went with the thickest on offer at 2mm.
* best methods to glue them? - poly cement is ok?
I also bought a load of these on eBay for cheap:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/540/bfIX8N.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f0bfIX8Nj)
rather than use these to construct full buildings, I am planning on using them for corner pieces/detail tiles only, to make them go further and to give me more scope for customization...
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/673/j5rDe9.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ipj5rDe9j)
I am also looking to wire up most buildings with LED lights, either externally or internally, to give some atmosphere when playing games - here's a quick test with a red LED popped into a killa kan's foot for a housing:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/538/mWbIqJ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/eymWbIqJj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/907/Ln39ya.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p7Ln39yaj)
thoughts and comments most welcome!
Looks great so far. I'll be watching this with keen interest, as I have a box full of those panels and some foamcore board waiting to do this exact thing. How're you planning to embellish the plain surfaces?
QuoteI have a box full of those panels
- that makes me jealous - I could do with more!
I have recently ordered some plasticard sheets at varying thickness - anyone have an idea of optimum thickness for building walls?
and also some textured sheets found here: www.ema-models.co.uk
I will be embellishing with all manner of GW bitz and textured panels to create a suitably gothic/industiral aesthetic.
Update on the first building!
after a load of plasticard and bitz arrived, I started working on basing the whole thing on a plasticard floor (makes it easier to glue the whole thing together):
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/633/nrxJe0.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/hlnrxJe0j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/661/z1alkg.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/idz1alkgj)
This and the walls is made of 3mm plasticard - which on second thoughts is actually quite rigid and a little hard to cut...
After adding all walls, and popping on some corrugated textuerd platicard sheeting, the whole thing started to take shape:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/540/7JqRzI.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f07JqRzIj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/912/jqyQbp.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pcjqyQbpj)
I then added a ladder (think this is from the LoTR set but seem great scale for Inquisitor) and the beginnings of the LED light made from the Killa Kan's foot.
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/540/0WAee1.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f00WAee1j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/661/DsHIyM.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/idDsHIyMj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/909/ZGF2DE.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p9ZGF2DEj)
The idea for these LEDs is to give a little atmosphere - I am planning to have a few dotted in and around buildings, just to throw different light around.
I then added some plasticard walls to the roof panel, and a little brass etch decal to the other wall:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/537/aLfrz8.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/exaLfrz8j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/661/b4rQ8z.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/idb4rQ8zj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/673/ONghgL.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ipONghgLj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/908/UHtGDp.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p8UHtGDpj)
Comments welcome!
Bloody good, mate!
This is looking really great. How are you planning to handle moving within the buildings? That always seems to be the stickiest wicket, generally just leading to me either fudging indoor movement ("your model disappears and we'll ballpark how far they move through") or having the building be inaccessible. While the fudging method works decently well, I've yet to have two characters come into direct conflict in a building, which I suppose would be somewhat anticlimactic.
Anyway, interested to see the progress!
Thanks for the comments!
Alyster , I am looking to make all my buildings (well most of at least) with removable roofs and interiors too.
Although anticlimactic it could be, I actually like the idea of a pretty intense melee in the interior of a room/bar/warehouse, and especially like the idea that I will be able to place models inside and have them visible through windows etc to enable shooting in/out...
I've got a little update on the way soon, constructing a second building to be a small chapel.
Are my pictures not displaying correctly also?
thanks!
Quick update- started a bit of work on the chapel.
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/661/USXVOw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/idUSXVOwj)
Chapel is looking good. After my NPC painting marathon this is making me want to get back to the terrain game. Your pieces are simple yet effective.
Just curious, I'd always thought that plasticard would be ideal for making walls but the price of foamcore made me feel obligated to use it (anything else just seemed wasteful and extravagant). At this point though, what you've put together just looks much cleaner (plus there's no danger in spray painting it). Do you feel it's worth it? Also, when will we see some paint!
Thanks for the feedback!
With the plasticard, I think its definitely worth it, but yes it is more pricey.
Good point on the below - does it spray OK?? - ive not tried yet, as its a styrene based plasitc. Would this not melt a little?
anyone have some experience in this?
As soon as I have an answer the paint will go on!
There has been a little bit more progress on the chapel over the past few days -
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/673/Iwxmkw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ipIwxmkwj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/901/lsXRoA.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p1lsXRoAj)
as with the other buillding the roof will be removeable to allow movement inside - replete with shrine to the God-Emperor.
Another update on the Chapel - Ive added two ladders to give access to the middle and upper levels now:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/673/cks1zQ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ipcks1zQj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/537/RRp7JC.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/exRRp7JCj)
This should help give a little height to the buildings.
I just need to figure out how to top the building off - spire or top piece suggestions would be appreciated!
This is the birds eye view of the building, with the ability to remove the roof shown:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/538/2MjthF.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ey2MjthFj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/540/MBuuBg.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f0MBuuBgj)
This interior will be made to look like a humble chapel with a shrine at the far end of the room.
Should be a good place to hide a relic, or find a sacred book etc...
Added some details to the outside:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/537/beuHuh.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/exbeuHuhj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/907/pyUoeT.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p7pyUoeTj)
I may add some purity seals or other imperial details to these areas at some point...
Nice progress!
Quote from: seaglen on February 16, 2015, 04:47:16 PM
I just need to figure out how to top the building off - spire or top piece suggestions would be appreciated!
Why not throw on a pulpit facing outward? It's a relatively small chapel/shrine, why not have it be a small place of study that serves as a massive platform for a sermon preached to the masses outside? This is nice on many fronts, as it gives an air of drama and is also functional. You could have a scenario where a preacher actually preaches from it, or it's a nice sniper's roost, or it could be a good highpoint from which to signal the chopper/Valkyrie/whatever.
Quote from: seaglen on February 14, 2015, 09:23:34 PMdoes it spray OK?? - ive not tried yet, as its a styrene based plasitc.
It sprays just fine. While expanded and extruded polystyrene are eaten quite aggressively by the HFCs in aerosols, plasticard is much the same as the solid plastic GW use. While the HFCs are still theoretically a solvent, it's being a foam that allows them to be absorbed and really do the mischief.
My Rhino is mostly plasticard, and came out fine from the aerosol undercoat. (In fact, it's mostly still in that black primer).
~~~~~
Anyway, this is all looking very good.
I'm a little envious, as I've got to be quite sparing with my stack of plasticard. While my last order was for about 10 kilos of the stuff, there's quite a lot of rather large vehicles that are supposed to be coming out of that pile and having to restock wouldn't be cheap...
Looking really good. If I had one tiny suggestion it would be to add a little more texture to the plasticard walls. Even a couple of stone blocks spread around the surface would do the trick.
Ruaridh
Many thanks for the feedback!
Well I have now started spraying the first building up, and as MarcoSkoll mentioned - its come up fine! pictures to follow.
Quotewhere a preacher actually preaches from it, or it's a nice sniper's roost
- I really like the idea of a sniper scenario - I'd need to make some tall towers for that one...
I was thinking of scattering some fine sand on the surfaces to give a little more texture, so hopefully this will do the trick.
Here are the pics of the sprayed building:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/910/JuS3m3.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/paJuS3m3j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/901/fkshuS.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p1fkshuSj)
I added some sand scattered around to give a bit of texture - any ideas for colour schemes on the buildings?
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/540/jZdcLU.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/f0jZdcLUj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/673/qC7DYK.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ipqC7DYKj)
I then started planning a little more of the chapel's interior - I am thinking wooden flooring and a shrine at the far end:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/909/7Gf2eq.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p97Gf2eqj)
And, being a sucker for starting too many projects at one time (the original plasma generator is still on its way to completion..) I decided to throw together a tower for sniping scenarios too! - thanks Alyster Wick!
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/537/XcEJVz.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/exXcEJVzj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/673/4IL5yF.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/ip4IL5yFj)
All looks really good , what kits are the cast pieces from?
Massive update time on my terrain!
here's a few pics of the inside/outside of the chapel details:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/537/TTqgSX.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/exTTqgSXj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/911/O6nUfQ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pbO6nUfQj)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/912/p2aNN8.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pcp2aNN8j)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/905/X9V0El.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p5X9V0Elj)
I've recently been working on more terrain to get my table up to date, and found this great site - Wargames Models Mods - that do some brill pieces of laser cut wood terrain. Just add Pringles!
these are pretty cheap and easy to get looking ok once you add a lick of paint:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/911/xrgUG5.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pbxrgUG5j)
and some storage silos underway:
(I printed out some stencil letters and numbers for the side)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/912/rtKSdU.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pcrtKSdUj)
And with the railings in place:
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/907/zSZw1M.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/p7zSZw1Mj)
The great thing about these, is that they double up as dice storage - each is labelled correctly too!
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/921/8mPXDz.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pl8mPXDzj)
more to come....
Great stuff mate. Funny, I had exactly the same idea with the silos but actually labelling them up is definitely an idea I'm going to steal!
Ahhhh, that's all awesome. Great idea with the (dice) containers! I should definitely steal that. Also, the ladders and railings look like their pre-cut (I'm blanking on the term, and I know it isn't PDF). In any event, they look great, where did you get them? I have very similar supplies sitting around (pringles cans, etc) that could really be brought to life with a few extra bits like those.
Also, the etched brass is stellar. Is that all off of Forgeworld? You have a fantastic eye for assembling random bits into awesome stuff, now hurry up and paint!
Alyster, I believ seaglen said he got the railings from http://www.wargame-model-mods.co.uk/ further up the page. They do add a fantastic level of bonus detail to really bring the recognisable shape of a Pringles can up to scratch.
Brilliant idea with the dice repositories!
Ruaridh
The chapel looks very promising -- especially like the scourge on the wall.... for the devotion of a single priest or for visiting penitents?
Dice storage inspired.
Speaking as someone who has thrown out clothes to make room for more terrain, I've always got a soft spot for well-made scenery. These bits are excellent, I'm really looking forward to seeing more of that chapel.
Thanks for all the feedback! - ill try to make some more progress on the chapel this weekend. I may change the layout of the roof, and take away the second floor. This will make it look more like a small single person shrine/chapel (ill give it a nice Gothic roof, and small balcony however)...
QuoteAlyster, I believ seaglen said he got the railings from http://www.wargame-model-mods.co.uk/ further up the page.
- yep thats the one - they do some great plasma generator peices Im thinking about getting, and wiring up to light up as well...
Any progress on these? It'd be interesting to see the finished pieces since they're already so impressive even as WIPs :).
Seeing as I've resurrected almost all of my other posts, I may as well post the work behind the scenes I've been doing on terrain too.
Going back through this, I had a few silos made, and over the past few weeks I've also made a few more (one damaged with a burning flickering LED fire glow in it too)
I've just been working on this great MDF terrain I got cheap on eBay - originally from the "gothic spires" selection from Kromlech - it scales nicely to 54mm too:
(https://i.imgur.com/B8enEmZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MoXmdGX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YEjuCTv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Hljd5o3.jpg)
I've also added lights to the inside and will be making acetate stained glass windows too!
(https://i.imgur.com/KI7bQPW.jpg)