The town in SketchUp

Combined with my slow workrate, my inability to photograph models in an explanatory way I thought might make this a worthwhile venture. I wanted to try and give people a better overview of where the town is going, as well as explain it to myself!

So last night I downloaded SketchUp. Not used it before, but figured how hard could it be? Turns out it's the easiest packaging for visualisations I've ever used. It genuinely IS like sketching in 3d. A few things are clunky but perhaps when you get to that point you should be using a bigger package (Maya is my preference). Anyway, I digress.

This is Stadtheim! Not sparta, nor indeed frothers. The town has changed a bit from the map on the right. Whilst ostensibly this is modular terrain, since it won't be played on much if at all I'm desigining it to be put together in a certain way.

The new blocks on the front left edge are the coast. Too tempted by the awesome pirate models out there to not do this. I may even extend one block further out so I can put in a harbour wall, but for now it'll stop there. The far edge will become a cliff, the near a small dock with jetties.

Of all the blocks shown I now have 5 on the go, the latest being the mouth of the river. The far corner is a plan I have based on the rather spectacular town of Rothenburg. There will be three bridges in total. The one shown, and another wide one the other side of the watch house. Finally a small footbridge will go over the river mouth.

Too many ideas. This could easily end up being a city..

Verena Statue.. sort of

I made this plinth ages ago and have been looking for a statue to go on it. The plint is just to top from a cylinder of tooth paste and a plaster cast from the lid of a cold coffee drink. The texture is just plaster dust and chunks from hacking up hirst arts blocks.

The owl I found in an old box of stuff. I'd love the say I painted the patina like that, but actually it's just because it's spent many years in a slightly damp loft.

Anyway, I think it'll work nicely as a subtle statue to Verena, although if I find a 54mm roman goddess miniature I may change my mind.

Oh and apologies for the random thumbnail, my photo script crops in strange ways sometimes to create the thumbs.

Church and Stained Glass

The church! My favourite piece, I really love this. I think when it's detailed properly it'll be the sort of thing I'll keep coming back to just to look at.

So current state of play. The grounds are painted, the main cobbles need another drybrush to a lighter grey, looks very black at the moment. I'm really happy with the brown cobbles though, love the effect (paint brown, black wash, drybrush same brown).

Need to sort out the roof of the lean to at the back. Need railings for the graveyard as well as detailing and painting and so on for the headstones.

And then the stained glass windows! I'm so happy with these, to the point I'm almost proud. The finished effect is great and I really need to get the rest in. The one in the pic above isn't fastened, just propped up for show. I'm going to use a white back drop to help the colours stand out, as shown. Bit dusty, need to keep an eye on that somehow.

But yeah, thrilled with how this is coming together. If the rest of my town works out half as well I think I'll be happy with the overall project. At the moment just desperate to get the four in progress boards done.

Watchhouse Painting

The watch house has progressed slightly since last post. The watch house itself is now painted. The wood needs another drybrush and the windows need something, just undercoated at the moment. Looks better in person that it does in my dodgy photos. Lessons to be learned I'm sure.

The tower is one of my favourite pieces, I thought it deserved a couple of photos. The joists under the walkway need adjusting then painting, and there's still no door on the middle access arch, but it's getting there. Oh and I need to paint under the eaves.

Canal

I'm back! So I've not been slacking on the actual project, but I have been somewhat lax in updating this blog. Therefore tonight I've taken a load of photos of the current progress.

First up is the new canal board. This is the sort of piece I've wanted to do since starting this project (and long before) and I'm enjoying it immensely. However casting all these blocks with only a prison tower mould is a pain (only 8 normal blocks per cast). So I've ordered a second mould which should help.

This is going to form the basis of the canal pieces. There will be four in total, one in a 90degree turn. The left hand side in the top photo stops at tier one, the right at tier two. This will limit the flexibility of the boards but should add some very cool dynamics to the final piece. I hope.

The building in the middle is going to be a warehouse. It will go up two storeys above the top level before being peaks on the third. I'll do a gantry on the canal side and a simple jib to allow loading into barges.

Do need to figure out how best to do water. I've got a bottle of water effects but I think it could get expensive. Ideally it will cover the small walkways. The theory being they're underwater, but you can see them and use them if you need to.

Oh and my first figure! The warrior monk duder. Just a few pieces I had kicking around from a bitz buy on ebay. I think I'll paint him up and he can be the "barry" for this project.

Stained Glass (again)

Right then, long time no update. I've not been slacking though, things are progressing.

My main problem is my bloody camera batteries refuse to hold their charge, meaning I have to charge the things each time. Irksome. Anyway, the church is coming along nicely. The whole thing is more or less painted, just needs a roof for the lean-to at the back and some detailing.

I've finished the sheet for the windows, infact I now have it printed on acetate ready to be framed and mounted.

As you can see a few bits of reptition, but I'm happy with that. The two owls and Verena herself will go on the rear of the church. Then the two sides are a sword and two small windows, then the front has just two small windows either side of the tower. Obviously the round ones are for the top of the tower.

I need to get one cut out, then framed with thin card and put in place to see what it looks like. Then it's a case of trying to decide what goes behind it. Because the colours are quite washed out they obviously have a lot of white in them. Print white and you get, well nothing! So the acetate windows are quite transparent. I still think some tin foil behind them might work well if I can avoid creasing it.

Also need to sort out the section for the next tile, the first canal piece. Taking a lot of effort with the casting but it's coming along and definitely needs photographing.

Once I charge my batteries...

Stained Glass Windows

Right then, so second or third attempt at these. I'm getting happier with the results, but as you can see I don't really know what I'm doing! These will be printed on acetates, then the black borders overlayed with card to give it a bit of depth.

The church is dedicated to Verena goddess of knowledge and justice, hence the owls and scales n such. I'll keep that theme throughout the windows. I will most likely get bored and repeat a few, but I'd like each of the four sides to look different. I also need to sort out the circle windows for the bell tower.

Oh and if you visit that link you'll see where the sword/scales image came from, was ruthlessly traced. As was the owl, which is why it feels slightly odd perhaps.

All for suggestions if any of my new found visitors from BoLS would like to comment ;)