Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: AKULA on August 09, 2019, 10:52:48 AM

Title: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: AKULA on August 09, 2019, 10:52:48 AM
It’s not an exaggeration to say that I’ve been toying with this project for the past two decades, but hopefully my fellow LAF’ers can keep me motivated to produce something this time, having in the past collected (and sold) my 2000AD collection on 3 separate occasions...the original role playing game, Slaughter Margin etc and then the Block Mania game/expansion....I dread to think what I’ve spent on this genre with literally nothing to show for it, so I’m now starting from scratch.

My end goal is to produce a table representing a small chunk of MC-1 that can be used for general games, but also for Block Wars.

Initial thoughts

-I’m not going to represent the city from ground level

-Base boards will start “mid-block” creating islands connected by walkways/roads

-Will try to make the building interiors playable, but

-the game focus will largely be upon the exterior plazas/walkways/balconies

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/884A7DE2-8436-4827-A7B1-F53C1CEF7C35_zps0rezsr35.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/5734F206-1591-428E-85E5-E64F835AB7AA_zpsbove4mam.jpeg)

The trigger for starting this now was my flooded city project...again designed around rooftop action, in effect islands on the board....that, and the previews of the new Warlord range.

Will aim to get a test piece knocked up by the end of the weekend.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: gamer Mac on August 09, 2019, 10:56:04 AM
Looking forward to seeing where you go with this
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Dr. Zombie on August 09, 2019, 10:59:51 AM
This is definitely one to follow.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: YPU on August 09, 2019, 11:00:32 AM
Yup, this is going to be good.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: OSHIROmodels on August 09, 2019, 11:38:04 AM
Well, get on with it then  ;D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Mason on August 09, 2019, 11:51:45 AM
Pulls up a chair and waits patiently.......

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Westfalia Chris on August 09, 2019, 01:21:58 PM
Sounds drokkin' good.

One idea I've toyed about for my 2000AD stuff, never realized, but which I think you could pull off - maybe have the actual table surface covered in a mat featuring an "illusion painting", so where the structures of the blocks would sit, there'd be a faux-perspective image of the block continuing down.

Something like this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkS485eHG2s/VngdE02YwdI/AAAAAAAAh6I/s5ufxYOmZYU/s1600/matte%2Bpainting%2Bstrange%2Btales%2Bralph%2Bmcquarrie%2Bempire%2Bstrikes%2Bback%2Breactor%2Bshaft2.jpg

It would limit the placement of blocks somewhat, but if done well, the effect could be interesting.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Brandlin on August 09, 2019, 01:36:01 PM
The problem with forced perspective art is that it can be incredibly good, but only from a single very specific viewing point.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: nozza_uk on August 09, 2019, 02:05:34 PM
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Always wondered how wise it is of the Justice Dept to provide weaponry to block Citi-Def units, when the general consensus of the Judges is that they're dangerous clowns!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Andym on August 10, 2019, 07:02:58 PM
Nooooooooooo! lol Only kidding! ;)

Can't wait to see what you pull off here mate! Have you thought what models you're going to use or are you waiting for the Warlord game? Maybe have a board ready when the new game comes out?

Best tip I can give(and I suppose it's only worth it if you want a busy populated board?) Is to use 1:48 scale railway people for civilians.

Are you thinking of going comic book style Dredd or Karl Urban style?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 10, 2019, 08:34:13 PM
Well, get on with it then  ;D

Doing my best...will post something up tomorrow  ;)

One idea I've toyed about for my 2000AD stuff, never realized, but which I think you could pull off - maybe have the actual table surface covered in a mat featuring an "illusion painting", so where the structures of the blocks would sit, there'd be a faux-perspective image of the block continuing down.

An option...I have been looking at some birds-eye photos and whether they could be printed large enough to be of use, but I’m not sure it’s the route I want to go down.

The problem with forced perspective art is that it can be incredibly good, but only from a single very specific viewing point.

Very true...and I’m afraid I’m not smart enough to make it work, but I’ll see what everyone thinks of the test-piece


Nooooooooooo! lol Only kidding! ;)

To be fair it’s all your fault...I’ve been rereading your thread from start to finish.

 :D

Have you thought what models you're going to use or are you waiting for the Warlord game? Maybe have a board ready when the new game comes out?

I’ve been hoovering up some of the OOP Mongoose Judges and a few Foundry the last week or so, probably causing a small spike in eBay prices, but I’m hoping they won’t look out of place with the new Warlord range.

As much as I’d love to have a board ready for when the new game comes out (November?) I’ll settle for having a project that is chugging along nicely.


Best tip I can give(and I suppose it's only worth it if you want a busy populated board?) Is to use 1:48 scale railway people for civilians.

Definitely an option (I saw at BLAM first hand what a great job you did with them), but I’ve also got a whole bunch of left over figures from my previous projects that might be press-ganged as well.

Are you thinking of going comic book style Dredd or Karl Urban style?

Buildings-wise I’m thinking much more the comic book style, although when it comes to the figures I’m afraid my brush skills are a bit feeble compared to yours.

Obviously can’t build the following, but it’s the sort of thing that inspires me (along with the artwork in my original post).

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/0D628874-16D9-45EF-8832-4F8AF30D67EE_zpsbgkpfobc.jpeg)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: voltan on August 10, 2019, 09:28:40 PM
This should be suitably mental, I'm sure the rest of the Akky household is already sick of you yelling Drokk and Meatball at random.
I’ve been hoovering up some of the OOP Mongoose Judges and a few Foundry the last week or so, probably causing a small spike in eBay prices,

Excellent, I might dig out the random assortment I have and stick them up  ;D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 10, 2019, 09:38:11 PM
Excellent, I might dig out the random assortment I have and stick them up  ;D

I’m pretty sorted for now....until the new Warlord range comes out.

Unless of course you’ve got an Electro-cordon or two...

 ;)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: voltan on August 10, 2019, 09:48:29 PM
No sorry, at least I don't think so, but all sort of crap turns up when I'm looking for something else, I really need to have a clear out. Anyway enough derailing of this thread, have you considered doing a smog layer at the bottom of the board to help blend in whatever you end up doing to give the impression of depth?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 10, 2019, 09:53:06 PM
Anyway enough derailing of this thread, have you considered doing a smog layer at the bottom of the board to help blend in whatever you end up doing to give the impression of depth?

Yup...just not sure how well I can execute it.

 lol
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: voltan on August 11, 2019, 09:26:59 AM
Had a thought, in the great model railway challenge last year, Aberdeen MRC's winning layout had a cloud effect that looked good, could be worth checking out.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 11, 2019, 10:26:21 AM
Had a thought, in the great model railway challenge last year, Aberdeen MRC's winning layout had a cloud effect that looked good, could be worth checking out.

This?

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/AFEFBC71-EC50-4917-AEDC-23D5C34A8E54_zpsfnfnqokk.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/DB464AC8-E08C-4898-9BC9-F473BE6BCD65_zpslybllblu.jpeg)

Hmm...the clouds/smog look a little overpowering...more sort of God’s of Olympus than Mega City One personally...
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: voltan on August 11, 2019, 10:32:23 AM
Yeah that, looks brighter than I remember.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Mason on August 11, 2019, 10:48:30 AM
I look forward to seeing what you come up with as I have had an idea for a 'rooftops' game for ages but could not settle on a suitable feel for the 'between the buildings' bit of the plan.
A kind of 'smog' thing was the obvious answer, but have yet to see something that really works for me.

So, crack on then, so that I can steal all your best ideas.
 :D


Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Cubs on August 11, 2019, 10:56:08 AM
Hot damn, as a big Dredd fan (a big shelf in the large bookcase is now crammed with the Complete Dredd Files - I'm now up to #32) I am so looking forward to this.

For some reason, the first thing that occurred to me was my daughter's marble run game (bear with me). You build the towers up and the variously shaped inter-connecting ramps are interchangeable and will fit in a number of combinations. It doesn't matter if you build the height of a tower up with ramp pieces or tower pieces, they're the same height and the towers will interconnect with each other no matter what combination you use.  I don't know how feasible it would be to make modular towers from something like insulation board with the interconnecting ramp sections (perhaps with supporting pillar sections as well for longer roadways) from plywood or something.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 11, 2019, 11:24:39 AM
I look forward to seeing what you come up with as I have had an idea for a 'rooftops' game for ages but could not settle on a suitable feel for the 'between the buildings' bit of the plan.
A kind of 'smog' thing was the obvious answer, but have yet to see something that really works for me.

So, crack on then, so that I can steal all your best ideas.
 :D

No pressure then....I hope it’s not an anti-climax

 :?

For some reason, the first thing that occurred to me was my daughter's marble run game (bear with me). You build the towers up and the variously shaped inter-connecting ramps are interchangeable and will fit in a number of combinations. It doesn't matter if you build the height of a tower up with ramp pieces or tower pieces, they're the same height and the towers will interconnect with each other no matter what combination you use.  I don't know how feasible it would be to make modular towers from something like insulation board with the interconnecting ramp sections (perhaps with supporting pillar sections as well for longer roadways) from plywood or something.

While I’ve not seen your daughter’s marble game, I suspect the principle is pretty similar to what I have in mind.

Plazas/balconies will be at fairly consistent levels, and the interconnecting roads/pedways will be separate items that will either sit on, or be flush with, the different levels and so there will a reasonable degree of interchangeability. I’m going to avoid supporting pillars where possible, as you’ll understand when you see the test board.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Romark on August 11, 2019, 11:54:36 AM
This sounds great  :-*
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Cubs on August 11, 2019, 12:20:39 PM
(http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/H8zg5nlGWWQ7K/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: OSHIROmodels on August 11, 2019, 01:31:03 PM
Here’s a solution, just build from the floor up. No need for a table that way  :D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 11, 2019, 04:24:23 PM
Here’s a solution, just build from the floor up. No need for a table that way  :D

 lol
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: Dr Mathias on August 11, 2019, 04:36:15 PM
As someone who has never gotten a Dredd project off the ground, I am following with interest.

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project
Post by: AKULA on August 11, 2019, 04:40:18 PM
Ok, here is the test piece....hopefully not too much of a disappointment, but should give you an idea of what I have in mind.

Brief caveat..still a WIP so only a basic paint job, and joins like the curved roads need filling, the buildings aren’t stuck down and the plaza itself only has a base coat - I just wanted to post something up today to give you the gist.

I know I could probably have been clever with the walls and angled them outwards to increase the effect, but the final board will of course have a building on it to draw the eye upwards....bit of a false test I guess because all you are going to do is stare at the base  :D

The base board is 600mm x 400mm, the “height” of the walls is 50mm to the bottom of the plaza base, and the plaza base is an irregular shape, and offset against the base - I didn’t want near right angles on the table.

The plaza base is intentionally thick (10mm) - upper levels will be thinner...again to try and trick the eye. For now, at least, I’ve left the walls completely bare -  adding detail will only IMHO draw the eye down....might give it as wash though to grubby it up.

The figure is one of my old 28mm Space Opera minis for scale purposes.

Comments/thoughts welcome.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/6A852884-E19F-41DC-B485-B531C7165AC4_zpsd1fxfsls.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/B4567F12-E36B-4712-8286-21A9D6F62E75_zpsjd2gavjj.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/2E4D94A0-E54B-4F6B-98B8-E681C892FEB1_zpswwbxf0lj.jpeg)

A peek over the edge....

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/BAA93035-04FD-4F3D-B75F-E9BD8495CCC6_zpsyvth0ybo.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/93A4EE1D-45E9-4887-BC77-7FCCC29D828B_zpsafgyl3cz.jpeg)

So is it worth pursuing, or have I just wasted my time this weekend?

 :?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Brandlin on August 11, 2019, 04:55:19 PM
This?

Yes that.

I watched the show hoping to see something interesting - other than discovering kathy Millat's you tube channel (she was the female judge) i thought the bulk of the show was patronising, dumbing down and driven by TV execs and production crews who new nothing about the subject matter and did th usual false deadline style malarky to try and inject drama... awful tosh!

Sady I thought that effort with the scifi element and the clouds was pretty poor - mostly driven by the deadlines.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Cubs on August 11, 2019, 05:03:43 PM
I love it! That's great imaginative work, with the tiny cars on the distant road.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Brandlin on August 11, 2019, 05:04:05 PM
Here’s a solution, just build from the floor up. No need for a table that way  :D

This isn't as daft as it sounds.

The bottom line is that the easiest way to achieve a sense of height/depth is to actually have height/depth.
You don't need to be able to play on the lower levels - realistically you'll only play on the 600mm from table height upwards but having towers that reach down below the table heigh (like roots) and roadways between them can be far less detailed, darker in colour as you get progressively lower and will give much better perspective that photographs, smog or art work.

EDIT : Akula - you poste while i was typing!

Looks good... but you know you need 2mm figures on the floort level, 6mm figures at coffee table height, 15mm figures at table height and then 28mm figures at playing height to further force the perspective!


Its the kind of approach that would motivate me to build large terrain again..





Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Westfalia Chris on August 11, 2019, 05:38:24 PM
That is far more interesting than what I had in mind, and I say it looks very effective.

The areas between the roads feels a bit open (i.e. more buildings?), but that may just be due to the bare MDF showing.

But the overall effect is very good and impressively practical.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: AKULA on August 11, 2019, 06:45:04 PM
I love it! That's great imaginative work, with the tiny cars on the distant road.

Thanks...I thought I was losing my marbles painting tiny little bits of card

 ;D

Looks good... but you know you need 2mm figures on the floor level, 6mm figures at coffee table height, 15mm figures at table height and then 28mm figures at playing height to further force the perspective!

Sounds great, but I’ll pass .... I want to get a table built before I’m too old to see the figures

 :D ;)

The areas between the roads feels a bit open (i.e. more buildings?), but that may just be due to the bare MDF showing.

It’s actually brown paint....I primed the board with grey & then added a watered down brown which gave me “mdf colour” again  lol

Like I said, it’s only got a basic paint job at the moment, I’m going to try give the brown a bit more colour differential for “smog”, and then have the hint of some lights, or the outline of buildings underneath.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Westfalia Chris on August 11, 2019, 06:58:38 PM
Maybe add some tiny flying cars on strong transparent nylon wire (so that they don't snap off at a careless gamers' finger's touch)?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Cubs on August 11, 2019, 09:41:09 PM
… and big mo-pads and trucks on the road! … and sky-surfers and bat gliders in the air! … and the odd mad Boinger!

Too exciting, too many options.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Oldben1 on August 12, 2019, 03:01:05 AM
That’s really creative!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Mason on August 12, 2019, 12:42:35 PM
That is brilliant, Matt!
Inspired.
 8) 8)

… and big mo-pads and trucks on the road! … and sky-surfers and bat gliders in the air! … and the odd mad Boinger!

Too exciting, too many options.

Indeed!
It could become a project all of it's own.
 :)

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: Braz on August 12, 2019, 02:30:10 PM
Really nice. If you mute the colours of the entire lower board maybe towards a uniform light greyscale with very light pastels for colour it will not draw the eye and appear further away.

Or how about placing the buildings on a mirror/frosted reflective surface then the buildings would appear to extend down into the  table as high as the buildings are. Put cars and people underneath the sky bridges and platforms and they will reflect as if they are lower below.

Looking forward to seeing more.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: DivisMal on August 13, 2019, 05:37:55 AM
This is just....großartig! I love the idea of simulated height and playing Dredd on a board in „space“, that is only connected via bridges.


There was a similar approach by someone to build a Rogue One diorama showing the battle of Scarif. I’ll see if I can find it.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: bermanj on August 13, 2019, 07:33:31 AM
At this year's Little Wars in Melbourne Australia we played a 'in the clouds' style board.  We used pillow stuffing for the clouds (we put some flickering electric tea lights underneath) and it worked well.

https://southernbermanblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/little-wars-2019-what-happened.html
 
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: gamer Mac on August 14, 2019, 09:59:41 AM
Nice work on that Matt
How big is the final board going to be?
Is this for a single block and are there going to be more of what you have made so for for each different block?
Also could do with something in the middle distance if you know what I mean, at the moment it looks like a single tall tower rising way above the rest of the city
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: AKULA on August 17, 2019, 08:54:44 AM
Thanks everyone for your comments, and constructive suggestions.

Really nice. If you mute the colours of the entire lower board maybe towards a uniform light greyscale with very light pastels for colour it will not draw the eye and appear further away.

A good idea, but it might not be entirely necessary - at the moment I’ve got a single baseboard with nothing on top of it, so the focus of the photo (and the eye) is naturally upon the little roads/buildings,  it once I’ve got more boards made up, and there are some buildings sitting on top, I think that will draw the eye up....will have to see.

 :)

Nice work on that Matt
How big is the final board going to be?
Is this for a single block and are there going to be more of what you have made so for for each different block?
Also could do with something in the middle distance if you know what I mean, at the moment it looks like a single tall tower rising way above the rest of the city

To be honest...as big as I can make it - this is a main project rather than a side one for me, so I’ve already mentally given myself permission for it to spiral out of control...

 :D

My table is c12’ x 4’ So I could comfortably fit 16-18 boards of this size on the table...the limiting factor will be how quickly I can build...some boards will end up as plazas (so essentially a flattop with some small scenic items for cover).

The plus side is that as each board represents the top of a Block, I don’t need to worry about the block building looking too small, or narrow - it is literally the top end afterall.

Re: middle distance - again I think having additional tall blocks will help, but I’m planning a couple of boards where the “plaza level” will have a smaller footprint, and so there will be more scope for inbetween-sized buildings to poke up.....they will be fairly limited in number though, because th entire buildings that go above the 50mm height of the plaza level, the less flexibility I will have to add interconnecting roads/pedways.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg2 test board)
Post by: AKULA on August 17, 2019, 05:16:47 PM
Some Citi-Defence

These are some of my old Galactic Armies Space Opera Project (sold to Hasslefree but they haven’t reappeared yet). I’ve just added some shoulder/knee pads to them. As they’ve got separate heads, I’ll probably add some more with helmets later on.

I haven’t decided what to do with the bases yet, so have left them plain for now.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/94923989-97BC-43D2-A8B5-A569097448BF_zps3pakauzw.jpeg)

The mobile rocket battery is also a leftover from my Space Opera Project.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: voltan on August 17, 2019, 07:50:17 PM
Most important question, which block are they from?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: AKULA on August 17, 2019, 09:07:01 PM
Most important question, which block are they from?

I’m coming up with a shortlist, but I’m open to suggestions....

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: Elk101 on August 18, 2019, 05:43:42 AM
I’m coming up with a shortlist, but I’m open to suggestions....

 :)

The colour scheme got me thinking%

Louis Walsh Block
Michael Flatley Block
Granny Smith Block


The concept for this is very clever.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: Andym on August 18, 2019, 06:43:54 AM
Carlos Esquerra Block
Boris Johnson Block
Mylie Cyrus Block
Timmy Mallet Block

Nice work on the Citi-Def mate! 8)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: AKULA on August 18, 2019, 07:46:15 AM
The colour scheme got me thinking%

Louis Walsh Block
Michael Flatley Block
Granny Smith Block


The concept for this is very clever.

 lol

Carlos Esquerra Block
Boris Johnson Block
Mylie Cyrus Block
Timmy Mallet Block

Nice work on the Citi-Def mate! 8)

All good suggestions...presumably Miley Cyrus Block would have a bit wrecking ball...?

Looking at that photo of the Citi-def it looks like I used a roller rather than a brush....think I need smaller brushes, or maybe just smaller photos  ;D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: voltan on August 18, 2019, 10:29:29 AM
The citi-def uniforms are pretty similar to the ones shown when Carol Monroe and Vince St Clair had a block war. Then again I'm surprised you're not just calling it Akula towers.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg3 Citi Def)
Post by: Skullhamma on August 18, 2019, 10:59:38 AM
Damn, that idea with the tiny cars and buildings is quite genious!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One Project (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on August 20, 2019, 06:25:47 PM
I’ve been looking for a suitable model for an H-Wagon, the sort capable of carrying an expedition of Judges, complete with Lawmasters to say the Cursed Earth, rather than the much smaller variety used for crowd control, ie this sort of thing....


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/62EA71E7-85AC-4B86-A2A4-C60D2C09F1DE_zps5fjbp4kh.jpeg)

....anyway, after a bit of a search I came up with the following....


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/B761F2EB-F068-4CE4-BF99-31F375396DA9_zpsm2lcad1f.jpeg)

Clearly based upon a Thunderbird 2 model....not the design from the original TV series....did it change for a reboot?....anyway it was a remote controlled model, so I had to remove the large wheels, motor etc it came with, and then plug the gaps.


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/2DE74B42-CB43-4EDD-8DEB-82028D4EB026_zpskqtxwv6m.jpeg)

As you can see I also removed the top fin, and extended the side fins to give it more of the look of the H-wagon (although I confess I did like the top fin, and I would have kept it if I was looking for a drop ship). Final job was adding an eagle shield made out of green stuff.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/4C25A357-0D69-415C-836D-A61B23B4CCA1_zpsjg1d9frp.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/225B1167-E62C-45C5-92F4-4DBBE2B74AB3_zpsxutqmbj6.jpeg)

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: Elk101 on August 20, 2019, 06:38:43 PM
That works really well.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: voltan on August 20, 2019, 06:40:20 PM
Well spotted, it's a very good fit.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: gamer Mac on August 20, 2019, 07:23:58 PM
Seem like a good fit :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 20, 2019, 08:20:20 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: Mason on August 20, 2019, 08:57:40 PM
That is a cracking find with tidy conversion work and  finished off with a perfectly fitting paint job.
Top job!
 8) 8)

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: axiom on August 21, 2019, 05:46:04 AM
That's a fantastic repurposing. I wouldn't have thought you could alter the iconic look so easily with a few alterations and different paint scheme. Great work!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 Justice Dept. H-Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on August 21, 2019, 08:58:31 AM
Thanks everyone, glad you like the H-wagon.

 :D

I’ve been thinking for the last fortnight about the actual blocks...I didn’t want to just build something with lots of corners, and at the same time I want them to have gameable interiors.

As Andym has cornered the second-hand hoover market  ;) I started to look for alternatives, preferably either cylindrical or cone shaped....I even looked at slicing up some traffic cones, but the process of making the material more paint friendly put me off. 

Next on my list was looking at waste bins....right shape, but would still take quite a bit of work to get how I wanted. It was when I started looking at plate separators (the sort of thing you get if you ever order room service in a hotel to keep your food warm) that I discovered the following by accident.

Acrylic Cupcake stands!

They do come in all shapes and sizes, but I managed to find some that look perfect for what I have in mind.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/6F5A6651-61B6-4FAD-837B-121651B8A01E_zpspbva63pn.jpeg)

They come in various levels of tiers - 7 tiers is the tallest I’ve seen so far, and the diameter of the widest circles fits in with my base boards.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/951205C0-C286-4D38-B684-E82C96CA0592_zpssvvzpk5r.jpeg)

These particular cake stands are ideal for what I have in mind, because the level supports allow easy access to the interior.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/4D0D7741-A7DE-4DE2-A60E-961E39A7E42A_zpsa6prewp0.jpeg)

My plan is to add some board to the bases to add some texture, and I will strengthen the upright supports at the same time. They should be fine weight-wise - I only intend on having vehicles at the plaza level (ie the top of my baseboards), so it will only be figures in the building interior.

The interiors will be easily accessible as the 10cm separation between levels is actually what I had in mind. The interiors will resemble a floor plan but with the walls slightly raised up, so it’s immediately obvious what they are.

The stands can theoretically be broken down for transport/storage, but I’m going to build them as a unit to give greater rigidity, and attach some strips along the exterior, running from the base right to the top, which will allow me to put the Block names on the exterior.

Anyway...that is enough for now - I ordered them at the weekend, so hopefully will turn up v.shortly, and then the fun begins.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Mason on August 21, 2019, 09:26:36 AM
That is a cracking idea.
 8)

Securely fixing the various levels together would be the key thing for me as the main thing that would worry me would be clumsy oafs (like me!) knocking the buggers during a game and causing a domino rally effect.
I am sure that you have thought of that, though.....
 ;)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 21, 2019, 09:29:46 AM
That is a cracking idea.
 8)

Securely fixing the various levels together would be the key thing for me as the main thing that would worry me would be clumsy oafs (like me!) knocking the buggers during a game and causing a domino rally effect.
I am sure that you have thought of that, though.....
 ;)

Thanks mate....and even better they are very good value as well....even the tallest ones are only £10-15 post free...compare that to a MDF kit on a similar scale.

By the looks of it, they are made with slots to attach the supports to the base (to avoid clumsy oafs like you wiping out the cupcakes at a wedding), but adding flooring, and then strengthening the support uprights should prevent any domino effect.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Andym on August 21, 2019, 09:38:59 AM
Cracking update mate! :-* Thunder-Judge 2 looks great and that’s an inspired idea for the blocks. I had toyed with the idea of using plastic bins for Stars Wars Legion Bespin table.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Mason on August 21, 2019, 11:28:54 AM
Thanks mate....and even better they are very good value as well....even the tallest ones are only £10-15 post free...compare that to a MDF kit on a similar scale.

By the looks of it, they are made with slots to attach the supports to the base (to avoid clumsy oafs like you wiping out the cupcakes at a wedding), but adding flooring, and then strengthening the support uprights should prevent any domino effect.

 :)

Sounds like it will be solid enough then.
 :)

I had an adea ages ago for doing a 'Block-War' game, but the buildings would have been 2D (think the Block War game from GW, but pimped up a bit) but that went on the back burner.
I don't think I will do that now as it would look a bit naff compared to what you are planning (and what Andy has already done), but the long-ago-mentioned 'JD Supermarket Sweep' game is still a goer and may well be done next year now that I have the shelves sourced.

I shall be following this with much interest for clever ideas to steal for that project, of course.
 ;) :D

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 21, 2019, 12:45:43 PM
Cracking update mate! :-* Thunder-Judge 2 looks great and that’s an inspired idea for the blocks. I had toyed with the idea of using plastic bins for Stars Wars Legion Bespin table.

Thanks Andy, just hope they look as good when they arrive...in which case I’ll be ordering a van load.

 :)

I had an idea ages ago for doing a 'Block-War' game, but the buildings would have been 2D (think the Block War game from GW, but pimped up a bit) but that went on the back burner.
I don't think I will do that now as it would look a bit naff compared to what you are planning (and what Andy has already done), but the long-ago-mentioned 'JD Supermarket Sweep' game is still a goer and may well be done next year now that I have the shelves sourced.

“Supermarket sweep”?

At the risk of derailing my own thread, I think that needs more explanation... 

Second thoughts....no it really doesn’t (thanks Nozza)

 ;)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: nozza_uk on August 21, 2019, 02:51:13 PM
Thanks Andy, just hope they look as good when they arrive...in which case I’ll be ordering a van load.

 :)

“Supermarket sweep”?

At the risk of derailing my own thread, I think that needs more explanation...  lol

This is the UK version of Supermarket Sweep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FESeyvQHjTQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FESeyvQHjTQ)  lol
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 21, 2019, 03:44:55 PM
Thanks Nozza...I know what the programme is, I just didn’t know how Mason was going to relate it to Judge Dredd.

 ::)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Mason on August 21, 2019, 05:00:07 PM
Thanks Nozza...I know what the programme is, I just didn’t know how Mason was going to relate it to Judge Dredd.

 ::)

All will be revealed soon enough.....
 ;)

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: gamer Mac on August 21, 2019, 05:00:41 PM
Cracking update mate! :-* Thunder-Judge 2 looks great and that’s an inspired idea for the blocks. I had toyed with the idea of using plastic bins for Stars Wars Legion Bespin table.
You don't have SW Legion :D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 22, 2019, 04:04:53 PM
Before the thread goes irretrievably off topic, here is a quick photo of one of the stands in situ on the base board...the 7-tier is actually a little too wide for this board , but the 5-tier fits on it comfortably. As the base boards are 400mm wide, and the diameter of the base of the 7-tier is 375mm, I’ll just make a couple of the baseboards with larger plazas.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/486F0B57-2600-4371-9904-2D5453D182D7_zpsmz18rzl3.jpeg)

Just to reiterate they are acrylic...the brown almost mdf look is just protective paper which I haven’t peeled off yet.

As you can see from the figures in the photo, there is plenty of room to access even the middle of the lowest level.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Mason on August 22, 2019, 05:44:48 PM
They will do the job nicely!
 8) 8)

You could still use the seven tier jobbie by having the tiers bulge out in the middle and come back in to a smaller size at the bottom.
 ;)

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: gamer Mac on August 22, 2019, 05:45:16 PM
That's quick work :-* :-* :-*
Looking fine with the paper in place
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Andym on August 22, 2019, 06:27:02 PM
You could a dome on the top of that. It's be like icing on the cake tiers. It would finish the tops off nicely. Either that or a bundle of aerials and mobile phone masts.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 22, 2019, 06:38:47 PM
They will do the job nicely!
 8) 8)

You could still use the seven tier jobbie by having the tiers bulge out in the middle and come back in to a smaller size at the bottom.
 ;)

Don’t worry they will get used, but I’ll just make a few slightly wider plazas....1 built ...room for another 17

 ;)

That's quick work :-* :-* :-*
Looking fine with the paper in place

They literally take 30 seconds to build.....this is just for the photo, I’m going to take a bit of time adding in some foamex flooring, some indicative walls, and building up the upright supports..

You could a dome on the top of that. It's be like icing on the cake tiers. It would finish the tops off nicely. Either that or a bundle of aerials and mobile phone masts.

Yup...dome...masts....hoverpad....or a citi-def missile battery....

Off to check out the size/cost of some plastic bowls....hmmm....I wonder if I could mug a few cyclists for their helmets....?

 ;)



What do you think:

1) thought I’d leave the paper on the ceiling of each level...will probably take the primer better?
2) thinking of a “turbo lift” on each level to represent moving from floor to floor...or should I not worry about it...just assume there is a lift and you move from floor to floor...straying towards making a lift....Thinking of representing with a bit of piping...
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Andym on August 22, 2019, 06:51:43 PM
A bit of piping and just cast the doors mate. Make an initial one that can be used everywhere. I keep meaning to do it for my own project. Make a bundle of sci fi doors and windows that I can copy/cast.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: fred on August 22, 2019, 07:08:06 PM
Cool!!

Regarding the lift, you could have it on one of the existing uprights - would be a bit 2D, but would probably work. If you use pipe for the lift, it will take up a fair bit of floor space on the upper levels.

I’m not sure about leaving the paper on, and painting over, I suspect it would peel off fairly easily.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 22, 2019, 07:41:37 PM
A bit of piping and just cast the doors mate. Make an initial one that can be used everywhere. I keep meaning to do it for my own project. Make a bundle of sci fi doors and windows that I can copy/cast.

Maybe....Was thinking of using some Mantic doors...will see how I get on.


Cool!!

Regarding the lift, you could have it on one of the existing uprights - would be a bit 2D, but would probably work. If you use pipe for the lift, it will take up a fair bit of floor space on the upper levels.

I’m not sure about leaving the paper on, and painting over, I suspect it would peel off fairly easily.


Thanks, I expect you are right on the paper, but I’ll probably go with a 3D lift if I can find something that doesn’t take up too much space.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Suber on August 22, 2019, 09:38:07 PM
 :o :o This is wild! I love the mere concept :-*
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: tin shed gamer on August 22, 2019, 11:12:42 PM
I'm loving the whole idea.
As you mentioned turbo lifts and landing pads It occurred to me that one of these might work better inverted with just the lift at ground level and a nice wide landing pad for the The ship(which I particularly like. It was always my favorite thunderbird) and room to skirmish.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Splod on August 23, 2019, 05:53:47 AM
The forced perspective is a really clever concept, but I'm not sure it translates to the tabletop as effectively as it could. I fear it detracts from the rest of the board and doesn't add enough value to the project. Rather than trying to build the ground level I feel either a plain black baseboard or a bird's eye photo of an industrial/urban sprawl would give a suitable feeling of distance to the build.

Having said that, you're already further along in your Dredd project than I've ever made it with mine  ;D

So you do you, and I'll be eagerly watching.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Daeothar on August 23, 2019, 10:12:44 AM
Awesome! I for one love the whole forced perspective thing; it adds just that little bit extra IMHO.

...thinking of a “turbo lift” on each level to represent moving from floor to floor...or should I not worry about it...just assume there is a lift and you move from floor to floor...straying towards making a lift....Thinking of representing with a bit of piping...

Why not off-set the floors of the tower so they're all even on one side. That's where you can then add the turbolift pipe, outside of the tower footprint...
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Hobby Services on August 23, 2019, 01:42:33 PM
I'm late to the party here, but a quick poke around online tells me they make a wide variety of those cupcake display stands, many of which have a single central tube as a support.  They wouldn't be as stable and sturdy as the design you've got here, but they'd also make the "lift shaft" thing effortless.  You might be able to get spare tubes and add extras for extra durability/multiple lift tubes as well.  Also, take a look at "champagne glass cupcake towers" for an instant "dome topper with aerial dock/antenna platform" piece.

Kind of amazed how much of this stuff there is.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 24, 2019, 05:53:32 AM
Nice find (are they £10-15 with cupcakes?).

I look forward to seeing the buildings finished.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg4 H-Wagon & Mega Block idea)
Post by: AKULA on August 24, 2019, 06:17:29 AM
:o :o This is wild! I love the mere concept :-*

Thank you mate

 :)

I'm loving the whole idea.
As you mentioned turbo lifts and landing pads It occurred to me that one of these might work better inverted with just the lift at ground level and a nice wide landing pad for the The ship(which I particularly like. It was always my favorite thunderbird) and room to skirmish.

An inverted “cone” would look pretty cool, but for now at least, I’ll stick to the upright variety, not least because I would have to either heavily weight the lower section, or permanently attach it to the baseboard.

If I didn’t it would topple over when I put said large ship (it’s over a foot long, and almost as wide) at the top....and that is even before Mason leans on the table  ;) :D

The forced perspective is a really clever concept, but I'm not sure it translates to the tabletop as effectively as it could. I fear it detracts from the rest of the board and doesn't add enough value to the project. Rather than trying to build the ground level I feel either a plain black baseboard or a bird's eye photo of an industrial/urban sprawl would give a suitable feeling of distance to the build.

Having said that, you're already further along in your Dredd project than I've ever made it with mine  ;D

So you do you, and I'll be eagerly watching.

Maybe, but I’m going to stick with the little cars & buildings. I enjoy having a go at new approaches (and like seeing them in other peoples games)...even if it helps other people to decide it’s bonkers and a waste of time  :D

Awesome! I for one love the whole forced perspective thing; it adds just that little bit extra IMHO.

Why not off-set the floors of the tower so they're all even on one side. That's where you can then add the turbolift pipe, outside of the tower footprint...

Thanks. Good idea about the lift I might try that for some of the blocks - if nothing else it will give me a bit of variety in the shape.

 :)

I'm late to the party here, but a quick poke around online tells me they make a wide variety of those cupcake display stands, many of which have a single central tube as a support.  They wouldn't be as stable and sturdy as the design you've got here, but they'd also make the "lift shaft" thing effortless.  You might be able to get spare tubes and add extras for extra durability/multiple lift tubes as well.  Also, take a look at "champagne glass cupcake towers" for an instant "dome topper with aerial dock/antenna platform" piece.

Kind of amazed how much of this stuff there is.

Yeah, I looked at the central tube variety before buying the design that I did - as you said I liked the tube as a way of representing the lift, but they looked a bit wobbly tbh. Might get one or two to play about with once I’ve made some progress with the ones I’ve got.

Like you say, there is all sorts of crazy stuff online that can be used for projects

 :)

Nice find (are they £10-15 with cupcakes?).

I look forward to seeing the buildings finished.

The stands fall into the £8-£20 range (the latter being the 7-tier sort)...majority are £10-14 which as a starting point for a building of this size is excellent value for money.  No cupcakes included though  :(
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: AKULA on August 26, 2019, 06:34:06 PM
Bit of progress on the first Block....

I decided to start at the top, and work my way down, on the basis that the turbo lift will be relatively central....still plenty to do even at this stage...the observation tier needs some additional decoration, and the “roof” will eventually have some sort of dome/antenna/vents to give some cover for anyone that decides the rooftop is a good sniping position. I also need to add a couple of Stanchions to mask the joins on the exterior wall.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/89EED236-91DC-47D0-A20F-FE60C5F68235_zpsqgyxfsez.jpeg)

The lift is a piece of plumbers pipe with a mantic starship door attached. The reverse side of the observation deck has more floor space (as the lift sits within the nearest quarter rather than being central), but will be a single room - the lower 5 tiers have greater floor space, and so will lend themselves more to being subdivided.

The exterior wall is just representative, and as it’s the observation level, there is 360 degree vision .... the exterior wall also has a second purpose, of stopping figures from taking a swan dive off of the top of the block.

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: Mason on August 26, 2019, 08:20:10 PM
Nice start!
 8)

Looking forward to seeing this grow.
 :)

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: fred on August 26, 2019, 09:10:34 PM
Cool!

A very promising start.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: Splod on August 26, 2019, 09:55:11 PM
Great start! Maybe the greenery is still a little bit too 'plastic'? I've had some success with a light green spray and some pigments to knock the artificial edge off them.

I feel like I'm just being really critical in this thread; I do really enjoy what you're doing!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: Mason on August 26, 2019, 10:03:25 PM
Great start! Maybe the greenery is still a little bit too 'plastic'? I've had some success with a light green spray and some pigments to knock the artificial edge off them.

Ah! This is MC-1, maybe the trees actually ARE plastic.
 ;)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: Muzfish4 on August 27, 2019, 08:07:44 AM
Looks great - very interested to see how this develops.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on August 27, 2019, 04:20:36 PM
Struggled with the heat today to concentrate, so I didn’t make a lot of progress on the Block.

Instead I painted up a Pat Wagon

 :)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/F9D82B0A-5849-4805-8DAF-69C34EFDBF03_zps7nf14edt.jpeg)



(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/7BC5AFF0-D0B9-4F19-A536-D1CCACB75B20_zps58m1elob.jpeg)


What’s that I heard you say...you’d like to see some photos of it next to the H-Wagon?


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/7AAF1235-5E48-44A4-817D-E23B90382E94_zpskyzigaho.jpeg)


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/233AD4C9-F67B-4F50-B5C1-A407BB34EEDD_zpstudscuwk.jpeg)


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/32002A91-3343-4EB6-BCB2-BC2D236B6499_zpsxjecglac.jpeg)

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: voltan on August 27, 2019, 04:27:31 PM
Can we expect a manta next?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: dwbullock on August 27, 2019, 05:20:06 PM
I'm intrigued by your use of the cake stands.  I poked around and noticed that, in the states, that style appears to be hard to find.  Lot of single post supports, but not a lot of those 'squarish' supports to be found.  Thought I could use the idea for some elevation in an industrial/necromunda type terrain.  Just need to imagine a reason to have the towers in the first place....

I'm curious - do you plan on just having the 'lift' run through the entire set, or do you intend to put up some walls on some of the tiers? 
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on August 27, 2019, 09:07:59 PM
I feel like I'm just being really critical in this thread; I do really enjoy what you're doing!

Not at all...the plants are a bit shiny...I’ll have a look at them at some point.


Can we expect a manta next?

I’m not sure about next, but I did pick one up from Col. Stone...  :D


I'm curious - do you plan on just having the 'lift' run through the entire set, or do you intend to put up some walls on some of the tiers?

Hmmm....not sure yet....”plan” might be too strong a word

 lol
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 some progress on the first Block)
Post by: voltan on August 27, 2019, 09:30:16 PM
I’m not sure about next, but I did pick one up from Col. Stone...  :D

Volvo variant?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: steders on August 28, 2019, 06:47:54 AM
Cake stands for buildings!?

Idea stolen
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: Mason on August 28, 2019, 10:26:46 AM
Nice motor!
 :-*

I know about estate agent with a similar vehicle.
 ;)

Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: Supercollider on August 29, 2019, 04:42:18 AM
Brilliant project, will be tracking with interest!  :o
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: Grimjack on August 29, 2019, 10:34:36 AM
I've been following this thread as a gamer, and love what I'm seeing - the re-purposed vehicles and the creation of a block is pretty damn clever!

As we barrel towards November and the scheduled release of the Warlord version, I've dug out every Foundry and Mongose figure I had squirrelled away and have been working on them.

However, my 'day job' is at Wargames Illustrated and we're planning on covering the game, miniatures and everything else in some detail. Following on from the interest shown in AndyMc's article, I'd be interested in seeing as much as we can fit in related to Ol' Stony Face and the Big Meg.

So, if you have a past, current or future project that relates to Dredd or 2000AD characters, and you'd like to see your work in print, please get in touch. We'd like model making and conversion articles, painting articles, game scenarios and anything else you have, either from Warlord's SD range or any other miniature ranges.

Please PM me via LAF in the first instance.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: Elk101 on August 29, 2019, 03:32:40 PM
When was AndyM's article in WI? He kept that quiet!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on September 01, 2019, 06:44:05 PM
So, if you have a past, current or future project that relates to Dredd or 2000AD characters, and you'd like to see your work in print, please get in touch. We'd like model making and conversion articles, painting articles, game scenarios and anything else you have, either from Warlord's SD range or any other miniature ranges.

Andym’s project deserves a magazine all to itself...certainly puts my own to shame

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on September 01, 2019, 07:07:14 PM
Probably the least exciting update so far....

Today I stuck some bits of MDF together  ;D

I decided to add a highway to my table, so I started off with some 300mm x 600mm boards. The road is raised up by 50mm, the same level as the plaza level on the Mega Block boards, and I will add the mini roads etc to help the boards blend in together. As you can see I’ve made 6 of them, giving me 12’ of highway that will run the length of my table.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/872404D0-B06A-4BBB-8547-499E2C2A233A_zpsbhtodshb.jpeg)

I did toy with having much of the underside of the road open, so you could see more mini buildings etc, but the proximity of the road to the mega blocks would mean that the payoff on this would be tiny compared to the additional work it would entail....I might add another (higher) road later on that crosses over, which would have more detail on it.

Obviously very much a WIP, again pondering how much time to spend on the side barriers (or whether to bother with them at all)....I expect I’ll put an edge on the roads, just to stop clumsy players from sending the pat wagon tumbling off the side, but it will be representative...I’ve got 12’ of highway, so that would be 24’ of crash barrier ?!?! Again, having fixed crash barriers also limits where I put exits from the highway.

In terms of game play, I’m thinking of having some simple “off ramps” onto plazas (probably 1 in 3 Block boards will be a plaza rather than a tower), as anything that curves off...while potentially more pleasing in the eye....will take up far too much table space. The “off ramp” is represented in the photo below by the bit of white card...I’ll probably make the actual ramp out of 6mm mdf, and sand down the edges so it can sit on top of the highway/plaza rather than coming up with something more complicated.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/B9092AE2-E9AF-4773-AC28-DDE171152DBD_zpsdkakkqus.jpeg)

As you’ll see from the picture above, I’ve started work on some more Block base boards...they are intentionally close to the road to give an impression of the claustrophobic nature of MC-1.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/800D718C-55CC-46AD-955A-9A3F344AD9DF_zpsopbvksfi.jpeg)

Anyway, there you go, I told you it wasn’t very exciting  ;D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: AKULA on September 01, 2019, 09:23:17 PM
Bit more detail on what my thinking is around the highway...

The table ...in theory (ie if I ever finish it) will be 12’ long by 5’ wide so I’ve got room for a central highway, with a row of 9 blocks either side of it, giving me 18 city blocks and 6 road sections.

The highway will be one way...although it’s pretty wide (30cm) I think it offers more gameplay to allow for multiple lanes of traffic, plus some of the models I’ve got in mind are pretty wide....

As mentioned in my last post, I’m thinking of simple “off ramps” rather than more aesthetically pleasing slip roads, as the latter would take up too much room. The “off ramps” will connect to the plazas, so if I have 1 in 3 of my city Block boards as plazas, that gives me 6 city block plaza boards with “off ramps” connecting them to the highway....the plazas, in turn, will have connections to the other blocks (but probably only pedways rather than vehicle access).

For vehicles, I’ll just use a simple rule that it takes 3-4 turns after you exit one end of the highway before you can rejoin at the start (assumes that there is some other road that loops round off table)....or I might just allow players to dice to rejoin after a certain number of rounds have passed...
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: Brandlin on September 02, 2019, 09:52:42 AM
90 degree turns onto off ramps at 500km/h sounds like fun !

I've often wanted to model a real roadway but sadly the scale of modern road junctions is just huge - and thats only on the flat. Elevated slip roads flyovers and junctions are significantly more complex.

I applaud your efforts, and a little bit of simplicity for gameplay reasons is inevitable
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: AKULA on September 02, 2019, 12:33:33 PM
90 degree turns onto off ramps at 500km/h sounds like fun !

I've often wanted to model a real roadway but sadly the scale of modern road junctions is just huge - and thats only on the flat. Elevated slip roads flyovers and junctions are significantly more complex.

I applaud your efforts, and a little bit of simplicity for gameplay reasons is inevitable

Thanks, a little bit of compromise for gameplay seemed sensible - I once sketched out a US multi lane road system for a zombie game and ended up with a table full of road  :D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: Brandlin on September 02, 2019, 04:56:04 PM
Thanks, a little bit of compromise for gameplay seemed sensible - I once sketched out a US multi lane road system for a zombie game and ended up with a table full of road  :D

Yeah I have wanted to do an airport/runway scenario for a while - but when you scale up the real size of things like a runway or even a taxi way you quickly realise that the wingspan for the airliner you want to use would still be a metre!

And yes i know 15mm exists - but i am NOT starting another scale.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: YPU on September 02, 2019, 06:42:20 PM
Honestly, even at 6mm I run into that problem if I don't adopt another ground scale!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: tin shed gamer on September 02, 2019, 11:20:06 PM
Oh bollocks.
I thought I'd cured myself of the urge to do something Dredd related(when I knocked up a Dredd bike for AndyM ((and the tv series died a death) Now your projects just ruining all pretenses . I've just found myself musing over if its possible to build vehicles and law master's out of cereal card. ;D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: Daeothar on September 03, 2019, 07:31:47 AM
Great stuff; the roads will work, but the exits would be interestingly suicidal affairs. Which would fit the setting perfectly I suppose :D

The tiny roads down below really come into their own with the road sections and other blocks near to them. The few shots you have shown of them next to each other are pretty awesome already! 8)

As for guardrails; I just had a great idea for them yesterday. I'm in the process of building a 4x6 Gaslands table, and I want a stretch of highway on it too. Broken down of course; it will have  the beginning of an overpass, which is partly collapsed, as a part of the track, and I want guardrails for at least part of the road/ramp.

The scale is roughly 1/64, so I was checking out HO scale guardrails. A bit small, but I figured it could work. But the commercially available stuff is both ridiculously expensive and really noticeably too small.

So I stumbled across a model railroad site where guys were using strips of corrugated cardboard cut lengthwise as guardrails. And it looked pretty convincing. Scouring around for corrugated material with a suitable size/spacing, I ended up buying a sheet of corrugated aluminum, where the width of a single curve is 3mm. And that works out only a little exaggerated in my desired 'scale'.

I went for aluminum as it is both light, sturdy and easy to work with. As the guardrails will be a fixed feature, and that part of the table will be relatively flat, I didn't want to risk using card or plasticard, as those might prove too vulnerable to survive handling and storage.

Brass was also available, but might be too hard to comfortably work with (I would have to cut each individual rail section with a small saw, instead of scoring and breaking the stuff). Advantage would have been that I would have been able to weld the material to the rail's many posts, if were to make those brass as well. As it is, I'm probably going for either brass tubing or plastic H-beams, with the rails 'riveted' to the posts with small nails, which will also be a realistic finish!

And yes; I could have gone for removable terrain (and I still might), but at least they will be able to survive the rigors of (road) combat lol

The sheet was ordered yesterday in the UK, so it will take its time to arrive, but I will show some results once I get to work with it.

In the mean time; please keep chugging away on this magnificent board; it's very inspirational! :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: AKULA on September 06, 2019, 08:13:56 PM
Oh bollocks.
I thought I'd cured myself of the urge to do something Dredd related(when I knocked up a Dredd bike for AndyM ((and the tv series died a death) Now your projects just ruining all pretenses . I've just found myself musing over if its possible to build vehicles and law master's out of cereal card. ;D

 lol

Go on start a thread and do it!


The tiny roads down below really come into their own with the road sections and other blocks near to them. The few shots you have shown of them next to each other are pretty awesome already! 8)

Thanks, I’ll persist with them...hopefully the end result will look ok.

Will be interesting to see what your guardrails look like, have a few thoughts of my own, but not decided yet.
 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: von Lucky on September 06, 2019, 11:06:26 PM
Oh man - this thread has rocketed ahead. Keep up the good work and I agree with Daeothar on the tiny roads.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg7 start of a highway)
Post by: mcfonz on September 07, 2019, 07:51:43 PM
As always, I have my beady eyes on your masterful projects!  lol

Love how quickly you realise them. Always a fun ride!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: 6milPhil on September 07, 2019, 08:46:58 PM
Probably the least exciting update so far....

Today I stuck some bits of MDF together  ;D


Well done, must weight a ton. Foamed PVC might have made more sense, it's what all us cool kids are using now. :p
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg6 Pat Wagon)
Post by: AKULA on September 13, 2019, 06:14:50 PM
Oh man - this thread has rocketed ahead. Keep up the good work and I agree with Daeothar on the tiny roads.

Thanks mate ...I suspect more little roads and tiny cars in my future


As always, I have my beady eyes on your masterful projects!  lol

Love how quickly you realise them. Always a fun ride!

Cheers...it’s funny, I thought I was taking ages with this build  lol


Well done, must weight a ton. Foamed PVC might have made more sense, it's what all us cool kids are using now. :p

Not really...the road sections are only 1’ x 2’ so pretty light and I like the chunkiness of the 12mm mdf for the road. Gives them a bit of robustness, and will make sense when I get around to adding some side barriers (eventually).

Using plenty of foamed PVC on the tower blocks where I don’t need the chunkiness.

Hope to post another update at the weekend - what spare time I’ve had this week has been in rebasing existing minis to fit with the project, to give me a large supporting cast as a starting point.

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases)
Post by: AKULA on September 22, 2019, 04:19:48 PM
Bit more progress this weekend, last week was a right off due to work encroaching on my spare time...

After a couple of different trial-pieces, I’ve opted for a curved off ramp built into the plaza boards. It is still just representative.... god knows how long it would have to be for the speed vehicles go at in MC-1, but it will look a little less harsh on the eye that the original off ramp. Once it’s painted, i’ll add some road studs to the main highway sections, to hopefully increase the visuals.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/392D5034-39C5-479D-9A4A-983BCAEE91A6_zps8c0yqseq.jpeg)

The long bits of mdf are just to show the positioning for pedways connecting the upper levels of the blocks.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/358793CA-0ED5-4D03-BEB1-0629AC733D1B_zpsxopnx1ff.jpeg)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: Cubs on September 22, 2019, 05:17:27 PM
Lovin' it.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: Andym on September 22, 2019, 05:38:23 PM
Looking great mate. That'll be fun to play on. 8) 8)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: gamer Mac on September 22, 2019, 05:39:07 PM
Really starting to see where you are going with this, looks great :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: Elk101 on September 22, 2019, 06:22:08 PM
It's really taking shape.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: mcfonz on September 22, 2019, 07:10:01 PM
Yup, incredibly slow, get a move on!  lol

Looking great so far Akula.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: Lowtardog on September 22, 2019, 07:36:55 PM
These are worth a butcher's akky https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/978361943/future-vehicles?ref=profile_created in in for strontium dog
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: War Monkey on September 23, 2019, 12:02:32 AM
That is really taking shape into something awesome!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: steders on September 25, 2019, 07:50:04 PM
Looks awful. Really disappointing. I'll send a skip round for you to put it in.

Those cake stands look good, how are you going to 'clad' them?
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: ragbones on September 25, 2019, 08:13:17 PM
Just found this thread.  What a wonderful and imaginative project.  I look forward to watching your progress and learning from an evident master craftsman. Fantastic!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg8 more progress on the bases
Post by: AKULA on September 29, 2019, 07:38:20 PM
Cheers all, glad you like the direction it appears to be going in  :D

These are worth a butcher's akky https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/978361943/future-vehicles?ref=profile_created in in for strontium dog

Thanks mate, had a look and there are a couple of models there that caught my eye  8)


Those cake stands look good, how are you going to 'clad' them?

Cheers Steders. I’m not planning on cladding the whole of the exterior, as I want the interiors to be playable. For the most part the exterior will have some low level balconies, plus probably a couple of strips of high density board running from top to bottom to give the impression of the exterior wall,  but that don’t interfere with gameplay - the latter will also give me somewhere to put the bloc name.


A little progress this weekend - a bit of paint and some road markings for the on/off ramps.

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/09226A45-C73C-43D4-A0D2-0AF2572CFE48_zpshxzurtyv.jpeg)


Need to add some pedways to connect the bloc bases and the plazas (I’ve made the road space on the plazas large enough to accommodate plenty of parked vehicles).


(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/DAA0E330-4E4E-45B0-BD87-7540224A402B_zpshexzgvvw.jpeg)

(https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/76023384-6447-42CA-AB95-5C06359B00E9_zps2nethqgm.jpeg)

The raised flower beds are from Sally4th with some noch foliage
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: War Monkey on September 29, 2019, 08:41:18 PM
It's shaping up, looking good!
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: jon_1066 on September 30, 2019, 11:30:42 AM
This is all looking great.

Just had a thought.  The 28 mm scale vehicles gives you a problem with the whole ground scale compression thing.  What about putting in a mid level?  So in effect you have 6 or 10 mm scale vehicles and 28 mm scale people.  The smaller vehicles would be playable on the mid highway level and the people are playable on the 28 mm upper block part.  The highways could then become much smaller and less visually dominating.  You could still keep a smaller section of road way for your 28 mm vehicles that is more like a back alley or special access road.

edit.  You could perhaps have your 28 mm roads as the ramps leading from the plazas - curving off the table to "re-appear" as an on ramp onto the 6 mm highway.  So use the off board part you can't see to link the two roadways.  If a vehicle exits at Point A they re-appear as a 6 mm version at point B next turn and vice versa.
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: FreakyFenton on September 30, 2019, 12:38:10 PM
Hey Akula! Great work!

Just meant to show this to you:

Die Hard miniatures has a few fitting models, one of which makes a good Mean Machine. https://diehardminiatures.com/product/gentle-bob-chaos-villain/

And then these guys, who have some City Def and the like.

http://www.rebelminis.com/sciencefiction.html

Crack on!  :D
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: oxiana on May 05, 2020, 11:32:19 AM
Hallo Akula, I was wondering if you ever continued with this project? It was looking great!

Thanks.  :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: AKULA on May 05, 2020, 10:09:30 PM
Hallo Akula, I was wondering if you ever continued with this project? It was looking great!

Thanks.  :)

Hi mate, it’s currently sat next to my table which is struggling under the weight of Game of Thrones miniatures.... I do want to make more progress on my Mega-City project, it just tends to be one or the other

 :)
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: oxiana on May 06, 2020, 06:21:38 AM
Hi mate, it’s currently sat next to my table which is struggling under the weight of Game of Thrones miniatures.... I do want to make more progress on my Mega-City project, it just tends to be one or the other

 :)

Cool. And speaking as someone who just picked up a brush after literally a decade's absence, I'm not going to complain about projects with long timetables.  lol
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: LordOdo on May 06, 2020, 12:03:10 PM
Hi mate, it’s currently sat next to my table which is struggling under the weight of Game of Thrones miniatures.... I do want to make more progress on my Mega-City project, it just tends to be one or the other

 :)

Dang, those are both so great, can not favour one over the other  ???
Title: Re: AKULA’s Mega-City One (pg9 a bit of paint on the bases)
Post by: aliensurfer on May 06, 2020, 11:41:25 PM
Hi mate, it’s currently sat next to my table which is struggling under the weight of Game of Thrones miniatures.... I do want to make more progress on my Mega-City project, it just tends to be one or the other

 :)

Get both done, stop slacking!  ;)  Nice work mate.  :)