So, what's Hammers up to these days? (Update 2010.09.18)

[Hammers]

Well, taking care of the effing offspring, thats what. And the wife. But the role as moderator doesn't leave you to make excuses about your profane life so I've been thinking lately I have to show some kind of activity to maintain my creed around here. I've *have* been painting some stuff so here a piece of what I'm up to...

My method of painting white washed rocks, camp street demarcations, the use for...



And here's a 2'2' camp modular piece for my 4'8' NWF board.



Half done, can you picture what it is supposed to be?

Inspiration taken from here...

[Ray Rivers]

Looking good!

Are those the Warlord tents?  If so, how do you like them?

[Christian]

I was asking my self the same question after contemplating your VBCW stuff (cricketers etc.). Nice to see something interesting the works! How many 2x2 boards are there going to be in the end?

[Hammers]

Well, I have prepped ten 2x2' boards of which I'll use between six or eight to make up a 4' by 6' to 8' gameboard.

[Hammers]

Next:



The main barracks of the camp. It will be a sort of tent-carpentry affair. The structure, being very close to a real construction is quite sturdy but I will probably glue some lead sheet beneath the floor boards to make it rest even more solidly on the game board.



A close up before I send the sailmakers in for the first canvas fitting.



Flashback: my first attempt. I designed it form a practical standpoint, meaning I did the comparative measurements from a 28mm figure, but the result made the structure tower over the tents. I cut it down heigthwise with about 12mm to make it look more squat.

[Helen]

Nice work Peder. You just got to love the painted rocks!

Reminds me of my early days in the army where on RSM's work detail we painted curbs etc.

Keep up the grand work,

Helen

[Alfrik]

Painting rocks white... brings back memories.. of a sort

[Hammers]

Thanks, Helen. When I saw that picture with the whitewashed rocks I realized something I've been misunderstanding for about 20 years now. There's a passage in Väinö Linna's "Unknown Soldier" (stonking war novel, one of my absolute favourites, I'd recommend it to anyone) where two of the protagonists are on penal duty white washing rocks along the trench to the officers bunker. I always thought they were there for reasons of pointless vanity thus explaining the soldiers profound resentment to the task.

I wonder why I never before realized that they are there to help you seeing where you are going at night.

[Centaur_Seducer]

It looks great, Hammers!
Just out of curiosity, since I'm considering doing some 2x2 boards, have you found a supplier for 60x60cm styor, or is it just a 120x60 that you cut in half? The second option is such a hassle and I'll just probably end up worshipping the devil and cursing the manufacturer...

[Hammers]

120x60

This -^

I had it cut for me, with precision, by the lumberyard men. I also had 5mm MDF cut to the same size so all squares have a rigid backing. It seems like this makes them able to take some considerable amount of beating. They have survived three house moves so far. The problem is that most XPS I've found have ridged edges, which means that if you are not willing to scrap a lot of material, the ridges have to be cut off and glued to the other sided.

[OSHIROmodels]

Looking very nice there Hammers. Do you have more to do on the ground work? I'm only asking because it looks very realistic as it is.

cheers

James

[Hammers]

Looking very nice there Hammers. Do you have more to do on the ground work? I'm only asking because it looks very realistic as it is.

cheers

James

Just a few scares sprinkles of dry static grass, perhaps a few tufts to.

The board is covered with Celluclay (paper mache) mixed with white glue and wood stain. While it was still wet I sprinkled a mix of aquarium sand and gravel on it and used a rolling pin to get an even playable but still fairly rough looking game board. When dry I sprayed the surface in spots and from an angle to get some colour variation.

I may have to go with a darker wood stain next time, meaning I may have to restain this board. Oy vey...

[OSHIROmodels]

It works very well  How sturdy is it, I'm sure elbows on the top wouldn't be apprieciated  (like on my boards  )

cheers

James

[Hammers]

It works very well  How sturdy is it, I'm sure elbows on the top wouldn't be apprieciated

I forgot to say. It is very sturdy and slightly flexible. It definitely won't crack. The combination of cellulose fibres (Celluclay is finely shredded (news-)paper and wall paper glue) and white glue makes it very tough. *And* it dries to a very nice packed dirt texture. Not expensive either, esp. if you make your own paper mache. I opted for buying mine over flebay since for the amount of shredded paper needed, you better use the food processor. This may not be approved of by other agents in the family.

[Hammers]

Grrr, I just noticed to my great chagrin, that the board has warped. I thought I had countered this by backing the board with 5mm MDF  but obviously I have underestimated the lifting power of shrinking Celluclay. Shit. Pants. Arse.