The start of Black Moor Keep

[Prof. Dietrich Hes]

Well going with the hope that there will be a witch hunter version of 45A in the future, I decided to start building "Black Moor Keep". I know stupid name, but I couldnt think of anything better. I also figure that this can be used for pulp, withc hunter, horror, Weird war tales, swashbuckling etc..



so far that is the base for it.  the base measures 24 by 48 inches.  the white section on the top is the foot print for the actual Keep/castle.



here you an see the other side where the trail leads to the top.  it ends abruptly at the bottom, as that is where the bridge is going.  the bottom will be filled with clear resin to simulate water once the sides are attached

and finally an overhead shot to show the entire thing:



you can see the back edge is stepped down.  that is going to be the dungeoon area. I still have more scenic work to do on the  base, but overall, that is what is is going to looklike.

and YES, I do live in the middle of the woods......  just in case you were wondering  

[WitchfinderGeneral]

Looks good so far.
How do you make the rough surface of the stone wall?

[Prof. Dietrich Hes]

WFG,
  the mountain is made out of pink insulation foam.  I hand carve the detail in it.  I've never been fond of the look when using a hot wire machine.

[Etranger]

Nice to see a traditional name being used!  

[Driscoles]

That looks great so far ! And I like the name !

And you have a nice forrest around you. Inspriring ?

Cheers
Björn

[Grimm]

It looks good but lets see how it looks when it is finished
Hey did you ask the Blair witch if she like it ?
Grimm

[WitchfinderGeneral]

I hand carve the detail in it. I've never been fond of the look when using a hot wire machine.

I have seen people working the foam with heat or etching it to get the surface structured. But your way looks the best.

[PeteMurray]

It's an awesome start! I really like how imposing it will be.

Those aren't the Blair Witch's woods, but it's part of the same mountain range where the Blair Witch lives. She lives a bit further South from the Professor.

The Appalachien Mountains are astoundingly wierd and their own kind of creepy, especially when the fog is in.

[Prof. Dietrich Hes]

Pete,
  With some of the things around here, it might as well be the blair witch woods!  Remember "Mauch Chunk" is only down the mountain  

WFG,
  thanks for the compliment.  I'm not saying I am the best at this or anything along those lines, but I did work for a long time doing scenery for custom model railroad layouts.  So it isnt so much that I am "good", its the fact that I know alot of tricks to make things look good.

If anyone is interested, I can do a tutorial at some point to show how I do it.

Does anyone know where does the name come from? I know it isnt original, but it stuck in my head, but I dont know the origin

Pretty soon, my hirst art blocks will get here and I will be able to get started.

[Driscoles]

Please do a Tutorial !

[Prof. Dietrich Hes]

Driscoles,
  Do you want to see anyting specific?  I can do a whole board tutorial for a 16x16 45A board.  

How about a crevasse with a rope bridge with water at the bottom?

A tomb entrance in a moutain face?

a crag with ruins on top?

a waterfall with hidden cave behind it?

you name it I will give it a go.

[Operator5]

I just want to know how you made the cliff face. What techniques, what tools? It looks great.

Rich

[DarkWingDuck]

I find I'm agreeing with Rich alot. :-)

I think a tutorial on how you did the rock face would be great.

I tried to do something simliar a couple of months ago and it came out somewhat "uniform". I like the look you got alot better than what I got.

For my attempt at this, I used the tutorial found at the hirstarts site.

http://www.hirstarts.com/tips9/tips9.html#theory

I've got some pictures floating around of my attempt:


See ... not as nice as yours. (BTW, I ended up likeing the bottom one best, but due to issues with stability ended up scrapping/delaying the project (until I could find a cure)).

[Prof. Dietrich Hes]

Rich,
 my main tool is a screwdriver and my second tool is my thumb.  I guess you can call it a scratch and rub technique.  I do some misc. gauging with a knife and a sheetrock saw, but like I said, its all about thescrewdriver and rubbing it off (that almost sounds dirty)

I'll get cracking on a quick tutorial for you this evening.  

Dark wing.  
  the base looks real good on that piece.  The major thing I notice between the top and bottom is the size of the detail.  the top is very broad where the bottom is finer.  if you go back and make the top section finer in detail it would look much better.

my only otehr comment in regards to the piece is the top edge where the vertical meets the flat area.  it is too square.  if you notice in my piece, I "rolled" alot of section but then left some squared off.  It makes a major difference.

[Etranger]

Does anyone know where does the name come from? I know it isnt original, but it stuck in my head, but I dont know the origin....

There are lots of "Blackmoor" names in the UK (& probably elsewhere) but the Blackmoor I was thingking [thinking even   ]of was one of the very earliest D & D settings (long predating AD&D) & originated with Dave Arneson's "First Fantasy Campaign", I've got the Judges Guild version somewhere....

Blackmoor lives on.... http://www.dablackmoor.com/MMRPG/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=38