Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Lardy Rich on 29 October 2017, 07:17:33 AM
-
Morning all
Well, with Crisis looming large, I realised the other day that I had one week not two until the show and that I'd better get my bits in gear and make the terrain for one of our games, BIG Chain of Command in 1940. Lots to do, so little time as a great man once said, so here's the first bit in which I have my first experience of a Dark Ops MDF building.
http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=7052
Here's some snap.
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6452.jpg)
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6497.jpg)
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6506.jpg)
I do hope to see some LAFers in Antwerp. we will be running this game which features the Boche running into the BEF in 1940 as well as a game of Sharp Practice set in the Caribbean in 1805. both are participation games so please do come and join in if you are there, or just say hello. I'l be the tall bloke looking hung over.
Cheers
Rich
-
Thanks for that, very useful build on your blog. I think I will be buying some DarkOps buildings, they look really good.
-
Nice review Rich. I share your reservations about MDF buildings, mainly down to the lugs and lack or 3D relief. But I must admit, judging from your review, this kit seems to have largely dealt with these issues.
-
Interesting review.
I will have to look out for those buildings.
-
Captain, my thoughts exactly. Twenty odd years ago I went to wargames shows and everywhere I'd see 2' polystyrene terrain tiles, today it is MDF buildings which are ubiquitous. In both cases I found them a bit bland and disappointing. This is certainly not the case with this model.
Honestly, if they'd had another ten buildings in the range available I'd have bought the lot instantly. It is a really high quality product. I must say that my adding the bit of polyfilla did make a difference to ensure that the model had additional depth, but that was quite literally a two minute addition.
As I said in the blog piece, half way through I was so impressed I ordered the blacksmith's forge model.
Rich
-
I have to echo captain bloods opinion. It look like this kit requires a bit more effort, but really is worth it in the end. Using the multiple layers and giving options for actual good looking damage and decay is great!
-
Rich, there stays one question. Why these smelly meg in times of 3D-Printing. The prize of 3D-Printing lowers extrem, I ordered a small print for less than 10 Euro. And you get a lot of ready made stuff for printing, e.g. made by Jens Najewitz http://www.lasermodellbau.de/index.php/de/
So, why MDF?
-
Thank-you for posting this.
This is a very good looking MDF kit that solves many of the "flat detail" issues.
I think that the people at Dark Ops should be congratulated on the kit.
I may well buy this kit, once the book is out with the publisher.
-
It's not a company I'd taken the time to look at.(if I'm honest I'd been put off by the name. As I've very little spare time for my own projects. So at speed I'd scanned passed 'sounds like they do moderns -next').
But I'll be taking a good look ,as they seem to treat mdf as it should be,and how I use it.
I'm no where near as impressed with Foxtrot as you are. I'll just make one observation (believe me i could make more)- I'd have liked the roof to be in the 28mm terraced house set.
I'm not a big fan of mdf and always re texture buildings with card. So for price I tend to use HO Metcalfe and re scale doorways,As I re texture it's not a major chore.
I'm definitely interested if someone's gone to the trouble of doing this in advance for me.
Your review definitely swayed my opinion a little more on mdf.
I'd recommend you take a look at Warbases mdf Eastern front range hidden away in a corner is a rather useful mdf electric tram/trolley car. If I remember rightly its around a tenner. If nothing else it'll make a great barricade.
Mark.
-
Will look forward to seeing this at Crisis.
I really like MDF buildings, but they are, as Rich says, a starting point rather than a finished product. Dark Ops is a new name to me, will be looking them up.
-
Rich, there stays one question. Why these smelly meg in times of 3D-Printing. The prize of 3D-Printing lowers extrem, I ordered a small print for less than 10 Euro. And you get a lot of ready made stuff for printing, e.g. made by Jens Najewitz http://www.lasermodellbau.de/index.php/de/
So, why MDF?
As somebody who does 3d prints professionally, I'd say the tech is not cheap enough to replace MDF for this kind of product. Resin prints produce perfect results, but are prohibitively expansive when printing something this size, and extrusion printers are always going to show print lines. Not to mention price of production, which is much much quicker for laser cut MDF than for having to print the entire thing.
-
Very enjoyable and interesting read, Rich - thanks for taking the trouble. And it led me to your railway embankment post which was also great, not least because I've got a load of track that needs putting on an embankment and a load of coving that I couldn't get to stick on the bloody ceiling so got stuffed in the loft and forgotten about.
Have a great time at Crisis...!
Doug
-
Right chaps and chapesses, a bit of an update as I leave behind the Boulangerie and build an embankment.
You can read the piece here: http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=7108
But here are some gratuitous snaps anyway to get you started.
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6443.jpg)
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6484.jpg)
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6534.jpg)
Now to sort out my Nuns' cobbles!
Cheers
Rich
-
Thanks Doug. Crisis is my best show of the year. I absolutely love the event.
Rich
-
Nice one Rich. Top job on both projects and highlighting Dark Ops 👍
-
Great stuff love the rail tracks
-
Really cool project! Those embankments are superb with the teddy bear fur on the sides! Thank you for sharing so many WIP pictures, really inspirational and helpful!
Cheers,
Marc
-
Oof, do I envy you finding that fur in the right colour already!
-
Here ya go mate ......
http://www.dunelm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/dunelm/product/teddy-bear-moss-green-throw-1000101699#
-
Wow, that should last me a lifetime!
-
I have bought one . Good quality and great base colour . Like me , just needs a good shave 😳
-
I have bought one . Good quality and great base colour . Like me , just needs a good shave 😳
Just bought one myself. Interested to know how you intend to carry out the shaving process?
-
I use large scissors angled at 45 degrees and I also use an electric hair trimmer. How much you take off depends on what you are trying to replicate but go steady as you can take it down to the skin.
[(http://i.imgur.com/z351d8w.jpg) (http://imgur.com/z351d8w)/i]
-
I use large scissors angled at 45 degrees and I also use an electric hair trimmer. How much you take off depends on what you are trying to replicate but go steady as you can take it down to the skin.
[(http://i.imgur.com/z351d8w.jpg) (http://imgur.com/z351d8w)/i]
Many thanks for that information, SABOT, will experiment when the fleece arrives, cheers.
-
I've got a load of track that needs putting on an embankment
Would this be part of The Golden Valley Railway then, Doug?
-
Would this be part of The Golden Valley Railway then, Doug?
I got it for VBCW, Sir Gilbert is based round the Golden Valley, there was a railway running down the valley (my wife's mother worked on it during the war) so that would definitely be it's main use. But rail track is rail track so it could be used anywhere, really. I was going to copy Giles' (Eric the Shed) technique using a hardboard base but I'm thinking now of copying Rich because i've got coving which is doing nothing. Just thinking about how to do curves. Rich - any suggestions?
Doug
-
Doug
I'd do the curves in blue polystyrene. Match the height of the embankment and then just carve it out. A bit tedious, but not too dreadful. Personally I am taking the lazy route that says all railways are straight!
Cheers
Rich
-
A bit more stuff now on Lard Island News.
http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=7118
Making cobbles for my civvies to walk on. They are SO demanding! an old field wouldn't do apparently.
(http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_6555.jpg)
Not long 'til we head off now, so probably nowt else until we return from Antwerp. Hope to see some of you there.
Rich
-
They look great.
-
Having read the detail here on Dark Ops buildings and the value of teddy bear fur from Dunelm I am progressing orders for both. Thanks for sharing.
I noticed on the Lardy blog that Bren carriers in their 1940 version was an item under discussion. So in the same spirit of sharing suggest those who are interested go to Butlers Printed Models. They produce Bren and Scout carriers (in the 3 popular scales) as a 3D print. I have just received the 1/56 versions and jolly nice they are.
-
Having read the detail here on Dark Ops buildings and the value of teddy bear fur from Dunelm I am progressing orders for both. Thanks for sharing.
I noticed on the Lardy blog that Bren carriers in their 1940 version was an item under discussion. So in the same spirit of sharing suggest those who are interested go to Butlers Printed Models. They produce Bren and Scout carriers (in the 3 popular scales) as a 3D print. I have just received the 1/56 versions and jolly nice they are.
Could we get some photos? I've seen the photos in their ads and they look rather dodgy, loads of flash, airbubbles etc. be interested to see what they look like painted up.
-
As I'm technically incompetent you will have to rely on someone else for a photo.
However, the material that you have seen as flash is part of the 3D manufacture process. It is like a frame on which the model is built. There are no air bubbles.
Clearly, these are not Tamiya quality models. But I would not want to use a high quality, fragile, kit on a games table. Besides, my modelling and painting skills are not of any great standard.
If you take a look on their site there is guidance on removing the excess material. I found removal was as straightforward as claimed and the model was ready for painting quicker than any of the other materials models are produced in. I can't recommend these to everyone as each person will have different requirements/ standards but I am happy with the end result and the carriers, in the early variant, are not available elsewhere in 1/56.
-
Great embankments and thanks for the source of teddy bear fur - if by any chance folks are looking for bigger embankments I built these
http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/rail-embankments-trains-for-wargames.html (http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/rail-embankments-trains-for-wargames.html)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/train%20embankments/e26_zps58311e9b.jpg)