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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: JollyBob on 11 August 2009, 02:18:13 PM

Title: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 11 August 2009, 02:18:13 PM
A few months back, while I was lamenting my inability to find ready made Chinese style buildings, a kindly Svennn took pity on me and sent me a couple of houses that he had built.

This is one of them:

(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb155/GrunterPulpit/Chinese%20Fantasy/svennnshouse.jpg)

And very nice it is.

Last weekend, spurred on by fear and everybody else getting their arses in gear for BLAM! I decided to knuckle down and try my poor, maimed hands at scratchbuilding for the first time. So using Svennn's building as a template, I came up with this:

(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb155/GrunterPulpit/Chinese%20Fantasy/Myhouse1.jpg) (http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb155/GrunterPulpit/Chinese%20Fantasy/myhouse2.jpg)

Slightly smaller, and obviously using different materials, this is more of a shed in comparison but I think it matches the style and feel of the original pretty well. Here's a comparative shot, with a Curtey's peasant for scale:

 (http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb155/GrunterPulpit/Chinese%20Fantasy/housecomp.jpg)

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, considering its my first one, and I have a couple more half done (just waiting on some roofing material being delivered) to fill out my village. I'll post them up as and when if you are interested.

What do you think? Useable or not?
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Malamute on 11 August 2009, 02:24:57 PM
JB, well worth the effort. It look superb :) ;D
 Top marks for making it look so similar to Svennn's as well. :)
If you had posted the shot of both together I would have been none the wiser as to them being built by separate people. :)

Keep 'Em coming :)

Svennn's is pretty nice too, excellent thatching. :)

Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Operator5 on 11 August 2009, 03:32:59 PM
I can't wait to see the whole village set up.
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: anevilgiraffe on 11 August 2009, 05:18:46 PM
lovely stuff Bob...
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 11 August 2009, 05:24:32 PM
Thanks all, I'm actually quite enjoying this. Something new to play with. Now I've got to work out what the ruined shrine should look like and get cracking on that.

Note to self: The board is only 4x4, slow your skinny, white ass down!
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Malamute on 11 August 2009, 05:33:37 PM
Thanks all, I'm actually quite enjoying this. Something new to play with. Now I've got to work out what the ruined shrine should look like and get cracking on that.

Note to self: The board is only 4x4, slow your skinny, white ass down!

Keep goin' lad, got to give that Captain Blood a run for his money with that F&I board he has started. ;) It looks impressive, but you might have the edge with these little gems. I can't wait to see the temple. :)
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 11 August 2009, 06:07:46 PM
For a first build, that's cracking  :-* :D My first attempts were ****

Please keep us posted  :D  :D

cheers

James
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Sinewgrab on 11 August 2009, 06:13:08 PM
Good job, Jollybob! Now, where are the WIP photos? What are you using? Come on man, give us more details! (or you can browbeat Svenn into doing it)

 :D
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Bulldog on 11 August 2009, 06:33:29 PM
Excellent!  I would love to see a small village of these buildings.  A wonderful setup for a simple Chinese community or mayhap a secret hideout for the smugglers!   :)  The buildings are very pleasing to look at.
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Hitman on 11 August 2009, 07:05:28 PM
Good job Jollybob!! You have more talents than you give yourself credit for. The only thing I might suggest is to let the roof overhang a bit more on the sides...remember it rains a lot in certain parts of China, and these folks knew enough to make sure that the water was shed off the roof and away from the walls a bit to keep their food dry (or perhaps its the perspective view and it just might hang out far enough...hard to tell). Regardless it is a great building and you should be very pleased with your efforts.
Regards,
Robin
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: dodge on 11 August 2009, 08:27:28 PM
That's a great building, you are not hamfisted at all, tempting me back to mine now  :D
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Captain Blood on 11 August 2009, 09:48:48 PM
None too shabby young Bob  ;)

Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Svennn on 11 August 2009, 10:06:32 PM
 :)
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Hammers on 11 August 2009, 10:50:01 PM
Booo! Hiss!

I am of course shitting you. They will adorn any gaming table of particular era.
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: kidterminal on 11 August 2009, 11:24:46 PM
Jolly good JollyBob. It looks just fine. You'll fiond that building terrian is addictive if your not careful you'll have a mountain of terrian pieces in various states of compeleton on your kitchen table.  lol
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: gamer Mac on 12 August 2009, 08:30:54 AM
Very nice job. :-*
Looking forward to seeing the rest.
The only niggle I have with the building is that you need to be a bit more careful around the edges of the windows. Tidy the plaster up just before it dries to give a neater edge.
You said you are waiting on material for the roof.
Are you going to thatch this one?
What are you going to use for thatch?
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 12 August 2009, 09:24:04 AM
Cheers again fellas. Very glad you think its ok.

To answer some of your questions:

Sinewgrab, it is made of foamcore board, Lolly sticks, toothpicks, matches and pollyfilla (or spackle* as I believe its called in the US). Held together with ordinary white glue, and painted with cheap acrylics from the craft store.

Hitman, yes I agree, the eaves should be longer, and they were until I decided that the rounded ends of the lolly sticks were totally wrong and trimmed them back. I'll bear it in mind for the next one though.

Mac, I have ordered some pantile sheets from a architectural modelers (4D Modelshop here: http://www.yellowcatshop.co.uk/shop/default.asp?clientid=14&gid=4dmod&viewstate=32769&tabcatid=3500087 (http://www.yellowcatshop.co.uk/shop/default.asp?clientid=14&gid=4dmod&viewstate=32769&tabcatid=3500087) and will give that a try. I believe the thatching on the original is made form teddy bear fur though. Good idea about the window, thanks!


(* I love this word. It means nothing, yet conveys the use perfectly. I am sure only the Americans could have come up with it, and I love them for it.)
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 12 August 2009, 09:35:08 AM
Small hint about 4D modelshop, get your stuff elsewhere if you can, even if it means a three hour trawl through the internet.

We occasionally use them at work and the service and products are not up to standard, and they aren't cheap either. We had to order some black bamboo from them, gave them a picture (they even sent a picture back saying it would like this) and when we got them they looked nothing like any of the picture. When we phoned up to complain, the response was not wat it should of been, surly to say the least.

They have unfortunately cornered the market in this regard but spend a bit of extra time and it will reap rewards.

Give EMA a ring to get their catalogue  01932 228 228

cheers

James
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 12 August 2009, 09:43:56 AM
Oh bugger.  :(

Thanks for the info Jim. I wish I'd known that before I ordered. At least it was only a small order so I'm not too out of pocket if the stuff isn't great.

I'm just hoping they fill it quickly as I'm itching to get the next couple of bits done now and don't want to lose the impetus.
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 12 August 2009, 11:18:40 AM
Don't let these words of gloom put you off completely, it's just a friendly warning that I've had bad experiences with them. You never know, you might be one of the lucky one's that never has a problem with them  :)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Sinewgrab on 12 August 2009, 06:07:33 PM
Cheers again fellas. Very glad you think its ok.

To answer some of your questions:

Sinewgrab, it is made of foamcore board, Lolly sticks, toothpicks, matches and pollyfilla (or spackle* as I believe its called in the US). Held together with ordinary white glue, and painted with cheap acrylics from the craft store.

(* I love this word. It means nothing, yet conveys the use perfectly. I am sure only the Americans could have come up with it, and I love them for it.)


Muahaha, and I have lots of foamboard - and I can see where you used each of the ose items on the project. Maybe I should give it a shot...no, darn it, finish your pygmies first! Bah! Unemployed, and there still is not enough time in the day.

And we are good at making up words to fit something aren't we?
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 13 August 2009, 12:40:00 PM
Well, my 4D order turned up this morning, and I wish I'd spoken to Jim before hand, because this stuff is very poor.  :(

There is barely any texture on the sheets of pantiles, they may have just as well drawn them on in pencil. Most disappointing.

I have already emailed them and asked if I  can return it for a refund, so I'll wait and see what comes of it.

Looks like the next houses will have wooden rooves after all!
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 13 August 2009, 12:46:28 PM
Will's are great for textured sheet, the only problem being is that they are a bit small

You can get them here, there are also lots of other goodies available  ;)

http://www.gaugemaster.com/architectural.html (http://www.gaugemaster.com/architectural.html)

Cheers  James
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 13 August 2009, 12:55:43 PM
Thank you James, I 've had the Wills recommended to me before, but the only place I knew that had it was out of stock - hence my order to 4D. Nice to have a backup supplier though.

Now to spend hours with a new catalogue....  :-*
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: Svennn on 13 August 2009, 01:07:52 PM
Is it like this?
(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w198/svennnthedhnut/JollyBob005.jpg)(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w198/svennnthedhnut/JollyBob006.jpg)

Can't remember where I got this from but never had the urge to use it.

Svennn
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 13 August 2009, 01:15:02 PM
Yep. That's it. Maybe looks ok on an architectural model that doesn't need too much detail, but its no good for much else.
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 13 August 2009, 01:17:16 PM
We don't use that stuff, it's rubbish  ;)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: JollyBob on 13 August 2009, 01:18:38 PM
We don't use that stuff, it's rubbish  ;)

Well I know that now, don't I?  lol
Title: Re: Hey, Svennn! Imitation is the highest form of what...?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 13 August 2009, 01:24:07 PM
Well I know that now, don't I? 

 lol  lol  lol

Sorry  ;)

cheers

James