Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Silent Invader on October 27, 2016, 11:08:21 AM
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I'm pondering some multilevel internal terrain and am wondering about using beer crates for the bulk of structure.
For example:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/2031_27_10_16_11_48_24_1.JPG)
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=94921.0
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/2031_27_10_16_11_48_24_0.JPG)
The Speeder and mini are from a project over in Future Wars .....
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=94921.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=94921.0)
.... and it occurred to me that I could get 3 levels for the bridge, accommodation and transport hold of a spacecraft. That said, I'm not necessarily wedded to a spacecraft as I also fancy a multilayer mine complex (probably sci-fi but not necessarily) or even an apartment block.
An image-google of 'Wargames beer crate terrain' produces nothing of use while 'Wargames terrain milk crate' really only comes up with crates battered and sprayed to represent the shattered skeletons of a high rise city.
So, thoughts anyone? Thanks :)
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Well it's more interesting than a square of doormat :D
Knowing your creative skills, I'm sure you can turn a beer crate into a convincing city block ruin... I'm sure I've seen similar projects here on LAF before... Just not sure who, when or where... :? ???
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Yep, it *has* to have been done before but can I find any references for inspiration? Nope! :'(
EDIT:
This has been referenced on LAF before and is the 'high rise skeleton' I was talking about earlier.
http://www.skankgame.com/Highrises.html (http://www.skankgame.com/Highrises.html)
I'm looking to make something that hasn't been bombed to near oblivion, which would use the solid sides of the Leffe crate.
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I'll be interested to see what you do with this - reminds me of a GW Games Day Necromunda display in 3D from the late 90s/early 00s. A bit of plasticard and some wall/furniture accessories and I reckon you'll be well away!
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Personally (personally mind ;) ), I'd make it from scratch and work from the inside out but I'm sure that whatever you do will be great 8)
cheers
James
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I am sure you can create something great from such crates.
You can make two beercrate towers and have a propper Block war.
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Thanks for the thoughts - much appreciated :D
Am still undecided on spaceship, mine or apartment block. Each has its attractions for post apoc and Future Wars.
Personally (personally mind ;) ), I'd make it from scratch and work from the inside out but I'm sure that whatever you do will be great 8)
Well if could laser cut acrylic .... ;) :D. Seriously though, I don't fancy foamboard, MDF or styrene for such a tall structure (either too heavy or too weak).
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Either way, I'm not sure there's enough superglue I the world! ;)
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Why not make it modules that can slide in and out of each bottle space.Then if you want an open area without a module or two have a back panel that corresponds such as a single module sized square,a double module rectangle,three module L shape back board (well you get the idea.
This way the whole idea can be played vertically as in your picture or the create laying down and the panels become open space flooring.Space hulk meets tetras and block war .just depending on which way up you place the modules.
On the plus side you'd not have trouble moving it.
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I found this, which is a similar idea, but a fairly simple implementation:
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OyT_vjBLBk4/UIRfA6afa7I/AAAAAAAACXE/ypYjpuGUaAc/s1600/offices06.jpg)
http://chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2012/10/21/terrain-office-buildings-and-lamp-posts/
Another version: http://ironworkersminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/infinity-terrain-challenge-apartment.html
Construction using foamed PVC/Forex/Sintra might be an option. Good strength and not excessively heavy:
(http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss355/elysium64/002-5.jpg)
Antenociti at Salute 2010: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=18501
Lots of ruins/post-apoc versions found but very little for intact buildings.
Edit: This occurred to me (not quite what you were after though)
(https://sc01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1oCGYIpXXXXaBXFXXq6xXFXXX6/855268/HTB1oCGYIpXXXXaBXFXXq6xXFXXX6.jpg)
https://slh.en.alibaba.com/product/1845569332-215264577/Amazing_design_DIY_Lazy_Susan_24_Pairs_wooden_Rotating_Shoe_Rack_shoes_storage_cabinet.html
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If you are going to use the crates natural characteristics for stacking, at least for transport purposes, then it's a no-brainer. The downside is that unless you change the exterior, you might end up with something that looks like a bunch of beer crates....if you change the exterior, then you lose the stacking characteristics....
Personally I think you should just carve something out of blue foam bricks, and then add lighting....it's the way forward.
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Andy - thanks, I think :D. I bought several hundred 20 ml bottles a few years ago but stocks are now running low. :'(
Mark - interesting thought about removable modules, which works particularly well if the crate is just a racking and transport system, such as for the innards of a mine or underground bunker.
Paul - thanks for those searches, the Lazy Susan is actually my favourite and I think would work better than crates for a mine/bunker game as the problem with a multiplayer vertical game is of course the narrow frontage. I recall the Antonecetti display at Salute a few years ago and IIRC the building interiors were too low/narrow/deep for practical play. They looked great though. 8)
Matt - yep, a beer crate will always look like a beer crate. :D. What it comes down to, I guess, is whether it's just the interiors being played (back to the module point above). I shall have to ponder. I've moved on from blue foam bricks and LEDs though ;). I much prefer plaster bricks and got bored with my LED phase (there's a joke in there) so now only put them in when they add to game play (which is rare: though applicable to the basement fires in my Belgium board last year): I was putting them in because they looked pretty but I found myself getting more 'railroady' than 'wargamey' (if you know what I mean). :D
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I was putting them in because they looked pretty but I found myself getting more 'railroady' than 'wargamey' (if you know what I mean). :D
Oi! Nothing wrong with that :D
cheers
James
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Oi! Nothing wrong with that :D
Not at all James!!! Pushing the boundaries is a very good thing but sometimes I have to ask myself "am I making stuff to look at or to play with?". Sometimes I go to far!!! ;) lol
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And just to add..... while googling today I've discovered this project
http://john-unfinished-projects.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/not-scout.html?m=1 (http://john-unfinished-projects.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/not-scout.html?m=1)
And so the beer crate no longer appeals
Thanks everyone for your thoughts - much appreciate :D
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I'm getting very strong Elite+ vibes from that one (that's a good thing, mind). You know you'll have to name it after a snake now of course... :D
In the end, it'll probably be on par witht he crates in regards to the amount of work required, but it already looks better.
And this way, you'll even get your money back for the crate too... ;D
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I'm getting very strong Elite+ vibes from that one (that's a good thing, mind). You know you'll have to name it after a snake now of course... :D
In the end, it'll probably be on par witht he crates in regards to the amount of work required, but it already looks better.
And this way, you'll even get your money back for the crate too... ;D
You get money back on crates?!!!!! :o lol
I'm not a game player but Elite+ is the Elite series of space exploration games, yes? Doing an image-google certainly reveals a lot of attractive ships. Most cool. 8)
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:D Yup; returnable deposit on every crate of beer (and the bottles therein). You're holding €8,- worth of plastic right there. You weren't aware? Must be a continental thing then?
And yes; Elite. The first sandbox space combat, trade and exploration game. It was only vector graphics (bare wire frames in the original), but damn, did I play the heck out of it when I was 12. I even designed my own ship, which looked almost identical to the one you linked to. I listened to a lot of Queen back then, so she was called the Killer Queen... ::)
Here's a picture of one of those glorious poligonal beauties from back then:
(http://www.jades.org/arc/elite/mamba.jpg)
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@Ruben
Fascinating, on both counts :D
The beer was purchased in Belgium and I can drop the crate back on the next visit. The bottles (and this crate is but a very small fraction) are now mostly gone and so a restock is in order! ;)
I had a read up on Elite: fascinating. I really like the arrowhead shape of the ships and it's settled me on what I want to do, which I'll pick up idc over in Future Wars.
@All
Thanks very much for all the thoughts, which have helped me narrow down what I want to do. The beer crate idea is now terminated and a scratch built ship it shall be. :D
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The beer crate idea is now terminated and a scratch built ship it shall be. :D
Good man :D
cheers
James
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What about a few of these buddy?....
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a605/andymac2105/Mobile%20Uploads/ideasforikeaplasticbagholder_1429_zpsfnhspbt4.jpeg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/andymac2105/media/Mobile%20Uploads/ideasforikeaplasticbagholder_1429_zpsfnhspbt4.jpeg.html)
I got some of these cheap from Ikea to try and act as tower blocks. I think they're supposed to be laundry baskets . They're flat packed when you buy them, so once you've finished using them in a game you fold them back down to store away!
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Sorry steve I may have missed something but what has an unfinished scout ship got to do with your project?
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I've seen similar ideas in Necromunda, and there is of course the infamous vertical Necromunda board that appeared in WD all those years ago
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d6/61/34/d66134789713268c601a94ba4ba8b54f.jpg)
I've also seen here on LAF somebody who did a vertical rocket ship terrain board, but unfortunately I can't remember who it was. :(
In either case, I think it's a great idea with plenty of potential. :)
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What about a few of these buddy?....
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a605/andymac2105/Mobile%20Uploads/ideasforikeaplasticbagholder_1429_zpsfnhspbt4.jpeg) (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/andymac2105/media/Mobile%20Uploads/ideasforikeaplasticbagholder_1429_zpsfnhspbt4.jpeg.html)
I got some of these cheap from Ikea to try and act as tower blocks. I think they're supposed to be laundry baskets . They're flat packed when you buy them, so once you've finished using them in a game you fold them back down to store away!
They are plastic bag holders...
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They are plastic bag holders...
They certainly have potential, though.
I shall be checking them out, amongst other things, on the next trip to IKEA.
My missus will be so pleased..... ;)
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Sorry steve I may have missed something but what has an unfinished scout ship got to do with your project?
Long story:
Was clearing out, contemplated wargames recycling of beer crate, options included towerblock / mine internals / spaceship internals, thoughts sought from peers, a myriad of useful comment and advice received, decided that beer crate wouldn't work for tower block as too cratey so inclined towards spaceship, did more googling, stumbled across an interesting ship build project, learned the crate had a cash value (and sobbed inside at the literally hundreds of bottles already thrown away), swung from converting the crate to a more satisfying scratchbuild......
Short story:
Had an idea, didn't work out as envisaged, had great advice, had a change of mind
:D
Oh, and Andy's ikea thingies above look like they'd make much more interesting towers ;) :D