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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Mad Guru on 21 February 2017, 10:24:54 AM

Title: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Mad Guru on 21 February 2017, 10:24:54 AM
Just posted on my blog about the tower of the title, which I kind of fell into building without having planned it out much.

It's still unpainted, but I've been working on it for a couple of months so felt like being pretty much done with the construction part was cause for both rejoicing and sharing with the outside world.  

As is often the case with me, I took WAY WAY too many photos during the course of the build, and posted almost all of them on my blog.  If that doesn't scare you away, please come by and visit for a more detailed visual record of the somewhat slapdashed process.

BLOG LINK: http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-accidental-hill-fort.html (http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-accidental-hill-fort.html)

In the meantime, here's some highlights:

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P46S7bbR6mY/WKbAXSiIzJI/AAAAAAAAQd0/fgqHQtPBjGszcurHTtT9z2xWyB5sBe5lwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYhXM55AHV0/WKbAYydB5_I/AAAAAAAAQeQ/sfQHaIjsuoI4P3u22bpezAkrdOf1l5YSgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6G2tug2LgtI/WKbAaOcVt5I/AAAAAAAAQek/oqmw5TkaaZEmhQ9VPUcEqUF0HxAa7BwHgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pytUYD67RI/WKbAb2xY46I/AAAAAAAAQfM/y-IlHZJ2VuMiFe8NXQEfIBG7QpAAYGRBQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FKm3Z1A6PQ/WKbAcZqfUOI/AAAAAAAAQfQ/X6mvylfazbYMgF2IRhB2BNXIO2pF7iSIwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6j_5KUteFY/WKbAfe00nLI/AAAAAAAAQgI/6VeBjobRvsgSCv--VK08X1yfIDHsnMUJgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6T94zD_2tk/WKbAhIOzDVI/AAAAAAAAQgo/icQDrQ3BXjMccR3Ji3iBDTnB1Vmr0stVQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJicGJbgcO0/WKbAkNeV2iI/AAAAAAAAQhg/5tPcLG8ZMvIT-Zdr-grsg7MhpSRmzx9UACLcB/s1600/IMG_1427.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psqsZ8pcoOA/WKbB3qQV_oI/AAAAAAAAQj8/81LbDBBkB5k60HjK4RVwOyreovbI9GwcwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYi_J4z6KRA/WKbImQ6n9sI/AAAAAAAAQnE/n8qzPbYzBhEVMEuaD7QvcnNi3rM8ZT79wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5T2zFNfxB0/WKcpipRNmhI/AAAAAAAAQo4/9YyQLcb20L8Jh8Sqc3wokBayfTDmFPS7ACLcB/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6GicJI57Ivg/WKcpi1jtw0I/AAAAAAAAQpA/ivM7TFfZF1Yz5iTnEo8bW6cqh7RDk4ulACLcB/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EhRLRgrYEOU/WKcpvjc_bvI/AAAAAAAAQtA/KBpjVXGvH14-zxIwVARzqSoSp4vvkpwVACLcB/s1600/IMG_2871.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoRfRLP-vAo/WKcp1IHVfGI/AAAAAAAAQu0/A0fZEsOaRTAq9k2Sz3iWnVIVbusrkx--QCLcB/s1600/IMG_3531-2.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_roXpRf311Q/WKcp1xm_gcI/AAAAAAAAQvI/l2wUb23EOu0tbO14539w4V9uSJMDhcIUQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3553-2.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nf7oTNd4KgA/WKcp1vxfvLI/AAAAAAAAQu8/orKgn0fuNKUzL1s-mha732Ll2n_8nU2RQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3534-2.JPG)
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: marianas_gamer on 21 February 2017, 10:37:58 AM
Wow! Love it and all the disreputable rogues infesting it! No such thing as too many pictures of a build like this :-* :-* :-*
LB
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Deedles on 21 February 2017, 10:39:37 AM
looking good
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Sir Rodney Ffing on 21 February 2017, 11:41:57 AM
Wow!  Hard to believe it started out so downright crappy, but ended up looking like that.  Very impressed, and I only wish I had your patience and skill at scratch building. 
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: wulfgar22 on 21 February 2017, 05:26:10 PM
Wot he (Sir Rodney Ffing) said!  :-*
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Wirelizard on 21 February 2017, 06:17:20 PM
That looks fantastic, and that Cooch stone sheet stuff is a nice find. I think I have to wander over to our local model railroad/hobby shop and see if they carry that stuff.

I especially like that it's entirely separate from the underlying hill so you can still use just the hill by itself as needed.
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Rich H on 21 February 2017, 06:18:59 PM
Great work!
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Andrei1975 on 21 February 2017, 06:24:50 PM
It's like always looks great. Bravo.
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Vagabond on 21 February 2017, 06:50:45 PM
Well I'm pleased someone said it before me, I started looking through the pics and thought what a load of c**p and finished thinking - this is brilliant. :-*

It's a bit like the little lad who rang his Dad at work and said Dad - I was playing football and you know the big picture window, well I've broken the little one next to it.

I don't normally frequent this board, looks like I have been missing a lot. I like your terrain board as well, nice colour tones on it and the tufts add alot to the look of it. I want to do a board to suit the US south west for western games and this looks the part. Do you have other pics posted. - I know I could search but a bit lazy.

Cheers
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Mad Guru on 22 February 2017, 12:51:37 AM
Thanks very much for all the positive feedback, guys, even that which came as a surprise after thinking it would deserve negative feedback!

@Marianas: glad to see my cast of disreputable rogues appeals to you!

@Deedles: thanks!

@Sir Rodney: I appreciate the compliment and your use of "cr*%%y" did make me laugh, sir!

@Wulfgar: ditto to above!

@Wirelizard: here in the USA, most if not all model RR shops stock those bendable Cooch stone sheets.  I've used them before and IMHO they're quite excellent -- and I agree, keeping the tower REMOVABLE was a big win for me, though it did make building it much more difficult.

@Rich & Andrei: thank you very much, you are both too kind!

@Vagabond: Glad to hear you like my terrain boards.  I built them way back in 2010, for the 130th anniversary of the battle of Maiwand.  In fact, though built for Afghanistan, having driven around much of the Southwestern US, I would agree they would serve well as terrain for some of the Indian Wars.  In fact, I also used them for several Camerone games, needless to say set in Mexico.

The basic color scheme consists of 3 colors:

1) base coat of BROWN (it's an off-the-shelf shade from Home Depot, but very close to CraftSmart "Brown";

2) heavy dry-brush of HONEYCOMB (caramel color from Delta Ceramcoat craft paints);

3) highlight of SANDSTONE (pale sand color from Delta Ceramcoat craft paints).


Other colors used on various terrain features for the same table, such as dry water courses, rocks, and hills, include:

4) MUDSTONE (drab gray-brown from Delta Ceramcoat)

5) FAWN (darkish khaki color from Americana craft paints)

Here's a LINK to a post I did a little over 2 years ago, about building a river board to match with this same ground cover:

http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2014/12/form-of-kabul-river-ii.html (http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2014/12/form-of-kabul-river-ii.html)

As usual with my blog, it has a ton of pics, but here's one to give you an idea:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--m-4Z1uUSrU/VJ_K3ob0WcI/AAAAAAAALMI/eepL-56frRI/s1600/IMG_1100.JPG)

If you're interested in the rocky hills, here's a link to the tutorial I posted when I built my first -- and probably still best -- one:

http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2012/01/afghannwf-rocky-hill-goes-vertical-back.html (http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2012/01/afghannwf-rocky-hill-goes-vertical-back.html)

Last but not least, re: the "tufts" of scrub brush... they are sprigs of plastic artificial greenery, plucked off the plastic branch, given a wash of Delta Ceramcoat ANTIQUE GOLD.  Bought at Michael's arts & crafts stores, Simple and inexpensive but effective.  Glad you like them!
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Vagabond on 22 February 2017, 08:05:39 AM
Thanks - I will read through when I have a bit more time, looks good though :)
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Sparrow on 22 February 2017, 06:28:36 PM
Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: JBaumal on 02 March 2017, 03:46:49 AM
MG, another awesome build! This piece is excellent, the WIP is so detailed, truly inspirational. My involvement in this project was minimal at best, simply supportive. Its hard to believe you actually made this tower removable from the hill. I'm really looking forward to the finished painted version. I can't wait to either attack or defend this structure in a game the near future.....

Cheers,
JB
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower build
Post by: Mad Guru on 12 March 2017, 05:39:47 AM
@Sparrow: You are very welcome, and thanks very much for the kind words!

@JB: My friend, the feeling is mutual!  Can't wait for you (and Danny Boy) to attack or defend it as well!

@Vagabond: Hope the terrain board painting tutorial was of some use -- speaking of which, PAINTING is what brings me back to this thread, as I just put up a new post on my blog re: painting my Afghan/NWF Hill Tower/Mud Fort.

I am very happy with how it turned out.  Here's a LINK to the post showing some photos of the finished piece on my blog...

http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/03/tower-of-paint.html (http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/03/tower-of-paint.html)  

...and here's a few teaser pics:

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EEvo_DWhvqk/WMSxhEsYcmI/AAAAAAAAQ1o/OPcVZPZg-P87lZhTGS24eeOTAfqDwQ3VACLcB/s1600/IMG_4056-2.JPG)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4KS7uOT-TU/WMSxghtwhoI/AAAAAAAAQ1g/11JifS2aWHk0Os9y_3GUzbhliTMSI6kxwCLcB/s1600/IMG_4054.JPG)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOHrMNWfHu8/WMSxf7AxheI/AAAAAAAAQ1U/LTRDbCQKnZkVdkb7Tk4BEnWd1qEgFR5QACLcB/s1600/IMG_4040.JPG)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fuy9bdcScws/WMSxgOn4H0I/AAAAAAAAQ1c/ptCNmQnYw6IcVlQ7u1yKXFx5hJeNaRnPgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4050.JPG)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GYreOxoJ7oQ/WMSw-q3gPJI/AAAAAAAAQ00/iBMzA267K9cHMrY59KKk8Rn0VfhhYTPKQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG)

Hope you like the pics, and if you decide it's worth your time to visit my blog and see a few more, THANKS in advance for doing so!

...and here's another handy link, to save you having to scroll back up on this thread:

http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/03/tower-of-paint.html (http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/03/tower-of-paint.html)
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Sparrow on 12 March 2017, 07:58:51 AM
Looks brilliant  :-*
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Furt on 12 March 2017, 10:37:46 AM
Amazing build - loved how it turned out!!  :-*

This is one of the best NWF hill forts I have ever seen.

Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Anderson Collection on 12 March 2017, 11:52:22 AM
Its a terrific build Ethan Kudos  my friend!
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Marine0846 on 12 March 2017, 02:24:11 PM
A super job.
Really love it.
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Vanvlak on 12 March 2017, 02:40:43 PM
That's rather nice!  :o 8) :-*
It's a beauty; I also like you're model painting - and bugler Din in particular!
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Mad Guru on 15 March 2017, 08:53:51 PM
Thanks for the very kind comments, Sparrow, Furt, Willie, Marine0846, and Vanvlak.

@Vanvlak: I can't take credit for another man's work!  That beautiful Gunga Din figure (from PULP FIGURES https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/149 (https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/149)) was painted by Igor Olshansky, who goes by "Igwarg" in the hobby world, a very talented painter here in the USA, resposible for painting almost all of my Second Afghan War armies, who sadly no longer paints for anyone but himself.  I heartily agree with you, "bugler Din" does look great!

NOTE: since first posting the finished tower on my blog, I have gone back and added a detailed TUTORIAL on its painting and weathering.  If interested, you can check it out here:

http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/03/tower-of-paint.html (http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2017/03/tower-of-paint.html)
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Iain R on 19 March 2017, 01:24:27 PM
That is truly incredible! Stunning work!  :-* :-* :-*

I'm working on one in 20mm, albeit far more simplistic and workmanlike; if it turns out half as nice as that , I'll be happy...
Title: Re: Afghan/NWF Hill Tower PAINTED (3/11/17)
Post by: Chairface on 19 March 2017, 08:52:04 PM
Absolutely top notch