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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: revford on May 29, 2009, 03:37:19 PM

Title: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 29, 2009, 03:37:19 PM
It's scenery building day here today, this time it's a Vietnamese village for our FNG campaign.  There is only so long the players can wander through the jungle and never see a civilian.  :)

Based on the excellent buildings by Matakishi, but scaled down from 28mm to 20mm.

You can see Matakishi's tutorial page here:

http://www.matakishi.com/vietnambuildings.htm

As The King of Cork, Matakishi used Cork board for the walls and BBQ skewers for supports, I used the materials I've got, corrugated cardboard from old boxes for walls and matches for supports.



Step one was cutting the flaps off the box to give me nice square corners to work from.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-01.jpg)

I have a 1:72 scale rule, perfect for this sort of thing, the matches I've got are 10' long, so I decided that the buildings should be 10' at the front and back, so I don't have to do much cutting on the matches.

Keeps things nice and simple.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-02.jpg)

It looks a good height against a mini, I've used a converted Weird Nam infantry minigunner as a test model.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-03.jpg)



So I marked up the cardboard at 10' and checked it was a good fit for the matches.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-04.jpg)

Then cut a 10' strip of wall.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-05.jpg)

Looking at Matakishi's plans and the size of the bases I'm going to use, it looked like 18' was a good width, so I sliced down two 18' walls from the 10' tall strip.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-06.jpg)



Next I measured up our test mini, he's almost 7' tall including his base and that base it 5' wide.  So the door needs to be 7' by 5'.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-07.jpg)

I marked up the door 2' from the edge of the wall, also marking a line 4' from the ground to be the bottom of the window height.  The window top is the 7' mark for the top of the door and the width of the window was drawn on by eye at a size that looked about right.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-08.jpg)

The door and window were then cut out.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-09.jpg)



Next stage was adding the supports, these were glued on with superglue to the front and back.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-10.jpg)


And there is the end of the first post on this, more to follow soon.
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mr. Peabody on May 29, 2009, 04:18:49 PM
Excellent! loving this. I took a much more complicated approach and I'm thinking I should have waited for you to start first! :o
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mad Carew Snr on May 29, 2009, 04:50:01 PM
Looking good - show us more!
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 29, 2009, 05:11:58 PM
Here we go with the next stage, I'm building this as I post so there will be gaps between stages as I build, photograph, edit the photos and post them up.  :)

First up, here is the completed front of building 1, with our models for scale, looks like a good fit so far.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-11.jpg)


Next to build the sides, these are 10' like the front and back, but sloping up to a point 12' high for the roof.  I marked off 10' and 12' heights then every 9' along, the walls are to be 18' long and I needed the middle points.  The marked in diagonals from the corners of the building up to the middle.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-12.jpg)

Then cut the sides out.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-13.jpg)

The matches being 10' and the height of the roof 12', I needed to measure and chop a few more feet of supporting match.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-14.jpg)
(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-15.jpg)

Then glue them on.  Here are the completed sides.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-16.jpg)

The roof needs to overhang a little, so 11' should do it.  20' wide will give us 1' overhang on each side.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-17.jpg)

And here are the completed walls for building one.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-18.jpg)

Next stage is some bases, old scrap CDs, with a bit of paper stuck over the hole with PVA, thanks to the local supermarket for sending some junk mail to use as model making paper.  :)

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-19.jpg)

I put on a DVD to watch while waiting on the glue.  Once the PVA looked dry enough, which took me to the bit in Aliens where the Marines almost shoot Newt thinking she's a monster, I glued the sides of the building onto the base.

It seemed easiest to stick the front wall on first and work backwards.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-20.jpg)

One set of walls done, I set about making a duplicate set, exactly as I'd done the first so I won't bore everyone with showing you the same thing all over again.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-21.jpg)

Two buildings.  :)

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-22.jpg)

The roofs are made of two 20' by 11' rectangles hinged with card.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-23.jpg)

Once I've textured the base, I'll attach the roofs properly, here is one held in place for now.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-24.jpg)

Next stage is texturing the bases with sand and PVA.  Which will take an age to dry, then texture the roofs.

I'm low on PVA so I'll see how far I can get.

More updates later.  :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mr. Peabody on May 29, 2009, 06:26:05 PM
This is better than TV, radio or torrents.  :-*

Bravo!
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: matakishi on May 29, 2009, 06:31:24 PM
Good so far, what are your plans for the roofs?
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 29, 2009, 06:37:55 PM
Cheers everyone.  :)

Good so far, what are your plans for the roofs?

I'm going to attempt your towel-as-thatch method, I just need to check with my lovely Wife which towels I can loot out of the cupboard.  :D


This I guess will be the "And Finally" for tonight, the pair of huts and a small pen, built the same way but from offcuts of the card all sitting in the sand.

They had a heavy coat of PVA over the entire base, indoors and out then coarse sand dumped over the whole lot.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-25.jpg)

This is going to take hours and hours to dry, so it's all being put aside until tomorrow.

All being well I'll get the roofs sorted tomorrow, that can dry over Saturday night and I can paint the whole lot on Sunday ready for the game on Tuesday night.  :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mad Carew Snr on May 29, 2009, 06:59:16 PM
Excellent!
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Yankeepedlar01 on May 29, 2009, 10:17:04 PM
Splendid effort, could be made for Pah Doc! ;)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 30, 2009, 10:40:16 AM
 lol

Okay, It's back to the project time, the glue has dried and given me an uneven and heavy base.

I've found a thin coat of glue gives a smooth, even finish, and a thick one a bumpy and more natural looking one.

The good thing about CDs as bases is they are very hard to warp.

Here is the finished texture:

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-26.jpg)
(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-27.jpg)

And here are the buildings with the base coat slapped on.  All covered in Burnt Umber acrylic, the same I've used on the jungle and the gaming boards.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-28.jpg)

Now to have some breakfast while that drys then some drybrushing.  :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Malamute on May 30, 2009, 11:14:05 AM
Looking cool. :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: DFlynSqrl on May 30, 2009, 12:44:26 PM
Nice project revford.  I've been thinking about adding some huts to my 20mm Vietnam as well.  Your project will be a good reference.  :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 30, 2009, 02:06:42 PM
Cheers again everyone.

The current plan is to build these two, then maybe two bigger buildings.  But I want to get this pair finished and see how they turn out first.

A little more progress, a first rough coat of paint on the building walls.  Once that settles I'll add a second coat, tidy up the posts and do the bases.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-29.jpg)

I'm going to do the base last as it's a drybrushy job and I want to get some of that dirt colour on the lower parts walls.  A slapdash job is going to look better than a neat one here.  :)

Later today I should be able to get some more PVA so I can have a crack at the roofs.
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 30, 2009, 09:16:55 PM
Well, other things kept me busy most of the day, but I did manage to get a second coat of paint and then some dirt on the buildings.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-30.jpg)

The dirt is a mix of black paint and the water I clean the brushes in, slapped over the buildings.  That should dull the bright colours down and break up the otherwise flat cardboard surfaces.

That can dry overnight and hopefully I'll get on with the roofs tomorrow.
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Hitman on May 30, 2009, 10:06:47 PM
Coming along nicely. Always good to see what others do to make such great looking terrain projects. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mr. Peabody on May 30, 2009, 10:43:18 PM
I can just see you rolling on the contact table now... "oh no! Pass 2, enemy considered to be hidden. Roll for In Sight check!"  And the peaceful little ville is suddenly crawling with Victor Charles.
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mad Carew Snr on May 30, 2009, 11:29:31 PM
Having watched "Charlie" slaughter my guys in a game only last night, I have to commiserate with whomever is in close contact with the occupants of those huts
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Navy Colt on May 31, 2009, 02:16:14 AM
Nice project!

cant wait to see the finished project!
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 31, 2009, 12:08:37 PM
I'm about to go attempt the most fiendish looking part of the construction, the thatched roof.

Camera at the ready I'll let you know how I get on soon.  :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on May 31, 2009, 12:59:22 PM
Okay, the thatching is done, time to let it set and see how that works out.  :)

First up, an old blue flannel.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-31.jpg)

I trimmed the edges off and lined up the ceiling on top, marking off the corner with plenty of slack as this could well suffer shrinkage.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-32.jpg)

Chopped that out.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-33.jpg)

Then did it again.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-34.jpg)

The top layers were cut out by eye to help the rough natural look.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-35.jpg)

Now time for the messy and sordid looking stage.  I didn't know quite what ratio of glue to water to use, so I guess about this much glue.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-36.jpg)

With this much water.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-37.jpg)

A good stir later and it looked like skimmed milk.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-38.jpg)

In with the first section of flannel.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-39.jpg)

Which is then put carefully over the roof already balanced on the building.  The little cross section follows it right up.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-40.jpg)

Then building two.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-41.jpg)

And the roofs assembled.

(http://revford.co.uk/images/scenery-nam-village-build-42.jpg)


Now it's time to let that dry out in the sunshine, with some luck I'll have a pair of hardened roofs that fit the buildings perfectly, should Mr and Mrs Cockup come around for tea, I'll have two soggy mashed lumps of cardboard and the chance to try a different method.  :)
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Mr. Peabody on May 31, 2009, 04:16:58 PM
I tried Matte Medium mixed w/ Future (Klear) for my teddy-bear fur thatch effort. The Matte stuff took the shine from the glossy floor finish and it dried nice and tough. Smells perfumey for a while after though.
TR
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Doomhippie on June 01, 2009, 06:58:13 PM
Thank you so much for this post. I have a ton of painted marines and VC yet no village to burn and commit attrocities to. I guess that will change pretty soon...
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on June 01, 2009, 07:45:07 PM
Latest update, the glue didn't set hard on the thatch, I guess my glue/water mix was way off.  :(

However it didn't ruin the rest of the work, so I'll give it another go.  :)

I have finished off the bases on the two buildings and the pen.

Somehow I've misplaced the camera, but when I find it I'll get some pictures of the progress so far and have another go at the roofs.
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Doomhippie on June 01, 2009, 09:08:11 PM
Some painter told me last year never to use more than 10% water with white glue. Maybe that helps...
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: Kestrel on June 01, 2009, 09:33:27 PM
Having watched "Charlie" slaughter my guys in a game only last night, I have to commiserate with whomever is in close contact with the occupants of those huts

That'll be me tomorrow night I suspect, unless I am lucky and manage to fail 2 - In which case I'll be the back up to help extract someone else. lol
Title: Re: Building a village for Nam
Post by: revford on June 01, 2009, 09:56:16 PM
Some painter told me last year never to use more than 10% water with white glue. Maybe that helps...

Cheers Man, I'll give it a try like that.