Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Coronasan on September 09, 2020, 07:34:12 PM
-
Some time ago in the days when we could still go to wargames shows and buy stuff, I bought a rather great cobblestone mat from Deep Cut Studio.
(https://www.deepcutstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dave-graffam-cobblestone-streets-games-mat-4x6.jpg)
Now all I needed was a few buildings to put on it. I could have gone off and bought some, but I decided that would be too easy and I wanted a project, because lets face it, we all need a project or ten to keep us busy.
Over the last couple of years, I have been learning how to use a rather dodgy Chinese CAD package for laser cutting and working out what it can and can't do. It really is very basic, but through trial and plenty of error, I can get it to do what I want, just about...
Cobbled streets need Tudor style buildings so I started a simple design to see what I could do, the first prototype was okay but need a lot more work to make it half decent.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/tudor03a.jpg)
I slapped some paint on to get an idea of what needed to be improved, quite a bit really, but that is what a test is for...
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/tudor03c.jpg)
The next version had thinner beams and a more irregular beam design, a huge improvement I think.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/tudor-house-3.jpg)
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/tudor-house-5.jpg)
I have ended up with a few designs based on this first basic structure which are okay for my first attempt.
My next design is a square building with a few options allowing several different looking buildings to be created from the core design.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/tudor-house-wip7.jpg)
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/tudor-house-wip8.jpg)
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/tudor-house-wip10.jpg)
There are a few others in the design an prototype stage and I hope to have enough to fill the cobble mat one day.
-
Looks good! The modular design seems to be just the thing.
The "irregular" beam layout seems... a bit too irregular. I'm sure the finished buildings will look fine, though.
-
look great - really interested to see how this goes
-
I have been on a building binge over the last couple of weeks, quite a few of the Tudor style houses are coming along.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-wip2-1.jpg)
I have used a nice mustard colour again on this one.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-wip5-1.jpg)
...and then a dark brown for the beams, which I still need to highlight before gluing it all together.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-wip6-1.jpg)
-
I now have each of the floors built.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-wip7.jpg)
These are square buildings so each floor and the roof can be rotated 90 degrees.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-wip10.jpg)
I try to avoid a flat and plain surface so added some extra beams under the roof eaves.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-wip8.jpg)
-
Very impressive build with your own laser cutter and cad work! Could I suggest an inexpensive book called Discovering timber framed buildings by Richard Harris and printed I think by Shire? Its a really excellent and comprehensive little book with lots of useful detail that I think might be helpful for you.
Best Iain
-
Another Tudorish building is finished, this is a test spire roof that was not easy to make. I ended up having to use matchsticks on the inside to get a join alongside the edges.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/tud07-with-spire-roof.jpg)
I did quite a light drybrushing of red over a black undercoat, I am pleased with how it came out.
-
Very impressive, you are right the red over black has come out nicely.
The windows look particularly good.
-
The latest work in progress addition to my expanding Tudorish town is a dice tower.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/dice-tower-wip-01.jpg)
As it is in sections, it can get pretty high.
I have some fixes to do, but I should be able to paint this version up anyway as none of the fixes are that big a deal.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/dice-tower-wip-02.jpg)
I am adding barn style doors to where the dice come out so it will hide the dice exit point if necessary.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/dice-tower-wip-03.jpg)
-
Thee are a few minor changes needed to the outer detail, but this is almost done.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/dice-tower-wip-07.jpg)
-
I think that's a good idea- I should probably make one for our ECW games.
-
Could I suggest an inexpensive book called Discovering timber framed buildings by Richard Harris and printed I think by Shire? Its a really excellent and comprehensive little book with lots of useful detail that I think might be helpful for you.
Best Iain
Thanks Iain, I got that book off a used book website for a couple of quid. It goes into plenty of detail, but I will have a go at a design that more closely follows period design.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/discovering-timber-framed-buildings.jpg)
-
That's going to look great and help to keep your table tidy too!
-
You would think at the moment there would be time to finish projects off, why is it so hard to stay focused?
Even the cat is accusing me of being a lazy.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/tudor-dice-tower-03.jpg)
It has been slow going the last few weeks...
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/tudor-dice-tower-04.jpg)
-
I needed to get a couple of bits recut for the dice tower, so have also started on another Tudorish design.
This will be something along the lines of a rich dudes town house.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/tudor-town-house-wip01.jpg)
To start with I have just mocked up the general ground level and what will be a balcony level, and I am trying out a new way of having the floors interlock.
I want to add stone effect etched mdf to the ground floor and have mostly half timber on the first floor and roof.
-
Excellent.
-
are the dice towers going to be commercially available?
-
are the dice towers going to be commercially available?
It may well be, I do not have my own laser cutter, but Jim at Products For Wargamers kindly cuts my designs and anything he like of mine will find its way into his range.
Usually, he sells most of his stuff at shows up and down the UK, but...
I will get some finished pictures up here soon, then it is up to Jim to get it sprued and on his website, it is nearly done...
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/tudor-dice-tower-05.jpg)
-
That dice tower is a bit clever!
Here is why I do not purchase laser cut MDF building: they tend to look as if drawn with the help of a straight ruler, and that is not to my taste with pre-industrialisation buildings.
It would be nice to see more posts on how MDF buildings are treated and converted to look more organic, if you know what I mean.
-
That dice tower is a bit clever!
Here is why I do not purchase laser cut MDF building: they tend to look as if drawn with the help of a straight ruler, and that is not to my taste with pre-industrialisation buildings.
It would be nice to see more posts on how MDF buildings are treated and converted to look more organic, if you know what I mean.
Thanks, my "style" is evolving as I do more designs. The first Tudorish buildings I did were far too straight edged and did not look very authentic. These later designs have plenty of "freehand" for the beams, but the central building is still around a box. I am going to try some designs with leaning walls...
(https://www.britain-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Crooked-House-Gallery.gif)
Something this wonky?
-
This Town House design is progressing, but I have found the roof made in one section warps a bit and does not sit flush on the balcony level, I need to make it in three sections I think.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/tudor-town-house-wip02.jpg)
Still lots of detail to add, but the stone effect around the arches looks pretty good.
-
Too many builds in progress at the moment which are at various stages.
This one has been in limbo for a little while, but I think I can finish it off with the bits I have cut so far.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/bridge-house-1.jpg)
This build has the ground and first floors of two smaller buildings along with a wide second floor that will link across a road.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/bridge-house-2.jpg)
-
I am working on the beams that go under each floor and around the outside of the main structure.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/bridge-house-3.jpg)
I have actually started with the roof and am working down, I am going to tile the roof with cardboard tiles and that will take a while.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/bridge-house-5.jpg)
When tiling a roof with cereal box card, I have so far always glued the shiny side down and painted the rougher side of the card. I have seen somewhere, the Terrain Tutor I think, that it is best to have the shiny side up. What is the consesus?
-
The "bridge house" is coming along, I have the main structure finished and in the process of being painted.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/bridge-house-7.jpg)
The roof is a very wide expanse and I am going to use card tiles give it some texture.
I am also going to make some new large chimney stacks to be positioned on the roof slope rather than sitting on the ridge. This should help break up the large flat surfaces.
-
I have painting and putting together my Town House build, the ground and first floors anyway as I still have work to do on the roof.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip03.jpg)
I have found it easier to paint most of the components before sticking them together and then touching up the edges.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip04.jpg)
Ground floor
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip07.jpg)
First floor
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip06.jpg)
Stonework layer attaching to the ground floor.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip08.jpg)
Once the beams are added to the first floor, it is looking much better. I am still trying to come up with a design for the roof that I like, ideally I want it in once section, but currently am trying three sections.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip09.jpg)
The first floor goes either way around so the appearance changes quite a bit.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip10.jpg)
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/tudor-town-house-wip11.jpg)
-
I have finally managed to get the redesigned roof section finished for my large Town House, I am quite happy with this version and will call it done.
So far it is just snapped together and is amazingly strong considering there is no glue in there yet.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/tudor-town-house-wip14.jpg)
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/tudor-town-house-wip15.jpg)
I now need to take it apart again and paint it as I glue it.
-
Are these easy to scale up or down once designed? Would love to purchase 15mm kits of these!
-
Are these easy to scale up or down once designed? Would love to purchase 15mm kits of these!
I know Jim at Products For Wargamers (https://productsforwargamers.com/) has reduced 28mm designs down to 15mm before. Doing the core shell is easy enough I imagine, it is the window patterns and beams that would need to be redrawn so they do not get too thin. I will ask...
-
I got some laser cut curved edge cardboard tiles as the thought of cutting these by hand gave me shivers. Cutting straight edged tiles is easy enough, but I really wanted some variety on the roofs on my models.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/curved-tiles-roof-2.jpg)
I tried them out on a small roof and they look really good.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/curved-tiles-roof-1.jpg)
I will get the roof painted over the weekend and then start thinking about buildign the rest of the house.
-
Painted the roof of this Tiny House!
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/curved-tiles-roof-3.jpg)
I tried painting individual tiles, took a while...and that is on a small roof.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/curved-tiles-roof-4.jpg)
-
After hand cutting loads of cradboard tile strips, I embarked on a much more complicated roof tiling exercise, as this roof has four dormer windows.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/tudor-town-house-wip16.jpg)
I completed the first roof section much quicker than I thought, the angles were not too difficult and it came together quite quickly.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/tudor-town-house-wip17.jpg)
It needs some drybrushing with some red paint next and a few final details to pick out, but I think I will be nearly finished with this one soon. This has been the most complicated Tudorish build I have undertaken, but I am pleased with the result.
-
coming along nicely.
-
I have finished the Town House!
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/tudor-town-house-wip18.jpg)
This build had been in progress since November with several goes at the roof until I got a design I liked.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/tudor-town-house-wip19.jpg)
I can now move on to the next design, a Blacksmiths.
-
Great looking home
-
Beautiful- I love it!
-
Excellent work.
-
Awesome look!
-
I am trying out a more complicated roof with three dormer windows and fitting the cardboard tiles in and around.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/dormer-roof-test-2.jpg)
I feel like I need to make some sort of template that will help with the strips between each dormer window...
-
Once I got going, the tiling did not take too long. The card tiles look so much better than leaving the roof in its raw state and just painted.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/dormer-roof-test-3.jpg)
I have to build the rest of the house next...once I get some more cut.
-
The dormer windows look excellent, as does the tiling, very nice work!
Best Iain
-
That townhouse is stunning.
-
I have added paper strips to the edges of the dormer windows which nicely hide the joins.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/dormer-roof-test-4.jpg)
I have also added some laser cut curved tiles to another small house, I am very happy with how these have turned out.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/tud11-tiling3.jpg)
-
You should be happy with those- they look great.
-
I have finished the large build with lots of dormer windows.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/dormer-roof-bridge-house-5.jpg)
As I built the roof first to see I could handle so many cardboard tiles going around lots of windows, I had to build and paint the rest of the building afterwards.
(https://coronasan.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/dormer-roof-bridge-house-6.jpg)
These were all hand cut tiles, I have since had plenty of laser cut strips cut so that will save some time on the rest of the buildings I still have to do.