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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 14, 2006, 10:58:39 PM

Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 14, 2006, 10:58:39 PM
Well going with the hope that there will be a witch hunter version of 45A in the future, I decided to start building "Black Moor Keep". I know stupid name, but I couldnt think of anything better. I also figure that this can be used for pulp, withc hunter, horror, Weird war tales, swashbuckling etc..

(http://heritage-studios.com/images/P8100004.JPG)

so far that is the base for it.  the base measures 24 by 48 inches.  the white section on the top is the foot print for the actual Keep/castle.



here you an see the other side where the trail leads to the top.  it ends abruptly at the bottom, as that is where the bridge is going.  the bottom will be filled with clear resin to simulate water once the sides are attached(http://heritage-studios.com/images/P8100005.JPG)

and finally an overhead shot to show the entire thing:

(http://heritage-studios.com/images/P8100007.JPG)

you can see the back edge is stepped down.  that is going to be the dungeoon area. I still have more scenic work to do on the  base, but overall, that is what is is going to looklike.

and YES, I do live in the middle of the woods......  just in case you were wondering  :)
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: WitchfinderGeneral on August 14, 2006, 11:13:31 PM
Looks good so far.
How do you make the rough surface of the stone wall?
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 14, 2006, 11:49:18 PM
WFG,
  the mountain is made out of pink insulation foam.  I hand carve the detail in it.  I've never been fond of the look when using a hot wire machine.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Etranger on August 15, 2006, 07:43:02 AM
Nice to see a traditional name being used!  :)
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Driscoles on August 15, 2006, 11:19:36 AM
That looks great so far ! And I like the name !

And you have a nice forrest around you. Inspriring ?

Cheers
Björn
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Grimm on August 15, 2006, 12:06:13 PM
It looks good but lets see how it looks when it is finished
Hey did you ask the Blair witch if she like it ?
Grimm
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: WitchfinderGeneral on August 15, 2006, 01:42:43 PM
Quote from: "Prof. Dietrich Hes"
I hand carve the detail in it. I've never been fond of the look when using a hot wire machine.


I have seen people working the foam with heat or etching it to get the surface structured. But your way looks the best.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: PeteMurray on August 15, 2006, 03:07:32 PM
It's an awesome start! I really like how imposing it will be.

Those aren't the Blair Witch's woods, but it's part of the same mountain range where the Blair Witch lives. She lives a bit further South from the Professor.

The Appalachien Mountains are astoundingly wierd and their own kind of creepy, especially when the fog is in.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 15, 2006, 03:31:45 PM
Pete,
  With some of the things around here, it might as well be the blair witch woods!  Remember "Mauch Chunk" is only down the mountain   :D

WFG,
  thanks for the compliment.  I'm not saying I am the best at this or anything along those lines, but I did work for a long time doing scenery for custom model railroad layouts.  So it isnt so much that I am "good", its the fact that I know alot of tricks to make things look good.

If anyone is interested, I can do a tutorial at some point to show how I do it.

Does anyone know where does the name come from? I know it isnt original, but it stuck in my head, but I dont know the origin

Pretty soon, my hirst art blocks will get here and I will be able to get started.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Driscoles on August 15, 2006, 05:47:41 PM
Please do a Tutorial !
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 15, 2006, 07:56:30 PM
Driscoles,
  Do you want to see anyting specific?  I can do a whole board tutorial for a 16x16 45A board.  

How about a crevasse with a rope bridge with water at the bottom?

A tomb entrance in a moutain face?

a crag with ruins on top?

a waterfall with hidden cave behind it?

you name it I will give it a go.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Operator5 on August 15, 2006, 08:08:42 PM
I just want to know how you made the cliff face. What techniques, what tools? It looks great.

Rich
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: DarkWingDuck on August 15, 2006, 08:36:35 PM
I find I'm agreeing with Rich alot. :-)

I think a tutorial on how you did the rock face would be great.

I tried to do something simliar a couple of months ago and it came out somewhat "uniform". I like the look you got alot better than what I got.

For my attempt at this, I used the tutorial found at the hirstarts site.

http://www.hirstarts.com/tips9/tips9.html#theory

I've got some pictures floating around of my attempt:
(http://home.comcast.net/~chroniclesfromthepit/pics/terrain/cliff_test.jpg)

See ... not as nice as yours. (BTW, I ended up likeing the bottom one best, but due to issues with stability ended up scrapping/delaying the project (until I could find a cure)).
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 15, 2006, 09:57:51 PM
Rich,
 my main tool is a screwdriver and my second tool is my thumb.  I guess you can call it a scratch and rub technique.  I do some misc. gauging with a knife and a sheetrock saw, but like I said, its all about thescrewdriver and rubbing it off (that almost sounds dirty)

I'll get cracking on a quick tutorial for you this evening.  

Dark wing.  
  the base looks real good on that piece.  The major thing I notice between the top and bottom is the size of the detail.  the top is very broad where the bottom is finer.  if you go back and make the top section finer in detail it would look much better.

my only otehr comment in regards to the piece is the top edge where the vertical meets the flat area.  it is too square.  if you notice in my piece, I "rolled" alot of section but then left some squared off.  It makes a major difference.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Etranger on August 15, 2006, 11:17:21 PM
Quote from: "Prof. Dietrich Hes"

Does anyone know where does the name come from? I know it isnt original, but it stuck in my head, but I dont know the origin....


There are lots of "Blackmoor" names in the UK (& probably elsewhere) but the Blackmoor I was thingking [thinking even  :? ]of was one of the very earliest D & D settings (long predating AD&D) & originated with Dave Arneson's "First Fantasy Campaign", I've got the Judges Guild version somewhere....

Blackmoor lives on.... http://www.dablackmoor.com/MMRPG/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=38
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Driscoles on August 16, 2006, 07:57:20 AM
How about a crevasse with a rope bridge with water at the bottom?
A tomb entrance in a moutain face?
a crag with ruins on top?
a waterfall with hidden cave behind it?

ALL OF THEM PLEASE  !!!!

you know I love scenery. The pictures you posted here look great. Especially this cliff sort of thing. I wanna do this also in the near future and would appreciate if you can tell me your techniques, material, colors etc... Iam sure other are curious as well.  
Thank you
Björn[/i]
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 16, 2006, 04:19:09 PM
Bjorn, I'll see what I can knock out for you.
I started some sketches of how to make a board with some of the listed elements in it.  I'll do a start to finish so you can see all the steps.

on a side note, I couldnt sleep last night so I refined the layout for the keep.  Here are some 3D images of it from my drafting package


(http://heritage-studios.com/blackmoor/Blackmoor1.GIF)

(http://heritage-studios.com/blackmoor/blackmoor2.GIF)

(http://heritage-studios.com/blackmoor/cellblock.GIF)

you can see from the last image, when I make stairs I make them playable.  the "step" is 1 inch with a half inch rise.  that way for measuring or even fighting up and down the stairs are usable.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: DarkWingDuck on August 16, 2006, 04:49:17 PM
Quote from: "Prof. Dietrich Hes"
Rich,
Dark wing.  
  the base looks real good on that piece.  The major thing I notice between the top and bottom is the size of the detail.  the top is very broad where the bottom is finer.  if you go back and make the top section finer in detail it would look much better.

my only otehr comment in regards to the piece is the top edge where the vertical meets the flat area.  it is too square.  if you notice in my piece, I "rolled" alot of section but then left some squared off.  It makes a major difference.


FYI, Those are 4 seperate pieces. :-) I was testing different techniques. I've a whole hex based system I made awhile back, but the cliff pieces I used a hotwire cutter and never liked the effect. I recut some down and tried the hirstarts method (in several slightly different ways). Those are my 4 test pieces. Unfortunately, since I had to cut out the original cliff face, the pieces are too wobbly to actually use on a tabletop. Until I can find a solution to that problem (remake all the cliff pieces from scratch isn't appealing), I'm taking a hiatus from working on the hex terrain.

The idea about rolling the top edge since it's too square is a good one. I'll keep it in mind should I ever remake these things. Although if I redid this project, I'd probably ditch the hexes and just make modular hills.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Driscoles on August 16, 2006, 11:35:49 PM
Thanks for the 3 d images and your time.

They give me an idea of how it works and I think that can help me with my U-Boot Bunker at the North Pole.

Playable stairs are really useful and they prevent your minis from falling   during a game !
Björn
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 17, 2006, 02:57:53 AM
Bjorn,
 if you need any help laying anything out, please feel free to ask.  I can easily take the blocks from one image and make another.  I like working with the drafting package.  I also enjoy the challenges some pieces are.  I woldnt mind helping do a U-Boat bunker.  that can be fun.

Stairs are my bigeet hangup sometimes.  I like every inch to be playable, especialyl in a skirmish game.  for the rules 'gloire" and the tavern I am buiilding, I used the same concept.  That way you can fight up and down the stairs.
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Driscoles on August 17, 2006, 09:49:13 AM
I will Prof,
thanks for offering !
Björn
Title: The start of Black Moor Keep
Post by: Prof. Dietrich Hes on August 18, 2006, 03:16:00 PM
Bjorn,
 no problem.  Like I said, the "blocks" are already setup and it wont be too much effort.  so when you need help let me know

I'm still designing a spiral staircase, that is proving to be a difficult design.  Its easy on a penny round base, but on 1 inch bases it gets very bulky.

Cross your fingers, I hope my shipment is coming in today, which means  I will be able to start building soon.