Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: 6milPhil on May 16, 2013, 04:15:00 PM
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I'm working on some wall sections, primarily for Aghani style compounds, but also usable for North Africa, and possibly Wild West Mexican type buildings.
At the moment the gate sections are the most exciting to look at;
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04179.jpg?w=660)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04180.jpg?w=660)
I'm using a material which is new to me, Foamex board, which is similar to foamboard but with a much tougher core. It's very workable, and looks as if it'll make better masters than foamboard. Usually masters of any size using foamboard break apart on being taken out of the mould. Also it doesn't have the sandwich edge of foamboard, nor is the core fussy about paint or glue. BIG thanks to Geronimo for pointing this one out to me. I highly recommend it.
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interesting material, any link to any shop?
I very like the doors, for the walls we've to see the stonework before commenting ;)
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Well the walls will be rendered, so apart from the occasional piece of damaged render you won't see much brickwork.
Foamex link: http://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/pvc-foamex-board/
also available on ebay, plus approach you local sign makers. One near me has a pile of scraps which are useless to them but perfect for me.
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i use Forex, is it much different? Forex is pretty solid, cutting it is not that easy. How's for this foamex?
Well the wals will be rendered, so apart from the occasional piece of damaged render you won't see much brickwork.
ok! Will you texturize it, then? :)
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i use Forex, is it much different? Forex is pretty solid, cutting it is not that easy. How's for this foamex?
ok! Will you texturize it, then? :)
I think forex is a trademarked type of foamex. The 10mm looks interesting to cut.
The texture will be a paint render rather than a sculpt.
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I think forex is a trademarked type of foamex. The 10mm looks interesting to cut.
The texture will be a paint render rather than a sculpt.
ah! i thought you were going to cast it in resin! :)
Ok, if it is the same material, i REALLY reccomend it as well. I've a seller of that material very near, and it's great to work with!
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Yes it will be cast in resin.
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Almost all of them up to the same stage, namely baically shaped, all carving done, attached top bases and those bases re-enforced. Next rendering...
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04181-001.jpg?w=822)
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Looks great, looking forward in seeing the rendering
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Applied the render, which is in a fetching brown reminding me of a dirty protest, and the fine sand I've used is in a lime yellow. This has produced the garish masters I've ever made. Five low wall sections, five high, two doors, two transitions, one pair high corners and one pair low corners. They're all 90mm wide, bar the the corners.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04182-001.jpg?w=660)
Boxed ready for the rubber.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04183-001.jpg?w=660)
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Nice. Ill need some of these for my Afghan stuff ill be starting soon.
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Nice indeed! can we see a closeup of the texturized wall?
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Awsome stuff! How do you make so much in such little time lol
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Thanks guys, well I ignore family and friends and sit there and do it. o_o
All the test casts worked, here's just a couple of pieces with a Assault Group figure for scale. I'm about to paint these which will really help bring the texture out... I'm thinking of doing two or three 180mm long wall sections - do folk think that's a good idea?
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04187-001.jpg?w=660)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04188-001.jpg?w=660)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04189-001.jpg?w=660)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04191-001.jpg?w=660)
Now the paint!
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Wow they did work didn't they :-*
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mmm, the shape is really nice, but the texture looks a little unrealistic to me, imho.
The doors, on the other hands, are really sweet!
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Thanks. It'll work when painted, when I saw similar buildings in my travels in Pakistan and Ethiopia they were incredibly rough, which is what I've replicated. ;)
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I really like the look of these Phil, very nice indeed. You've now got my under the illusion that I could cast my own stuff! I suspect you make it look far easier than it is!
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Thanks.
I highly recommend it, although it is a steep learning curve but also a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows. Fortunately I've got to the stage, after just over two years, were I'm making masters which don't break or otherwise muck up in the rubber, plus the moulds cast fine first time. I'm still very much an amateur compared to some of the folk I know.
The key is in making rock solid masters, which is the same as making models for the tabletop but takes about twice as long... once you've mastered that the rest is easy.
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I've been put off in the past by the variety of mould rubbers, release agents and resins. I figured maybe a trial in plaster might be an idea? Then I could get exactly what I wanted!
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Thanks.
I highly recommend it, although it is a steep learning curve but also a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows. Fortunately I've got to the stage, after just over two years, were I'm making masters which don't break or otherwise muck up in the rubber, plus the moulds cast fine first time. I'm still very much an amateur compared to some of the folk I know.
The key is in making rock solid masters, which is the same as making models for the tabletop but takes about twice as long... once you've mastered that the rest is easy.
I second any word, making moulds is a lovely activity. And any first cast... is like a child. :)
Well, less painful.
a tutorial here, if interested. :)
http://www.thelazyforger.com/tutorials/making-moulds/
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I've been put off in the past by the variety of mould rubbers, release agents and resins. I figured maybe a trial in plaster might be an idea? Then I could get exactly what I wanted!
I can see how that could be confusing, if you want any tips just pm me. Basically the rubber comes in different softnesses, the softer it is the fewer casts per mould, but the better it is for finer detail. The resins are simple, just go for the modern German made ones, avoid the old polyester. The biggest outlay would be for a vacuum chamber, but you could make one.
The first casts I did were plasticine and plaster, but you might just find that disheartening.
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Cheers Phil. I may just pick your brains via a PM! Thanks, Steve.
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All the casts are being painted but I've made three more pieces.
Firstly a taller door, great fun carving out the brick work pillars. I've deliberately made this slightly askew to look old and not too well made.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04198-001.jpg?w=480)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04199-001.jpg?w=480)
I kept the detail on the shorter wall sections quite plain, because if you use a few of the same piece the repeatition of detail can be distracting, so on these two longer sections (180mm) I put in a lot of detail.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04197-001.jpg?w=480)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04196-001.jpg?w=480)
One thing I have noticed is the occassional filled in window or door in an old wall, true of a lot of architecture, so I've put a filled window on one and a filled door on the other. These are bricked on one side, and rendered on the other but with a different texture.Although they stick out at the moment once painted it will be more subtle.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04194-001.jpg?w=480)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04202-001.jpg?w=480)
I've also got a compound building underway, but trying to do something a little different.
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The sections above are now in rubber, which gave me time to finish painting.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04209-001.jpg?w=960)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04208-001.jpg?w=960)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04206-001.jpg?w=960)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04207-001.jpg?w=960)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04211-001.jpg?w=960)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04213-001.jpg?w=960)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04212-001.jpg?w=960)
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Looking good!
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Brilliant, might actually pull my finger out and give making some myself - though I want to try a more dry stone wall type.
Did you make a vacuum chamber yourself, or are these just 'straight' casts?
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No I bought a vaccuum chamber, started with a small one, now have a slightly bigger one.
Painted up the two long sections and the highe door... these should be in the catalogue this week...
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04214-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04215-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04218-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04219-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04216-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04217-001.jpg?w=720)
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Got the buildings doen to completment the wall sections. I wanted to make something with some variety. Originally I considered kit buildings with choices for walls etc, but I thought that might not be as quickly useful as more standard buildings.
So I've started with this basic building...
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04222-001.jpg?w=720)
... and then built a L-Shaped extension which fits all four corners of the basic building.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04226-001.jpg?w=674)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04225-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04224-001.jpg?w=710)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04223-001.jpg?w=720)
Then I've built a shed like extension which can also be added.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04227-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04229-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04228-001.jpg?w=720)
So three pieces, all with lift-out roofs offering a wide range of building choice. You can glue these together or keep them seperate. These all work with the wall sections.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc04230-001.jpg?w=720)
There will be some smaller additional details, like a staircase. Anyone have any suggestions for additional, er... additions?
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Great modular set up Phil. What about a 2 storey extension?
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Great modular set up Phil. What about a 2 storey extension?
Yep good idea... on the list. Thanks!
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Very nice, the walls especially, they are rather tasty, Brookes minis used to do something like that.
I wonder if you could knock up sdome corrugated iron rooves whihc could sit on them, give you more variations too :D
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I have been looking at different roofs, like a dome, which isn't accurate but gameable. Corrugated is a good one, maybe for the shed. Thanks. 8)
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Doors and windows for the buildings, not great photos, so apologies for that.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04231-001.jpg?w=720)
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04232-001.jpg?w=720)
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Great little project 8)
cheers
James
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Loving every bit of this :).
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Missed this so far as I've been away from home and barely had time for the internet, but this looks fantastic. Interwar NWF/3rd Anglo-Afghan War and related pulp-flavoured stuff is a project I might start up later this year, so this is relevant to my interests, as they say out on the internets. :D
I mostly scratchbuild my own buildings, but could see getting a couple sets of the doors and windows for dressing my own stuff up, if those are going to be available separately.
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Glad you're enjoying it, do occasionally think it might be a trifle boring for folk, and that's the greatest sin of all. >:(
Yes the doors & windows will be available as a set seperate from the buildings, they're in rubber as I type. The wall sections are in the catalogue now, plus I found the button to make the file a lot smaller. That'll be available in about half an hour.
e2a: I think I might have degraded the catalogue too much... what do you think? http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/slugindustriesjune2013web.pdf (http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/slugindustriesjune2013web.pdf)
Hmmm this is bigger but much better I think::: http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/slugindustriesjune2013web1.pdf (http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/slugindustriesjune2013web1.pdf)
I'm currently making 2 piece moulds for the modular buildings. Is it worth taking photos of it?
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Phil
The stuff in your catalogue looks great...will come back soon
In terms of additions for your NWF buildings what about a slightly larger basic building? That way the smaller one could sit on top to create the two storey version.
Equally this would create a bit more variety in the various constructs.
Eric
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Phil
The stuff in your catalogue looks great...will come back soon
In terms of additions for your NWF buildings what about a slightly larger basic building? That way the smaller one could sit on top to create the two storey version.
Equally this would create a bit more variety in the various constructs.
Eric
Allo Eric, hope Shed Jnr. is well. I'll be making a smaller building to go on the rooftops of the two largest ones. The biggest one is 130x90mm which might sound small but you could fit a dozen 25mm based figures in it. If I make a larger one it might start to get pricey and I'm trying to keep everything reasonable... unless some bloke with a shed comes along and wants to preorder half a dozen of them. :D
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I'd love to see the process of the moulds being made. Always intrigued to see the magic happening.
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I'd love to see the process of the moulds being made. Always intrigued to see the magic happening.
Me too particularly interested in seeing how double moulds are made ;)
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For your viewing pleasure... 8) Being basically a box this is not the most exciting two-part mould you could ever make but it shows the basic principles.
Here's the model temporarily based on a sheet of plasticard, with a figure for scale.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04235.jpg?w=440)
internal wall added to make the resulting mould easier to remove casts from, and plasticine added to block the door and window and also all around the bottom edge to prevent leaks. The inside of the building will form one part of the two part mould, this is to make any resulting mould lines inside and below the roof line. Purely cosmetic really.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04236.jpg?w=440)
Balls are added to the inside plasticine, to help the finished mould sit neatly together.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04237-001.jpg?w=660)
It's then partially filled with rubber, degassed in the vacuum chamber and then topped up to the roof supports.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04238-001.jpg?w=660)
Once cured, a couple of cuts are made in the top, which like the balls above will help hold everything in place during casting. Then a box is added around the outside.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04241-001.jpg?w=440)
First a few coats of wax are srayed over the exposed rubber, to stop the rubbers fusing together, then a small amount of rubber is added over the model which is then degassed and topped up. This has been degassed a second time and the photo shows it before it's settled.
(http://6milphil.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dsc04242-001.jpg?w=440)
Next up... taking the master out and test casting.
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Ghosts in the machine...
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this is very cool...
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this is very cool...
this in bucket loads 8)
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Just got some of the walls.
Excellent bits of kit; very well sculpted (the doors are especially nice) and my worry about the walls being too rough were unfounded when I got them in my sticky mitts.
This range is invaluable for scratchbuilding and highly recommended.
Nice 1 Phil....
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Glad you like them. I had taken the photo which folk thought was a little too rough with harsh shadows to show the detail - glad it worked for you too. :)
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Phil :D just wondering will you be making some of these for sale?
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Yes. The wall sections are available, the buildings in about 10 days.
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Pm well and truly sent! :D
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Well just recieved these and might I say wow even better in the flesh!! Perfect next to the empress modern stuff absolutly stunning stuff Phil can't wait to order some more!
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I'm glad they got there safely and you're happy with them. There will be a ruined set soon-ish too.
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Any more news on the buildings?
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Just waiting for a delivery of fresh rubber so it'll be next week, then I'll cast and paint them and they'll be available.
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wow, how did i miss this thread. So much awesomeness :o :)
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Any more news phil!! 8)
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I'll be back on these next week mate, one mould has been made, one and a half to do. I had a commision turn up so I've been working on that.
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After much delay I finally got on with these...
Having buggered up the second part of the building mould I had another go, but my workshop was so sweltering I ended up finding a room with a spare mantelpiece. The top up was quite weighty so to stop the mould bulging I used some 3mm plastic, a rubber band and some tape... attractive eh?
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04315-001.jpg?w=472)
I've also done the first half of one of the extensions...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04314-001.jpg?w=469)
... and the roof sections.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04316-001.jpg?w=500)
and lo and behold - the cured building mould, needs a tidying trim but should test cast this afternoon if the weather stays cool.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04321-001.jpg?w=500)
Meanwhile the smallest extension leaps ahead in being cast and given a base coat.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04313-001.jpg?w=485)
Next the other half of the one still curing, and further on with the ruined wall sections...
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:-* well worth the wait Phil! Can't wait to see them on the catalog
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Thanks Blakey! 8)
So the first casting pops out and how good it looks...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04322-001.jpg?w=500)
Although I must admit I've mucked this one up.
The resin is heat curing, so when it's hot like it is today the pot time shortens from 6 minutes to just under two minutes. Not wanting to waste resin I poured when I shouldn't have... so there's a few bubbles in the roof section...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04323-001.jpg?w=500)
... but fortunately just three in the building itself.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04324-001.jpg?w=500)
Do you think anyone will notice? ::)
There's another one on the way, but when it does hit the catalogue the first buyer gets this handy, custom built, one of a kind (here's hoping) ruin totally free.
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Phil when I order I'll happily take that ruined one off your hands :-*
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Sure thing, just one more mould to complete, paint them all up and they'll be available.
Now here's that building cast properly...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04327-001.jpg?w=500)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04328-001.jpg?w=500)
It needs a tidy up but it works! :)
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Good result 8)
I'm having a shit time with the heat (and humidity) as well :?
cheers
James
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Thanks, I'm going to do what I did last year and do casting at night.
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Wah, wah, wah - cry me a river. Wait til you have heat waves of 40 degrees plus :P
Looking good Phil - even the ruin!
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Thanks mate.
Of course you guys do have air conditioning to hide behind. The only air conditioning we have is between October and June...
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Final extension cast... off to the paint table with the lot of them.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04330-001.jpg?w=500)
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I've got these painted, they've come out a bit too orange so I'll lighten them up again but thought I'd take some photos anyway.
The mould for the doors and windows has been difficult so I've made another and hopefully it'll work a lot better.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04342-001.jpg?w=500)
These will be available seperately for your own projects, and I've had a few miscasts with these so there will be freebies for the first orders.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04339-001.jpg?w=500)
The main building.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04344-001.jpg?w=500)
The L-Shaped building. This could also be handy if you want to make a quick ruin.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04345-001.jpg?w=495)
The L-Shaped building from the other side
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04346-001.jpg?w=500)
The small extension.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04347-001.jpg?w=466)
And some combinations of the three, after a bit more paint.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04350-001.jpg?w=500)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04348-001.jpg?w=500)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dsc04349-001.jpg?w=500)
Haven't finalised the price yet, nor got them in the catalogue, but I think it'd be around the £30 mark for all three buildings plus the doors/windows. Seperately slightly more expensive and £5 for the doors on their own.
If anyone would like to grab one early please PM me. There's a few freebie miscasts for the first orders. 8)
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Just got home and opened it up! Phil what an amazing job you've done on these :-* absolutly perfect thanks so much mate and for the extra freebies! You and people like you are why this community is just to awsome!
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Thank you, I'm glad you're happy with them. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with them.
By the way you might have noticed two boxes and a hatch/trapdoor in there. Should you put the doors and windows in closed getting the roof off can be tricky. These pieces are for you to stick on top of them to make them easier to lift out.
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I had wondered wow you've thought of it all haven't you!! payday next week... I'll drop you an email then for a few more pieces then I'll get painting lol
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I've fginally had time to start on some ruined wall sections, although not enough to finish them nor put the items above in the catalogue... >:(
Again I'm using the excellent Foamex material, it's like a hardcore(d) foamboard, great tow rok with but incredibly messy. I can't recommend this material too highly.
Here's the wall section with the gap cut out and the brick detail scribed and the base.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc04435-001.jpg?w=480)
And then glued together...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc04436-001.jpg?w=480)
...then mlliput on the base and wall and some detailing on the wall...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc04437-001.jpg?w=480)
...followed by rendering with Basetex, and the larger pieces of rubble...
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc04438-001.jpg?w=480)
I've also done a staircase, to fit with all the buildings.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc04439-001.jpg?w=480)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dsc04440-001.jpg?w=435)
Onward and upward! :)
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Hi,
Great work.
I prefer the walls without textures, strangely.
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Cheers. 8)
They just look too flat on the table, the detail on the render seen here at twice the size flattens out once painted and played.
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Just finished the first casts of the ruined wall sections...
I've tried to add a bit of variety to them
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04623-001.jpg?w=300)
This one is supposed to represent a hit from a heavy gun, like a 20mm autocannon and the like.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04625-001.jpg?w=300)
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04624-001.jpg?w=300)
The low wall section
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04626-001.jpg?w=300)
A corner
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04627-001.jpg?w=300)
I had a bit of space left on the mould and rather than just have it as a lump of rubber I made a small well.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04628-001.jpg?w=300)
Off to the paint table.
(http://slugindustries.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc04629-001.jpg?w=271)
I've also done a cast of the staircase, but I'm not happy with either the height nor the detail so back to amend the master...
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They look really lovely :)
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Those houses look wonderful, the door and window pieces are true icing on the cake :-*
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Thanks chaps. 8)
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Awsome stuff phil any idea when they will be in the catalogue?
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Hopefully before the end of the month as I've moved and yet to set everything up again.
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Oh crikey well congratulations on the move hope all is going well.
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It's total chaos tbh, but thanks for the good wishes.
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Finally got the catalogue updated to include these latest pieces. Hurrah!
http://slugindustries.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/latest-catalogue-now-online/ (http://slugindustries.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/latest-catalogue-now-online/)