Author Topic: Is there any use for tunnels? (Read 36082 times)

rob_alderman · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2009, 10:43:30 AM »

Moulds would be a good way of doing it.

I thought they meant selling the moulds to a company, but selling them to us lot would work too. Then we can make as many as we want...

Modhail · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2009, 06:59:08 PM »

Michi, those are great!
I'd certainly like to have "a few" of them, either as casts or DIY moulds...
For casts I'd prefer resin, for durability issues. Maybe you could find a professional resincaster, to handle the work for you? I'm sure someone here (Ramshackle Curtis maybe?

) or on the Guild knows a reliable caster...
As for pricing, I'd start with working out what it would cost you to produce them (maybe for several types of material), add a margin for unexpected costs/profit/taxes/wishing wells etc. to get a base price. Then ask us if we would be willing to pay that.

Then some questions/suggestions on the sections themselves:
-Have you considered making a centre section, maybe with square brick columns or walls (with or without doorways)? With such a part one could join 2 tunnel sections into a double wide one or a 2 direction foot tunnel.

-Could you give us some measurements? How wide is the "floor" and how high is the ceiling, etc.?

-I know I'd prefer mine with ceilings, but I think it would be better to keep those separate.
Is there any appreciable difference between the curved wall, ceiling and floor? If there isn't, anyone who would want ceilings could just buy extra sections of curved tunnel to use for roofs. That way, you'd only need to sell separate roof sections for t-junctions and crossings. Less items of inventory to keep track of for you...

Good luck on this project!

Bye, Erik

Bako · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2009, 11:07:38 PM »

I'd buy some for a diorama or something.

Michi · « **Reply #18 on:** July 29, 2009, 07:26:59 AM »

I have finished the staircase walls and do the floors and steps at the moment. I made it two sections long and two sections high to make it fit into the geometric matrix of the tunnel system:

Beside I paint the boots of my zombie platoon...

Quote from: Modhail on July 28, 2009, 06:59:08 PM

Michi, those are great!
I'd certainly like to have "a few" of them, either as casts or DIY moulds...
For casts I'd prefer resin, for durability issues. Maybe you could find a professional resincaster, to handle the work for you? I'm sure someone here (Ramshackle Curtis maybe? ) or on the Guild knows a reliable caster...
As for pricing, I'd start with working out what it would cost you to produce them (maybe for several types of material), add a margin for unexpected costs/profit/taxes/wishing wells etc. to get a base price. Then ask us if we would be willing to pay that.

I´ll consider that. Some folks over here suggested selling of moulds already.

Quote from: Modhail on July 28, 2009, 06:59:08 PM

Then some questions/suggestions on the sections themselves:
-Have you considered making a centre section, maybe with square brick columns or walls (with or without doorways)? With such a part one could join 2 tunnel sections into a double wide one or a 2 direction foot tunnel.

The platform sections will be your solution for that. The larger diameter will result in possible "halls"

Quote from: Modhail on July 28, 2009, 06:59:08 PM

-Could you give us some measurements? How wide is the "floor" and how high is the ceiling, etc.?

The diameter of tubular tunnels (sewers) is 7cm. The floors and straight walls are 5cm high/wide. The rounded ceilings will add another cm. I wanted them to be slightly overdimensioned to allow monster figures in there.

Each section will be 10cm long, 9cm high and 9cm wide. The staircase consists of two sections and is 20cm long. I will try to avoid exceptions. The spiral stair (if ever made) will be one of the unavoidable cases.

Quote from: Modhail on July 28, 2009, 06:59:08 PM

-I know I'd prefer mine with ceilings, but I think it would be better to keep those separate.
Is there any appreciable difference between the curved wall, ceiling and floor? If there isn't, anyone who would want ceilings could just buy extra sections of curved tunnel to use for roofs. That way, you'd only need to sell separate roof sections for t-junctions and crossings. Less items of inventory to keep track of for you...

You are correct with that point, but there is a tiny difference that will be noticed by modelers only: The running of the bricks is kept by the use of the ceiling as it starts with a half brick at both ends while the walls start with a whole brick...

rob_alderman · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2009, 08:32:45 AM »

Looking good,

I like the horde too.

Hammers · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2009, 08:40:11 AM »

I am not sure. Testimonies among gamers seem to be against playing multifloor games.They just get to complicated. But without the ceiling part you could make a classic dungeon layout.

Modhail · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2009, 09:33:01 AM »

Quote from: Michi on July 29, 2009, 07:26:59 AM

You are correct with that point, but there is a tiny difference that will be noticed by modelers only: The running of the bricks is kept by the use of the ceiling as it starts with a half brick at both ends while the walls start with a whole brick...

I should have known... Always the eye for detail.

Deathwing · « **Reply #22 on:** July 30, 2009, 03:51:00 AM »

Not sure I would invest in a whole resin system given the size would need, but I would buy some molds to have the option available.

Joey

uti long smile · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2009, 12:00:18 PM »

Wonderful! YeaH I'd buy those in a heartbeart!

Tube tracks disappearing into a tunnel would be a nice addition too.

Michi · « **Reply #24 on:** August 04, 2009, 11:37:36 AM »

First silicon components from the model shop: 500g for 30 € - an expensive fun. One set was enough for one mould.

I bought two sets and made two moulds:

The moulding box is made from cedar wood that I got free from a pencil factory:

The lot of masters that has to be moulded:

New silicone from the artist´s supply: 5kg for 150 € - still expensive, but 50% cheaper.

Also two component, but in different mixtures:

These moulds are going to be white in colour:

I bought a special ceramic casting compound that will be much harder than plaster:

These are the masters that I have made so far (there are still a few to make to complete the tube station):

Station section with floor extension as platform. The lower wall will form a ceiling as well and an extension curve will stretch it down to track level:

Michi · « **Reply #25 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:34:39 PM »

First two castings:

It turns out to be actually as hard as stone (though as heavy as well...)!

There are a few air bubbles, but I think I can avoid this by mixing more water in:

Calimero · « **Reply #26 on:** August 04, 2009, 02:18:26 PM »

Nice. For the "air bubble problem" you might want to take a look at this page…
http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/advanced.html#vibrate

Modhail · « **Reply #27 on:** August 04, 2009, 06:07:50 PM »

Michi, that's looking good!

BigMecha · « **Reply #28 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:36:08 PM »

WOW!!! looking really goooood!!!!!

can't wait to see a section of the tunnel

Michi · « **Reply #29 on:** August 05, 2009, 01:39:17 PM »

First casting session is finished. I was still making moulds beside. I have to resupply that ceramic powder now.
One bucket of five kilos ceramic powder results in 26 cast pieces:

Curved wall tunnel to straight wall tunnel connection:

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