Roswell '98: 1/72 Post Apoc

[Grimmnar]

I dunno if "done" ever really happens in this hobby though. ha!

To be truly able to call "done" atleast once on a project is a huge win in our hobby. Keep that in mind.

Grimm

[CapnJim]

Nice looking terrain. 

But define "done"?... 

[Mr. White]

yeah "done" is tough to pin down with a definition. I guess done enough were there's nothing absent in my mind and any thing else I add is bonus. I mean, for my current post apoc table I clearly have enough to play games on it, but there are some things I've always imagined the table would have and it doesn't yet so... it's not "done"?

Maybe when all my project's initial goals are accomplished it'll be done and anything else is a stretch accomplishment?

[Pattus Magnus]

I’ve mentioned this in another thread a while ago, but it applies here: I now think in terms of projects reaching maturity,rather than done. A “mature” project is one where I have completed what I need for most games that I want to use the stuff for. It isn’t done, though, because there’s a fair chance that I will add more stuff over time when I find relevant figures or terrain or new rules to use. I keep adding, but at a slower pace, and it improves. Like a fine wine or whiskey…

This is all, of course, mostly an aspiration- I only have a few projects that I consider mature at this point 

[Mr. White]

I’ve mentioned this in another thread a while ago, but it applies here: I now think in terms of projects reaching maturity,rather than done. A “mature” project is one where I have completed what I need for most games that I want to use the stuff for. It isn’t done, though, because there’s a fair chance that I will add more stuff over time when I find relevant figures or terrain or new rules to use. I keep adding, but at a slower pace, and it improves. Like a fine wine or whiskey…

This is all, of course, mostly an aspiration- I only have a few projects that I consider mature at this point 

"mature" - I like this term _much_ better. We are thinking the same thing here!

[CapnJim]

Mature, huh?  Maybe some of my projects are "mature". but I keep finding some stuff to add to them.  "Aging" them like that fine whiskey you mentioned.

But I don't ever refer to myself as "mature".  Just sayin'...

[Pattus Magnus]

I completely agree CapnJim, there’s such a thing as pushing an analogy too far. I try to avoid both “mature” and “aging” when I’m referring to myself. Sadly, I keep finding evidence that both are happening…

[Mr. White]

I contemplated not posting some of my recent work because the end results are a bit disappointing. Maybe I attempted something outside my skillset, but probably it was just more outside my patience. Let’s take a look at what happened…maybe it’ll help someone else with what _not_ to do if they want to try something similar.



First, we have a container that looks ok at first. In a tribute to Return of the Living Dead, I wanted to have the container be a shipment of bodies for Uneeda (the medical supply shop where the zombie outbreak first occurs…”Watch your tongue, boy, if you like this job!”). In the above pic, we have the sign sort of hanging off by one nail or something. Perhaps the sign jiggled lose when the container fell off the train?

I found the Uneeda sign on the website of the conceptual artist of RotLD and the colors matched what I wanted. Using a piece of plasticard for the sign, I printed out the Uneeda log to fit. My printer seems to be dying so some faint lines appeared, but it didn’t look bad enough to warrant concern. In the past, when I’ve included hung posters on terrain, I’ve added a layer of Citadel ‘ardcoat on top to help protect. Usually it’s on small papers or wanted posters, so seem fine. this was the largest I had applied ‘ardcoat on and it looks… ok. My other idea was to have someone spray paint a zombie warning sign of sorts over Uneeda.



We see the result there on the right. It clearly didn’t turn out so well. I ordered a set of graffiti transfers from Green Stuff World. I had never applied a wet transfer over paper before and hoped that the ‘ardcoat layer would protect the underlying paper image from blurring. That didn’t work. Maybe I didn’t completely cover the Uneeda sign with ‘ardcoat and water got through? Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered? Either way the Uneeda sign blurred. I guess I’ll just have the container turned so that this side is on the “back”.



The other shack has a simple transfer over the 3d printed wall. This was easy and safe. Maybe I was too ambitious to do a wet transfer over paper to begin with and I should have left the Uneeda sign alone as it was.



Here’s where maybe my impatience got me in trouble. I proceeded forward with a larger sign. In the billboard above, my printer’s dying gasps are clearly visible. Though, to be honest, at arm’s length on the gaming table it’s not visible very much. Still having decent success with ‘ardcoat on the Uneeda sign, I applied it to the billboard as well. Likely because this is a much larger surface area, the paper gives a wavy and stretched look in place like wet paper would. Still, I tried again with a graffiti transfers over it and the bottom right looks ok, but the “Straight outta Here” on the left must of found a way to get under the ‘ardcoat again or something because we see some ink running again. Perhaps I’m lucky these are post apocalyptic pieces so crisp, perfect signs aren’t expected. Still, in my mind this looked better. Maybe I’ll scratch off some of the sign and rough it up a little more?



I hit a different problem with this next piece. I didn’t want to try to free-hand any text, so I printed out a sign for this ruined food shack and was hoping that painting the paper the same red color as the sign would help the print out blend in. It doesn’t. It looks like trash and I can’t unsee the difference. I foresee myself scrapping this off at some point and just hand scrawling the name back… it couldn’t look any worse. However, this is done and will work for now. I’ve got other things to work on and terrain does sort of fade into the background during play, so I’ll just roll with this for the time being. The inside looks ok. ha!



So, here we have a few pieces that didn’t really come together as I’d had hoped and to be honest are a little embarrassing to post. I’m already not a great painter/hobbyist, and photos always reveal mistakes and failings, but these are beyond the usual mid paint jobs and just look… bad.

[Pattus Magnus]

I think you’re being way too hard on yourself about how these pieces turned out. Or maybe just overly conscious about the spots where they didn’t quite get to your expectations. Anyway, they look quite good to me. The flaws you point out, like the ink getting blurry when the decals went on, mostly fit right in with the post-apocalyptic theme (I expect smudged and peeling paint will be the order of the day…). Even with the large signboard where the printer left some lines, they kind of fit as the sign weathers and the lines show where boards behind them are. I would be happy to have any of those on my tables!

That said, there’s nothing wrong with taking some notes about where things went slightly sideways and figuring out how it could be addressed on future builds. I haven’t tried the technique of using printed posters or signs, so can’t offer much advice there.

[Doug ex-em4]

It all looks fabulous to me so either I’m easily satisfied or your expectations are incredibly high….! Actually, I am fairly easily satisfied when it comes to my own stuff - I’d rather have an average looking piece rather than no piece. If I turned out items like these, I’d be delighted (and astonished).

So, since you find these items not quite up to snuff, please send them to me immediately.😀

Doug

[Spinal Tap]

 Agree with Pattus and Doug, these look great and I'd be thrilled if I'd made them.

[hubbabubba]

These builds look great to me, job well done.

[Mr. White]

Thanks, all.
I think you lot have it right...I shouldn't let "perfect be the enemy of good" as it were. These'll do their job (provide obstruction in games) just fine and are done. I have four pieces to use that I didn't have a week ago.

Thanks for setting my head straight!

[mikedemana]

I agree with them, too! The weathered, ink running look is perfect for the period!! Love all the pieces. 

Mike Demana

[CapnJim]

The following message is brought to you by The Department of Redundancy Department...

I too agree with everyone.  I think they look great.  They look sufficiently run-down.  Whether that was intentional or not, what you did was effective....