Dr. Gunhard von Darkenheim's lab of horrors

[Crayne]

So, first actually useful post (barring those in the Introductions forum).

After a hiatus of about 6 years, I'm trying to get back into mini gaming and building/converting. I've got to start from scratch, no accumulated bits box to work with, no paint, no tools. No workbench even, but that's being remedied soon.

I've been itching to scratchbuild myself some Weird War scenery and I've taking it upon myself to start building stuff to go in a laboratory-style room after reading wayswatcher's excellent threads for his Weird War filler scenery:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=2051.0
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=2203.0

What I have in mind for my first build is a set of four (perhaps more) cryo-tubes containing Dr. von Darkenheim's 'patients' suspended in a funky colored liquid. Tubes leading from the body down to the base or up to the top. Goal is to make the units so that they can be put together to form a bank, or seperate without appearing unfinished on any side.

Ideas:

- Round clear glass containers (some kind of plastic tube?)
- Containers are set in a square console with an amount of dials, guages etc.
- Tubes contain subjects suspended (putty? Perhaps a mini posed to appear floating) in a liquid
- Liquid: some kind of clear-drying glue or a gel as used in candles?
- Broken units (with a spill of the liquid of course) with skeletal or decomposing remains hanging out of them

Other lab paraphernalia:

- A gurney with a dissected corpse on it, possible with "modifications" having been fitted?
- A few medical waste containers with bodyparts hanging out?

I'm still brainstorming, so all your comments and ideas are welcome at this point. Storm away!

[Daeothar]

Sounds cool. A bit more geno-tech instead of Wayswatcher's 'Überwaffen' style tech labs, but an equally awesome idea.

As for the tubes; clear resin springs to mind, but then again, maybe wood glue might work as well? Haven't tried it in that way before, but it does dry clear, so maybe that's a quick and easy option? Otherwise there are of course all the watereffect products out there...

Make the pods interlocking with a few interesting protruding bits opposite some recesses, so the sides don't look all smooth and just basecoated. Otherwise, the appearance of short parts of tube sticking out on the sides of the base, which might interlock or just match up. Maybe the small Lego round bricks?

For the test subjects, look at GW or Wargames Factory plastic zombie parts, together with some skeleton stuff?

Do you guys know eachother by chance? From 'De Dobbelsteen' perhaps?   Could be a cool idea to build you stuff along the same size templates, so they might be mixed, were you to game together sometime...

[Crayne]

Sounds cool. A bit more geno-tech instead of Wayswatcher's 'Überwaffen' style tech labs, but an equally awesome idea.

Why thanks.

As for the tubes; clear resin springs to mind, but then again, maybe wood glue might work as well? Haven't tried it in that way before, but it does dry clear, so maybe that's a quick and easy option? Otherwise there are of course all the watereffect products out there...

Resin would be awesome, but I'm guessing it's going to be a costly solution. A clear-drying glue would be a cheaper option, but that'll have its own unique disadvantages to deal with...

Make the pods interlocking with a few interesting protruding bits opposite some recesses, so the sides don't look all smooth and just basecoated. Otherwise, the appearance of short parts of tube sticking out on the sides of the base, which might interlock or just match up. Maybe the small Lego round bricks?

Oh yeah, I definitely want the bases to have things like levers, dials, access hatches, an airvent, a metal wheel etc. But I need to watch where I stick those, because if I want to be able to put them next to eachother, or in a 4x4 block, it'd be a bit of a shame if all that lovely detail is obscured. 

For the test subjects, look at GW or Wargames Factory plastic zombie parts, together with some skeleton stuff?

Yeah, that was my idea too. Plastic would be easiest to work with anyway. Perhaps, depending on the needed bodypart, a sculpted putty variant would work too.

Do you guys know eachother by chance? From 'De Dobbelsteen' perhaps?   Could be a cool idea to build you stuff along the same size templates, so they might be mixed, were you to game together sometime...

Figured that out too, yes. We've known eachother for about...*does the math* 15 years, but we lost track of eachother in the last few years. When I saw his posts here I needed to spend a few moments wiping the drool from my chin. His 20mm Weird War work is awe inspiring.

[JollyBob]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

I appreciate that you'd rather be making your own, but did you know that Antenociti's Workshop make something that may work for you:

http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/gbu0-prodshow/LICU.html


Also, Black Cat Bases make some very reasonably priced Lab furniture, including brains!

http://blackcatbases.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=430_435_566


For things to put in the tubes, what about the sculpting dollies from Hasslefree:

http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/pack.php?pack=1306

To my mind, they'd make excellent half-grown clones.

Just an idea or two to try and make your task a bit easier. If nothing else they may serve as reference for how to fit all your own stuff together, or spark some new ideas for you.  

[TheShadow]

hmm whats the mini inside the vat tube thing ?

[Crayne]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

I appreciate that you'd rather be making your own, but did you know that Antenociti's Workshop make something that may work for you:

http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/gbu0-prodshow/LICU.html

Also, Black Cat Bases make some very reasonably priced Lab furniture, including brains!

http://blackcatbases.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=430_435_566

Yeah, I found those when I first set out to find some reference material. I might end up ordering a few items to use for parts. Antenociti's vats look great, though they might be a bit too modern. And the Black Cat Bases stuff is simply awesome. I definitely need some of that.

For things to put in the tubes, what about the sculpting dollies from Hasslefree:

http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/pack.php?pack=1306

To my mind, they'd make excellent half-grown clones.

Indeed they do. I have to say I'm trying to go for 20mm, so I'd have to cut and repose them a bit in addition to adding some sculpted muscles. But definitely worth ordering.

Just an idea or two to try and make your task a bit easier. If nothing else they may serve as reference for how to fit all your own stuff together, or spark some new ideas for you.  

Oh, my mind is working overtime.

I've decided on what I'll use for the tubes. Don't laugh, but urine sample containers (at least the one I found lying around the house yesterday) are exactly the right size.

hmm whats the mini inside the vat tube thing ?

I'm guessing you're talking about the Antenociti kit? I honestly have no idea, though the mini rings bells. Loud ones. Not loud enough apparently.

[Commander Vyper]

If you go for 20mm you'll struggle to find enough off the shelf bits bud.

Good luck.

[Crayne]

If you go for 20mm you'll struggle to find enough off the shelf bits bud.

Good luck.

Well, I do like a challenge. And like I said, I like scratchbuilding most anyway.

[Commander Vyper]

Well, I do like a challenge. And like I said, I like scratchbuilding most anyway.

Yeah but why make work for yourself, unless you're a 20mm freak of course!

[Crayne]

Yeah but why make work for yourself, unless you're a 20mm freak of course!

I don't know really. I'm a complicated man I suppose.

[Conquistador]

Aren't we all?   

Gracias,

Glenn

[Snate56]

Along with your urine tube, you might look for clear perscription medicine bottles.

Also, if you have a tobacconist nearby, you might find a clear tube that a cigar comes in. It would have a rounded end if that's what you prefer.


SteveN

[Crayne]

Along with your urine tube, you might look for clear perscription medicine bottles.

Also, if you have a tobacconist nearby, you might find a clear tube that a cigar comes in. It would have a rounded end if that's what you prefer

Thanks for the tips.

[Gunbird]

Round tubes....if you forgo the fluid but just give the impression they are suspended you could use simple acrylic tubes, I have a site somewhere where I order my flightstands from. The sigar tubes Snate mentions might as well be the plastic bottle primers we see during the Carnaval period, for Schrobbeler and other alcoholic beverages. Check Marktplaats for those, or look around for promotional materials.

Quite a bit of Werid 28mm scenery works just fine for 20mm, nothing a stepped platform in front can't fix. Plenty of models off the shelf these days, Elhiem has loads. Quite a few 15mm things work great, as well as 28mm smaller critters. The possibilities are endless. But you know that 

[john Hollyoak]

May be too big for 20mm but the plastic cases that babies dummies come in would make excellent glass chambers. I have stacks and will get round to doing them one day!

John