Founding of Dos Cruces (wip church)

[pocoloco]

Ay caramba! As I wouldn't have already too many projects going on and keeping me not-finishing any of them I started yet another one. Or actually I came back to the Old West as I used to have a small village project, Hickville, some years ago. But this is a totally new start, new minis and new scenery.

The town is named 'Dos Cruces' and it's located somewhere near Mexican border. Actually it was founded by Mexican/Spanish ages ago but now the present population includes also newer arrivals from the East Coast and from the Old World as well. My plan buildingswise is to show the older era in two buildings that have remained intact and in use after all these years, abode church and cantina type of building (I will try to scratchbuild those). Rest of the buildings will be more in style of "traditional" Old West buildings, meaning that I might purchase few laser-cut buildings to speed up the terrain accumulation process.   Then I need a cemetary of some sorts, with two old stone crosses (Dos Cruces, see?) and gallows, of course.

But to show that I have actually started doing something, I shall present you a wip picture of the oldest wooden building of Dos Cruces, I think it might be a granary of some sort. It has three floors, the upper floor being a later addition to it. Still needs a roof and I'm thinking of giving it a basic plank roof, my wife says I should make a shake/shingle roof instead Will paint it to very weathered grey to show its age.





Any comments and feedback welcome.

[Elbows]

Lookin' good.  I get excited every time I see a new project in this sub-section.  Keep up the good work!

[Suber]

Hmmm, looks quite interesting so far!

[Mason]

A good start, mate.
The woodwork has a very authentic look to it.
 

[pocoloco]

Thank you pistoleros for your comments. I hope to finish and clean the build of the granary today. Still undecided about the roof of it: the planked roof would be most robust and maybe fitting for this old and shanty building but also adode tiles (how am I going to do those?  ) would fit the theme as well.

Having spent part of my museum career in the environment with 18th and 19th century rural buildings I had had a vision for a granary for some time already, what a better way to incorporate it than Old West setting.

List of buildings planned to do so far:

- granary (started)
- abode church, Spanish mission style, 18th century (plans sort of ready, starting next weekend latest)
- abode cantina, Spanish mission style, 18th century, building previously used for habitation, now in use as local cantina, 2½ stories?
- cemetary, needs two stone crosses, included on same base as the church?
- gallows, can't have a town/ville without them

List of buildings to purchase:

- stables (livery stable from Hovels, Masons stable looks so good, the price is right and can be used for other settings as well)

[Mason]

Looking forward to seeing this progress, Pocoloco.

- stables (livery stable from Hovels, Masons stable looks so good, the price is right and can be used for other settings as well)

It is a nice building, I would recommend it.
You have  to remember that mine was the pre-painted version.
All I did was a little drybrushing and a few washes and then finished the base.

It will be a part of the start of my own Old West town later on in the year.
I have a few recent acquisitions from Bobble to add to it now too.

I will be watching your thread, amongst others, to pilfer ideas from.
 

[pocoloco]

Oh, well I don't mind painting scenery etc, miniatures on the other hand are a different matter

Surely you already have a name for your project? And sneak peak for us about the buildings you already have?

[Mason]

Oh, well I don't mind painting scenery etc, miniatures on the other hand are a different matter

 

Surely you already have a name for your project? And sneak peak for us about the buildings you already have?

Not revealing my hand until I am ready to devote some time to the project.
Soon.
 

[pocoloco]

Ok, I had to try nevertheless

[Heisler]

Looks like a great start. I think I would go with a planked roof on that. Tiles were not commonly used on "working" buildings.

[pocoloco]

Thanks Heisler, good thing that I didn't listen to wife (this time) and went for the planking, will post a pic or tomorrow. It does look quite crude but I blame the inhabitants of Dos Cruces who have decided to add the third level to old granary thus the building got a new roof at the same go.

Now planning/drawing the church and hopefully get a proper start on it this weekend.

[pocoloco]

Not much of an update but here's a pic of the granary with planked roof. Planks do look too biggish at least in the picture, and irl almost too big. It will have to do for now, since it is removable I can easily redo it later on. Ponderin a bit about the size of the adode church, since Dos Cruces is not a thriving town the church will not be too big but I kind of still would like to do it in cross shape but that might make it too big... decisions, decisions... will have to wait for Saturday though, this evening is reserved for the Cirque du Soleil 

[Blackwolf]

Looks great

[Heisler]

For a small church the cross style is probably not appropriate and not very common in the southwest US anyway. I think you should take a look at the adobe church from Sarissa Precision (http://www.sarissa-precision.co.uk/store/oldwestHR/). I think that will give you some inspiration. I know there is a resin one out there somewhere but I don't remember who makes it.

[Elbows]

JR used to make one I believe, but they closed up shop.  The Sarissa looks good - if you can get a proper finish on it.  I agree though, there are not many cross-style churches.  In fact in a place such as Dos Cruces, the chances are that your church would be very poor..a single rusty bell, an awning made of dried out cactus pulp etc.  Some poor white-wash and white washed stones indicating the path to the front door.

I had a crappy old adobe church in several of the Indian towns I worked in - shame I never took pictures.