Adobe church

[Malamute]

Here are some work in progress shots of my attempts to build a 28mm model of the San Fernando Church in San Antonio De Bejar, Texas at the time of the battle of the Alamo in 1836.

The Mexican army hung a blood red banner from the top of the bell tower, visible to the Texian occupants of the nearby Alamo mission as a warning signifying there would be no quarter given in the coming battle.

I wanted to make a model that is suitably generic enough to use in other western projects such as western gunfights and Zorro style games, so I have taken some liberties with the design of the church. You can see from the old picture and the movie still that the real church was huge and occupied a vast area.  I have scaled it down somewhat to make it playable and have not been quite so elaborate with some of the design, for example the hexagonal bell tower is now square and the church is not a cruciform shape.

Its basic construction is foamcore with balsa wood doors etc and foam balls cut to form domes. I have some etched brass to form the large circular window on the rear.

The polyfilla rendering is nearly complete, I have the doors left to make and add, then the timber floor in the bell tower, then the bell and rope and the circular window.I also need to make two crosses to go on the domes.
Then is glue it to its base, make the outside walls and texture the base then paint it. (I am not sure about the salmon pink look from the movie though )


I hope it looks the part, what do you guys think so far?









An image of the original church:



Two stills from the recent Alamo film(2004)

[fastolfrus]

Very attractive so far.

Particularly liked the door frame - how did you do that arched frame ?

[twrchtrwyth]

Excellent building work. I'd like to know about the arch to.

[Col.Stone]

That looks excellent

[Malamute]

Very attractive so far.

Particularly liked the door frame - how did you do that arched frame ?

It is cut in one piece from balsa wood, very slowly!

Trying to cut circular shapes is not easy with a scalpel so I score the shape heavily with a very sharp pencil. If you do this repeatedly it almost cuts through the wood. I then used a knife to gently cut throught he final part.

It failed on two attempts as the wood split. After it was glued in place I gently softened the arch shape with sandpaper. Its not perfect, but I haven't found another way to do it yet!

[JollyBob]

That's brilliant mate, nice job!

I never get further that cutting the basic shapes out for stuff like this.

So, will you be casting and selling this to go along with your figure range?  :wink:

[Malamute]

That's brilliant mate, nice job!

I never get further that cutting the basic shapes out for stuff like this.

So, will you be casting and selling this to go along with your figure range?  :wink:

No its purely a one off for my own indulgence.

 I think its too big to cast up, it measures 30 cm long, by 20cm wide , by nearly 30cm  high.

[Thunderchicken]

Excellent work Malamute.

As I have the modelling abilities of a cucumber you can be my Obi Wan.

[Malamute]

Excellent work Malamute.

As I have the modelling abilities of a cucumber you can be my Obi Wan.

Ahh, but you have the painting skills of a Sith Lord. Henceforth you will be known as Darth Gruntfuttock ::

[WillieB]

Really nice Malamute. As many others love that woodwork!
What did you use for the plastering?

[Malamute]

Really nice Malamute. As many others love that woodwork!
What did you use for the plastering?

Polyfilla, watered down and applied with a palette knife and a paintbrush to smooth it out a bit. When its completely rendered I will gently rub it down with some sandpaper just to take off some of the rough edges.

[Darkoath]

Looks really good.  After seeing the reference photos I would say your spot on!

[Malamute]

Thanks Darkoath.
I have now finished the rendering, and put the door frames in last night and made the crosses to go on the domes. Tonight will be door making

[fastolfrus]

will you be casting and selling this to go along with your figure range?  :wink:

 I think its too big to cast up, it measures 30 cm long, by 20cm wide , by nearly 30cm  high.

Maybe you could just mould the arched doorway and sell that ?

If you also do the round window, you'd only need a square casement and we'd have the full set for "Playschool"  :~}

[Aaron]

That really looks great. I've been on a bit of an Alamo/Mex-American War kick lately myself as I've been painting up loads of troops as a comission job. Unfortunately the figures are from some of Old Glory's most worn-out molds, but it hasn't managed to quash my spirit yet.

I'm looking forward to seeing your finished church and hopefully some greens.