Generic fort (plus village buildings 28/10)

[Golgotha]

Herewith my current build a fort ideal for North Africa French Foreign Legion though could be placed anywhere so perhaps suitable for Moor Spain, Crusaders, Middle East even North Africa WWII or Mexico. The idea was thus a generic middle eastern inspired construction. Have used the foam sheets with paper on both sides together with balsa wood.

Entrance



Well



Nooks and crannies



Interior entrance



Main barracks



Obviously still a work in progress hope to have roofs come off and interiors too. Will also plaster the walls for added effect etc.

[Traveler Man]

It's shaping up nicely, I look forward to seeing more. 

[VSF Gamer]

Quite a project and looking good. I wish I had that much ambition to atempt a project like that. Keep it up!

[bulldogger2000]

great idea!

[Captain Blood]

Looking great. Well done. Look forward to seeing this develop 

[Stu]

Looking good.

[FifteensAway]

And maybe even India.  I like the idea of 'generic' fort.  Shall be watching your progress.

[Golgotha]

Thanks chaps, yes had not thought India - pity no suitable minis... mmm not another ___________ project!

At any rate I have gotten side tracked with some village structures/buildings for said fort and will post pics soon... At least they should give an indication of what the fort shall hopefully look like when textured/detailed and painted.

Also planning a Mosque, but that will be late next year methinks at the current rate of my various projects, obviously including this one. Have also thought of adding a little tube built into the wall on the main tower to allow different flags to be slotted in - makes a nice objective too during games - to siege the fort and then the besiegers get to place their flag above the battlements - which reminds me of the Eddie Izzard skit - great bit of 'Colonial' banter.

See:

[Furt]

And maybe even India. 

Yup - my first thought too! Liking the look already.

Any tips for cutting those merlons?

[Golgotha]

Sharp scalpel works wonders for both the foam and balsa. Even the cheap plastic handled Stanley knives from poundland the sort with snap off blades (£1 for 5 or 6 so hours of cutting fun - works well on flesh too) a ruler then helps I have been using plastic ones of those too as I have misplaced the steel one.  For cutting the merlons/crenelations I have a card board template and then cut again with a scalpel but a more precise and finer bladed one than the Stanley. At least with the foam being paper sided makes planning lines and measurements easy too. I then use tooth picks (pushed through for both strength and giving glue time to dry) and of all things Pritt paper glue to join the corners. Cut windows and doors though before putting in tooth picks otherwise these are hard to cut having made that mistake use side cutters to snip unwanted tooth pick away - hope that all makes sense?

[Golgotha]

Pics of village buildings

[Golgotha]

and then some detailing of brick work into the fort walls etc.

[Malamute]

Nicely done. I like the extra details like the flower pots etc, set dressings really bring these type of buildings to life 

[former user]

well done!
how did You make the cracks in the plaster?

[Golgotha]

Structures were coated/plastered with a combination of the following ingredients:

White glue (the wood sort)
Paint - so as to get rid of the very white colour - more paint is added after plastering has dried
Grit or flock sort of sand - thinking may want to use a finer type on the fort
poly filler - yes the sort for ironically getting rid of cracks  
plaster paris

The cracking is therefore largely hit and miss - though I found by making the above mixture wetter and drying it quickly in the sun or with a hair dryer - that natural cracking occurred - which was an unexpected bonus. I suspect it is the plaster paris that caused the cracking so adding more of that and less white glue should also do the trick. I do not mix as a baker would do. I just mix as I go really with then consequently varied results, which I hope look more natural.