Tarting-up MDF - part two

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy issue 84 (May/June) has an article written by me showing how I added detail to a simple MDF kit to produce a model of the Church of St. Laurence, Bradford on Avon.









Full details of this post an my Blog.

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/the-church-of-st-laurence-or-tarting-up.html

[Rob_bresnen]

Very impressive tarting up there.

[Andym]

Now, that's cracking Tony! I love the colours!

Have you ever thought of using a less GREEN colour grass? Maybe something with a more neutral tone?

[FifteensAway]

Very nice model in the end.  But my first question upon comparing your finished product and the base model was, "Wouldn't it have been just as easy to scratch build the whole thing?"  A pretty simple box and basic rooflines and all.  Still, nice finished product and you got an article out there so that's good.

[Yggdrasil]

Wow.

Very fantastic Work on this Laser Cut MDF Kit.
Looks much much better than before.

[Captain Blood]

Excellent Tony.
Personally I can't stand the smooth, flat and featureless nature of most MDF buildings, hugely popular as they seem to be these days. And the pre-coloured stuff is worse still to my eye. Just too fake looking.
But you've demonstrated here, how with a bit of texture and a sympathetic paint job, MDF can be made to look very credible indeed. Top job.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Very impressive tarting up there.

Thank you.

Tony

[Hammers]

Excellent Tony.
Personally I can't stand the smooth, flat and featureless nature of most MDF buildings, hugely popular as they seem to be these days. And the pre-coloured stuff is worse still to my eye. Just too fake looking.
But you've demonstrated here, how with a bit of texture and a sympathetic paint job, MDF can be made to look very credible indeed. Top job.

My thoughts.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Very nice model in the end.  But my first question upon comparing your finished product and the base model was, "Wouldn't it have been just as easy to scratch build the whole thing?"  A pretty simple box and basic rooflines and all.  Still, nice finished product and you got an article out there so that's good.

I agree.

The first article Tarting-Up MDF" was in reply to some comments I had at a wargames show.

I was discussing how I didn't like the finish or styles of MDF buildings and would never use one. I was then asked if I'd try any and when I said no - I had That Look!

So off I went and tried the earlier Farm Building (Tarting Up MDF - part one). The response was so good that I thought I would try another.  My views haven't changed, but at least if I ever get that conversation again. I can say Yes and still don't like them.

Tony

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Wow.

Very fantastic Work on this Laser Cut MDF Kit.
Looks much much better than before.

Thank you.

Tony

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Excellent Tony.
Personally I can't stand the smooth, flat and featureless nature of most MDF buildings, hugely popular as they seem to be these days. And the pre-coloured stuff is worse still to my eye. Just too fake looking.
But you've demonstrated here, how with a bit of texture and a sympathetic paint job, MDF can be made to look very credible indeed. Top job.

Once again. I agree, but at least I've experimented with them and although my opinion hasn't changed. I can now say that I tried.

Tony

[Captain Blood]

My views haven't changed, but at least if I ever get that conversation again. I can say Yes and still don't like them.

Tony

Brilliant.

If anyone asks me, I'll say you've tried them for me...

[Daeothar]

Great stuff. Can't wait for my copy of WSS to finally arrive.

I've actually been ogling that very same church ever since they put up a CAD picture of it, as it would be perfect as a Saga centerpiece (to then raid it, obviously ).

But I share your opinion on the finish of MDF buildings; too bland and the conneciton points are usually a dead giveaway. Still; some of the prepainted ones, especially those from 4Ground, are getting smarter and smarter in hiding the nature of the material, but of course you pay for that sophistication and even then those buildings are in dire need of tarting up and painting, but they're not half as dire as they used to be.

I see MDF buildings simply as time savers when creating buildings; they're blank canvasses, requiring finishing to look good.

That's why I liked the simple and bland design of the church you tackled there; I believe it comes completely blank without any embellishments. It looks crud on its own, but at the same time, that is also what makes it cheap. And as you've shown, with the right TLC, it can be made to look great.

I obviously still have to read your article, so I don't know the methods you used (I am assuming the same clay/putty covering as on the small cottage in last issue?), but I was thinking even simpler than that, with textured plasticard for walls, if that can be made to look good. Otherwise, I may go with loose stones (split MDF cut into rectangles and glued on with the course side out).

As there are no interior pictures, I take it you did not do the inside? Eventually, I'm planning on doing mine with interior. After all; there has to be a place for an altar to hide all the valuables under...

[Hammers]

Great stuff. Can't wait for my copy of WSS to finally arrive.

I've actually been ogling that very same church ever since they put up a CAD picture of it, as it would be perfect as a Saga centerpiece (to then raid it, obviously ).

But I share your opinion on the finish of MDF buildings; too bland and the conneciton points are usually a dead giveaway. Still; some of the prepainted ones, especially those from 4Ground, are getting smarter and smarter in hiding the nature of the material, but of course you pay for that sophistication and even then those buildings are in dire need of tarting up and painting, but they're not half as dire as they used to be.

I see MDF buildings simply as time savers when creating buildings; they're blank canvasses, requiring finishing to look good.

That's why I liked the simple and bland design of the church you tackled there; I believe it comes completely blank without any embellishments. It looks crud on its own, but at the same time, that is also what makes it cheap. And as you've shown, with the right TLC, it can be made to look great.
is very nice.
I obviously still have to read your article, so I don't know the methods you used (I am assuming the same clay/putty covering as on the small cottage in last issue?), but I was thinking even simpler than that, with textured plasticard for walls, if that can be made to look good. Otherwise, I may go with loose stones (split MDF cut into rectangles and glued on with the course side out).

As there are no interior pictures, I take it you did not do the inside? Eventually, I'm planning on doing mine with interior. After all; there has to be a place for an altar to hide all the valuables under...

Micro Arts has a set och shacks which convincing. Surprising, since you'd think ramshackle buildings would be hard to render im lasercut mdf.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Great stuff. Can't wait for my copy of WSS to finally arrive.

I've actually been ogling that very same church ever since they put up a CAD picture of it, as it would be perfect as a Saga centerpiece (to then raid it, obviously ).

But I share your opinion on the finish of MDF buildings; too bland and the conneciton points are usually a dead giveaway. Still; some of the prepainted ones, especially those from 4Ground, are getting smarter and smarter in hiding the nature of the material, but of course you pay for that sophistication and even then those buildings are in dire need of tarting up and painting, but they're not half as dire as they used to be.

I see MDF buildings simply as time savers when creating buildings; they're blank canvasses, requiring finishing to look good.

That's why I liked the simple and bland design of the church you tackled there; I believe it comes completely blank without any embellishments. It looks crud on its own, but at the same time, that is also what makes it cheap. And as you've shown, with the right TLC, it can be made to look great.

I obviously still have to read your article, so I don't know the methods you used (I am assuming the same clay/putty covering as on the small cottage in last issue?), but I was thinking even simpler than that, with textured plasticard for walls, if that can be made to look good. Otherwise, I may go with loose stones (split MDF cut into rectangles and glued on with the course side out).

As there are no interior pictures, I take it you did not do the inside? Eventually, I'm planning on doing mine with interior. After all; there has to be a place for an altar to hide all the valuables under...

Thank you for the comments.

The stonework was carved in to the MDF surface then textured or weathered.

The most time consuming part was the stone roof.

But I'll let you read the whole article for true effect.

Tony