In preparing to teach an introductory class on terrain building, it was necessary to break it down into repeatable steps. This is something I typically do when I am creating an experimental prototype for a larger piece. However, for this, I had to make it more general yet specific to scifi terrain buildings. Here are the steps for my “Get it Done” terrain workflow: A Scifi Wasteland Repair Shop; My prototype example piece Vision I have noticed …
Continue reading
I discovered a workflow around prototyping. When I am trying something new, in each subsequent step, I experiment the step on my prototype. This way, I only need to reverse or fix a problematic step on the prototype. On this project, my prototype was the smallest of the buildings. Crackle experiments I learned that Golden Crackle paste needs to slowly dry over 72 hours or the effect is not as cracked. I tried using my heat gun …
Continue reading
I can see why people enter competitions. It helps you focus and finish! This is for TerrainBuilding on Reddit. You can see the all the entries at https://www.reddit.com/r/TerrainBuilding/comments/qlal6x/terrain_competition_season_2_hidden_places/. It would be cool if I won but I am just excited that I finished this ambitious project! I got stuck and I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it. The project was intimidating and made me try a lot of new techniques! I don’t have a …
Continue reading
Hey I finally finished it. It felt stuck for some time because after step 2, it looked terrible. I didn’t even use it in any games. The solution, it turned out, was to reduce the chipping paint contrast with a filter effect. I used an airbrush for this. I just added some white ink and some extra shadows with raw sienna inks. After that, it looked much better. The oil paints were messy but satisfying. It looked …
Continue reading
I did it. I finished my first MDF terrain kit! It would look cool to have a few of these on a table: https://ttcombat.com/products/sandstorm-hovel-a I also started building some air vents. I used the same glue and Elmers Woodfiller that has been really working for me with MDF. It is going to look great in my desert/wasteland terrain theme. I realize it is for Star Wars Legion but it feels generic enough to fit into any scifi …
Continue reading
One of the largest barriers to making tiny buildings is deciding the layout and dimensions. Well, for me anyhow. There are many different techniques I can experiment with until I am happy with the result. However, with a layout, changing it can be messy and tricky and might ruin the build altogether. Papercraft gives you layouts you can scratchbuild from. The dimensions are there but everything else is just a suggestion. I have purchased a number of …
Continue reading
I am starting with the papercraft Ebbles Miniatures Utility Shuttle as a base for my build. It is available for free here ( https://www.genetmodels.com/ebbles-miniatures-2009-2010-models/ ). Its going to be broken somehow. Looks like I will need a larger base! I was imagining it crashed into an alien jungle with cargo all over the place. Decades old. Lots of moss and vines. (The miniatures for scale are from Core Space). My spaceship crash site needs some trees! These …
Continue reading
This is surprisingly easy and really opens up the custom possibilities when you can convert between these systems. As a reminder: Rules and game mechanics cannot be copyrighted or trademarked. DaVinci Editrice S.r.l vs. Ziko Games, LLC et al. Note that the names of the models might be trademarked though. Not that we are trying to publish our own game here, but just to keep in mind ( https://www.quora.com/Is-it-legal-to-copy-a-large-amount-of-Warhammer-base-rule-for-my-game ). 40k Tyranids A good example of conversions …
Continue reading
(This is part 2 of Scifi Shanty town. See Scifi Shanty town Part 1.) I did the mod podge + black paint step because this is mostly paper and won’t hold up well without it.It always looks terrible at this stage and makes me concerned I messed up. I base-coated with a very reddish brown spray paint. They were good enough to use in a game at this stage. A lot of my table has incomplete pieces, …
Continue reading
My daughter was annoyed I borrowed her craft paints. I told her she could borrow my cheap craft paints anytime but I think that was already assumed. Anyhow, it turns out my painting scheme was not as original as I first thought. It was definitely inspired by this super cool building:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQxmDELvpxY&t=689s Isn’t it funny how you get an idea in your head you think was your own.. and it was actually mostly inspired by someone else? Well, …
Continue reading