Well I'm going to be building a blacksmith shop for my village, so I figure I'll make a step by step of how I did everything. I'll try not to leave anything out, but if I get lazy and forget to post some thing, don't be surprised.
Hopefully you will get to see te process, and get a feel for how long the whole thing takes. I don't know if this is a tutorial or a w.i.p., it's kinda both, so I'll put it in this forum since it's the one I check.
I started today by carving the forge out of blue foam. I cut out the basic shape, and then draw out where ever I want the bricks. Take a very sharp knife cut along all of those lines, but do not cut deep. Then take a pencil and draw through the lines you just cut. This will open up the cuts and define each individual block. Take a jagged rock from the garden and press it into the foam to add texture, and hopefully a few cracks. If it breaks or chips, it's ok, it'll look fine after paint. The last step is a pair of thumb tacks for chimneys. I also ran toothpicks inside of the foam to add a bit of rigidity. You can't see them, but they are there.
The pics are as follows. The top is a forge that I found online. Research is important, the internet makes it easy.
The other two are of the carved forge from different angles. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7633/forge001qr8.th.jpg) (http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=forge001qr8.jpg)
A very good start. I am sure it will be great when finsihed
Here are a few more pics from what got done this weekend when I wasn't messing around watching F1 and playing on the internet.
1st pic: The layout for the roof side of the shop and apartment.
I set these buildings up so that one story equals two inches. That at least looks to me to be roughly scale. Probably just a bit too big, but easier to work with math wise than exact scale.
2nd pic: After cutting the sides out, I wanted to lay out the door to the apartment. I figure this would be a small building, possibly too small to have a set of stairs inside the downstairs shop. I plan on having a pavilion off of one side, with the forge under it in the open. A staircase will run up the side to the apartment, under the roof of the pavilion. I will keep the piece cut out of the doorway to make the door out of.
3rd pic: The support that I will build the roof of the pavilion off of, and the door frame, both out of balsa.
4th pic: I cut small angle pieces out to re-enforce the structure and to keep it square.
5th & 6th: The front and back of the main building.
(http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5093/002bh4.th.jpg) (http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=002bh4.jpg)
doesnt look very forgey at the moment mate, am sure it will show signs soon though :icon_wink:
Quote from: Perv on September 17, 2007, 04:46:52 AM
doesn't look very forgey at the moment mate, am sure it will show signs soon though :icon_wink:
It has to start somewhere. That is actually why you almost never see in progress shots from CH. customers ask for them and some of them then email me back and say "that doesn't look like what I want." I then have to go back and explain that the pieces usually don't until I am finished.
Quote from: Custom_Hobby on September 17, 2007, 04:56:04 AM
Customers ask for them and some of them then email me back and say "that doesn't look like what I want." I then have to go back and explain that the pieces usually don't until I am finished.
Ah! So you're familiar with the problem :icon_wink:
Sometimes it can get really weird like when you post a picture - state clearly that it is a WIP - and the figure in question has only rudimental blobs for hands. Still you can count on SOMEONE saying "The hands need a bit more work" :icon_rolleyes:
What ? like critiquing the paladin with the long arms?? :icon_wink: :icon_twisted:
LOL, I can always count on Kurt for a laugh. Either way Keep us up to day on this one Theomar. It is looking good so far.
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8659/003cv2.th.jpg) (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=003cv2.jpg)
Just a quick update.
Made a few windows out of balsa, and a couple of silver buckles from the scrud*booking store (JoAnn etc to be exact).
I just pick a spot that they look good, trace the outline of the window, and cut them out. Glue the windows in place.
Nice work, it is coming along well.
Quote from: Agentmolar on September 17, 2007, 09:18:26 AM
What ? like critiquing the paladin with the long arms?? :icon_wink: :icon_twisted:
Schhh! It's only been posted in closed section remember? :icon_suspicious:
And it was just ONE arm. It's been taken care of.
Those buckles make very nice smaller windows
Quote from: Custom_Hobby on September 27, 2007, 09:14:32 AM
Those buckles make very nice smaller windows
Yeah, I've used the buckles a few times before. They are cheap, quick, and give some pretty good results.
Cheap is the main thing though, you get about 8 of them for about $3.
The craft store has tons of great stuff, buckles, beads that can be used for lanterns or barrels, leaf shaped hole punches, teddy bear fur...
Yeah we used imitation fur for the roof on the Rohan House
Here are a few more pics from the last couple of days.
#1 the top pic is after painting the interior black. The reason I do this is because I don't build detailed interiors yet, so instead, a flat black interior shows no detail at all. Look down te street at your neigbors house, chances are the indows appear black.
#2 & #3: the base for the roof is applied, using thin cardboard from a box.
#4 the walls for the roofline woindows. from this I will cut the cardboard out from between the uprights, and paint the inside black. I cut out the roof in case I want to add lights, there is somewheer for it to come from.
#5 roofline windows with the windows and roof base in place.
#6 with a few chimneys glued in place. Chimneys add fun detail, and break up the flat lines. You can add alot of chinmneys, if you figure that every fireplace and woodburining stove for heat would have a seperate chimney.
(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7803/004ej1.th.jpg) (http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=004ej1.jpg)
Looks very good but still not very forgey mate :icon_w00t:
Quote from: Perv on September 28, 2007, 03:48:34 PM
Looks very good but still not very forgey mate :icon_w00t:
did you happen to see the forge I carved from the first post?
it's going to be attached to the shop/ apartment under a pavilion, bringing the whole thing together.
The building is essentially only half of the building. The forge will be under the pavilion, with the smiths work area being in the upen air under the pavilion as well.
Its one of those cases where it is still a WIP and some people don't see it yet. I wrote in another thread that it is the exact reason I hate sending WIP pics to new customers :icon_wink:
So...
What you're saying is there's not SUPPOSED to be advertisement for a toy plane on the roof? And here was me thinking that gave it such a particularly medieval look...
I'll go and sulk now.
Quote from: Bodhi on September 28, 2007, 06:01:19 PM
So...
What you're saying is there's not SUPPOSED to be advertisement for a toy plane on the roof? And here was me thinking that gave it such a particularly medieval look...
I'll go and sulk now.
It's a scale model, not a toy! :icon_wink:
Oh sorry. And it's miniature sculptures I'm doing not toys :icon_wink:
I usually say that when people ask "I sculpt toys". Much easier for people to understand.
Only thing wrong in the picture is that the toy industry pays MUCH better but leave NO room for artistic creativity (from what I've heard) and also allways keep the sculptor anonymous. So it's much more like a kind of factory work.
Quote from: Theomar Pius on September 28, 2007, 03:52:58 PM
did you happen to see the forge I carved from the first post?
it's going to be attached to the shop/ apartment under a pavilion, bringing the whole thing together.
The building is essentially only half of the building. The forge will be under the pavilion, with the smiths work area being in the upen air under the pavilion as well.
Ah I getcha, when u said you are just doing interior black I thought it wouldnt be too different from a house. Didnt realise you still had add ons for the exterior. Has been a while since I saw first post :icon_w00t:
lol Mike I understand that things only come together in the end but when a house is being built you can tell its a house b4 its finished, its not like the front door goes on and you say ahhh, I see it now, its a house :icon_w00t: With people like me around I can fully understand why you dont do WIP pics though mate :icon_wink:
It's been a few days, working on one of my least favourite tasks to work on, but one of my favourites for results: the roof.
This one has 624 individual shingles, cut from a sheet of styrene. The top piece is a bit of l-shaped strip styrene.
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8232/blacksmith3329ls6.th.jpg) (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blacksmith3329ls6.jpg)
624 pieces? I know why you hate it !!! couldnt you use a hirst mould for the roof or would you prefer the work all to be created yourself? They do wood shingle, clay tile and gothic style roofs. May make life easier.
http://www.hirstarts.com/molds/molds.html
Moulds #230, 235 and 240
Rackham do a couple of shop signposts and 1 would look great sitting outside when its finished perhaps?
Looking good though mate and you're almost finished now :icon_wink:
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 02, 2007, 02:55:26 AM
624 individual shingles
These models are a labor of love and are pieces of art in my eye. Not just things you can pop out of a mould.
Quote from: Custom_Hobby on October 02, 2007, 07:26:14 AM
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 02, 2007, 02:55:26 AM
624 individual shingles
These models are a labor of love and are pieces of art in my eye. Not just things you can pop out of a mould.
I thought that would be more the case. I refuse to use paper print outs in my stuff except for banners, need texture :icon_w00t: I fully understand
An example i the grond model we did. Each wheel had 12 individual pieces. in total there were over 350 indiviual tiny pieces of wood that went into that model.
My tavern had over 1100 shingles, and the town gate had so many that I didn't bother to count, probably over 3000. But I have a philosophy that just because something is hard, doesn't mean it shouldm't be done. I've used plastruct sheet roofing in the past, and the results from hand making them blows it away. The reason I hate doing it is I wear a hole in my thumb with the knife, and the plastic shavings get everywhere. I usually glue my fingers together a few times as well. :icon_wink:
Education needed. What is Styrene?
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 02, 2007, 02:55:26 AM
This one has 624 individual shingles, cut from a sheet of styrene. The top piece is a bit of l-shaped strip styrene.
Plastic card
Quote from: dargrin on October 02, 2007, 02:35:14 PM
Education needed. What is Styrene?
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 02, 2007, 02:55:26 AM
This one has 624 individual shingles, cut from a sheet of styrene. The top piece is a bit of l-shaped strip styrene.
A sheet of very thin plastic. In my case, I use for sale signs from the hardware store, rather than hobby styrene from the hobby shop.
Thanks. I was just checking where one get such things around here.
(http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1677/005vp1.th.jpg) (http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?image=005vp1.jpg)
1st pic: the horizontal wood work, finished.
2nd and 3rd pic: a bit of the vertical woodwork is done, as well as the stone foundation. Normally I would do all of the vertical, and the supporting woodwork before moving on, but I have to do the pavilion before I can move on, so that's next.
It is a work of art as always
Here is the pavilion/ workshop half of the piece. Well, the rough skeleton of it at least. Two sides will be closed in with timbers, and the front half closed. Because the door to hte upstairs is under the roof, along with the stairs, the roof had to be quite high. Too bad because it is probably too high to be in scale, that's why I'll close in the top of the open side. Bet anyways, I'll live with it, it'll be different at least. Alot of details will be built and never seen under there.
(http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9832/007gq7.th.jpg) (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=007gq7.jpg)
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 05, 2007, 12:36:10 AM
Alot of details will be built and never seen under there.
I've been there quite a few times
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 02, 2007, 03:22:42 PM
Quote from: dargrin on October 02, 2007, 02:35:14 PM
Education needed. What is Styrene?
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 02, 2007, 02:55:26 AM
This one has 624 individual shingles, cut from a sheet of styrene. The top piece is a bit of l-shaped strip styrene.
A sheet of very thin plastic. In my case, I use for sale signs from the hardware store, rather than hobby styrene from the hobby shop.
AKA plasticard...
I said that already :icon_wink:
they make "for sale signs" from a very thin corrugated sandwich of plastic here...
still good for lightweight modelling, if well braced
Quote from: Bungle on October 05, 2007, 01:54:38 PM
they make "for sale signs" from a very thin corrugated sandwich of plastic here...
still good for lightweight modelling, if well braced
AKA "corriflute".
Don't get me started on names and pseudonyms of plastics products :icon_eek:
and
Quote from: Custom_Hobby on October 05, 2007, 01:52:43 PM
I said that already :icon_wink:
:P Must've missed that one!
Theomar did you get that PM I sent you?
If you get hte corrugated stuff, you can open it, and use it to make planted rows for crops. :icon_cool:
Mike, I'm still crunching the numbers. Paying for a hotel, food, and gas for the the trip is a lot to consider when you have zero money coming in. :icon_tears:
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 05, 2007, 03:28:17 PM
Mike, I'm still crunching the numbers. Paying for a hotel, food, and gas for the the trip is a lot to consider when you have zero money coming in. :icon_tears:
I just sent you another PM regarding the con
I've gotten quite a bit done over the last couple of days.
1st pic is the staircase and landing for the apartment section of the building.
2nd and 3rd pics are of the work area, after being covered by plank siding.
4th pic is what it will be like after attached, with forge in place. Figure is there for scale.
Next will be painting the pavilion and finishing the timbers on the building.
(http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/3720/009zd9.th.jpg) (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=009zd9.jpg)
Those are nice embellishments you added
Stunning just stunning!
Also the step by step you're making really make my fingers itch. I think you'll be getting quite a few "scenery converts" through this :icon_wink:
Quote from: Bodhi on October 07, 2007, 05:18:29 PM
Stunning just stunning!
Also the step by step you're making really make my fingers itch. I think you'll be getting quite a few "scenery converts" through this :icon_wink:
Hopefully.
I've so far spent tops, $8.00 on this piece. Thats 3 for the foam board (which is actuall zero, I used scrud*s.)
$2 on balsa.
$2 on styrene (which was really about $.02 since I got a deal.
All of the blue foam and bits are scrud*s.
The only tools I've used are an x-acto knife, a pencil, and a ruler.
All this really takes is a lot of patience.
I don't have it to sculpt figures, but for this stuff I have it in spades.
For one sculpture I spend... less than fifty cents in material costs. It's when you start getting paid and then start figuring hourly wages for work input that you get kind of depressed :icon_wink:
But if you compare spending $10 on a terrain piece you make, vs $25 - $75 for a similar sized piece from a GW kit, it becomes a no brainer.
It is a hard issue to balance when making terrain for a customer though. We usually discount out per hour charges based on the model and if it is a repeat customer.
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 07, 2007, 06:30:22 PM
But if you compare spending $10 on a terrain piece you make, vs $25 - $75 for a similar sized piece from a GW kit, it becomes a no brainer.
Yeah, well what I was trying to say was really that it's not the cost saved that is the prime motivator but the simple fact that it's loads more FUN to do it your self.
Quote from: Bodhi on October 08, 2007, 03:02:30 AM
Quote from: Theomar Pius on October 07, 2007, 06:30:22 PM
But if you compare spending $10 on a terrain piece you make, vs $25 - $75 for a similar sized piece from a GW kit, it becomes a no brainer.
Yeah, well what I was trying to say was really that it's not the cost saved that is the prime motivator but the simple fact that it's loads more FUN to do it your self.
well yeah, that too.
(http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/4379/009na1.th.jpg) (http://img400.imageshack.us/my.php?image=009na1.jpg)
Finished framing in the windows and the rest of the wood work.
I also added a window on the downstairs back.
I noticed on the bottom picture the window seems to be leaning forward. Was that done intensionally or is it a trick of the camera?
Quote from: dargrin on October 10, 2007, 10:25:30 AM
I noticed on the bottom picture the window seems to be leaning forward. Was that done intensionally or is it a trick of the camera?
They are in fact leaning forward. Such a small building, it's hard to put interesting features on it. It was also a last minute decision, as the wall was verticle when I put the original foamwork together. I added the pieces to make it lean after.
A couple of updates, and construction is pretty much done!
#1 pic: I covered all of he foam with Woodland Scenics water effects. In the past, I've used clay, and spackle, but water effects makes it much easier, cleaner, and faster. It does two things, creates a stipple look and adds texture, plus it hides any defects in the foam, like seams and a nice blemish where the paper ripped.
#2: A basecote on the pavilion, of raw umber. I wanted to do this before building the roof because it would give me easier access to everything.
#3: a drybrush cote of dove grey to add age to the wood, and the roof is completed as well.
Next up, paint. :icon_cool:
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8171/010fc5.th.jpg) (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=010fc5.jpg)
Got a bit more of the painting done.
#1 all of the foamboard area is covered in a base cote of folk art honeycomb.
#2 is a drybrush of folk art tapioca.
#3 all of the woodwork area is a cote of folk art raw umber.
#4 the woodwork gets a drybrush highlite of folk art dove gray.
(http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9836/011np6.th.jpg) (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=011np6.jpg)
Still more painting.
I had a bit of trouble with the color. I originally wanted to paint the roof red, but since the brick on the forge will be red, I decided to go a different way. I couldn't do brown, because so much of the pavilion is wood. I made up a greenish grey, but it was a bit too green. So I had to repaint the roof in a darkish blue/ grey. I'm pretty happy with this color choice. The drybrushing is done with GW rotting flesh, which is pretty much my workhorse color, a highlight with a hint of green.
(http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3579/012kf3.th.jpg) (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=012kf3.jpg)
Even more painting. and stuff.
The are the doors that I cut out in the construction. I draw the wood pattern, by pressing hard on the pencil. I scribe in the grain with a knife, then paint. The metal work is styrene and pin heads.
(http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9427/013vp1.th.jpg) (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=013vp1.jpg)
The forge is painted in a few steps, first a basecote of dove grey, then a cote of burgundy, and drybrush cotes of tanned flesh, rotting flesh, and smudged black for soot.
The top of the roof is painted in bronze, then brass, and a mix of camo green and ice blue. Finally, the weathering is done with smudged black by fingertip.
The colors are a bit more subdued than what you see in te picture, mostly due to the flash.
(http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5884/014as8.th.jpg) (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=014as8.jpg)
The shop will be placed on the street in the town, so here is laying down the road.
The road itself is from christmas village, it comes in a big roll of 18x30 inches for about $12, but is rather plain in color.
I painted the entire cut piece in a dark grey, then the individual stones in several different shades of grey and greyish brown. Finally a drybrush cote of rotting flesh.
As for the middle pic? It's just a few pieces of balsa glued down before gluing the road on, just to give some change in grade.
(http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/561/014tc5.th.jpg) (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=014tc5.jpg)
Is Christmas Village a store?
I would like to pick some of this stuff up because I have to paint mine :icon_ermm:
Quote from: dargrin on October 19, 2007, 02:06:45 PM
Is Christmas Village a store?
I would like to pick some of this stuff up because I have to paint mine :icon_ermm:
No, I think I got it from Michael's arts and crafts.
Christmas village is just a bunch of decorations they sell, a scale village decked out for christmas. There are actually a lot of good stuff available, trees, lights, barrels, roads. Made by lemax.
http://www.lemaxcollection.com/
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1/105-9449060-4837252?ie=UTF8&rs=1095304&rh=n%3A1055398%2Cn%3A1057794%2Cn%3A1063278%2Cn%3A3735061%2Cn%3A1095304%2Cp%5F4%3ALemax&page=1
THe project looks great. The finished piece will be stunning.
Because of space limits, I decided to do the forge area first, before I glue the pavilion in place.
I simply spread a thin layer of glue, and sprinled a few layers of different grain sand. Painted brown, tan, grey.
I also began the process of building the ground up. I came to the conclusion last year that just because the ground is flat, doesn't mean the ground is flat. I shave thin pieces of foam and glue them in place to make the ground un even. I find that if the ground is lumpy, or has some inclines, it is more interesting. In this case, it's just a little bit to join the road to the terrain around it.
You can also see the "privat" sign, noting that it is a private staircase to the smiths apartment. I also put a sword rack on the stairs, as a way to disply his wares to passer-by's. Oh, and some firewood for making charcoal to fuel the forge.
(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4451/015zf7.th.jpg) (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=015zf7.jpg)
I had to make a sign for the smiths shop, so I figured that since the blacksmith is an artisan of sort, that his sign would be a bit ornate.
So I made this one out of a silver bead, some cut copper rings, some un-cut copper rings, and toothpicks. The sign itself is from the Tamiya 1/48th sign set. The spearheas is from GW high elves.
(http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4044/016no9.jpg)
Ther sign is a terrific touch and looks great!
Things are really moving along now.
Last summer I came to the conclusion, that even flat level ground is usually not flat and level. Besides that, having the ground being somewhat uneven makes for a more interesting piece.
The top pic shows how I do this. I take a piece of scrud* foam, and shave small pieces off and glue them in place, building up the ground making it uneven.
2nd pic shows some basic landscaping, dirt, pebbles, and rocks carved from foam. The basecote of green is also painted.
3rd pic has the dirt painted, as well as the rocks.
Now it's ready for flock and soon, detailing. The home stretch is in sight.
(http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2263/017pl3.th.jpg) (http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=017pl3.jpg)
That is AMAZING-thanks for taking the time to show that.
This thread is actually a terrific tutorial.
back to christmas village stuff, I just ordered a bunch of barrles from lemax through amazon.
$2 for three resin barrles, it's a pretty good price.
Once they arrive I'll be pretty much done with this piece.
here is a link to those barrels.
http://www.amazon.com/Lemax-Christmas-Village-Collection-Barrels/dp/B000VP8USS/ref=sr_1_1/103-2797990-9072601?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1193428638&sr=8-1
Those are nice and the price is great. I need to check them out.
I used those same barrels on the towne gate, if you want to check them out.
(http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1562/towngate3203lv2.th.jpg) (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=towngate3203lv2.jpg)
However, the ones I got were glued to a different resin pice, with some crates. I'm fairly sure though, that the ones I used were the smaller of the sizes in the amazon link.
On now to, dirt cheap mushrooms and toadstools.
First, I take some white glue, and roll it up into football shaped balls. I've seen people use green stuff for this, but wads of glue work, and cost next to nothing.
After they are hardened, cut them in half.
Take some small pins, cut them in half.
Seperate the halfs with the head, as those are now mushrooms!
Glue the cut glue halfs onto the other ends of the pins.
You can paint them colorful, like red with spots from super marion, but around here, the mushrooms are white or bone. I painted these bleached bone. Put a dab of glue on the stem and push them in place.
(http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1566/018sk5.jpg)
This is the last update in the WIP thread. The next time you see this piece, it will be finished in the member gallery.
http://www.customhobby.com/forum/index.php?topic=1413.0
1st pic: When I do flockong, I always start wih a course flock around the base of the building. This both gives an unkept look to the building itself, but it also hides the joint between the building and the ground.
2nd pic: Finished flock. I sprinkle the main color flock, in this case a burnt color for mannish terrain, greener for elvish. Any thin spots in the flock gets an almost yellow, burnt flock, giving the impression of dirt poking through.
3rd pic: Clump foliage representing shrubbery, and long grass continuing the unkept, wild look. Despite Sam Gamgee, I doubt there were all that many gardeners. You can also see a few of the mushrooms from earlier, and a few horse ties on the building. The tie downs are made from a small piece of styrene and a couple of copper rings.
4th pic: The front door with a couple of the lemax barrles, and a coachlight made from a silver bead. You can see a road apple in the foreground. That is made from a ball of glue, painted brown. No big deal there.
5th pic: A wheelbarrow from GW, another coachlight made from a silver bead, and some embelishments from GW.
All in all this was a fun little project. A big part of the fun was the wip/ tutorial, so thanks everybody who pitched in and listened to my ramblings.
(http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6001/020ck8.th.jpg) (http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=020ck8.jpg)
The finished piece can be viewed here: http://www.customhobby.com/forum/index.php?topic=1413.0