Mechanica Australis - Back on the Korps

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**Viktor von Domm**

I think my own perception of these pipes got clouded by games like Fallout... where this would be all in red then.... and they are noticeably weathered ...no fear there!

the LOS blocker walls look very good... I think you WANT to notice the foam structure still if you know it is made from that... if you look again and don´t think of its origin then the concrete look you have nailed completely! your painting will solve any issues in the end for sure! one must congratulate you for a very simple idea (really who doesn´t have some of that material in his junk box?) and make this an awesome idea!...

**Littletower**

@Vik: Thanks, glad you think it so.

And yes, you are right, sometimes I find it hard to stop seeing what something is originally made from...

Wash, drybrush and some (sawdust) grass later:

C&C are welcome.

Cheers.

**Viktor von Domm**

Sawdust??? Lol...we have one of these pencil sharpenermmachines here and it produces some curly "waste"... I collected a crapload of that stuff for basing ideas...good use of leftover material to use sawdust!!!

And now all grimy...ask your wife for controlling what you used to make these...I always ask my wife as a b-probe to stay informed about my stuff...she is not into the hobby and this earthens my endeavors...

**fireangel**

That's a pretty twisted piece of terrain and very evocative. I'm assuming it is a prison complex?

Very cool. Very dark.

**Littletower**

@Vik: Dyed sawdust plays a decent flocking role. And I have some other, longer shavings saved as well, might try those for vines, maybe?

As for the control issue, Ms. LT is my usual first critic (and harsher at times than most, too!). She might not be into the hobby herself, but has a keen eye (and knows far more about painting, BTW, than I do!).

@fireangel: Hello, welcome, and thank you.

Evocative? Maybe... Prison complex? Not really... I just guess you haven't backpacked through some parts of South America...

Cheers.

**Littletower**

Nothing worth showing on the WIP front...

On the other hand, had not one but two game invites last weekend (which I didn't get to actually play, as the eldest Cub seized the initiative on me both times), but at least I got to lay out some of the builds in a real table:

AM (Formerly IG) vs Tau + CSM:

Followed by IG vs Orks:

Just got around to download and upload the (poor quality) pics tonight.

Had fun, proudly saw the lad put up a couple decent fights (tough he lost both times, he fared well, and even better considering how little real practice either of us have), and got to talk about the hobby without having to give a 20 min introductory explanation first. and/or getting looked at in that way.

Hope to have a proper update soon enough.

Cheers.

**Camkierhi**

Well your scenery looks fantastic in those Battle shots.

Glad the lad had a good time.

Love the "walls". Great idea.

On the competition piece, obviously I cant say too much, but it is looking amazing. Great stuff.

**Dr H**

The wall pieces look good and all the terrain looks great laid out on the table.

**Gitsplitta**

Great to see you getting some tabletop action in LT! Nothing like some fun games to get you cranked up about your projects.

Always works for me anyway.

**Littletower**

Thank you all.

And, taking the liberty to loosely reply to a wise man's quote, it is nice to get some kind of action, now and then...

Giving in to hobby ADD again, I tried to do something about not having somebody around to make use of the new psychic phase (See? It almost sounds as if I knew what I'm talking about there)

Not having an official model (nor anything resembling one), and digging around, I found what I guess is a second or third generation recast (and badly casted at it) undead fig (A lych? A quick search didnt' bring up anything that look like it, so I do no know what I may have originally been), with a huge greathelm and a massive halberd.

Both got clipped away, and tried to add a hood to shamefully cover the shapeless bump that were the head and face:

After some primer and a first touch of paint.

In case anybody wants to know or can provide some guidance, the "original" (as in before I cut and filed it, not actually original) fig:

Spoiler:

C&C (and outright help on how to make something decent looking out of this) are welcome.

Thanks for stopping by.

**Littletower**

Just a few bits of this and that in the last days...

Put some more paint on the psyker?:

(Shines a bit less in person, still have to learn to take pics as well)

I'm not too dissatisfied with the back. The front, on the other hand... (speaking of which, the lump/hand right in the middle does not help either, thinking about how to cover it in some way, to disguise it's lack of detail)

And for the Latrines (Sorry, meant Throne):

Red Harvest wrote:
Some sort of pavilion over the wash area. That would seal the deal, IMHO.

Did you mean something like this

And (very provisionally) in place:

Will have to make the call soon, the end is coming close...

C&C are welcome.

Cheers.

**Littletower**

Not being sold on the canvas top, tried a different approach:

Problem with the former version was how to fix or hold the canvas to the supporting structure, as just laying on top of it as it was didn't' feel right.

Sewing it?

Which one? Or none?

With or without the rope tying it up? To be or not to be...

C&C would be welcome.

Cheers.

**Viktor von Domm**

ohhhh....

now that I am able to comment again...

I get a great bucket full of stuff worth commenting on... for your help...even tho it will kill my own deeds

...

I think the thatched roof with that grass looks stunning... probably the best way...gives that nice NAM look to your whole scene!

the stiched version is something that you should use on some other piece in the future...it is an awesome looking detailed idea that should not go to waste!

the action shots have been really nice... it is always cool to see good models in use... but I need to ask... there is a hook in a lid to be seen in one of the pics... next to a tank...???

whatever was this for?

as to the psyker... no idea of the models origin... it doesn´t look too shabby to my eyes back then ... but I like where your conversion is going... seeing as it is a preslotta model I think you could have damaged even a very old model...they used to make quite helpless looking smudgy models in the early eighties....

**Red Harvest**

Why not corrugated tin? Or have a peaked roof, like

Spoiler:

Only a much smaller buliding of course.

The thatching is very cool, but out of place with what you have. Is that short lengths of twine (sisal) stiffened with PVA or with a wire insert?

**Camkierhi**

I vote for tin as well, off cuts from main structure.

Great stuff all round. Last stretch. Not looking forward to judging this.

**Littletower**

Viktor von Domm wrote:I think the thatched roof with that grass looks stunning... probably the best way...gives that nice NAM look to your whole scene! The stiched version is something that you should use on some other piece in the future...it is an awesome looking detailed idea that should not go to waste! .

Thanks Vik! Though I finally went with the tin sheets, both were saved for a future use...

Viktor von Domm wrote:the action shots have been really nice... it is always cool to see good models in use... but I need to ask... there is a hook in a lid to be seen in one of the pics... next to a tank...??? whatever was this for?

Objective marker! (The hook is meant to be a N° 6, the previous five have one to five upholstery tacks on them to differentiate them, six didn't fit!) Provided by our honored opponent, worked the part, but can be made to look better, might get to that at some point...

Red Harvest wrote:Why not corrugated tin? Or have a peaked roof...
The thatching is very cool, but out of place with what you have. Is that short lengths of twine (sisal) stiffened with PVA or with a wire insert?

Tried to find an alternative to the metal sheets to add some variation both in texture and colour, but neither worked as I wanted... The thatching will come back somewhere else, I really like how it came out, even if not for this one.

And yes, twine and PVA it is.

Camkierhi wrote:I vote for tin as well, off cuts from main structure.

You judge, you rule

Done, and PMed. Will be thinking about what to do next...

Thanks for the inputs!

Cheers.

**fireangel**

Your terrain is great and watching your process has given me a new eye when I look at materials for my own gaming board!

**Littletower**

And done:

CloseUps:

The Throne(s) themselves:

And scale shots:

C&C are welcome as always.

Thank you for stopping by.

**Littletower**

Done? Done.

Still don't know what it was before, though...

C&C are welcome.

Cheers.

**DiDDe**

Yupp.. That one's done.. and it looks great.

**Red Harvest**

Done and dusted. Some minis don't deserve all that much attention... But it looks just fine.

Now to get you painting some decent minis... Or awesome scratch-built vehicles. It's good either way

**Littletower**

fireangel wrote:Your terrain is great and watching your process has given me a new eye when I look at materials for my own gaming board!

Glad it did, and long live recycling (which, besides being enviromentally friendly, also sounds much cooler than hoarding up curb trash)

DiDDe wrote:Yupp.. That one's done.. and it looks great.

Thanks!

Red Harvest wrote:Done and dusted. Some minis don't deserve all that much attention... But it looks just fine.

Just making do with the few I found around... And they make good practice all the same.

Red Harvest wrote:Now to get you painting some decent minis...

Decent as in Infinity minis, maybe?

Sorry, afraid I'm too close to world's end to get a hold on any of those

.

I do have some more IG's around my try with those again. Or build something new. Or finish something (that'd be cool too, wouldn't it?) Or...

I'll come up with something sooner or later.

Cheers.

**Red Harvest**

Not necessarily Infinity. You did edit out the most important part of that quote, you know, ".. Or awesome scratch-built vehicles. It's good either way".

If you can't buy it, build it... oh wait, I reversed it It should read, if you can't build it, buy it.

**DiDDe**

if you can't build it. you don't deserve it. xD
sounds like somekind of a motto for the LoER.

**Littletower**

@Red H: Indeed I did

... My bad, excuse me please.

And I would actually like to try painting some Infinity (I like the look a lot) at some point...

Miniatures (any of them, and even "general" modelling supplies) are hard to find around here, and buying abroad has graduated from difficult to fringe impossible lately, and that´s even before getting into relative costs or exchange issues... but enough of that ranting.

I'd rather take what you said to heart then, and just (try to) build it. And to live up to your comment, Id better do my best to make it look good too!

Thanks.

@DiDDe: Sounds like it should be

!

Back on topic, I do have the rest of the guardsmen squad box I started for Bebop's Comp primed, and I think there are a couple things I've learnt since (mostly from the thorough and insightful comments I received back then with suggestions and tips to improve), so I might give those a shot, and I started fiddling again tonight with some bits for the Hammerhead, so I'm not short of things to do (and/or paint!)

Sadly, nothing picture worth yet, but those will come in time.

Thanks for stopping by.

**Littletower**

Dr H's comments, critiques and advice after judging the 10^th Round of the LoER Terrain Competition: "The Throne":

Dr H wrote:
Right you are, here you go:

Bare in mind that these are my opinions that I made during the judging and are only my opinions.
I don't intend to offend or embarrass anyone, I was in judging mode and was picking faults. Hopefully, I come across as helpful.

Disclaimer over, Littletower:

Great work, nice attention to detail and convincing painting.
Only problems I see with the build is a discontinuity in the mud about the base of the sinks and the metal sheets could have done with rivets to hold them on (I like practical details like this).

The plumbing looks great (and at least there are rivets on the boiler ) and the little details, such as the taps, towel hooks, bog roll, and barbed wire, etc... add so much to the look and feel of the piece.

The painting is also good. The rusty metal is brilliant (quite envious of it really). The other things, like the wood are also well done. The boiler could maybe be done a little better, possibly by the addition of some shading (or more obvious shading) before the weathering. There are a couple of tiny slips on the edges of the sink bowls, but that is the only issue I could spot (and I really had to look hard to find them).

An extra note upon conferring is that the mud could have benefited from a bit more work. With more mud-like details (puddles etc) and some plant life in quiet corners. Apart from the rusty metal, you maybe could have pushed yourself a bit further with the painting.

The toilets/waste disposal side of the piece could have been emphasised a bit more (I did like the trickle with used bog roll, but could have been more...), as the showers almost steal the limelight.

Great piece overall

Insightful observations and great pointers for works-to-come, reposted here for future reference.

Cheers.

**Littletower**

The League of Extraordinary Riveters ongoing Terrain Competion new Round is on: On the Road (Or just Roads)

As simple as getting from A to B, as Red Harvest - current Host and last Round winner - puts it. But with a few catches. In case anybody hasn't yet, please, click above, check it out and check in!

I said it already, I've wanted to give an iron road a try for some time now, so that is Plan A for this one, for the time being at least.

Pre-work (though no roads of any kind to be seen yet):

(Working with expanded polystyrene

! There are loose beads and shavings all over the place now)

Will work some more on it soon.

Cheers.

**Viktor von Domm**

this will be a diorama then?...and... I am not sure I understand the term "iron road" but am I right in assuming that this will be a railroad?...so a train will star in this dio too someway?...

and that expanding foam is so easily accessible but it is a pita to be worked with... one almost wish to move apartments when you started with that stuff...right?

**Littletower**

@Vik: I'll try to keep more on the terrain/playable side, though, for the time being, it would only be fitted for a table corner.

Some day, if/until matching back-to-back tiles get made, it could grow to a four-piece full mountain.

And yes, for iron road I meant a railroad, or so is the plan. Don't know about a train yet, but...

Still no tracks, but starting to make sense?

The worst part of the electro-sticky foam bits seems to be almost over now...

C&C are always welcome.

Thanks for stopping by.

**monkeytroll**

Yep...making sense now

so...you just need to be able to work the next three League comp themes into mountain pieces and you're all set, yes?