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Guildenstern wrote:
Hmmmm love this idea, love wood, need more terrain pieces (malifaux, our pathfinder games etc)

So I think Ive twigged to the concept here - I'll throw my hat in. Not sure what I might do yet tho, likely to be a building thingy. /ponders

*edit* Forgot - saw a trick on youtube (forget name sorry :() for using steel wool + vinegar solution to chemical 'dye' wood to look like well, finished wood. It gives it a lot of more variation. Just thought someone else might be interested in the idea.

It is also possible to chemically dye wood using lye or ammonia fumes. Although it is a bit dangerous

 Red Harvest wrote:

Guildenstern wrote:
Hmmmm love this idea, love wood, need more terrain pieces (malifaux, our pathfinder games etc)

So I think Ive twigged to the concept here - I'll throw my hat in. Not sure what I might do yet tho, likely to be a building thingy. /ponders

*edit* Forgot - saw a trick on youtube (forget name sorry :() for using steel wool + vinegar solution to chemical 'dye' wood to look like well, finished wood. It gives it a lot of more variation. Just thought someone else might be interested in the idea.

It is also possible to chemically dye wood using lye or ammonia fumes. Although it is a bit dangerous

Yes, I've read about these techniques. I also read about using tea or chalk to bring out the grain. Or just wood stain. If it ends up too dark, you can use bleach to lighten up the wood again. Lots of options.

Remember: safety first. Conduct experiments in a well ventilated area, especially when dealing with unfamiliar chemicals. Rubber/latex gloves and eyewear optional, but recommended.

OK, seriously, I need to come up with an idea. Maybe a shanty town, some pallets, boardwalk...

So I thought I should go and check I had some wood.


Yeah, I think I do:


And there are some large blocks in the garden.

Been researching how the precipice for the Balrog should look and there is loads of variation. So I'm going back to the movies to get a definitive goal. Had to start at the beginning though, so will find out in a few days . I do know that the bridge is meant to be 50 foot long as per Tolkien, so using Gandalf's height as 5'6" and the 32mm scale, that works out as 1:65 scale and the bridge needs to be 23.4cm long for it to be to scale. That would be a long thin dio. However, and here's where my fellow League members/participants can help. How about a square dio, with the bridge starting in one corner heading over to the precipice and Balrog imposingly sitting in the opposing corner? Yay/nay?

that looks like a promising amount of wood!

as for you ideas...i´d be game for a long thin one and even a square one... maybe you should make out of paper a mock up of both layouts and see what you think works best for you?...
would hate to really talk you into one direction that later on proves to be against your ideas/needs....

also have fun while doing research...

Good point Vik. Be worth thinking about how I'm going to store it, which will likely determine the best shape.

And I am thoroughly enjoying the research

well...we´re about to watch the films soon too...we´re thinking about watching them with our kids...aged 7 and 9...hmmm...they watched movies like avengers or all the star wars stuff already...so mebbe it will work with the LotR too...^^


Automatically Appended Next Post:
and storage is a big issue we don´t have too undervalue...i´ve built way too much stuff that eats up too much space...

from your point i think this has much to offer... if you play your cards right perspective can be our best bud in terms of the built..painting later on will bring out lots of perspective too...

Good ideas floating about.
Like the wicker man concept.

For the layout, Deputy, ...well storage is an important consideration indeed... but if you do go for a corner-to-corner layout, can I suggest it not be perfectly symmetrical, and go from not quite one corner to not quite the other corner.
The slight asymmetry will give it a bit more "arty" feel to it. Perfect symmetry can look a bit odd at times.

And, if you are going to have Gandalf (5'6" seems a little short for him?) on one side and the Balrog on the other, then playing with asymmetric sides to the chasm (one larger than the other) can show the balance of power between the two figures: Large side with Balrog to show the seeming unfairness of the fight, or large side with Gandalf to show that he is in fact the more powerful being...

For the layout, Deputy, ...well storage is an important consideration indeed... but if you do go for a corner-to-corner layout, can I suggest it not be perfectly symmetrical, and go from not quite one corner to not quite the other corner.
The slight asymmetry will give it a bit more "arty" feel to it. Perfect symmetry can look a bit odd at times.

totally with you...

also your insights about asymetry are a good hint...this will make the piece indeed look way more "lifelike"

My tupence, I would go long and thin, a 9" base will fit nicely on a shelf, and I would also probably squew the length a bit, after all a landraider transports a thousand robot men, so a bridge a little less than 18" long will look fine.

Totally with DrH on the asymmetry bit, also would be an amazing chance to do some awesome OSL with Gandalf.

In the middle of house move, no TV, so envious of a LotR sesh right now.

And Vik, they will love the films, but probably skip the Shelob bit, depends, also if doing it true to timeline, should be Hobbit trio first, and again the spiders!

Thanks all. Asymmetry would work well with long and thin too. And this is a lesson in not trusting all sources of info for heights. Ian McKellen is actually 1.8m (5'9")!!! Making the scale 1:44!!! Bridge would need to be 34.6cm for full length, but asymmetry will allow the bridge to end in a way so that the bridge can be divided in two allowing potential opportunity for future terrain piece.

Think I imagine the piece ending with Balrog on wide area rather than Gandalf Dr H. Conveying how he had strength of purpose to hold at that point despite it's fragility. Or something...

Have never done OSL. Not sure I am up to it yet. We'll see

Guys, Gotta say, thanks for all the input and support, you're all great!

 TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:
Think I imagine the piece ending with Balrog on wide area rather than Gandalf Dr H conveying how he had strength of purpose to hold at that point despite it's fragility. Or something...

This has potential to be a really awesome dramatic piece, excited to see how it turns out!

@TheEyeOfNight - cheers. With my track record, don't get your hopes up!! But grateful for the support. Hope I don't let you all down. Will try sketching a plan tonight and upload. But that will of course only be a rough plan because I need to get to that part of the films before I can do a definite plan

 TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:
@TheEyeOfNight - cheers. With my track record, don't get your hopes up!! But grateful for the support. Hope I don't let you all down. Will try sketching a plan tonight and upload. But that will of course only be a rough plan because I need to get to that part of the films before I can do a definite plan

Plans are good. Extended-edition, director's cut plans are even better.


Also, since I am out of town this coming week, here is the progress on the body frame so far (Bestigor for scale). Fun tip: sprinkling a bit of dirt on the hot glue globs before they dry makes it look a lot like mud, and should save me some work later on.


And some supplies I ran across hiking through our local park. Not sure what I'll use them for yet, but they'll definitely be part of this...

nice promising progress! the thorns are probably meant as antlers...

So the plans are in motion:

So it will be a cube 30cmx30cmx30cm due to the wingspan being 25cm (which is rubbish because I was hoping to have it a rectangle with short edge being about 15-18cm to fit on a shelf I have, but needs must. I had originally hoped to have the bridge be much higher from the base to represent the depth of the canyon. But it would be impractical and is again restricted by the height of the Balrog (15cm!). The piece the Balrog will be stood on will be a block of solid wood and I will chisel away the exposed surfaces to represent the rock face.

I've taken on board the perspective/asymmetry points and from above will look like this with the bridge ending in mid-air. The bridge will be made of two pieces of 2"x1" glued and screwed together then attacked with chisel and saw, with curve cut in from the beginning.The bridge will be connected to the rock face with glue and dowel:

I've got disc cutters that will allow me to cut recessed circles for the minis' bases too. I think. Maybe. We'll see.

Hope people don't mind me babbling here, it helps me form my thoughts.

Absolutely no probs with babbling here, as this is what's that thread is all about!
Love your sketches, they hint of coolness...
Chisel work will be a feast for us, as I want to learn a thing or two regarding that too!

And the lack of true depth you can fix with the paint job...

Yes the lack of depth, don't do the cliff face too vertical, a slight angle, and a good paint job and your golden.

Love your plans, good stuff.

@ eye.....excellent start, such a good idea.

Ok so here's my input.... Going to go for a medieval age trench / fortress hoarding... timber in construction built over a stone wall... with a fire going inside... ( I know... fire in a timber construction... what could go wrong?!) ... going to really push myself and attempt to try OSL paint technique which I have never done also also maybe a wee LED perhaps....

Going to try a nice clean paint job (nothing to decrepit or crusty) which again will be a nice change! got a plan in my head so will crack on this evening as I have a wee bit of free time for a change!

I was driving through the country this weekend and saw an old abandoned barn out in a field. After thinking about it a little while, I said to myself, "Yep, that's it." So I'm going to try building a broken down, abandoned barn, and possibly a farmhouse too. Seems like an appropriate fit for the theme. Examples of what I have in mind:

I'll upload a sketch soon.

A wee pic to show my idea... might not incorporate all of those elements.... but will try!

Not my image... copied from google.. all rights and all that...

I finally have my reference photo:

What I am planning is nothing new. A load of people have done fabulous jobs, but interesting that because the area behind the Balrog is not seen for long most people have used artistic licence (absolutely appropriately). I think I'll go with the pillars because they will make an interesting appearance and I'dnlike to be as true as possible to the original.

Now, back to the film (sorry, not trying to rub it in Cam)

really looking forward to seeing this TP. Seriously iconic moment, scene, bridge you going for. No pressure

Cleatus, I think you ninja'd me

Though, I don't think I want to do a barn/farmhouse per se. I do want to do a scenery board with a fence row, some shaggy outbuildings and maybe a water feature. Nothing verdant, maybe in the heat of summer or early fall, but before the leaves are down as I don't want to detail a bunch of leaf piles. I dunno, a small farm house could be pretty neat for some zombie encounters but it would require a lot of research to get a proper layout for the interior, and a *lot* of work on gubbins.

We'll see. The bad part is, if I do a board at all, I may as well do a 4x4' board. I mean a 3x3' board for Pulp Alley may as well be a zoomed/cropped section of a 4x4' board. Just make it bigger and use a smaller section of it rather than making cumbersome expanders later. Of course this means a lot of work upfront.

I had so many plans for various 4x4' boards, doing a run-down farm is a bit odd of a shift.. but it would work for everything but fantasy... so I'm considering it. We'll see, I know there's a lot of time left in the comp but there isn't a lot of hobby time on my plate lately.

 GrimDork wrote:
Cleatus, I think you ninja'd me

Though, I don't think I want to do a barn/farmhouse per se. I do want to do a scenery board with a fence row, some shaggy outbuildings and maybe a water feature. Nothing verdant, maybe in the heat of summer or early fall, but before the leaves are down as I don't want to detail a bunch of leaf piles. I dunno, a small farm house could be pretty neat for some zombie encounters but it would require a lot of research to get a proper layout for the interior, and a *lot* of work on gubbins.

We'll see. The bad part is, if I do a board at all, I may as well do a 4x4' board. I mean a 3x3' board for Pulp Alley may as well be a zoomed/cropped section of a 4x4' board. Just make it bigger and use a smaller section of it rather than making cumbersome expanders later. Of course this means a lot of work upfront.

I had so many plans for various 4x4' boards, doing a run-down farm is a bit odd of a shift.. but it would work for everything but fantasy... so I'm considering it. We'll see, I know there's a lot of time left in the comp but there isn't a lot of hobby time on my plate lately.

Haha, sorry!
Wait, interior work? Water feature? A 4'x4' board?? I'm hoping to finish a single building, and you're talking about doing a whole board of stuff.
If you end up doing a run down farm, I'm sure your style will be completely different than mine.
Looking forward to seeing what you (and everyone) comes up with for the comp!

Grim', could you not do one corner (1x1) of the planned board and then add to it later... or if things go well do a second etc... You wouldn't make a whole 4 foot square board in one piece anyway would you? Would you?

If you're going to be making it in sections, may as well ensure that at least one section gets finished for the contest and then finish the others as they come...

If you can get it all done, then all power to you. But don't ignore the power of little victories (completing part of a larger project) to encourage motivation; a 4 foot square blank space could be quite intimidating, getting 1/4 of that done could really make the difference.

That's a very long way to say; plenty of time, one step at a time. You can do it.

Nice research you have going on, Cleatus.

put me in provisionally as a contestant, Vik. It may not be much, but i can probably whip something up in two months or so.

Yeah same for me. Even if its just some pallets, a hut, or an outhouse or something... I wanna do a farm board maybe, but liable to not get it all done.

just want to put it out there that i would be making pallets and crates as scatter terrain or barricade/ LOS-blocking debris piles out of real wood coffee stirrers, as i did some of that before:

Good st uff, they look extremely pallet-like. Extremely,

What kind of glue did you use? CA, woodglue, what pva? I love to hot glue stuff but those look like they were done with something a bit more set and dry as they're pretty straight with no awkward hot-glue-lumps.

Damnit now I'm getting flashbacks from Walmart.... and yours aren't even blue!

Hello my dear contestants!

i am sorry i was so long away...job life and a fuzzy head due to a man flue that´s around the corner...

well...i updated the list of contestants...i hope i didn´t drag someone into the fray against their will...and also that i didn´t forget someone...gimme a nudge and i will fix that oor this asap^^

as for the pallet thing... totally worthy idea for the comp! may i add my own 5c of retail knowledge tho... from my own hazy memory pallets have square inner planks instead of rectangular panks...for my own projects i would rely on putting the upper coffey stirrers on a skeleton of matchsticks...

soooo....when do we see the first real WIP pics...?...c´mon!


cheers, vik (who is loving the discussion part as much as the picture showing^^)