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Looks great.

Stormwall wrote:Man I love that kit.

Next paycheck I will get it... ™

Thanks Stormwall. Good to hear.

Still two hut kits unclaimed, y'know, if anyone else is interested...

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Looks great.

Thanks 'boss.

Progress:
The outer tank is glued on,
The main roof is painted, inside and out, and has been pinned to where it will eventually be glued,
and construction of the front roof has happened...

...there's a few more tweaks to be done to this, mainly with how it interacts with the rest of the hut.
I think I may paint the tiles on this part in a dark, slate-y blue for a change.

I was wondering what you were going to do with the rest of the rrof. It looks really good, that extension.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:I was wondering what you were going to do with the rest of the rrof. It looks really good, that extension.

Yeah, while a roof for the extension is not included in the kits (I don't have enough spare roof), I had enough to scratch-build this (and make more planks) for the example.
I wasn't sure how it was going to come out, but I'm reasonably pleased with the result. Thanks.

Now, what do we think of the blue tiles for this section?

Too colorful given the state of the rest of the place. They'd be the same as the other roofing tiles unless there's a reason to believe that it is an older or newer section of the building... in which case they'd either look newer or older.

Thanks Gits'. Yeah, the idea was just to break up the mass of red and look like an extension added on, sourcing the tiles from somewhere else.

But the newer addition would be sold better if the wood of that section were a different colour to the rest, but that's opening up a can of worms.

I also think for the blue, it would need a different wood tone. It doesn't contrast with the wood of this hut as well as the red.

Awesome work .

Thanks hk'.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand red...


Now to work out how I'm going to connect these together...

that looks much better.

Ta. You don't know if you don't try; another colour is but a layer of paint away.

The roof needs some orange for highlighting, although it kills me to say so. Get more of a terra cotta look to the tiles. IMHO, of course.

Perhaps break up the roof mass with some greebles, like a pipe vent or two, or something similar.

 Red Harvest wrote:
The roof needs some orange for highlighting, although it kills me to say so. Get more of a terra cotta look to the tiles. IMHO, of course.

It's currently highlighted with pink (the base red-brown with added white) and then a light grey. I did this so as to not be so RED and give it a dusty/stone-y look.

I have a small section painted that I cut off from under the new section. I'll try some orange on that and see how it looks.

Perhaps break up the roof mass with some greebles, like a pipe vent or two, or something similar.

One idea I had was to add a walkway/platform over the roof for models to climb up on. This would break up the red (does it need breaking up? is probably an important question ), and would allow models to interact with the hut: At the moment the hut is basically a "pretty" LOS blocker.
The door does still open and close, and while you can embark models into the hut and designate firing points/arcs, you can't place models in there (no space and the roof is glued on). Would it be more useful/desirable if it had a platform on the roof? Does it need it? Would it spoil it?

Thoughts from the gaming community?

A widow's walk or the remnants of one. That would look pretty good.

Thanks Red. That's the sort of thing, but maybe not quite so "posh" as the examples in that link.

Still looking for other opinions on this, if anyone else has an opinion?

As to the highlighting with orange:

I dry-brushed orange over the off-cut that you can see there.
While I agree that is does look more terracotta I have a couple of issues with it for the roof:
1) It would match / blend in with the ground a bit too much, I think.
b) It would make all the tiles look like the few scattered lighter tiles I have across the roof.

I'm happy with how the tiles look as they are, but thanks for the idea.

That looks so professional,a real showpiece. Excellent stuff!

That does look really good.

The roof as it is looks good, I agree with you on the orange, whilst yes it does make it look more like terracotta it looks fine as it is for the points you list. But if you change your mind and do go for a more orange look, add black to some of the tiles to represent them being too close to the fire in the kiln or something.

Whilst I do not game, an idea I had would be to be able to sit a mock up of the interior on the roof for model positions ... its a bad idea.

I'm not sure how you'd fit a walkway or platform around it though.

Rather than paint the whole roof orange/Terracotta, maybe you could just do more of the scattered tiles, in lighter and darker tones.

Also I do like the idea of adding a walkway to roof, but I'd keep it as a separate piece that just fitted over the hut, and could be removed or swapped out for something different.

Amazing job. Wooden hut is superb, and the tanks are great.

As for the roof, I'd go for adding something else on it too, agreeing with hk1x1, I'd try to make if removable if possible.

Maybe a scaffolding? Sort of a poor's man widow's walk? Wooden, of course, but a different age - and colours - than the rest of the house.

Tiles look good too, but a bit too "even"? And old roofs can grow moss (dark green or green-grey) or even bigger vegetation if the weather is humid enough...

No update. Been working on (planning) the commission piece. Trying to find/buy/make tubes of a certain size (somewhere between 5 and 6 inches diameter).

So, replies and an alternative.

Thanks Graven. Good to see the word "professional".

OneManNoodles wrote:That does look really good.

The roof as it is looks good, I agree with you on the orange, whilst yes it does make it look more like terracotta it looks fine as it is for the points you list. But if you change your mind and do go for a more orange look, add black to some of the tiles to represent them being too close to the fire in the kiln or something.

Thanks OMN. Good idea with the blackened tiles, might use that.

Whilst I do not game, an idea I had would be to be able to sit a mock up of the interior on the roof for model positions ... its a bad idea.

Yeah, I think it'd be easier just to leave the roof off and build the interior in the interior.
The reason I've glued the roof on, was to save time, by only detailing the interior from one side. If I was going to leave the roof removable, I'd have spent twice a long on the interior details.

I'm not sure how you'd fit a walkway or platform around it though.

The idea I have was for it to straddle the roof spine; over the hut rather than around it.

hk1x1 wrote:Rather than paint the whole roof orange/Terracotta, maybe you could just do more of the scattered tiles, in lighter and darker tones.

I'm seeing a trend here...

Also I do like the idea of adding a walkway to roof, but I'd keep it as a separate piece that just fitted over the hut, and could be removed or swapped out for something different.

Yes, I did think that it should be left removable, as you say.

Littletower wrote:Amazing job. Wooden hut is superb, and the tanks are great.

As for the roof, I'd go for adding something else on it too, agreeing with hk1x1, I'd try to make if removable if possible.

Maybe a scaffolding? Sort of a poor's man widow's walk? Wooden, of course, but a different age - and colours - than the rest of the house.

Thanks LT. Ja, I was thinking just a framework / scaffolding type thing.
Wooden eh? I was thinking metal so that it contrasts with the wooden hut. A different wood-tone "wood" be necessary.

Tiles look good too, but a bit too "even"? And old roofs can grow moss (dark green or green-grey) or even bigger vegetation if the weather is humid enough...

Definitely a trend here. More variation in the tiles. Check.

And for an alternative to a walkway (for the purpose of breaking up the colours), how about some graffiti of some kind: I'm thinking a kind of advert for where to get the "product" from. A large "happy acid face" or similar?

If I added a walkway, would it see any use in game?
Infinity, maybe.
40K ?
Others ?

It's not as if it goes anywhere. Just a little higher up; see and be seen...
If it won't be used, then there's little point in making the effort.

I'm all about graffiti. How about something Transmetropolitan?

Glad to hear about that commission work, even if we won´t get to see much of it.

Plastic tubes OK? If so, plastic (PVC and/or ABS) pipes and fittings might do it.

Pipes usually came in 6 meter stretches, which might be a bit much, but there's an ample catalogue of fittings and accessories that might be of use.

Watch out for inexact or "confusing" measurements: specified pipe sizes do not necessarily relate to an exact measurement of either the internal or external diameter, but refer to the nominal bore of the pipe (emphasis in "nominal", as un-related to "actual" !), sockets add some more width variation too.

(I guess what I mean is that a trip to a hardware or plumbing store and actually handling the options would beat ordering online)

If mechanical strength is required, product specific glue (solvent based fusing) might be worth considering too, and shouldn't add too much to the tab.

Back on the hut, metallic walkway or scaffolding sounds good. Not the most seasoned gamer here, but height differences are very important in Deadzone, less in 40K, and, though I'd guess they would be relevant in Infinity, I haven't tried it yet Modelling wise, it'd add quite some interest to the roof, though, so I'd say go for it anyway1

Looking amazing.

Adding a ladder and walkway is a great idea, but I would make it go somewhere, maybe a look out, does not have to be much just a lean to with a tin roof big enough for one guy. Bit like a crows nest.

inmygravenimage wrote:I'm all about graffiti. How about something Transmetropolitan?

Had not heard of that before, but a quick google says "cyberpunk" and "gonzo journalism" ... so I need to get hold of these at some time as I'm in to both.

Littletower wrote:Glad to hear about that commission work, even if we won´t get to see much of it.
...
(I guess what I mean is that a trip to a hardware or plumbing store and actually handling the options would beat ordering online)

If mechanical strength is required, product specific glue (solvent based fusing) might be worth considering too, and shouldn't add too much to the tab.

Ta, LT. Yeah, I've been looking at PVC and cardboard tubes.
As it's a scale model, I've been trying to fit very strict measurements. The final model (that I may or may not be commissioned to make) will have an inside and an outside, this means that the wall thickness of the "pipe" is important. The problem with PVC pipes are that the walls are not "in-scale" with the diameters, and they are all standard sizes.

I have found a few companies that make cardboard tubes to order, but a one-off order to exact measurements don't come cheap. But making them myself are not going to happen.

Still I have found a short length of PVC pipe that I will use for the initial test model to see if they like what I can do.

Back on the hut, metallic walkway or scaffolding sounds good. Not the most seasoned gamer here, but height differences are very important in Deadzone, less in 40K, and, though I'd guess they would be relevant in Infinity, I haven't tried it yet Modelling wise, it'd add quite some interest to the roof, though, so I'd say go for it anyway1

Thanks.

Camkierhi wrote:Looking amazing.

Adding a ladder and walkway is a great idea, but I would make it go somewhere, maybe a look out, does not have to be much just a lean to with a tin roof big enough for one guy. Bit like a crows nest.

Thanks Cam'. Yeah, I am thinking of a lookout area for security reasons.

I suppose the usability of a lookout "tower" would allow me to ask for the upper end of what I want to charge for this piece.
I'll see what I can knock up without taking ages. Expect; sprue (for structure), tread-plate (for flooring) and corrugated steel (as I've just bought some corrugated plasticard).

Right, so, a small, removable, watchtower...
I'll let the photos tell the story:


There will be more distressing added,
Probably painted up like the top of the tank there,
I don't think I'll add a roof though, as that would either have to be very high, or would prevent more exuberant (or just taller) miniatures than Ork #1 there.
Will make a ladder to get up there.

And I keep forgetting to mention this:
If you like wood, check out the latest round of the LoER terrain contest: "Got Wood?"
Have a look, join in, have fun, fabulous prizes to be won...

 Dr H wrote:
Right, so, a small, removable, watchtower...
I'll let the photos tell the story:

Explosion experts.
I like the "ALL SPRUE watchtower". Amazing!

Interesting that it is asymmetrical. I approve. That srpue looks like tree branches. Nice.

About those tubes. Can you say what the dimensions are?

Very nice wee addition! and... another handy trick for using sprue.....

Red Harvest wrote:Interesting that it is asymmetrical. I approve.

Thanks. The asymmetry is functional as well as aesthetic; The short legs sit right next to the roof spine when the structure (I don't really feel that "tower" is a label I can give it after the previous tower... ) is level. If it equally spanned the roof it would always end up skew-whiff (without further centralising additions).

That srpue looks like tree branches. Nice.

Also a good use for sprue, and one I have in mind for future tree needs. It uses up the twisty-twirly bits that are now more common in GW kits, that are otherwise useless for straight rods/girders/bars/etc...
I even have a couple of bits of sprue set aside for motorbike frames...

These, however, are to be metal pipes. Hence I've drilled holes into the ends.
You would need to remove the injection/exit ports from the sprue to be used as tree branches, whereas I used them for the attachments points of the corrugated steel.

About those tubes. Can you say what the dimensions are?

The real life "tube" is made of two differently dimensioned tubes of:
5m diameter with 70mm walls; which is 135.7mm OD with 1.9mm walls at the scale I was aiming at,
and 5.3m diameter with 50mm walls; which is 143.8mm OD with 1.3mm walls...
The larger tube, however, may not need any interior and so could be built up on the outside of the smaller tube, meaning I only need to buy one tube...

At that scale (~1:33), the combined length of those tubes would be 630.2mm (~2 foot).

So I've been looking for 5 to 6 inch pipes in 1 to 2 foot lengths, with thin enough walls... Most PVC pipes of that dia' come in 6m lengths (and some outlets will cut it down for you if you don't want that much... to 3m lengths... ) and that's a lot of pipe to buy for 2 foot.

This is why I've changed tact' to: find a tube and scale to match that...

MagosBiff90 wrote:Very nice wee addition! and... another handy trick for using sprue.....

Thanks and yes indeed.

I've now made a ladder, added some bent and damaged areas, and started painting.
These photos also show that a 40mm base can fit (but needs to be slotted in from the top...at least he won't be falling out... )

Soon to be various shades of rusty metal, and there may be a blood stain too...what with all those bullet holes...

That's the best use of sprue I have seen in awhile.

Thanks 'boss. I'm always looking out for uses of sprue.

And painted:

I decided to not go too rusty as this hut is meant as an (until recently) occupied building and I don't want the outlook to appear as if it's about to fall apart.
In the same way, the hut is in reasonably good condition (except for the large hole).

For plant-life, there are two small bunches of dead grass; one at the corner of the hut by the foot of the ladder, and one in the damaged corner of the wall by the doorway. Neither of which you can really see in the above photos. I decided to avoid green plants as the mud looks pretty dry and I like to think that whatever it is being made in the hut is so bad for health that nothing will grow nearby.

Also, I've U-turned on the graffiti. I think the understated look to the exterior of the hut is best for an illegal "cooking" operation and drawing attention to themselves would lead to more bullet holes that it already has...

I've started planning the test commission and I have a couple of birthday presents to make for this month, so this hut needs to be finished and moved on without sucking up any more time.

However, should whoever wants to buy this, also wants changes, I'm sure we can come to an arrangement...

This brings me to price.
I'm thinking £80 for it. Which may sound a lot at first, but if I'm selling the kits for £20-30, and that doesn't include the interior or the extra roof used on the front and the lookout/ladder, basing, then painting the whole thing... I should probably ask for more (but doubt anyone would bite).

Thoughts?
Final photos will happen soon-ish, unless I'm convinced otherwise.