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Vik I too am paranoid of super glue, I'm always afraid of it blowing up on my face. Though once that did happen, it got cclogged and I pressed thinking it would move the clog but instead it just popped and I turned my head thankfully in time and got a tubes worth on my cheek. That could of been disastrous.

Okay, so with another flash of imagination, and some dumb luck , I think I might be on to something. The brick looking plastic card sheet that I got has a negative surface on the back of it. I know I played with it before, but my dumb luck had found the scrap piece with that side up and I had just thought about making a plaster cast of it(the front), this cuts out a few steps along the way. I was going to make a cast of the front. Flip it and make a negative cast, then try casting sections for a wall. Now I can just use the back of it instead. I don't have any casting plaster, though I might try some joint compound I have extra of here in the basement, just as a proof of concept. Anyway, here's a quick mock up of the pouring station I created.

Now to search for more brick to try and do multiple stations to cut time down, and to do alternate versions.

@Dr. H, I though everyone including myself needed to get some perspective this morning. It's always good to turn things on their ear once in a while just to see if a new idea pops into your head. In other words I was lazy and didn't want to flip the iPad around after I took the pics
@Vik, pm me your email and I'll try and send good pics of the article to you. I'm sure they're out in the Internet somewhere though. The title is "the underhive workshop" by Tom merrigan .

Edit: first pour is underway. Just to check what the setup would be like. Using 20minute set lightweight drywall compound that I had a bag of from the old house. This house has mostly plaster walls, so this doesn't work too well. I can switch to plaster later if this works out, just want to see.


Edit2: first pour unmolded, second pour is in. At this rate I'll need to build more blocks for casting, as I'm loving the results.

Dried first pour. I had set up two small sections and the one large section. The small sections can be placed double deep to make the walkway for the sewer, or used single wide to make short walls or landscaping elements.

Side by side with the section I made of plastic card, this has both short sized bricks next to each other. I'll just need to make the concrete slabs for the walkways.

Next to a bulkhead that had that top interlocking notch taken off.

Milk, it does a body good , I got 24 jars of the beads for about $5.00, and when I had one of the jars next to the figure it reminded me of the old milk jugs that cow ranchers collected milk in. I'll trim the top part off when I'm done with the beads and paint it up. I'm too much of a purist to mix the beads into another container, but with how easy it was to make the handles I might break myself of that problem so I can stockpile the jugs.

Trying something different with this pour, might add a little more character to the underhive sewer.

now that casting worked better than i had anticipated...

and since you want to coin yourself ninja... i thuink that idea needs to be ninja-ed by many other too

and yup... i PM you my adress... i couldn´t find a link on my own...

Excellent casting, I always feel sad though when I see Lego used in this way - should invest in some cheaper version - Magabloks maybe

Oh, and that image of the multi level terrain, makes me thing of Judge Dredd and Block Wars !!

Good job Theo, looks good.

I'd save those rings off the tops of the jars as well. Could be useful for hinges or tow ring things on vehicles.

@Vik, email sent, hopefully you can un jigsaw it. I've never sent an email with pics from the iPad, and it mixed them together.
@ruglud, the great hing is this joint compound slides right off the Lego, at worst I will have to rinse them.
@Dr. H, I save almost everything, I'm more like my wife's grandfather than I want to admit, probably why I get so frustrated by it.

Pour 2 was okay except a little too dry, and I didn't clean off the negative before pouring it
Pour 3 I got too wet and then spilled it so. Didn't get all three pieces
Pour 4 was just right, but was in too big a hurry and unmolded too soon, the two half pieces broke, but nothing unsalvageable. And will give character to the underhive.

Here's some pics

Left to right pour one thru four

Set up next to original plan, now we got some fighting room

Nice weathering and battle damage.
Just like you intended, eh...

Looking back I was actually wondering how to weather it and thought I could use my bb gun , now I don't have to. The first one doesn't look necromunda enough, it doesn't show hundreds/thousands of years worth of wear and tear. Was thinking of making a little sump dingy to ride in the sewer, but not enough time to get done before the competition ends. Speaking of which mine probably won't finish as I'm having too much fun with my mind in the gutter.

Leaving for a local fair for a few hours then for American football preseason game tonight, might check in via phone, but no more casts this evening, and probably not till Monday. But his will get me time to think of a layout and what else I should do block wise.

The miscasts look great, better than the perfect cast

I think some ones trying to steal Daves crown that idea has worked really quite well and in the long run could save you a penny or two.

The miscasts have great potential and would give some great character to the layout, especially the broken section you should add a dripping pipe with plenty of and that will look great.

How well does it paint up mind ? Just incase it is very absorbent with your paint, those Beads were a dam fine buy did you say they were from China ?

If you could point me in the direction to the link I would be grateful I have a use for some very small beads I might have a look on ebay actually

Nice work and great idea hope to see some painted mind

@Ruglud, I couldn't do damage better myself. I might glue a piece of fallen metal or omething by the broken area.
@LDD, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stylish-Caviar-Nails-Art-12-Colors-Manicures-or-Pedicures-Microbeads-G-/290812650720?pt=US_Nail_Care&hash=item43b5c8e4e0 on sale for another 8 hours, although I made an offer and got the same deal when I ordered.

Don't know how it will paint up, waiting a day or two for it to cure then I'll prince and paint, but since its for wall patching and takes wall paint well I think as long as its primed it should be fine.

Got in huge fight with the wife, so no family time right now. But I guess I can go cast some stuff or do more planning.

ohoh.... I hope for you the family issues get soon resolved... my mum always teached me to not go to bed with unresolved issues... youn never know if one of the pair gets to die in the night... so better kiss and make up again....!

the casts look very good and while the miscasts do have potential I would aim still for perfect products in the long run

and... is it just me or do the products look like they are getting smaller?

They're all the same size, just look different because they are leaning different amounts each. Perfection is always the goal, none of us is capable of achieving it, but the struggle counts.

I'll settle the fight before bedtime, my family has a history of going in their sleep, so we have that same adage . Nothing unreconcilable, just a regular tussle, she thinks one thing and I think mine. We were both frustrated at the kids and then it was the straw that broke the camels back.

In the mean time she took the kids to the library, and I decided to try and speed up the project.

Between this and my other mold things might move faster. Already poured the next batch in this, and by the time I finish this post the other mold should be hardened enough to pull it out.

your mass production is really stunning!

by the way... I don´t really know with what you cast atm... but if it is like the plaster I have...then adding a bit of PVA to the mix might make it sturdier...

and yes... our kids are also quite often the cause for much matrimonial discords ... that and the old all time favorites like money and work... they never go out of style I think...
good luck in fixing it this time... my wife told me off today for not getting her enough flowers... see? it is a world wide low level wave of grudge making^^

It started with the trees in our front yard. We have three beautiful trees including our favorite a weeping willow, but they are all too close together. She wants me to cut down the peach tree and the pear tree so we have a front yard, but I want to keep them because they're producing great fruit even if only for the birds and squirrels. Then some money talk, and then kids you get the idea.

Edit:argument resolved, the world is saved, no more cats and dogs living together
Unmolded the first set again. This time I tried a little extra and put some of the brick patter on the side of the small molds to get corners lo and behold it worked. Wish I thought about doing it with the larger piece as well .


Also just got an idea for some detail work.

oh yeah.... I feel your pain... totally! we´ve been all there and return there from time to time...the dark side of coupling it seems...

on a personal side... I am with you on the tree issue... cutting down trees just for a free yard... cutting health trees is a sacrilege

The three trees are too close together and will eventually kill each other, so at least one (the willow tree) or the other two need to go. The willow is beautiful, and I've had people who drive by stop and comment on it, but it doesn't bare fruit. Biblically the willow should come down, but we love its look and shade.

Also Vik posted as I posted so see previous for more pics of outside corner sidewalk pieces. Or I'll repost here

the corner shot look very good!

the world is saved, no more cats and dogs living together

ghost busters anyone?

good... send my best wishes to your missus!

and...damn that is a toughy....I probably would vote then for then willow too to stay, but I also would sit it out till one would eventually die...

First of just apologise get it over and done with, lets be honest do we ever really win an argument anyway actually since I have backed down a little lately (trust me not my nature) she has then apologised and been easy going

So maybe it will work for you and never argue over money life is to short, enjoy what you have and make the best of it thats what I say

As to the trees cut the willow back ( trust me its better for them apparently as I have been told by a tree surgeon) give the fruit trees a bit of breathing ground then discuss it later after the fruiting.

Although I have to say when you see the willow cut back does shock, but once the growth returns you can shape it and get better new growth.

As to the walkways will you be disguising the joins by some kind of brick beam/support ?

Sorry just realised thanks for the link

@ldd, trying to think of what to do, I have a cunning plan, that may be too cunning even for me.
@vik, yep, ghost busters, borrowed it from the library this week since Dave showed off those figures I wanted to watch it again. For a pg movie there were a lot of swear words, but was great to see again. I was going to stack my necromunda and citadel journal magazines and post a picture of it and ask "who does that?" To see if anyone got that reference.

I'm thinking of using some c-channel to cover the joints on the upper part and put rivets on those as well. That way it looks like reinforcing straps. Might do that every other joint and do pipes on the opposite ones. Not sure yet.

before reading on I was thinking of the best line of Ghostbusters...and the book stacking one and the "hear...I think I smell something" line is my absolute favourite... and I often quote that in RL too

Symmetrical book stacking... just like the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947.

Dont be to cunning you might out do yourself

Like the idea to hide the joins should work well, have you considered adding some flanges

@ldd and Vik, you haven't seen flanges until you've tasted my flanges(is that close enough to the ghost buster quote for you)

Just home from the football game. It was boy night, me and my eight year old, and my brother in law with his two year old so we only stayed till half time. It's preseason so doesn't really count. The seats were fantastic, his family has season tickets in the home endzone twelve rows back. Right by the chear leaders. didnt notice the score

Have time and energy so I am going to check my molds before bedtime.

23" baby halfway across a board size.

Here's a pic of possible joins between pieces

And since this one was weathered I thought I'd try a little something with it.

Limbo foul he bent forward

Quote near enough mate near enough

Cheat leaders for a minute I thought you meant opposing team then I realised what you meant by the next sentence

Have you considered some kind of brick buttress to hide the joins as well, might give them a more victorian feel mind so might not be your cup of tea so to speak.

@ldd, cheat leader , fixed the spelling. I really try to proof read most of the time, but I was tired last night. The "t" on my IPad usually doesn't take so when I type he its usually supposed to be the. Lately the pad had been going bonkers, afraid the screen might be going out. It's had decent use, but would be a major pain in my posterior.

As for the joints I have thought about casting a brick buttress, but like the idea of the metal reinforcing strips a bit more right now, but I have plenty of time to change my mind.

I love driving thru downtown saint Louis at night, coming back from the game gave me some cool inspiration for buildings. Gotta get ready for church, see you guys later.

that pipe needs some kind of sludge dripping out

the cracks really sell the piece!

and... that is quite a length of walkway....

And sludge is easy when you have a hot glue gun around. Not to mention wow, that wall is really coming together

My idea for the sewer is going to be the entire 4' length of a board, eventually it will get an opposing side of the sewer with a sump stream between. I also would like to have an official bridge over the sewer, and have it swap out with a not official bridge for the scenario toll booth. I want to create a couple wall actions with much larger pipes that come out, so models will have escape routes/entrances into the sewer/vents on the table. I scratched out a design in a notepad yesterday, will rework it a bit, but eventually the board will be raised up so the sewer can be lower/ underneath the main board and have effects on the game.

Dood! That's fantastic looking! Brilliant idea to use the back of the brick card! Sections are looking fantastic too!
Now cast some concrete or brick slabs for the walkway!

 Theophony wrote:
My idea for the sewer is going to be the entire 4' length of a board, eventually it will get an opposing side of the sewer with a sump stream between. I also would like to have an official bridge over the sewer, and have it swap out with a not official bridge for the scenario toll booth. I want to create a couple wall actions with much larger pipes that come out, so models will have escape routes/entrances into the sewer/vents on the table. I scratched out a design in a notepad yesterday, will rework it a bit, but eventually the board will be raised up so the sewer can be lower/ underneath the main board and have effects on the game.

Dude that Is SICK... also the modular size of the brick segments will allow you to shuffle their order to monkey with the way they impact the table. (potentially)