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Welcome to the 15th round of the League of Extraordinary Riveters Terrain Competition.
"The Trapdoor"

Welcome, one and all, to the 15th round of the League of Extraordinary Riveters Terrain contest.

For those who have not taken part before, this is a competition about terrain building (as you may have gathered from the title), but it is not strictly limited to pure terrain, dioramas that can be used as table top terrain are allowed (see rules below). To get a feel for how these competitions run and what to expect you may wish look at the 14 previous rounds, linked below.

Each round has a “theme” or other defining attribute(s) that must in some way be applied to the your terrain project, to compete with other modellers for that most prestigious of prizes, membership into The League of Extraordinary Riveters [LoER].

The competition is open to everyone registered on Dakka Dakka, all are welcome to enter regardless of ability, etc.

The main aim of these competitions is to encourage gamers and model-makers alike to go that extra mile when building terrain that can be used for playing your preferred tabletop wargame (or similar pastime - for example, a board game playing piece would be acceptable). Those taking part can expect to receive ideas, inspiration, encouragement and feedback from each other, and at the end each of the participants is "rewarded" with a new piece of terrain for their own use (that's the thing you just built).

The winner of each round hosts the next round, and the cycle continues.
The theme, limitations, rules, judging and prizes are all the responsibility of the host, although he or she can get help from others for some of those things...

For those who are returning once again to compete a most sincere and heartfelt welcome back!

Past Competitions.

Contest #1 "Lids" (dsteingass)
Contest #2 "Cookie Package” (Viktor Von Doom)
Contest #3 "Fightin' Pit!" (MrMerlin)
Contest #4 "For the title of Master Shrubber" (Meade)
Contest #5 "Vehicles!" (Bruticus)
Contest #6 "We're Not Worthy!" (Meade)
Contest #7 "Fire at Will" ( hk1x1)
Contest #8 "All are welcome" (Camkierhi)
Contest #9 “Elementary" (Littletower)
Contest #10 "The Throne" (Camkierhi)
Contest #11 "On The Road" (Red Harvest)
Contest #12 "Wall me up, fence me in " (monkeytroll)
Contest #13 "What went wrong?" (OneManNoodles)
Contest #14 "Making something extraordinary from the ordinary" (Dr H)
... And now onwards to the current competition.

This round's theme is "The Trapdoor".
I want you to interpret this in any way you see fit, but I will share with you the inspiration for this:




A classic British kids tv show from my youth, with a tremendously catchy theme tune, your task for this round should be to somehow create a piece that, in some way, incorporates a trapdoor.

You can be in any scale or any system you like. Ideally, your first WIP photo should what you bits and pieces you are starting with, but I'm aware these things evolve organically. Also, it's about being innovative with what you have lying about or can scavenge - but using a kit part for a totally different purpose, or on a different scale, will also be rewarded.

I like to see how people build their models, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. So please post as many WIP shots as you can. This can achieve more than just keeping me happy (and you want to do that anyway ): Regular posts in this thread will keep it in the public eye and will allow more people to find this contest. Also, if you post WIP shots, others can give you feedback and ideas before it's too late to change it (this will only help you as a participant and we all learn something new).

However, FINAL pictures should not be shown here. This is important for motivation, we are all our own worst critics, and seeing someone's brilliant work should not put us off but it can. I can't stop you posting in your own threads, but please not in here. PM me with the pictures / links instead when they are ready.

One last note on photographs. Please put as much effort into taking photos of your finished model as you have building it. Poorly lit, out-of-focus, blurred, and low resolution photos can harm your chances in any competition. Remember, If I can't see it in the photo, I can't judge it. Only you can hold the model in your hands and turn it around to see everything. Make sure everything you want me to see is in the photos. Thank you.

Rules:.
1: Talk about fight club the Competition. Tell everyone. Post it in your blogs. Add the banner to your signature.
HTML code for the banner.....
{url=http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/654377.page#7941687]{img]http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2012/11/8/429237_md-.jpg{/img]{/url]
change all the "{" to "["
It should look and work like this one:


2: Must be completed by the deadline. And when I say "must", I mean "about". There is a fair amount of leeway given in these contests but assume there will be no extensions and we'll cross any problems when it arises.
The Deadline is 10 weeks which makes it midnight BST 12th September
Which I believe is 19:00 EST or 16:00 PST
But anything on that night though to midday will be accepted so that those of you living in the past can keep going until bed time.

3: Your piece should be scratch-built or heavily converted. Model kit parts can be used, especially if used in an unusual way, but you will get more points for something you sculpt yourself, so keep that in mind. Unconventional parts are highly recommended in addition to those you will be using as part of this competition.

4: Your model should be a piece of terrain or a diorama that can be used for gaming purposes. It cannot be a playable model in itself (a crashed tank must stay crashed), but removable models (people) are fine.

5: Any scale, any setting and any gaming system are welcome. A nice mixture of fantasy, sci-fi, historical, or modern will make this contest all the more interesting. If you don't play a game, that's fine too; just make a display piece, but keep rule 4 in mind.

6: The women are right, size doesn't matter. You can make as small or as large a model as you want. Bear in mind the time-scale and don't bite off more than you can chew. We've all made that mistake!

7: Final Entry: Six or more photos of your final entry, showing top, front, both sides, back and all the important parts - not to be posted in this thread. PM me with links to your galleries, albums, etc. As I said above, please take the time to take the best photos that you can.
Together with your photos, I would like a statement of the items (a photo would be ideal) that you used. This is not a must, but would be helpful.

Feel free to include some fluff or an explanation of the model/setting to allow the rest of us to fully appreciate your work.

8: AMBITION: Push yourself. Try something new! Always wanted to use leds? Go for it! Fancied weathering powders? Here's your chance! I'll be looking at your galleries for previous work, entries etc. I want everyone to feel that their best has a fair shot at this.

9: Not so much a rule, but it wouldn't be the League of Extraordinary Riveters if there are no rivets. This also means similar small details are highly valued (rivets are the best example of this level of detailing).

10: Sprue. Find a use for the often discarded wonder material and bonus points will be yours.

11. THE RULE OF COOL trumps all.

If you are unsure of anything just ask away.

Judging:
Modelling: 45 points total.
(10 points) Skill and Techniques - No mould lines, gaps or rough edges (that are not meant to be rough). Show that you know the difference between a hobby knife and a spatula.
(5 points) Originality - You could have built anything, what did you choose?
(10 points) Materials - Choice of Ordinary items (ease of use / ambition / originality). Scratch-building Vs. recycled materials Vs. kit parts.
(5 points) Little details - Rivets and other small details that add realism to the piece.
(5 points) The wonder material - Use of Sprue in is own right not just as a hidden support structure. Good, new and original use of sprue.
(10 points) Design - How well was the idea translated to the model? Layout of the piece; artistically and for playability. Well thought out design for the setting. Does the build fit the theme?

Painting: 40 points total.
(10 points) Between the lines - Crisp and clean paintwork. No slips or brushstrokes. Good
(5 points) Simple but effective - Use of basic techniques (washes, dry-brushing, layering etc.) to a high level. coverage of both the basecoat and final layers.
(10 points) Skill and Techniques - Use of advanced painting techniques such as blending, shading, OSL, weathering, edge highlighting, freehand, etc... And their execution.
(5 points) Thinking outside the box - Use of unusual methods to produce good results. Including the use of printed materials, or unusual media (iridescent paint, etc.).
(10points ) Final product - How does the piece look overall in all its glory.

Bonuses: 15 points total.

(10 points) Coolness: Rule of Cool is always in effect.
(5 points) Ambition: How far have you pushed yourself as a modeller and painter? Is this your usual standard, or have you tried new techniques, processes - or just played it safe?

100 points total.

Yes, there is more emphasis on modelling than painting. And Ambition points are there becuase I want to reward folk who go the extra mile on this.

Prizes:
1st Prize.
Membership to the League of Extraordinary Riveters as top prize. You will be allowed to fly the League's banner and be recognised as a modeller devoted to Rivets.
Also a commission piece of terrain to your specification, made by me, of a medium size (CD sized base ish) plus an assortment of bitz.

2nd Prize.
A small piece of terrain (objective-sized-ish) for the system of your choice. Probably some bitz, too.

3rd Prize
Just a warm glow inside to encourage you to come back next time.

People's choice: As voted for by your fellow Dakkanauts.
More warm feelings inside and the bragging rights that your peers love your work.

Honorary mention: The person that didn't get into the top 3 but received the most votes. Assuming this is different from the People's choice.

And...
Anyone who completes a model for this competition will receive a full, detailed critique of your piece, written by me. This will highlight the good points and the parts I feel need work. I will give advice as to how I would improve the model and suggestions for alternatives. This is purely my opinions and is part of how I judge the pieces. It can be posted in this thread for all to see and learn from, or by PM if you want to see it first.

Judges:
Me (inmygravenimage)
GawdamSumbish
Yggrdrasil

So, go to it people. Get building!

Current Contestants:
TP^DC Deputy Manager
Buttery Commissar
Red Harvest
Viktor Von Domm
MagosBiff90
Gitsplitta
AUGmaniac
Solar Shock
Januine
Anvildude
Grimdork
mad_eddy_13
Camkhieri
Stormwall

Good luck to all!


And whatever you do, don't open that trapdoor!

Love the theme. I am putting my thinking cap on

10 weeks? I might be able to do this!

Edit: And probably rush everything in the last half a week.

Ah go on then, I actually have an idea.

Just need to go and visit a cafe and acquire some materials...

Oooh. The best trapdoors lead to dungeons. Or fallout shelters.

Sig is updated. Not sure about having the time... again. But a most excellent theme.

 Red Harvest wrote:
Oooh. The best trapdoors lead to dungeons. Or fallout shelters.

Sig is updated. Not sure about having the time... again. But a most excellent theme.

Or to.. Another trapdoor!

Edit: 2000th post!

Edit 2: I'm a Warlord moderatus now!

Nobles obliges, I am in... Ideas are currently not in but probably soon incoming...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
and just to get everyone into the spirit...
i made this...:

Concider me in!!!! Cracking theme.... and I am going to be humming that theme song all damn day now!! haha!

OK, I'm in.

AAAhhh the new competition Buzz!!! .... got a few thoughts that may form into ideas! Going to try and keep at least a slight level of control and get some sketches down!

So I've never done one of these before - how does it work? Do I create a new P&M blog thread for my entry?

Great to see so many folk so keen! Enigwolf, it's up to you, many folk will post both here and in extant blogs, but is entirely your choice.
And Vik, I had thought of suggesting something along those lines

thanks mate...

funny fact... when i first started thinking about what to enter...this came to my mind too:

OK, this time I'll ACTUALLY finish it. Hopefully. Good thing I have been playing Fallout for quite a while now.

Vik, you are a silly man.
AUG, great to have you aboard! Was wondering if anyone would interpret this for Team Pipboy

Vik, if your entry is not a pair of those hanging on a washing line, I shall be very disappointed.

my current plans have a strong hanging vibe... but even tho a piece of string will be involved...i doubt that a pair of long johns...ach... who am i fooling here... i am warming to that idea...

for now i was thinking gallows...was thinking ruin with trapdoor to the cellar before that...ach...ach...ach...my wee brain hurts

at graven... too bad you realize that this late...

Ideas are flowing. I have about 10 diorama ideas already each of which I reaaaaally want to do at some point, but think I have come up with a terrain idea. I'm going to let it brew, do some sketches and come back with a target, a plan (and a realistic timetable) soon.

*ponders* - "How big are spaceships????"

usually they are the same size as a brick... get it?^^

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
usually they are the same size as a brick... get it?^^

I'm guessing you're commenting on all spaceships being models. (I'm about to start a night shift and I may be missing blatantly obvious jokes )

i am referring to the "flying brick" or by GW called the storm...something^^

Oh right!!!!! Stormtalon?

I meant a real spaceship, or even a Hulk. I am about to take delivery of a 4th ed Space Hulk and I am thinking of building a room for it with a TrapDoor. Was thinking of a 40K/SciFi twist on the dungeon room from the claymation show. Ended up doing a literal 40K concersion of the original and then felt annoyed at myself for not being more creative. Then thought about when you might get that sort of room in a SciFi theme and remembered my Space Hulk purchase and figured you wouldn't want to open THAT trap door, there's definitely something down there!!

Oh....that sounds indeed promising! Then I would look for submarines or aliens the movie for reference...or that other movie event horizon...

I am tentatively in...

Right now I have no ideas but hopefully something will come to me.

Vick you are a genius. Good call

I think..... I may have made a decision...... no real details as of yet..... but it is going to be...... ORKY!!!!! for a change.....

Could anyone shed some light on the trap door idea;

I get what a trap door is, but does it have to be a trapdoor as such? or just revolve around the idea; AKA - being lured into something, or being caught out unawares. Would they count?

Great to see some new faces here! EyeamRai, just let it evolve randomly, that's what I usually do
Excited to see folk have some cool ideas. Solar Shock it's your interpretation of the theme. For comparison, look at some of the previous rounds, eg on the road:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/330/609100.page#7275908

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Great to see some new faces here! EyeamRai, just let it evolve randomly, that's what I usually do
Excited to see folk have some cool ideas. Solar Shock it's your interpretation of the theme. For comparison, look at some of the previous rounds, eg on the road:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/330/609100.page#7275908

thanks Graven, Yeh I have an idea (its the last comps ideas re-vamped - because my last idea was awesome, but moving house and such left me no time to complete it), but as I really badly want to carry out that idea I now in my new home intend to see it done! I shall get started

thinking something from the underhive.....