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 OneManNoodles wrote:
Those windows look awesome so far Doc.

Thanks OMN. I've now smoothed out the transitions a bit more and added the highlights. Once it's all glossed up it should look about right (it is currently slightly glossy due to one of the reds I use being a gloss and the rest being matt).

not going to apply the same neon reflections to the rest of bodywork are you?

As the whole vehicle will be gloss (as cars tend to be) I may add a few of the pink highlights to select places, but I'm not going to go overboard with the red otherwise it may end up half red and half blue, and I want it to remain a blue Spinner.

I really don't know what to suggest with the cotton wool, you might be on to some thing... what about instead of paint you use a wash, like diluted ink, then let it dry?

Yeah, ink would be the way to colour it properly. When I added very dilute paint (wash consistency) it did soak in well, but that's only good for colouring the whole and not creating the layers needed to show depth.

Probably colouring the separate layers of cotton first and then sticking them on would be the best way. I'll have to experiment next time I try this affect.

Oh, and current paint-in-progress picture:


Now to start properly on the bodywork...

Looking good there !

Looks good so far. Windows are great, and I like the fumes too.

Going a bit back, the hut turned out very good, though I agree with Insaniak, not too sure about it as a "commercial" piece, too close to it's scratch-built origins no to be too easily duplicable...

Thanks Shas and LT.

LT; Indeed. Now I have the "base" model kit, I can add more interesting features for the next casting run. Although I'll probably do more Fallout stuff next time. When that will be, I don't know. I have many other projects that I also want to get off the ground and I can only do so much at once.

And with that, the Spinner is DONE!
I could continue to fiddle with it, and try and get it nearer to perfect, but that would take another week (at least) and it's gone on long enough.

So I present to you, my interpretation of the police Spinner from Bladerunner in Matchbox / Hot wheels scale (which the internet tells me is about 1:64, this may be closer to 1:72 but who's measuring).


This was a surprisingly tricky build, not just because of the smaller scale than I'm used to, but it's a deceptively complex shape with more details than I had imagined.

Thanks for sticking with me on this tangent, I'll return to the example hut in due course, but I have some prizes to be designing and making for the winners of the last round of the LoER terrain contest. I may do these over in my "main" blog as that has lain silent for quite long enough.
This can be found (if you are not already following along) here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/471119.page#4673874

The current round of the LoER terrain contest is underway here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/654377.page#7941687
The theme is "Trapdoor", check it out, join in, spread the word.

And while I'm throwing links about, I would like to point you to my "new" Facebook page, here:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-H-Painting-and-Modelling/766353710145525?ref=aymt_homepage_panel. The aim of this is to try and spread my visibility a bit wider. I'm still building the portfolio over there and so it is lagging behind my blogs on DDakka, and you won't see anything over there that you don't see here. Feel free to "like" it and maybe it'll become more exciting when I actually get some visitors.

I shall now go and start drawing some things and will be in contact with both Graven and Magos soon...ish.

Thanks

Slight change of plan in that I will continue to use this blog as these are technically commissions, and so should go in my commission thread.
I will get back to my own army one day soon...

As I mentioned before, I hosted the previous round of the LoER terrain contest; and so it was my responsibility to provide prizes (of my choosing) to 1st and 2nd place.

The current round of the contest can be found here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/654377.page#7941687

I decided to offer commissioned terrain pieces. The only limits being the base size; CD-sized (120mm) for 1st and ~60mm for 2nd.

After spending time liaising with the winners, we have settled on designs/concepts and I've now started to make them 3D.

Graven, who won 1st place with a lovely asteroid base, has decided to make the most of the base limitations ( ) and asked for a bell tower.
Concept (to be made at 35mm scale for the Batman game):


Magos, who won 2nd place with a nice damaged pump station thing, asked for a trench diorama.
Concept (to be made at 28mm scale to match the DKoK aesthetic):


I'm planning on building and painting these in tandem (even though they are different settings and scales), as I can swap between them as glue / putty / paint dries.

To start with I needed something for both pieces to act as the basic structure.
The walls of Graven's tower needed something thick, strong and light, and foamboard would have been ideal... but I don't have any. I could go and buy some, but I thought I'd see if I could make something just as good with what I did have (and if it doesn't work out I can go and get some foamboard anyway), and I have a lot of cardboard:

I thought I'd see what would happen if I stuck a few layers of cardboard together and covered that with card to make my own, all card, foamboard.
And, yeah, if I'd used actual foamboard I'd be finished by now...

It's surprisingly sturdy already and it's not finished yet.

Magos' trench piece is much easier. I just needed something cylindrical to form the basis of the cut-out (the sides that would be underground).
The rest of the model will be built within this once it's cut to shape. Originally, this was part of the cover of an office chair piston.

I now need to scratch my head over where this needs cutting to give the "open" side of the diorama.

.... waiting to be entertained....

Squee, and do forth!

Very nice work on the Blade runner model, I love all the little details you've added, plus that take off smoke effect works really well .

Nice nice nice.... looking forward to the updates! good starts all round!

Thanks hk.

Gitsplitta wrote:.... waiting to be entertained....

inmygravenimage wrote:Squee, and do forth!

MagosBiff90 wrote:Nice nice nice.... looking forward to the updates! good starts all round!

Glad you are both excited, even if Gits' is not.

Graven, how does the size of bricks look to you?

So that's the inside and out covered. Next is to seal the lot with PVA/water, cut the edges to the correct shape and then attach it to a base.

And the trench base has been cut:

I was quite hesitant to cut this, but then I had the idea to make a template; a wrapped paper around the cylinder and then drew on what the shape was to be. Once I was happy with the shape I sellotaped the paper down and Dremel-ed the out of it.
There's now little bits of plastic all over my room...

This now needs a bottom and then to progressively fill it in.

Blade-runner police car came out spectacular!

New terrain, this should be interesting!

Bricks look excellent, and thanks for the "bases" shot, that's really informative

So far... I am entertained.

Thanks Shas.

inmygravenimage wrote:Bricks look excellent, and thanks for the "bases" shot, that's really informative

Good good. Yeah, I don't happen to have a 30mm base so I gave you shots either side (although I could have easily cut a 30mm circle of card, but where's the fun in that). That Terminator also stands 35mm above his base and his hammer is 55mm from the base; He's my go-to height reference.

Good to hear, Gits'.

Today's progress:
I have been sawing chunks out of the tower to show where bricks have fallen away.

This is still subject to change as I progress, add windows, more damage, and check access for hands.
You might just about be able to make out where the floors will be (marks at the rear corner).

And the trench is taking shape.

Chunky! How are you going to seal the edges, out of interest?

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Chunky! How are you going to seal the edges, out of interest?

Don't you like them like that?!

Plaster baby yeah!


Will see how this behaves and I'll use milliput if I have to.

I'm a big fan of lightweight spackle for plaster modeling... can be tricky to work with depending on what you're trying to do with it, but it's not bad.

Oh yeah, I've got an old tub of polyfiller about somewhere. Could have used that... maybe later for texture.

Looking great bud, nice shape. looking forward to progress.

Very cool, great edges

Thanks Cam'. Both pieces will get far more interesting from now on; basic structure done... on to detailing.

Thanks Graven. Glad you like the progress, and that you like the design going forward. I will get to chopping holes and layering up the details soon.

For everyone else, this is roughly what will be happening:

Wow, that tower is going to be awesome. I like the pencil work so far on it and if you come close to that then it will be truly a great piece.

Really cool looking pieces!! the tower is cool... but obviously I am a fan of the trench! Cant wait to see how it develops!

Thanks Theo. Well I hope to match the pencil markings, that's why I drew them.

Thanks Magos'. Your's has not stood still, and is already on to the mud stages.

The planks on the floor will get a bit more beaten up, and the gap on the right (as we look at it) will be built up with junk to the height of the left, then sandbags across the top.

I now need to find the bits that I will use as the "junk".

The holes of the tower have now been cut; they were more difficult than I expected, but not impossible (as I thought once I'd started).
Here's a picture to show how Mr Scale Terminator sizes up to the windows on the 1st floor.

So that's waist to top of head, taking account of standing on the floor inside on his base. Bare in mind that he's also "standing" 20mm from the window due to being in the middle of a 40mm base (and the window is about 8mm deep).

Next is to start layering up the surface details... bricks first.

Nice progress!

Tower looks good, I like the old-style tall narrow windows. Dry-wall filler could be an option to plaster, too, if you have not tried it yet.

The planks are spot on, but we have already learnt to expect that here!

And today's progress has involved much gluing of card and arranging of small pieces...

Card:

Still more to do; the bricks will be scored in, the windows will get sills, the edges will get broken, etc...

Small pieces:

There will eventually be sandbags across the top (where the cross beam was placed, leaving that hole for the gun), and that will probably get some more support when I add it.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Littletower wrote:
Nice progress!

Tower looks good, I like the old-style tall narrow windows. Dry-wall filler could be an option to plaster, too, if you have not tried it yet.

The planks are spot on, but we have already learnt to expect that here!

Thanks LT. As I have most of a 25kg bag of plaster laying about, I'm generally looking for excuses to use it.
Most of that plaster will be covered over anyway, it's just to give a solid end to the walls that I can work with.

Be interested in how you pull off the paint job on that tower. The basic structure reminds me of the DUST building pieces which I just got more of. I'm trying to think of a quick and dirty way to paint them. I'm thinking a sandstone bottom with reddish walls, but will look to your tower for inspiration once paint starts to fly.

That looks immense! And I like the figure towering over it

Those both look great , I like all the little details you've added to the trench piece, really helps set the scene.

Wow.... both pieces looking really awesome... very much enjoying the damaged section... and the beam across the top really gives that "trench / foxhole" feel!