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TP^DC Deputy Manager I am in the same boat as you my friend.... painter modeller. So I am probarbly not the best to comment... but I cant see why it would really be an issue. From what I can tell... some of the GW landing pads and terrain pieces are this size if not bigger.

The real challenge IMHO will be to really work into the details of the piece and make sure it is packed with nice little bits and bobs.... aswell as making the landing pad and sensor tower really stand out and be convincing!

Cant wait to see how you tackle it! Sketch looks pretty good!

@ChrisWhite - for me is it Squat. Original is Forge Fathers miniature from Mantic games. No, i don't have army. I have small (10 pieces) unit and one walker, but only this unit is to now painted. Need it for scale, when i build 40K terrain.
Is nicer photos, if painted mini is on it.

@TP^DC Deputy Manager - use your miniature for scale. If it looks good / is terrain good.
About landing pad - Skyshield have 12 inch diameter and 5 inch height If you use google, you will see.
Don't worry mate about painter/modeller. I think that it's a half of us.

Sweet clock tower idea. I considered doing one as well but I had no idea how to even start. I shall be watching your progress with interest.

Made some more progress on my entry and used some sprue in the process.


A support frame for a water tank.

Oooh that's simple yet effective, don't think I'm not taking notes! That frame is straight forward enough for even me to use

Typical. You come up with a good idea and immediately some blighter comes along and steals it.

Looking good, Snrub. Kinda wishing I had a sprue or ten ;-)

TP^DC Deputy Manager, as others have said, just do what looks right to you. From the sound of it, the piece would be a dominant and if used encourage varied play and the creation of scenarios to include it.

Tek Thornison, your images in this post appear to have vanished (was looking good though) :-)

EyeamRai, those cardboard packaging pieces work really well, they already have textures and interesting shapes. Others might slam me for saying this, but if you don't base any of the pieces they can be modular and put together on the table in any formation (ruined gobbo temple sounds good) ;-)

ChrisWhite, you could make it so that the smaller silo can fit in the larger one for storage. :-D

monkeytroll, I'll have to remember that trick of wrapping paper around the tubes to hide the seams. Cheers for that. :-)

MagosBiff90, wall filler for the base textures? Nice. I have a lot to learn... and my printer needs to have the ink replaced soon, so I know what to do with the packaging :-)

...

Should I use one, or two staples per rung on my ladders? :-D

Those ladders look great! Pinching that for sure, trollmeat! I was just wondering how I was going to fix this mess that I've stumbled across while building. Oh, and apparently my huge tin had a layer of paper or something on it, that my wife sprayed black for me. I've peeled that off now.

Anyway, without further ado...

Good progress people. Keep it up.

As I can't give direct advice to some of your problems/questions, I will say; try searching for pictures of a real life example and see how it would look from the same perspective as your model.

Oh, I know you can't help, Dr H, I just needed to sound off about it, mostly. I've come up with a solution that is, in hindsight, the obvious and real-world one. Just needed a bit of rijiggering the plan and I'm back on track!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Ok, solved my problem and found some imitation Granny Grating.

Here's where we're at after an hour's work or so:

Now here's a question. I was sorting through the old bits box and found two spare clear square bases. Can I legitimately use these within the context of the contest, given that I'm making pieces for space battle games? I'll be making the stands from salvaged junk (as well as the pieces themselves) but this would also keep it fully playable/legal. Is that ok?

heck...you could have said later on it was a CD jewel case chopped up and no body would know...

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Now here's a question. I was sorting through the old bits box and found two spare clear square bases. Can I legitimately use these within the context of the contest, given that I'm making pieces for space battle games? I'll be making the stands from salvaged junk (as well as the pieces themselves) but this would also keep it fully playable/legal. Is that ok?

I think due to his upfront honesty that should be OK, but I am not a judge so this means nothing

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Now here's a question. I was sorting through the old bits box and found two spare clear square bases. Can I legitimately use these within the context of the contest, given that I'm making pieces for space battle games? I'll be making the stands from salvaged junk (as well as the pieces themselves) but this would also keep it fully playable/legal. Is that ok?

Graven, you can use whatever you like in your models. Keep them legal by all means.

However, if it comes in a model kit, you can't use it as one of the two ordinary items.
Also, you can't use those two ordinary items as the base of the model (the thing it stands on), but I will let you use the ordinary items as the flight stand; so long as it's made as part of the model and not just as a stand (e.g. a tree or rock or church spire or piece of space junk, etc... not left clear or painted black).

Good to see you found a solution, Chris.

 Dr H wrote:

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Now here's a question. I was sorting through the old bits box and found two spare clear square bases. Can I legitimately use these within the context of the contest, given that I'm making pieces for space battle games? I'll be making the stands from salvaged junk (as well as the pieces themselves) but this would also keep it fully playable/legal. Is that ok?

Graven, you can use whatever you like in your models. Keep them legal by all means.

However, if it comes in a model kit, you can't use it as one of the two ordinary items.
Also, you can't use those two ordinary items as the base of the model (the thing it stands on), but I will let you use the ordinary items as the flight stand; so long as it's made as part of the model and not just as a stand (e.g. a tree or rock or church spire or piece of space junk, etc... not left clear or painted black).

Good to see you found a solution, Chris.

OOOO you're a hard man Doc he loves his rules

Yep.

Well I don't have many rules for the concept of this contest (two ordinary items, one must stay intact, not used as a base, make terrain...and the various others in the OP ), so I have to stick to them.

Everything else is fair game. You can't get freer than that and still be a contest.

Lovely ideas on show.... trollmeat those staple ladder rungs are really nice and convincing...

Going to get more on my piece done tonight! Always good to check on this blog for inspiration!!

And yes.... I believe there needs to be rules to make sure people follow the rules!

I think I finally have an idea!

Is 6mm scale okay though? Also, the rules state 2 items not 3 but, I see people using more than one item across the board. I'm confused, sorry.

Any scale is fine.

You need to choose 2 items that you use as part of the model. Of those 2, one must remain intact, the other can be cut up.
However, you can use as many other items as you like and can do whatever you like with them to create the model.

Duplicates of the 2 ordinary items can be used and will be judged accordingly depending on how they are presented or used.

For example; someone has 2 unique items, but a duplicate of one of them. 3 items, but the pair of duplicates can be judged as one item (or one of them can be "ignored" to pass the intact rule).

Or; someone has 2 items that are identical. 2 items, but in order the gain more points they should be used differently (either as completely different things, or one intact building and one broken = keeps to the contest rules of one intact).

My fellow judge(s) and I need to know, when it comes to judging, which two items that you have used are the two ordinary items. Your model will be judged specifically taking this information in mind, about how well you used those items (as well as judging the whole model as usual).

However, I would advise against building the model and then declaring which of the two things you've used are the 2 ordinary items. I think it would be best for you to have in mind which are the items, so that you can focus on them and use them to the maximum effect in your model.

But your final declaration (photos of their natural state would be good) of the 2 ordinary items only needs to be made when you present your final photos. So you can change your mind if your initial plan does not work out.

Okay. Well what up this stuff? I just have to choose two as my selected items, and then the rest is additionally and not counting to the count of two.

So for instance, the altoids tin and the magcraft magnet case could be my two, and then the rest is apart of the model itself, correct?

Yes, that's fine. They both look larger than the modest size limit I set. Add what you like to them and don't cut into one of them. Everything else is up to you.

Hi guys, I would like to have a go at this too. Maybe it will motivate me to getting some stuff done.

Some good tips in here.

Sounds good. Welcome to the contest and DDakka.
Look forward to what you produce.

^ Thanks for input - my, but the league is a cruel mistress. I shall demure, and adapt accordingly.

As you know with an Altoids tin, there is an engraving that is etched out on the top. Would I get points off for making a flat roof out of plasticard?

The reason I ask is, the bottom is flat. So if I flip it over, problem averted but, then it's upside down, which ruins my planned surprise.

So... I'm left here going "Is it legal?"

Stormwall - of course you could just flip it, and no-one would be any the wiser, but this is a challenge, after all

But hey, do what you like! We're just waiting to see the end result, not only how you got there. We do have heaps of time, but do whatever you need to to get it done!

Looking forward to seeing what you do with that little box!

Cut open my thumb with hobby knife. I swear every model/unit/project I have has a good ounce or two in blood. I cut towards myself unconsciously after a good hour of work due to the fact I used to whittle. I guess I am going to get kevlar gloves.

Began on the Mining outpost. This little project is awesome, and every item on the map has sprue involved. Pictures below. Would put in the gallery but I'm sleepy. Superglue container is holding up the pad until my sprue frame is done.

Made a mining vehicle and a WIP of the mining outpost layout:

That mining vehicle is awesome, and the base looks like it's coming along too, Stormwall!

Blood for the modelling god!


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Didn't get much done today, other than slapping some paint on the ol' plasma generators - got to get to the shop for paints. My nine year old has taken up wargaming now (she's building Space Wolves), so with three of us building and painting, the paint supplies are running low.

All looking really cool! I need to get my finger out this evening and get some work done!

Not sure how many currently.... but I think this must be the most attended comp yet!? Really awesome to see and great to get ideas and tips from all over the planet!

Stormwall wrote:As you know with an Altoids tin, there is an engraving that is etched out on the top. Would I get points off for making a flat roof out of plasticard?

The reason I ask is, the bottom is flat. So if I flip it over, problem averted but, then it's upside down, which ruins my planned surprise.

So... I'm left here going "Is it legal?"

Things with lids can have their lids removed without (much) damage and can therefore still count as intact (the definition being "no cutting, etc.").

However, making use of engravings or embossed lettering (and an item with the lid still attached) can lead to more points for good/clever use of your item.

Good progress people.

I think each round gets more traffic as the word spreads. Keep spreading the word.