Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Topic started by: Hertsblue on 02 July 2014, 11:12:49 AM

Title: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Hertsblue on 02 July 2014, 11:12:49 AM
One of the things I like to do whenever I get bored with painting figures is to scratch-build buildings. They're built mainly of artists' mounting-board (thick cardboard, in other words) and if I base them at all it's usually on 1mm marine ply. Model railway shows are good for things like window-frames and details like that, not to mention brick paper and plasticard roofing.

First up a continental railway station, based (very roughly) on a photograph of the famous station at Skalitz. Since the photo doesn't show the track-side of the building I've had to make it up as I went along.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1205-1.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1206.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1207.jpg)

And then, the hôtel de ville of a small town somewhere in northern France.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1208.jpg)

Currently missing the tricouleur from the flagstaff, unfortunately.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1209.jpg)

The residents have made their feelings perfectly clear, however.

The roof is of Das, incidentally.

I'll try and post some more pics when I have more time.


Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Leman on 02 July 2014, 11:38:26 AM
Wow! really impressive. Would love to see Skalitz station with Austrians and Prussians swarming around it.
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Techno on 02 July 2014, 11:40:20 AM
Terrific work, Ray ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 02 July 2014, 11:49:49 AM
Superb Ray! 8)
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: FierceKitty on 02 July 2014, 12:07:15 PM
Nifty.
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Matt J on 02 July 2014, 12:17:42 PM
really like those  8)
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Ithoriel on 02 July 2014, 01:16:34 PM
Excellent stuff!

As to the Hotel de Ville tricolour it has no doubt been confiscated by the "filthy boche" :)
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Leman on 02 July 2014, 03:32:55 PM
Surely to be replaced by one of those red,white and black mystic symbol flags, as used by some American airmen in WWI on their tailplanes.
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: paulr on 02 July 2014, 08:09:31 PM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 02 July 2014, 01:16:34 PM
Excellent stuff!

As to the Hotel de Ville tricolour it has no doubt been confiscated by the "filthy boche" :)

What that man said. :-bd

Although when I saw the flag pole I thought, is that for the white flag then  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Subedai on 02 July 2014, 08:43:51 PM
Nice models. The painted on rear windows look very effective, I had to look twice.

Instead of DAS you can use common-or-garden felt to represent thatched roofs. Once you've glued it down and covered it with watered down polyfilla or similar, get an old comb and tease it downwards. Leave to dry and paint. Works a treat.

Example here (slightly larger scale):

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emGo8Z0YXHs/Tn4ULDqypRI/AAAAAAAAAhI/zcEwYjNvtyU/s320/SAM_0170.JPG
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: paulr on 03 July 2014, 12:27:22 AM
Quote from: Subedai on 02 July 2014, 08:43:51 PM
Nice models. The painted on rear windows look very effective, I had to look twice. ...

They're painted  :o Completely failed to notice that, which says a lot about how effective they are  :-bd
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Hertsblue on 03 July 2014, 08:43:41 AM
Thank you for your kind comments, guys. Here are a few more buildings I've knocked together over the years.

Here's a Bavarian style church I copied from one or other of the wargames mags. Always a good place to look if you're contemplating scratch-building. I had three goes at doing the gold "onion" on top of the tower with large balls of Miliput. The final one is still slightly "off". As my old boss would put it - "on the wonk!".

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1218.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1217.jpg)

Post windmills will fit into many periods, from medieval to present day.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1215.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1216.jpg)

This one's built mainly of matchsticks. If you're sitting around wondering what to do with a big bag of matchsticks here's some suggestions.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1221.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1223.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1222.jpg)

OK, the last one is just strips of cornflake packet, but they make a nice little hamlet. Again, "borrowed" from a pic in a mag.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1220.jpg)

Finally, a little Italian house. This one was actually made by my wife. I just wish I could persuade her to do more.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1214.jpg)

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd448/Hertsblue/DSCN1213.jpg)

 
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: FierceKitty on 03 July 2014, 08:49:52 AM
Hmmm, you could take her on exciting foreign holidays to places with model-worthy architecture that might tickle her inner artist.
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Leman on 03 July 2014, 08:57:48 AM
Excellent stuff.
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Orcs on 03 July 2014, 10:39:23 AM
Excellent Ray.

You can tell your retired  :) 
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Subedai on 03 July 2014, 11:30:11 AM
All very nice. Work on the missus, she's quite the architect.  Like the paintjobs on the wooden (Russian?) buildings and the little colourful detailing along the eaves and door frames.
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Hertsblue on 04 July 2014, 07:43:32 AM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 03 July 2014, 08:49:52 AM
Hmmm, you could take her on exciting foreign holidays to places with model-worthy architecture that might tickle her inner artist.

I did think she might be inspired by the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. But, no, not even a Hermitage.

Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 03 July 2014, 10:39:23 AM
Excellent Ray.

You can tell your retired  :)

Actually, all except the station were built before I retired, Orcs. I find there aren't enough hours in the day now. I can't think how I found time to go to work back in the day.

The church is about fifteen years old, which is why the roof is beginning to lift a little. The windmill's even older. 

Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Orcs on 04 July 2014, 07:46:56 AM
Quote from: Hertsblue on 04 July 2014, 07:43:32 AM
The church is about fifteen years old, which is why the roof is beginning to lift a little.

Ray, we are not going to fall for the "Please donate to save the Church Roof " sdam so you can buy more figures. :)
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Womble67 on 04 July 2014, 08:07:56 AM
really like these

take care

Andy
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Hertsblue on 04 July 2014, 10:49:52 AM
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 04 July 2014, 07:46:56 AM
Ray, we are not going to fall for the "Please donate to save the Church Roof " sdam so you can buy more figures. :)

Rats! It works for the C of E.

;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: nikharwood on 26 July 2014, 08:28:27 PM
Really nicely done, Ray  8)
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Ironduke on 27 July 2014, 09:21:47 AM
Great stuff, thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Not-quite-real Estate
Post by: Hertsblue on 27 July 2014, 09:27:23 AM
Thanks for the kind comments, gents.  :)