6 Apr 2014

Some new terrain

Hello guys,

I've finally been working on some terrain for my games again. With all the posts about Salute ruining my days lately, I have also started unearthing old stuff that is either half made or still packed. That includes resin crates and barrels, some miniatures (I am putting off painting cultists as I'm afraid I'd never get colours same again :P) and lots of smaller scatter terrain.

Anyways, I have been thinking and planning about setting (some of) my Strange Aeons games in Slovenia for a very long time (remember the three bridges board idea that never progressed?). As this project overlaps with my idea of  "Slovenian mythology" games, set in Dark ages, and I thus read a lot on the subject lately, I've decided to play some games with what I already have in my collection.

Before I could start, I needed just one piece of terrain that defines the local area more than anything else I could imagine - a Hayrack. We call it "kozolec" which would be pronounced something like "kozolets". It's an awesome little device and while outdated, they can still be found on most of farmsteads in at least one of their forms.  I went with the most basic of the designs - single straight line (Check link above for more variants, some are really great). To make building it easier, I went with stone pillars instead of usual wooden ones. And I also used way too few vertical poles, that are used to hang on hay. As it was a rush job, the pillars are awfully crooked, but that's fine as I was aiming for backwater place anyways. I added some logical supports and talking of the vertical poles, I really should break one, to add the feel of neglect. I did, however, sculpt some hay on it, so that's a plus.

 The shingles are on a large side, which might not look as realistic as loads of little ones, but I actually prefer the cartoony "warhammer" feel they make. Don't unfriend me, Joe! :D

Below is a painted version. It's painted horribly as my craft paints seem to be kinda odd. Or I could blame the brushes.



As I was so inspired, I've also painted a very simple hill I've made last year. I kinda like it now that it's painted, but I was putting off painting it for so long for a reason unknown. It's just boring, you know...a hill. Yawn.
It's made for miniatures to fit on it and yes, I am aware I should put more effort in the overall shape, but it will do for a while!


On other fronts, after millionth try on the guns, I've decided it is time for drastic measures. As none of the guns felt quite right, I simply cut off all the putty from one of those, cut the nose and restarted from step one.

Keep in mind F2000 is only about 700mm long in real life, so 12mm seems about right. The guns above it are the "old kind" for comparison. Mine is a bit crude, but I have decided to call it done. If I'll try to have it cast and then polish it and add the gadgets.
I had great plans for my Whateley farm model - from housing an abomination from out of space, to secret laboratory of Herbert West (I never got to build an autopsy table, that I've planned - I should do that!), Church for an evil cult and...naturally, a distillery. I've even made a still for it. It never got painted beyond basic undercoat and seeing it now, I'll swap that wire for something just a bit thinner and I'll coil it more. I will keep the "pot" and the "barrel", I think.

Lastly, a photo of my current (okay, about a session or two outdated) sculpting "table". In upper left quarter are modern weapons and modern sculpts (kinda on hold for now), lower left corner is Kurent (came out too thin - I can't lose that habit!), which is essentially a man wearing mask, cow bells and a baton with hedge hog skin. Back in the days (so, when SA takes place!) the groups could fight each other, so it seemed like a good idea for a lurker - a mad man, hitting people with his club while making noise with the bells - yes please! The large guy is Horroclix's fiend (Frankenstein's monster) that Vampifan kindly donated. He will become a Slovenian demigod for the Dark ages myths games. In the right upper corner are dead bodies (disturbingly ugly sculpts, rushjobs), 4 beastmen, being turned into dog headed soldiers (that hate humanity!) and a "fire elemental" that will probably be painted by a stone idol or whatever. I've been "working" on this one for well over a year, but I'm not too satisfied with it. Lastly, the 4 GW wolves are a Wolf herder (mythological creature) and his pack. They are way too "undead" and certianly waaaay too large for my liking, but I got them as a bargain, so they will be used as a stand ins until I get my hands on some proper werewolves.


That's it for today. I've also played a game (yay!) and I will post report in mid week one day. It's gonna be a bit different than what I usually posted, but just as long, filled with endless blabber! :P

Thanks for looking,
Mathyoo

25 comments:

  1. I really like the still. Your hayrack is genius. You could use the same blueprint for a leather shaving station.

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    1. Thanks! And that's a great idea, perhaps a smaller one, and I'd put some skins on it, that could work! :D

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  2. Nice scenery Mathyoo.
    Really like your hayrack, other stuff good too. Everything look's better painted.

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    1. Thanks Bob.
      And I agree, haha, if only it would paint itself... :D

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  3. Having seen the other more elaborate hayracks, I can understand why you went with a simpler design and shingles are generally larger than slates (similarly with stone roof tiles). You hill is obviously not natural and has been sculpted by man for some ritualistic nefarious purpose !
    Your still is a great scratch build, but you may be right about the pipe size and its coils. ( I always though still were copper too but I can't see why they wouldn't be steel).
    I'm pleased (and a little jealous) that you're honinh your green-stuff skills - keep it up, your getting better all the time.

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    1. Thanks Joe - a bigger one would be a nice substitute for a barn, so perhaps in the future!
      I actually planned on painting it copper, and at first I had no idea what you are talking about, when you were mentioning steel. It appears I did paint some excess metal colour on it for some reason :D.

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  4. *Unfriended* Just kidding!

    Always nice to see something different on the terrain front. And that fits the bill. Personally I like the cartoony warhammer big roof tile feel it adds a level of fantasy to the piece. Nice work and not a coffee stirrer in sight!

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    1. Thanks!

      Yes, that's the same reason I like them - it is quite obvious that I'm turning into you, as I'm now on a look out for an excuse to do some of the "half stone half timbered" "fantasy" houses :D

      As for coffee stirrers, they support the roof, so they are there, just concealed :D

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  5. Having heard you talk so much about the hayrack (which I thought at first was a haystack!) I'm delighted to be able to see the finished product.... and very good it is, too. The hill, whilst not exactly natural-looking is still a good terrain piece. All in all, a very nice selection, Mathyoo.

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    1. Thanks! I would like to take some of the interior decorations for farm of my list first, but I just drove past a very nice double roofed hayrack today and it was a beauty, worthy of being reproduced as a model! :D

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  6. They are lovely bits of scenery. That first one is just ace, so much potential.

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  7. I'd never heard about Slovenian hayracks until today. What a fascinating insight into a previously-unknown area, thanks!

    Looking forward to hearing about your game.

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    1. Ah, I keep saying it - coming from such a small country, we're always happy to see people talk about us. And this one seemed like a great piece to "actually" set my games in this area, apart from fluff :D.

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  8. Awesome stuff Mathyoo, particularly the hayrack.
    I really need to get back into some terrain building.

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    1. Thanks Dave!
      I have problems getting into it because of all the mess and what not, but if things go as planned, there's little as satisfying as playing on a nicely detailed board. Hobby related, at least :D

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  9. Really nice work, mate. I love the F2000! Are you planning to cast and sell them? Please say yes...

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    1. Thanks very much mate,
      I've sent you an email :P

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  10. Hayrack is excellent needs some zombies hanging off of it :P The Rocky outcrop looks good mate perhaps add some lichen or something.

    Looking forward to seeing those F2000's done.

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    1. Thanks!
      Ah...zombies need to be hanging from the trees! Now, that's something to add to my list... :D

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  11. That hay rack is a fantastic idea. I'm sure I've seen some of those in british farms still too

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    1. That's possible, I could've sworn I once read they are here and in the UK, but couldn't find any of it when I was checking them up again for this post :D

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  12. Beautiful and inspired, these pieces of terrain are really great...especially the hayrack for me too! Excellent work!

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  13. Those terrain pieces look great Mathyoo

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