Modest Attempt: Mordheim Ruins

My buddies and I are planning a Mordheim reunion, and we've decided to do it right and craft our own terrain this time.
The putty bit has cobblestone pressed into it. I found a nice plastic cobblestone stamp (for cakes I think) at Michael's. I botched the upper floor window, hadn't yet realized my pop sticks would snap apart into thin strips so easily.

Heya

A nice start of a new and fun project. Please keep us updated, its fun to read about peoples experience with various materials and building techniques. Not to mention that its a good way of keeping track of your progress!

A good start! Keep working on it ... the more you build the better you get the hang of the techniques. I started off just building small and then working up to more elaborate projects once I'd worked out the limitations of materials (like pop sticks).

Keep on posting your progress!

First buildings, like most other firsts, are experiments...SO try out all your ideas. If they don't work or you don't like the results...like the window you don't like...go back & change it. The next piece will benefit from the first. Have FUN with the Beasty; it's LOOKIN' GOOD so far!

Fixed the window with narrower pop sticks. Moving on to my second building, I'm going to go for something medium sized with a roof. Browsing the internet at the moment for ideas, I'm thinking a gatehouse perhaps? Anyone have any ideas that incorporate a sewer tunnel?

Also, what's the best way to texture the base? I have PVA glue, is that sufficient?

pva and sand works fine.

you could always add a few more tiles around the edges too.

looking good so far! hope tp see more of your work soon!

The second attempt! Got into roofing a bit here, and overall more interesting. Inspired by a resin piece I came across online called The Ruined Coaching Inn. Learned a few lessons doing this one. Still needs a lot of work.





Thanks for all the encouragement and tips!

VERY NICE! All the different angles make the building more interesting...the roof turned out GREAT.

Thanks! I'm thinking about running tiles up the left side with the two windows (top picture) - but I'm not sure what to do with the blank space in the middle of the piece. Maybe a patch of cobblestone? Worried about how the cobblestone will look in patches.

Construction finished. May go back for some small details, like putting cobblestones in the veranda area.

Hey these are nice, I've just started doing my own for a similar reunion style Mordheim gathering. We've been using foamboard (PVA the edges so as not to melt the foam when gluing). My only gripe is that the basing looks really thick on your buildings which has a bit of an adverse effect on the overall look when placed on the gaming table. Apart from that these are a great first attempt, I'll be having a crack at this myself at the weekend!

The second piece looks really nice, great design. Perhaps a bit more wood on the outside of the upper floor?
Kep it up.

Agree with Smokezombie, the upper floor looks kinda empty.

Theo

Thanks for the C & C guys! I agree on the upper floor. My thinking is that its an outdoor patio of sorts so it needs a different flooring such as flagstone or cobblestone. I have clay and a cobblestone stamp, but I Suppose I could also make large square tiles for the area as well ( a technique The Ferret used ). On the bases I just used foamcore, as I don't have a means to cut Mdf - but Im open to alternatives! Thanks for taking a look, I'm building a triangular tower now, but its very simple, Ill share te next building which should be LARGE.

Please keep sharing your tips and tricks!

Good start!

For the foam core base you can do what the Flame On guys did--


becomes
--by drawing the cobblestones on and continuing them down on the edges.

You can also give your buildings a foundation by adding a layer of foamcore or pink or blue foam to build up the ground floor. Most buildings are not built flush with the surrounding ground.

I really like those pics Von Kurst. Eliminating the corners of the base certainly lends itself to a more organic feel. Unfortunately, without a hot wire cutter, I dont think ill be able to grade my edges as seen in the pictures, but I'll certainly be removing the corners. Also, Ill definitely be adding textures to the ground in addition to the classic grit and rubble.


Those pics have inspired me, just drew out a few new designs!

Oh piffle! You don't need no stinkin' hot wire cutter! A regular hobby knife will do! Its foamcore! Easiest stuff in the world to work with, just experiment a little with some scraps. Professional results in minutes, guaranteed.

Edit: misunderstood your post as to why you would want the wire cutter--much easier with a regular sharp hobby knife believe me. Wire cutter no like to burn through the paper layer of foam core.

Flame On's scenery thread is just a few posts down on the this index page, they were pretty meticulous with the camera so you can pretty much see what they did and everyone had suggestions. (the images I copied were on page 1)

Hey, So am I missing something here? Is that cobblestone effect just drawn on or is there some texture involved, if so how do I do this? I've just finished up the foundations for a ruined chapel and the walls are looking pretty flat and plain right now.

The cobblestone can be just drawn on foamcore (or foam) with a blunt pencil of medium point ball point pen. If you use a pen you want to make sure it won't bleed through later.

See almost any tutorial--Chemical Agent's is nearby. Edit: on page 1 of Chemical Agent's Terrain.

@Von Kurst following on from your advice I found that a Nintendo DS stylus works perfectly for this as it makes a deep impression without any marking! This has improved the look of my scenery tenfold!

Von Kurst, I had a go at the edges of a base with the hobby knife, and it was not like a hot knife through butter. Bit rough, and came out with a sloped edge in want of sanding. Any tips in this area, the hobby knife was very sharp, I assure you!

Delectable Tea, share some pics of your work please!

For a Poor Man's hot wire foam cutter, get a candle & one of those retractable, breakaway utility knives; heat the blade for about 15 secs. with the candle; AND it will cut through the foam just like a real hot wire thingy. I use this for windows/doorways, edges, etc,

DeafNala wrote:

For a Poor Man's hot wire foam cutter, get a candle & one of those retractable, breakaway utility knives; heat the blade for about 15 secs. with the candle; AND it will cut through the foam just like a real hot wire thingy. I use this for windows/doorways, edges, etc,

You guys are a true fountain of knowledge, I'll be trying this hoboesque technique out as the hobby knife just doesn't 'cut it'... get it?

@Eric I'll be making a load of stuff for an upcoming campaign so I'll get sharing when I've finished something decent. Sadly my little chapel thing was created as I was picking up new tips so I feel like it's not up to the standard it could have been! Luckily I have two massive sheets of foamcore to get cracking with!

Quote :

@Von Kurst following on from your advice I found that a Nintendo DS stylus works perfectly for this as it makes a deep impression without any marking! This has improved the look of my scenery tenfold!

Glad to be of help.

Quote :

Von Kurst, I had a go at the edges of a base with the hobby knife, and it was not like a hot knife through butter. Bit rough, and came out with a sloped edge in want of sanding. Any tips in this area, the hobby knife was very sharp, I assure you!

Sorry if I misled you. I wasn't thinking of speed or economy of cuts. To me the couple of passes with a sharp knife that cutting foam core requires is preferable to the smell and hassle of the hot knife.

Plus I would not recommend hot knives for cutting foam core because I just don't think it would work well since the hot knife would have to burn through the paper layers. But this is something that I do often both as a hobby and a job so I have lots of knives, files and similar tools.

If you look at the photo I posted above of the wip project, all the cuts seem to be knife cuts to me. Possibly because that is the tool I would use. Warboss Kurgan or Blessed Knight could perhaps shed some light.

When making angled cuts in foam core, I hold the knife at the angle I want to cut and make several passes with the knife. If the finished cut looks too rough I hit it with a bit of sandpaper or trim it with the knife again. While I admit a one pass tool would be more efficient, I don't notice the time spent, perhaps because it seems fast to me.

Thanks for the help Von Kurst!