Dunbrough and Gripenhem WIP log

Started the wood work by filling in some gaps on the eaves, then I do the horizontal beams.
This part with the complex roof will be all wood. Sorry about the pics, for whatever reasen they keep rotatin after I upload them.

The "from the ground looking up" photos are something that I don't recall seeing more than a couple of times...it really is cool. As always your work is inspiring, motivating, & often leaves moi speechless. GREAT WORK!

I have had the same issue with photos re-aligning themselves. I have no fix unfortunately.

It does work out with the top photo especially, as its easy to see under the eaves.

Got all of the woodwork done on the potters shop. Next I'm going to distress the bricks some, and then I've got to build a porch for the back half. I'm thinking something with stone arches and storage beneath.

LOOKIN' GOOD! You really do an EXCELLENT job on the half timber. It is a pleasure watching your pieces evolve. FINE PROGRESS!

It's looking amazing! Terrific angles there.

Can't wait to see it painted!

Joao

Finally built the porch, although I'm not going to glue it into place until I'm ready to base, it's just too fragile. Plus, it'll be easier to paint the wall behind it. New material btw, I'm trying out foamcore with the paper peeled off. So far so good, we'll see for sure when it comes down to paint.

That looks fabulous! Big pieces like that are a joy to have on a gaming board.

That's looking even better than I thought! Great addition to the building.

I'll be watching out your developments with the peeled foamcore.

Joao

Working on the plaster areas on the potters shop this weekend. I use Woodland Scenics water effects for this, it's in a bottle and acts like glue, but it will hold it's shape while drying rather than leveling out. I stat by just putting a dab in each of the negative spaces, and then using a scrap piece of balsa, work it around and dab it, easy! This step goes pretty quickly, I can usually do a whole side of a building in about 10 minutes, takes a few hours to dry though. I won't paint it until a day has passed.

That looks amazing so far. Keep it up!

Theo

Excellent progress! I wonder if you can get the same plaster effects with white glue?

Joao

JoaoS wrote:

Excellent progress! I wonder if you can get the same plaster effects with white glue?

Joao

I've never tried it, but white glue flows and levels, the water effects stays wherever I put it. Could though, it would be cheaper too.

I guess if you mix white glue with filler, it might stay where you put it. I'll give it a go and let you know.

Joao

The new GW texture paints would probably work too

Painting now. I did all of the stonework with a base coat of grey, and then the individual blocks with different shades of grey. Usually what I do is mix up a color, paint some blocks, add a tint to that color, paint more, add another tine, paint more. That way I get a good variation of colors, but they all pull together as being from the same color family. A light drybrush of a lighter grey will bring out the highlights. When all painting is done, I'll go back and wash it in brown to tone it down and dirty it, as well as goblin green to add a mossy damp look, brown around the base to add more dirt.
The brickwork is done in pretty much the same way, a base coat of terra cotta, with individual bricks painted in different tones of the same base color.



Plaster work always starts with a base coat of yellow oxide, drybrushed up with a cream color, and drybrushed again with a lighter cream color. I usually mix my colors so that they aren't exactly the same from one building to the next. As with the stonework, this will be washed with brown to bring out details, and be made to look dirtier.

Stunning!

I love those variations on the house: the different angles, levels and shapes. The roof(s) look amazing!

Thanks for explaining how you make the stonework.

Does the house ever get sprayed?

Joao

JoaoS wrote:

Does the house ever get sprayed?

Joao

Never!

Back to work after summer holiday, and lots of progress to show.

First, the doors are made easy, I cut them out of the foam doorway, and then glue them back in recessed. Hinges and handles are thin styrene, copper rings, and a bit of vinyl tubing.



The base is plexiglass, with a thin sheet of foamcore glued on top. The foamcore has it's paper stripped to make it carveable, and the brick and cobblestone is carved in with a pencil and ball point.


While on vacation, I made a few big tree frames. The more wire the merrier, it turns out.


Painted a whole bunch of little bottles and pots, as well as making these little balsa tables.

I love your simple solution for the doors (which I'm currently copying for my new houses) and the little props and lady that go with the shop - love all those colours, very good. The furniture is also very nicely done.

I'm not too sure about the stonework on the foreground of that last picture, though. It looks different and not as crisp as usual stonework you produce. Is it the new material you were on about a few weeks ago?

Overall, everything looks amazing - as usual!

Joao

JoaoS wrote:

I love your simple solution for the doors (which I'm currently copying for my new houses) and the little props and lady that go with the shop - love all those colours, very good. The furniture is also very nicely done.

I'm not too sure about the stonework on the foreground of that last picture, though. It looks different and not as crisp as usual stonework you produce. Is it the new material you were on about a few weeks ago?

Overall, everything looks amazing - as usual!

Joao

Yeah same stuff, and I have the same opinion as you, it doesn't look as good. I'll probably use it for basing, but that's about it. It actually looks better unpainted. I suppose I can always hide it behind ivy or something.

It still looks good - I still can't reach that level.

The other issue with those front arches is that they're not very wide - at least to sustain all that weight.

Ivy would look terrific on it - and it would tie in really well with the other existing buildings and vegetation in your town.

Joao

Your work is amazing! Great inspiration and technique for all if us, Thank you for sharing.

Quote :

I guess if you mix white glue with filler, it might stay where you put it. I'll give it a go and let you know. Smile

Joao

Any luck with this experiment, Joao?

Hey Mike,

Not yet. I'm completing a house, but I still need to finish off the damn roof!

It's looking promising, so I'll keep you posted.

Joao

JoaoS wrote:

Hey Mike,

Not yet. I'm completing a house, but I still need to finish off the damn roof!