Building Mordheim, Lion Style

Welcome to my WIP thread guys, this is the place where I’ll be showing you what I’ve been up to lately in the scenery department. Well, relatively lately that is, as some of my projects have been WIP’s for many, many years… If anything I’m a very slow contractor, but thankfully the denizens of Mordheim have other, more pressing issues on their heads than waiting for some new real estate to be unveiled!

I haven’t been taking WIP-shots of all my projects, so these pictures are from my more recent work. I’ll start with one of my favourite buildings, and on the pictures you can also see a nice overview of my workspace (in my old house, that is).



I really love the shape and size of this building. It’s made from 3mm foamboard with the plastic parts from the original Mordheim box. I love these plastics (including doors, windows and all the extras) and many people have kindly donated me theirs, in return for using my terrain in their games! I’ve constructed an angled staircase leading to the upper door (seen separately, left of the building), which was a real headache to calculate, cut out and put together.



An overview of my workspace in my old house. On the windowsill you can see another WIP, which is still sitting in a box, unchanged and unfinished for nearly 6 years! But I've got plans for that now; you should be seeing more of this shortly.



Here I've joined the staircase to the building and applied structured paint all over it. I've scored the foamboard in some places to give the impression of cracks and holes in the stonework.

That's all for now; this building was built and painted about 2 years ago, and I'll be posting the finished work in a new thread. In the mean time, let me know what you think of it!

Like it vary much.
I don't feel nearly so bad for taking long on projects seeing as I'm not the only one taking so long on projects

Like it, especially the stair part to the second floor!

yep, those stairs are the bees knees.

So, on with another of my never-ending WIP's. This one has been a WIP for about 6 years now; somehow, after constructing it, I never felt the inspiration to finish it.







This project, like so many others of mine, was inspired by one of the buildings in the original rulebook. It could be a merchant's house from the richer parts of the city. After building it, I felt it lacked something, but I never figured out what it was. Only recently I understood: a building of this size never stands on its own! So I had to think of a neighbour for it. Not so easy, as I never build anything with a fixed plan in my head. So I went online for some inspiration and found this:



The gate with clock on top got me inspired; I could build something similar, and put the plastic clock from the GW Chapel to good use! So this is what I have so far:





I've used the well-known plastics from the Mordheim architecture sprue and some metal corbels from Antenocitis Workshop to add detail. Also some plastic bits from a 40K tank accessoiry sprue, yes 40K CAN be useful sometimes
The plastic clock will go on the front of the square tower and I'll build a pointed roof with a bell in it to finish it off. When put next to the merchant's house it looks like this:





Nice, not? I'm happy with how this project is now finally developing. The next thing is to finish the gate and clock tower, and build another neigbouring structure (a corner house of some sorts) to finish it off. This will turn it into a fairly large project, so there is a possibility it will remain a WIP indefinitely... Fingers crossed

Vary much like both projects. The large house looks like it would be a great place to fight.

The gate looks like an excellent addition.

Beautiful stuff! How do you texture those walls? They look fantastic.

Theo

Love the arch and the gargoyles. Fantastic addition to your board.

By the way, is the arch going to be made of stone? If so, how are you going to produce the stone effect?

Joao

Thanks guys,

Theorox wrote:

Beautiful stuff! How do you texture those walls? They look fantastic.

The walls are done with ready-made structured (or textured) wallpaint from the DIY-store. It comes in buckets and in 2 variations: fine or rough structure. I've used the fine structure which is ideal for Mordheim as it's easy to apply and really easy to drybrush.

JoaoS wrote:

By the way, is the arch going to be made of stone? If so, how are you going to produce the stone effect?

Yeah, I'm still pondering about that. Up to now, I've only ever used the structured paint as described above. To make it stand out from the other buildings, I'd really love the arch to be made of stone, but I'm not sure how to do it. I'll do some experimenting, but any tips or techniques are welcome!!

I've started building part 3 of this project: another corner house to fit next to the newly constructed gate. I wanted it to have good accessibility and playing surfaces, so I decided to build a staircase on the outside as well as on the inside. Also I've made a big arched gateway on the front. Decoration was done with various parts I had lying around: a bay window from Antenociti's Workshop, a plastic window from the Warhammer Chapel and a gargoyle from the Garden of Morr.







On the inside, I constructed a wooden floor with a stairwell and a wooden flight of stairs. On the other side of the wall with the bay window, I glued a plastic Orc banner to act as ragged curtains.







Sorry for that unsharp picture!

I'm pretty happy with this building so far, although I'm not sure how to finish the roof. I might add a ruined shingled roof, which would be easy to make but look rather flat. Or I could build a wooden structure which looks more open and interesting. Bear with me!

Excellent stuff! Good use of the plastic bits like that banner, used as a curtain!

As for your previous query about stonework and how to put it over the existing structure, I'm not a specialist and I'm sure that there are other people out there who can give better tips.

Here's what I came across and which looks pretty effective:

http://www.lotrscenerybuilder.org/baraddur_tmo_2_def.php?page=1 (they show how they produce stone texture on the walls and towers)

The actual tutorial starts here:

http://www.lotrscenerybuilder.org/baraddur_tmo_1_def.php

Here they use thin foam to cover the structure (a similar material to the one you get in takeaway boxes). In the UK we call it Depron.
http://gidian-gelaende.de/Material_HP/Wolfgang/Tut_Vampirburg/album/index.html

Here's the index of their tutorials (which might come in handy when you want to get more ideas):

http://gidian-gelaende.de/?cat=6

You can also cover the walls with modelling clay and score the crevices on the wall surface:

http://lnrmodels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/walls-of-clay.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvhpK_4jThI

I also suggest you checking this blog: http://thestonecuttersguild.tumblr.com/tagged/wip

Jeff's work is stunning and his tips are priceless to improve your terrain building skills and to get resourceful ideas for scratch-building materials and props.

You can also buy the readymade materials. Like this, for example:

http://www.modelmaniacsonline.co.uk/products.php?ProductID=3913&Title=Wills+Coarse+Stone+Sheets

Joao

Sorry to be late to The Party...you first posted when my Internet connection was kaput. That said, the pieces you have underway are potentially WONDERFUL; the shapes, & detailing such as the stairways & the window curtain are EXCELLENT. Keep up the FINE WORK!

Oh man, how I love the curtain part!!! Great idea!

Wow. This is some top notch architecture. I especially love how the pieces fit together to create a big structure. Very very cool.

OHHH, man , that looks absolutly awesome! Great start on something that looks like its going to be a fantastic collection of scenery pieces, cant wait to see them painted, hurry up! And the best things here are of course the tiney details, love it!

Are the plastic windows in the first set of pictures from GW?

@sgt. Mulcayhee: Jap, if you talk about the grey ones, they come with the mordheim box, the blue one is from antenocitys workshop, if iam right.

Thanks for the kind words guys, I appreciate it! It's always nice to see your babies getting a sign of approval!
Please also visit Mordheim Real Estate, the thread with my finished projects!

@Joao: that's really a VERY useful set of links; thanks for the effort mate

@DeafNala: no worries, there's always room for latecomers at my parties

@Floedebolle: bear with me! Like I said I'm a very slow contractor, but I'm excited by how this project is developing now, so I'm really eager to finish it. Watch this space!

@Sgt. Mulcayhee: yes, the dark grey ones are all from the original Mordheim architecture sprue. Many of these have been kindly donated to me by fellow gamers, in return for using my scenery in their games. That's a good trade if you ask me!

Mr. Lion! To beer or not to beer it is a question now !!!

So, I have some questions:
The arched gate from building Nr.3 is decorated with some light blue stone work that I am curious about,is that a small chips of blue Styrofoam ? If it is so, how did You manage to cut them so strait ? My scalpel is not sharp enough to do that clean cut ,do You, or anybody have a suggestion?

I just loove Your curtain,it is so thin and when You finish paint job they will a eye-catch in my opinion,an extra detail for some very very very fine interior of Your indeed beautiful buildings in architectural sense of the word.

For a mater of building a roof,hmmm...my proposal would be as it follows:

1. first step would be to construct a roof from cardboard ( heavier/ thicker one ) ,since Your roof is kind of secondary complex one. That means that the entire basic roof construction would be a very compact and sturdy enough to withstand serious gaming (put on or put of from building/s)-my simple building from cardboard pieces glued together with synthetic glue can withstand a mass of nearly 70 kg or 154 lbs7... I tried that for a bet and I won a price xaxa

2. the second step would be the planking the roof from inner side with thin balsa wood strips to play a role of wood planks/roof boards attached to the wooden beams/rafters. and of course gluing the rafters and small detailed wooden pieces of a free choice. That way cardboard would not be visible at all...

3. gluing a cardboard tiles made from a cereal box to outer side and painting them

You can make a very ruined roof with holes punctured from pieces of a comet, as long as that will not disturb a main construction of the roof. I will be very glad if I could help even a bit.

A very nice piece of scenery it will be when finished I mus say ( Yoda stile)

Salute to Lion , a deep bow for a king,the monarch

Sultan wrote:

Mr. Lion! To beer or not to beer it is a question now !!!

Haha, not a question at all... Cheers!

Thank you very much for your flattering words, Mr. Sultan! It is much appreciated. The arched gateway is indeed made from styrofoam (in my DIY store they have it in the colour green). I've cut it into thin strips (about 2 mm) with a hot wire cutter, which explains the smooth surface. I'll press some fine gravel into it to give it a nice structure before painting.

Your suggestion for the roofing sounds excellent. By now I've started on an open structure of wooden beams, but I'm surely going to use your idea on some of my other projects.

Again thanks for your royal words
Lion

I love this kind of style in which you've designed your buildings - it reminds me of the classic, old style Town Cryer and Mordheim rulebook terrains .

Kapitan_Hak wrote:

I love this kind of style in which you've designed your buildings - it reminds me of the classic, old style Town Cryer and Mordheim rulebook terrains .

Thanks Kapitan, that's because the Rulebook and Town Cryer have in fact been my main inspirations!

Here's a quick update on the gateway and clock tower. I've spent a whole day cutting out and glueing styrofoam strips to the gate to produce a stone effect. Also I've made a start on the spire, which will of course have a bell in it.











When put together quickly it looks like this:



The brickwork looks a little smooth still; it will get roughened up with sandpaper, and textured by pressing fine gravel against it. This will give it a nice texture for paiting. I'm not happy with the roofing yet; I might remove the cardboard strips and replace them with shingles instead.

Lion boy (wink wink)

Clock tower is EXCELLENT. I just love it. Stonework is dashing also. Is that a bell at the top of the tower,beneath small roof resting on 4 pillars? If it is,that would be a great accessory to Your otherwise superbly crafted gate with town clock. Are You going to manufacture some DIY bell from styro ? Or You have one,plastic7fantastic like curtains?
I must remember a type of building that is essential for a town even ruined one. And again,I am amazed about hot wire cutter it is such a versatile tool,I must get myself one,thank You for a tip.
And I must say another word,that is,I love that You use a cardboard for a basic construction for Your buildings because it is so tough and cost effective material (for instance price is in a range 1.5-2.0 € /piece and it is 100x70 cm large) that means You can make a whole town for a ...I don't know, maybe 10-20 € (??),the acrylic paint is what is expensive in all this Our odyssey don't You think?
But I managed to Buy some scary looking Chinese acr.paint for 4€/ set with 12 tubes of 12 ml each,called StandArt or something like that. Chaos

So for now I said enough. For a little more and You would get some navy blue streak around Your neck or something similar (a HEMATOMA perhaps )

Salute o mighty king

LOOKIN' GOOD! That is a potentially UBERCOOL piece; just don't let the roof tiles get to you. Keep up the GREAT WORK!