Frodo's Quest: Some Moria Scenery

These are the plastic columns from the Mines of Moria boxed set, finally painted up and ready to provide some cover from Goblin arrows.

Renedra Small Tents

Today's post is a bit bland, but I quickpainted these over several sessions, and they are now ready to be used in whatever context they might be needed.

I would like to get more Renedra stuff, but I need to find an EU vendor who carries it, as there is too much hassle in ordering from outside the Inner Market.

I am struggling with a Mines of Moria plastic Aragorn at the moment - very tiny compared to other 28mm stuff, so I make very slow progress, but I hope to finish him tomorrow.

3D Printed: Stone Buildings

I finally got the Ulvheim stone buildings cleaned up and ready for painting. I have printed second storeys and roofs for both the 100% building and the 110% building, and I also printed trapdoors and ladders. This version is the 100% building.

Here you see the ruined second storey. I really like how it is designed so that the stairs still leads to the remains of the upper level.

This is the 110% version.

And here it is with another ruined upper level. The stairs still work!

I expect Ulolkish to take them home with him tomorrow and then soonish give a shout whether he considers the 110% print fitting, or if I should print an even bigger version before going completely to town printing ruins.

Second Hand Find: Hasbro 2004 Millennium Falcon

We just returned from our annual camping trip through Europe, and while staying some days at Camping Les Terrasses du Périgord *** the son of the owner held an outdoor used toys sale, and I could not help noticing the Falcon sitting prominently on the table. I got it for €40 as it is missing some pieces (but that's what 3D printers are for, right? 👀)

The Imperial Assault Hera Syndulla is there for size comparison.

The model has access to some of the interior, and it should be possible to put some bits and bobs in there fitting 28/30mm models (I definitely have to lower that gaming table a tad).

The Belgian roads had shaken this piece loose, and I found it when unwrapping the Falcon from the carpet that protected it on the trip from Périgord to Denmark. At first I had no clue what it is, but watching a couple of presentation videos made it clear that it is the 'dashboard', meant to sit inside the cockpit canopy, and I managed to get it 'clicked' in place without any damage done.

I am quite happy with the purchase, as this Corellian freighter should make a great piece on the table when I get the exteriors properly fitted (and I have not yet tried putting batteries in it to find out if the lights and sounds still work).

3D-Printed: Rohan Settlement WIP

120%

I have not done much hobby stuff over the weekend - it was work weekend, and the garden allotted most of my spare time.

But the printer has been busy, as I am experimenting with upscaling Terrain4Print's Small Fantasy Viking House.

As you may recall (otherwise you can check below), I did not find the inherent size of the model convincing for 28mm miniatures, as the doorway stands below  the height of the shoulders of most minis.

Thus, I did a 120% upscaled version, which you can see to the left. It is better, but if that Royal Guard were to enter, he would still have to crouch quite a lot!

I would like the (most of) my buildings to actually look like something the minis could be living in, so I had to make another test. Luckily, my printer had nothing better to do this weekend, so as long as there was PLA on the spool, I could just knock myself out.

The 100% Version

130%

My third print was scaled up by 130% instead, and although I am almost there with that, I think that I shall print a 140% version, before deciding on the size for printing the larger house offered by Terrain4Print.

I am also printing some palisades, and the platform above the gate is printing as I write this.

The palisades are modular, and the files include a pin for assembling the pieces, but I had to scale it up to 105% to get a snug fit, so you may want to print a test or two if you start printing the palisades.

I am waiting for my filament pusher to get a re-stock (should happen next week), as I am running out of some of the filaments I am using (I prefer the light grey PLA for gaming models, as the details pop better than with other colours), but I shall be printing some more palisade pieces (including some 90 degree corners), until I run out of brown and grey stuff - then I shall allow myself to let the printer be employed for non-gaming purposes for a while.

3D Printed: Stone Townhouse

 Another design by Terrain4Print is the Ulvheim series A building and ruins on Thingiverse.

My first print of the intact version (with remixed upper storey and roof by Talismancer ) was at 100%, but I think it is a tiny bit too small for 'heroic' 28mm minis.

Thus, I am now printing another one at 110%, and you can see the first result at the bottom of this post (I am almost out of that Slate Grey PLA, and it is out of stock at my filament pusher's webstore, so I am taking a break from these buildings).

As can be seen below, both storeys have a nice level of interior details, and I plan to print some furniture to add to the gaming experience of having this kind of housing populating a town/city table.

Ulolkish and I have agreed to do 3D printed city/town/ruins scenery as a joint project; I print and clean up the pieces, and he paints at least half of them, and we can then have a large set of the stuff to use between us (we live only 11 kilometers apart, so it is a matter of less than ½ hour to fetch a big box by car).

I recently had some trouble with my CR10S, and as a consequence I have been printing with a bit too little retaction, causing some stringing. While this can be easily removed, I am going to play around with the settings to see if I can avoid it completely - like I am now again returning to use a skirt for bed adhesion instead of a brim, as the latter means more cleaning up to do before the pieces can be painted.

I have not yet printed the trap door for the roof, but I guess I may be doing that later today in some dark brown filament I have running on the printer at the moment.

Here are all the pieces of the first building.

To the right and below you can see the ground floor printed at 110%.

I think it fits the GW Skelly better, as it looks like he could actually pass under the door arch without banging his skull against it.

I shall, of course, still use the first one, but I am certain that I shall print further buildings at the slightly larger size!

Over the next couple of days, I am going to print a larger version of the 'Fantasy Viking' Rohan house, and also some palisades for protecting those Rohan settlements from Wild Men and Uruk-Hai raiders! And, of course, as mentined, a roof trapdoor for the Ulvheim building.

3D-Printed: Edoras House WIP

As part of my cross-games Rohan project, I thought it was time to get some Rohan themed building into the mix.

This building is Terrain4Prints's Smaller Fantasy Viking House from Thingiverse. I think it is a tad on the small side for 28mm minis, so the next one I shall print at 120%, and see if that fits my taste better.

I shall, of course, still paint and use this, as variation is the salt of the earth, anyway.

Barbarian Huts WIP - Take 3

This is how far I got today - I do not know if I shall have more time for painting before Saturday afternoon, as I also have to write the scenario up.

I did not manage to get started on the furs, they might be my first priority if I find time for sitting down at the pain(t) station Thursday or Friday (I just started my five-nights working week so I shall have to sleep most of the days.

What ever happens, the huts will be used in the state they have reached, as the rescue scenario requires some structures to search for prisoners!

Some Progress on the 'Orc Village' - WIP

This project feels like moving at a sluggish pace. I overslept this morning, so had less time than anticipated, but I managed to get the soil drybrushed, highlighted the thatched roofs, started painting the tusks, and also got the small thatch on top of the tent painted. I used Foundry Moss triad for it, and the colour is much nicer than the hut roofs, and I shall use it for the next time I paint thatch (if I remember to do so 😏).

Tomorrow I shall start on some of the details, such as the entrances, and the skulls and furs adorning the huts.

Barbarian Huts (and a Tent) WIP

As I need some structures for the lost adventurers to be held captive in, I am busy preparing some of my old Scotia Grendel Barbarian stuff for the table.

There's NO way I am going to get them fully completed for Saturday, when I hope to get a game arranged. but they will have to do in their various states of readiness.

The two last pics are how far I got today - tomorrow will see more detail work, mainly on the stone huts, and I shall paint the tusks. Wednesday is probably the last day this week that I can find time for painting, so I hope to reach an acceptable level then (and if not, it is just how it is).

The light is doing some weird shit to the black primer

Some minor damage to the left roof, and some missing rope.
I may get back to it, some day, but probably not if I know myself right

Sellswords & Spellslingers: Preparing for a Rescue Scenario

I have had these Scotia Grendel 'Barbarian' buildings for quite a while - and with Finghal being held prisoner by the vile Orcs of the Badlands, it is now time to get two or three of these prepped and painted as quickly as possible.

I expect to don my dust mask tomorrow afternoon and get at least two of the smaller huts cleaned up and rinsed (time will tell if I shall need to break out the greenstuff), and then, hopefully, I shall be able to prime them before we go to Sønderjylland Sunday. I would like to have them painted up for next weekend, as I hope to be able to get a gaming appointment with Ulolkish, and I would be surprised if he will not be interested in joining me on an expedition deep into enemy territory in search for two lost adventurers...

Christmas Wars: The Mystery Machine

I did not get around to painting a mini for the Chrismas Wars project in January (although my skeletons and Vikings can probably be used for it), but I accidentally got myself a Mystery Machine for the Scooby gang!

I got it in exchange for making a donation to a charity of my own choice, and I made one to Danmarksindsamlingen Saturday evening, this year aimed at helping starving/malnutritioned children in third world countries.

As you can see, it will require some filler, and I shall have to cut a piece of clear acrylic for the windshield.

I may opt to use this for the post-apocalyptic version, adding some wire mesh to the windows, and perhaps some additional defensive bits and bobs,

Fenris Games: Runestones

I got my Fenris Games order in the mail... yesterday, I think, but I did not open it until today. I had ordered runestones Sets 1-4, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a fifth set enclosed as a freebie!

Details look crisp, as always, and I look forward to include some of these a terrain pieces in games of Blood Eagle and SAGA - and they may also appear as more sinister objects in games of, for instance, Strange Aeons.

Star Wars Armada: Escort (Homebrewn Scenario)

The light was playing tricks on my camera when taking these photos (I really need to take that Digital Photography class, and learn to use the manual settings for taking better pics), but you should be able to make out what this is about, anyway.

I only put some big ships on the table to show the size of the  game; the players are going to place their ships and squadrons themselves, after learning the conditions of the scenario.

The Rebels are trying to bring Leia Organa from Alderaan to the still functioning Galactic Senate; i.e. the Rebel Alliance player must exit Leia via the far board edge, guarded by the Imperial Star Destroyers (and a swarm of TIE-Fighters, led by Howl Runner). The Imperial player will not know which ship has Leia Organa aboard,
so will have to outguess the opponent, and stop the right vessel from passing.

If the ship with Leia Organa leaves the table via the Imperial table edge, the Rebel Alliance wins, no matter how battered their fleet is, If it is destroyed, the Empire carries the day, while Leia Organa makes her exit in an escape pod.

I am a bit exited to learn if the task is too easy for the Rebel Alliance, in which case I have to regulate the available ships and squadrons - but I have no time for a test run, so the first game has to show this.

Blood Eagle: SMER Drakkar, Waterlining

I cut the bottom from the hull this morning (using my Dremel). The bottom of the ship needs to be grinded down a bit more, but the Dremel probably saved me quite some time.

As I predicted, the table now shows through the oarsman 'rooms', and I shall have to come up with a solution to this; maybe I just shall cover the 'rooms' with some scored balsa...

Blood Eagle: SMER Drakkar, Hull Assembled

Just glued the left side of the hull in place. Couple of minis for scale view.

Blood Eagle: Drakkar, Work Commences

I cleaned up the hull parts, and glued the deck to the right side of the hull.

I think I'll let the glue settle until tomorrow.

I may yet have to do somelthing about the the oarsman 'rooms', as cutting down the hull may result in the table becoming visible through the gaps... Oh, well, can be done quite easily.

Blood Eagle: SMER Drakkar (1:60)

I got this in the mail today:

I just made a quick dry-fit of the hull to figure out, how difficult it will be to glue it, and some fiddling about is requied to make everything fall into place.

The cartoony dragon of couse has to be replaced, an the hull cut off at water-level, but apart from that, I do not think that I need to do much - this is intended for gaming, and not a display model.

I was told, by the way, that the crew miniatures form this set are 1:72, but as you can see from this picture, a standing crewman measures about 26 mm from footsole to eye level, which clearly puts the figures in the 1:60 vicinity.

The crewmen are awful, mind you, but as I am going to use the ship for my 28mm Blood Eagle vikings, this is of no concern to me.

I expect to glue the hull Monday or Tuesday (I need plenty of time, so I do not botch the build by rushing it), but we shall see about that - I may be able to squeeze it in over the weekend.

I still have my Revell longship in its box, but Blood Eagle is probably going to spur me on to get it done (and maybe get a couple more).

EMHAR has a ship listed as 1:72, which is said to be a nice model, and I am going to try finding one of those as well, to add some diversity to the available vessels.