Work in Progress

Peninsular war buildings project

Posted by Bill Slavin on 05 Nov 2019, 23:11

Up until now I have been getting along with my old WWII housing stock for my Peninsular games but a couple of days ago decided it was time to build some specific Iberian Peninsula buildings for my Napoleonic gaming. These won’t be fine models, just scratch built buildings meant to look good at a certain distance on a wargame table. I have developed a process for these over the years, and its all very ad hoc, felling my way and mostly inventing as I go along.
This has partly been inspired by the fact that my right eye abandoned me last week and it may be awhile before I can paint miniatures again. So its mostly to simply keep me amused!
Here are some pics to date:
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I started with a few high precision sketches of what I thought I might do.

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Chose this for starters.

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Cut out a bunch of pieces from black foam core and pinned them together. I knew I wanted a foot print roughly 2" X 4". Trimmed up the wonky bits and sketched in features (windows, doors etc.)


Unassembled the pieces and cut out windows and doors.

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Did some preliminary detailing, mostly involving ripping off layers of the paper covering the foam core, carving bricks into some of the exposed foam core, scribing lintels across doors and windows...

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Glued it all back together (used pins to support some of the weaker bits)

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Another angle of it glued together.

More to come!
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Bill Slavin  Canada

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Posted by Bluefalchion on 06 Nov 2019, 06:20

Um, right eye abandoned you? That is very alarming, my friend. I hope you will feel better soon.

As for this scratch building project, I find it quite exciting. At this stage, at least, the general shape of the building looks really cool. Also, you present the process in a way that makes it look really easy. It is probably more difficult.

Tell me, how close to actual 1/72 scale is it?
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Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
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Posted by C M Dodson on 06 Nov 2019, 09:30

Hi Bill.

I am sorry to hear about your eye. Hopefully it is a temporary thing and you will soon be back to health producing your lovely units.

In the meantime your sketches look great and no doubt your buildings will be too.

Speedy recovery.

Chris
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Posted by Susofrick on 06 Nov 2019, 10:15

Having eye-trouble can be pretty serious! Hope all goes well and good that you can do something nice!
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Posted by Peter on 06 Nov 2019, 12:31

I wish you a good and quick recovery! :thumbup:
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Posted by Kekso on 06 Nov 2019, 14:00

What an amazing sketches. I wish you quick recovery.
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Kekso  Croatia

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Posted by Bill Slavin on 06 Nov 2019, 15:22

Thanks all for the support. I know on this forum that we all appreciate our eyes, probably even more than most!! And to be accurate, it's my left eye - you would think I could have figured that out but its all been rather fast...
Aaron, as for scale, I always balance off size with gaming needs, but try to create something believable. My buildings have a smaller footprint than a true 1/72nd scale structure, but I try to give them doors the figures could actually walk through!
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Bill Slavin  Canada

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Posted by Santi Pérez on 06 Nov 2019, 19:24

I join all the best wishes for your complete and quick recovery, Bill. ;-)

Fantastic sketches and promising beginning on these buildings. Go on with them! :thumbup:

Santi.
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Santi Pérez  Spain
 
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Posted by Bill Slavin on 07 Nov 2019, 02:30

So moving on...

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Roofs made with corrugated cardboard, doors with scored cardboard, stoops added, seams patched and bits built up with modelling paste. Because Aaron asked I've thrown in a figure for scale, showing my usual compromise between building sizes and figures for gaming purposes.

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I tried making tiled chimneys this time - more Mediterranean I think.

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Roofs removed to show construction. I won't fasten them to allow me to pop a garrison inside the building if needed...

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Back and front views primed and ready to paint!
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Bill Slavin  Canada

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Posted by Bluefalchion on 07 Nov 2019, 05:33

They say in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

You are doing pretty well for having only the use of your right eye (only temporarily, I hope).

I had a feeling that the buildings were far smaller than actual 1/72 scale, so it is good not to be wrong 100% of the time.

They look terrific whatever the scale. Making doors the right size for a fig is a good touch.
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Posted by Susofrick on 07 Nov 2019, 11:17

They look great!!! Wow!
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Posted by Bill Slavin on 11 Nov 2019, 01:31

One down, three to go!!

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Front view

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Front view

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Rear view

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Top view. Super happy with my stork sculpt!

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Porch detail

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Turkey in a doorway detail (Pegasus)
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Bill Slavin  Canada

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Posted by steve_pickstock on 11 Nov 2019, 01:55

Chapeau sir, that looks the bee's knees. Loads of character and nicely in tunes with your figures.

Having lived with only one working eye nearly all my life there are loads of issues but also one or two advantages, it will improve your aim, you can see the line much more easily especially against clay pigeons, and it allows you to see straight lines more effectively (apparently! No I don't know how either. I guess people with binocular vision can assess curves better.)
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Posted by Bill Slavin on 11 Nov 2019, 02:20

Thanks, Steve. The eye thing is an adjustment - I appreciate your perspective and am impressed that you can do miniature work! I guess in time the brain learns to adapt...
I have hopes it will improve in time but right now it’s the depth perception that’s challenging. For detail I only know my brush is on target when I see the tip bend!
So in the meantime, when life hands you lemons...
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Bill Slavin  Canada

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Posted by Bluefalchion on 11 Nov 2019, 02:50

Your first peninsular building makes me want to get out of my seat and cheer you on with a resounding standing ovation.

Fantastic!
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Posted by Beano Boy on 11 Nov 2019, 03:11

A good project Bill, and the end result building really looks great. :thumbup:
Squeezing in the width of buildings i highly recommend as it saves table space.BB
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Posted by C M Dodson on 11 Nov 2019, 09:26

Hi Bill.

Sensational work with a real Spanish feel.

I like the turkey and stork but do not think either would be around for long.

Best wishes,

Chris
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Posted by Graeme on 11 Nov 2019, 13:49

Wonderful buildings with a very earthy realistic feel. They're going to look fantastic on your table with figures.

I really like the stork, great idea; but at this time of year I think the turkey should be trying to keep a much lower profile.
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Graeme  Australia
 
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Posted by Bill Slavin on 11 Nov 2019, 15:22

Graeme wrote:I really like the stork, great idea; but at this time of year I think the turkey should be trying to keep a much lower profile.


Ah, but you see in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October, so it is quite safe for a while yet!
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Bill Slavin  Canada

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Posted by PaulRPetri on 11 Nov 2019, 23:16

Your stucco work is perfect!! Great building!! I hope the eye comes back around Bill.

All the best
Paul
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