A Hummer of a Weekend

Though I hadn't been able to work on anything for almost two weeks, when I finally got down to the basement this weekend, instead of jumping back into the post apocalypse, I decided to do some cleaning.  Well, actually, my wife decided that I was going to do some cleaning.  As it turns out, creating the post apocalypse is messy work, and the mess had started migrating into the rest of the house, so darling wife suggested that I put a lid on the mess, before she put a lid on me.

Anyway, as I started cleaning up the smaller of the two work tables, I realized that I had castings all over it and my painting table for various vehicles that I have mastered over the last couple of years, and the best way to clean up, was to assemble some of that heap into useful miniatures.

So, in keeping with my wife's demands, I assembled about over 30 15mm vehicles this weekend. 

All of the primered vehicles are new builds.  I rounded out my fleet of M1114 Humvees for the Middle East and African ops (14 new minis), 6 more Humvees to get woodland camo, 6 M2A2 Bradleys, and 8 VBLs. 

With any luck, darling wife will next demand that I finish some painting that needs done around the house...

Blowing Up the Police Station

The second building that I'm working on for my PA terrain is the previously mentioned Police Station.  The actual building is pictured below:

I am adapting it to fit my modular terrain system, but the general design and exterior finish of my model is very similar.  I want my models to be somewhat believable in appearance, so my method of construction depicts the construction methods that I observed being used during an construction of an addition on the station a couple of years ago.  My model is based on the original structure, thus everything to the ring of the "tower" is excluded, as is the addition to the left front of the building.  I was able to get approximate dimensions using google earth.  The following photos show the building as it comes together.  The foundation with the base terrain tile layout with parking area below:

I'm trying a new method in construction of the this model.  The building features concrete block construction with an outer brick fascia. First, the exterior block wall is constructed with the exposed block pattern  pressed in/drawn on with a ball point pen.  Then, the thinner brick wall is added around the exterior of the building, using a brick pattern plate made from styrene sheet and strips  The foam wall stock panel is cut from the sheet on foam on a band saw, the pattern aligned with the panel, and the pattern is simply pressed in by hand.  I've done this with larger stone and block patterns and in larger scales before with great success, but the small brick pattern in 28mm is a little tougher to transfer. 

In this case the windows and doors were located and cut out of the block wall. The outer brick wall was then applied over it, requiring the windows to be re-cut into the brick layer using the block layer as a guide.  The layers are glued together with artist's matte medium, using straight pins to hold the pieces together while drying.  The view below shows the model with some of the windows re-cut into the brick layer and pins still in place in the back wall.

I never had the pleasure (or possibly, misfortune) of exploring the police station, so my interior design my be somewhat chaotic.  It is partially based on help from the members of the yahoo group, Baddawg's Landing, http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/BADDAWGS_LANDING/
Baddawg's Landing is owned by the Baddawg himself, and filled with all kinds of great stuff for skirmish gamers, (especially modern/near-future/sci-fi gaming) and lots of good people.  Assistance from the Landing made this task quite a bit easier than it might have been otherwise.  Below you can see the model as it currently stands, with a portion of the interior walls in place.

My time has been getting sucked up by other thinks over the last couple of weeks.  So, lots of work to be done still, but since I hadn't posted in a little while, I thought I'd let everyone know I'm not dead yet. 

When completed, this will be the dominating structure in my initial PA terrain layout.  The building will be about 9 inches tall, with a 13"x17" footprint, and set on a two foot square terrain tile including walkway, drives and parking lot. Hopefully I'll have something more to show by about next Monday.

My Dilemma, or Why I'm Basing Marines, Rather Than Blowing Up the World

When I build terrain pieces that have any character, I usually develop a bit of a storyline for them, as I build them.  Generally it is something that never really relates to a game, but helps me visualize the evolution of the piece, as it came to be the way that it appears on the table.  It is kind of like having the evil twin of Bob Ross, the painter, talking in my head as I build, but instead of "... and a little bunny lives here, and nearby is his friend Mr. Tree...", it is more like "... and a psycho with claymore mines lived here, but he was cut in half by his cannibal friend with a minigun on a acid trip...". 

Anyway, a story develops, a pictures appears in my mind, and I create the terrain piece.  In the case of my little house, the story that developed involved the house being caught is a crossfire between the National Guard and group of thugs that occupied the police station, which is located across the street (as is the real house and police station on which my terrain is based). 

The house gets shot up by riflemen, a 20mm gatling, and grenades, scavenged and stripped, left to decay, and sometime later caught on fire by transient survivers taking refuge in its remains.  Then comes the time of my games with the shot up, blown out, cut down, burned out, pillaged little house.

While I was painting the foundation, I was considering whether to build the wrecked house out of styrene or bass wood.  I like styrene, as it is very fast to work with and gives a very clean finished product.  The bass wood is nice, as it is strong, has a fine grain, and lovely texture.  The down side of the styrene is that it does not have the earthy texture, and produces an almost too clean product for what I want in this messed up little house.  Meanwhile, the bass wood is much slower and tedious to work with (requiring super glue, rather than solvent with the styrene), can be damaged by dampness in my basement, and is a little trickier to paint as water based paints can cause the wood to warp.

In the end I was leaning toward the bass wood, thinking that the texture would lend more character to the final product.  So I went through my stash of wood, and found that I am way short of what I need to complete the house.  And looking at my plastic, I have enough textured plastic sheet and strips on hand to build it right away.  I know that in the end though, that I will not get the same splintered wood effect with the styrene, and my paint job won't be as good.

So my foundation sets...

... without a house, while I base 15mm Peter Pig US Marines and ponder what to do.

Foundation of a Dying World

As my roadway terrain sections are nearer to completion, I started working more on the design of buildings and city blocks for my post apocalypse terrain in recent days.  When I started this project, I had left a lot of loose ends dangling with respect to how the city blocks would accommodate buildings, and how the terrain tiles would interface. 

My original plan was to make 2'x2' foam squares that could stand alone, or have buildings set on them.  I wrestled with myself about the types of details and features that this method would not permit, such as basements and foundations of buildings, streams and ditches, etc. 

While lamenting that I would lose the use of basements and streams and whatnot, I also began considering the waste of the bottom 1" layer of foam that resulted from this.  Essentially, the entire base layer of 54 square feet of terrain accommodated three shell craters, and nothing else.  My intent in doing the terrain this way, was to create and vertically dynamic rolling layout, hopefully more realistic, and somewhat more pleasing to the eye than some of my previous , more flat, near-future and sci-fi terrain.

In what I call a light-bulb moment, I saw the obvious.  Instead of relying on 2'x2' squares, why not just make 1' square tiles like I do for my historical terrain, and detail them with all of the below grade level detail that I want.  With 2'x2' tiles, I was restricting my vision to simply creating 2'x2' gaming matts with terrain set on them.  The difference may not seem like a big deal in concept, but will result in a dramatic difference in the finished product.

Considering the various buildings that I wanted to make individually, I found that placing them into 1' square terrain panels seemed to rapidly tie up many of the lose ends, that I had left hanging.  After  firming up most of the buildings that I had decided to build, I looked at my basic terrain layout and reconsidered some features.  I decided to take out a one foot width of "city blocks" immediately west of the highway, and shifting the remaining terrain one foot east.  The result is that I can fit a row of buildings along the west edge of the table, completing the neighborhood.  It requires me to temporarily discard a 1'x2' section of road, and to build three new 1'x1' roadway sections.

Okay,  done with the background, here is what I've got done.  I've completed assembly of the first "city block' tile with a foundation of a small house, driveway, walkway, etc.  My basic sketch and the plan view transferred to the foam is shown below.



The foam is the grey/green colored foam marketed by Lowes.  It behaves like the blue and pink foam that you've seen elsewhere on my blog, though this sheet contained a surprise for me.  The entrance to the house in on the right, a driveway raps around the rear (to the left).  The house consists of the original house with basement, and an addition with crawlspace to the rear with side porch.

I started out by cutting out the basement area, with a hobby knife and straight edge.  Then cleaned up a little bevel in the cut with a True-grit file.

This is the point where I realized that the sheet of foam that I picked up did not have a uniform thickness, generally ranging from 1/16 to 1/8 inch thinner than 1 inch thick.  This means it does not mate evenly with my other terrain panels.  So, I laminated a 1/8 inch thick layer of foam to build it up to the right height.  Consumed with the frustration of my discovery, I again missed the obvious, and glued the layer to the top of the tile, rather than the bottom, which would have reduced two steps of later work.  I wouldn't have had to layout the plan again, and by adding it to the bottom, I would have had a basement floor in place.

Note that I've rotated the tile 90 degrees in this view, and had added in the driveway with ballast glued with matt medium.  Prior to gluing the ballast in place, I also added some cracks in the driveway with a hotwire stylus. Another view below.

I then began adding the foundation walls.  The walls are made of  3/16 inch thick blue (Dow/Corning) foam sheet that I cut down to size on a band saw.  I split the foam into small sheets, usually 7" x24" by whatever thicknesses that I need.  Each wall section was cut to fit with a hobby knife, and then scribed with a black ball point pen to represent concrete block inside and out.  I'm working on some plates that will allow me to press this into the foam in the future, but those aren't ready yet, and I wanted to get started.

The walls were glued into place with artist's matte medium, and then pinned with straight pins until dry.  I still have some end detailing to add to the walls, but will do that later.  Here are a couple more views with figs for a better sense of scale.

This back view above shows the rear porch and steps.  Also note the stack of foam slabs that I use for making the walls and whatnot behind the terrain piece. 

The next view shows where I added some foam to build up the grade around the foundation.  it will be smoothed out better and puttied, once everything is dry.

And lastly, a view showing the tile fit in with the other terrain.  I will eventually glue a 1/4 inch thick layer of foam to the bottom of this tile to create the floor of the basement, and bring it up to the proper height to mate to the sidewalks.  In this view, a piece of foam has been placed under the tile to raise it appropriately. The road section to the front of the house is one of the new 1'x1' roadway sections.

I'll give it an hour or so to dry, and then continue working. 

Originally, I expected the 2'x2' city block panels to be just under 1/8 inch lower than the sidewalks, which would have allowed for buildings on styrene sheet bases to be set on them and be about even with the sidewalks.  But I actually cut the sidewalks thicker than I had intended, and didn't catch it until I well into the construction phase.  The result is that the sidewalks are a little higher than originally intended, so even if the Lowes foam was a full 1" thick, I would still have to add a thin layer to the bottom, or place shims under it.  In any event, it will all work out in the end, so all is well.

I'll probably have the next update tomorrow evening.

Quick Roadway Markings

While obsessing on my post-apocalypse terrain, I got to the point of putting markings on the roadways; lane strips, stop-bars, and crosswalks.  I had done this some years before by masking with tape and brushing on the markings, a relatively slow and somewhat tedious process. 

This time around, I had intended to use paint markers and a straight-edge.  I figured that it would be easier, but hadn't realized how much time it would save.

The process was very simple, first I located the markings with white or yellow colored pencils.  Just a couple of small marks at the beginning and end of each roadway marking.  Then I lined up a straight-edge with the marks, and simply draw on the marking with an acrylic paint marker.  It took about 35 minutes to do all 36 feet of roadway.    You can see the result in the following photos:

Despite the rough surface of the pavement, the markings came out very bold without much effort.

The Elmers Painter paint markers and the colored pencils used are pictured below:

The markers are available from Dick Blick art supplies in the US:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/elmers-painters-paint-markers/

I probably wouldn't have thought to mention these, but happened to come across another gamer's post this weekend talking about the work invested in masking his roadways to locate the painted markings.

In my case, I am creating post-apoc terrain, so want the markings to be end up very faded and sometimes totally obscured.  Had this been new or maintained  roadway, the markings would have been applied to a smoother surface, and would have been even cleaner and more distinct.  After applying the markings, I then began to apply washes and brybrush to "age" the markings.  The work isn't done, but the photos below show the beginnings of the process.

A single yellow and single white marker were more than enough to complete my terrain, and probably could have done twice as much.  Anyway, just thought that I'd mention them, as they were easy to use and took about a quarter of the time that I had expected.

Perils of the Post Apocalypse Terrain Maker

When I venture into a new historical gaming period or conflict, I usually spend the better part of a year researching the subject before spending the first dollar on it.  I like to learn about the peoples involved in the conflict; culture, religion, ways of daily life, perspective about life, motivations, what are they fighting for, etc.  I usually learn a lot, probably misunderstand more than I learn, and then get to the game.  The beauty of sci-fi/fantasy games is that I don't have to spend a year researching to get to the game.

So I decide to finally build my PA terrain, and what am I spending the most time on...researching.  Kind of a funny idea really, researching what hasn't happened. Most of it involves looking at abandoned and destroyed places, and noting damage and decay.  Mostly it involves collecting info about those things that would populate the PA landscape, but it also involves the perils of gathering that information. 

The funny thing about abandoned places is that they are never abandoned.  You find all sorts of interesting people, some of them just curious, a photographer, an artist spraying the side of a building, a homeless person,  people exchanging a package, people looking funny at you and your camera..time to leave.  Interestingly, I've not been directly threatened by anyone in these situations, though I did have to make some effort to avoid an unhappy dog one time.  As far as people go,  a menacing glance maybe, but no real threats.  Can't say the same for people in the "civilized" places.

One day, I was walking around town, taking photos of detail items; street signs, storm drains, roadway markings, etc.  While taking photos of the highway overpass near my home (and featured in my PA terrain), a car veers over towards me, honks its horn, somebody inside screams an obscenity. I'm on a sidewalk,  I turn, see whats happening, (taking photos the whole time) jump back as the car jumps the curb, loses part of a now shattered wheelcover, and blows its tire.  They miss me by 18 inches, veer off of the curb, and continue down the street on the fresh flat.  What are they thinking?  They just screwed up Dad's new Toyota, could have seriously hurt or killed me, and we are only like 40 feet from a police station.  

Another day, I figure I'll take a couple of pics of the vending machines by Walmart.  As I'm walking over to them, I notice a car parking in the handicap spot with no handicap plackard (the driver, a young, athletic and affluent looking woman (at Walmart??) had no obvious disability), another car was parked in the fire lane in front of the store, and kids on skateboards where running over people on the covered walk outside the stores in the plaza (skateboarding there is a violation of local ordinance, and is posted). 

I take a side view pic of the end vending machine, a couple of shots of the fronts.  A couple people are looking at me, as I do this.  Funny how when you take photos of things, people look at you like your murdering a bus-load of orphans.  I stood there for a moment , just about ready to leave, noting some details of the bottons/hardware on the front of the machine, when I hear, " Sir, I need to ask you to step away from that pop machine".  I turn, and there is a security guard standing there with his hand on his can a mace.  You have got to be kidding me.  The 14 year olds on the skateboards have just run into someone coming out of a store, the empty car is still parked in front of two "No Parking, Fire Lane" signs and on the giant "NO PARKING" letters painted on the ground. Handicapped people are walking from Mongolia to get to the store.  And I have to step away from the machine? 

"Sir, what are you doing?"

"I was taking photos of the vending machines"

"Sir, why are you taking photos of the vending machines?"

I think quickly, knowing that explaining that I'm building the end of the world in my basement for little people to fight and die over is not a good answer, and say, "To build miniatures for a model railroad."

"Well sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Really surprised, I blurt out, "You're kidding."

I then mention the illegally parked cars, the kids on the skateboards, and question why he stops a guy from photographing a vending machine, an act not in violation of state or local law. He then threatens to call authorities and have me forcibly removed. So I willingly go home, without pepper-spray eyes, where I will build a model of a blown-up, burned down, looted Walmart with the remnants of an over-zealous security guard being munched on by turkey vultures.

Let this be a warning for you post apocalypse terrain makers,  the post apocalyptic wasteland is a dangerous place.

Fresh Coat of Paint on the Old Apocalypse

Over the last couple of weeks, I finally managed to get a base coat of paint on the roadway portions of my post-apocalypse terrain.  obviously, it still needs a lot of work to get that wasteland feel. Eventually there will be more debris, areas where dirt has collected and built up, and I still need to decide how I want to handle manhole covers, storm drains, grates, etc.

Having the paint on it helps me visualize things a little better, and will hopefully speed up the detailing process.

I'm still debating whether to glue down the Jersey barriers or base the sections on styrene,so that they can be moved around.  I want to maintain as much flexibility as possible, but I'm not sure how much use there would be for that.  Loose barrier sections will be tedious to handle, so I'm leaning toward gluing them in place.

The last couple photos show some 28mm Copplestone  figs and a 1/43 scale Toyota RAV4 that I picked up a few years back.

The road texture is a little coarse, but will lend itself well to dry brushing during the weathering phase of painting.

I've started drawing up scale sketches of the first generation of buildings, and am in the process of making textured plates for pressing patterns into foam sheet.  Various masonry patterns can be pressing into the foam using patterns made from styrene sheets and strips and a rolling pin.  Making the patterns is tedious, but makes for fast building construction.  Wood frame structures will be made from a combination of basswood and styrene patterned sheets and strips.

Anyway, it has been a little while since my last update, so I thought I'd post pics of the current progress.  I hope to have pics of the finished roadways up in about a week.