Archive for March, 2008

Mar 31

Video: Finished Mordheim Dice Tower

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

Here’s a video of the Dice rolling though my newly completed Mordheim Dice Tower, named “Roll Inn”:

(If you look closely, you can see the dice as they roll past the gaping hole in the roof.)

I’ll be posting my final post soon.
-Ashton Sanders

Mar 30

Mordheim Dice Tower Painting Update

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

Since this competition is ending on the end of this month, I have to paint this entire building in two days. Thankfully it’s been a weekend, and I’ve been able to put aside some time for my Mordheim Dice Tower. I have run into only a few small problems, but none were conquerable. Here are the pictures of today’s progress:

Mordheim Dice Tower

 

Mordheim Dice Tower

 

Mordheim Dice Tower

Mordheim Dice Tower

I painted all of the cement and debris with the same Dry Brushing Cement system I used on my last building (which I ended up using on the window bars as well). I chose to do a bright, barn red for the walls.

Final pictures are on the way,
Ashton Sanders

Mar 29

Mordheim Window Frames

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

The construction of my Mordheim Dice tower is very close to done. I have created the Window Frames for all of the windows:

Mordheim Window Frames

To create the thin sections of wood, I cut a ~2cm section of Popsicle stick, and then cut it lengthwise with a razor blade. I tried to cut it as thin as possible. This allowed me to create endless pieces of wood that were all the exact same width when I turned them sideways.

My next project was to create the sign that will hang over the front door:

Mordheim Window Frames

I’m looking at calling this place “Ed’s Lodging” or “Motel 3” or something having to do with Lodging. Let me know if you have any ideas. (You got like 24 hours to tell me;))

More very very soon,
-Ashton Sanders

Mar 28

Mordheim Rubble on Tiled Roof

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

I have added some fallen debris to the Mordheim roof. The idea is that when the comet crashed into the city, either the quaking earth or a shard of the comet caused the top section of the tower to collapse. Some of the rubble broke holes in the roof below, while some of the smaller pieces ended up staying on the roof. The rubble also doubles as places for models to sand on.

I put down a layer of water glue in the dice catcher/courtyard area, and poured some of my “Camp Cherry Valley” beach sand on it. I think it came out really well. Now I just need a good thick layer of paint to keep the sand in place. I really want to add some rubble to this area, but I don’t want to give the dice a possibility of not landing flat, so it’s got to be boring and flat.

Here’s a picture of the what’s left of the Dice Tower’s Roof.

Enjoy,
Ashton Sanders

Mar 25

Mordheim Roof Tiles

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

As the month is coming to a close, I’m running out of time to finish my Dice tower. So I don’t even have enough time to write a good description. Here’s a picture blog of what I did tonight on my Dice Tower:

Mordheim Dice Tower Roof Tiles

Mordheim Dice Tower Roof Tiles

 

Mordheim Dice Tower Roof Tiles

 

Mordheim Dice Tower Roof Tiles

Mordheim Roof with a large hole

More on the way. I got 5 days to finish making this and paint it…

Ashton Sanders

Mar 18

Mordheim Dice tower Update

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

This is a quick update because I only have done a couple very simple things:

Added broken wooden planks to the first “ramp” at the top of the tower:
Mordheim Broken Floor

And I glued down the roof, and cut the starting injuries:
Mordheim Damaged Roof

My next step will be to add the roof tiles, and then rubble to the roof. I hope to add enough rubble to the roof to allow models to safely stand on top of it.

I’m building this dice tower for a Terragenesis Competition which is ending in 12 days! I better hop to it, and finish up this roof pretty soon.

More to come soon,
Ashton Sanders

Mar 16

Mordheim Building Base Coat

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

I have done my second base coat on my Mordheim Dice Tower.

I painted most of the inside of the dice tower because I am planning on having a number of holes in the exterior that will allow you to see inside as the dice roll by. I have already cut one of the window holes all the way through. I needed to paint the inside of the tower before I put the roof on, so I went ahead and base painted everything I could.

Mordheim Dice Tower - Front

Mordheim Dice Tower - Back

I didn’t really have a plan as to how many windows I wanted to cut into this building. I have kind of decided that this building was going to be a tavern. It could definitely pass as a tavern, and since most taverns have a back alley/dump section which no windows face, I thought this was a perfect excuse not to make any more windows. =)

To frame the windows, I’m planning on cutting tiny strips of Popsicle sticks, which is going to be a royal pain… So the fewer windows the better.

Next step is the roof. I have decided to permanently glue the roof down. I was toying with the idea of using magnets to secure the roof, so I could remove it to fix anything that might go wrong on the inside of the building. I just have very grand plans for the roof, as I want to to be as playable as possible, and since players will not be allowed to go inside of it, making the roof playable is my only real choice. Now that I think about it though, the dice going through the dice tower make it rumble and shake a lot. So I may have to scratch that idea.

Only the future will tell,
-Ashton Sanders

Mar 14

Mordheim Garbage Cans

Random Terrain Bits,Terrain
Author: Ashton Sanders

Ha!

A wealthy city, like Mordheim used to be, must have some sort of system to dispose of waste. Mordheim must have had garbage cans and a garbage collector, wouldn’t you think? Anyway, after my last trip to the range (Front Sight), I grabbed 4-5 of the empty bullet holders, knowing there must be some way to use them in the city of Mordheim. After lots of thought, I found that they are almost the perfect size for Mordheim-sized garbage cans!

Mordheim Garbage Cans

In this picture you can see the transition (from left to right) of Bullet holder to Mordheim garbage can. First, you need to cut one of the can’s out of the container with a razor blade. Once this is done, trim the edges around the top of the can. Then cut off the bottom of the can. If you cut straight enough, you can use the bottom as a lid. The can on the right side of the picture above still needs some work on the paint job, but it’s enough to give you an idea of where I’m going with this.

I also don’t have a bottom to these cans, but I’ll think of something by the time I need to put one on it’s side.

No anyone who plays Mordheim at my house won’t have a reason not to throw away all their garbage. =]
-Ashton Sanders

Mar 12

Dice Tower Windows

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

I’ve added 6 more windows to the other side of my Mordheim Dice Tower Building! The window on the very top of the tower is cut all the way through the wall, so you can see through it.

I haven’t glued anything into place yet, I want to paint black behind the gratings before I totally secure them to the window and add a frame.

Mordheim Windows

You can see the lines where I measured this time. I am using a smudge over 5cm for each story, and the window is a little up from being right in the middle of the story.

You can also see a couple trash cans in this picture. I’ve been experimenting with them, and I should have a tutorial on them soon.

Enjoy,
Ashton Sanders

Mar 9

Details for the Dice Tower

Dice Tower,Mordheim Buildings
Author: Ashton Sanders

I’ve done a bunch more detailing on my Mordheim dice tower:

Mordheim Building Details

I’ve added the wooden baseboard and three corners around the outside of the building. I have also framed one of the windows. I have used Popsicle sticks for almost all of the wooden sections of this Mordheim Building. I have also used a couple stirring sticks. Some of the thin wood (like 3 sides of the window) was created by cutting a very tiny sliver from a Popsicle stick, and turning it sideways.

Here’s the front door:

Mordheim Building Details

Here’s the framed window. I forgot that I will need to remove the grating to add the black base paint behind the grating, so I will just have to do my best on this window to cover all of the white foam bubbles with black paint:

Mordheim Building Details

More to come:
-Ashton Sanders

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