Scatter Terrain & 3D Printing - 1

After doing the scatter terrain for the Zone Mortalis game I started thinking of doing my own set of terrain pieces along similar lines – namely drums, crates and pallets.

My thoughts instantly turned to doing them as 3D prints. I was hoping the White Detail material used for the gun emplacement base parts would be good for these.

So here are the concept designs for the new pieces.

Pallets:

First up are the pallets. I plan for two sizes with the larger one slightly smaller than the ZM one I scratch built. The smaller one is half the size of the larger pallet. They would be in two parts allowing me to cast them.

Large Pallet Base

Ditto.

The Small Pallet Base

The Large Pallet with the top in place

And the Small Pallet with its top plate.

I still need to add more details to it. I am thinking of changing one hole to something different – such as a stylised Aquilla or skull.

I changed the lower half so that the base is a solid piece rather than slats, making it much easier to cast. I may simply scratch build the lower half from styrene rather than having it printed.

Drum:

Two sizes, both the same size in height but in diameter one is 50%  larger.

Crates:

Likewise two crate sizes which are both the same height. The smaller is half the length of the larger crate. In height the crate are half the height of the drums.

The sizes picked for the drums and crates allow them to be stacked together without a problem…

And some pieces on the pallets:

Smaller Drum on the Small Pallet

And the Larger Drum on Small Pallet.

Large Pallet with some Drums and Crates

And something I may end up with...

Once I have finalised the designs (mainly just the pallet)  I will probably order the prints, though I may wait to see what Shapeways say about the problem I had with the gun emplacement pieces.

Stowage Tutorial - Bangalores

I have been asked by SC over on The Spring Offensive to post up a tutorial I knocked up way back in Jan 2008 for some stowage - namely Bangalores.

I based my bangalores on the ones I got from Forge World in their Storm Sword kit:

The original bit of stowage from Forge World.

And a couple of example of ones I built:

Command Chimera - doesn't show the piece
that well unfortunately.

From my Hellhound.

As you can see on my Bangalores I have kept the recessed ends. It would of been much easier to simply have the ends flush but I wanted to keep the look of the original piece.

I went about making them like this:

Not a great diagram. Sorry.

A - A 3.2 diameter tube is cut to length (whatever suits the tank). Now the walls look to thick as such.

B - Using a pin vice the hole is opened up to 2mm in diameter, to about 5mm in depth.

C - Some 2mm diameter rod is cut, approx 3-4mm in length and one of these is pushed into the hole at each end of the 3.2 tube just past the end.

D - A second tube is done the same way and glued side by side to the first one.

E - Next up is the mounting brackets, use soem styrene strip, in the example a 1x2mm strip was used. It is cut into pieces as long as the two tubes are wide (so approx 6.5mm long). One piece is glued to each end of the tube, the position is whatever looks good and will depend on the length of the tubes used. A third one in the centre might be worthwhile if they are particularly long (though making them too long may not long right).

F - Straps. I used .25mm styrene cut to match the bracket width (2mm in this case). Cut long enough to wrap round the tubes from one bracket side to the other and a bit extra. Brush some poly cement over the tubes & brackets and bend the strap over. The strap shouldn't be flush with the brackets yet.

G - Finsihing off. Trim the strap ends and then cut from a styrene rod (.75mm rod with a 1mm thick bracket) some rivets and glue in place.

Hopefully that is all clear enough. If I get chance I may do an improved diagram.