The Bridge House W.I.P.

Hi. You know how sometimes you start something. You’re very excited at first at the prospect of even the starting this thing in the first place. Your loved ones even encourage this endeavor, albeit, sometimes I feel like that person secretly doesn’t want me to continue. You go “all out” – at least all out in a sense that you make time for it amongst your other responsibilities like managing the household, chauffeuring family members, maintaining the environment and grounds, etc. Then, the hobby that you love get’s placed on the back-burner and you are too tired or less motivated at midnight to make the effort. You lie awake at night not able to sleep because you are thinking about what progress you could have made if your didn’t sleep the rest of the remaining hours in the 24 hour cycle. You wake up the next morning dead set on continuing the project and showing off your work on social for the likes, views, engagement, hoping one day you are worthy to monetize so that you can justify all the time wasted on this lovely hobby of ours was not all in vain and that you have some worth. What does all this have to do with my take on the Mordheim Starter Set Terrain and the current “Bridge House” WIP? Nothing and everything. I just wanted to vent on paper (er…in writing)

The Bridge House is the last of the starter set terrain and is one of the more involved builds. Considering I did my own Mordheim inspired builds and couple of weeks ago and they sit tabletop ready, but not fully kitted, the Starter Set self challenge should have been a breeze. It’s not. Again, I wanted to stay as close the source material while adding my own little touches.

I had to go figure out how to construct and add the little “oriel window” on the side of the wall at one end. BTW – I had to look up the name of the window because I am OCD sometimes – according to Wikipedia SOURCE it is not a dormer, those are on rooftops.

I also felt the little bridge connector between the main and adjacent structure needed some under support. I added my own “bracing” made to look like wooden beams after it is painted. I also wanted to be able to quickly add/remove the bridge for playability and storage purposes so I made it key-in to the openings and removeable.

I am still having issues with base warping after adding the floors. Solution – TBD.

Enjoy some more W.I.P. pics. Also check out my Insta because why not.

Happy crafting!

What do think of this project so far? Let me know in the comments or reach out in my other socials. Thanks.

Some # for the SEO.

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Tavern Time!

Hi. So I’ve been working on getting the next build in the series “My Take on the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain” – The Tavern. This one was progressively challenging in its simplicity yet surprisingly took a bit of time for me to get to this pre-painting phase.

I think initially, I struggled with scale. I wanted to make the Tavern compliment the size and scope of my previous structures in this series, but I this little thing kept bugging me. You see, it is a tavern. And like most taverns, you want to bring in a lot of customers. But when I saw the footprint was kind of small to fit several tables, let alone a bar, I thought to myself I should at least try to enlarge it even if it’s a little bit.

The build was pretty straight forward after that decision. Determine how many sides we would need. How many levels we require as per the assembly instructions as well as how much detail we want to incorporate.

I added a support “post” to this build because I thought in a real world build, the entrance corner would begin to sag and eventually collapse without any supporting structure. My method was simply gluing two pieces of foamcore, ripping into a “square lumber stock” and then adding support bracing. I textured it by drawing in the “wood grain” with a ballpoint pen. Painting it would give it the wooden look and feel.

The little window that jutted from one of the wall faced was also challenging. I had to figure out how to add a curved opening meeting at the upper point as well as covering the jut-out with a small sloping roof.

I added a “wooden” floor to the first level as well as fabricated the upper floors using coffee stir sticks and hotglue method. Then I would destroy the flooring where appropriate as well as to mimic the original box set terrain design.

What do you think of the this and the other builds so far?

Next is the Bridge House.

Until next time, happy crafting!

It’s Long House Time

Hi. So. It’s that time of year. I took my annual Flu shot, but this time I had the notion to include not one, but two OTHER vaccinations at the same time. Three total. Apparently, they allow you to take up to four if you want or need it. In the past, I have gotten multiples on one day and was fine the next. However, this time was a doozy. Do people still say that? “Doozy”? That was this past Wednesday. It is Saturday, going on Sunday for me here and I am just feel “back to normal” so to speak. I was able to work on my interpretation of the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain while mainly in a daze from the pain killers (i.e. Acetaminophen).

In my build, I decided to double the standard footprint of 5 inch x 5 inch (i.e. the Corner Houses) to 5 inch by 10inch (the Long House). I am getting a little faster with the build process, keeping things as standardized as possible. Including build techniques. Thus my 2.25 inch wall heights. 5″ inch square base flooring. Most of the box terrain does not include a base or bottom flooring. I wanted mine to have it.

Another wrench in my “works” is trying to video record my processes. I wanted to get back into producing long form content that I will post on YouTube. My initial goal is just get to that sweet spot of finishing one video and posting it on my channel instead just reposted Instagram reels/posts. I know this adds to my workflow, but I want to see where it takes me. Can’t knock someone for trying the hustle, right?!

So yeah, the Long House is basically ready for priming/painting. I want to complete the remaining building before I start that phase. I think once paint is laid down, it gives that extra motivation to complete the builds to see them all completed in the end.

What do you think so far? The Tavern and Bridge House are up next. Each with their own complexities. Have you tried this challenge yourself? What project hurdles did you hop? Tell me in the comments below. Don’t forget to check out my other socials if you have a chance. Looking for materials/tools, also check out my affiliate links. By clicking those links and purchasing items, you are help me support the upkeep of this website and allows me to continue to provide content for you. It is no extra cost to use those links, but as an affiliate, I get a small commission that helps keeps the website hamster fed.

Thanks for reading this far. Enough writing. Here are the pics.

Happy crafting!

More W.I.P. on Corner House 1 & 2

Hi. I worked on more of the Corner Houses 1 & 2 today from the Mordheim Starter Box Set Terrain. Well, mainly, Corner House 2. Again theses are my takes on the starter terrain, but I wanted to stay close to the source material as I can.

The challenge today was the recreating the arched doorway using basically the formboard and hot glue. I was able to use a lot of my off-cuts of foamboard. I created the arch by using a carpentry technique – you cut multiple slips where you want to the material to bend. Then slow bend the material allowing your cuts to separate from one side only. As long as you don’t cut through only one side the foamboard, the paper on the other side should be intact and able to make the arch. Or, I could have just cut a whole mess of smaller “bricks/stones” and created the arch one stone at a time. Meh. Maybe next time. And, no, I don’t own a 3D printer. The cost (machine, consumables, operating expense, knowledge curve) to me is not justifiable for my budget of “free.99”. Also, I am debating whether to add a door to the archway similar to my partially open doors on the first build series. What do you think?

I also installed some “slate” flooring. I cut up some “cereal box” cardboard – well, in my case, some tissue box cardboard into appropriate sized stone shapes. I used wood glue – because my white PVA glue was across the room – to glue down the stonework flooring stone by stone. It was tedious, but once you get into a flow, it wasn’t too bad. I got the floor done in no time. When the flooring was done, the base material (corrugated cardboard from a keyboard box) started to warp. I placed a piece of parchment paper on top and placed some heavy bottles in an effort to flatten the base down. I will let it dry overnight and see if that helps remove the warping. I will probably have to do this again when I base/seal the structures.

Yes, there are pics. Here ya go. Maybe I’ll start on the Long House tomorrow.

Happy crafting!

My Take on the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain

Hi. It’s been a minute. Actually, it was just a few weeks. I took that time to reflect on the starting point into my Mordheim/Fantasy/Old World terrain making journey. It was definitely a challenge, but I was glad to have taken it head on.

I decided to go back to the basics and do my take on the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain. To be honest, I didn’t even know what the starter terrain set looked like. I was so engrossed with the fantastic terrain builds from the creators in the Mordheim community that I neglected to look at where it all began. I set out (thru my interweb browser) to find some reference material. I quickly found some through Broheim, of course.

I have started on the Corner House 1 and Corner House 2 using the scans of the original cardstock prints as inspiration for my take. I also am taking lessons learned from my first build. You can check out my previous blog posts for details on that. I also wanted to try out a couple of things, like cutting individual “stones” out of foamcore and gluing them on the structures. I also wanted to see if I could streamline the workflow by standardizing some sizes and methods.

Here are some beginning pics of this next build series. My take on the Mordheim Starter Box Terrain. I am also considering editing and uploading a couple long form videos to m my YouTube channel in addition to my Insta posts.

As always, help me game the algorithm by leaving a like and comment. Check out my affiliate links (if you are having a hard time finding materials or tools) – let’s be real though, most of this stuff you can find at the “dollar” store. But consider purchasing through my links. They are free for you to use, but I get a small commission to help support this endeavor including helping with production costs to take on these projects and share them with the community.

Happy crafting!

Recap and Look Ahead: Mordheim Fantasy Rowhouse Build

Hi. So, we’ve come to the part of the story where we conclude this project. First, is a brief recap. Then talk about the good and bad. And finally, ask what’s next.

Goals:

  1. Have fun with the process and outcome
  2. Build “good enough” initial piece of 28mm compatible scale terrain for use with tabletop wargames
  3. Share work in progress and final pics with the community through socials
  4. Annotate lessons learned
  5. Come up with new goals and commit to timeframes
  6. Grow social media and community presence to support a revenue stream for the household

I certainly had fun with the process at certain points of the build. I think the hardest part was just starting. I kept looking at the internet for inspiration and got lost in the sea of amazing builds and creative talent. I almost gave up before getting to start line. I am glad I pushed through and was able to build something I could be proud of. If anything, my kids could use it to display their Smiskis or Sonny Angel (those are their latest obsessions – it should be schoolwork, but I’ll let it slide)

Some lessons along the way. PVA and any water/liquid-based glue will warp cardboard (surprise, surprise). You can simply add a flat heavy object on the surface where possible to prevent/minimize warping. Make sure you can reach all areas with your hand, brush or airbrush – otherwise you will have nicely painted build with a massive exposed spot where you couldn’t quite reach, embarrassing. You will ultimately miss something. It’s OK. You can go back later and add it or fix it or remove it, it’s your prerogative. I had to look up the spelling, I’ve been spelling it wrong all this time. Have fun as much as you can. Feel free to share with your classmates.

I was able to share this project with you all through my socials, Instagram, this Blog and lastly, YouTube. At one point, I was posting daily progress. That was a little stressful TBH, but I was able to ground myself and focus on completing the next steps of the build. I was able to maintain my creativity and I learned how to use the IG and Blog platforms more. Win-win. I definitely want to thank those who took a moment to view my posts, like and even comment. It means a lot.

What’s next? Well, I have a few ideas in mind including another couple of buildings. I want to try out some techniques including incorporating the airbrush into my workflow. I want to see if the production time could be reduced to provide content in a timely manner – let’s say start to finish within a week? Too ambitious? I also want to record some of the process and produce some longform content for my YT channel. They say you should strive for SMART goals, but on the other hand, they also say to push yourself to the limits and go beyond them!

Grow the socials and provide a small revenue stream. Yes. There has to be some compromise. Some give and take. I will share as much as I can, but I also don’t want to lose the passion for the hobby in general. I wouldn’t mind from the community some words of encouragement, constructive feedback or even a simple “thumbs up”. In return, I will strive to provide timely content that you will hopefully find entertaining, informative, and educational. Lofty, I know, right.

Thanks again for joining me on this project. See you in the next one. Help me game the algorithm by liking this (and other) post(s), commenting on my socials, and sign up for my email list so that you are informed the moment new content is available. For now, enjoy some more pics.

Happy crafting!

Beams and Stone

Hi. It’s a bit overcast and dark on what started off as a bright and sunny Tuesday. Today I worked on the beams and stonework adding some color to the black basecoat.

I mixed up some brown acrylic with black and laid down some undertone for the faux beams that give the building some character and help it read “olde world”. I proceeded to add lighter coats to give the beams some depth doing my best to let some of the dark undertones peak through the grains of the “wood beam” stir sticks.

I then proceeded to add color to the stonework. I started with the wall section. At first I just simply dry-brushed a lighter tone gray over the black basecoat. Then I got the brilliant(?) idea to paint as many of the individual drawn stones in its own color. I also started doing the ground stones on the adjacent attached house. I mixed various earth-ish/stone-ish looking tones and went to town. To be honest, I got lost in the tedium that it was almost meditative. Both wall and ground stones turned out OK.

I then looked at the smaller structure and decided the roof was a bit too gloomy (for Mordheim? really?!) and I added a fresh dark coat of turquois blue.

I am letting the structures dry overnight. I just have to glue the remaining doors and I will call this project done-ish. I will revisit it to add some embellishments like obligatory graffiti, posters, blood splatter, and the like.

Enjoy the pics. We are nearing the finish line. What do you think about this build series? What other builds would you like to see? I will continue with the Mordheim/Fantasy related projects and hopefully have enough terrain for an actual game. But first I need to get the minis tabletop ready. Oh boy.

Happy crafting!

Get to the Roof(s)!

Hi. It’s me and my unnecessarily long Mordheim/Fantasy Rowhouse build project. I have been recently visited by the Building Inspector of the Mordheim City Works department and got approval to continue the work. Today is Monday and that meant, well it doesn’t really mean anything. It’s time to paint up the exteriors of the larger of the 2 structures. Yay!

I started with the exterior walls, painting only the main panels. I will paint the wood beams and stonework in a little bit. I just wanted to see the building with some color, especially the roof tops. I laid down a base of red and green because, why not?! I think it came out OK. What do think so far? I also included a behind the scenes pic of my workspace. I like to have either music or streaming videos in the background while I work.

As before, please enjoy the pics. More to follow.

Happy crafting!

As a bonus, I took advantage of a break in the weather to take some photos outdoors.

2nd Mordheim/Fantasy Rowhouse Terrain Update – Interior Paint

Hi. Just a Sunday afternoon update. I started paint work on the 2nd Mordheim/Fantasy Rowhouse terrain structure. As with the smaller of the two structures, I started with the walls. Instead of painting them in a consistent color, I though that maybe the previous inhabitants wanted some color in their life before the chaos.

I put new parchment in my wet palette and laid down some colors I thought would look nice. I treated each dwelling space as it’s own little apartment so to speak. I went to town putting color to the walls as cleanly as I could. I think it turned out OK.

I then went to work on the flooring. Now, to this point I am still trying to figure out the best method for layering each would color so that it actually looks like wood – aged or not. My method is lay down a dark brown base , then start adding a lighter colors to the brown including orange, then yellow, then dry-brushed white. Help me with suggestions on how to paint wood easily and quickly, maybe direct me to a color/painting guide? Much appreciated.

Check out the pics. More to come.

Happy crafting!

1st Mordheim/Fantasy House Terrain, Done-ish

Hi. I am calling this first Mordheim/Fantasy House terrain piece done-ish. I added a simple blackwash to the entire structure. NGL – I was a little sad to see the blue colors of the roof, the yellow tones of the walls and browns of the wood get muted by the wash. I also black washed the door that I eventually hot glued into place. I left the door ajar to offer a dynamic feel as well as add an ambush point at the main entrance. Even though there is a craverness opening in the back of the structure.

I got kind of lost in the decision black hole when it came to a detail I wanted to add to the structure. I got the idea from a youtuber, Summon Lesser Maker, to cut up a plastic toy animal (wild or farm) to use as a “gargoyle” and place on the structure somewhere. I was thinking a step further to use severed animal head as signage and make the structure a tavern, inn or even a place of ill-repute. I think I will hold off for now.

I scheduled an appointment with Mordheim City Inspectors so that they can sign off on this unnecessarily long build. Also, I will start on the remaining structure. Maybe this time, use an airbrush?

In the meantime, enjoy the pics. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions to improve the build and/or process.

Happy crafting!