Gondorian Fort WIP - UPDATED 26/6/14

malky23 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:09 pm

Here's another few pics of tonights progress! Been plastering some of the walls and scribing in the stone details! Doesn't look much so far but will be good when its painted! (I hope!) Haha I have added a photo of a small quick test piece that I did before starting which was given a black was he then a quick codex grey drybrush and a very light skull white drybrush. I added in a warrior of minis tirith just to show how it looked with its intended figures and I think it goes well with them! Hoping to get the plastering (and possibly painting) done tomorrow!
Let me know all your thoughts!

Gandalf I had a look at some of the things you mentioned. I quite like the look of the landscaping kit from woodland scenics so might consider getting that. Might also just buy up a load of scenery bits from random places like trees and flock etc. Or possibly try make my own trees. Antenocitis workshop has Styrofoam that looks perfect but not in stock til next week! Been waiting on it coming in stock for weeks now. Will get a loasd of that when it comes in. That will be good for making the mound for the fort to be sitting on.

Ukfreddybear · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:28 pm

That certainly looks very effective

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:50 am

Check eBay for styrofoam.
Also there are many articles for making trees, I used the following link to make mine.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7tnBIdbL9sY

Your walls are looking good, certainly better than the tiles. Personally I would file or nibble off the areas of the wall that protrude. These will be caused by the polyfilla being not 100% dry when you carved out the bricks.

malky23 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:01 pm

Right will have a look thanks! Glad you like the walls! I think they look a lot more realistic than the tiles.
I actually carved in the stonework while the polyfilla was wet as I felt I had more control of the precision of the stones. If they weren't to be brickwork pattern I would have carved them after it had dried but I tested it and found it easier to do it when wet. I've been picking away at all the protruding bits tho and going over the grooves and its looking a lot smoother now

Bilbo · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 2:20 pm

I have just book marked this topic as I have not been satisfied with the card tiles on my helms deep model in progress!

malky23 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:24 pm

Finished plastering the outside of the walls, just need to let them dry and will finish filing them later. So glad I decided to scrap the tiles and go with the polyfilla, looks a lot better! Went and bought a pack of needle files and more polyfilla today. With a bit of filing along each groove with a triangle file and filing off the protruding bits with a flat file then just got my craft knife along some edges to neaten it up and it looks very smoothe and neat! I would definitely recommend using that method over the tiling! It may take a bit more effort but its definitely worth it!
I think the advice from gandalf to not cut corners is one that I will definitely stick to as I'm very happy with how its turned out so far!

Bilbo · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:28 pm

Would you mind posting a couple of images please?

malky23 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:27 pm

Here is the one I've worked on! Not sure if u can tell the difference really because it was taken in my phone camera which is not really working well just now! Will start using my big camera when I find it! Hope you can see a bit of difference tho, it is noticeably better.
Added another photo as well so u can see how the bricks look on the rest of it and hopefully will be a clearer comparison between the unfinished and finished parts.

Bilbo · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:00 pm

I love the effect, I was unhappy with using card as well, see images below:

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:08 pm

That looks a world better to me. Even with the poorer camera you can see how it has that realistic feel. I can't wait to see it painted up.

malky23 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:05 pm

Wow, ur helms deep looks awesome! What is it made out of? And how have you made the rock formation at the back of the keep? I've been wanting to build one for years as helms deep has always been my favourite scene! Would love to make something like that! Might have to give it a go sometime once this is finished.
Also curious, how did u make the curved walls? Every time I see a model of helms deep that someone has made I wonder how its been done but I've never had the chance to ask anyone, not to mention the fear of appearing stupid when I find out its a very simple way of doing it haha :-D

Bilbo · **Posted:** Sat Oct 26, 2013 12:19 am

malky23 wrote:

Wow, ur helms deep looks awesome! What is it made out of? And how have you made the rock formation at the back of the keep? I've been wanting to build one for years as helms deep has always been my favourite scene! Would love to make something like that! Might have to give it a go sometime once this is finished.
Also curious, how did u make the curved walls? Every time I see a model of helms deep that someone has made I wonder how its been done but I've never had the chance to ask anyone, not to mention the fear of appearing stupid when I find out its a very simple way of doing it haha :-D

Hi Malky,

The curved walls were mad with a router, and the rock is made from carved purple styrafoam!

malky23 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:12 pm

Here's a small update of my progress! Had a very busy/messy weekend

so didn't get anything done at all but spent tonight finishing off my outer walls! Been over them all with my knife and some files and I'm pretty pleased with the result! Quite looking forward to seeing the finished result myself!
Hope you like the effect of the polyfilla bricks! I'll be working on the inner walls/floors tomorrow so will hopefully have another update soon.

On another note,as mentioned by gandalf in another thread, woodland scenics realistic water was used for a very effective look on some miniatures. Would you recommend using it for the water fountain I'm planning to add in the courtyard? Or is there something else you would suggest for using? Don't want to waste money on the stuff if i won't use it.

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As usual I apologise for the bad photo quality! It will be much better when I find my camera.

Robshaw · **Joined:** Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:06 am **Posts:** 100

Is it for sale? once it is all done and painted ... just curious

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:30 pm

This looks excellent. You seem to have created a wonderful looking fort, so much better than the card tiles you started with and a great decision to change your plan.
I'm waiting eagerly for the painting to start.

malky23 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:53 pm

Haha well i hadn't intended to sell it and I probably won't but I guess if someone offered the right price I'd maybe consider it lol depends how pleased I am with it at the end!
Hoping to get a lot done on it in the next week or so but might have to be put on hold as I'm waiting to be called back to work any day really! Could be a couple of weeks yet tho but depends when I'm needed! Hopefully got a bit more time to work on it!

edge67 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:42 am

Great looking fort!

malky23 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:01 pm

Hey! Here's another small update of today's progress! Finished the brickwork on all the inside walls and just finished putting down the polyfilla/brickwork on all the ground surface (these ones still need finished off tomorrow once its dry!) All that's left for the plastering is to do the small bit of walls next to the walkways, as seen in the photos! Starting to love the look of it now and so glad I went with this method.

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malky23 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:14 pm

Also, here is a picture of the layout I'm planning for inside the courtyard (was only allowed to upload 3 attachments in the last post). The bit in the middle is the fountain I'm planning and my idea is to have it with a small statue in the middle which I will use a figure for, either a minas tirith or numenorian painted to look like a statue. I have also just bought some water effects too for the fountain.

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Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:59 pm

This is really taking shape and looking better and better. I totally agree with you about the decision to construct the wall this way.
I'm liking the fountain, a nice touch.
How are you planning to have the water ? Static or flowing ? As it may be that you also need realistic water.
Have a look at the water videos on this link
http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics. ... andscenics

Gondorian Fort WIP - UPDATED 26/6/14

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