Workbench Wednesday.

Trying to figure this gatehouse thing out. I want something that looks quite official, imposing, and ornate. I knew from way long ago that I wanted to incorporate these Rackham knights into the gate. I know what I want the front of the gate to look like, but not the rest of the building. Anyhow, these arches are going to be set into the towers, with the statues within the arches. The reason I’m building the gate now, is that it has to sit level with the top of the stairs, then I can build up the rest of the islands natural features.

Door inside of the gate. Super easy way to make doors: Draw a doorway, cut out doorway. Piece you cut out? That’s your door.

In the end, I decided not to put the windmill on a post, which is pretty dumb, cuz I mounted it right to the ground. That means that it can’t turn into the wind. It looks fine other than that though. The sails are burned paper. 2005

It’s another Dunbrough shot. Sometimes I walk into the room, see it from a certain angle I hadn’t noticed, and have to shoot it. 

Workbench Whenever!

I wanted a staircase this tall, and this long, so I cut a block to that size, and then sliced it into step height pieces, glued them into a staircase. I blocked it under as I went, otherwise I could really only do a few steps at a time, and then let them dry. Everything behind the first gate will be walled in, including the second set of stairs. At the top of the steps will be the main gate, and then the city itself. Pretty soon I’ll be ready to fill all of these cracks and make this thing solid.

Roof is made of for sale signs. I pretty much use cereal boxes now, but it you are doing plastic/ styrene, there is plenty out there to be scavenged without buying expensive hobby shop styrene. I als o added a bit of bifold door hardware to create the wind paddle action.

2005 

Also build the staircase which will lead up to the main gate on the plateau of the island. This one starts with a whole lots of little foam blocks. I glue them one on top of the other, up the side of the island. I’m at a break point now while I add in the lesser gate, half way up the stairs. The stairs will all be blocked in to look as if they were carved from the island itself.

Workbench Wednesday.

Carving up the other side of the island. I score the foam a bunch, and break off whatever is left. Very messy.

The stand after a bit of paint, blue grey with light grey highlights. This is also the first time I used pins for detailing bolts. 2005

A closer look at the windmill stand and door, from fortress I believe. 2005