MAGICKBK's Eldar Maiden World Terrain Project

[magickbk]

While my friend is away on vacation I've been working on my Dark Eldar, and decided to take a break for a few days to liven up the terrain for my table. His primary army has always been Eldar, and now that I'm working on Dark Eldar, I figured a Maiden World would make a great battleground for us.

I had a few goals for this project:
1. Make scenery that fits in with the appearance of the scatter terrain I already have, so it can be mixed and matched.
2. Make it sturdy!
3. Make the terrain fulfill a good role on the battlefield. Pretty terrain is useless if it sits in a corner and models make no use of it.
4. Make it quick, I've got an army to paint!

I started with some sketches to try to figure out proportions and get used to the basic curvature and design. If the curves are off, it won't look Eldar-y enough. Here are my sketch sheets. I'm not exactly an illustrator, this just helps me refine the ideas I have in my head.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/9269723585_73939a87bb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9269723585/)
Eldar Terrain Sketches 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9269723585/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/9269723739_4a8cf93f01_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9269723739/)
Eldar Terrain Sketches 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9269723739/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

By the time I got to the margins and bottom of page 2, I felt like I was starting to get the basic shapes and proportions where they needed to be. I have the assembly started on the 'Mesa' Temple already, and will post up WIP soon.

[SotonShades]

Those plans look great. Can't wait to see the models come to life as it were

[Aegwymourn]

Indeed. I am always incredibly impressed, and jealous of, other peoples drawing/modelling abilities.

[magickbk]

I started work on the 'Mesa' Temple, which has turned out not to be a temple at all. I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with the top, and I ended up deciding it should be a meeting place instead of a temple, which is when I came up with this concept of a place that representatives gather to decided how to defend the Maiden World, as every one is precious to any potential future of the Eldar. To this end, I created a circle with the runes of the craftworlds that have pledged to defend the world, as well as runes for Outcasts, Exodites, and Dark Eldar that show up to these meetings.

First, here is a piece of my current scatter terrain so you can see where I'm going with it. I learned the technique from the old Games Day tables. It may not be as pretty as gentle sloping hills, but building the edges in this way means it is very easy to tell what models are elevated, and and things don't tip over the way they do on sloped pieces.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/9273932457_d4d1dcd1e7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9273932457/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9273932457/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

Here's the 'mesa' with the layers glued, everything is cut, and the sand has been applied where it belongs. There is a Dark Eldar warrior on there so you can tell the size of this piece. It is tall enough for most vehicles so be completely obscured, and most Flyers can't see over it either.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/9276718482_43f58c8513_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9276718482/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 5 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9276718482/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

Here is the meeting circle, with all the runes carved in. I drew them freehand with a mechanical pencil, and then carved everything with an x-acto. As you can see, as I carved I also tweaked some proportions. The extra lines will all be hidden by my primer layer.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/9273931793_6502a882a9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9273931793/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 6 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9273931793/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

[eldargal]

Very nifty, really looking forward to seeing how this develops.:)

[primeministersinister]

This looks great. It's always neat to see non-imperial terrain pieces.
You think they'd make more.
I would think a few one or two level pieces would be in order too. Also, a fallen arch-way would make some great cover.

[Lost Vyper]

Looks awesome, keep them coming...

[SotonShades]

amazing start, keep em coming

[magickbk]

I ran into huge issues trying to get the proportions I was happy with from the sketches up to the size needed for the terrain. After trying a variety of methods, I broke down and decided to go the technological route. I scanned in my sketch sheet, cleaned up the piece labeled "Webway Portal Type 2' on the sheet in Photoshop, and then traced it and scaled it up in Illustrator. This got me what you see below. Tonight I will try to use this as a guide to create a cardboard template that I can use while working with the foamboard.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/9291657639_c31bd241d6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9291657639/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9291657639/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

[BlessMyBeard]

Great looking plans and early work, can't wait for more!

[magickbk]

The cardboard guide seems to be the right way to go, I am currently trying to get a set of circle/oval stencils that I can use to make sure that all the cutaway sections on the wraithbone pieces follow a similar curve and are spaced well, so not much progress over the past few days.

[magickbk]

I've got the basic stencils made. After blowing up the sketches, I used a set of French curve stencils to make the curves more even. I've included a warrior and a Raider so you can get an idea of the scale of what the pieces will be once complete. I still need to find oval stencils to create the cutaways.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2834/9316375217_4169af0e66_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9316375217/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9316375217/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/9316374827_02445fc5c9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9316374827/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9316374827/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

[BlessMyBeard]

Oh wow, much larger than I thought, looks ace! Nice to see a fellow Eldar project in its infancy too. Keep em coming!

[magickbk]

Oh wow, much larger than I thought, looks ace!

In the past I've simply slapped terrain together for appearance. When I build pieces now, I try to anticipate what the game effect of the pieces will be to a variety of different units. When building these big wraithbone pieces, if they are too thin, the in-game effect is basically an open field. It might look great, but it wouldn't make for useful cover. These pieces will allow small units or vehicles to hide behind them from certain angles, or will offer a roughly half coverage for larger vehicles. When building the temple, I made sure to measure the length of the stairs to ensure it was possible for a unit at the bottom to either get up there in 2 turns, or 1 with a good assault roll. If it takes 3 turns to get up top, it basically becomes a bastion up there.

The size will also make the pieces a lot sturdier than something that is thinner, which is important as my experience tells me that a terrain piece that high will have a tendency to get knocked around as players reach over the table.

[dwez]

If you've got Illustrator would it not have been easier to just use that for the curves? Once you've created one Bezier Curve you're happy with it's a simple copy/paste to ensure each different element follows the same path. Then you also have a set of templates you can give away [or sell, should you be that way inclined] for anyone else wishing to follow your lead.

Once you've got the templates you can just spray mount, or tack them on with masking tape to your foam and cut them out freehand. It's how I usually do my foamboard terrain. Of course I never could get to grips with French Curves so maybe I'm talking out of my hat.

Good going BTW, I really like what you've done. I agree with you that simplified, stylised terrain, even though it's not realistic has a beauty and functionality all of it's own and I think the way you've added flock and angled your cuts makes it totally believable that the geology on the planet doesn't create more naturalistic rock formation but perhaps makes more geometric outcrops and hills. Really nice.

[magickbk]

If you've got Illustrator would it not have been easier to just use that for the curves? Once you've created one Bezier Curve you're happy with it's a simple copy/paste to ensure each different element follows the same path. Then you also have a set of templates you can give away [or sell, should you be that way inclined] for anyone else wishing to follow your lead.

If I knew how to properly use Illustrator, yes. But I don't. Also, I find that I prefer to work using the carboard until I have the proportions to how I want them in the game, and then use that as a guide, these aren't precise templates.

My project is delayed a few more days while I procure additional materials. Progress soon!

[magickbk]

Progress!

I've fiddled with some dimensions and started carving up the pieces. I think I have the general sizes and shapes I want, I'll just need to continue to shape and smooth out the pieces:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/9393290407_56011e3d65_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9393290407/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 9 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9393290407/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

Here is one of the larger terrain pieces in progress, which I am calling the "Shrine of Asuryan". I've created a small cutaway at the top for the terrain bit from the Dire Avenger sprue, and cut the wraithbone vane into the hill. The small plinth there I'd like to make some sort of fountain or sacred basin, or eternal flame, and I'm planning some sort of appropriate texture or paving for the area directly in front of that. The rest of the hill will follow the same pattern as the 'Mesa' piece, and my other scatter hills/rocks.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/9393290517_c2d7c3fbfd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9393290517/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 10 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9393290517/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

This week I am going to attempt to get the rest of the bases cut, and see if I can't start to get some of the pieces shaped.

[Vargojones]

This is good looking stuff... it always seemed odd that GW hasn't done much/anything in the way of Eldar scenery.

[magickbk]

So, once all the pieces are cut out, we're left with this:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/9420128889_dc37bd8948_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9420128889/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 11 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9420128889/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

A nicely shaped but way-too-blocky for Eldar piece. Eldar have a gently curved aesthetic to everything, so it has to be smoothed out. To start, I slice along the backside of the card, and then cut a very thin V shape out of the foam behind it.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/9420128865_c09a819b51_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9420128865/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9420128865/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

Next, additional V shaped sections are sliced out until there is a relatively round curve to the foam inside the edge of the foamboard.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/9420129025_340a3e5545_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9420129025/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 13 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9420129025/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

Finally, a bead of hot glue is placed inside the edge of the foamboard, and the card pressed down into the curved foam. Pressing too hard results in unsightly creases, so it's best to be gentle and to slide one's fingers towards the edge to squeeze out the excess glue and make a smooth curve to the edge.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/9422894156_4a5848757c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9422894156/)
Eldar Maiden World Terrain 14 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47042253@N08/9422894156/) by magickbk (http://www.flickr.com/people/47042253@N08/), on Flickr

Next time, cleaning up the curves, and smoothing it all out!

[Siyanis]

Inspiring! I'm working on tall terrain myself and that note about making them double-tough for knock-overs is good lookin' out. Will the foamy-texture edges be card-plated?

Any plans to plant mossy grass on the tops? Maybe wraithbone avoids mossy growths as a feature. Regardless, that edge taper is as simple as it is -boss-. I'm as excited to see these pieces completed as those hoards of Dark Eldar must be.

[dwez]

Wow, that's some dedication to try and reduce the blockiness of foamboard, looking forward to see how you get it done. One alternative was to use your shape on mounting board and then apply Air Drying clay to both sides and sand it back - proabably a little more effort though but you can results like this guys:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ORIpOk7lc/UCJ0N7FGECI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/WhL3yWMnfaw/s1600/aegis14.jpg

Here's his step-by-step

http://daboyzateam.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=painting&action=display&thread=3392

[magickbk]

Inspiring! I'm working on tall terrain myself and that note about making them double-tough for knock-overs is good lookin' out. Will the foamy-texture edges be card-plated?

Any plans to plant mossy grass on the tops? Maybe wraithbone avoids mossy growths as a feature. Regardless, that edge taper is as simple as it is -boss-. I'm as excited to see these pieces completed as those hoards of Dark Eldar must be.

The edges will be coated in vinyl spackle and sanded. That will be my next post. I used to work for GW, and a few of the awesome old Games Day tables were once placed in my care, so I learned a lot about making them resistant to damage from that. I will be putting some vines and growth creeping up the sides, but since Wraithbone, and the similar materials on the Maiden/Exodite worlds, are supposed to be self-healing, I figure it would be difficult for anything to grow on it for any duration of time.

The Dark Eldar are a sneak preview of my next project log. Take a look at the Dragon skin on the Raider for an idea of what is in store.



Wow, that's some dedication to try and reduce the blockiness of foamboard, looking forward to see how you get it done. One alternative was to use your shape on mounting board and then apply Air Drying clay to both sides and sand it back - proabably a little more effort though but you can results like this guys:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ORIpOk7lc/UCJ0N7FGECI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/WhL3yWMnfaw/s1600/aegis14.jpg

Here's his step-by-step

http://daboyzateam.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=painting&action=display&thread=3392

My experience with clays, and air-drying clays, from when I was a kid is that they tend to become brittle over time. I expect to still be using this terrain a decade or two for now, and I think the clay would be more prone to damage.

[magickbk]

After an incredibly long delay, I've started working on this again. I finished the 'Mesa' piece as it was the simplest to complete, and wanted to get down my paint colors before I start on the more complicated ones.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/14196328330_7641778858_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nCtTPy)Eldar Mesa 1 (https://flic.kr/p/nCtTPy) by magickbk (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/14403059273_284a513667_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nWKrJa)Eldar Mesa 2 (https://flic.kr/p/nWKrJa) by magickbk (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14359799886_44cee60882_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nSVJdE)Eldar Mesa 3 (https://flic.kr/p/nSVJdE) by magickbk (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

[Wolfshade]

That is very nice :)

[eldargal]

It is very lovely.:)