Inquisitorial Vault

[dwez]

If you've seen [URL="http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?14263-Free-pdf-building-templates"]my post in the Modelling and painting projects thread[/URL] [before we had a terrain thread of it's own] you'll know I'm a big fan of scratchbuilt foamboard scenery.

In my own endeavours I created pleny of plans that I decided other folks could benefit form so witgh a little time and effort can get some decent terrain on the board cheaply. Of course time is money too and often the cost of creating these things yourself may be better spent buying one of the excellent kits available. However, there is also a reward for building something and there is pleasure in creating something with your won two hads so as much as you invest in home made terrain [and you still have to make a kit and paint it too] you do get back from it also.

Anyway all my plans are available here [url]http://40kaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/terrain-is-everything-standard-template.html[/url]

Buts lets not focus on the past, lets explore the future and [URL="http://40kaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/terrain-is-everything-inquisitorial.html"]my latest endeavour, my 'in progress' Inquisitorial Vault[/URL]





But it doesn't end there what comes next is the Inquisitorial Reformatry and Bastille. The Vault is the middle bit it'll be split diagonally so you can gain access inside. The outer Reformatry will also be split diagonally so you can enclose the Vault. The Bastille will sit in the Modular Plug socket on the roof of the Vault. There's also plenty of option for change at this stage. Access to the interior of the Bastille will be difficult so I may consider making the windows double height [and/or width], with option to mix it up a bit [although you'd have to create your own window capping for the insets]. Equally you could choose not to add the buttresses and horizontal details, filling in windows as and when you see fit. I had planned to use some plastic folder wallets for windows too!



So that's where I'm at. I'll keep you updated with progress as and when it happens and when the Templates are complete I'll happily share them with everyone so they can have a crack at it too.

[Psychosplodge]

Too many windows.
Windows hamper both privacy and defensibility.
Both desirable traits in an Inquisitional facility.

[dwez]

Too many windows.
Windows hamper both privacy and defensibility.
Both desirable traits in an Inquisitional facility.

Fair point, but in the Grim future the anachronism of many windows on a building renowned for secrets makes perfect nonsense. Meanwhile if you check out my blog you'll see I stumbled upon the unlikely coincidence that my window design looks awfully similar to the Original Head Quarters Building of the CIA, an organisation equally at home the concept of privacy.



If it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me. But, you could just as easily not put the window, or as many windows in as I've done, just don't cut them out. Of course this make the building slightly less playable, I'd intended to put proper window panes in out of Snopake folder but then you couldn't position miniatures inside. Cutting out all the windows does however provide plenty of opportunity to practice a variety of foamboard cutting and modelling techniques so if you do go all the way with it you should have a lot more confidence in your scratchbuilding.

[Psychosplodge]

True, plus all the stuff that matters could happen underground...

[dwez]

Some development, [URL="http://40kaddict.blogspot.com"]sneak peak ahead of my blogpost [/URL]horizontal strips in place:



And here's the verticals:



I'm going to cap all the raw foam edges with cable ties, for a bit of texture then it's capping all the foam window frames, only 56!

[Psychosplodge]

I like the cabletie idea...

[dwez]

I like the cabletie idea...

In theory it's simple, in practice a nightmare. I want the grip edge to show like my man made hill design for the added texture:



but the creation of it requires you run a scalpel down the edge of the foam separating it from the card. You then make two diagonal cuts inside the foam to end up with |/\| hopefully with the interior peak lower than the card edges so that when you put the cable tie in it fits neatly.

Unfortunately the verticals are taller than a single cable tie and the plastic isn't always perfectly straight. I end up using a selection of clothes pegs to keep them in place until the glue dries but it can squash the now weakend foamboard. It's an insane way to do it but I've persevered...

[Psychosplodge]

it does look good on those steps.
I'm reconsidering my earlier misgivings

[dwez]

it does look good on those steps.
I'm reconsidering my earlier misgivings

Oh I dunno, this build is not difficult really it's just laborious. I wouldn't suggest folk will need a high skill level to do the vault, just a level of OCD masochism for detail. It's taking me around five minutes to cap each window off and there are 56 on the vault. Then when it extends to the Reformatry that's another 40 at least, not to mention the 32 on the Bastille.



Anyway only 11 left to do, then I have to cap the battlement ledge, prepare the three floors that will go in it [and do the tiling/texture on the floors] and cut and shape for the base out of my recently purchased 3mm MDF.