Thursday 11 June 2020

A work in progress#3

This will be the final work in progress post with regards to the gaming boards and comes about due to a much needed sort out of the photographs I had taken just before lockdown.  It seems strange looking at them again now, especially as the four boards have not been in the same room since December.  The opening set of shots detail the finishing touches on the first two boards with item like the log cabin, electricity substation and ground cover all in situ. 

We then move on to the final two boards and some interesting design elements had to be considered, most notably the shape cut out of one.  As the scale and height of the castle became evident we started to worry about the playability of the game, particularly at Salute.  It was painfully obvious that players, certainly those that were small of stature, would struggle to access the miniatures on the castle walls from the far side of the board.  So it is that we have the rather fetching organic shape towards the rear of the castle.  This board also holds one or two other surprises for no other reason than we were starting to feel more confident in the construction methods used.  To that end the mountain stream continues, but is polluted by the sewage drain from the castle.  Needing a place to forge the stream without penalty, I also constructed a simple stone bridge out of scrap pieces of foam and then there is the dinosaur fossil.  A complete fabrication and fanciful element, but everything is better with dinosaurs, right?

Te final board is, in effect, the base of the castle itself and if you look closely you can see a yellow tissue paper template that represents the structure's footprint.  I hinted at the remains of the medieval predecessor to the current Schloss with more foam pieces and both areas are tied together with trees that match the same pattern and colours used in the original boards. 

I really can't explain just how excited I am to see all four boards reunited and populated with the completed miniatures.  It will be an opportunity to see what finishing details are required, but also to reflect on what has been a very strange and unforeseeable journey.



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51 comments:

  1. It is so impressive Michael , let’s hope we can have a show sometime in the not too distant future where we can enjoy it face to face 👍

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    1. Thank you Matt and that would be the best outcome. Can't wait.

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  2. Absolutely wonderful, Michael. All the little details add to a splendid board(s). You must be very pleased with this.

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    1. We really are Martin and bit like a couple of kids giddy with excitement at getting it altogether.

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  3. This is shaping up to be quite an offer Michael, the little extra touches really finish it off, such as the water pipe, it will be quite the table to play on.
    Best wishes
    Stuart

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    1. Thank you so much Stuart, by this stage we were feeling a lot more confident in the building process which is why so many little extras started to appear.

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  4. wow - this is starting to look very special

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    1. Thank you so much Eric, we just need a shed as big as yours to display it in.

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  5. This is a truly beautiful masterpiece of terrain building! Can't wait to see finished board in all it's glory.

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    1. Thank you so much Mr. Nimrod, we are a bit excited too.

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  6. while I see this, i would like to refer to an earlier contribution of mine and still say:" I'm still waiting for the filming!" :)

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    1. Don't you worry we will definitely be doing some filming.

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  7. Excellent work Michael, by both you and James, and must be a great feeling seeing this project all come to together

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    1. Thank you Dave and yes really proud of this. Can't wait to see the bits James has done on here too. Can't believe that it is before Christmas that the four boards were last in the same room.

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  8. That looks superb Michael, you and James must be (rightly) proud of that! It will look awesome once you get it all together at a show, how are you planning on transporting it by the way, are you going to hire a van?

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. We really are Roger, although keen to get everything finished. Transportation is already considered. James designed and built a steel framed rack to carry the boards in transit. At one point it was also going to double as the legs, but we would have needed a forklift to get it in and out of the van.

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  9. that looks amazing, top job

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  10. Fantastic looking work! In some ways we are benefiting from the lockdown as you and James have been able to follow many additional delightful details!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain and I think you are spot on, I know that I have added a lot of pieces that perhaps wouldn't have got done in time.

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  11. This really is marvellous work. I've gone over the pictures several times, and I keep discovering new details ;)

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    1. Thank you and that was exactly what we were hoping for. Lots of little details to keep everyone interested, haven't even added the bunnies yet.😉

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  12. Goodness that looks amazing! Very well done the both of you! Ever so envious of them that are going to be able to roll dice and move minis about on that work of art!

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    1. That is so kind Dai, it is going to be strange to walk back into the room and see it again after all this time, but can't wait.

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  13. Very impressive looking board Sir M!

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    1. Hoping it will look even better when all four parts are put together.

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  14. An amazing display, Michael! Here's hoping it sees action before too long.

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  15. Woooooow! That's awesome Michael!

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  16. That's certainly an impressive piece of terrain.

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    1. Thank you, juts need the all clear so we can put it altogether.

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  17. Wow it just looks brilliant!!

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    1. Thank you so much, can't wait to see it altogether.

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  18. Wow, that's been a tremendous effort and when all the various elements eventually come together it will be completely mouth-watering !
    The few shots showing figures, trucks etc., show the vastness of this prroject.
    I am completely gobsmacked by what the two of your have accomplished.

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    1. Thank you so much Joe. Towards the end I was really starting to get a sense of the scale of the project, but even I haven't seen all the completed elements in place yet.

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  19. Truly amazing project - well done to both of you.
    Definitely going to have to find you guys at Salute next year.

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  20. The terrain boards look great in the pics Michael - I do hope that we will get to see it "up close". :)

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  21. Wow it looks great Michael, I would imagine your itching to play out a game on it.

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  22. It does look a bit if a masterpiece and well worth the wait.
    Congratulations to you both.

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  23. There are so, so many fun details on there. I wish I could see it all in person. A most impressive table!

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