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(To produce a
range of 3D printed, and "old fashioned", models as part of a
15mm sci-fi interior scenery system.) |
| 31 October 2011 |
First large scale use of
Interior scenery sections set up for use. |
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(click on images for larger versions) |
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I have finally got enough pieces
cast and painted to be able to lay out a large selection of
corridors. Making lots more will provide for flexibility in
layout. I've gone for dual types of wall sections, those that
represent walls with a room/corridor on each side, and those
that have nothing (perhaps the vacuum of space) on one side. The
figures to be used are mostly from the old Laserburn and
Traveller figure ranges, and are all based on 1/2" Evergreen
styrene squares, a method that I found inexpensive and easy. It
also has the advantage that as I'm using a square based terrain,
there is no dispute as to which way a figure is facing. The
playing surface consists of three sheets of A1 (594mm × 841mm,
23.39" × 33.11") 10mm thick foamboard, each of which was covered
with magnet receptive "Flex-O-Metal" sheets.
As you can
see, most of the pieces are still in just an grey undercoat, but
perfectly usable as the etched detail shows up enough. I will
slowly work through them highlighting the details. The floors
are simply being given a burnt umber ink wash. Additional
sections are already being planned, including raised areas,
stairs/ladders and elevated galleries (such as in Star Trek
engine rooms).
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In the end the first game
didn't use the 15mm figures. At the "strong recommendation" of
my sons, the plastic Clones and Droids from the Star Wars "Risk"
game did battle using our simple play "15mm Cardinal Rules" we
are writing and playtesting together. Not the most realistic set
of rules, but if it gets them interested in gaming, then they're
fit for purpose! At the time of writing (game interrupted by
Trick or Treat!), the droids have had the higher number of
casualties, but the Droid commander has gone to take the Clone
prisoner (the objective) to keep on the Bridge until help can
arrive. The Clones still have several breaching charges left, so
they may make it in time......... |
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 (click on image for larger version) |
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| 31 October 2011 |
Different methods for making
wall sections |
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(click on image for larger version) |
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The above picture shows the
various methods I use for creating my wall sections. Similar
methods have been used for creating the floor sections.
Picture 1 - This shows some of the corner sections that were
designed in MoI3D, printed in
White Strong and Flexible (WSF) material by
Shapeways, moulded using
RTV Silicone, and then are cast in Jesmonite. Additional etched
brass or other details will be added to some sections to provide
a bit of variety.
Picture 2 - The first main method of
creating single straight wall sections is the same as in Picture
1, except at the final stage an etched brass wall panel is
attached on either side.
Picture 3 - In some cases I've
used a floor section with a cut 2mm MDF 20x25mm panel (from
Warbases)
to form the upright. Takes a bit more care to get the wall
section vertical. Etched brass wall panels are then stuck on.
Picture 4 - For longer sections I use cut 2mm MDF 20mm wide
panels of the desired length as the base and then attach
matching 25mm high wall panels. Etched brass detailing is then
applied.
Picture 5 - This shows one of several types of
brass sheet that I have designed in Corel Draw and then had
etched by PPD
Ltd.
Final Stage (Not Shown) - After
a spray of Halfords Grey Primer undercoat, magnetic sheet is
stuck to the underneath of each piece. This then prevents the
piece from toppling if the table is knocked as the whole surface
is covered with magnet receptive "Flex-O-Metal" sheets. |
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| 31 October 2011 |
I've built the rooms but what to
put in them? |
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1. Bridge
2. Captain's Cabin
 
3. Bunkroom
4. Lounge/Dining Room
 
5. Morgue/Lab
6. Engineering Control
 
7. Power Room
8. Environmental Control
 (click on images for larger versions)
9. Shuttle Bay/Airlock |
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I've always wanted to have lots
of objects within the scenery I was designing, but there has
been very little available in 15mm for any period. Fortunately
Shapeways
has come to my aid again. Recently I was helping at my sons'
school with a potential project to remodel a number of offices.
To provide them with a 3D visualisation, I modelled the rooms
and contents in
MoI3D. I then rescaled them down to my
chosen 15mm scale of 1:95. The results were then printed at
Shapeways in WSF with multiple parts attached to a sprue to
reduce the cost (but still expensive!). That's why I've got the
first 15mm models of a photocopier (see picture 6) and swivel
chair with castors (see picture 3)! I also modelled up a number
of other items including bunk beds (see picture 3) and
essentials such as an alien autopsy table (see picture 5). More
items are being drafted up in MoI3D and I'll have them printed
after Christmas when the gaming budget has recovered a little! |
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(click on image for larger version) |
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In addition I've been assembling
larger items from a variety of sources. The small storage
containers (1) are hexagonal wooden playing pieces from
www.spielmaterial.de,
with a "mine" from The Scene
on the top. The map screen (2) is a
Litko scanner blip token on a
bit of triangular styrene. The art collection (3) are again
mostly Litko, with one Prieser 1:100 figure, on top of cut down
hexagonal wooden playing pieces. The rod racks (4) are made from
K'NEX pieces. The power units (5) are again wooden playing
pieces, with memory chip cooling fins from
Maplin stuck on top. The
storage tanks (6) are from
Old Crow's
6mm range. The digester tanks (7) are wooden playing pieces with
etched brass details and craft jewels attached. The cooler unit
(8) is made of alternating circular cork protective feet and
styrene tile spacers with a rubber bump stop on top. Please note
these images are not in scale with one another, just look at
them in the layout pictures for the true sizes. |
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| 31 October 2011 |
I've made the doors but are they
open or closed? |
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Along with everyone else who has
used a corridor/dungeon type system in any scale, there is
always the question of how to model a door. Do you have two
models, one representing an open door, and one a closed one, and
swap them as appropriate? That's workable, but having been a
Traveller player for longer than I care to count, there's more
states a door can be in than just open and closed. I've settled
on the following list;
(1) Not known (none) - Not got
there yet to find out!
(2) Open - If it's a swing door,
which way has it opened.
(3) Ajar - Like open, but only
partly.
(4) Shut (blank) - Yes, it's shut!
(5)
Locked - Where's the key/combination or lock pick set?
(6) Sealed - Someone's welded it shut!
(7) Breached - Who
needs a key? A "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors
off!" sort of solution (See the
original "The
Italian Job" film).
The solution I came up
with, and initially got 3D printed in January 2008 (at a huge
cost then), was to use a "door-topper". These are simple cast
pieces with a slit in the bottom that enables them to be placed
securely on the top of a door model, which can be of any type.
Painted in a complimentary colour, but with the status of the
door highlighted, they don't detract from the overall look of
the terrain. The text is visible on each side. On the top of the
"open" and "ajar" ones is an arrow pointing in the direction a
swing door is hanging.
As I believe I was the first to
design such a system (happy to be corrected if I'm wrong), I am
more than happy for anyone to copy the principle for use in
their own models at any scale. If I was a certain large gaming
company I'd no doubt try to patent it and sue anyone who did
anything similar. As a great believer in the concept of Open
Source software, I hereby declare that if I am the first, this
is to be a licence free, open domain concept. Any commercial use
for the benefit of gamers is to be highly encouraged, though a
acknowledgement of thanks if so used would always be
appreciated! |
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(click on image for larger version) |
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| 25 September 2011 |
In 2007 I
started work on a range of 15mm sci-fi interior scenery for gaming
with modified Classic Traveller Snapshot™ rules.
Subsequently I have considered using FUBAR, or writing my own
quick play rules. Since the advent of Shapeways, working on a
large number of models to be printed became far more feasible. I start
shaking when I think of the price I paid for the first 3D printing
I had done. Below are a couple of shots of the early trial pieces I was
working on. Version 0.2 were 3D printed, version 0.1 done the
"old fashioned" way using etched brass laminated onto
plasticard. |
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Version 0.2 © Copyright Andrew Burton - January 2008
Version 0.1 © Copyright Andrew Burton - June 2007 |
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