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Post by berneart76 on Feb 7, 2015 17:24:47 GMT -9
I started this working on a port city similar to a combination of Venice and Amsterdam setting for a RPG. At the same time, some of my ideas are similar to Fat Dragon Publishing's new Fat Dragon Ravenfell Docks. Since I have done some research into how both Amsterdam and Venice were built, the former on cribs filled with rubble and dirt at points, or smaller tributaries roofed over, and the latter on close set pilings, I came up with these for platforms: Close set Piling platforms, strong enough to support larger buildings: Rock/Rubble filled Platforms: These are in 20mm scale, but the comparable measurments in 25/28mm are 6 inch square, and for the tall platforms 2-1/4" tall, shorter platforms are 1 1/8 tall. There will also be 3x6" platforms in both high and low styles. Then for wharves connecting platforms, or for tying ships up to I had several ideas, one was tubes on the outside, the other was tubes underneath... In the picture, on the upper left are the tubes slotted to go on the sides of the 3x6 inch wharf sections, upper right is a 6 tube bottom support, and lower left is a 5 tube supported section. I'll probably use a mix of these for variety. these will also have Tall ( 2-1/4") Short (1-1/8") versions. Here are the wharf sections assembled, along the back,from left to right, tubes on outer edges, Tall 6 tube underneath, Tall 5 tube underneath, short 6 tube underneath. in the front of the picture are a Dave Graffam Smugglers Rowboat, and a 45 degree angle junction. The reason the platforms are 2 1/4 inch tall are because I like several of Dave Graffam's models with stairs to the sencond story, and his housing levels tend to be that height.. here are some platforms with a mod based on Dave Graffam's Widow's House model. you can see on the platform to the right that I have slots cut to allow for wharf supports directly off the platforms. And here are some pictures showing different pieces put together as a test layout: Let me know what you think, and I'll work on refining patterns for the wharf sections as blanks to share with people, as besides the 3x6 inch platforms with holes for under tube supports, I also have worked out angled connectors in 15, 22, 30, 45 and 60 degrees to utilize.
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 7, 2015 18:41:48 GMT -9
I guess this is technically a work in progress, but it is great work and quite a bit of progress. I have a semi annual game set in Venice. I am no likely to go through quite this much trouble, but I truly respect your efforts.
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 7, 2015 19:12:25 GMT -9
Are you planning on sharing/selling these wharves? Awesomesauce in development!
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Post by room101 on Feb 8, 2015 4:20:44 GMT -9
That is bloody brilliant.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 8, 2015 7:21:22 GMT -9
oldschooldm to answer your question , I'm planning on sharing the basic patterns here shortly without any textures but need to do some cleanup on the files first.
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Post by glennwilliams on Feb 8, 2015 7:40:58 GMT -9
wow. I've been researching Swiss lake dwellers, so this was on my mind. Bloody brilliant.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 8, 2015 7:56:12 GMT -9
glennwilliams- The research done on Swiss and European lake dwellers was one of the resources I used as well!
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Post by squirmydad on Feb 8, 2015 9:18:37 GMT -9
I love it! That looks like a great setup, the only critique I would forward is that perhaps you could add some algae residue on the pilings and steps from the fluctuations of tides and storm waves.
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Post by gothique on Feb 8, 2015 11:26:23 GMT -9
Very nice work. I'm thinking of creating something similar for the wargames club. I was thinking more of mixing various sets, basically Fat dragon and Dave Graffam. I don't have your skill at creating parts from scratch.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 8, 2015 13:06:28 GMT -9
I'm working on the advanced texturing, as well as different ramps and ladders.... These were done as a text of concept..
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Post by eran on Feb 9, 2015 5:33:34 GMT -9
those are awesome, I look forward to seeing the rest!
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 10, 2015 12:01:42 GMT -9
So I managed to spend some time on the piling texturing, So far I'm thinking they look good, although I may want to modify some with some wider cracks and also add a darker brownish-gray coloring to the mix.... Also came up with 2 different algae textures, a dark green and a brighter green, and also some mussels/barnacles. Am working on rope wrappings for the pilings as well, both new, slightly aged, and severely aged colorings. and here are pictures of how they look printed out and assembled. the top row is 25mm scale at around 1/2 inch across and 3 inches tall, the bottom row is for my 20mm scale that I'm using. now back to work on making clean, useable patterns to share...
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 10, 2015 18:39:17 GMT -9
First, even though I'm making my sets in 20mm scale, I'll be giving all measurements in 25mm terms to make it easier for people to understand the dimensions. Low ramp prototypes almost done, I thought of trying to do a single fold style, but then went with a platform with 2 separate supports. These are 2" wide by 4" long, I'll be making a 1-1/2" wide version as well. the tall platforms will be similar, but will be a full 6" long to allow for the greater height. a 4" long version would be to steep of an angle in my opinion.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 11, 2015 2:03:15 GMT -9
EPIHANY!It came to me that if I approaced how the ramp supports were put together I could add a tab on the top, and then add slots for the tabs in the bottoms of the pier platforms, this would allow any pier section to either be used as a level pier or as a ramp:
This is a picture of the test with a 1.5" wide, 4 inch long pier section assembled with the slots and the cutouts for pilings, as well as a short ( 1.125" height) and tall (2.25" height) ramp support: here how it looks working as a ramp to a short (1.125" height) pier section: And to a tall (2.25" height) pier section to a platform up on cribs. This angle might be just on the edge of feasibility for practical use: and finally on pilings to a tall (2.25" height) pier section: ! Since this is the same thickness as the pier sections I've been working with before (.25" thick) it will work with the side mount pilings as well! If people would like these, I'm still working on cleaning up some of the designs, but what would be the preferred format? PDF? JPEG? PSD file? I'm prmarily willing to relase the plans for the sections without any textures, if I do textures I figure I'd do concrete and steel textures as well, since I could see these being used for sci-fi games also, especially since the pieces stack on each other fairly well at least 2 levels, if you use blue tack or something similar, your could go 3 layers at least. If I do do a textured version, I'd have to figure out how to do layers in a PDF.... and I'd also want reimbursement for those. If nothing else I'm teaching myself a quite a bit about Photoshop and Acrobat!, as well as getting a fairly versatile gaming set put together.
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Post by room101 on Feb 11, 2015 3:05:02 GMT -9
You should get out more dude!
Those though are amazing. I love the depth those printed posts give to the sides of the platform. If you decide to make these available I like many here will certainly be interested in buying a set. Layered PDFs or Photoshop would be my preferred format, but I'm sure JPG would work just as well.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 11, 2015 3:37:12 GMT -9
room101- I'd get out more if I wasn't unemployed and struggling to find a job.. I can only spend so much time filling out job applications and doing job searches before my mind turns to mush, and working on this gives me a much needed break that allows me to feel like I'm accomplishing something. I guess I might be learning how to do a layered PDF in the near future! I'll probably focus first on the wharf/pier fantasy historical set first, and then once I've got that down, work on a modern/sci-fi version as well. Figuring that people might be interested in this is why I've spent time developing my own texturing, as a lot of my test pieces I utilized textures from both Dave Graffam's and Fat Dragon's sets that I'd purchased as a Xmas present for myself.
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Post by room101 on Feb 11, 2015 4:43:55 GMT -9
I hear you berneart, I have been there too, and my current job provides me less money than I'd get on benefits. And a distraction like this is a great lifter, isn't it? The amount of research, detail and reference you've put into this tells me that you'd be a great and thorough asset to any employer.
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 11, 2015 7:35:46 GMT -9
That's my kind of design! Stores very flat. :-)
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 12, 2015 16:16:44 GMT -9
been working on tests for the planking layouts and on adjusting the angled sections for different widths.. Coloring/Texture samples on 3x6 inch platforms, each sample is 3 inches wide by 1.5 inches tall at 25mm scale, they look to reduce fairly well down to 10mm, not sure how well any of this would work at scales smaller than 15mm though, some of it would get pretty fiddly at those smaller sizes. Some of these may not work out with narrower widths of the platforms. I'm planning on platforms in 3", 2" and 1.5" widths
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 13, 2015 1:14:08 GMT -9
Thanks to peoples response to this, I have now taught myself how to at least use Photoshop and Indesign to create layered PDFS! So here is a link to a teaser release of a single pier platform, 3x6 in 2 textures.... If enough people like this, I'll continue with putting the rest together Teaser Picture of PDF.. and the link to the pdf... Updated PDF!---(Updated the PDF with correct piling width/diameters and adjusted the brightness on some of the moss and algae. Also think it might be a good idea to make a 5-6 inch long 1/4 inch square tube to add as reinforcment inside the decking if required, just offest it if you use the 5 piling support pattern) (Note I need to adjust the piling diameter, so test fit any of the bottom support pilings.. it looks like I need to narrow them by about 1/8" at least. I'll get this fixed soon! for the side mount ones you might want to reinforce the inner corners with a touch of glue and make small slits on the bottom of the opening in case the fit gets a bit tight.) If people like this, I'll continue to work on putting the rest together... and if you'd like to reimburse me for my efforts send me a PM... Thomas
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 13, 2015 3:48:39 GMT -9
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Post by shintokamikaze on Feb 13, 2015 6:49:08 GMT -9
Fantastic work
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 14, 2015 4:32:29 GMT -9
Will hopefully have more updates later this weekend, need to spend some time in between house cleaning and job searches on re-organizing my files to make work quicker. So far I have pretty good progress on the pier layouts in 6" lengths in 3", 2" and 1.5" widths, as well as the work I've done on the ramps and angle junctions. Need to do some work on the platform/cribs and stairs. Piers so far also have both top planked and framed versions going, and I want to work on a rougher, ramshackle. cobbled together version as well as a simple ramp So far my pier .psd file is running over 100 meg, nd that is with only 2 of the 8 wood textures I have to work with..
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 15, 2015 12:37:46 GMT -9
Been busy on job applications and housework a lot this weekend, but have made some progress. To start, on one of my rare shopping forays lately, I picked up a new cutting mat for $2.50 and some glue for $.50! The glue is Elmer's Craft Bond Papercraft Gel, and while it is a slower tack, it is working well, especially given my use of sparing amounts applied with toothpick or matchstick. I do find it amusing that the label adhesive is not the best! On the project side, I've gotten good, cleaned up files for my ramp supports, both low and tall versions. On the low version, since the mid-point ( lower) support was extremely fiddly with a full folded 3D version, I decided to go with a simple box structure to apply textures to. Low Ramp Supports Tall Ramp Supports I also got work in on the 45 and 30 degree junctions. I ran into an issue with this on the 1.5" width ramp, running out of space to place the bottom insert pilingsas can be seen in this picture: I resolved this by going with a single center piling and adding little wings off the side that can rest on the top of the adjacent pier sections: Other than that I think I've made some good progress on the pier section base images, and also on some end grain textures for my log pilings and planks. Hope everyone ahd a good weekend and I'll be back soon with more updates. Thomas
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Post by gothique on Feb 19, 2015 9:46:28 GMT -9
This is looking great but I'm a little concerned about the stability of some platforms. Some kind of water textured baseboard could be a reasonable compromise.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 20, 2015 12:08:51 GMT -9
I've thought about baseboards gothique, but in my experimenting with the development, I've found even the 1.5" wide sections at a 3 inch height are pretty stable, especially when using the pilings that attach to the sides of the platform sections, as long as everything is cut for a close fit. Without baseboards, you can put these on top of whatever surface you'd like, using them as elevated walkways on on surface from water to dirt to cobbled or stone paved streets.within a week I might do some half logs I hope to have an updated release of 3", 2", and 1.5" wide platforms in 3,4,and 6" lengths, 30 and 45 degree junctions for 3,2 and 1.5" platforms along with log pilings and beamed pilings in 1,1.5,2, and 3 inch heights as well as the complex and simple ramps, and based on the ramps a simple base support. Been spending some time working on coloration and texturing, now it is just applying those to the different base pieces and assembling everything into pdf's. I'll probably have separate pdf's for the platforms, the pilings, and the ramp supports to keep the size of each one manageable. I have come up with 12 different wood tones, so this second test will most likely use only 2 of them, in the future there will be separate dark and light wood colors. I'll also try to work on a bit of instructions as well, for assembly of individual parts, and also for suggestions on how the different pieces can be used together. Once I get the modular pier set pretty well worked out, I'll then work on re-working my platform designs to use the new colors/textures. Those will come in 3x3, 3x6 and 6x6 versions in matching heights for the pilings ( 1", 1.5".2" and 3"), in both the rock filled and close set wood piling versions. Oh yeah, and still trying to come up with a pattern I like for stairs....... Is there anything anyone can think of that I'm missing? ~Thomas
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Post by gothique on Feb 20, 2015 12:27:27 GMT -9
Sounds like a pretty inclusive set.
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 20, 2015 13:26:56 GMT -9
gothique, it's sort of grown into that, I'm sure at some point in the future there will be concrete/stone/brick versions as well, at least for the pilings/supports... The more I think about it, and for building the terrain setting for my players, the more I'm ending up including... and here's a sample of the 12 base color variations I've come up with for different types of wood, from aged/gray through redwoods and fresh cut pines/oaks... This is printed out on 110lb cardstock, and it looks like I need to clean my printhead!
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 20, 2015 23:08:53 GMT -9
So making progress on getting textures applied and layouts setup to convert to layered pdf's. This is the template for the 1" rise ramp supports with some test textures applied, fold lines are in RED, cut lines are BLACK. The high end is on the left, the mid point lower support is on the right. The mid point support is barely 5/16" tall, which is why I've gone for a simple box with the black inside. Here are some pictures, first off 2 of the High (1") end supports ( the reason will become clear in a moment) and one of the mid point supports. you can see the tabs that will go into slots on the bottom of the platform, and the taller side posts extensions to help keep things stable and centered. the second picture has them with a 3x6" pier section, where you can just barely make out the 4 tab cutouts ( again, the reason for 4 will become clear in a moment). here is a bottom view of the high and midpoint ramp supports inserted, and it flipped over next to a section of pier on 1" pilings. ( I'm getting some twisting in the pier sections, so will definitely work on some intenal bracing, especially for the 3" wide sections).. And now the reason for multiple slot positions, by using 2,3,or 4 of the same height ramp supports, I've got my beam style supports for those who like that look/effect! Another piece that serves 2 purposes!
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Post by berneart76 on Feb 21, 2015 1:32:28 GMT -9
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