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Post by Vermin King on Feb 1, 2019 9:57:20 GMT -9
Over lunch, I added the CWF Circus Logo and footrest to the wagons and started work on modifying the PaperToys.com horse to be horses for the wagons. I'll have to come back to it, though. I'd like to do the 3d horse to scale, but 2d standee is also being worked on.
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 1, 2019 18:14:52 GMT -9
Love the wagons. Awesome looking horse. Tempted to mod it right now...
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 1, 2019 18:55:55 GMT -9
So I did When I measured in GIMP (300dpi) it said 28.something mm to the withers, which seemed OK to me so I didn't scale it. I did expand the inside of the legs 6 pixels to help with alignment.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 1, 2019 19:36:25 GMT -9
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 1, 2019 20:35:52 GMT -9
Your wagons are better. Theirs are apparently on casters.
I am thinking now that the head shouldn't be so narrow. There should be a trapezoid between the two face profiles. This would require adjusting the back piece too, but would probably be worth it. But I seem to be out of ambition tonight.
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 1, 2019 22:01:56 GMT -9
Found some ambition. Need to test build at some point. Now I am thinking about taking a page out of kris's book and building the horse head around corrugated cardboard. It would reduce the fiddling. Oooh, and I could put space for corrugated between the legs too.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 3, 2019 5:43:47 GMT -9
Saw this the other day Nice animals
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 3, 2019 10:36:00 GMT -9
In the PaperToys circus (which is a very poor scan) there are some good ideas. I like the accordion style poster thing on either side of the entrance. I was thinking of taking vintage posters, changing or deleting the logos and creating something similar. Is that appropriate? Unfortunately, most of these do not credit a source (don't you love Pintrest?)
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 3, 2019 17:46:17 GMT -9
My circus tent has accumulated a number of somewhat trivial errors. In the previous size, these were negligible, but instead of being a stage piece for the background, I wanted it to be useable. By increasing the page count to six, I was able to increase the size so that it would be an acceptable tent for 25 mm, slightly smallish for larger scales. The increase in scale carries over to the entrance, which remains on one page. And I think the errors are all fixed. I went over the new files systematically. The WIP build will let me know if I missed anything. I had thought I would have it constructed today, but having noticed a couple errors, I looked over it more closely and found others. Then I checked for potential errors, so I believe I have it ready. Last night I thought I'd have this built today, but it appears I will have to settle for printing And now that I see it on the page, I created a large error. Blast! EDIT -- Fixed Darn it. On page 2, the center section, I forgot to carry over the gray fold lines on the tabs for connecting to the ends ...
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 4, 2019 9:20:51 GMT -9
Started edging and assembly over lunch. Connected the front sections and built the entrance. I think the best way to build it is to connect the front pieces, then build the back, connect the vertical ring (the yellow part), then connect roof pieces. At this point you may or may not want to glue the roof to the yellow. I'm hoping to get away without it, for easier storage. Eventually, I'll make toothpick flag pole which I plan on painting black and attaching to the roof with the pennants
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 4, 2019 14:33:26 GMT -9
Took a break and built the back. I've reconsidered the build order. The top roof seam needs to be aligned well, so that is the first connection of front to back Once that has set up fairly well, I will connect the wall ring and start gluing the roof to the walls. Once built, I will make holes to run skewers through to the base for the pennants. In the meantime, I was trying to decide on the next two cage/den wagons. I really want to do the Robbins green wagon. To do this, because of the corner figures, I plan on doing the figures as separate laminated pieces that wrap around the corners. If I do that, I think it would look odd not to have laminated center figures on the side. Luckily, these are silver (thanks to the good folk at Universal who restored the wagon and changed the figures from red to silver). Silver will not require edging. The added parts will make this a full page model, I'm afraid. I also want to do the Ringling Bros. Snake Den, which I think I will try to improve an old 'cut-away' image and insert in the window. This was one of the most expensive cage wagons built in the early 1900's. Glass instead of bars, insulated against heat and cold, and ventilated without making escape hatches for the snakes. More engineering than was typical for a cage/den wagon. I have yet to decide on which wagon I will do for the fifth EDIT -- as a side note, I hope the saggy-top tent works. I didn't want it to be straight across the top. It appears I have the geometry right, but we'll soon see what adjustments need to be made
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 4, 2019 18:58:10 GMT -9
Going to let things dry a bit. Probably put the pennants on at lunch tomorrow
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 5, 2019 7:42:51 GMT -9
Convincingly saggy. Really great work.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 5, 2019 13:51:14 GMT -9
I had liked the Entrance Tent thing from an existing set, so I added it, but the more I look at it, I don't like the vertical extension above the banner thingies. I think it is too tall. The other one sat high like that, though the picture was a bit blurry, I liked the look, and it gave me room for a larger logo. On my table though I don't like it sitting so tall, so I'm going to revise it shorter
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 5, 2019 18:31:51 GMT -9
Only it is almost 9:30 and I haven't really accomplished anything except getting dishes done. Just worked on something mindless -- squaring up the Robbins wagon and starting the cleanup I have a better view of the front wheel in another image that I will merge with this, along with the front sub-chassis I will then have to work out turning the corner figure into a wrap-around for each of the corners EDIT -- Holy smokes, this is different from other carriages and wagons I have worked on. The same number of spokes on the front and rear wheels. I can re-size the rear wheel, reserving the hub to paste into the center of the re-sized wheel. Now I have to decide how to handle the front sub-chassis. I might just steal one from a different wagon.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 6, 2019 10:07:56 GMT -9
Oops - Went over on my lunch break. But things were going well, and it was hard to stop
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 6, 2019 20:22:18 GMT -9
Yeah, I like the shorter entrance from the previous post. Four of the flagpoles are cut Started the Robbins wagon I have to make the end pieces, then work out the corners. I will add optional axles on this one and then apply them to the two previous wagons
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 7, 2019 15:11:41 GMT -9
Due to the ice storm, no work tonight. At lunch today I started to clean up the front end. Almost a total waste of time. I pick up the computer tonight, open the file, and it hits me. All I need is the elements and then create the panel. That's what I did on the other wagons and the way I usually make things. The wagon sides are different in that they only needed cleaning, straightening and a little filling in. Jiminy Christmas, I sound like a dentist.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 9, 2019 5:49:37 GMT -9
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 10, 2019 6:28:55 GMT -9
I just wanted to take a few minutes to go back to my Reply to ignatious in the Double Decker Coach thread. Circus was something I wanted to do for a long time. Mostly from the aspect of wagons and animals, but an old circus needs a tent. Even back to the Gypsy Zirkus's, they had tents. The tent serves several purposes. It serves as a shelter for the spectators and the performers. It helps to keep the animals from trying to escape, not knowing that the walls aren't solid. It makes it easier to make sure that everyone watching has paid to get in (for the most part). And it is an advertisement in itself. Hard to miss. So I wanted to do a tent, and I wanted the saggy roof line. I saw a little circus tent that had a V-shaped roof and I figured out how they did it. By having the triangles that make up the ends based off the height of the outside height of the peak of the flat sides. Only, the sagginess of the roof should be a catenary. Some folks think it is a parabola, but that is close, but not right. A catenary is the shape you get if you hold a string between your two hands and let it droop. The same shape you find in bridge arches and suspension bridges. Frankly, that is a bit much for me, but the flat-bottomed V is close enough. I started out making the wagons more intricate than they needed to be. I have to learn to think simpler. I think these are going to be effective in their current form. I just need to get more of them done
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 10, 2019 13:24:45 GMT -9
Tired as heck today, but revisited the horse team. As I've pointed out several times, I really like the flat bases from bravesirkevin. Only for a team, I need a two-slot base. Made one, but it needs tweaking (moving the horses closer together). I think, if he gives permission to share, this could be a really nice addition for those expeditions using horses pulling wagons or carts. The almost 3d horse is okay, but it doesn't thrill me. edit-- I spent the last two hours tweaking the flat base and working on the Robbins wagon. I probably should have spent the day on the Robbins wagon, because what seemed like easy fixes the other night are turning into little issues that I think should not be as less straight forward as they seem to be. I try to do something and realize I needed to do something else first. I might ought to put this off until lunch tomorrow so I don't screw something up
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 11, 2019 11:14:25 GMT -9
At lunch today, I worked on the Robbins wagon. Earlier, I had made a comment that I thought these looked a tad narrow, and that really is the case with this one. And since the wagons appear to be a uniform width when seen on trains or parked next to each other, I think they all need to be about a quarter of an inch wider. The sides of this were straightened and adjusted to be roughly the same height as the other wagons, so dimensionally the sides are 'right'. So the wing length on the corner pieces is correct. On corner views, both wings of each figure are the same length. Keeping the one inch width of the other wagons, I got the front done with the same wing length but the wing tips are closer together than they should be. On the back, however, there is a central figure that cannot be squeezed into that space. Widening by a quarter inch will fix that, and then I will adjust the other wagons to be 1.25 inches wide
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 13, 2019 5:29:40 GMT -9
Been sick since Saturday night, so progress isn't great, and I was still having to do some 'starting from scratch' work I am of two minds on this. The corner parts stick out from where the walls join. If they were done as valley fold, they could act as the glue tabs for the walls, avoiding the corner laminated parts. But to look 'right', the part that extends between the joins would need to be enlarged, or you would see no detail. If they are enlarged, the 'optional' corner pieces would need to be enlarged. Hmmm 1.25 inch wide is a tad too wide. I think I will have to go with 1 1/8 wide. I like to stay with roughly quarter inch as I usually use a grid of 75 pixels. Easy to line things up. I doubt at 300 ppi, Gimp would be very happy with me trying to set the grid at 37.5 pixels.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 15, 2019 12:11:58 GMT -9
Working with a 37 pixel grid hasn't been bad. Finished up my calls. Got the top half of the drive shoveled and worked on the back panel while I warmed up (it's 17F here) Corner wrap-arounds are next, then the roof and base pieces. I wish I hadn't deleted my cage bars from the first two wagons. Oops. Then I need to widen the first two wagons. I should have a busy night
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 15, 2019 19:00:35 GMT -9
The Robbins still needs a lion or two and the bars installed, but I got the other two re-sized on width and added the axles. Eleven hour day tomorrow, but should have these built Sunday and I hope to have the Snake Den done, too. Then there's always President's Day Monday
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 17, 2019 5:26:11 GMT -9
bravesirkevin gave permission to post the horse team base mod Also finished the Robbins wagon wip. Time to see if it works
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 17, 2019 17:29:27 GMT -9
Corner wrap-arounds have yet to be done successfully. Although, I still think it makes a lovely wagon, full of character. I am not going to pursue the wrap-arounds, but go back to the thought from a few posts back -- the corner pieces don't look bad as glue tabs now, but I think widening them by about 3% would enhance their appearance and their use as glue-tabs EDIT -- Here's the new file Spent too much time on the corner pieces on this one, otherwise the Snake Den Wagon would have been done. After it, I want to do a couple freight wagons and a calliope
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 18, 2019 18:38:20 GMT -9
Day went different than I planned. Got called into work. But I was able to finish the Ringling Bros. Snake Den. Not built yet. Not sure when I can get to it. I know that draft horses were probably used more, but I usually picture the plumed horses pulling these wagons, at least some of the wagons This particular horse was actually pulling a white hearse (no white-plumed horses at my funeral, please)
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Post by cowboycentaur on Feb 19, 2019 7:02:24 GMT -9
I haavent really commented on this but it looks great! I was thinking about how cool a circus set would be to have in a game and this would definitly get some use.
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Post by Vermin King on Feb 19, 2019 7:54:15 GMT -9
We definitely need some performers, though. And animals! I have a lot of images of a small calliope, which is what I would picture in a smaller traveling circus that I want to do, and then some freight/tableau wagons, and the Vardo-like office. If we don't get many animals and performers, I might give a shot at modifying some of C. Durand Chapman's figures from his 'A Cut-Out Circus for Children' book. I think it was done around 1900. There are several cleaned-up pages of it on the net, and some folks have the nerve to copyright their clean-ups. According to the Strong Museum, they are out of copyright. At this point, the cage wagons have Lions, Tigers and Bears covered
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