Tower Ruin test

[Dave]

This is a rough test of the new Tower Ruin model I'm working on.

[curufea]

May want an extension to the base - possibly a box or tube - perpendicular to the back wall. Otherwise when anyone puts figures on the top floor it will fall over.

[Dave]

Thanks for pointing that out. I've just tested it, and it stands up fine even with 6 metal miniatures on the top floor, right up against the back wall, and no miniatures on the lower floors. So no worries there.

To be certain that my models are sturdy enough for metal minis, I use lightweight cardstock for my test builds -- just 67# paper instead of the 110# that I recommend. I know that if the lightweight paper version doesn't topple over, the heavier paper version will be even more stable.

This ruin might need vertical support columns to keep the floors from sagging under a lot of weight, and I'll include those. I just left them out of my test graphic because they distract from the main sections that I need to design.

[Floyd]

This is looking cool.

I was wondering, how do they get from floor to floor in this tower? Ladder? Stairs?
It may be nice to have an exposed trap door on one of the floor plates just to represent that.

Another idea, is to have some partially destroyed_dilapidated wooden (or stone) stair models either internally or an external wood framework with broken down sections, partial steps, etc... . So that they could be placed (aesthetically) to taste. It would allow something I've never seen done in paper with the the additional tactical uses for them.

Anyway, this might be something for Modders to do. I know I am likely to try it.

Keep up the excellent additions.

~Floyd

Did I notice an improvement in texture quality/detail with the introduction of you Tudor series?

[Dave]

Thanks, Floyd.

My two earlier ruin models have included ladders to get from level to level, and I'm also including ladders on this new model. One of the levels has a hole caused by damage, and some of the other levels will include optional overlay layers so you can add trapdoors.

I've been thinking about the best way to do partial stairs (or even full stairs), but I may not include them with this model. There's already a lot of work involved with this one, and I don't like to exceed a certain amount of complexity on any one model. I'm likely to come up with a stairs solution soon and include them on a future model, one that's not as complex overall, and you'll be able to apply those stairs to previous models easily enough. And once I have a good system for stairs, they'll start showing up on lots of models. You'll also start seeing some chimneys in these ruins, too.

As for the textures, I'm probably getting a little better at them. I think my new Tudor models have the benefit of more realistic geometry compared to most of my earlier models. I've also started wrecking the plaster sections a bit, with bricks showing through. I wasn't doing that before, and it makes a big difference.

[Dagger]

Lovin' the ruins... have you thought about making some ruined versions of your Tudor models?

[Dave]

Thanks, Dagger. I might do ruined versions of those Tudor models, or something similar.

An update on the Tower Ruin: I've built the thing out of actual paper and it's looking pretty good. I'm starting to layout the final pages now. Should go on sale sometime Friday.