Battle Station paper terrain

[battlesystems]

Hi again,

Hmmm printing on clear plastic for the Med pack. I have some designs where I use clear plastic, but so far have left this out. I'm trying to keep the whole thing a paper only product (mount board aside) as the use of other materials can conflict with the overall look. I did do a plasma chamber (included in the Reactor room pack) with a clear cylinder and printed blue plasma streaks across it. It looked good, as good as the current one you get in the pack, but not better. So I saw no reason to add to the material list you guys already need to get.

I suspect that I will add an additional pod to one of the next room packs, a double pod, but with a window... Err Plexi Glass Viewing rectangle... or something sci-fi.

Mountboard is defiantly not foam core. Mountboard is a very dense cardboard. It's actually hard to cut and as I say in the intro video, you will need lots of lade as this will blunt them quick. You can of course use foam core, but if its more than 1.5mm thick you will encounter problems for some of the pieces. I use foam core for concept builds as it fast to cut.

The shuttle will take a long time to render, but I'm really keen on doing it. Priorities though, Bunker, room packs.

As we have just launched I'm spending most of my time promoting the system. I'm going to visit some local wargaming clubs and shops (no good for you guys), but the most important part is spreading the word on the web. Any suggestions of the best place to post or promote (aside from here of course and thanks for this Tommygun and for infinity) will be a massive help. So far hardly anyone knows about us and there is a massive community out there for this, but it's getting the momentum going. i'm working hard, but it just me and it's a balance between promoting and designing. All the videos are on youtube, but most of the traffic is via the imbedded links on the web.

It will take time, but once the business becomes self supporting I will be able to focus all my time (full time) on Battle Systems, then this will make production speed up about x4. i'm on Facebook, Twitter and the rest is still in the works. You guys have been a big help though and I thank you all.

Right back to work, going to see if I can post some more news on some wargaing sites. )

Cheers all

Colin

[glennwilliams]

They've announced the bunker system. This is definitely the high end of the market (Macy's as opposed to Walmart). Good stuff.

[abaddonwormwood]

Colin,

One of the key features that I do like about your method is the bolstering on the other hand it is the features execution that really drags the system down.

By this I mean you have 50 pods - standard to make; all good but when the bolster kick in there is a hige amount of guess work. Sure it will get easier as ones skill grows but this system is a black hole for time so anything that makes the build process faster/smoother then this will be fantastic.

There is a goodly about of white space on the Mountboarded labels why not print the bolstering with all the angles in this area.



Nice work in general.


Lord Abaddon of Wormwood

[kiladecus]

Hey, Colin,

Welcome (as every one else said). I am a bit late to the party, it seems.

Your work is amazing. I have not picked it up, and it may be a while before I do/can. I am a little buried at the moment. I just wanted to say that your work is nothing short of the "best" I have seen in this particular style. It would appear that your "floors" lack the sort of attention that the rest of the set offers... (This would be a good place to advertise Paper Make iT's SHUFFLER or Space Base). ;D

Seriously, AMAZING work.

I, for one, would LOVE to see a 3D shuttle offered! I have build about 100 models that include (but not limited to) space shuttles, starships and areospace fighters, from companies like Finger and Toe, Fat Dragon Games, EBBLES, TOPO, and even Grey Matter Games... to name a few. One thing that I haven't seen done (or done "correctly" in my opinion) is a small spacecraft that has an interior.

Everyone here seems more concerned about your voice, fingernails and other topics, and they seem to have overlooked your question about the spacecraft!

I say "Bring it!" I personally would have more use for a spacecraft to serve as my RPG player's ship, than to have a whole comples (at least at this time).

I hope this all makes sense, and let me apologise in advance if I upset someone by my comments (because I genereally do).

I summation:

1) Great work
2) PLEASE do continue working on a 3D ship... I welcome that!
3) Continue the good work, and feel free to post on here as often as you have time (with 3 small children, your music and starting up a company, I realize that time may be a premium for you... but we will ALWAYS look forward to whatever you have to share).

David

[battlesystems]

Cool, thanks for the feedback.

I was on the fence about the bolsters when I did the final PDF's. Bolstering as a modelling technique (this is what I call it) is a bit of a skill, but an easy one to learn. Very easy. I did at one point have printed bolsters for everything, but to me it was overkill. Also once you get used to it it's actually faster to cut bolsters on the fly than to a printed shape. It's a bit like making pizza bases (stay with me I'm going somewhere) You can make the dough and get a rolling pin out and roll it out to the right shape. This will take about 4 mins. Or you can have a go at tossing it up in the air and spinning it. This will take a bit of practice, but after a while you will get it and it will take you about 30 seconds.

I felt that making all the bolsters was wrong, because that was not how I model and have found that it is faster and less cutting to simply strip it. Cutting strips from the off cuts. I felt that I should demonstrate in a way as to build the skills of the modeller. To this end I recommend (on the intro to the system video) to build the pods in the tutorial videos order.

I did realise that this may put some people off, but was not sure. Since the videos were shot I have actually added in some of the bolsters as printed (that I cut on the fly) as a compromise and also if i felt it was a tricky one. I think I mention this in one of the vids. So the command room and standard console have printed bolsters for some of the areas now as just one example. Also unlike the videos the bolsters are all labelled.

Its a good point though and maybe i should give the choice. If anyone else feels the same let me know as you are the guys building this and sometimes a designer can be too close. Its a bit like using your pinky finger for guitar, it's easier in the short term to not use it, but you will regret it later when you need it... I did. lol.

Thanks for that feedback though, I very glad you said. I have noted it down and will look for more comments of the same value. Really good feedback abaddonwormwood.

Thanks Kiladecus, Your right about the floor tiles. I was happy with then and wanted something simple for this system. I did add more detail, but did not find anything I was happy with. I will update these at some point and offer them in another pack along with possible battle damaged pods and the like. This I have on my jobs list thanks .

As for the places to spread the word, thanks too, I will check these out, although I always feel cheeky when I approach a site.

As for the shuttle, I actually have a concept for a small space cruiser. It is about 18" long and a complete model, inside and out. However this will never make it as it would simply be far too complicated. The tutorial would be 12 hours long at least. lol. The shuttle I want to do, but it will take many hours and test build and snagging and re-prints and tutorials etc etc. (i'm obviously getting more comfortable cos I'm starting to moan). But you an me both on the shuttle.

I'm glad that all you guys like what I'm doing. I'm off to bed now, It's only 8:30pm, but I have to hit the road at 5am tomorrow, lots to do. No wi-fi where I'm going and I'm going for 3 days. I'll check back when I'm back.

You've all been very helpful and not to mention great customers.

Thanks

Colin

[paladin]

Mar 11, 2012 9:57:24 GMT -9 kiladecus said:

Everyone here seems more concerned about your voice, fingernails and other topics, and they seem to have overlooked your question about the spacecraft!

I really doubt that, kiladecus ... watch the chronological development of threads!

@colin, I would be very interested in Hard-SciFi Ship models, if they are somewhat easy to build. You know, you are going the High Fi/End route right now, and this makes sense, as long as you are even topping out the full 3D-casting models of diverse producers (they cannot get this high level of detail texture ...) - BUT beware the complexity creep - you will loose alot of potential customers, if you are not balancing the detail-complexity-thing. That said, I am the 'potential customer', who would be even satisfied with good floor-plans .

Hard-SciFi == (Mega-)Traveller RPG (some market potential)

Modular Ship models?

Playability of too tiny and complex models? (miniature interior movement etc.)

[kiladecus]

That was said as a joke, Paladin.

Once again, I am misunderstood. It is ok... it happens.

I have to say that my favorite part of the set is the fixtures... table, holo boards... Very nicely done.

[paladin]

Mar 13, 2012 11:34:30 GMT -9 kiladecus said:

That was said as a joke, Paladin.

Once again, I am misunderstood. It is ok... it happens.

Ok, sorry for that, kiladecus. I didn't get your joke. I have read your lines more to the meaning of 'Hey, the others are not really interested and to the core of things'.

[battlesystems]

Thanks again all,

Miniature movement of models does happen. When play testing I found this happened occasionally. I enjoy Star Wars minis (although I have spent some time creating my own rules, many long hours) and I found that the force and chairs is very much fun. In fact the force and battle tables, and power units etc etc. lol

How are you guys getting on. Anyone done any pods yet?

[Dave]

In case no one else has mentioned it, the "mountboard" that's being referred to would be called "matboard" more commonly in the US.

It usually comes in full sheets that are about 30"x40", cost maybe $10 per sheet, and come in lots of colors and different textures. (Smooth white is probably the one you want.) It is considerably thicker than cardstock but not nearly as thick as foamboard. Picture framers use it, and sometimes sell it. (Ask for full sheets, because they sometimes pre-cut them for framing. You don't want that.) Crescent is one brand of matboard that I'm familiar with and is a good quality. You'll probably find it at Michael's, Aaron Brothers, or any place that sells picture-framing supplies or art supplies.

Illustration board might work, too. These are available in several sizes, and are available in white or all-black versions. As far as I can tell, it is the same thickness as matboard. LetraMax by Bainbridge is a good brand I'm familiar with, and the cost per sheet is similar to matboard.

If you go to a framing shop, ask if they have scrap matboards they want to get rid of. You might get a great deal.

[glennwilliams]

Mar 18, 2012 18:04:07 GMT -9 Dave said:

In case no one else has mentioned it, the "mountboard" that's being referred to would be called "matboard" more commonly in the US.

In the US, if there's a Hobby Lobby nearby, matboard is $7.99 a sheet (I just bought two). Last weekend they had a 30% off sale on it.

[battlesystems]

Hey Thanks DagobahDave,

That is super info. I'll add that to the FAQ's on the website. Also I will have to update the intro video at some point and will mention it. Picture framers use it here too, but you explained that much better than I did, Ta.

You can it this for as little as £2.75 in the UK ($5 ish) but I pay about £4.00 ($8 - $8.50) from a local shop cos I'm impatient. I am just starting the snagging for the Bunker set now, should be done for May 2012.

I'd love to see some pics of how the building is going when you guys get started, and will be here if you need any further help.

Cheers all

Colin