New project in the works. (1 Viewer)

[Sahara]

Just tinkering around with a Roman watch tower. This is my first time trying to distress wood so be kind. Eventually this will be for my FL Romans as one can be seen in one of the pictures.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Keep posting my freind

 

[Gebhard]

Looks like your off to a Great start {bravo}} looking forward to seeing more . Regards Gebhard

 

[Mike97]

GREAT work ! Can't wait to see the final product-please keep sharing updates.
mike

 

[mestell]

Looks like you have a great start on your current project. I am still holding out with hope that perhaps FL will do a Roman watchtower since they were so predominant along the Limes Germannia . . . What do you think of K&C latest offering of a Roman watchtower?
:smile2: Mike

 

[Fusilier]

The watchtower is looking very nice. Your method of distressing the wood creates an excellent weather-beaten look. The scale looks right too when compared to the two figures in the background.

Noah

 

[Sahara]

Looks like you have a great start on your current project. I am still holding out with hope that perhaps FL will do a Roman watchtower since they were so predominant along the Limes Germannia . . . What do you think of K&C latest offering of a Roman watchtower?
:smile2: Mike

I like the tower for the East but not so much for the west. If my painting skills were up to par then I might try a repaint on it to make it fit a bit better in the west. Hopefully FL makes a watch tower or some other piece geared towards their Roman line. In the mean time Ill just tinker around with this tower.

 

[Sahara]

The watchtower is looking very nice. Your method of distressing the wood creates an excellent weather-beaten look. The scale looks right too when compared to the two figures in the background.

Noah

It turned out a little darker then I wanted but ill take it for my first go at it. Thanks for the kind comments.

 

[Sahara]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone.

 

[Sahara]

Heres a bit of a update

 

[mikemiller1955]

Wow...

you are off to a great start...that looks fantastic...I love the color of the wood...is it stained or painted...will you put a roof over the top...sloped or flat...I really love building with the wood...popsickle sticks are sooooo cheap too...you can create some first class structures...as you are doing...designed exactly as you like them...I don't know how far you plan to go...but I could see lines of walls to go with your tower...maybe an entire roman fort...with towers on every corner...a real show piece...keep us posted on any progress...

GREAT JOB!!!

 

[Sahara]

Thanks for the comments Mike. When I first started this project I couldn't decide what route I wanted to take wether it be airbrush or staining. I tried both methods with a couple sample pieces and decided that the staining looked more natural. All in all I'm pretty pleased with the color even though it turned out a tad bit darker then I wanted it to. Your right about popsickle sticks. They can really be used with alot of different structures. Some popsickle sticks and woodsies from Michaels can go a long ways. So far I plan on putting a sloped roof but this will be another first attempt so cross your fingers.

 

[Fusilier]

It turned out a little darker then I wanted but ill take it for my first go at it. Thanks for the kind comments.

Even if it is a little darker than you originally wanted, it is certainly worth the effort in my opinion. I think once you have it finished off and integrated into a diorama it will look just perfect.

Noah

 

[mikemiller1955]

Thanks for the comments Mike. When I first started this project I couldn't decide what route I wanted to take wether it be airbrush or staining. I tried both methods with a couple sample pieces and decided that the staining looked more natural. All in all I'm pretty pleased with the color even though it turned out a tad bit darker then I wanted it to. Your right about popsickle sticks. They can really be used with alot of different structures. Some popsickle sticks and woodsies from Michaels can go a long ways. So far I plan on putting a sloped roof but this will be another first attempt so cross your fingers.

you might also try these...the ones in the middle...they are called "Skinny Sticks" and are available at any Walmart or any craft's store...about $2 a bag...the scale seems much better to me for 54/60mm than popsickle sticks or the larger tongue depresser style sticks...a good trick is to "rough" them up...maybe gouge some grain detail in them with the point of an Exacto knife before staining...break the ends so they are a little jagged...gouge the sides a little uneven so they don't look "too perfect"...I like the color of your stain...but if you think it's too dark...you might give it a drybrush with a tan or light brown...it's too late for you to change...and I wouldn't anyway....but after I rough up my wood...I paint it in a extremely watered down black paint...all the excess paint sticks in the grooves...then I dry brush it with a tan to lighten and weather it...here's some pics...

I think yours looks pretty darn nice as it is...I would be proud to won it...GREAT JOB!!!

 

[Sahara]

you might also try these...the ones in the middle...they are called "Skinny Sticks" and are available at any Walmart or any craft's store...about $2 a bag...the scale seems much better to me for 54/60mm than popsickle sticks or the larger tongue depresser style sticks...a good trick is to "rough" them up...maybe gouge some grain detail in them with the point of an Exacto knife before staining...break the ends so they are a little jagged...gouge the sides a little uneven so they don't look "too perfect"...I like the color of your stain...but if you think it's too dark...you might give it a drybrush with a tan or light brown...it's too late for you to change...and I wouldn't anyway....but after I rough up my wood...I paint it in a extremely watered down black paint...all the excess paint sticks in the grooves...then I dry brush it with a tan to lighten and weather it...here's some pics...

I think yours looks pretty darn nice as it is...I would be proud to won it...GREAT JOB!!!

Thats some great advice Michael. The woodwork in your diorama is phenomenal. I can't even express how much I like the looks of it. I will definitely use your techniques for future projects. The "Woodsies" that I bought from Michaels are essentially the same thing as the "Skinny Sticks" but run about $3.50 a bag. I didn't even know Walmart had them so I will have to pick some of them up at what seems to be a better bargain.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Mike this is awsome work
I'm impressed
Maple Leaf

 

[mikemiller1955]

Thats some great advice Michael. The woodwork in your diorama is phenomenal. I can't even express how much I like the looks of it. I will definitely use your techniques for future projects. The "Woodsies" that I bought from Michaels are essentially the same thing as the "Skinny Sticks" but run about $3.50 a bag. I didn't even know Walmart had them so I will have to pick some of them up at what seems to be a better bargain.

I wouldn't change a thing on it...I think it looks really cool...I love the dark wood...I think you are extremely talented and have done a great job on it...I wish I had it in my house to display my Romans and Barbarians...I have a lot of Conte and CS to date...I don't know if you have seen the movie..."The Eagle"...but they have a really nice fort in there to steal ideas from...it's very similar to yours in the front...especially the gate and tower...I have been thinking of making a fort similar to yours...but I have kind of been waiting for Conte to release his Winter Rome series...I would love a terrain of snow and slush to match the bases on his figures...

do you use white glue...or a hot glue gun...the hot glue gun is really fast...I love it...it hardens in just seconds so you can build really quickly without unsettling wet drying pieces...once the hot glue dries...it's in solid...no waiting time...they are really cheap too...and great for wood...a real sturdy bond...Walmart also has them...about $8...$4 for the glue sticks...you might pick one up...you can build ultra fast with them...

if you get one...get one with a "high temp" setting and get one that uses the "jumbo sticks"...the little glue sticks go too quickly...and if it doesn't have a high temp setting...it goes slower...but still works...please keep showing pics...I'm anxious to see your roof...so I can steal ideas from you....hahaha...GREAT JOB!!!!

Mike this is awsome work
I'm impressed
Maple Leaf

thank you Bernie...I made that diorama a while back for my Life of Jesus...

 

[Gazza]

It turned out a little darker then I wanted but ill take it for my first go at it. Thanks for the kind comments.

Sahara

Not Germanic but Britain, never-the-less it may provide some ideas, so I posted a couple of pics from Hadrians Wall that I visited last month for you to look at.

The wooden fort was built in the 1970's and has sunk by 2m; they believe this was a factor in the Romans replacing it with a stone wall. The stone fort is also a replica at Vindolanda

The last picture is of the central section of Hadrians Wall and one of the forts

Gazza

 

[Sahara]

Sahara

Not Germanic but Britain, never-the-less it may provide some ideas, so I posted a couple of pics from Hadrians Wall that I visited last month for you to look at.

The wooden fort was built in the 1970's and has sunk by 2m; they believe this was a factor in the Romans replacing it with a stone wall. The stone fort is also a replica at Vindolanda

The last picture is of the central section of Hadrians Wall and one of the forts

Gazza

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Great photos Gazza thanks for sharing. Looking at those pics it appears my color isn't all that far off. Photos like these are always a joy to look at. And yes they gave me some good ideas for a future project.

 

[Sahara]

I wouldn't change a thing on it...I think it looks really cool...I love the dark wood...I think you are extremely talented and have done a great job on it...I wish I had it in my house to display my Romans and Barbarians...I have a lot of Conte and CS to date...I don't know if you have seen the movie..."The Eagle"...but they have a really nice fort in there to steal ideas from...it's very similar to yours in the front...especially the gate and tower...I have been thinking of making a fort similar to yours...but I have kind of been waiting for Conte to release his Winter Rome series...I would love a terrain of snow and slush to match the bases on his figures...

do you use white glue...or a hot glue gun...the hot glue gun is really fast...I love it...it hardens in just seconds so you can build really quickly without unsettling wet drying pieces...once the hot glue dries...it's in solid...no waiting time...they are really cheap too...and great for wood...a real sturdy bond...Walmart also has them...about $8...$4 for the glue sticks...you might pick one up...you can build ultra fast with them...

if you get one...get one with a "high temp" setting and get one that uses the "jumbo sticks"...the little glue sticks go too quickly...and if it doesn't have a high temp setting...it goes slower...but still works...please keep showing pics...I'm anxious to see your roof...so I can steal ideas from you....hahaha...GREAT JOB!!!!.

More good advice Michael. I was using glue and getting pretty sticky in the process. My wife has a couple hot glue guns laying around so I might have to round one up and give it a try.