Earthen Rampart Project--Final Thoughts

 I must admit, that for rough landforms, I am certainly open to using plaster of Paris again.  It is relatively simple and straight forward to use, and cheap enough not to care about mistakes.

I actually don't know whether I like the rocky effect or the smooth effect better for the ramparts.  They both have their charms.

I am going to need to make a bunch more ramparts to be useful on the table, at least enough to make a square fort or to reach across the table.

Earthen Rampart Project --Part 4 Primed Product

Version 1:  Rocky

I chiseled off the extended base, figuring that a separate, painted cardboard sheet would do just as well for representing the ditch, and would allow greater customization in play and reduce the risk of the extension just breaking on its own.   I had made 2 rocky ramparts, one of which broke into 2 halves.   I gave them a priming coat of Terra Cotta

Version 2:  Smooth

I also primed the one that came out of the foil-lined cavity:

Earthen Rampart Project, part 3---Smooth it out

 After making 2 sections with that rocky texture.   I decided to make one with a smoother texture.

STEP-1:  line the Cavity with Aluminum foil

STEP-2:  pour, wait, remove:

Earthen Ramparts Project--Part Two: plaster

 STEP-1:   Mixing Plaster of Paris

This is surprisingly simple and very forgiving.   Just 2-parts plaster and 1 part cold water, mix well.

STEP-2:  Pour Plaster into cavity.   1 pint of plaster with 1 cup of water was just perfect to fill the cavity.

STEP-3  Wait 45 minutes and remove:

Here's where All-purpose sand made a difference.   The sand adhered to the plaster and wouldn't wash off.   It made the model really, really rocky looking.   Which is kinda cool, but not what I had intended:

Plaster Cast Rampart Project--Part 1 Making a Mold

 I decided to use plaster of Paris to create some earthen ramparts, since making a model of a pile of dirt doesn't take immense artistic know-how.

STEP-1

In the gear book, a standard length of rampart is 75' (15").  15" is a bit long for storage and non-breakablity, so I decided to make half sections of 7.5".

First I made a cardboard model, from a paper-towel tube and a piece of packing cardboard.  The extended base was intended to represent the area where the front ditch could be represented/painted (I later decided to remove this).

STEP-2:  I filled a box with sand, to form the mold.   I bought All-Purpose Sand, which is really filled with rocky chunks.

STEP-3:  I smoothed out the sand, roughly scooped out the center and pressed the cardboard model into the sand.

STEP-4  Removed the model, leaving the cavity/mold

Viking Era half-timber church

 Here's a Viking Era Church I've painted up.

Small Storage Barn

 Here's a small storage barn I've painted

Odds and Ends

 A few free odds and ends that come with my church order:  some fence pieces, a stack of boxes, a grave and a caldron

Tariq' s Trading Post

 

Cobbles and Sand

I created two new beach/riverbank terrain panels:

When combined with the 2 I had made for the Viking campaign 18 or so years ago, the beach can now run an entire side of the table (I've only been meaning to do this for 10-15 years or so).

I also painted up a sheet of cobble-stones that can be used as a town square or castle courtyard:

I have now completed my original project plans and have had to put my paints away.   I'm sure I'll start thinking of some new plans, but need to focus on getting the campaign plans in final order.

Atlantean Buildings

I whipped up a few new  Atlantean buildings for the campaign:

First, a pair of small houses or tombs:

 Second, a larger hall with a fiery magic portal on one side

Third, a mysterious free-standing magic archway

Mead Hall and Square Storage Tower

I've painted up a small Mead Hall:

And a square storage? tower, similar to the smaller round one from a few posts ago:

Illuminati Confirmed and Boulder Idol

Painted a pair of terrain pieces:

Illuminati Pyramid"

Boulder Pagan Idol

Irish and Saxons

Painted up a set of 8 Irish Warriors:

 And 8 more Late Saxons:

That's the lot of the recent buys,  most of the "To Be Painted" left are Sci-Fi, or stuff given or awarded me, so there's no compelling need to do them yet.

I also took all my recent paints, and my box of chain-mail knights, Norman footmen, and all my wizards and gave them the "Magic Dip".   It really improves the half-naked Irishmen and the wizards in light colored robes considerably, but helps all of them a bit, bringing out beard and cloth texture really well.

Muslims and Storage Tower

I've painted up a wattle and daub thatched tower ( I guess its meant for storage?)

Also, a set of 4 Muslim/Moorish command group

Late Saxons/Danes

I painted a dozen Late Saxons or Danes whom I ordered when I chickened out of going to Cold Wars because of the Zeeker virus. 

First:  some hero/leader types

Second:  English Fyrd (Militia)

Both batches should be good for our 5 Torches Deep campaign

Medieval Inn or Manor House

Finished painting the Medieval Inn (which could equally be used for an unfortified manor house) that I ordered way back in March.

I'm thinking it might be a good HQ for the upcoming 5TD campaign.

I say I'm finished, but it's a little maddening, whenever I touch up the beige, it leaks onto the brown, and vice versa, I just ended up with a big "close-enough" moment and called it done.

More fun than a barrel of monks

Jake, You gotta see the Penguin. No f@#$ing way

Quarantine Work begins: Huscarls

My first painting of the quarantine, a set of 8 11th century Anglo-Saxon Huscarls, that should be useful to the Eldritch Earth campaign.   These miniatures made me re-think something about shields.  They clearly have a heavy strap that allows the user to switch between 2-handed axe and shield/sword with ease without having to drop the shield.   I should change the rules that allow that only for the kite shield.

Arabian Adventurers

Another discovery in my "to be painted" bin.  I must have ordered them a year or more ago, maybe for the Thranconia game.

First up, 6 Fantasy Arabian Adventurers

Second, 6 Fantasy Arabian Guards