A quite evident issue about building the sci-fi mining town is that you need it to look like an actual place to live. Not necessarily to live decently (this is a Rogue Trader-WH40K kind of project after all!), but at least to have something more than mere square boxes and line of sight blockers. A part of it, of course, is to add some doors to the boxes, so they upgrade to houses :P
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0go1RxJfCD7zCS53J67weAedoRIwJKcMIOLb72HxFJjuWJu8JR4YJb6SsebBYfokbfgqgEyjEmhM584mp2hSBxGdUSV1tC4DHDZwzWOiySSwhlE3MWvd_WZPnQihPuTgicWwQEEGblv1e/s320/blogger-image--781320044.jpg) |
Remember, this pic says it all for me. This is what I am aiming for |
Back in the day I got some of the
Trash Bash sci-fi doors by RoeBeast, but I used all of them. I tried to look if I could get a few more, but I wasn't able. Besides, I was thinking I would need quite a lot! So what could I do?
The solution came in the form of card and foamboard...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbMs0NiGTEiOQ_q7IbiWYc4YdYtBHV7BmmS1FUxHJA3QXD6XByOcfpO7uy2KqrBk3Q4AYxaruzXoLdDEXpLX360eVaIHectR5VZCLHLq_k8j3_d1azBhxfJ-qBuJbSVIGiBwEJ4Annvc/s400/2019-04-10+16.21.48.jpg) |
The Ikea approach |
Right, the only reasonable way was to make my own doors!
I wasn't sure of how to get the right design. In the end I think they look too much Tatooine-like, but I think subconscious references cannot be underestimated!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOZ9kyT62z80J5l6CQS5Uz4rEwqMQ3ZvR7hhQCaZpfaclRYkTZiZGf3nF5vTDG9UEePfSEmNpLO63MuN6HJ4fRnvH9HSkvCHKfYzfipna6nf3D2Z8rJ9rve9buneQa1HKWAd61j3yk4Q/s400/2019-04-16+00.17.34.jpg) |
If this doesn't scream sci-fi in desert, I don't know what will do |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuiYSixKeW_cMcQgQsixNAqHogrd6VQfROZddUG2BLkjMY6NKVxJTxvHStb7AQ_CoG8hcS6dHWT62RW-0PrxXIjgvxqHPrqGLYdcZjGZsUB3sw_vE7CXrZjgpLDKFWHTdx699Meg4gRY/s400/2019-04-16+18.37.56.jpg) |
I added rivets. You can never go wrong with an excess of rivets |
I can hear you. '
So, your solution is to make dozens of doors, one by one'. Though that sounds like me indeed, I currently lack both time and motivation to do so. What I would need here is the way to cast these. I've been interested in learning resin casting for ages, but it always looked overwhelming for my puny skills. But a few weeks ago I discovered
this acrylic resin for dummies, by Green Stuff World. The 'dummies' is mine, but it's an accurate description, trust me. Make a mould, mix the powder with water and ta-da, it's done. Witchcraft!
So there we go! I press moulded the doors:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAh1lTkOcQ_DnL6VviFdnBuyc8jCCn20bvlxrTxTNv43hpqbRC2VQ_8NsLqMW5qNLc5D7jItRrtMAeXE5lMxGr4vAfp48zd-RzMO2VgjWmMn6mtDnmWdPkXhF6g4LWxl7Ts1En6Fib0s/s400/2019-04-19+11.43.07.jpg) |
Ooops! Unexpected setbacks |
The oyumaru mould was good, but the original doors were ruined when I put them out of it. So well, apparently I have a single shot to discover if I'm doing this right...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroxnutzlj6zQGYG9IFbd5MdhMM9r_mdUhLIlqrRDNvdZiFZhwYicAusDUap3UDeydDJkUyVbBIpv52IjAPnOTXfhMCNY2-2uFyrpVafH8v2wSZH2pFq0x93652Py5cZOpMQl-D_dthss/s400/2019-04-21+16.14.37.jpg) |
This is all you need. Oh, and water, sure |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx1MiVhoKcHpjQ7MT9_TlALzV2XjVRStHxhV5b_TiPb1pA2R62254j4JxsLx-XjCJVS26AfMirA6yY1pyRcuwECp-HErcKFpOx3MpIsGpgP8BQ_N5qujxH_bJBQTOPOJI4tTAAv6Xk-4/s400/2019-04-21+17.41.01.jpg) |
Drum roll... |
About half an hour later...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IzLc02Pi9_r3Y_A6xzDNOmqcHKiVZ8KL1I5OHl7EIjdkakgcMTWSvijMbUHamllZCnLhlmjkf4GmiqmcZl6LfohDTT2Py_RuNtMLBv9nNgejPQQnx3ZGUfLlW22zvyavsYO_NCdIFaU/s400/2019-04-21+17.41.51.jpg) |
It works! IT WORKS! Mwahahahahaha!! |
I'm happy with the result; the frame finally got the adobe like texture, the control pad looks reasonably good and the door itself will work. Of course this is but my first experiment, but I hope I'll get better with practice.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCjbb_ycsx1W2-KU0e9tDQ64lkJE7wtVck_LysuFTriayyQDlHIED3V1AN6YFBDItJQtXSwsI_oSNM2yQC2XTGNWJc-lwgwuSLbws3dcNhJspSqS6UujBEA8tgiT8cv9WL75fHcWyzI4/s400/2019-05-07+17.55.52.jpg) |
In fact I've done this third, simple door |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHF24R-zjA4cQb3yX8uY1statm-k0Kh2ud0SJdRYrtfnzxBMqiVBwHFAJ5sw6QBpOt0AhS5uDy73TcnZpcakepdIqLb-Mxa4RD-HGQcMkqOO7zltmgj43pow_-j5B3KX6sUlQI1oELF4/s400/2019-05-02+20.35.26.jpg) |
And I'm about to experiment with control pads and an junction box |
Well, but for the moment, after a lot of half hours... :P
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWLSA037tboXSPqfl5zOCNQDl9yS2YmlHNBoxzWzEHSdVI6ZpZzJknGfoC0wH2WSrasUD20NUFt2wiZapFAsHEaI2G5mjxjbEtikf_lnMB2BVCB0XHWSMJVOuNZvdWPl910JtDU_9rhA/s400/2019-05-26+13.29.17.jpg) |
I hope I have enough doors for a few buildings!! |
Well, let's see how they fit in the town! I had to blend them in with some das putty and I had to fix some minor texture and filling issues:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO000XfSkA7tRSMJn6N9vyNttpxW3qP4StZKtSwGDWEgc0642tDABU3X8HXAOX_WSLWXZTyjJ5m8IdIq2Exz1MZpBO7nspvevBZ8NrZBsUJfTNp2QxhtSY0jMxO3VfsLmMpJNAiF2T0Q/s400/2019-06-01+13.24.06.jpg) |
Now this looks more like a thriving neighbourhood |
I also remembered I had a few MDF doors by MadMechaGuy. I got them ages ago and totally forgot about them until the other day. I hope the mix works in the end.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXly8zRcy08tazEJGkrIAWAJEGPvxxGEpDr_MN3TIjjllLn0cQqOcdtQLzZPeF-xWzKsjDpt4TGE9XC0JnqwihY5h7_TNc-BEuUNMChlFVQDB4kogCC2yZKer5MplX7dN7ZpRSO0dDaA/s400/2019-06-01+13.24.19.jpg) |
Doors! Doors everywhere! |
Ehm. Yes, right. There's a door leading to nowhere up there. Not that I just needed to fill that empty surface. Let me elaborate. I'm also making this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dIv9D1gY7nRG70rezdz8GARPmuX3w41wKc_YHvvcRGJhu0ymM_hiVhwnnAkle-Jb33rMC8GQfGDAlF2XPzRXeQzNAR2-qk69b01u9qMqe_grArriFuLrSUFJ2E8DYpwjlo4swnWsvKo/s400/2019-06-01+13.25.00.jpg) |
A comm array? A void shield control pad? Who knows! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIKg6j5QZJQAn3uLJN40Bl6jGzNVW_7YNUIqMDckvRBq-NbskJNRqEj8GXLov-IU0OtxED_0psDF_-ZB8RDVl3bF-4QQxanJWs_pqxuTdxf6IQfwULdgT14-unFUz7N9HbPb8e2SoZ9U/s400/2019-06-01+13.25.03.jpg) |
Still in progress, I want to add some details |
So the thing is that I cut a tiny gap just under the frame of the door, allowing me to place the walkway this way:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xHyEljRbcq9UWS5Bs7l8mBCh8nybuyFeRI29Y0x4uU0ZmB9O68vU1nk9n2M6D0N_04diuRJLnuRXCg2rn12n_GL4eexFGpVtpZXoCEUQLI8zIgeKHutUi5EbXwgP-wvzv4r8QO8ZH18/s400/2019-06-01+13.25.21.jpg) |
It's a precautionary measure about storage to avoid unnecesary damages |
It's not the only weird door I have...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiuQyvI539_Rjt_FP3pOEVuY6BFMEgzgv5ixYQRv5SLNm4WE5AnaI4tVRdik96dPjcjtXp9HfcrhJYCkz9qjhBA1_gWeuD4GglL7PbBf6_NxbVBfu2_lKIfFBIlCWoJc9bxjdGC90ZC0/s400/2019-06-01+13.26.04.jpg) |
Yeah, I should really call for a professional architect |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFK2x2hzgcClUEocBz135e0ic8hLnzCQkkfok7j1O8wo3xq7Zm1TVs8Tzf37FxmlXJkkqjcRdwxt4UQObhr8VXg8j9JPGP8yp521F4M2CsewNlCDQui4PoHPsGpbg0fLpdAiRFIaKBOk/s400/2019-06-01+13.26.27.jpg) |
I guess I'll have to properly texture and paint the wall before I add all the stuff I'm planning, but you get an idea |
This is all I have right now. I'm quite happy with the discovery of the resin, it's super easy to handle and opens a whole world of possibilities. Of course the doors are not perfect, but they work fine at tabletop distance, so I cannot ask for more.
More stuff coming soon!