I'm determined to push forward on this project as much as I can. Now that the bazaar is done, it's time to make the entrance and to fill that ugly empty space just on the front part of the board.
If I'm going to build a gate of some kind...
...let's build a big one |
The idea of a tower looked appealing to me. It adds some volume there and gives the impression of an access gate to the medina of the town.
Now it is time for a new item I got last Christmas again (even before the Christmas lights, I think!)
Lattice I got from a nativity scenes shop |
I know, I know. But this project got out of hand long ago, so just another little silly addition wouldn't be that much!
While deciding how to better put the lattice, I built the general shape of the tower. I'm thinking of adding something on top of it. The idea of an astronomy observatory is appealing, but I'm not sure if it really fits in there.
Just an idea. To be considered later |
Some paint later. Note the addition of that tiny building on the front |
Let's add the lattice and tissue paper:
Cautiously optimistic |
The tricky part was to wire the tower. The garland came from the entrance to the mine (down left), but I wanted it to go towards the central block (to the right of the tower). I could make the wire go upwards and downwards again, but given my needings, it was more efficient if the wire went through the upper part. So I made holes on the walls and connected them with a tube, the wire going through it:
This is the final test. Will the light look good through the lattice?
OK. Now let's pay some attention to the gate of the tower. It has quite a large archway. It needs some decoration to fill all that awful emptiness.
I considered the idea of adding flags and banners hanging from the ceiling, but it was kind of too much. However, I thought some additional detail was in order.
So I did this for the lintel |
It's a crude sculpt indeed, but it doesn't need more detail, it's relatively hidden and maybe it was sculpted looong centuries ago and is highly eroded by the winds of the desert. It's simply an element to add "visual noise" as I call it.
While the greenstuff was curing, I built some more stuff...
Upwards! |
You can notice that I'm trying to avoid paralell lines, I'm breaking symmetry and trying to add some more little chaos. When finished, the area looks like this:
This neighbourhood is alive |
The way into the lower baazar |
That tower needs something atop, but still haven't found the correct piece |
Well, it now feels like something! I think it all looks quite ethnic and it fits the whole theme in the board.
Just a little bonus for this post: Next challenge was to take the lights from the central building (the newly built element) to the left again, where the final stage of the board awaits. How would I do that?? For sure I didn't want to destroy more pieces, and I found it difficult or even impossible (apart from absurdly inefficient) to take the lights again through the same way they had previously come. Then I risked it all:
Right, I'll try to make some street lamps with the wire on the open. But that will be an issue for another day!
For the moment let's just recap:
The whole progress |
This how it all looks! |
And this how it all looks at night! |
You see, there's so little left to do, just the sector on the left of the pic. At the time of writing this I can say I'm making some fair progress, so I feel quite optimistic.
Hopefully more updates coming soon!
Oh, Great to see more your masterwork!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's a shame it looks like little progress, but it's indeed quite a lot of work!
DeleteEs increíble Suber! Desde luego parece una ciudad/pueblo vivo! Espectacular!
ReplyDelete¡Gracias! Estoy intentando dar esa sensación, bloques sin relación, sin urbanismo, con aspecto caótico, amontonándose unos sobre otros. ¡Necesito más espacio!
DeleteAbsolutely love the new different levels and angles- it really does feel like a town that's grown and changed over 100s of years. The new entrance is great!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My aim is precisely that, a maze of piled up blocks and buildings with no sense of order at all. Still growing!
DeleteAnother great addition. I love the lattice-work.
ReplyDeleteBill.
Thanks! It was an unexpected idea, pure serendipity. I was on a family trip last Christmas and I found the lattice at a modeller's local shop, so it was a matter of pure opportunity! In the end I'm happy that I took the chance, it adds some character to the building, I think :)
DeleteYet more inspirational progress. I too think that the lattice is very effective indeed. The lighting takes it to another place!
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Thank you very much! At some point this town turned into a Nativity scene, but I'm not quite sure of when the transition ended!
DeleteAwesome work Suber.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Axiom that it certainly looks like a settlement built over time by whoever had the money and muscle to put something up, no planning permission from the local authorities required 😂
Thank you! Haha, you're right, it's some kind of "oh, I have some adobe left, let's build a new house now that nobody's looking!"
DeleteAs ever, this is really nice work. The mural and wall sculpture work really well. At the moment, it looks like a diorama from a museum!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Quite a compliment! (Blushes) Anyway, it looks dirty, worn out... The museum of slackness!
DeleteThe build and all the details add new sectors and elevate each section, and fit the rest of the build perfectly Suber. I think an observatory would be a great piece to top the tower, with maybe some defence guns as well, if that doesn't feel right maybe a bell tower, seen that used a lot recently in Star Wars.
ReplyDeleteOn the entrance to the mine, it could do with a broken cart, being repaired, or maybe some mining tools, or even some crated up pieces of what's been extracted from the mine, or a mix of all three.
One last thing that would really add life to the board, are the local pests, as in real life, nature finds a way to adapt and make use of what humans build.
Thank you very much! Oh, there are some pretty useful ideas there! I'm noting them down, thank you!!
DeleteLove the progress Suber!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm happy that I've finally found the will to keep on working on it :D
DeleteGreat work Suber.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm adding more stuff every day, I'll try to bring updates soon!
Delete