The Model Critizen

Mostly a place to document my model building at 28mm scale. But also DnD memes. And a brain dump for ideas. Who knows? It's new.

[modelcritizen-blog]

Project 2: Giving into Pier Pressure

Final Shots!! I'm super proud of how this turned out. At the very end, I decided it needed a boat and gone fishin' sign.

Also, I was at my parent's house this weekend, so I plopped it into my dad's model train set for pictures - but that only worked for close ups because they are two VERY different scales.

I never thought that I would use my Girl Scout lashing skills again. But here we are.

The rope circle is free hanging. and is sure to be lost soon lol.

brown wash on "rope" (yarn) was TOO dark, so I painted it after. Unfortuneatly, that means it doesn't stand out as much as I would have hoped.

I chose to paint the posts to match, but I think they would have looked ok with the original bark too.

I modpodeged down the rope on the dock. It looked great, but it may be annoying in game play.

Went with fabric doors. They are scraps from Merlin's Merlin cosplay modpodged into rolls

The chain is a jewelry chain from JoAnn's. The hooks and nails are pins from the same section

My dad named the boat the S.S. George. Idk why, but i made me laugh.

Note to self on the roof: The first paint job was all yellow with dry-brushed texture. It looked REALLY cool with the yellow peaking through. the brown wash dulled it too much and I had to lighten it again.

I haven't gotten the hang of the washes yet. But it REALLY worked on the planks.

The house is removeable for play!

I like how the house clips into the space and the walls are marked BUT in play, we used the dock twice as just a dock...so it would be probably better to have made them two things. That way, it could play a little better.

I think the 1x0.5 grid may be useful, but is unnecessary.

SPEAKING OF UNNECESSARY. I did little pin "nails" in the interior floor. They are barely visible. They hurt my hand to cut to size. AND they cost about as much as the entire rest of the build. Never. Again.

Overall - turned out great! and it inspired more!!

Watch out model world, I'm coming for you!

[modelcritizen-blog]

Project 2: Giving into Pier Pressure

Intermediate picture again.

tried Black Magic Craft's base coat of mod podge+black paint. It worked beautifully.

Also: the stilts are old thread spools. They worked great (I had a set of 7 from a little travel sewing kit

Thatched roof: towl method. Used an old towl cut into strips. Tried watered down PVA glue. Did not work. Take two was just the black base coad. Worked great!

Also, this was the last picture that I sent to my DM before he saw it in person.

[modelcritizen-blog]

Project 2: Giving Into Pier Pressure

I went much bigger than project one.

I decided I wanted a wrap around porch with the peak of the roof being off center from the building.

Notes to self:

wood grain with steal brush = super easy.

cut a SMALL cut to make the wood plank lines, then widen with a toothpick

Sticks make excelent logs/branches. and they are free.

two layers of foam core is necessary for a base

foam core walls MUST be reinforced. They def bowed in at first.

Scale stairs look 10x better, but mini's can't stand on them. (! could you make a stair-shaped peice to set on top for them to stand on??)

Metal hair comb made the plank length for the siding REALLY easy.

pins are great for seeing if things fit.

[modelcritizen-blog]

Project 2: Giving Into Pier Pressure

I asked my DM if there was something he wanted. He requested a "wooden dock house"

Details picked by him:

1. fits in bayou/swamp area

2. playable interior

3. 7x7 sized building

4. two doors for entry

I immediatly had an idea and got to work

[modelcritizen-blog]

Project 1: What the Frick Frack Patty Whack is Model Building?

This project was just a small house to try out the hobby.

Materials:

Foam core, hot glue, chip board, soda bottle, paint, mod podge

Did I buy my first mini just because I needed something to mark the scale of the building? Yes.

Did I pick this one for her hat? Also yes.

Is the entire point of this picture to show the reflection in the window? Indubitably, yes. (note to self: the window is solid, painted with light streaks, and has a bit of 2-liter bottle clipped to reflect light.)

Notes to self:

Glue the bricks closer, painting between them sucks

The black wash REALLY darkened it

Figure out how to take better pictures of these

the moss sheet is from Dollar Tree

This is really fun. Do this more.

[modelcritizen-blog]

I had a crisis, but it just clicked.

a couple months ago I had a crisis of personal fulfillment. Don’t get me wrong - I love my job, family, and God - but there was just something missing. It didn’t take me long to figure out what it was - creativity. I wasn’t doing anything creative anymore, and I had no inspiration to do anything anymore.  I wanted it back. Day one. Journalling again. For one day, I would write down every spare thought that crossed my head. And I did. And it inspired a goal.  Goal one. For one week, I would write down something I learned that day. Something new. Be it from a YouTube video, work, or my own observation. And I did. And it inspired a connection. 

And the connection inspired a short story. 

And the story inspired my first real DnD character.

Who joined a campaign.

Which introduced me to Black Magic Crafts on YouTube. 

Who showed me how to build.

And that clicked. I’ve built two projects now...and I love it. I try not to make promises or prophesies that I can’t make come true, but here’s one - Model building? It isn’t going away. It’s all my favorite crafts in one. 

I already have three commissions! (not for pay, but opportunities to build new things!!)

Anywho, I want a place to document my work, make notes to myself, etc. so this is it. Welcome to my Model-Building-DnD-Brain-Dump space. Make yourself at home.