Sunday 12 January 2014

'nids part 119 - PROJECT Y Scratchbuilt Tyranid Skyshield Landing Pad pt2.

This is only a small update really, although the actual process of moving forward with this was quite momentous. The foamboard landing pad base has been sat for a long time while I've progressed with the towers. I'd originally planned for these to run simultaneously but trying to ensure the pad slots in neatly is making a concurrent process more practical.


I scored some areas into the foam and then went at it with my Dremel-alike. Clearly I was a bit over-zealous in places where I've cut through the board completely. I now have doubts about the structural integrity which means I'm going to have add a mounting board base, which will stall proceedings as I don't have access to the board at home. Each join to the Capillary towers has been incrementally 'nibbled' to make a neat and tidy fit. If I'd have done this before fleshing out the towers this fit would not work.


I have only one piece of plasticard, I've had it for years and thought this would be the ideal opportunity to use it on the base for my detachable walls. 'A' is wrong, the nibbled joins means it's too long which could have been rectified if I hadn't put those to end bits on back to front. Essentially those will add a bit of support and join neatly to the walls. Luckily this cock up will provide me with a test bed for all my experimental goings on with the plastic cutlery. Incidentally I am drawing my inspiration for the excellent 18charlie.com, go check it out and see what crazy terrain they make over their out of the simplest of materials. I first saw their work on terra-genesis but I'm really glad they found a home to showcase the best of what they do.


So next up I have to add the base to the pad, which will allow me to do the clay sculpting on top but also I try adding magnets for the wall. Can't work out whether one would be sufficient or two which seems to make more sense may end up being overkill... it's these sort of thoughts that slow down progress.

Anyway, this has added a further 2 hours and 30 minutes to the project, depending on whether it's included in the Capillary Tower time or not. It actually seems like a lot of time for not very much but stripping back that foamboard is quite delicate even if my end results are not testament to this ;)

Tyranid Capillary Towers part 1. | part 2. | part 3. | part 4. | part 5. | part 6. | part 7. | part 8. part 9. |
part 10. | part 11. | 

Tyranid Skyshield Landing Pad part 1. | part 2. | part 3. | part 4. | part 5. | part 6. | part 7. | part 8. |

9 comments:

  1. Glad to see you continuing despite the loss of fortifications - this looks pretty awesome!

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    1. I'm not sure that's 100% confirmed either way. The codex says we choose our list as per the rules in the Rulebook and the Rulebook FOC includes Fortifications. I've not read in the Codex we can't take them so I will continue on.

      The situation also calls into doubt the current FAQ that says we cannot manually fire Weapon Emplacements and Emplaced Weapons, but that is for the previous Codex are we supposed to follow that. I've no doubt they will FAQ that we can't so I will continue without but if they don't my Quad Gun may yet get some use, finally!

      I'd be massively offended if they took away Fortifications in a FAQ, at least if it was in the Codex I'd have to gnaw my own hand off and live with it but a FAQ/Errata - such an insult.

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  2. I think you'll be safe on the fortifications Dave but would not be so sure on the Quad gun, anyway glad to see you've picked up from the other day & are carrying on with the landing pad.

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    1. Thanks Frank, the Skyshield is something I can control, so long as we still had access to it it doesn't matter about Biomancy, Pods or the Doom. I never started out with those, I didn't have Fortifications but regardless they're fundamentally terrain anyway so they'll be handy.

      We'll see about the gun, for some reason I'm being quite positive about it.

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  3. My local TO's at Frontline Gaming are very confident that 'Nids can fire guns now. Looks great, BTW!

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    1. Thanks GSi, but you know it's only going to get better :) Well I hope we get gun, it'll give my Zoanthrope something to shoot at while he waits for someone to get in range of his warp blast!

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  4. Great job. I'm almost ready to try to do my own tyranids fortifications. Your progress is a great inspiration! :)

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    1. Good luck Erle, can't wait to see what you come up with. I honestly believe it's easier than most people think. You don't even have to go to the lengths I did, I maintain that even the 'grouted' stage of my buildings would be sufficient in most cases. It'll be cool to see a new take on what Tyranids construct.

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  5. Extremely inspirational! I am going to have to try this.

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