Eboli's WHQ 3D Egyptian Dungeon

[Eboli]

Hi all,

As suggested I am attaching a few images of the dungeon pieces I have created in the last few weeks. These are made out of Hydrostone plaster using Hirst Egyptian molds. Sort of like lego pieces for adults The two white pieces have yet to be painted or finished.

Each piece will be glued onto 4cm foam layer (painted black) so I can take advantage of pits, chasms, wells and staircases. The wall section and half tile space remaining is classed as a no go area so this allows me to add "eye candy" to the walls etc. I have still yet to work out whether I will make the dungeon dirty by adding rubble etc.

At this point I am creating pieces as to my 6 year old son's wishes/wants so I am not particularly sticking directly to WHQ rooms but we have a deal where I can create a piece according to my needs to every piece I make for him. As long as he is happy.

I have am just in the process of painting the 2 last pieces from white plaster to sandstone so I will show what they look like in my next post.


Cheers!
Eboli.

[Shas'El Tael]

Great to see your thread start up

Look forward to further work in progress pieces in time. I don't recall the unpainted sections; new additions? (Might recheck what you posted in my thread)

Either way, good to have a new thread on the forums!

Seb

[Daniel36]

Very inspirational pieces. I can totally feel the Egyptian vibe. Would be cool to adventure in.

[Eboli]

Hi all,

Just an update on my latest 2 pieces. These being a 3 way intersection and a general corridor containing a trap pit in the centre. Over the last couple of nights I was able paint the pieces (yellow ochre), seal them using Cabot's Cabothane Clear (water based) and then use Kiwi shoe polish to add the antiquing look to them. This works quite well in my opinion.

What I have found interesting is that I don't need to undercoat each piece and that a water downed version of my yellow ochre paint (Reeves) actually soaks into the hydrostone plaster quite well and does not darken the pieces as much - as to my needs. The PVA wood glue causes a bit of lightening in some areas but in my opinion this just adds a bit of highlighting/texture for the pieces.

I think I need to add a bit of extra colour to the eye candy features on the walls themselves in order to take away from the same so-so look and have to think about whether I need to add some PVA glue "runs" in some corners etc of which I can sprinkle on some white sand to create a seeping sand look. Maybe a few skulls, bones, shields and weapons could also be useful to add atmosphere.

I still have to paint the foam base black and complete the pit trap before sealing the foam for extra toughness.

My son wants me to work on the dungeon entrance so I am thinking 2 tiered with a set of stairs coming down from the outside directly to the first room where a mandatory Events card would be drawn. I think that a few wall columns plus a few blocks containing hieroglyphics would be most appropriate.

Probably won't be able to get into this new build for a few days as it will be a busy weekend and I want to properly finish off all the other pieces first.

Till next time!

[Shas'El Tael]

Just gorgeous.. unfortunately with all this photo evidence, my heroes will avoid such pitfalls

How do you go about applying the Kiwi polish? Rubbed in with cloth?

Detailing wise, ornaments, discarded weapons.. even drifting sands? Would look great. Certainly the sort of thing you could just keep adding and adding.

- Seb

[Eboli]

Hey there Seb,

Many thanks for the compliments. I paint the brown kiwi shoe polish liquid on by brush and let it sit for a minute or two and then wipe or dab it off with a tissue. The shoe polish is the one with a spongue that you rub onto the shoe. Looking at the label it is called Kiwi Self Shining Polish. It is thicker than the normal GW wash and thus you have more working time and it tends to stay where you put it.

Cheers! Eboli.

[Purplebeard]

This looks fantastic.

[Velsharoon]

It looks amazing, this what all our Tomb King players need to make use of their armies in WHQ. The amount of time needed for hirst arts moulds is scary so well done for seeing it though,

[Daniel36]

Australia East Coast... That's not too far from the Netherlands... >_<
Let me know when it's finished, hahahah.... Oh how I wish I could play on this.

[Andy_T]

Looks great, well worth the time and effort!

[Eboli]

Hi all,

It has been a little while since I have been able to sit back down and start work on a few more pieces but after a couple of evenings I have come up with three new starts. Definitely works in progress.

These being a set of stairs, another 3 way intersection, and a "Entrance Hall".



The 3 way intersection with stairs is at my son's request while the "Entrance Hall" is my chosen construct. As you have noticed I have yet to add walls and base on foam. For the Entrance Hall I am keen to add some colour to the Lotus floor tiles, columns and vases and have learnt my lessons from last time in that it is best to paint before gluing down onto the structure - especially if near walls.

I have called my construct an Entrance Hall as at times I intend on using it as the first room to an adventure with a mandatory Event. By the way I will construct this piece this will allow to be able to place stairs at either entry side.

Thus my next intended piece will be an outside Dungeon Entrance piece. I have an idea of how it will be built but I'll surprise you in a future log.

Cheers!
Eboli.

[Shas'El Tael]

Wow.. that really is the entrance hall. I can imagine a wave of low scale undead rushing our heroes to overwhelm them at the foot of the steps before the get a chance to press deeper. It has that height that makes you think already.. Not in Kansas anymore..

Gosh.. that really is a great piece Eboli.

[Daniel36]

Tomb Raider vibe is what I get. But then in a Fantasy world... which is even better.
Oh how I wish I had stuff like this lying around.

[Daemonslave]

Now this is what a 'Quest 3D board should look like!

[Eboli]

Hi all,

Just a quick update. A few days ago I finished the 3 way intersection with stairs piece. Just need to paint the foam base black and I am also thinking of painting another coat of clear over all my finished pieces for added protection.



The Entrance Hall is going well and I am now figuing out what type of columns to use and paint scheme. I have one column painted up but need to add the shoe polish technique before I will post up. Floors tiles - have yet to look at. Gotta go!

[Shas'El Tael]

Really looking good; the chunkiness of the overall block design really lends itself to and Epic encounter. Out of curiousity, what have you been using as inspiration of late?

[Harry]

Magnificent.
It will take you a while but what an stunning board you will have.

[Daniel36]

What I really like about this particular dungeon is that, even though it's just corridors and an entrance for now, it actually feels like it would have served a purpose. That's the problem I have with most dungeons is that the reason they seem to exist is simply to have a stage for monsters to perform in. This looks and feels like a proper burial ground for someone very important, and as such would have to be defended by constructs because of all the loot he would have brought with him.

[Eboli]

Hi all,

Attached are a couple of photographs of the painted column I have prepared for the Entrance Hall. All up there are 6 of them so theoretically I should have them completed over a course of another 4-5 nights while watching tv with my wife. I don't want to add too much colour to the dungeon as a whole but will have to experiment to see what works best. So these columns will just be using red, gold and blue colours on a sandstone background.

I am also looking into experimenting with using temporary tattoo print paper in order to add Egyptian wall paintings to the dungeon. To me I think this may provide a good result as the Egyptian tattoo print is using a very thin medium and thus I can still take advantage of the wall's texture. It may or may not work but I think worth looking at.

Seb - The Hirst Arts website provides me with some good examples to work with as a guide. As I am becoming more knowledgeable to how the blocks compliment each other I will become more adventurous. My son has quite a few Egyptian books so I am going to have a good look at them for inspiration but creating a practical dungeon look for WHQ uses has to take priority.



I have recently got a few Crocodile Games Egyptian miniatures come in from overseas so I may need to get a few photos of them up here as well in a future post. These figures do come with good shield designed so a few plaster copies will be made for dungeon "litter"

Cheers!
Eboli

[Daniel36]

Ooh I really like those columns. The colour choice is excellent, it really fits the mood. I can understand your apprehension for adding too much colour. Perhaps you could drybrush some of the yellow over the coloured tiles to make them look like the colour has faded over time? That way, there is colour in your dungeon, but the colours become more muted and fade into the background a little more while still providing you with some variety. Just a thought.