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Post by Noktu on Feb 18, 2016 5:12:46 GMT -8
And here we go, the front is pretty much done. Propably going to finish the ground a bit when I've worked my way with the other parts of the incoming castle. C&C More than welcome!
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Post by Noktu on Feb 21, 2016 3:35:18 GMT -8
Threw a little diorama out there.
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Yorick
Garheim
Encountering foes in an unknown land
Posts: 295
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Post by Yorick on Feb 29, 2016 12:39:46 GMT -8
I'm liking all the geometry around the windows; its lookin' good.
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AK_Brickster
Innkeeper
Scouting the Lenfel Border
Posts: 3,272
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Post by AK_Brickster on Feb 29, 2016 17:40:02 GMT -8
I think it looks really good. It's a very "clean" style, which I think is nice to see every once in a while. The windows not being centered in the slanted openings is making my geometry OCD act up a little bit, but overall I think you're doing a nice job!
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Post by Noktu on Feb 29, 2016 20:20:58 GMT -8
Cheers! Anything I could really improve upon? One that strikes me is that I had to do All the level changes with dark gray plates, as I lack sufficient amount of light gray ones.
And without new headlight pieces, what is the best way to texture such large areas?
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AK_Brickster
Innkeeper
Scouting the Lenfel Border
Posts: 3,272
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Post by AK_Brickster on Mar 1, 2016 15:54:56 GMT -8
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Post by Noktu on Mar 1, 2016 20:22:09 GMT -8
Cheers Ak! Wondering if you have any clue what would be the best way to incorporate huge amounts of castle wall panels without those looking dull. The ones I made were the "best" solution I could come up with. Lacking the inverted slopes to create the upper part of the detail though.
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AK_Brickster
Innkeeper
Scouting the Lenfel Border
Posts: 3,272
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Post by AK_Brickster on Mar 2, 2016 8:17:12 GMT -8
In the corner tower of this castle (closest to viewer), you can see the builder seamlessly integrated panels and kept them from being "boring" by "framing" them with columns. I think something like this is a good approach, and can be accomplished at a smaller scale than what you see here. BrickCon 2014 by Pascal, on Flickr Here's another castle by a guy who's in my LUG, which is almost entirely built of panels on the bottom half. There are some things to like about it, and some not to like. I'll leave it to you to pull whatever inspiration / cautionary tales you will from it www.flickr.com/photos/ak_brickster/10109979493/in/dateposted-public/
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Post by Noktu on Mar 7, 2016 13:33:54 GMT -8
That framing was so clever I had to demolish my former "castle", and go on with my new inspiration sparked by you. I still struggle a lot with terraining, especially in how to create levels and make it interesting. Here's what I came up with.
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josdu
Outlaws
Marooned on the Island of Lost Souls
Posts: 1,176
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Post by josdu on Mar 7, 2016 17:13:07 GMT -8
Nice WIP, I like the wood flooring!
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AK_Brickster
Innkeeper
Scouting the Lenfel Border
Posts: 3,272
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Post by AK_Brickster on Mar 8, 2016 22:08:46 GMT -8
Very nice! I like this new version a LOT!
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Post by SEdmison on Mar 9, 2016 17:31:21 GMT -8
Wow. You definitely drew some inspiration for the second effort. I'm really liking the buttress-and-arch thing going on along the front wall and how it frames the window panels.
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Post by Noktu on Mar 9, 2016 20:40:59 GMT -8
Cheers lads! Now that I think of it, the first one looks quite horrific compared to this.
Do you guys have any tips to share when it comes to terrain?
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Post by SEdmison on Mar 9, 2016 23:50:08 GMT -8
Cheers lads! Now that I think of it, the first one looks quite horrific compared to this. Do you guys have any tips to share when it comes to terrain? Always! I love doing terrain. Here are some things to consider, just off the top of my head: - Think about the type of terrain from macro down to micro. What type of environment are we in (desert, arid, tropical, subtropical, coastal, temperate, etc.)? - The macro ecology will dictate the type of terrain. (Desert might imply dunes or savannah. Temperate might imply forest or plains. Coastal might imply rocky beach, sandy beach, lagoon, or delta. Etc., etc.) - Once we establish the general terrain, what kinds of specific flora and fauna would be on display in that terrain? Deciduous forest might mean oaks and maples growing out of and above older fallen trees. Conifer forest might mean pines and firs growing up out of rocky soil. Rainforest might have some of each, with ferns on the forest floor. Grassland might mean some mix of grasses, weeds, and small bushes growing out of sandy or loamy soil. Savannah might mean brown grasses and hardy plants struggling to survive in cracked, arid ground or sand. - Also consider being at the intersection of two different kinds of terrain, such as a grassy clearing at the edge of a wood, or sandy dunes giving way to savannah. That's a great way to mix things up, particularly if you're ever landscaping a large area. - Okay, with the terrain telling us what kinds of species to include, now figure out how to represent them. Some things are easy: LEGO grass elements for grass, olive or dark green leaf elements under the grass to represent mossy or weedy undergrowth. Other things require more work, like conifer trees or deciduous trees, but there are lots of examples online. - Lay down some soil and rock layers. Create height profiles to keep things from being too linear, flat, or boring. Think of the angles that you want the viewer or camera to see, and use height to keep things in front from spoiling the view of things behind. (Leave gaps or openings, or elevate things in the back.) - When you have an idea of the specific techniques you want to use, you're ready to think about placement. The key here is random, random, random. Find ways to force yourself to break patterns. Don't put things in straight lines (unless you're suggesting human intervention like planting in straight lines). If you placed your last two rocks pretty far apart, place your next couple fairly close together. Break up patterns of grass with rocks, and vice versa. Don't have all your trees be the exact same design or height; trees along the outside of a stand are shorter and hardier because they break up the wind, and trees on the inside are taller and spindlier because they're struggling to get sunlight by reaching higher than those around them.
Here are a couple of albums of some of my stuff. I don't claim that they're perfect or even great, or that they exemplify every single thing I describe above, because I learn and improve as I build, too. But if they help you, then please enjoy. Terrain I built for one of AK_Brickster's castles at BrickCon last year. Modular terrain I built for my own amusement.
Cheers, Sean
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Post by Draklun on Mar 13, 2016 15:44:28 GMT -8
What I would give to have that many minifigs of the crown knights! Sick build keep up the amazing work!
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