[SH] Ecorium terrain for 3d printing

[Malika]

Finally decided to do some 40k scaled terrain. I've always been a big fan of Philip Sibbering's Ecorium, so I decided to give it a shot at designing some stuff for it. The design is partly based on that, and on the discussions we've been having about it here.

Here are the first WIP pictures. I need more details and such added of course. Need to kinda figure out what to include... I generally want the feel of this stuff to be rather pre-Imperial, kind of in line to the ships I've been designing.

[Stormwind]

My heart skipped a beat - as I was hoping you meant EPIC 40k terrain. x-)

[Malika]

Well, I could do Epic scaled stuff, it's a matter of resizing it, but it would ruin the details and such.

Besides, I'm having a bit of a hard time with Epic terrain, especially considering these guys.

[Stormwind]

I have noticed them, but despite the detail level, thought that they looked really pricy...

http://www.hawkwargames.com/products/art-deco-building-3

Even the smallest building is ~£30!

[Malika]

Hmm, perhaps I should revive my Epic terrain project... The big challenge is to keep down the costs...

[Stormwind]

Well the Hawk buildings could be split into several smaller buildings. I guess what interests me the most is someone making a "sprue" of components that I can buy heaps of and make into a large, low level cityscape of ruins.

The Hawk buildings are absolutely beautiful but I don't think I can make them stretch as far as I'd like.

I'm thinking of seeing if I should be learning blender and modelling some walls myself then getting Shapeways to make them - but the price of the existing models people have up seems to be huge as well!

[Malika]

Hmm, I should look into that soon then...

In the meanwhile, back on topic!



Finished the detailing on the wall panels. Next up is adding some details on the lower parts, where the pipes run.

[Stormwind]

Sorry! Yes, back on topic.

These look fab.

I had been looking at things like this less for 40k terrain but rather from the Space Hulk point of view.

[Malika]

Well, the scales for 40k and Space Hulk are the same, so that's pretty easy.

The idea behind this terrain is that it's very modular, each of the components consists of 4 parts (2 walls, grid floor, and subgrid pipings). The idea is that each component will be a building block to build your Hulk/ship/Ecorium/whatever.

Once this design is done, I'd love to make different designs (more grimdark for example) that are interchangeable to what I'm working on here. But first things first.

[Stormwind]

OK, cool - so I'm guessing that you would create moulds for these from Shapeways and then save money by casting them in resin by yourself?

[Malika]

Plan is something like that. Now I just need to find a caster. I'm not that interested in taking care of the production myself.

[Malika]

Pipings component finished!

[Islacrusez]

Hmm, think you should have the pipes as straight with no Ts by default, and either print additional ones with the occasional T, or add those by hand after recasting the first masters.

[Malika]

In the meantime I've tweaked all the components to make them as cast friendly as possible. The lower part with all the pipes for example no longer has any undercuts.

Next up is the beginnings of an L-section. For my own sanity I've decided not to make that component see through. Whilst it isn't so much a problem for the bottom sections (I can quite easily turn the pipes), it's more of a migraine causer for the top grid.

To give you a better picture of how the L-section works, I've also added to corridor bottom components on both sides of the L-section.

[Islacrusez]

The top grid could easily be sorted by using a completely different grid pattern for the corner section, such as an X pattern, a circular pattern (could also be used for T and + junctions), or an X-based triangle pattern. Personally I expect the pipework would be the bigger headache, requiring T-pieces, bends, connectors and all sorts.