Archive for the ‘Wargaming’ Category

Spotted this on the BBC web site – the I-Ball – a camera for use in looking in dangerous places. How long till they adapt the idea for sport? It will make for interesting footage from football and cricket plus no more watching a blue sky where there might be a ball during golf. It might cause a bit of motion sickness for tennis.

I’ve finished the first two variations of my paper house model

Update: These models are now available free from the impworks web site cardboard buoings page.

A month ago I posted a beta version of a simple models house for wargamers and role players. I’ve had some feedback on it: a request for chimney stacks, variations of the ends and an extension for the ends. I’ve also added some assembly instructions too. I’ve posted the first of the PDFs this morning (25mm House Model) and I’ll make the other PDFs over the next few days and upload them as I do.

Update: These models are now available free from the impworks web site cardboard buoings page.

I was digging through past projects looking at the nets I’d designed for paper buildings but never finished off when I came across something I’d actually finished. A sheet of sixty-five Victorian and Edwardian advertising posters resized to fit on to a sheets of mini address labels. They work with Avery Inkjet Labels Code J8651 mini address labels. Be careful when printing that the printer doesn’t resize the sheet down to a different size as the pictures and the labels won’t match if that happens.

Update: The PDF is now available free from the Miniature Posters Page.

I started work on a set of simple, cardboard building models using pepakura originally for Serious and Organised but which, like Serious and Organised, I’ve yet to finish. A discussion on the SFSFW mailing list kicked me into finishing a simple one of a house. It can either be used as a single, semi-detached house or by putting several together a terrace. I’ve got additional bits that can be used to customise this model in the works including chimney stacks and extensions for the ends and rear but I’ve not textured them yet. I’ve made versions for 28mm, 25mm and 15mm gaming and I suggest printing them on thin (160gms) white card for use. Assemble the walls together first, then add the roof and finally add the base. You can leave off the base if you want as they are reasonably rigid without it.

Download the PDF of the models:

• 28mm House Model
• 15mm House Model

Any comments or suggestions either drop me an e-mail or leave a comment on my blog.

Update: The 25mm model is now out of Beta and available free from the impworks web site cardboard buoings page.

When I first got Pepakura designer I played with it a bit but didn’t really get into using it. The last couple of days I’ve been playing with it again working up some simple building models for table top gaming. I’ll post the first buildings soon if I’m happy with them.

Issue 52 of Ragnarok the SFSFW‘s journal of fantasy and science fiction wargaming landed care of the Post Office today. My first Rag cover. It wasn’t a picture I’d done expecting it to be used on the cover but John liked it and wouldn’t let me fiddle with it. I’ve got a couple more illustrations inside on David Crook’s article &Inventing Armageddon – An Overview". I’ve only had a chance to take a quick glance but it looks to be a pretty good issue.

Edit: I’ve posted a larger version of the steam mech picture now.

Raganrok issue 51, John Wilson’s first as editor, came through my door this morning. A very good read it looks to be too.

I was reminded by the problems at Little Chef of a discussion I had with a friend over ten years ago inspired by a rather battered Little Chef map. The last few days I’ve been working on the project that has sat on the hard drive of two computers untouched for so long. I’m glad I didn’t delete it. Back then we couldn’t see a way to make it work. I think I can now

Came across a little shareware application that will take simple 3d models and produce a design for a paper mesh of the model. It can read a lot of fairly standard formats like wavefront object (.obj), lightwave (.lwo) and 3d studio (.3ds). It can also read some texture maps too. I’ve not got anything to show for my playing yet but it looks to be quite fun. I’ll probably spend the $35 to unlock the ability to save projects sometime this weekend. I can see potential for making stuff for wargaming and friends kids too. If your interested take a look at the Pepakura Designer web site.