Sunday 28 September 2008

046 Tin Can Alley (Now with 25% Extra Free!)

Hullo, All.

Just thought I'd share somethig I'm happy with. Compared to some of the awesome projects going on in this blogging community it pales into insignificance, but I'm rubbish at getting scenery done, so I was pleased to finish the following storage tank in one afternoon. It's taken from the idea in the Apocalypse book (I think), and since I took this photo I've added a fairly effective rust effect - again, a first for me. Here it is (balanced - for some reason - atop a bedsheet):


Oh, and those snipers are very nearly done. Watch this space. And Kate'll be home soon, so that'll make Drax happy!

Here's an update, in the wake of Ron's query (see comments):

I might do a step-by-step if I make another storage tank (I probably will), but in the meantime, here is the sketch I made on the back of the cereal packet afterwards, so I could remember the dimensions:

NB: This is a standard British food tin (420g of baked beans, in this case). 420 grams is...some ounces. But please note, if you're on t'other side of the Pond, your tins come in different shapes and sizes to ours.

Also, the annotation from the diagonal cross-beam reads as follows: "rule the diagonal; guess the width of beams" (I did this freehand).

Dimensions: In this example, the main measurements (on appr. 1mm thick cereal packet card) are: 232mm x 125mm. That 125mm width is actually slightly narrower than the label, but it's fiddly to measure 125.5mm! The length divides into four panels of 58mm, and all the uprights and horizontals are 15mm wide, as is the top cross (cut to fit from a broader cross). The extra girders on the uprights give it the appearance of rigidity and were just quickly cut freehand, about 3-4mm wide.

Rivets: These were 'drilled' through with a mini screwdriver (about 2mm flathead with a rotating base, like a pin vise. I don't know what these are technically called, I'm afraid,) and although I didn't measure them, they do follow the patterns marked on the first and second panels in the sketch.

There you go!

Cheers,

- Drax.

10 comments:

  1. Looks good, how about a step by step or better yet... a ruined factory to set that little baby into.

    Very nice.

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  2. That's a great piece of scenery there! I can already see the snipers taking up position around it to wreak havoc on some poor unsuspecting fools. Also, the title of the blog is top notch.

    Glad to hear your Kate will be back soon. Maybe she'll have new pictures for her blog?

    Oh, and thanks for the stealth link!

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  3. Thanks, Guys.

    Ron: I'm going to update the post to include some details. That might help for now. As for a factory...? Phew! One step at a time, eh? - I'll leave that to you pros!

    SMIG: I'm one step ahead. Check out my next post later today! And maybe, but I doubt it as I have her camera. And you're welcome (Sorry, Ron, I meant to link to your building, too!).

    Check out the new stuff on this post when you can. (Geddit: "can"?!)

    - Drax.

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  4. So, if I understand this correctly, you use the label off the original can to get the measurement of the circumference of the can? If not, you should, that's a bit of genius there!

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  5. No - for two reasons:

    Firstly, the different thickness of the card I used would alter the dimensions a surprising amount, and
    secondly, the label overlaps, and I needed mine to meet up flush. I did it slightly over thn trimmed it down, using a technique not unlike that which you'd use to match match-up wallpaper strips!

    As a guide though, yes: it'd be great: good thinking! Sadly, I'd washed mine off anyway (the tin came from the recycling).

    - D

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  6. Excellent addition, there's always some measurements when building terrain and then there's the part where you just wing it and get it close enough.

    Once again, nice job.

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  8. Nice drax, amazing what baked bean cans can turn into with a little bit of work. I've been saving a load of pringles cartons as seem ideal for terrain building.

    Does anyone have any ideas for some quick and easy terrain pieces so i can geta few games going with my brother without it looking like they are fighting on a barren wasteland

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  9. Dubs - the Nissan-hut-type buildings you can see in my post "046 Games Day III" are made of Pringles tubes, string, tissue paper/kitchen roll and watered-down PVA. I bought a pack of pringles for exactly the same reason, although I've yet to get around to it (the tin can was really swift).

    - Drax.

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  10. Yeah they seem suited to being central parts of structures of chimney stacks for them. Pus contain tasty crisps and have an excuse to buy them :)

    Does anyone have good ideas on how to build rock/stone walls as i'm working on a few hills and want to make some cover for the top of them.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment!