My next (big!) project. Creating a diorama. I chose a Dwarf Tavern. Here it goes:

The whole idea is to create a diorama, including as much as possible Dwarf drunks, Dwarfs with mugs, chefs, cooks, etc. I also decided to include a couple of halflings, which match the same discription; mugs, chefs, etc.

All chefs and cooks are standing behind a bar (top left one, Halfling Chef with a huge roasted pig in front of him k: ), two to three tables with all drunks around it, and both tables being served by a Dwarf Waiter/with mugs. Bugman (Warhammer World figure, the new one) just starts a fight, as he raises his barstool and wants to hit a poor Dwarf with it. The drunk crossbowman from the blister pack is practising his shooting in a corner on a dartbod (a whole bunch of of misses!). Another Dwarf just woke from his sleep, and stands in a doorway, watching the whole mess.

I have:
> Halfling Hotpot
> Dwarf Innkeeper (mugs + pie)
> Dwarf Chef
> Sleepy Dwarf. Preferably one with a teddy.
> Dead Drunk.
> Dwarf/Engineer with mugs
> Goblobber (roast + chef)
> Dwarf with sword & mug
> Dwarf-with-hand-in-barrel
> Bugman(s)
> Drunken Dwarfs blister pack

Want list:
Halflings
> Halfling with beerbarrel
> Halfling with sword & mug
> Stigwort Facebracket, Halfling Barmaid, seen here: Clicky.

That's the figures so far. If any of you know another Dwarf or Haflling figure (or got ANY of the figures mentioned above!!), please send me a PM or reply here. I'm only searching for GW figures (for now), since I think the amount of figures (and costs) will get too big when I'm going to search for all possible figures, holding a mug.
I'm also slowly starting with the Tavern itself at the moment. I'm following one auction on Ebay, which sells a tavern table, made of wood. Anyway, here are two sketches I made:





I'm brainstorming about ALOT on these sketches. The smaller door will be in the back, and the sleepy dwarf stands in the doorway. The bigger one is optional for the entrance. You shouldn't have a doubt about the barrels and stools, neither the bar or food. The dart bord will be placed in the bottom right corner (see map).
NOTE. The lower part of the sketch is not scanned by my scanner. Stupid thing. On the first page, I have a second 'barrel-sketch'; it is just the same as the first one, though the Bugman logo will be replaced with a note, which says: "Halfling Brew", followed by a couple of Dwarf runes. On the second page, I wrote the following:
- pieces for on the wall: severed heads?, pieces of paper (bills, scoreboard), tavern name? possible trophies (best brewer, finest ale in Barak Varr)?

I have a few questions for you all:
- The stools. Which one? I think I'll be going for the left one; easy to make, looks a bit more dwarfish.
- Bars. Which one? I like the first one (wood), although I think the 2nd one really kicks @ssh (metal, and MUCH easier to make for me, using plasticard). But, which one do you prefer? Or perhaps another idea?
- Floors. Again, which one? The left one is stone, the right one is wood. I like the stone quite alot, but I have no idea how I could create that. The wood is probably easier, but I have no idea where to get such pieces of wood on 28mm-scale. I can't create it on my own, that's for sure.
- Walls. As you might have read above, I have no idea what to do with them. One thing is sure; they're not going to be made out of wood. I've been thinking about metal and stone. Metal would be easy to make for me, but probably look very weird. Stone would probably suit best (if I find a way to make that), but the tavern would probably look as one big piece of stone. Any ideas/suggestions?
- The food. That's a couple of ideas, any other suggestions? NOTE: It has to fit behind or on the small bar in the topleft corner, and probably about half of the bar is already filled with the pig.

That's all for now. I only have a Dwarf chef yet, and another Dwarf is on it's way. So is a Halfling Hotpot.
I want to thank somebody now already; Perv. He helped me alot on this, both finding a couple of miniatures and helping with bidding on ebay.
And, lastly, thanks for taking the time to read all of this.

This post has been edited by Tungdil Goldhand: Jun 24 2009, 02:02 PM

I would suggest you to go to Hirst Arts for the flooring, and perhaps other items as well. The website is a place where molds are sold to make blocks out of plaster. There you can find the floor either way and the wooden bar. You might also want to use a few of the kegs that they have available as well. This is looking great so far. I do like the wooden feel for the bar or you could make it out of stonework instead, again see Hirst Arts. Some of the models will be a bit trickey to find, and proabibly you may have to green stuff it yourself. Good Luck!!

Website for Hirst Arts:

http://www.hirstarts.com/

Thanks for the link. I've already spotted a few floors I like, probably going to order from there.
I'm going to order a few mugs and flagons from Olley's Armies as soon as the catalogue is available again, since they're quitting businuiss and therefore removed the catalogue for a few days/weeks. Should be up again in a few days.

Edit:
So you basically get a mold, and from there you're able to cast as much as pieces you want?

This post has been edited by Tungdil Goldhand: Jun 22 2008, 01:44 PM

That is correct. Some people use Plater of Paris, but Hydrocal or Dental Plaster is better.

I think I once saw that Evergreen Plastic sold a stonework style plasiticard sheet, but I can't find it now.



Personally my vote would be all stone. Stone floor, stone walls, stone bar. It mentions in the Army Book (look for the closeup of the pipe) that Dwarves don't use when whenever possible.

Instead of darts how about a target (orc or elf) and use throwing axes. Darts are fine, but for something eye catching throwing axes with axes stuck in the wall and a rack of axes to be rented at the bar. Have a dwarf in the act of throwing one.

Perhaps a bar fight. The new Bugman swinging a barstool to quell the brawl.

Yeah, I have a 'bar' fight - this part:



The models that look a bit more 'agressive' (holding a weapon etc.) stand around that table.
About the shooting-pratice. The Drunken Dwarfs blister pack comes with a drunk crossbowman, so I was thinking of a way to use him properly. Therefore, it will have to be arrows that are being shot, rather than throwing axes. Although axes sound cool. I came up with this dart board when thinking of it. An tied-up orc/goblin/elf sounds like a good idea, I'll think about it, perhaps make some other sketches ... how about the goblobber tied-up goblin as a target?

If you still find it Aedlred, please send it to me (reply or PM). Those pieces of plasticard also sound nice. Right now, I'm thinking about buying one set of stone floor moulds, and one set of wood planks/floor (even in case both the floor and walls would be stone - I need to create stools etc. some way). The whole tavern out of stone is probably the best idea, or stone walls and a wooden floor. Wooden walls are out of question.

I personally prefer a bar made out of iron/metal, since that is easy to make using plasticard and also more dwarfish than a wooden bar. I think a fully stone tavern to be a little dull, and I have no idea how I could create such bar with those pieces of stone floor.

Edit:
If you make casts out of plaster, can they still be cut in smaller pieces when they've dried? So, for example, can I cut a finished plank in three pieces?

This post has been edited by Tungdil Goldhand: Jun 22 2008, 05:30 PM

If you make casts out of plaster, can they still be cut in smaller pieces when they've dried? So, for example, can I cut a finished plank in three pieces?

Just use some balsa wood fer yer wooden bits, the grain paints up nicely and it's very easy to work with. I'm choosing to ignore that quote from the dwarf army book about Dwarves never using wood where possible, doesn't sit well with me for some reason.

You can delete the 2nd post, if I´m not mistaking.

I partly agree - I don't think we should just accept anything GW says. That's why my stools and tables will still be made out of wood, rather than a big flat stone balancing on another stone, for example, something the guy did winning a golden demon.

I'm Dutch, and therefore I'm afraid I don't know what kind of wood you mean by that. Do you got any further information or so?

And I think I know what I'm going to do with the target practice. Instead of a dart board, I'll be hanging up an orc head (or goblin, ofcourse) on the wall. Perhaps with a dartboard behind it, if it fits. That's really easy for me to do, easy to get, and probably looks better than a whole corpse hanging in a tavern.

Balsa is a type of hardwood but is MUCH less dense than other wood allowing it to be easily worked with a knife. It is normally available from hobby shops in sheets of varying thickness. The grain is quite coarse so shows up well when it's painted. I normally use super glue to stick it as I'm too lazy/impatient to wait for wood glue to dry. It works fine but some joints I pin if they're going to take knocks as the grain can pull apart.

Thanks for the info. Since I need to get some plasticard anyway, I´ll have a look at the local hobby shop for it as well.

Have you considered an 'open haard'? You know, the two tables on the side of the bar, with some sort of couch/stool circle around the hearth (or whatever that's called in english). This would be harder to paint I reckon, but you could get some nice shadows and ambiance. Also, how about some lantarns on the walls?

Lastly, if I look at your floor of stone, do I see cement between the stones? How about making the stones to fit perfectly? That would fit Dwarf attitude. I am imagining slightly rounded stones/boulders that fit together.

From memory, balsa wood is 'knutsel hout'. The light bright stuff.

Lol, balsa wood is just 'knutsel hout'? No problem to get then. Should be able to get that at the local hobby shop (really hobby; painting etc., no warhammer or miniatures), Pipoos if you know it.

Yeah I've considered the fireplace (I believe that comes most close), and the best thing I can use is most probably Kraggi's little forge. I have no idea where to put it though, so I didn't thought of it anymore. I'll think of it ... again

The stones are ment to have nearly no cement between them. That's just a rough sketch. I'm probably going to get a mold from hirst arts, that looks like this one.

I was thinking about how you could potentially fit in your fireplace (that\'s the word i was looking for).

1/ Looking at your sketch, if you put your right table into the topleft corner, instead of a bar there, you have space in the bottomright corner.
2/ the topright bar/counter you turn into an \'L\'-shape by adding a bit on the left side of it.
3/ in the nowopen bottomright corner there is pace for a fireplace and a circle of chairs.

Gramlin,

I would\'ve added a picture i quickly made in paint if I knew how :S



This post has been edited by Gramlin Aletracker: Jun 24 2008, 11:00 AM

Hmm .. lets see ..



I'm not removing the topleft bar. The idea was to have two 'bars'. One bar is for beverages. The other one is for food; the roasted pig, stews, pie. Since there's actually a 2nd chef on it's way already, I'm keeping that element. Unless I can fit a pig on a bar where also beverages are served - something I can't imagine.

The L-shape is for the food-bar. Perhaps I'll make the other one shaped in the same way as well, but for now I like to have varation - that means also in these bars.
Don't get me wrong - I like the idea of a fireplace, with a nice thick carpet in front of it, where a couple of dwarfs are enjoying the taste of nice, dark beer. And, when it comes down to painting (and if I'm able to do it) painting the dwarfs as if the light of the fireplace really .. how do I say this .. shines on them? You know, source-lightning, a painting-technique.

Here's two other sketches I made. What I basically do is draw it, scan it, then re-size it to a smaller size ('bout 180 kB), transfer them to photbucket and post them online. Note: I drew on a piece of paper I found the most quick: post-its. So yes, it's a little yellow-ish.



Now I actually see it on-line .. what a crappy quality. Ah well.

Two sketches.
The first one. I basically did what you said, but I kept the food-bar. This means I actually need two walls, not just one on the back.

The 2nd one. I came up with the following: instead of a table, I add the fireplace. Probably at the table the bar-fight will just start, at the fireplace there are dwarfs and halfling just enjoying a nice mug of dwarfen ale.

The shooting practice is also removed on the first one. Perhaps it'll come back later if I choose that one, but I think it'll be too full if I also add it. On the 2nd one, it is back, since I have alot of spare room when the 2nd table is gone.

So, what do you guys think? Any of the new ones better than the original sketch, or should I stick with the original idea?

Edit: Gramlin, no balsa wood to be found at Pipoos. Just those wooden ice-sticks. Where do you get yours?

This post has been edited by Tungdil Goldhand: Jun 24 2008, 02:59 PM

With regards to your flooring, you can saw the blocks from a Hirsts Arts mould with a little bit of care and they will come out fine but there are other things that you could use that will be cheaper and easier. I have some plastic cobblestone flooring sections that you can paint yourself and I also have some rubber mats with cobblestones all over them. Will get you pictures of them soon. I dont think you can get the rubber mat flooring anymore as I got it about 5 years ago and havent seen it since, the plastic flooring was from Fenris Games and is still available although I cant find the Ebay store anymore. When I post pics of them maybe people can recognise where you get them from. If not I will just send you over a sheet or 2 of the plastic floor. The rubber mats I cant part with though but if we can track down where they are sold, they would be ideal and are all pre-painted so saves you a job.

I have Hirsts Arts moulds so if you'd prefer not to buy a mould I can cast you up pieces and send them over to you, I have 5 moulds from them and will give you a list soon to see if theres any pieces that you can use from them.

From doing my big diorama I have lots of bits and bobs you could use in yours but I'll get the flooring done first and then move onto what other bits I can find for ya

Just found the rubber flooring but cant find the cobblestone one, just a brickwork one is listed. Maybe if you email them they will tell you if its still available but these sections are 11 x 17 inches so a great size and for the price you cant go worng

http://www.miniaturebuildingauthority.com/...il.asp?prod=141

This post has been edited by Perv: Jun 25 2008, 12:53 PM

Oh, great .. saves me some cash again .. I'll wait for your pictures!

By the way, guys, I made a better sketch of the 2nd post-it. The 1st one is out of question from now, I don't like having that much of stuff around. I'll post it online perhaps later this afternoon.

Ok heres the plastic flooring from Fenris Games, I found his Ebay shop but its empty. On CustomHobby, pm a member called Geronimo to get them, hes the owner of Fenris Games and you may get a discount by going through the site.

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02080.jpg

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02081.jpg

I will get a pic of the rubber ones as soon as I find them......either in a box somewhere or in my loft.....

List of Hirst Arts Moulds I have :-

Basic Blocks #40
4" Circular Tower #52
Bridge Mould #53
Ruined Tower #65
4" Round Fieldstone Tower #72 or its the 6" Tower one, cant remember.....

This post has been edited by Perv: Jun 25 2008, 02:57 PM

There we have the metal BfSP's!
I might also want the basic blocks, but the plastic flooring seems to be exactly what I want. That was what I was looking for. Let's PM that Geronimo .. soon
Edit: how much does it cost?

So. I know what I'll use for the flooring now. That leaves the walls. Do you think a pile of basic blocks will do?
Oh and by the way, I spotted a door somewhere in your molds. Perhaps will that be useful too, but I might also just want to create my own doors.

This post has been edited by Tungdil Goldhand: Jun 25 2008, 04:12 PM

Yep rare as rocking horse doo doo them metal BfSP figs I still dont like them but this collector thing is a sickness which wont allow me to miss them !!!!

I will need to get some Herculite to cast more blocks but wont take long. I have loads already cast up though so may be able to sort you out a load without waiting, depends what you need.

From what I remember those plastic flooring sheets werent cheap considering the size, I think I swapped a set of Samurai Swords for them so didnt really cost me anything. If they work out expensive or he doesnt reply I can spare you a couple of them free of charge

Yeah the basic blocks will make decent walls, I have a toilet that I made and will take a pic of it to show you how they come out, now where did I put that toilet....must be in one of many boxes I have......

I dont think theres a door in the moulds unfortunately, there is one in a mould I dont have though if I remember rightly. I've searched ages for doors and never found suitable ones. There is one in the toilet I made but I nicked that from the game "DungeonBowl", you may want to see if there are any of those on Ebay as they come with 4 doors, you can sell the rest on after or get a cheap incomplete set without the figs etc.

Okey dokey some more pics for ya

Here is the rubber\latex flooring sections and these are the best quality and value I've ever seen

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02083.jpg

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02084.jpg

Heres the toilet I made, I've removed the actual toilet and urinals when I packed up my Dwarf collection but the urinals are from the Up the Wall crew and the toilet is from the Inconenienced Dwarf. Its not finishe though so dont criicse it too much pleas

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02085.jpg

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02086.jpg

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm164/P...nt=DSC02087.jpg

This post has been edited by Perv: Jun 25 2008, 05:12 PM

Alrighty then! I made a decision .
The walls are going to be made using the basic blocks. I love the look of them, now I see a home-made building.
The floor is going to be built using the rubber sheets Perv showed me. They're really exactly what I'm looking for.

I will be able to make a door myself, using plasticard. If I can find it, ofcourse.
Since I like the idea of a fireplace, am I going to use the 2nd post-it drawing. I've made a better sketch, including some ideas about the positioning of the figures.



And, here's a pic of the figures I have right now. From left to right: Halfling Hotpot Masterchef, Dwaf chef and Dwarf with mugs( I call him like that. He holds a mug in his left hand, however he holds a plate with a pie in his right hand).



This post has been edited by Tungdil Goldhand: Jun 25 2008, 07:24 PM