Mothball's Helm's Deep Hybrid WIP - UPDATED 17/2/15

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

Hi all, welcome to my Helm's Deep hybrid WIP.

Hybrid, you say? Let me explain. Back in 2009 I built a modular Helm's Deep that lacked many of the finer details (see below), and I never quite ended up finishing it. Fast forward to today, I wanted to make amends for this and start a project that would be more elaborate, with closer attention to detail.

I was divided between constructing my own design for a castle or remaking Helm's Deep. I love the design of Helm's Deep a hell of a lot so I couldn't resist giving it another go, but I wanted to implement my own design elements as well, hence resulting in this hybrid version.

I hope you enjoy the journey!

2009's Helm's Deep

2013's Helm's Deep begins...
The board measures 1200mm x 600mm (4ft x 2ft), and the entire playing surface will consist of 2 of these sheets.

Testing the look of the bricks:

Paint test, highlights arent done yet so expect the bricks to be a lot brighter:

[center]
There will be another tower built into the cliff face (partially sculptured already) just to the left of the staircase

Central tower connected to outer wall via walkways. There's a ramp that leads to the upper courtyard:

As you can see, there's no room for the main hall at the moment, but I'll be adding a removable hall section at some point. Right now it's just a door to nowhere:

[/center]

This is all very rough still and needs a good sanding to make everything flush.

There will also be a cave system as well, which I'm quite looking forward to getting stuck into!

rumtap · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:17 am

wow, i wish i could do something like that. i look forward to watching this continue to develop.

Gandalf The Grey · **Joined:** Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:06 pm **Posts:** 37

Amazing, I've been wanting to create helms deep ever since I started this hobby but I don't think I could make something as good as this.

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

Thanks guys

Gandalf The Grey wrote:

Amazing, I've been wanting to create helms deep ever since I started this hobby but I don't think I could make something as good as this.

This was the same as me when I first started. It's a lot of fun building Helms Deep, I'd definitely recommend giving it a go one day!

Rognarr · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:19 am

simply beautiful!

Finrod · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:48 am

Great job, looking forward to see the next pics!

janner · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:42 pm

Cracking work :yay:

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:39 pm

Brilliant! I've seen a few different ways of this being done but never one that used the same approach you are using.

I have to imagine the layers are not actually glued down to each other yet, correct? I can't see how you would be able to do any work on the inside sections otherwise.

It's really an inspiring approach.

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

Beowulf03809 wrote:

I have to imagine the layers are not actually glued down to each other yet, correct? I can't see how you would be able to do any work on the inside sections otherwise.

Correct. I'm still in the cutting and shaping phase. Just seeing how things fit together.

LordElrond · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:58 pm

What material are you using?

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:00 pm

Wowee, someone's been hard at work. Well done so far, you must have lots of patience. :yay:

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

LordElrond wrote:

What material are you using?

I'm using extruded polystyrene. Essentially the highest density polystyrene you can get (so none of those annoying 'balls'), and the holy grail for model makers. Perfect for carving, easy to sand.

I ordered 5 metres of the stuff, but when I went to pick the sheets up, someone had messed up my order and they didn't have the exact sheets I was after. In order to make up for it, they gave me 10 metres of extra sheeting ranging from 25mm-50mm thickness, all for no added cost. Can't complain about that :roll:

. So now I'm sitting at home with 15m of foam in my garage. I could make Helms Deep in full scale. Lol.

GothmogtheWerewolf wrote:

Wowee, someone's been hard at work. Well done so far, you must have lots of patience. :yay:

Cheers. It's a lot of fun, so it's not a chore to come back to. Sometimes.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:28 am

Make a scale Orthanc tower with the pieces left over!

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

Beowulf03809 wrote:

Make a scale Orthanc tower with the pieces left over!

Haha. Now there's an idea!

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

Today I decided that I'd hack into the cave system.

The doorway that the unpainted Gondorian is standing in leads to a tunnel that runs right around to the other side of the castle, and meets up with those stairs in the rock face behind the deeping wall, and also continues on til it reaches the tower that I plan on building behind Deeping wall aswell:

It's hard to see what's going on in the following pics as the structure is a bit of a mess at the back right now lol

Crucium Giger · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:03 am

Oh my goodness, excellent work so far and I cannot wait to see how this shapes up :yay:

Mothball · **Joined:** Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 am **Posts:** 116

Cheers, buddy!

Making this wip has really given me that added motivation to get stuck into this project. I want to see the end product just as much as you! Lol.

SidTheSloth · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:37 am

Stunning! Just stunning!

I love your adaptations and your strong outflanking tower defending the weaker wall actually makes alot more sense than in the film IMO.
Looks truly fabulous to game in

I really look forward to seeing more!

Crucifer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:31 pm **Posts:** 128

Wow is just the word that I come to think of. You are doing an great job with this!

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:41 pm

I agree...your model is a little more compact but looks very defensible, instantly recognizable and fun to play on.

Will you be making your Deepening Wall modular in some way so that it can have a section removed for playing a demolition charge scenario?

I must say I'm REALLY impressed with your expansion into the caves. You either did some serious pre-planning or just have a great natural eye for such things.

Mothball's Helm's Deep Hybrid WIP - UPDATED 17/2/15

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