You mentioned using the mould until it wears out - maybe some of the castings at the end of its life expectancy would lend themselves to being rubble, damaged sections and so forth? Trying to think of ways of getting the most value out of it. Looks marvellous already!

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Very True.
Here is a better Photo. I finally have enough cave floor tiles cast. The chipped stone tiles are the spacers I have been using.



The white tiles are hard to photograph .



I am waiting for the rune molds to arrive. The large fore wall will have to tie in to the 2th floor. I need the rune blocks to make sure my idea will work. Then I will be able to glue up the two end sections. The large wall foundation is in the foreground. In the first photo It looks like a step up. I do not know if the runes should start at the first course of bricks or the second. You can see how it might matter at the top of photo #2. the space behid the stairs is where the rune blocks will fit. I will have to see what looks best.



Thanks
The moria mold is worn but I should be able to get some more use out of it.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

It is raining so I can't cut the foam Into spacers. Dangerous fumes.
I have most of the blocks cast. I have been studying photos. You can't see the stairs behind Balin's stairway in the movie. But they add a lot of depth to the model. I should have the blocks. It might be tricky to fit but it will be fun. There will be lots of room for goblins. I am going to make sure I leave space on the ruin floor.



There will be four more courses of stairs and then the smaller bridge and tunnel.
The rune molds will be here in a few days.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Is the bottom picture the work up to date ? If so I can't work out the flow and the connection between the right staircase and the one in the centre left of the picture.

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The photo is a blow up of the weta model. I am using it as reference for the stairs that can't be seen in the movie.




This is the exit from the 21th Hall. I believe this is the point that the lower stairs flow from. It is another way to The Bridge of Khazad-dum.


You can see the lower part of the stair from the bridge. The hidden stair will allow me to add interest to the model. I hope I will have time to cut the pink foam this week end. Fred's memorial D Day game will be Sunday. I will have my sisters three kids and The girls so I will have less time next week.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Thanks Charlie, that makes more sense to me. Fingers crossed you get everything done.

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Commission Service Available

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I was able to cut the back drop from Pink foam between rain storms.
I will start gluing together more of the detail parts. I know how much room to leave for the lower stair sections. I need to work out a spacer for the ruin section. I have to glue it together first.



I will work on the small platform and Door to the 21 Hall and the two roof buttresses tonight. There are also two short stair ways that lead to a sudden drop off.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

This is incredible! I mammoth project! Really good job and great attention to detail with those damaged sections! I'm impressed!

Thanks



Some of the ruins starting to come together.



I have worked out the core sections for the lower stairs. The MDFB will be the core sections for the floors for the ruin section. I am going to include lots of space for goblins to climb. I am also going to include a door form the back side for play value.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Wow, wished you lived near me, gaming must be brilliant with you around. Hope the rain stops

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Harfoots-The first of the Hobbit people to cross over the Misty Mountains and enter Eriador.

More friends are always welcome thanks.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

I have only had time for a single cast from the rune letter mold. I used one of the letters on the Exit arch from The 21th Hall.
I will need a way to keep the letters separate. They will be very hard to sort if there are hundreds.




This is a fitting test. I discovered that I will have to cut off the top of the pink foam at the Hall arch and recess it back one or two inches.
I will have to add some detail to the back of Durin's Stair because it will be visible. I won't be able to spend any major time with it this week. However, it should progress rather rapidly from this point.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Insane! Can't wait to see it all finished.

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"Mickey, my friend!"

Incredible work, this is going to be very impressive when completed

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My Miniatures Blog (covering LOTR/Terminator/Doctor Who/Warpath and more!):
http://cruciumgiger.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks guys.


"My mother had me tested!"

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Wow that's getting big!

Very cool piece!!

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Check out my WIP: www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=24858

Here come's one of my silly questions: You have used foam in some places so that is fairly lightweight, but there is a lot of wood and plaster. How heavy is the entire thing going to be when finished, and how potentially awkward to move or store? Durin's Tower is my biggest single piece and since that was all foam, balsa and some cardboard, it is ridiculously light.

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

There are no silly questions.
I am going to keep it at Tree Fort Games. But it is made to break down into a lot of parts so it won't be hard to move. It will be relatively light. It will weigh more than the pirate ships but will not be as bulky. I t will not take up as much room as the D-Day boards or the Castles. I know that was not much of an answer

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Now that is what I call a Grand Staircase!

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.