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

John Wayne · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:39 pm

Wow nice cave system. Upon completion it will look amazing and will be the best to play on. :yay:

LordElrond · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:46 pm

Can't wait to see how this turns out. If it turns out as well as it is pormising to at the moment, I will have to make one myself.

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

Beowulf03809 wrote:

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.

I was always planning on making the Deeping Wall have a removable section, but now I'm not too sure I want to. It makes sense to do it in gaming terms, but I want the whole project to look like one solid piece. The problem with a modular section is trying to make it not look like a modular piece. Lol. Might have to experiment with a few things.

As with the caves, and most things I build in general, I throw myself into it with a basic idea of what I want, but I leave things flexible as I tend to come up with new plans as I'm in the construction process. A great example is that staircase that curls down the side of the cavern, that was never planned until I got the knife out.

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

Haven't done any more work on Helm's Deep just yet

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:37 pm

Whoa! Carving the lot from pink insulation foam - that's different and looks very effective. The only things I would do different would be to have the optional devastated section of the Deeping Wall and I would make the wall itself longer - but then space becomes a severe constraint (I know ALL about that).
This is what I mean by lengthening the wall:
http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... tt0939.htm
http://www.framecaplib.com/lotrlib/html ... tt1382.htm

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

Cheers for the feedback.

The destroyed section of the wall is planned...but not sure how I'm going to go about it just yet. I could carve it out with a hot wire cutter, but the section would still be quite noticeable...which I want to avoid. Any tips would be appreciated

As you pointed out, the length of the wall is limited by the edge of the board. But, anyway, I'm not aiming for a Helm's Deep replica, just my own interpretation ...so it doesn't really bother me that much. I could extend it by maybe 1 or 2 inches, but that's not really worth it lol. Plus, it makes the castle more defensible with a shorter Deeping Wall.

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

Hey all, sorry for the very lengthy delay between updates (I've been overseas hiking NZ's wilderness - and of course had to drop into Weta Workshop! Pic below)

Haven't done much work on this project just yet. Carved out the main gate (very roughly), and also started on a removable main hall section at the back.

Here's a pic from Weta. If anyone wants Thorin's sword, it'll cost you a cool $10,000 NZ.

Azog · **Posted:** Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:40 am

I'm jealous of your trip !

Quote:

But, anyway, I'm not aiming for a Helm's Deep replica, just my own interpretation ...so it doesn't really bother me that much.

I think what you said about it being your own interpretation is important. Now the films have been done there is a real temptation to stick with their visions, both for models and the look of figures.

It's your hobby and so doing it YOUR WAY way sounds a good thing to do :-)

Fantastic work by the way, I wish I had your time and commitment and your storage space!

garmenhord · **Posted:** Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:12 am

nice terrain, can't wait to c how this develops

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 6:51 pm

I'm interested in this project as Helms Deep is on my to do list. I was looking at hirst blocks which heightens my interest us to your alternative method.

ste271276 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:57 pm

Great job pal!

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

Sorry for the extended delay (almost an entire year!). I haven't spent an awful lot of time on this project since my last update, most recently I changed the cliff face behind the deeping wall, and cut out the exploded section.

I'll try to keep the updates coming regularly!

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:13 pm

Great looking project, lots of things to play with here. Very nice work with the exploding section.

Pandarchon · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:45 am **Posts:** 26

Wait so you're carving into the Styrofoam to get the brick pattern?

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:22 pm

Wow, that's a good piece you've got there! I know my dad and I started a Helm's Deep about 10 years ago which sadly never got finished. For the brickwork, we made a latex mold from the GW version, strengthened with layers of gauze. Once we had the foam in the shape we needed, we covered it in a layer of polyfilla and then pressed the brick mold into it. Some would flake off as we pulled the mold away, but once that dried it simply looked like it had been weathered and broken away by time, rain and wind.

I look forward to seeing your progress!

Bandobras Took · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:30 pm

Wow this is fantastic! I've always wanted to make a Helm's Deep model but never thought I had the resources. It's a great use of polystyrene and the stone/brick work carving is absolutely amazing!

I shall watch this thread with great anticipation for the finished product

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:38 pm

I am sorry I did not see this post before.Good job

I like your carved stone effect. The caves are especially nice.

mertaal · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:04 pm

Superb work- I am particularly impressed with the arched columns. Can't wait to see it finished and covered in warring figures!!

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:51 pm

This is great - nice take on the destroyed section, very neat.
As for Orcrist, you can get the United Cutlery or Noble Collection display pieces for a lot less - about £180. The WETA version would be made by their swordsmith and each is unique as they are handmade every time - no CNC work.
Lack of space is always one of the banes of terrain builders

army-of-the-dom · **Joined:** Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:06 pm **Posts:** 258

Wow looking great so far so affective using all foam - where did you get yours from it starting to cost more and more!??

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

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