papierschnitzel

Shrine roof under construction

I have completed the texturing of the roof core module. If you look closely you will find that I have added an optional alternate layer showing these Japanese joinery structures which I love. I forgot the Japanese name but I find they add even more "Japan" to the model :-) I also added them to the walls, but did not rebuild them for now.

Happy building,

Chris

Shrine roof fold flat development

Usually I create the assembly I am working on in the traditional way and then think about the fold-flat adaptations. But for this roof I started to make sure how the fold-flat version could work right form the start. So above you see my latest working prototype on the shrine I have so far.

The roof is actually made of two modules. There is the core part that you place on the walls (of the shrine...

Shrine taking shape ...

I have reworked the wall textures and included different versions for the back, sides and entrance. I am now happy with the walls :-)

I am working on the new roof and the fold-flat is quite challenging, so for a little pause, I made this diorama: Samurai making war while the shrine's monk wants to make peace!

Here is a view of the interior ...

2018-03-15 06:58:38 +0000 UTC View Post

Shrine walls test

I have started creating the wall textures. I will make one version like this and another with shoji wall style.

For this picture I reused a castle tower roof. The roof for this model will have wood shingle texture, but I like how one could mod the different roof versions I already  have  to be used for variety.

For the walls I still need to make a variation for the door/entry pan...

Easy base with easy stairs

I have completed the first test build of the shrine base. The stairs (as well as the outside railings) are in easy mode. The actual stairs is just a plane with clever texturing to give the illusion of single stairs :-) It's all very fast and easy to build.

Here is the same base with a tower from my castle tower set.

2018-03-13 06:06:57 +0000 UTC View Post

Shrine base I

When I looked at the reference pictures I found that both the height of the raised platform and the height of the railing of the white prototype were too high (see https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Shinra_Zenjin_Hall.jpg), so I squashed the base a little in height. T...

Savages settlements continued

While I was working on the Samurai village buildings, I ended up with a clay texture I was very happy with. This night at around 3am! I woke up and thought I could use that for the clay wall area of the large Savages Settlement hut.

So I got up and silently went straight to my work room and tried out the idea. And for the first time I am happy with the wall texture. I also improved the edge colu...

Shrine concept sketches

I have one more set for the regular Samurai Village buildings to make, but you wanted the shrine next. So here comes ... :-)

While looking through the research pictures I have collected, I was able to identify the basic structure. It's a house on a platform and the roof has an extension over the stairs leading up to the entrance.

My first sketch had an irimoya style roof and look fine to m...

Cutting edge coloring

Another little tutorial piece I wrote on my site. This time it's about getting rid of nasty white cut and score lines.

Curious? Read it here: http://www.papierschnitzel.com/cutting-edge-coloring/

Happy building,

Chris

SVB2 cutfiles are live

I have dropped the LVL4 cutfiles for the SVB2 set. Let the cutting start :-)

Happy building!

Chris

Cleaning up and rebooting for March

When I work, I have the habit of sketching any idea that comes to mind on the next piece of paper I can get my hands on. So in time I end up with clusters and piles of paper all over my desk and work table. It's a real mess ... says my better half ... and I have to admit it's true :-)

So today I am taking the time to clean it all up again and organized all the sketches into my ideas files and ge...

SVB2 wall textures

I wanted to point out that the good old clay wall texture is still hidden in the new set for LVL3+ patrons!

I just like the wood panel walls better for these buildings, but of course you can build a couple of clay wall houses too :-)

For the larger house, you even have the option of choosing the top and bottom wood fill style. Just check out the layer options before you print out new house...

Double up the details!

I have written a little tutorial on my site, explaining the "double up" method to bring out details from 2D into 3D. 

If you are interested, read it here: http://www.papierschnitzel.com/double-up-details/ 

Happy building,

Chris

2018 Feb files are live

I have dropped all the files for the Samurai Village Builder 2 set, except the cut files. I will create them next.

I also included the grass ground tiles. I am very curious how you like them esp the small detail plants size. I made two versions. The basic version has larger details and the Alt(ernate) version is a little more subtle with smaller plants.

I am sorry for the cut file...

Late for the current set?

If you have come here after the release of the current set (SVB1) and you want in, just raise your pledge amount to double before I make the next "charge" post. After you have been charged at the end of the month I can then authorize you to the now current set and of course to the new set.

Before next months charge round just set your pledge back to the normal amount. I think this is the easiest...

SVB2 cleanup tomorrow

For the next release I will clear the dropbox folders tomorrow.

So make sure you have downloaded all your rewards until then.

Fun with SVB2 combos

While I am taking pictures for the instructions I started to play around with the combination of the larger house and the L-shaped extensions.

Here are a couple of pics of what I put together!

The title pic is: mirrored L-shape on the short side

Then we have same L-shape on the short side

2018-02-24 16:22:02 +0000 UTC View Post

Grass continued ...

While I am working on wrapping up my buildings and getting them ready for next set release, I am also trying to improve the grass tiles. After my little breakthrough I am creating different plant detail layers and mixing them up.

My goal is to have a grass terrain that has enough interesting detail but is not too strong visually to distract from what is going on ON the terrain :-)

2018-02-22 07:59:53 +0000 UTC View Post

Yesss, grass success!

How do you like this grass tile test?

I have to admit I have been quite frustrated for a while as the method for generating grass texture I have been working on was never satisfying to me.

Today I had the idea pop up in my head that makes it work! As so often it was a simple idea and I wonder why I did not get it before :-)

This is a full grass tile. I will also make tiles with less ...

Simple water wheel

As promised, here is the simple water wheel. This is slapped together in no time and looks almost as good as the fully detailed 3D version!

Put it next to a building and you have your mill. Or, as David commented on the last post, add some to a boat and make a steamboat! :-)

SVB2 sneak peek

Time for a sneak peek! :-)

Today I had a little play time and set up a village with the new houses I have built so far.

This time some dark ninjas are on a mischievous mission in our village. But the town's monk is getting their attention while the Samurai in hiding are getting ready for the counter attack!

(Figures by 2018-02-17 07:34:00 +0000 UTC View Post

SVB2 mill water wheel textured

Today I need the full LEGO crew to help :-) I have built the full detail version of the water wheel!

I wonder how many of you will build this version or go for the much simpler one? I know the 32 water blades will take a little more time to build, but doesn't it look great?

You can also place...

SVB2 L-shaped building version

With this alternative version of the small building you can create even more variety!

The first combination is along the long side of the larger building. But of course you can also combine it along the short side.

If you also use mirrored versions of the L-shape, you can assemble a handful o...

SVB2 big house textured

Today I am going to show you the textured version of the larger building.

I think this could be a storage or even a meeting place and will add some variety to the "roof-scape" of your village, mixing up the heights.

If you like modding, you could "cut" yesterdays smaller building in half along the long axis and build two "lean-to" versions that you can place on both sides of this one. So m...

SVB2 small house textured

Here's a first look a the textured small house.

As usual it comes with lots of options to customize the look. For the roof I have added a "long bars" layer, which you can use solo as shown or combine it with the roof rocks layer.

SVB2 water wheel prototype

Here is a look at the waterwheel for the mill extension. When I was researching what a Japanese water wheel looks like, I found the most common type was the 32 shovel version.

I made a quick white version and I have to say I like it a lot. If this is too much detail for you, fear not, there will be a simple version, that should look almost as awesome as this one :-)

2018-02-09 09:21:25 +0000 UTC View Post

SVB1 extras

I have added some extra files to the dropbox.

LVL2 got extra doors and windows, in case you want to cut them out from the walls and add your own doors and windows to open.

LVL3 got the above and also some extra roof top details. With these you can pimp your roof if you like the extra detail.

Print these on heavy cardboard and cut out. Don't forget to color the edges!

2018-02-08 11:54:09 +0000 UTC View Post

SVB2 Combinging buildings

In the next set you will get two buildings. But that is not all. You can combine them!

The smaller one can be built in L-shape. That way you can wrap it around the larger building.

This is the first way you can put them together along the short side of the larger building. With a mirrored version you could put another L-shape on the other side. That should look cool. But maybe too impressi...

Ground tiles are live!

I have dropped the light and dark bare earth ground tiles in the LVL2 and LVL3 dropbox folders.

Go pick them up and let me know what you think.

Happy building :-)

Chris

SVB2 prototypes

Here is a first quick look at the new houses. This week I am working on dressing them in textures, but for now I will show the geometry on which I have settled for the next step.

They might not look like much in white, but imagine the texturing of the "lean to" applied to them. I think they will look great once textured and they will help mix up a village of the reed roof type or create a new ty...