RPArchive

Paint Party on Discord! All Patrons with Discord access welcome :)

Hi Guys!

Some time ago now Yeti suggested we run some kind of voice/video chat paint parties on discord, where we can all chat, hang out and get some minis painted or general hobby done :)

To start with at least this will be a time limited event, and the voice channel will disappear once it all wraps up - just so we can keep myself or a moderator (thanks Yeti for pitching in!) online to monitor things and make sure nothing gets out of hand 😄

There's no requirement to u...

Frameworks and methodologies...and LAVA!

Hi Guys!

So as many of you have surmised from the last post the next project is indeed more LAVA! Lava rivers and lakes to be precise, the idea being one bank/the smaller corners will be removable, allowing a T junction to serve as a single bank piece at a lakes edge, double bank piece in a 'river' or even as a half-T junction where a flow meets a lake in a corner.

So in theory, you can use these pieces to make most flat lava shapes! Lava falls and even downhill flows are plann...

New project! Can you guess what it is...?

Hi Guys!

This week I've started work on the next project, writing scripts, checking materials and such work the way I've theorised, and making a ton of jig/frameworks...because I don't have the luxury of making one and slowly gluing one at a time over a week or two 😂

The eagle eyed among you might notice this jig in the image is from another project, one that I'll be expanding significantly in this upcoming video! The old video is doing really well now, which I'm taking as t...

Bonus Video: Project Hindsight - MountainBlocks V2.0 || Magnetic, Interchangeable Facing and No Thick Foam.

It is DONE! The video is complete, the links are in place, the templates and STLs are uploaded and you guys can get on with building your own V2.0, massively improved mountainblocks!

I'll be available by Patreon message or on Discord as usual to answer any questions, but I'm hoping the video covered most corners - Make sure you post your work in discord if you feel like it though! I'd love to see this being made :)

With that, I'm going to get on with some side work for the next ...

Video/Flu update and the last of the preview images :)

Hi Guys!

Quick version - flu still here, ups and downs, getting work done but slowly.

Basically since Monday I've been trying to do a little work when I have enough energy, but it comes in spurts, often quite short spurts. Which is why you might see me answering questions on discord, its usually when I've had a good moment...

I've managed to get the rough cut + notes done on the video so far when I've had longer periods of feeling better, just aiming to get the colour cor...

Quick update - flu got worse...

Hi guys,

So I've been pretty much bedridden since shortly after the last update, so frustratingly I can't work on the video until I recover 🙁

I'm so damn frustrated I couldn't get it out to you guys before this hit, but the best I can do now is rest and recover ASAP. My focus is fried so I'm just going to have to leave it at that.

I'll keep you posted if I start feeling better.

Just another update post to keep you guys going while I edit!

Hi Guys!

Just a photodump of the new mountainblocks and how they work with cave terrain - the bridges etc still work for example, and you could slap some magnets in the sides of the kobold drop-tunnels to clip them on to any mountainblocks they fit between, which should also help hold them up with no support on the other side :)

Photography and Flu...but look how shiny!

Hi Guys!

Bit of a slow couple of days as I've started to come down with something flu...ish (hoooray!) BUT I've pushed on and got the photography done with all the new things Patreon has helped me afford to make life easier! List at the bottom* if you're interested in how your support is helping the channel :)

But yes! Photography done, so just talking head, Voiceover and editing to do before weeks end - I'm just praying the symptoms don't get any worse 😄

On a more po...

The board is set. The pieces are magnetised...

Hi Guys!

Aside from wondering how many more LOTR update titles I can pull off, I've been very busy recording the majority of the crafting, magnetising EVERYTHING and getting the workspace upgrades with new wall sockets for lighting etc...mainly so I don't trip over endless extension cables and injure myself. Quite as much, at least 😂

I'm also working on getting a ventilation system installed that won't leave the workspace frigid in winter or expose it to more noise from the ...

Quick update - busy week so I'm working the weekend :)

Hi Guys!

I was aiming to get a nice shiny pic out to you guys before the end of the week but I've been interrupted constantly by taxes/my accountant, electrical work being done on my workroom (to make videos easier to make) and everything in between 😐

So, I'm gonna push through the weekend and get updated preview shots to you guys when it's a little shinier (its hard to get good shots when they're not magnetised yet, they keep falling over 😂)

Hope you guys have a gr...

Well this is looking promising...

Hi Guys!

First day of experimentation and crafting out of the way and we have some promising signs for the project...

Firstly, pretty pictures! These are the first two examples of the new mountainblocks in progress, and damn do they look better! between the flush-fit mechanics and the new texture you can barely notice where one ends and the other begins...unlike the originals 😂 that black shadow line is so noticeable by comparison.

Pretty happy with that!

Second...

Quick update!

Hi Guys!

Just to let you all know, for the past week I've been doing a mix of catching up on channel and business admin (tax/accounts being a big one, as was making boxes to store a bunch of recent projects!), and decided it would be a good idea to actually take the few days time off I should have done over Christmas and new years to recharge. The creative batteries were...pretty drained by that last project 😂

But, you know me, I can't help myself so I've also made a bit of p...

Public Post for the Free Water Tiles Templates and Fish/Crown STLs

Hi guys,

Just the public post as promised, use them as you see fit :)

Resin Alternative Experiments Bonus Video!

Hi Guys!

This is a quick bonus video thrown together on request as some have asked to see the failed versions of my experiments and what went wrong...

I'm doing a bit of an experiment myself here and seeing how many people choose to watch - if enough do, I'll do more of these experiment videos!   

If not, unfortunately I really need to focus my time where most of my patrons will appreciate it, and I hope those who do want these video types understand :)

...

Water Tile Corners and Tile Edges Bonus Video!

Hi Guys!

As promised, here's the corner and tile edges section of the tutorial. I THINK there are maybe one or two glamour shots that I didn't used in the original video, and there's certainly a nice long running shot of the cave lake from many angles, so if you're in it for the pretties there is still something for you 😂

Corner template are attached, and as always if anyone want the .psd files of these templates to edit for their own use (and you're a noble patron 😉) just...

Rivers Don't Go On Top - Modular Lakes, Rivers, and Coastlines!

It's DONE! 😁 The main video is complete and ready for watching! The core templates are also attached for variations depending on the material you want to use...

I'll be working all day on getting things like the equipment list and pinned comment sorted, among dozens of other things, but the video is ready to watch :) The bonus videos will be coming later this week, I'm aiming to have them both done and launch this one publicly on Monday!

This has been a long project, mostly d...

Two New Guides, Main Video Finalised, and Final Preview Pictures!

Hi Guys!

The video is complete! The main one anyway 😄 I'm aiming to get all the uploading YouTube nonsense done tomorrow so you guys can have it early as usual :)

I've also finalised two new public resources - the cheap resin source list (at the bottom of the link) and the cheap hobby supplies guide (I've a...

Cheap Epoxy Resin Links - Community Resource

Hi Guys! 

As promised, the community resource has been pulled together, I decided to put it in the equipment list as that actually made more sense when I thought about it 😂

The link is here, resin section is at the bottom!

Pretty much all countries so far can get resin at a similar price to me. Europe is particularly well served (Thanks Germany!), though as usual Australia s...

Something you all can do to help the whole community!

Hi guys!

So for this next video I could use your help - I'm aiming to create a free public resource with links to cheap, affordable resin in varied countries. So far I have the UK and USA, but I'd like to include more.

The problem here is Google knows I'm in the UK, which makes this research difficult as it shows me different results than it will show someone who actually lives there.

So what I need is for any of you guys who are willing to either use your own methods, or...

How to Get Hobby Supplies More Cheaply - A Guide.

Hi guys!

TDLR reasoning for the post at the bottom!

The Resin links are here, the Resin section is at the bottom of the page you land on!

This guide was initially made to help with resin costs, but is equally applicable to most hobby supplies :)

Cheap resin is a matter of two factors - volume and research.

2022-01-10 09:13:45 +0000 UTC View Post

The editing goes ever, on and on....

Hi Guys!

Just a quick update, another photo drop, and some perspective :)

I'm currently close to finishing the rough cut of the main video, which will be 25 minutes long - twice as long as I generally aim videos to be!

I'll be releasing that to patrons well in advance of the public release, as I've also got the 12 minute water corners (and accessories) bonus video, and the 8 minute saving money on crafting materials/experiments and failures of the water tiles video whi...

The age of photography is over. The time of editing, is come.

Hi guys!

I probably paraphrase LOTR more than is healthy 😂 but photography finished up last week, I've held back a few pics like these to drip feed as I do the less visually interesting editing 😁

I got the final script revisions and voiceover for 3 videos done yesterday, among other things and I'm aiming to have the main video in patrons hands ASAP, so you get it a bit before public release!

If you're on discord I also posted a quick phone camera preview there of m...

Another Photo Drop Update!

Hi Guys!

Another busy day of footage and we have some big builds DONE. Grassland lake, cave lake and cave river all shot with various angles and close ups as needed...

A bit of insight? These are what takes the time in photography. 2/3 of the shots are quick, easy and done in the first day, MAYBE day and bit for big builds like this 😄 - it's the showing off of the build that takes a huge chunk of time to do.

This is mainly because unlike for D&D I have to figure it...

Post Christmas update!

Hi Guys!

SO, I've been a little busy over Christmas. Long version at the bottom if you care but essentially I wall mounted a new, larger photography light and reinforced that 3x4ft plank of mdf I showed earlier with some timber to stop it from bending under the weight of the many combined tiles and minis!

This has enabled me to make MUCH larger builds rotate, and get my lighting much closer to where I want it (not to mention trip over it less 😂)

The fruits of that you ...

First of the awesome shots - City river, canals, bridges and docks!

Hi guys!

So today was finally the first day of photography proper, getting all the awesome full build clips - starting with city builds!

A few things to note here - you can make TONS of different kinds of water terrain with these tiles, yes you can do rivers, but you can also do Venetian style canals, Docks at low tide (riverbanks, pictured) or high tide (deep tiles, basically like the canals) - not to mention you can leave gaps in the tiles for piers and bridges like these ones...

Early Photos and a little update :)

Hi Guys!

So I've spent the past two days getting the vast majority of the straightforward shots done - all the clips against a black background where I show something or poke something to demonstrate a point or show something I used :)

In amongst those were a few larger scale 'demonstrating' shots that weren't quite full builds, but were pretty enough to snap a quick photo and polish it up tonight to share with you all! 😀

Proper builds will be coming in the next few d...

Minor update - crafting DONE

Hi Guys!

The crafting is now DONE. I will be doing some last touchups over the weekend, recovering some areas that had resin creeping up the bank with a little more dirt but beyond that it's now DONE and it's FINISHED!

Which means next week, photography/b-roll begins...

Speaking of which, after much messing around with the desk delivery that was meant to happen (and make photography easier) I've ended up having to put the old desk back up again, which wouldn't have been a...

Video Index - Magnetic building system expansions and accessories

So I had some time while I was waiting for resin to cure :)

This page contains timestamped links and advice on what videos to reference when making expansions to the Magnetic Building System tiles.

It's designed to be easy to browse, be organised by builds, not videos, and include any advice I wish I could have added to the video, but YouTube wont let me :)

Back to Video Index 2021-12-14 22:21:51 +0000 UTC View Post

Quick weekend update - workspace revamp!

Hi guys!

So much as I would have liked to get some shiny new photos of the now-resin'ed deep tiles and banks (large corners pending, they're next round) - I hit a major snag :/

Long story short, I've been spending ages trying to fix my damn workspace on evenings/this weekend...hence no time for a proper update :(

With the new support I've been seeing on patreon I've finally felt comfortable spending some savings and ordering some upgrades, a larger light, wall mounts for ...

Resin In Progress - and I'm tinkering with something while it cures....

Hi guys!

So the resin progresses well! I've adopted a technique used by people using resin on wood tables and such of painting a thin layer of resin on first - this did very well in my tests and should lead to minimal bubbles with minimal effort ;)

In other news, resin takes FOREVER to cure (or at least, my cheap stuff does). So I'm tinkering with what might be the most requested feature/project ever. It's a LONG way from done, and it's only even possible because of you guys, bu...