Ogrfabri

OGRE Minis Fabrication Central

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Welcome to Fabrication Central. Here is where you will find modeling ideas and projects for OGRE Miniatures. Got some ideas for building scenery, converting miniatures and/or constructing play surfaces? Email me with the details and I will try to showcase them here. I can't guarantee that I will use everything sent to me, but I will take a look at everything.

Our first project will be quick trees for your miniature battlefield. This one is dirt simple folks. Just go to your local craft store (Michael's, White Rose, etc.) and look for "bump" chenille. It usually comes in packages of twelve strips and its real cheap. Oh, yeah. Be sure to buy green chenille as pink evergreens look a bit weird...

Now, take the chenille strips and cut them as shown in this diagram:

The wire "core" of the resulting triangular trees can now be inserted into your battlefield board. If its foam topped, this is as simple as inserting them into the surface. If a wood surface, you will have to drill a small hole first. Now just insert the wire into the board and POOF, instant evergreen trees!

Okay, now for something just a bit more complex. I happen to love the train scenario (without cruise missiles, that is.) But there has been no miniature for it. No problemo pal. Here's how to build your own bullet train, cheap and fast.

Click for a full-sized blueprint and construction instructions!s

After building your train, you will need track to run it on. The best "ready made" railroad is "N" scale "flex" track, usually sold in 2 to 4 foot lengths at any hobby store that carries model trains. The trackwork can be shaped and then held in place by tacks or industrial staples onto your board, which may then be painted and/or covered with turf or lichen.

You can also build your own rails with metal dowels (available at almost any hobby store and many hardware centers). Plastic or wood "ties" can be cut out of appropriate plastic or wood sheets. By mounting the railroad on pylons you can have an elevated train or monorail (which will require some tricky conversions on the train model above).

You can see in the photos how detail can be added to the cars (in this case, engine pieces from a certain famous ship added greatly to the "bullet train" look on the engine).

Well, that's all for starters. Send me jpegs of any OGRE miniatures you'd like me to showcase here for you. Be sure to include your name so that I can give you proper credit.

What's next?
I will next show you how to create great buildings for your OGRE battlefields using scribed plastic sheets and detail pieces available from Evergreen and Plastruc along with other bits and pieces to detail them with. Check out the photo at the top for some ideas on building construction if you can't wait and want to take a shot at it. Any hobby store (and most game stores) carry Evergreen brand products. Many also carry Plastruc as well.

Be sure to check back and watch for the "updated" symbol to tell you new stuff is here!