I LOVE the watch tower! I think the textures are gorgeous and I appreciate the amount of detail that this model puts fourth. The stone supports beneath the crenelation level just make the model shine. I couldn't be happier with the beauty of the piece. I'm so happy that Stones Edges has joined forces with World Works!

However... after building the Watch Tower according to the instructions, I was sort of disappointed with how the tower stacks together. The floors and the walls for the middle layers are separate and they fit very tightly inside and outside the "wooden" guides. Stacking the layers requires several carefull, and somewhat difficult adjustments to make everything fit correctly. This could be a real pain during actual usage for a game. Having built the Harbormaster's house, I have to say that the method employed for layer stacking in that model is much easier and IMHO more practical.

The model works great as it is so my advice is only for kit bashers: first check out the pictures of the Harbormasters house and pay close attention to how the layers stack together, specifically the corners of the lower level. Note that the corners have L-shaped guides (with coordinating textures for both layers) that extend over the top of the model's walls at the corners. These guides are there to hold the second layer in proper alignment with the rest of the model. What isn't shown in the pictures is that the model rests on "blocks" in the corner very similar to those used for the tower. These blocks prevent the top layer from sliding down into the first layer after it has been properly alligned with the L-shaped guides.

With a little ingenuity, and few extra prints of the wall pages (or some photoshoping), similar L-shaped guides can be created for the Watch Tower. Additionally, using the corner blocks included with the tower, but trimming them down, creates a cube without a bottom which can be glued so that they sit flush with the top of the wall at the corners. This creates a small shelf to support the layer to sit on top of it. Do this for the first and second layers but not the third. The crenelation layer uses the hanging stone blocks to provide proper alignment with the rest of the model so corner blocks for that layer are unnecessary.

Next, When printing the second and third story walls, leave some extra cardstock at the bottom of the walls to support the foam core floor -- look at the walls for the ground level as a guide for how much extra card stock to leave. When assembling the second & third layers, glue the foam core floor to the walls directly using the extra cardstock at the bottom. additional prints of the wood floor for the second and third story can be used as a ceiling texture to hide the extra, unsightly cardstock.

That's all there is to it. The extra work it takes to alter the model pays off with fast stacking and better usability in actual game play. And if done correctly, the changes to the model are almost invisible. Hope it all made sense.

Sounds like good advice Mr McCoy (or can I call you Beast )

Any chance of some piccies ?

Frank

I have been wondering if we could make a "Hollywood flat" out of this tower? I mean if you don't have any need of the insides then why bother?

I have yet to load Photoshop into my new box but after coming back from the Mountains this afternoon I will, and then I have a little play time.



Lord Abaddon of Wormwood