Wanted to be the first with a Hellworks build pic, and I've been waiting until this set was released to gush about it. So here it is:





I started with the gate. I saw the initial set and the gate just grabbed me, and it came out even bigger built than it looked in the PDF (I saw it pre-glory shot). I love the gate.

I compression scored the cliffs, and I really like the way they look. These don't come with prefab score lines, like Mars Station, so I experimented a bit to make them blockier - not as many score lines, and farther apart. I also compression scored them rather than cut scoring them. One big bonus (besides the slight added strength) is that compression scoring means no edging necessary. since it doesn't cut the surface. I think the combination of no side edging plus longer edges both contribute to make really sharp looking hellish cliffs.

I started both the skull (on the right) and the spire (on the left) with the goal of compression scoring/no edging, but they just didn't look right, so I ended up edging them post-build. They look much better edged.

Oh, I have to say something about the stairs. I haven't built any Mayhem PD, where Matt told me he first introduced this type of stair, but this is the best stair design I've seen from WWG yet. Its not the fastest, but it is definitely the easiest to get aligned, and one of the strongest. Usually I despise putting together stairs; these were a breeze. Plus, the back of the stair is angled backwards, giving more room on the step for a mini's base. Brilliant.

I haven't done any tiles yet. I'm debating whether to do them as individual tiles, or just build masterboards as I need them. I really want to see some terrain under the build (althougth the black cutting mat is kind of cool), so I may just plan out a quickie terrain board and throw one together.



(Oh, and if you're curious, the blue cylinder in the background is the base of a waterfall I made for the lower level of DCC 51.5 using the flame tube from PCon Outlet, and mixed it with the waterfall texture from Bob's GR Aqueduct.)

Dang Robby that looks really really nice.

I like the layout too. Looks like a neat little area for an adventure, or
a heavenly game of FRAG/Heroscape.

And just like those images you posted way back when (of your Skull Cove adventure), this one has sold me on the set sooner than later.

~Floyd

Matt - good idea. I have a cliff I need to do that to, too.

And the open/closed volume thing wasn't a criticism, just something I noticed. A lot of Mel's early models were all open volume, and more recently he started doing them in closed volume sections. Take a little more time - more tabs, mainly - but it does add some structure stability. I was actually planning on sizing out the shape of the intersection to cut a piece to put in between the two volumes, then cut them both out, forgetting to add the tabs. Ah well. Maybe my next one.


Bob - I've built some more pieces, so I'll probably put together another build (and maybe put it on a terrain masterboard instead of the black mat) and post it.