I want to work on some more Hobbit holes. I rushed the ones that can be seen in my gallery. They had to be ready for a war game show so they had to go as they were. Everyone liked them but I am not satisfied with the overall shape. I want to make 4 more so that I can run two games at once. I also am going to make more burned out holes and some tombs or burial mounds

Should I try to make the doors and windows open?
What should I do about the chimney pots?
Should I makes some brick chimneys?
Should the barrow downs tombs tops come off? They are so small and there are four on a 48'X48' table.

Do not be shy with your criticism . I would like to know what you have done or would like to do so don't hold back.
I do not have a plan for the barrows yet. I want some input. I don't want them to look too much like evil hobbit holes.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

The problem I see is that they do not look natural and more like a grass covered nissen hut standing alone. The edges need to blend into the enviroment, this unfortunately means that the base area needs to be much larger of a complete sculptered terrain board made. The Scouring of the Shire has some pretty good modelling guides with idea's for windows. As for Barrows, just a small hill with a slate covered opening would be best. A quick Google will bring up hundreds of images for inspiration.

yes , you are right. I was very unhappy with the shape. J.R.R. Tolkien's water color The Hill:Hobbiton across the Water clearly has Bagshot Row as part of the same Hill as Bag End. I really want to do something like the water color.
http://www.tolkien.ru/texts/eng/pbjrrt/1c.html

However, The scenario in" The scouring of the Shire" has four little holes, two on each side of the road. That is why they turned out as they are. Anyway, I have more time. I hope some one can suggest something.

As for the Barrows, I have some good Books on Real Megalithic tombs.I am still fishing for suggestions.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

You've gotten some very nice terrain. As hithero said the base needs to be bigger so you can create a more gradual slope and thus make it look more like a hill. I would suggest you try making open windows but I wouldn't make an open door unless you also made the interior. I would suggest you make a brick chimney, the scouring of the shire nice instructions on how to make one.
As far as the barrows, have a look at BizzareWarstar's WIP. His is pretty good though I would make the hill larger.

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Thanks for the suggestions.

I added three more photos to the gallery to give some idea where I am going with this. I like to make prototype layouts to help conceptualize.

The photos were removed and are now posted below!



Should I build interiors?

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Thanks for the advice so far. I am going to cast parts for interiors and walk ways. I am going to cut out some templates for more Hobbit holes.

I deleted some photos in the gallery and added close ups and an army by request.

Please comment on this barrow prototype

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

I have been casting parts for the Barrow Downs. Casting is such a mess I like to get it over with. I cast a few rock faces and a lot of walkway.The rock faces got me to thinking of the Hobbit Movie. Has anyone started working on Goblin town?

Goblin town





The parts should work for Moria as well.
Let me know what you think.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Very Nice!!!

Looks neat. Nice job.

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I cut out a new hobbit hole. I am going to try a removable roof and an interior.







I am going to cut out the shape of the room into the 2X6 And make a cut out in the base ground work as well so there will be room for figures to stand.
I tied drywall filler on a small shed that I am making. I not sure this will work. let me know what you think so far.

I made the cutout this morning photo of glue up:

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Crikey, your not short of tools and materials then?
Looking good, what I suggest is that between the top of the hole and the edge of the base board is filled to give a gentler slop and irregular, I see that the hole is of center from the base so thatcould be good in that respect.

I still have to do some more shaping and sanding on the basic shape. I used 45 degree angle for the slope. I can reduce it a bit if you think. The MDFB is easier to work with but I used a pine 2"X6" for the core in case I have to use hand tools. I do not know how the MDFB will react to a chisel.



I have to decide where to put the windows and doors. If I am thoughtful I can make it so I can use it for a Inn or Pub as well as a dwelling.

suggestions and questions are welcome.

Should I make a larger Inn?
Hardwood or stone floors?
It will be a game piece but I would like to here from the super detailers.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

MDF cuts easier than pine with a chisel as it doesn't split, it will blunt any tool quickly though due to it's composition. By irregular I mean that it shouldn't look like a neat half-sphere but with lumps and bumps - more natural looking.

Did hobbits have inn hobbit-holes? Did they even have inns? hmmm

As for doors and windows, nice big (for hobbits) round ones on the front with other smaller dormitory windows scattered around hap-hazzadly.

Did hobbits have inn hobbit-holes? Did they even have inns? hmmm

"When the four hobbits at last rode into Bree they were very glad. The Inn door was open. It was a large round door leading into the side of Bree -hill..............Over the door was painted in white letters:The Prancing Pony..."

page134 The Return Of The Shadow by Christopher Tolkien The history of The Lord Of The Rings part 1

In an early draft of the story everyone including Strider (Trotter) was a hobbit.

I took the prototype the game shop. They want me to make an Inn.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

I really like the the last picture and think your geeting closer to a natural look.

Why not try looking at a prairy dog town .Sorry for the spelling
lots of 40mm high hills leading to a large hill with several hobbit holes
in it.

Jon

Uhmm, not to be rude - and I have taken an interest in Tolkein's development process myself - but you can't count the stuff he discarded. The Prancing Pony was a human inn when Tolkein was satisfied with his work, so a human inn it is.

But, in substitute, I need only say two words: Green Dragon.

And, as to the hole in development, I have only one word:

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The Green Dragon, I like the one in the movie. The thatch roof intimidates me though.
The quote from The Return Of The Shadow was the only Hobbit hole Inn I could remember at a moments notice. Trotter the hobbit ranger carried through the snow covered mountain pass by Boromir and Legolas was the end of that version. I like how things turned out much better.

I have to finish cutting the grass before it rains. I will post an up date later. I have made a lot of progress but no photos yet.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

I drilled out the windows and doors. Then I sanded and shaped the inside parts so I could detail the wall interiors.



I will glue the parts to a base when I have added the window and door treatments.



I think I have the door hinges worked out May have to make a trip to the doll house shop.



Every one has been helpful.
Constructive criticism is welcome.
Do Not hold back.

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

Looks good! You may want to fill in some of the gaps

I had quite a bit of tear-out in the pine. I should have used MDFB for the whole thing. I will use wood filler for the gaps when I glue it to the base. I may have more gaps when I do the windows. They wont fit as well because I had to use a drum sander to clean up the tear-out.

Thanks

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"