Texturing the Barracks Tower

Ladies and gentlemen,

now that I have the geometry locked and the prototype build working, it is time to start painting the surfaces! So today I want to write how I go about painting or texturing a model.

I usually start with making some schematics, meaning I draw whatever details (wood planks, metal bars, stones, doors, windows etc) as very rough and single color shapes. These placeholders allow to get the basic overall look of the details right.

Next I start to paint the elements in more detail, usually adding a base color, highlights and shadows and maybe using photo textures to add a level of realism. This phase starts broad and goes in detail step by step until I am happy with the look. My approach is to get a good balance between an illustrated, painted look and photoreal elements. The photo part helps making the look believable and the illustrated part allows me to add the right amount of (often exaggerated) contrast using light and shadow to make details readable even from a little distance (like on a gaming table). 

The last step in my process is to add weathering details, like scratches, dirt, bleaching so the final model will look like it has been beaten by wind, rain and sun for a while :)

This little GIF animation shows the development of steps with the tower walls.

For the tower I am also making an optional roof and I want this to be covered with slate tiles. As this structure might be attacked I reckon that wood shingles that can be targeted with burning arrows might not be the best idea.

This is a first attempt at slate tiles with lichen option! you can also see some of the color options I am going to add.

I then do a textured test build to see how it all looks once printed on paper. It can be a little different compared to seeing it all zoomed in on the screen, so this is a very important reality check.

This is the solo tower ...

... and here with a roof on top!

I will also make a little walls element that you can insert into the tower top if you want walls there.

From now on it's all going in circles until I am happy with the final result. Check the printed model, go back to the computer and tweak the paint job, print and test build ... until it's ready for release. Here I want to work on the lichen on the roof to make it more readable and also fine tune the weathering for the walls. I also still need to add a base and some stairs for the raised entrance.

For the DELUXE edition I will add configurable layers for positioning doors and windows and many color customization options.

I am looking forward to complete and release this first tower model soon - it should be a nice stand alone terrain piece too - and to then tackle the barracks/armory building. For the ground level armory I will need to complete the weapon racks and for the upper level armory I want to make some bunk beds, so that will come as the next bits also. 

These days we are experiencing a little heat wave so I enjoy working on the PC as it is in a cool room on the ground floor. The crafting table is in the attic which gets really hot in the afternoon. Anything that is not cut and glued before noon has to wait until the next day :P

That's all for today! I hope you have enjoyed this little presentation of my painting stage in making a model. If you have any questions, let me know. So as usual - until the next time - stay safe and keep building :)

Chris